Ron Fellows Back On Track After Surgery
February 4, 2004
BRASELTON, Ga. - American Le Mans Series GTS champion Ron Fellows was happy to be back in the saddle ahead of schedule, driving a race car for the first time since having shoulder surgery Dec. 1.
Fellows and the rest of the factory Chevrolet Corvette team spent Sunday and Monday testing at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway in preparation for the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Mar. 17-20. Fellows, who drove the last two races of the 2003 season with a painfully dislocated shoulder, admitted he was not back to full strength yet.
Never Ending Car Development
February 4, 2004
This is a very interesting development from Mclaren…apparently they will continue to re-design their car as the season goes along, at one point so severely that they will have to pass the crash test again. I bet this new design philosophy will lead to single use cars that are simply thrown away after each race…and the costs will continue to spiral out of contorl!!!
GrandPrix.com: A new philosophy at McLaren
Huge Money On The Line At The 500 This Year
February 3, 2004
The Daytona 500 will offer up the largest purse in NASCAR history this year, according to NASCAR.com. The posted awards for the race total $15,972,313, an increase of nearly $2 million from last year’s posted awards. The winner of the race will bring home about $1.3 million, while last place will get $177,058. This is getting like golf…just qualify and your bound to make some cash!
NASCAR.com: Daytona 500 purse just shy of $16 million
BAR, McLaren And Jordan To Leave England?
February 3, 2004
Why would they do so? The Anti-tobacco legislation prohibits English companies from using tobacco sponsorship ANY WHERE in the world. Would any or all of the teams leave the country to continue receiving the dirty tobacco dollars? In these times of scarce sponsor dollars, I would think some serious consideration would have to be given to a move. The cost of relocating a team, it’s staff, and more importantly the design, testing and manufacturing facilities, would be enormous, possibly far outstripping any sponsorship income. We’ll have to wait and see.
crash.net: Mosley confirms new threat for tobacco backing.
Team Travel Limitations Announced
February 3, 2004
INDIANAPOLIS (February 2, 2004) — In the first of what will be a number of positive rule changes for the 2004 Champ Car World Series season, the series today established roster limitations for each of its teams in an effort to help the teams control racing costs.
Scott Wimmer Arrested for DWI
February 2, 2004
Bill Davis Racing’s NEXTEL Cup series driver Scott Wimmer was arrested for driving under the influence and wrecking a truck owned by Bill Davis Racing early Saturday morning. Wimmer took over driving duties in the #22 CAT sponsored Dodge late in the 2003 season after the departure of Ward Burton…
High Point police records state Wimmer was charged with DWI about 2 a.m. Saturday after officers gave him a Breathalyzer test and found he had a 0.15 percent blood-alcohol content. Under N.C. law, drivers are considered intoxicated if their blood-alcohol content is more than 0.08 percent.
Boy, I bet the gang at Bill Davis is wishing boring old Ward was still their driver. At least the car isn’t sponsored by Budweiser, Coors, Miller, or Smirnoff…
ThatsRacin.com: Cup rookie Wimmer, wife face charges
Tony Pedregon Fast In Vegas Testing
February 2, 2004
LAS VEGAS — Defending NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon saved his best run for last on Sunday during the final day of NHRA pre-season testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Pedregon, longtime driver for John Force Racing who chose to guide his own destiny as a team owner in 2004, powered his Quaker State Chevy Camaro down the quarter-mile track in 4.798 seconds at 313.29 mph to end the three-day session.
Red Bull Driver Search Documentary Tonight On SPEED
February 2, 2004
To catch an inside look at the Red Bull Driver Search, tune into Speed Channel on Monday, 2 February. A documentary-style program containing highlights from the inaugural year of the Red Bull Driver Search program, as well as extensive footage from the 2003 program will air at 10p.m. EST and 7p.m PST. The documentary includes in-depth interviews with drivers and head of the program, Danny Sullivan.
The Red Bull Driver Search is “shaping the future of American motorsports”…which basically means they are searching for the next American F1 driver. They might want to consider doing this driver search using a “reality show” format. Think of the publicity for the drivers, and for F1 as targeted to Americans…
Bell Motorsports Wins Rolex 24
February 1, 2004
There were plenty of surprises in this years Rolex 24 At Daytona. The most omnipresent of those surprises was the weather. Several cautions and red flags factored into the results. The biggest story this year, in my opinion, is how well the #2 Howard-Boss Motorsports Chevrolet/Crawford did with two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers (Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) behind the wheel, as well as sports car ace Andy Wallace. The team had a strong lead going into the 23rd hour, but it would be heartbreak for the Cup boys in the end, as the cars rear suspension failed with Tony Stewart behind the wheel. This effectively gave the win to the Bell Motorsports No. 54 Kodak Pontiac Doran driven by Terry Borcheller, Forest Barber, Andy Pilgrim, and Christian Fittipaldi…
Motorsport.com: Bell Motorsports takes victory at Daytona
GrandAmerican.com: TheRaceSite.com Wins Grand-Am Cup Daytona 250 Bill Fenton Motorsports Takes Sport Touring Victory
GrandAmerican.com: Video of racing action at the Rolex 24
Schumi Breaks Fiorano Lap Record With F2004
February 1, 2004
The F1 pre-season chest pounding continued today as Michael Schumacher broke the Fiorano tack record with the new F2004. Schumacher completed about 100 trouble-free laps on Ferarri’s private test track…
F1Racing.net: New Ferrari breaks record again