Sticky situations
August 9, 2003
Ralf Schumacher has vowed to help his team mate Juan Pablo Montoya try to win the F1 World Championship…even if it means helping him beat his brother Michael. Juan currently trails Michael by 6 points in the standings. What an awkward situation for Ralf….
BBC: Ralf vows to help Montoya
CART weekend TV schedule
August 9, 2003
SPEED Channel | Sat, Aug 9 1:30 pm ET | Qualifying2
SPEED Channel | Sun, Aug 10 1:30 pm ET | Pre-Race
SPEED Channel | Sun, Aug 10 2:00 pm ET | Race Live
Jeff Gordon on pole at Watkins
August 9, 2003
Jeff Gordon spoiled what could have been an all Roush front row by taking pole at the Glen…
NASCAR.com: Race Lineup
NASCAR.com: J. Gordon, 17 others break track record
ThatsRacin.com: Response ‘pretty ridiculous’ in Friday crash, Newman says
The-Leader.com: Biffle hopes to duplicate Busch, Truck successes at WGI
China marketing influence?
August 8, 2003
Team McLaren has signed 19 year old Frankie Cheng to a McLaren junior formula racing team with the hope of bringing him up to F1.
With the world economy being what it is, can you blame any team for reaching out to potential advertisers in the worlds largest market by signing native born drivers? How soon before Indian and Arab drivers are enlisted in the effort to secure sponsors? My only caveat to these potential driving/sponsorship deals is please, find people with some ability. There should be no room in the sport for second rate talents that merely get in the way of real racing.
McLaren joins in on Chinese push
Suzuka next to go?
August 8, 2003
According to Jacques Villeneuve, it’s only a matter of time before the event at Suzuka slips away and is dropped from the schedule.
And here I thought we were all waiting for Jacques to slip away and get dropped from the schedule!
Earnhardt Jr. fastest in practice, Newman flips!
August 8, 2003
NASCAR.com: Earnhardt fastest in practice; Newman crashes
Speeds from Friday’s Winston Cup practice session at Watkins Glen International (with car number, driver, car make and speed):
1. (8) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 124.259 mph
2. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 124.253
3. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 124.033
4. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 123.635
5. (20) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 123.611
The Barron question
August 8, 2003
Robin Miller joins a list of people, myself included, wondering why the hell no one has hired Alex Barron for a full time ride…
RPM.ESPN: Barron taking advantage of chance
Canadian GP dropped from schedule
August 8, 2003
The Canadian Grand Prix was removed from the schedule because of the Canadian government’s ban on tobacco advertising. The US Grand Prix is now the ONLY F1 race in North America. What a crime…
GrandPrix.com: Oops!
Sportsline.com: Montreal loses F1 race due to anti-tobacco laws
GrandPrix.com: Why Canada is out
GrandPrix.com: The effects of the Montreal axe
Said sick of “hired gun” status
August 8, 2003
Boris Said is sick of his status as a NASCAR “hired gun” just for the two road course races of the season. He wants a full time Winston Cup ride. How realistic is that really? He is a great road racer no doubt. But where is the proof on the ovals?
The reason he is running as hired gun is because many of the WC regulars are not so skilled with road racing, right? Why? Because oval racing and road racing are radically different. Some people can do both, but Boris has never proven himself on an oval that I am aware of. If I am a team owner, what’s my motivation to hire him? He won pole at Sonoma, but didn’t win the race. Fact is all these road races end up being won by WC regulars whose teams put the time, energy and dollars into their road course program. Boris is a great racer, but would be a big gamble for a Winston Cup ride. I’d put him in Busch first to see what he can do…
MyInky.com: Said is tired of ‘hired gun’ label
MontereyHerald.com: Spencer challenges ‘Hired Guns’
GlobeandMail.com: Fellows dreams of that first Winston Cup
AP photo from DelawareOnline.com
New Formula 2 will replace F3000
August 8, 2003
The FIA Formula 3000 class will be replaced by a new Formula 2 in 2005. The series will get new chassis rules and engine manufacturer backing. The new series will feature a cheaper but more powerful engine than the 3.0-liter Zytek V8 used this season, and Ecclestone is in talks with both Renault and Toyota about supplying it. Zytek’s existing F3000 supply contract ends at the end of 2004, as does the spec Lola chassis contract.