Schumacher, Toliver, Anderson Win Season Opener
February 29, 2004
POMONA, Calif. - Tony Schumacher earned the first Top Fuel victory of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season Sunday during the 44th annual K&N Filters Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.
Jerry Toliver and Greg Anderson also earned wins in their respective categories at the $2 million race, the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Series. The race was delayed a week because of rain.
Schumacher’s 12th career victory was a little easier than normal for the U.S. Army dragster team. His final round opponent could not make the run. Doug Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster broke on the starting line and Schumacher got a single pass for the victory.
NHRA.com: Sunday Recap
RPM.ESPN: Complete Results
RPM.ESPN: Toliver win the surprise of Pomona
DailyNews.com: Toliver gets back on track
SFGate.com: Schumacher wins first Top Fuel of NHRA season
Hornish Beats Castroneves For Win
February 29, 2004
Sam Hornish Jr. became the only first-time Penske driver to win in his first race for the team. Hornish Jr. passed Marlboro Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves between Turns 1-2 on Lap 199 to win the IRL IndyCar Series season-opening Toyota Indy 300 on Sunday.
It was classic Team Penske with both team cars dominating late in the race. It was classic IRL racing with close, high-speed dicing. It was classic Sam Hornish Jr., working hard and staying in the hunt all race long, and just squeaking out the win on the final lap.
Carl Long Heading to Las Vegas
February 29, 2004
In spite of totalling his only race car in a spectacular crash during last Sunday’s Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway, Carl Long is on the entry list for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Jenson’s Delusions
February 29, 2004
Has Jenson Button discovered a new training technique? Maybe dipping into some physco-altering drugs prior to talking to the press. The way the lad prattles on, you would think he were the six time F1 champ.
While confidence has to be a huge part of a winning drivers make up, there is a line one shouldn’t cross. Especially twisting the tail of a sleeping predator. Not that Michael would give any quarter on the track anyway, but why needlessly seek out his wrath? As a fan, I would love to see Jenson succeed; just get a podium or two, possibly a win, before attempting to bury the king.
planet-f1: Now Button’s calling on Schumi not to quit so he can beat him
Howard-Boss Motorsports Victorious in Grand Prix of Miami
February 29, 2004
MIAMI, Fla. (February 28, 2004) — Englishman Andy Wallace and Venezuelan Milka Duno gave Howard-Boss Motorsports its first win in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series on Saturday, taking the checkered flag in the Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The victory was a milestone, as Duno became the first female driver to ever take the overall victory in a Rolex Series race.
Duno started the No. 2 CITGO Pontiac Crawford in the 15th position and handed the reigns over to co-driver Wallace on lap 43 of the 109-lap race. The Englishman then bullied his way through the field to move into the top three.
GrandAmerican.com: Howard-Boss Motorsports Victorious in Grand Prix of Miami
Motorsport.com: Wallace, Duno win wild Homestead
SportsLine.com: Duno wins Grand Am event at Homestead-Miami Speedway
MilkaDuno.com: Milka Duno’s Official Web Site
CITGO.com: Milka Duno page
Kalitta, Force & Anderson Top Qualifying
February 28, 2004
POMONA, Calif. — John Force claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot in Funny Car Saturday at the 44th annual K&N Filters Winternationals at Pomona Raceway. Doug Kalitta and Greg Anderson also earned the No. 1 qualifying position in their respective categories at the $2 million race, the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
NHRA.com: Saturday Recap
Top Fuel Eliminations Ladder
Funny Car Eliminations Ladder
Pro Stock Eliminations Ladder
Rice Starts From The Pole In IRL Season Opener
February 28, 2004
Buddy Rice, subbing for the recovering Kenny Brack, started his season on the pole with a fast lap of 217.388 mph (24.5920 seconds)in the No. 15 Pioneer/Argent Mortgage Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone. Chevrolet claimed two of the top three starting spots in qualifying for Sunday’s Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Alex Barron was the fastest driver in the Bowtie brigade with a 216.904 mph lap on the 1.5-mile banked oval, putting Red Bull Cheever Racing’s Chevrolet Dallara on the outside of the front row. Tomas Scheckter was a heartbeat behind at 216.673 mph in Pennzoil Panther Racing’s Chevrolet Dallara and will start on the inside of the second row…
IndyRacing.com: Rice Kicks Off Season With His First Pole
Motorsport.com: Rice burns up the Homestead track
The Price of Formula 1
February 28, 2004
I was having a conversation over drinks with some friends the other night and we got on the subject of F1 budgets. We were wondering how many NEXTEL Cup cars could be run on an F1 budget. Coincidentally I received the info below in an email a day or so later. Mind you, they are 2003 estimates, but I think they are fascinating none the less. If the estimates that Roush was asking anywhere from $12-$15 million to sponsor Jeff Burton’s #99 ride, then I guess you could run about 30 NEXTEL Cup cars for a year on Ferrari’s budget alone…
Scheckter Tops Speed Chart In Practice
February 28, 2004
Of course we all know that practice is only practice, and a lot of sandbagging occurs, but it would appear that Tomas Scheckter is making the most of his new championship caliber ride with Panther Racing. In Friday practice, the first official session of the season, Scheckter was quickest of the day with a lap of 24.6480 seconds (216.894 mph) on the 1.5-mile oval in the afternoon.
I honestly hope that Tomas can do something with this ride. No one out there has more raw speed that Tomas. However his propensity to destroy equipment (his own an others) has marked him as somewhat of a liability. However, heading to Panther, which is still basically a one car despite their “merger” with Team Menard, will allow all the resources to be focused on him. Hopefully in that environment he will become a top contender for the IRL title this season…
IndyRacing.com: Scheckter Tops Speed Chart In Practice
Pruett Puts Ganassi Racing On Pole
February 28, 2004
Scott Pruett captured his second-straight Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series pole of the season during qualifying for the Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Pruett turned a blistering 1.13.375 lap at 112.845 mph in the CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates No. 01 Lexus Riley XI, shattering the Daytona Prototype track record by 3.6 seconds…
GrandAmerican.com: Scott Pruett Puts CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing on Pole
RPM.ESPN: Pruett on Grand Am pole again