Below is a statement from Columbus, Ind., native Tony Stewart, the two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and driver/owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, on the passing of Tom Carnegie, the legendary voice of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“He was the voice of the speedway. I still have a tape of my qualifying lap at Indy during my rookie year when I broke the track record, and it’s his voice and his words that helped make that moment so special. His voice was unmistakable and was such a part of Indy, and when he wasn’t there last year, you knew that something was missing. While a lot of us knew this day was coming, it doesn’t make it any easier. He’ll be missed.”

Stewart has participated in five Indianapolis 500s, and started from the pole as an IZOD IndyCar Series rookie in 1996. He is a two-time winner of the Brickyard 400 (2005 and 2007) and has made 12 career Sprint Cup starts at Indianapolis.