More Promising News
March 9, 2004
With the signing of an award winning professional sports production company, maybe this broadcast season will mark a turning point. The direction can only be up, as the prior years prerace build-ups were weak at best, and post race interviews nearly non-existant.
With a little in depth coverage of the teams, drivers and events, maybe we can see a turn around in the wanning popularity of our sport. Now all we need to know is the identity of the network(s) and on air broadcasters.
cart-racing.com: Betelgeuse Productions selected for TV production
Gordon Going For The May Deuce
March 9, 2004
That would be Robby Gordon, and the deuce is the elusive same day tandem of the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Has anyone been able to pull off this little gem of racing? Not to my knowledge. I don’t think anyone has ever won either of the same day races, have they? It makes for an interesting read and catchy headlines. The bottom line, I’d be more impressed if he focused on one race and made a serious effort to win, as opposed to spreading himself over half the country. Get real Robby, stick with NASCAR and give an open wheel veteran like Al Unser Jr. the Indy ride.
Motorsport.com: Greedy Gordon wants double
Motorsport.com: Chevy, Robby Gordon to pull double in May
Bud Re-signs With DEI & Junior
March 9, 2004
In what should come as a shock to no one, DEI and Budweiser have annoucned today that they have signed a multi-year deal to continue Bud’s sponsorship of the #8 car driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jr…
Attention fans of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – you can hang onto your Budweiser apparel for a few more years.
DaleEarnhardtInc.com: DEI, Dale Jr. and Bud announce sponsorship extension
FOXSports.com: Earnhardt Jr. signs multi-year deal with Budweiser
Motorsport.com: Earnhardt Jr. renews sponsor
Willi Or Won’t He?
March 9, 2004
I can’t believe Willi Weber, erstwhile “manager” of Ralf Shumacher, would publicly issue such a statement without a contract. He and Craig Pollock must have gone to the same school of career busting, for all the good Craig did for the departed Jacques Villeneuve.
This is a case of Willi living off the reputation of the contract he “negotiated” for brother Michael. No skill sets required there, I could have gotten the greatest current driver in F1 the same deal! If Willi is thinking this is one way to put the screws to Frank Williams, he couldn’t be more wrong. Frank will announce his next years driver line up before responding to that kind of threat.
Nice job Willi, auf wiedershen Ralf!
planet-f1.com: ‘Ralf on the verge of joining Renault’
f1racing.net: Briatore denies agreement with Ralf Schumacher
Crash.net: Renault denies Ralf rumours [updated]
At Last, The Schedule!
March 8, 2004
The Champ Car World Series has announced a 14 race schedule for the 2004 season. Hold on George, you might say, the posting headline reads 16 races. Well, I’ll call it 14, because I’ve never heard of a track or date called “TBA”.
speedtv.com: Champ Car Announces 16-Race Schedule
Mario In Dreamland
March 8, 2004
Dr. Mario Thiessen, BMW Motorsport Director, thinks the new BMW P84 engine passed the first weekends racing test with flying colors. I guess if both cars finished the weekend without grenading, that could be considered a success. I don’t know which race Dr. Thiessen was watching, because it takes more then finishing to be considered a success. After all, a Jordan and a Minardi also finished, didn’t they? When Juan is nearly lapped by the race winner, how happy can you be, Mario? Spin control, all the way!
I guess indirectly it’s his way of telling Frank Williams, it’s not the engine, it’s your chasis and aero set up! Thank heavens BMW bought into the team, this guy would cut and run in a heartbeat, given the excuse.
gp2004.com: New BMW engine passes with flying colours!
All That Talk…
March 8, 2004
…and no “walk” to back it up! That would be Team McLaren (or McLyin’ if you want to get nasty) and Team Toyota Panasonic Racing. Some high expectations were raised prior to the Albert Park debacle. Now the question is how to tolerate the embarrassment until some improvements are made. The problem with that? The boys in Maranello won’t be sitting around waiting for everyone to catch up. They are, I’m sure, analyzing the race data right now looking for ways to improve the package. They are nothing, if not relentless, in their pursuit of performance.
planet-f1.com: Those wise words of Martin Whitmarsh revisited
Top 10 At A Glance
March 8, 2004
A weekly look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 drivers
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 8, 2004) - The following is a glance at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 in the championship entering Sunday’s Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (FOX, 1 p.m. ET), Race 4 of 36 on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule. The first 26 races of the season will determine which drivers will be part of the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” in the final 10 races. The drivers who are in the NASCAR Top 10 or within 400 points of the leader after those 26 races will vie for the series title in the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.”
Bernstein, Worsham, K.J., Take Phoenix Victories
March 8, 2004
CHANDLER, Ariz. - Brandon Bernstein remains undefeated in final round appearances in Top Fuel competition as he earned the victory Sunday during the 20th annual Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA at Firebird International Raceway.
Del Worsham and Kurt Johnson also earned wins in their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Series…
NHRA.com: Sunday Recap
CompetitionPlus.com: SUNDAY FINAL - BERNSTEIN, WORSHAM AND JOHNSON EARN CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN NATIONALS VICTORIES
Let The Crankiness Begin
March 8, 2004
In the wake of Ferrari absolutely driving over the field at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, various entities have let their dissatisfaction at themselves and others be known…
Kimi and David are less than thrilled at the McLaren team for making them and indeed the entire team look like utter fools…