Barron in for Rice
September 5, 2003
It is just common sense that another IRL team would snatch up Alex Barron after his subbing duties are complete at Mo Nunn racing. I didn’t think that common sense would come from the Cheever camp. Kudos to Eddie for making a concerted move to improve his team. After getting out of the car himself, and staying out, hiring Alex has got to be the smartest move he’s made all season. I just hope Alex can take the materials supplied by Cheever racing and turn out some or his patented miracle wins. The interesting twist here is that Cheever says Rice has not been fired and will stay with the team. What that means for Alex and Buddy…who knows…
Crash.net: Barron in for Rice at Red Bull Team Cheever
KansasCity.com: Barron in, Rice out as Cheever IRL driver
Rahal honored
September 5, 2003
Laguna Seca will honor Bobby Rahal by naming a portion of the famed track “The Rahal Straight”
Cart-racing.com: Rahal honored by Laguna Seca
Double dipping in the IRL
September 5, 2003
No, we’re not talking about someone drawing down on two pensions. We’re talking about Ed Carpenter competing in both IRL races at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend.
Crash.net: Double duty Carpenter in the IRL
Skinner wrecks, takes pole, then wrecks again
September 5, 2003
In a surprising turn of events this afternoon, Mike Skinner put the #01 US Army Pontiac on pole position at Richmond. Skinner used the back-up car after crashing the primary earlier in the day, and then crashed the pole winning car in afternoon practice after qualifying. There is no word on whether they can repair the damage or will have to go to the back of the pack with another back up car. This pole victory is extra special for the US Army team since their last outing at Richmond put Jerry Nadeau, the regular driver of the 01, in the hospital with critical injuries…
NASCAR.com: Skinner knocks Biffle off Bud Pole at RIR
ThatsRacin.com: Skinner put’s Nadeau’s Pontiac on pole, then wrecks it again
NOT another tire story!
September 5, 2003
“Tired” (ha-ha, get it?) of reading and hearing of all the rubber controversy in F1? You can count on my boy Eddie Jordan to get himself back in the spotlight. He thinks Toyota should be giving Jordan and/or Minardi free engines for God’s sake!
PlanetF1.com: Jordan slams irresponsible Andersson
Michelin threatens legal action
September 5, 2003
And the bullshit just keeps piling up, doesn’t it? Although the points in the Michelin letter are valid, we all know not a damned thing will happen in court unless some absurd disqualifications occur. Stranger things have happened in F1, haven’t they?
F1-Live.com: Michelin send letter to Gazzetta Dello Sport
Ferrari cracking under pressure
September 5, 2003
Not since the 1997 World Championship title of Jacques Villeneuve has Williams taken the top prize in F1. For coming up on 6 years now the team that had dominated in the past has languished in a drought that included spotty sponsorship, poor engine packages, and unrest in their driver line-up. In all that time I seem to recall the Williams camp quietly going about their business and reshaping their entire team. When the Williams “super team” fell off the podium for several years there was no whining about what some other team had that they did not. They simply put their heads down and got their package together. This year is the result of that hard work.
To see Ferrari, who is clearly headed on the downward path after years of dominance, making claims and accusations about illegal tires is disappointing for two reasons: 1) it will no doubt end the first outstanding points race in several years in a court room, and 2) it shows that the team that has been a total class act while dominating the series for the past 3-4 years can’t take the heat of true competition…or the though of losing
Spencer convert
September 4, 2003
Believe it or not, I’ve become a Jimmy Spencer fan. Well, at least I’m off the hate Jimmy band wagon. Especially with all the kids now racing and more coming in every year. Ryan McGee points out a few not so obvious points about our boy Mongo and why he deserves some slack, if not outright respect.
Foxsports.com: Love or hate him, Spencer is sports foundation
Is Busch bad for Busch…
September 3, 2003
…and is Newman bad for Dodge? Interesting set of questions examined exhaustively by Thom Bittner of Cup Scene Daily. I don’t know if I am comfortable with Nascar allowing teenagers like Kyle Busch to become “pros” in a dangerous job like racing. And it just seems to overly emphasize how old the “Old Guard” really are.
Victory burnouts unprofessional?
September 3, 2003
Expensive to the team, maybe. “Unprofessional”, no way. This is another of those “old school, new school” debates without a clear cut answer. Nascar is in the entertainment business after all, aren’t they? The fans sure get into it and the sight sound and smell have to be awesome in person.
thatsracin.com: Smoking tires unprofessional?