Top Ten: Overtaking Fails

Source: WTF1 by Dan Thorn

Michael Schumacher’s passing attempt on Bruno Senna in Spain was pretty pathetic but it’s not the first time we’ve seen a failed overtaking move in F1. Hakkinen on Schumacher at Spa. Piquet on Senna at the Hungaroring. The Gilles Villeneuve-Rene Arnoux battle at Dijon. No list of overtakes would be complete without them – except this one.

Here we look at ten of the most spectacular failed overtaking manoeuvres in Formula One history. Click below for a brand new Top Ten.

10. Nelson Piquet on Andrea de Cesaris – Monaco 1989

Overtaking at Monaco is tough. Trying to do it at the hairpin is very tough. Many have tried and many have failed – some result in a blocked track, others result in embarrassing post race interviews. My favourite failed attempt at an overtake happened in 1989, when Andrea de Cesaris in the Dallara tried to pass Nelson Piquet’s Lotus. Contact was made and both cars stopped, but instead of trying to rectify the situation the two men sat in their cars and argued with each other, unaware of the traffic jam forming behind them!

9. Ralf Schumacher on Giancarlo Fisichella – Argentina 1997

Taking out your team mate is a huge faux pas, especially if you’re driving for a midfield team on for a good result. At the 1997 Argentine Grand Prix, that’s exactly what Ralf Schumacher did when he put his car in an ever decreasing wedge against his team mate, Giancarlo Fisichella. Fisi was knocked out but Ralf still managed to finish third.

8. Heikki Kovalainen on Mark Webber – Belgium 2008

GP Belgique 2008 Accrochage Kovalainen Webber Vidéo F1-VIDEO sélectionnée dans Moteurs

Knowing when you’re not going to make a pass and have to pull out of it is a crucial skill. It would appear Heikki Kovalainen hadn’t yet developed this skill at Spa in 2008. Coming up to the Bus Stop, he had a look up the inside of Mark Webber. Mark braked later, so surely the move was off? Not for Heikki – he stayed on the inside and ended up taking the Red Bull out.

7. Ralf Schumacher on Juan Pablo Montoya – USA 2002

Oh look, it’s Ralf again! And guess what? He’s botching an overtake on his team mate again! To be fair, Ralf and Montoya collided on more than one occasion whilst team mates and it wasn’t always Ralf’s fault, but this is too amusing. At the 2002 USGP, Montoya slipstreams past Ralf down the outside of the pit straight. Eager to get back past, Ralf has a look down the inside into turn one. Montoya gave him room, but Ralf clipped the inside kerb and span, taking his rear wing off and knocking Montoya off the road. Classy.

6. Riccardo Patrese on Ayrton Senna – Germany 1992

Hockenheim 1992. It’s the last lap and Patrese is trying desperately to give Williams another 1-2 by passing Senna for second place. After some naughty defending by Senna, Patrese finally got alongside going into the stadium section, but got dust on his tyres an spun off. The engine was still running, but in his eagerness to rejoin he booted the throttle to spin back around and get back on the track, but he stalled in the process, couldn’t and ended up classified 8th. Oh dear!

5. Mark Webber on Heikki Kovalainen – Valencia 2010

Never underestimate the speed difference between a race winning car and a brand new team. Valencia 2010, and Mark Webber comes up to pass Kovalainen’s Lotus (That’s the Lotus that were the real Lotus until the actual Lotus came along and claimed they should be called Lotus, so they called themselves Lotus and then Lotus changed their name to something that wasn’t Lotus). Not expecting the Lotus to be so slow at that point on the race track, he spectacularly hit the back of it and flew through the air. It could have been nasty, but thankfully Webber walked away. And it gave a classic piece of Legard commentary.

4. Keke Rosberg on Patrick Tambay – Canada 1985

Keke Rosberg. Surely one of the coolest, most exciting drivers ever seen in Formula 1. Here he is at Montreal in 1985 going for an overtake on one of the Renaults. He clips the grass and spins, but recovers quickly. Keke Rosberg. So awesome even his fails are wins.

3. Sebastian Vettel on Jenson Button – Belgium 2010

In 2010 Sebastian Vettel was still a little rough around the edges, particularly when it came to overtaking. Here we are coming up to the Bus Stop at Spa and he pulls out of Jenson Button’s slipstream, loses the car on the damp surface and slams into the side of the McLaren. Bonus points for managing to T-Bone another car when both were travelling in a straight line. Hard to imagine this is the same guy who successfully completed passes on people around the outside of Blanchimont and Curva Grande!

2. Nigel Mansell on Gerhard Berger – Imola 1990

Imola. 1990. Nigel Mansell is trying to pass Gerhard Berger’s McLaren on the run down to Tosa. However, Gerhard hasn’t seen him and inadvertently forces Mansell onto the grass…at 180mph. Somehow Mansell recovered with a textbook 360 spin, losing hardly any time. No wonder the Tifosi loved him so much!

1. Keke Rosberg on Patrick Tambay (again!) – Long Beach 1983

Yup, it’s our friend Keke again, this time at Long Beach in 1983. It’s the first lap of the race and Rosberg tries to pass Patrick Tambay’s Ferrari to take the lead. Keke locks up under braking and spins, but totally bosses the situation by recovering it, making the corner and not even losing a place. Nico’s got some boots to fill!

via

Top Tens

 

Poll: Will Monaco produce the 6th F1 Winner in 2012?

Source: theformula1.com by Mike F1

F1′s next winner could be at the wheel of a black and gold car.

“I think Kimi (Raikkonen) will be the sixth different winner in the sixth race,” said Finnish commentator and former driver Mika Salo, to the MTV3 broadcaster.

Although the results in 2012 have proved impossible to predict so far, many paddock pundits expected Lotus’ E20 to be the car to beat last weekend in Barcelona. “The big surprise was when Kimi didn’t win,” admitted former Ferrari driver Salo, referring to Pastor Maldonado’s victory for Williams.

Also confident about Lotus’ potential is Raikkonen’s teammate, Romain Grosjean, who finished behind the 2007 world champion last weekend. “It’s good to be a little disappointed with third and fourth,” he told the French language RMC Sport. “It shows that as a team we are convinced we can win.”

According to the reigning world champion team Red Bull’s drivers, however, there is a downside to this year’s impossible-to-predict F1 landscape. “Maybe we will see an HRT or a Marussia on pole in Monaco,” world champion Sebastian Vettel said, unenthusiastically and half-seriously. Mark Webber insists that what has been described as the Pirelli ‘lottery’ might not be a good thing for the sport. “I don’t know if they (the fans) will get sick of seeing so many different winners,” the Australian told Fox Sports. “It’s nice to have different winners but also we want rivals.”

Info: GMM

Have your say:

Take Our Poll

Related Posts :

• Poll Result: 2012 Chinese Grand Prix
• Poll Reminder: 2012 Chinese Grand Prix
• Poll: The 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix
• Poll: 2012 Chinese Grand Prix
• Poll Result: To Bahrain or not to Bahrain?

Will Monaco produce the 6th F1 Winner in 2012?

Source: theformula1.com by Mike F1

F1′s next winner could be at the wheel of a black and gold car.

"I think Kimi (Raikkonen) will be the sixth different winner in the sixth race," said Finnish commentator and former driver Mika Salo, to the MTV3 broadcaster.

Although the results in 2012 have proved impossible to predict so far, many paddock pundits expected Lotus’ E20 to be the car to beat last weekend in Barcelona. "The big surprise was when Kimi didn’t win," admitted former Ferrari driver Salo, referring to Pastor Maldonado’s victory for Williams.

Also confident about Lotus’ potential is Raikkonen’s teammate, Romain Grosjean, who finished behind the 2007 world champion last weekend. "It’s good to be a little disappointed with third and fourth," he told the French language RMC Sport. "It shows that as a team we are convinced we can win."

According to the reigning world champion team Red Bull’s drivers, however, there is a downside to this year’s impossible-to-predict F1 landscape. "Maybe we will see an HRT or a Marussia on pole in Monaco," world champion Sebastian Vettel said, unenthusiastically and half-seriously. Mark Webber insists that what has been described as the Pirelli ‘lottery’ might not be a good thing for the sport. "I don’t know if they (the fans) will get sick of seeing so many different winners," the Australian told Fox Sports. "It’s nice to have different winners but also we want rivals."

Info: GMM

Have your say:

Take Our Poll

Related Posts :

• Post-race press conference – Monaco
• FIA post-race press conference – Monaco
• Sebastian Vettel Q&A: Early stop was critical
• Thursday practice – selected team and driver quotes
• Barcelona to Monaco – a race against the clock

Race shop tours highlight first two days of All-Star Week

Source: NASCAR Ranting and Raving by MattWeaver

CONCORD, N.C. - This week marks my first time ever in the greater Charlotte area, having arrived on Tuesday on a Megabus, leading up to my coverage of the All-Star Race this Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

I'm absolutely tired, not that anyone should feel sympathy towards me. Race City, USA is everything that a NASCAR fan wants in a tourist destination. Mecklenburg County is quite possibly the coolest locale I've ever been too - even Daytona, a city that expanded on the heels of NASCAR's popularity.

With Charlotte Motor Speedway located at the epicenter, every shop and establishment was built with NASCAR in mind. Every citizen and tourist has at least one

Kurt Busch Is In The 51 For A Reason

Source: The NASCAR Insiders by T.C.

There was a post yesterday over at SB Nation, written by Jordan Bianchi, that was titled “If I Were A NASCAR Owner, I’d Hire Kurt Busch.” In it, Bianchi makes a case for why a big time owner should hire Kurt Busch, despite his very recent and past problems. His main point is that Busch [...]

TheNASCARInsiders.com

Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!

Franchitti hoping Indy turns corner on slow start

Source: SI.com

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Franchitti hoping Indy turns corner on slow startDario Franchitti just wins IndyCar championships.

Newgarden tops speed chart during Indy 500 practice

Source: SI.com

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Josef Newgarden is getting used to finishing first.

Newgarden tops speed chart again at Indy practice (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports IRL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Josef Newgarden is getting used to finishing first.

Alesi says he feels 'unsafe' in slow IndyCar (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports IRL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Jean Alesi says his slow car is making him feel ''unsafe'' at Indianapolis 500 practice.

Breaking The Mold

Source: SI.com

Most teams bring a rookie and veteran to the Indianapolis 500. Not Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, which is defying convention by bringing a pair of untested drivers, writes Tim Tuttle.

Franchitti hoping Indy turns corner on slow start (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports IRL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Dario Franchitti just wins IndyCar championships.

Lotus’ Boullier feeling buoyant, Kimi like a ‘wild animal’

Source: Formula 1 Blog by negativecamber@formula1blog.com (Negative Camber & Grace)

Lotus will be able to “put on a good show in Monaco,” team principal Eric Boullier tells the official Formula 1 site in an exclusive Q&A.

Here’s a link, but here’s the Q&A:

Q: Eric, how are you at the moment? On the one hand the drivers, team and car are performing well, but on the other hand you’ve lost your title sponsor?
Eric Boullier: That’s wrong. We have not lost our title sponsor – not in the real sense of the word lost. We have decided to end the contract – or the agreement – we had with them at the middle of last year. We wanted to change our strategy, and actually we are, if I may say so, wealthier than we were before. We have bigger budgets this year and will keep the name Lotus under a license agreement. We have signed some big names as sponsors. If you look at my shirt, there are two new names on it. We have been able to sign deals with Unilever and Microsoft, which are two really big names. So when I said jokingly – or rather not really jokingly – that we are wealthier than before, then I really do mean it.

Q: Both of your guys made it on to the podium in Bahrain. What did that mean to the team?
EB: It was a fantastic reward for the team. We haven’t performed in that mode since 2006. The fact is we were expecting to deliver something after the first three races, but we had to come to terms with the little glitches we had. When that was done – voila – it finally worked.

Q: Are these glitches permanently in the past now?
EB: They are gone, yes! Believe me I would love to have both cars on the podium every weekend and we are on the way there. You have to consider that both our drivers have not been driving in Formula One for at least two years, so they also needed to get up to speed and get into handling the format of the weekend. Even if you do a lot of mileage in the car you still have to get your game together and not miss any opportunities in practice, qualifying or the race.

Q: You opted to take a gamble with your driver line-up, combining an almost rookie and a has-been champion. Have there been some headaches?
EB: Yes, there have been headaches. We had a very lengthy discussion internally, which involved the technical side of the team, as well as the commercial side and of course our shareholders to make the right decision. After that we decided to take a gamble. So yes, headaches were involved, as there were very few hints about how it would develop.

Q: Grosjean is obviously repaying the faith you placed in him. Why is he delivering now and why didn’t he during his first attempt in the sport? What’s changed?
EB: Fortunately we have not changed the culture of the team, we have just changed the way we operate a bit. The culture is the same and the people are more or less the same, but we have just changed some processes. Romain’s personality is quite complex. He is very strong on the one hand but on the other hand he is also very sensitive. So you have to find a way to balance these two ends of his personality. The last time he raced in F1, he was very young and he was not in the right place at the right moment with the right support. That sticks with someone for a long time. But now he is in the right place at the right moment with the right support and look what he can deliver!

Q: Raikkonen will always be Raikkonen. How has it been to have him in the team?
EB: I think he is fitting in quite well. We at Enstone – and I say Enstone on purpose – have racing spirit. I would say we cannot be compared with any other team, although I am aware that every team has its own culture and personality. We try to keep politics outside and try to give our drivers what they need. We know that Kimi doesn’t like PR, doesn’t like media. So why should we bother him with it? Sure we need a balance between his demands and the requests from our sponsors. But he knows that we care very much about his schedule and try to minimize his obligations. That’s it. He is a racer so he races for winning and hardly cares about the rest! Kimi is like a wild animal and you have to let him run the way he wants to go. We don’t have to tell him what he has to do because he is a professional and we want him to deliver on track first. That is his purpose. After that there are some obligations. Unfortunately for him his personality makes him very attractive to the fans, so he is famous. He and we have to come to terms with the fact that he has many fans, so to a certain degree he is playing the game. We restrict his obligations to the minimum and I see that he is fine with it.

Q: Is he the team leader you need to fill the void left by Robert Kubica?
EB: Historically, this team has always pushed for one driver – a definite leader. But that has definitely changed. It’s a thing of the past. I want two fast drivers because that is the way you get ahead in the constructors’ championship. So both drivers have the same status. Obviously Kimi, with his experience, his character and personality, tends to have a certain degree of leadership. But in fact it is not leadership but probably more attention. On the other hand Romain is digging a little place for himself nicely and is getting a lot of respect every weekend from the team. You must not forget that Kimi has done something in the range of 160 Grands Prix and Romain has just finished his twelfth Grand Prix this weekend.

Q: So how do the two get along? Raikkonen is the iceman, whilst you’ve described Grosjean as a bit sensitive…
EB: Well, they are very different and I don’t believe they will ever go on holiday together. But they don’t need to be friends. That’s only my opinion. What I expect them to do is to respect each other and never forget that they are working for the team. Both know that we will never favour anyone – depending on the individual strategy each of them is on. It is up to them to qualify well and have a good race result. We just give them the tools to deliver on equal terms.

Q: Did you collect significant data at the in-season test?
EB: Definitely yes. In our position this test was perfect. We missed one third of testing in February due to some issues so these three days made up for that. So this year it was the right thing for us, but next year – with full winter testing – the situation might look different. I would say that we exploited this test to the full but I would not generally say that we need such a test in the future.

Q: What did you take to Barcelona from the test?
EB: A lot of things. You saw it in qualifying and in the race and my guess is that we will also be able to put on a good show in Monaco.

Q: You were hoping to shine in Barcelona. Was Raikkonen getting on the podium enough for you? Or did you want more?
EB: My gut feeling was that we would maybe see one of our black overalls on the podium. And I was right. Two black overalls on the podium was more an aspiration. We also have to stay realistic – this is a highly-competitive environment and there are no podium places going for free!

***

The talk at the beginning about the funding and backing makes me wonder if we could see a Microsoft title sponsorship next year.

And it is impossible to ignore the discussion of Kimi. The team seems to have figured out the balance the Finn needs — and the value he brings as a result. I wonder if at Ferrari, where it is team first and tradition looming over all, the environment really wasn’t too stifling. Does Kimi in some ways need to be the “big fish” in the pond, even if that just means that he more or less gets left alone to swim around as he pleases?  In that environment, can Kimi mount a charge for a driver’s title?

Eighth annual Prelude to the Dream on tap

Source: NASCAR.com

CONCORD, N.C. -- On June 6 in Rossburg, Ohio, stars representing NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar and the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series align in a big way with the Prelude to the Dream.

Fast Lap #3

Source: Formula 1 Blog by negativecamber@formula1blog.com (Negative Camber & Grace)

Fast Lap- The F1B Forum podcast where you join Andy and chat about motor sport.

 

Show 3 and Frantic is joined by Craig aka Honda Hero. This time around we chat about about liveries, Lewis Hamilton and Frantic has another rant and looses track of his questioning and also tries to feel bad for rich people*

*that’s a lie he doesn’t try  at all

Mark Martin Interview: How NASCAR Racing Has Changed Since I Started

Source: SBNation.com by Jeff Gluck

The veteran driver talks about his new on-track philosophy, why racing is like high school and what makes him nervous.

Our series of weekly NASCAR driver interviews continues this week with Mark Martin, the ageless Michael Waltrip Racing driver who continues to be one of the Sprint Cup Series' top talents at 53 years old. Martin, despite missing three races this season, is still 23rd in points – ahead of even Jeff Gordon.

SBN: What percent of your career races can you remember?

MM: Just off the top of my head? Ten.

SBN: Just 10 percent? I thought you could remember

Sponsor Don’t Care If We See Good Racing

Source: Stock Car Spin by Les

If you have been following my blogs, you know by now that I am an older race fan who is somewhat opinionated about the product we see on the race track, in particular, the lack of good racing in the Sprint Cup Series. I continue to beleive the blame for the sports decline in fan interest, is perched  on the shoulders of the sponsors, with some blame burdened by Nascar.

An article in this month’s edition of ESPN The Magazine(The Money Edition) caught my attention. In response to the question that “Dale Jr. and Danica Patrick haven’t won a major race in four years”, Go Daddy founder and Executive Chairman, Bob Parsons, Danica’s sponsor since 2006, was quoted as saying, “Of course I want to win races, but we’re winning either way”. The 37 minutes and 26 seconds of exposure Patrick got at the Daytona 500 in February would have cost $11.8 Million Dollars. Since Go Daddy signed Danica Patrick, they have had an increase of market share from 25% to 54%.

This kind of relationship doesn’t sound to me like something that will produce good racing. When the people who pony up the dollars to sponsor a car don’t care if they win, as long as their logo is going around the track, and being televised, can’t be good for fans. With that type of an attitude, they get more TV time if their car wrecks, especially late in a race when everyone is watching.

The portion of blame I put on Nascar, has mainly to do with the rules package. The car owners are put in a position that require them to deal with these types of sponsors in order to remain competitive on a week to week basis. The small race teams who don’t have big dollar sponsors on their hoods struggle with even small rules changes. Let’s not forget that when Nascar mandates a change to improve   fan interest, these teams have to comply without having that money tree in the back yard to harvest.

An article by  USA Today from July of 2010, points out that attendance and the quality of racing has been a problem for some time. After the success Nascar enjoyed up until the start of the new millenia , has been in a downward spiral since 2003. With almost 4.5 million fans attending races in 2003, that number dropped over a million fans by 2010 to just over 3.5 million.

One factor stated by Fox Sports chairman David Hill, was that young males (age 18-34 Yrs. Old) were leaving the sport, where declines in that  ratings were in the neighborhood of 29%. The economy didn’t start a real decline until after 2007, so it probably isn’t the total reason for decline. This particular demographic is telling me that they are leaving because the excitement is gone and the playoff system changes so often that it’s tough to keep up with how one needs to compete in order to make the playoffs.

As a side bar to this article, Humpy Wheeler was interviewed and indicated that multiple sponsor packages on top cars was making it difficult for a fan to find his favorite driver as races begin, sometime not being sure of  where his car is on the track until late in races. He’s in favor of each car following a year long paint scheme, with sponsor graphics being added to this fixed theme. He is concerned that fans are losing interest because they can’t find their drivers.

I feel like the boom Nascar experienced in the late 1990′s was a fad. It became cool to be a Nascar Fan. Like all fads, this one too is losing interest. The wanna be motor-heads have went back to baseball, hockey and which ever sport the were big on, and decided racing really wasn’t their thing. Nascar didn’t help in the effort to keep them here.

The big reason we watch football, is the “on the field action”. If it weren’t exciting, we wouldn’t watch football. The NFL, has to change the rules occasionally to help with asset management and the safety of the players, but they haven’t hurt the action so much as to make it un-watchable. Maybe what we race fans need is for the sport to hit bottom and purge it of the sponsors who don’t care if their drivers win or not, because they don’t care. Then we can get back to the business of sponsors who DO CARE.

 Articles Referenced were from ESPN The Magazine and USA Today’s website.

Follow Me on Twitter @Spin_47

 

Sponsor Don’t Care If We See Good Racing - Stock Car Spin - Stock Car Spin - A NASCAR Blog

Happy Hour: Kurt Busch is out of chances

Source: From the Marbles by Jay Busbee

Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.

So I was running low on gas the other day and I tried the Jimmie Johnson solution: turn off the engine and coast, then turn it back on again. FYI: It doesn't work so well in traffic. Now, your letters, starting with the topic du jour:

Urt, Urt, Urt. A lot of us try, and I mean really try, to give you a chance to redeem yourself but it's getting about time to kick you to the curb. This latest deal, roaring through the 39 pits because you were angry, shows me the new attitude is superficial. Like a potential sponsor, I'm going to have to put my money somewhere else. You're an extremely talented driver; just look at how you mowed down the field at last week's Southern 500 with an underfunded team, but you are too much of a liability. I was really hoping to see some real change. How cool would it be to see some great storylines like Phoenix Racing getting a Chase berth? I'm sure writers like Busbee had the whole "phoenix-rising-from-the ashes" story ready in the back of their minds (sorry JayB, no Pulitzer there). What great stuff this would have been. Sorry, Urt, you're fired!

—Thomas

The Kurt Busch saga fascinates me for so many reasons. Have we ever had an athlete in the prime of his career detonating like this? I can't think of anyone; help me out. What Busch's increasingly unhinged rants have shown is that you just cannot trust the guy. He absolutely has a world of talent, but he needed to look at this year as a flat-out internship where anything above finishing half the races constituted a success. Instead, he probably scared away any sponsors or potential new owners with this rant; can you hear it and think there's any chance he changed? At some point, you run out of second chances.

___________________

I'm done, man. I'm done watching NASCAR. FOX has ruined it for me. From their five-laps-per-commercial-break average, to the inane and mind-numbing commentary spouting from the GoDaddy-[uh, let's say "cheering" - JB] mouths of DW and Mike Joy, FOX has made NASCAR unwatchable. Danica Patrick isn't compelling to me no matter how many times we're force-fed her story. Besides, how are we supposed to take her seriously as a driver when her main sponsor is carpet bombing the coverage with their terrible commercials and in-race ads (lest I forget her 'respectable' 31st place finish, six laps down).

I'll be at Bristol this fall; at least live racing will always be exciting and DW-free. Now I'll just have to figure out what to do with my free time on Sunday afternoons. Croquet anyone?

—Pat Lorentz
Knoxville, Tenn.

I'm a beast at croquet. You're on. But dude, don't give up yet! Fox only has a few more races! Then we're on to TNT and ESPN! I'm not going to weigh in on the relative merits of each broadcast team; everybody's got their own favorites (and some prefer simple silence). I will say that I can understand why people are sick of the Danica coverage … to some extent, it's the NASCAR equivalent of ESPN slobbering all over everything Boston. Might I humbly suggest our raceday chat? It's not a Danica-free zone, but everybody takes shots at everyone. Except for the Orange Cone. That fella's sacred.

___________________

In the early days of NASCAR, the sport was just as much a race of endurance as it was speed. The rate of attrition was significantly higher. The technology for building engines and transmissions that could handle the rigors of 500 miles without self destructing on a semi-regular basis wasn't readily available. With better tech and testing, the endurance aspect of the sport is essentially a non-factor. Is it time for NASCAR to consider shortening these races? I'm thinking in the ballpark of 150-mile range for NCWTS, 200-mile range for NWS, and 300-mile range for NSCS. I may be in the minority but I truly believe that these 4+ hour races are as outdated as the carbureted engine or non-synchronous transmission.

—Darrell "Furiousd" Watts
North Cacalacky

I absolutely agree, and you've hit on a point that has some traction. Why do races have to be 500 miles? Sure, it's a nice round number, but you're right — there's no mechanical or technological reason for the race to be that length any longer. Every car is almost certainly going to make it to the finish in one piece, even those driven by Sam Hornish Jr. and Steve Wallace. Plus, consider the fact that we're living in a much faster-paced world now; attention spans are completely — HEY, GET BACK HERE! I WASN'T DONE TALKING! Anyway, yeah, you can make races shorter for the TV audience while still preserving the hang-out-and-get-drunk-all-day-and-call-in-sick-till-Thursday joy that is attending a race in person.

____________________

Before the Nationwide race at Darlington on Friday, the ESPN announcers were talking to Denny Hamlin over the radio. They mentioned talking to the drivers during a green flag run. Apparently they got in trouble for doing that a couple of years ago. That reminded me of a video I found on youtube. This is Tim Richmond during a race in 1986 at North Wilkesboro. Enjoy.

Dude! I lost your name! Send it to me and I'll post it. Anyway, that clip is unbe-freaking-lievable. Richmond is chilling like that under a green flag? He could've given Kurt a few lessons. I bet Tim had his right arm slung over the passenger seat, too. And if he didn't have a passenger seat, he'd probably install one. And bring along a couple stewardesses for the ride.

We'll close with two good letters on the same topic of wrecks vs. clean racing:

___________________

I like wrecks during races. I admit it. There is nothing else in NASCAR or any other motor sport that provides the "OMG did you see that?" or "OMG you've got to see the replay of this" moments that wrecks do.

That said, I do not sit around during a race and hope and praying that a wreck will come along. Never will. What I do miss is the competitiveness during the race. The aggressive moves. The bump-and-run moves that do not cause wrecks but are a spike in the action. Passing down the backstretch. Those things, things fans really love, seem to be missing from NASCAR these days. They're rarely seen on the short tracks anymore. About the only races where such aggressive action occurs are the two road races and they only occur at one or two corners each lap.

Most fans do not want more wrecks. We do want aggressive, competitive racing throughout the race not just the final 5 percent of the laps. But, when they do occur, we do love wrecks.

—Ron Andersen
Eagan, Minn.

I never heard someone come into work on Monday and say "did you see Stewart pass Jr. on lap 22?" I'm not arguing that it makes us good or bad people...it just makes us people. We like the carnage, we like to share, and we like to share the carnage. Did you ever tell someone a story about your drive home that was exactly like every other drive home? No, but you will tell the story of the day you saw the SUV upside down wrapped around a tree. If you still don't believe me, record a race. Give yourself about 60 minutes to watch it. You'll fast forward through most of it with the intent of watching the last 20 laps. But I'm willing to bet that most people will hit play when the yellow caution light starts flashing just to see what happened. Why? Not because we're bad people, but because it's interesting, different, unpredictable. And that's what we like.

—Joel H.
Blandon, Pa.

Right on, gents. Here's a solution: award more points for leading at various checkpoints in the race. You award an extra point for leading every 100 miles, you're going to see a lot less backmarking. Artificial? Sure, but it's artifice in the service of good racing, not some manufactured drama like debris that may or may not actually exist.

Another idea: let the drivers race fans' cars. You like Tony Stewart? Prove it. Give him the keys to your minivan and see if he can outdrive Carl Edwards in your buddy's SUV. I'd pay money to see that, and you would too.

And on that note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here.  Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!

Next up for Daly, running in a Force India

Source: Formula 1 Blog by negativecamber@formula1blog.com (Negative Camber & Grace)

I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s been a pretty good week for Conor Daly. A first GP3 win will do that for a driver.

If you somehow missed it, here’s Conor in his own words, exclusively here at F1B. (Yeah, I’m pimping that. Wouldn’t you?)

And it keeps getting better. On Thursday. Conor will get his first taste of a Formula 1 car, courtesy Force India. Here’s the team’s release:

Up and coming GP3 racer, Conor Daly, will enjoy his first taste of F1 power this week when he gets behind the wheel of the VJM05 on Thursday 17 May. The 20-year-old American driver will help the team with its aero testing programme, which takes place at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire.

Fresh from his race win during the opening round of the GP3 season in Barcelona last weekend, Conor visited the team’s Silverstone headquarters on Tuesday for a seat-fit and to familiarise himself with the systems on the car. It was a chance to meet his engineering crew and run through the functions on a Formula One steering wheel.

The programme on Thursday is one of the full-size aerodynamic tests that teams are allowed to complete during the course of the season. The focus is to measure aerodynamic forces to correlate with wind tunnel data.

Enjoy, Conor, and if it isn’t too presumptuous – don’t forget to pull your thoughts together for us. And, to Force India: You might want to give him a little time at the USGP. And I don’t care if that is presumptuous. Make it happen.

NASCAR's pit crews get their chance to shine (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports NASCAR

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) Carl Edwards loves plenty of things about NASCAR's All-Star week. One of his favorites, though, is seeing his crew members in the spotlight instead of himself.

Pit Crew Challenge Entry List

Source: Stock Car Spin by Amanda

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

HARRISBURG, NC – Entering its eighth year of competition, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge will feature 24 of the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews in a head-to-head competition at 7 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 17 at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling Time Warner Cable Arena box office at (800) 745-3000. SPEED’s broadcast of the event begins at 8 p.m.

The 20 teams eligible for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 19 automatically qualified for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge. The remaining four positions were assigned to the car owners ranked highest in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner point standings as of May 14, 2012, who were not otherwise eligible for this event.

The official entry list for the event is outlined below.

Official Entry List

· No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge

· No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet

· No. 9 Stanley Ford

· No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota

· No. 14 Office Depot-Mobile 1 Chevrolet

· No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota

· No. 16 3M Ford

· No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford

· No. 18 M&M’s Toyota

· No. 20 Home Depot-Dollar General Toyota

· No. 21 Good Sam-Camping World Ford

· No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet

· No. 27 Menard’s Chevrolet

· No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet

· No. 31 CAT Chevrolet

· No. 34 MHP-Power Pak Pudding Ford

· No. 39 U.S. Army-Quicken Loans Chevrolet

· No. 48 My Lowe’s Chevrolet

· No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet

· No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota

· No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota

· No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet

· No. 88 National Guard-Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet

· No. 99 Fastenal Ford

Pit Crew Challenge Entry List - Stock Car Spin - Stock Car Spin - A NASCAR Blog

The Fireball Cup standings have a new leader, and you’ll never guess who

Source: From the Marbles by Jay Busbee

Catching up with our year-long Fireball Cup competition, recognizing excellence in the field of NASCAR brawling. And check this out: our new leader has come from nowhere to take charge of the competition in just one race!

Recall our rules, which can and do change on a whim:

• Verbal/Twitter exchange; slightly aggressive driving leading to issues: 1 point
• Bumping cars in an aggressive, making-a-point fashion: 2 points
• Spin, non-critical: 3 points
• Spin, critical: 4 points
• Out of car, punches thrown: 5 points

Fireball Cup stats, Talladega and Darlington:

• Ryan Newman's crew going after Kurt Busch: 2 points
• Kurt Busch, screaming his head off over the radio: 1 point
• Busch, aggressively burning out through the 39 pit stall: 2 points
• Busch, ramming his car into Newman's on pit road: 2 points
• Busch, shouting at the 39 crew himself: 1 point
• Danica Patrick, spinning out Sam Hornish Jr.: 3 points
• Tony Stewart, aggressively mouthing off toward Talladega: 1 point

Which gives us current standings of:

1. Kurt Busch: 6 points
T2. Jeff Gordon, 4 points
T2. Danica Patrick, 4 points
T4. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 3 points
T4. Ryan Newman, 3 points
6. Jimmie Johnson, 2 points
T7. Kevin Harvick, 1 point
T7. Matt Kenseth, 1 point
T7. Joey Logano, 1 point
T7. David Ragan, 1 point
T7. Tony Stewart: 1 point

It's just not a brawl without a Busch involved, is it? All is starting to get right with the world. Bravo to Patrick for getting the largest (so far) individual penalty. And look for more to come this weekend at the All-Star Race.

Your turn. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below.

Cartoon: In Honor of Chevrolet's Next Stock Car

Source: NASCAR Ranting and Raving by A_Rosser14

It appears that the 2013 Sprint Cup season will see the Bowtie Brigade piloting a rebadged Holden Commodore. Six of Chevy's top stars are already getting in the spirit...

Kaltenborn given 1/3 of Sauber

Source: Formula 1 Blog by negativecamber@formula1blog.com (Negative Camber & Grace)

The rule of any good organization is the lock your generals in place and secure the future and legacy, if that is what you desire, of the entity. This is nothing new in business but it is new to Sauber. According to the team website, Peter Sauber has taken a bold move to secure the continuity and future of the team. Here is the press release:

In the interests of continuity, Peter Sauber has taken the decision to transfer a third of the stake in the Sauber Group to CEO Monisha Kaltenborn. Sauber, the Team Principal and President of the Board of Directors of all Sauber Group companies, will retain the remaining two thirds.

Peter says this is a logical choice in keeping continuity going for the long-term prospects of the organization:

“When BMW pulled out of Formula One in 2009, Monisha Kaltenborn was instrumental in the team’s survival and since then she has been doing outstanding work in her capacity as CEO,” says Peter Sauber. “Transferring one third of the stake to her represents an important step for me in providing continuity. My desire is to ensure that the company continues to be led as I would want over the long term. Monisha Kaltenborn and my son Alex, who joined the company as Marketing Director in 2010 and has since also been a member of the Board of Management, both embrace this aim. It means we can offer our employees a positive outlook for the future.”

No question that Monisha Kaltenborn is taking the opportunity very seriously as she said:

CEO Monisha Kaltenborn adds: “For me this step is a mark of the greatest possible trust, which I will do everything in my power to justify.”

Peter rescued the team from BMW’s exit of Formula One and has since developed a tidy operation with strategic ties to Ferrari and sponsor money from Mexico as well as drivers that have been exciting the paddock of late. The team is loaded with terrific talent and securing their future with a clear succession plan and line of site for employees is a good thing.

Are Kurt Busch’s antics hindering his career?

Source: Stock Car Spin by Amanda

I guess some people just never learn. Kurt Busch lost his high-profile ride in the No. 22 Dodge at Penske Racing at the end of last season, mostly due to his behavioral problems that ranged from berating his crew via in-race radio communication to an instance late last season in which he didn’t handle himself well during an interview with an ESPN reporter.

As you know, in the end, Busch was relieved of driving duties at Penske and hired on (without a written contract, supposedly) by James Finch for his Phoenix Racing organization to drive the No. 51 Chevrolet.

Finch has a reputation as a take-no-crap kind of owner. But that, obviously, doesn’t have Busch scared. Apparently, he hasn’t really learned from the whole Penske deal, or from getting fired by car owner Jack Roush before that.

Busch seemed to be, at least somewhat, on the straight and narrow until it all just fell apart Saturday night during the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlingtonn (S.C.) Raceay.

After a race that saw Busch and fellow-competitor Ryan Newman make contact on the race track, Busch nearly hit members of Newman’s No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing team on pit road, and Busch and a member of the No. 39 team “go at it” after the race, Busch has once again caught the ire of NASCAR.

Of course, Busch wasn’t the only individual issued some kind of punishment when penalties were handed out for the incident, but he was the only one of the small group with a “serious record.” As a result, NASCAR’s bad boy was fined some $50,000 and placed on probation.

A couple of crew members on the No. 51 and No. 39 teams were on the receiving end of smaller fines and probationary periods, and No. 39 crew chief Tony Gibson was placed on probation because, as crew chief, he’s responsible for the behavior of his team. But their penalties weren’t as glaring as Busch’s. After all, Busch has a reputation for this sort of behavior.

On top of that, radio communication from Busch to his crew from Saturday night has been replayed on NASCAR news programming in the days since — at least what few parts of it was deemed fit for consumption by the general public. Actually, the replay seemed more like a series of censor beeps, interrupted by a stray word here and there.

NASCAR fans have complained fairly recently about their drivers becoming “too vanilla.” At least Busch fans don’t have that complaint. But it seems he has taken his colorfulness at least a little too far, and maybe to the continual detriment of his career. Busch is an excellent driver. I’ll give him that. After all, it hasn’t been all that many years since he claimed a Cup title. But his outbursts are overshadowing, and maybe even hindering, what could be an even more stellar NASCAR career.

Follow Stock Car Spin on Twitter @SCSblog. We also have a fan/like page on Facebook: Stock Car Spin. Amanda’s also on Twitter @NASCARexaminer.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images for NASCAR.

Are Kurt Busch’s antics hindering his career? - Stock Car Spin - Stock Car Spin - A NASCAR Blog

Caraviello: Inside a helmet, everything can seem different (NASCAR.com)

Source: Yahoo! Sports NASCAR

Caraviello: Inside a helmet, everything can seem different

NASCAR Issues Fines And Probation Kurt Busch and Others For Post Race Incident at Darlington

Source: NASCAR Ranting and Raving by 4ever3

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2012) – NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 51 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until July 25 for his actions during the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; reckless driving on pit road during the race; involved in an altercation with another competitor after the completion of the race) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. Additionally, Craig Strickler, a crew member for the No. 51 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; interfering with a member of

Nationwide Survives Darlington: The VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 Review

Source: NASCAR Ranting and Raving by Troy J.

(Editor's Note: Due to an Internet failure at the 4ever3 residence I was not able get this up the last few days - sorry!). There's never much that can be said when a Sprint Cup driver wins a Nationwide race. This time though, the winner caused a Championship contender to crash. Joey Logano caused Sadler to hit the wall during a late race re-start. Sadler finished a disappointing 24th but he only falls to second in points. Based on last year's Nationwide campaign Elliott should be no stranger to getting spun by guys either not running for the championship or mathematically eliminated from contention.

Travis Pastrana finished 17th, which was a pretty good run for a Darlington Rookie. Danica Patrick wound up 12th, which

Kurt Busch cussed his #%@$ing mouth out on Saturday night

Source: From the Marbles by Jay Busbee

This is lovely: Kurt Busch's radio from Saturday night's race in Darlington. Really, I have nothing to add. This is a [expletive]ing masterpiece. Much more on Kurt this week, trust us. This story ain't getting old any time soon.

[Via Jeff Gluck]

Excuse me, what are you doing?: Vettel in Kung Fu Movie

Source: WTF1 by Tommy

 

F1 driver’s making a tit out of themselves is nothing new. We’ve seen Lewis Hamilton as Apollo for a Vodafone advert and even Mark Webber singing beautifully in a milk advert. Now it’s Sebastian Vettel’s turn, as he stars in a Kung Fu movie with actress Celina Jade.

Click below for some awkward acting and the worst body double you will ever see.

via

Infiniti

 

Jaime Alguersuari: “I know where I will be next year”

Source: theformula1.com by Mike F1

The 2012 had bad start for the young Spanish driver, when he received a phone call from his former boss informing him that he was laid off weeks only after he had reassurances that will continue to drive for Toro Rosso.

Following the bad news Jaime signed up to comment some of the 2012 Formula 1 races with BBC and later on he received a very good offer from Pirelli to become one of their test drivers.

Now the youngest driver in history to get into an Formula 1 car said into an interview for the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia that he has all figured out for the 2013 Formula 1 Season.

After he remain without a drive in 2012 all seemed very complicated and almost impossible to make a comeback for 2013 but Jaime remained optimistic about his chances:

“I’m happy. This was a completely necessary step into my life, a transition year in which I am learning so much. I am developing a product that nobody knows and that is vital for Formula 1: to know the tires and how to understand them. I chose to be with Pirelli because it was the best choice and I know that the tires are extremely important in Formula 1, they were last year and this also one must know how to manage them well and in the best way possible. I’m in the right place  and I have the external point of view because I am also with BBC commenting races. I am having a moment of my life completely necessary and I look forward to returning next year. “

This year’s F1 championship is more even than ever, and that is something positive for the sport. “With the new regulations the blown diffuser was banned and that made everyone lose an efficient aerodynamics load, some more than others but this creates a more balanced and equal time table. Between the first and the fifteenth is a second and a half now while last year this difference would have been between the pole and the seventh. Now with the new regulations is down to the driver and the tyre to make the difference. The tyre because you have to know how to manage them, and a minimum change in strategy can bring you great performance. The strategies are essential now and this is because there is very little difference between the cars.”

Talking about his past time with Toro Rosso Jaime said that is already a closed chapter and he is focusing only on 2013:

“I’m in the prime of my life. I always say that what does not kill you makes you stronger and Toro Rosso has not killed me, so it made ​​me stronger. Red Bull has given me everything for six years. I know where I go; I know where I’ll be next year. In addition, at 22yo I’m in the best physical and mental form and I have no doubt in my abilities and what I can do.”

Info: La Vanguardia

Related Posts :

• FIA Thursday press conference – Spain
• Buemi and Alguersuari to stay at Toro Rosso for 2011
• FIA Thursday press conference – Europe
• Formula One Fantasy – Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari
• Jaime Alguersuari Q&A: I want an issue-free race

Olé: Best photoshops from Spanish Grand Prix

Source: WTF1 by Tommy

What. A. Season! We all wondered if Kimi Raikkonen could become the fifth different winner in a fifth different car to win in 2012 but instead Pastor Maldonado took one of the most surprise victories in recent memory. So with another awesome race comes a load more hilarious photoshops.

Click below for the best from the Spanish Grand Prix.

R Soul

f1fastestlap

Sniff Petrol

WTF1

F1ML

twittematt

rjtart

654321

WTF1

The Williamzer

via

Photoshop Season  

Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.

 

American drivers solid on Indy 500 practice laps

Source: SI.com

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Nine American drivers were on the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway practicing on Tuesday, with several posting top times in preparation for the Indianapolis 500 on May 27.

Kentucky Speedway ready for its second chance

Source: SI.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger said there's no excuse for last year's traffic blunders at the inaugural Sprint Cup Series race at the track in Sparta.

US drivers solid on practice laps (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports IRL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Nine United States drivers were on the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway practicing on Tuesday, with several posting top times in preparation for the Indianapolis 500 on May 27.

Food Network's Fieri will drive Indy 500 pace car

Source: SI.com

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network's hit show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," will drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500.

NASCAR slaps Kurt Busch with $50K fine

Source: SI.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch $50,000 for reckless driving on pit road at Darlington and a post-race altercation with Ryan Newman's crew members.

A Fallen King

Source: SI.com

Richard Petty Motorsports is teetering on irrelevance, having won only five times in the past 28 years. But an unlikely driver is pushing them toward respectability, writes Cary Estes.

NASCAR fines Kurt Busch $50,000 after Darlington (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports NASCAR

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Kurt Busch was fined $50,000 by NASCAR on Tuesday for reckless driving on pit road at Darlington and a post-race altercation with Ryan Newman's crew members.

NASCAR: Fines, probation for Kurt Busch, #39 team members

Source: From the Marbles by Jay Busbee

Saturday night's Darlington pit road altercation between Kurt Busch's boys and Ryan Newman's crew has resulted in fines and penalties for both sides. Here's how it shakes out, per a Tuesday ruling by NASCAR:

• Kurt Busch was fined $50,000 and put on probation until July 25 for "actions detrimental to stock car racing," including "reckless driving on pit road."

• Craig Strickler, one of Busch's crew, was fined $5,000 and put on probation through the end of the year.

• Tony Gibson, Newman's crew chief, is on probation until June 27 because of the actions of his crew.

• Andrew Rueger, one of Newman's crew members, was fined $5,000 and put on probation until June 27.

All of the penalties stem from the late-race incident in which Busch ran a burnout through Newman's pit stall, close to the #39 crew members, and subsequent postrace confrontations between both crews.

Busch wasn't docked any points, but it probably wouldn't have made much difference in his season anyway. After keeping himself reasonably in control for the first third of the season, Busch threw away months' worth of hard work with one profanity-laden radio outburst at the end of the Darlington race.

You can understand his frustration; he had a top-10 ride despite pit road problems, but he couldn't hold it together and ended up putting the 51 car into the wall with only a few laps remaining in the race. Still, Busch's rage likely won't endear him to any sponsors looking to throw a few more bucks NASCAR's way.

And so the "Days without a Busch blowup" clock goes back to zero.

The Driverless NASCAR Power Rankings: Darlington

Source: SBNation.com by Jeff Gluck

It seems like every web site has some version of a weekly NASCAR Power Rankings – except us. So at SB Nation, we figured it was about time to join the fun.

Along with SB Nation contributor Jordan Bianchi and the anonymous-but-funny @nascarcasm, here's a completely unscientific NASCAR power poll, except without any NASCAR drivers included.

1. Rick Hendrick

Reason: Hey, 200 wins for the greatest team owner in NASCAR history should be worth the top spot.

2. NASCAR official who fell onto Kurt Busch's hood

Reason: This dude went toe-to-toe with Ryan Newman's burly gas man and bounced right back up after he was pushed stumbled backward onto the No. 51's hood. Plus, he did

‘Unprecedented’ 2012 isn’t as mad as it seems

Source: Formula 1 Blog by negativecamber@formula1blog.com (Negative Camber & Grace)

Instead of talking tires some more, I’d just say let’s not abandon the current 2012 season as apocalyptically topsy-turvy too soon.

It’s true that five different teams have won the first five races, some of which have been riddled with pit stops, plus there remains a lot of uncertainty over the genuine pecking order and its rationale.

Yet the numbers still tell quite a sensible story on the whole. Here are the current championship standings.

Drivers:
Vettel 61
Alonso 61
Hamilton 53
Raikkonen 49
Webber 48
Button 45
Rosberg 41
Grosjean 35
Maldonado 29
Perez 22
Kobayashi 19
Di Resta 15
Senna 14
Vergne 4
Hülkenberg 3
Ricciardo 2
Massa 2
Schumacher 2
Not-so-new boys 0

Constructors:
Red Bull 109
McLaren 98
Lotus Renault 84
Ferrari 63
Mercedes 43
Williams Renault 43
Sauber 41
Force India 18
Torro Rosso 6
Not-so-new boys 0

Sure, the field is an awful lot closer than many of the most recent years, but the general picture looks ok from here. Folks from almost certainly the best-funded five teams occupy the top eight driver spots, those same teams are leading the constructors’ race.

We know Lotus Renault – a championship team itself not long ago – has built a great car, while Ferrari has some issues. And we know the Brackley-based outift now known as Mercedes has never fully found the magic recipe save for one year. We also know Williams – a team with more constructors’ titles than McLaren (just) – was reliably mid-pack or more for 30 straight years until last time out; while McLaren themselves might easily have had a far larger haul of points this year. And they’re already a clear second with both drivers in the hunt.

Accounting for that, the field looks very competitive, but about right to me. Big dogs at or near top – and when they struggle there’s almost always a reason.

Even in the drivers, I’d say Alonso and Raikkonen are positively surprising (by just how much is debatable), while only Massa and Schumacher draw attention to themselves in the doldrums.

The races help explain it too: Much of the Melbourne weekend was wet/dry; the Malaysia race was wet; Shanghai was dusty, cold and first dry circuit event; Bahrain was doubly dusty after a year’s absence, and Barcelona’s pole-sitter started from the back.

In any case, I’d bet on this unprecedented unpredictability regressing towards the mean in the remainder of the season. Just not necessarily at Monaco, admittedly.

Will Ryan Newman Return To Stewart-Haas Racing In 2013?

Source: SBNation.com by Jeff Gluck

Ryan Newman wants to return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2013 and team owner Tony Stewart wants Newman to return next year, too.

But depending on sponsorship, that may not be possible. That's why, even though SHR hopes to retain Newman, the driver has been given permission to look around in case sponsorship isn't found.

"I want him back next year," Stewart said. "Obviously, we're trying to work on sponsorship to find funding to keep that going. Ryan and I are on the same page; he knows what we're trying to do. I have every intention of keeping him next year."

Stewart-Haas Racing spokesman Mike Arning said the team is focusing on "one driver and one driver only" for the No. 39 car in 2013, and that's Newman. But SHR

Six Pack of Pop: Roush opines on state of sponsorship at RFR

Source: NASCAR.com

Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, answers this week's six questions.

Food Network host to drive Indy 500 pace car (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports IRL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network's hit show ''Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,'' will drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500.

You Can’t Have It Both Ways

Source: Stock Car Spin by Les

Image Courtesy Wikipedia

When I was running Dirt Tracks in the Late 60′s, there would always be some extra curricular activity at the pay window. Sometimes it was prudent to take a tire iron along when going to get your lap money, based on what happened during action on the track. Somebody is always ticked-off about something that happened on the track. This is what stock car racing has been since it’s beginning.

The local promoters for the Bojangle’s 500 Saturday night, used the after race altercation between Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick in last years race, to sell tickets for the event. I read one report where that scene was depicted on billboards throughout the area to get fans to the track for round two.

ESPN and Fox Sports has used the comical video from the incident last year as hype to promo both, the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races, using anything to intice fans to tune in for both nights action. A little drama goes a long way in encouraging viewers to watch the broadcasts.

This brings me to the point. A big deal has now been made out of the incident on Pit Road between pit crews for Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman. This has to be fodder for next weeks All Star Race in Charlotte. After all, this isn’t a points race, so everyone needs to be watching their rear view mirror for someone with a grudge to settle. This makes good stories, and gets everyone to tune in Saturday night to see what is going to happen next.

Evidently Kurt Busch, angry about the late race incident that took him out of contention for a good finish, which by the way he wasn’t upset at Newman, burned out of his pit narrowly missing Newman pit crew members. This angered Newman crew to the point of wanting a pound of flesh after the race. There was some shoving and jawing, and a Nascar official was pushed, or slipped , leaving Nascar and Robin Pemberton  to get involved after it was over.

When these high dollar sponsors we currently have in the Sprint Cup series threw in with the Rough and Rowdy Nascar crowd, didn’t they understand what they were getting into, or wasn’t it explained to them? Didn’t they see the first prime time Daytona 500 ever televised in 1979, when Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison decided to settle on-track problems after the checkered flag? They must have left before all the action was over, and didn’t watch the fight in turn three after the race. To date, that is still the most memorable part of the race. Most people don’t remember that Richard Petty ended a 45 race win-less streak and hoisted the trophy.

This attitude puts Nascar in the precarious position of having to police the situation and hand out fines or suspensions for activity that is just part of the sport. The fans and media eat this activity up. Racing is not a gentlemans sport. If that’s what they want, they need to invest their advertising dollars in Golf, and leave racing to the spark plug and shocks advertisers, that understand what it’s about.

I don’t think Big Bill France Sr. would have allowed these types of sponsors to push him into modifying his sport so much, that it has become almost unwatchable from a fans point of view. I lay the blame for the state of Nascar squarely at Mike Helton’s feet where it belongs. I think Big Bill would have understood that you can’t have it both ways.

You Can’t Have It Both Ways - Stock Car Spin - Stock Car Spin - A NASCAR Blog

Prelude details announced

Source: Stock Car Spin by Amanda

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

CONCORD, N.C. (May 15, 2012) – On Wednesday, June 6 in tiny Rossburg, Ohio, stars representing NASCAR, NHRA, INDYCAR and the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series align in a big way with the Prelude To The Dream.

Eldora Speedway will once again play host to the all-star dirt Late Model race featuring more than 25 world renowned drivers as they battle for dirt supremacy on the half-mile clay oval where HBO Pay-Per-View® will present the event LIVE in high-definition to the entire nation. Net proceeds from the telecast will support Feed The Children, a U.S.-based charity that domestically has helped more than 365,000 families since 2009 through its Americans Feeding Americans Caravan.

The eighth annual Prelude To The Dream joins racing luminaries from all disciplines at one track, on one night as they pilot 2,300-pound dirt Late Model stock cars capable of putting out more than 800 horsepower. It is One Perfect Night.

Tony Kanaan of the IZOD IndyCar Series will again compete against Danica Patrick, who in 2012 has made the full transition from IndyCar to NASCAR. They’ll rub fenders with straight-liners Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Dirt regulars Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz, who have collectively won 24 World of Outlaws championships, will race for the first time in dirt Late Models. All will join NASCAR stars such as Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte and many others, including a band of brothers: the Busch brothers – Kurt and Kyle – and the Dillon brothers – Austin and Ty.

The live, commercial-free, high-definition broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. PDT) with an immediate replay. The Prelude To The Dream has a suggested retail price of $24.95 and is available to more than 92 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming in the pay-per-view industry. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing information is available at either PreludeToTheDream.org or HBO.com. Updates can also be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/PreludeToDream and on Twitter @PreludeToDream).

The 2012 edition of the Prelude To The Dream includes hot laps, qualifying, heat races and a 40-lap feature with double-file “shootout style” restarts. New participants include Patrick, Kinser, Schatz and Ty Dillon, who will join Stewart, Capps, Kenny Wallace and Kenny Schrader as drivers who have participated in every Prelude To The Dream since 2005, where Wallace was the inaugural winner.

“We have the most diverse group of drivers we’ve ever had for the Prelude, and for the first time, the Prelude will be broadcast in high-definition,” said Stewart, owner of Eldora Speedway and a three-time winner of the Prelude To The Dream. “This year’s event is going to be a can’t-miss show. We’ve added 10 laps to the feature and partnered with a great charity in Feed The Children. You’re going to see some intense racing by everyone, including some drivers completely out of their comfort zone. We’ll all be racing for a trophy, but also to make an impact with the more than 16 million children who are at risk of going hungry right here in America.”

For the top-10 finishers in the Prelude To The Dream, Feed The Children will send a food truck to each driver’s hometown or city of their choice.

“This is an excellent opportunity to bring attention to the nationwide problem of child hunger by working with these world-class drivers,” said Rick England, chairman, Feed The Children board of directors. “Their efforts will allow more families to put food on the table and help us provide a solution to those hard hit by the current economy.”

The seven previous Prelude To The Dream events have collectively raised more than $3.5 million. With each year’s event gaining significant stature and mainstream interest, Stewart’s ultimate goal is to have the 2012 Prelude To The Dream raise $1 million, with the proceeds benefitting Feed The Children.

“It’s an ambitious goal,” admits Stewart, “but if we don’t set the bar high, we’re not pushing ourselves the way we should. That’s our goal, and me and everybody else associated with this event is going to do everything we can to meet that goal. Now, we just need everyone out there to purchase the event, enjoy all the action going on at Eldora, and know that their dollars are going to a very worthy cause.”

“Each year we are thrilled to bring the exciting live action from Eldora into living rooms across the country,” said Tammy Ross, Vice President, HBO Pay-Per-View & Sports. “This year’s benefitting organization, Feed The Children charities’ mission is that no child should go to bed hungry, and the HBO Pay-Per-View team is thrilled to bring the Prelude To The Dream to fans everywhere to help further that mission.”

With no points and no pressure, the Prelude To The Dream is a throwback race, allowing drivers to step back in time and compete for the reasons they all went racing in the first place – pride and a trophy. And they’ll do it on the same surface racing legends A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti competed on nearly 50 years ago.

For those who want to see the Prelude To The Dream in person, tickets are available online at EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. Act fast – the race has sold out in previous years.

Prelude details announced - Stock Car Spin - Stock Car Spin - A NASCAR Blog

Canada is the next ‘dangerous’ GP

Source: Formula 1 Blog by negativecamber@formula1blog.com (Negative Camber & Grace)

With Bahrain behind us, it would be OK if you thought that Formula 1 wouldn’t have to worry about the safety of staff and fans again (well, at least until Brazil).

Turns out that may not be true.

Students in Montreal are protesting university tuition increases, and it appears things are getting a little bit rough. Students have “clashed” with police in recent, according to coverage by the Montreal Gazette.

Now, I know these things always can seem or be overblown — we’ve got a 100 students here, 30 there — but what caught my eye, and made me think there might be more to the story, was an editorial last week in the Gazette on the issue. It lays out the more serious actions that have been taken:

This was driven home by Thursday’s concerted attack on the métro that shut the system down, disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of Montrealers. It was an attack on a vital public service – in effect, an attack on the general public, on us all. Thus all of us now, all Quebecers, have an obligation to reflect and decide – and let it be known – whether we want a society governed by democratic rule and a legitimate system of laws, or whether one governed by the dictates of mobs and vandals. If any good comes of this outrage, it will be to make it clear that this conflict over tuition fees has brought Quebec to a societal crossroads.

The crippling of the métro may or may not have been perpetrated by boycotting students. But it happened in the context of the student revolt, and would probably not have happened in the normal course of Montreal life. So the students who have pushed the confrontation to this intolerable point will find themselves rightly wearing some of the blame.

The Gazette continues, with not much sympathy for the protesters:

The time has come for true majority rule enacted by Quebec’s democratically elected government backed by a decisive majority of Quebec’s citizenry – something that the latest polling happily shows is shaping up. It is evident by now that no accommodation short of abject surrender will becalm the student mob. It is up to the government to draw its own line, and to draw it hard. Students who wish to attend classes or exams should be enabled to do so, if necessary by law-enforcement authorities. Students who wish to keep cutting classes in defiance of a deadline to return should have their semester scrubbed. And teachers who don’t show up on the job should have their pay suspended.

An assertion of the lawful and legitimate order of things would be in the long-term interest of all Quebecers.

From an NPR story I heard this morning, the ongoing protests are becoming more of an issue because Montreal is quickly coming up to its tourism season — and that’s when the lights went out (to keep in F1 lingo) for me. The grand prix is part of that tourism.

Now, will it actually be unsafe for people to go to the race? Probably not — but right now, of any city set to hold a race, Montreal would appear to be the most chaotic (other than Austin around 3 a.m. on any given Sunday morning).

And just so I’m not the master of hyperbole on this story, I’m going to leave you with the end of the Gazette’s editorial:

But it is madness to repeat now what was foolish then. It may take a certain wrench of the collective mindset, but in light of the current situation, Quebec must decide in short order what it wants, now and for the future: order or anarchy.

We know which one Bernie Ecclestone would choose, right?