Rain Predicted For Saturday Qualifying
March 5, 2004
That grin on Michael Schumacher’s face will be even wider on Saturday if the Bridgestone tires wet performance superiority over Michelin continues. Pierre Dupasquier of Michelin made some bold predicitions about their rain tires enhanced performance. Winter testing had everyone concluding that Michelin had maintened or even added to their dry tire advantage over Bridgestone. With Friday practice establishing a second plus over their competition, all on Michelins in dry conditions, Ferrari must be gleefully awaiting the rain and final qualifying. Will the Bridgestone dominance continue? More than likely.
f1racing.net: Rain to fall on Albert Park
And All Was Right With The World
March 5, 2004
That self satisfied grin really says it all, doesn’t it? It is finally the official start of the 2004 F1 season down in Aussie land and of course…are you ready for this…you’ll never guess…the Ferrari boys blew everyone away right out of the gates in the first two rounds of practice.
In these frightening times of social unrest in various parts of the world, religious controversy running rampant, and Howard Stern being muzzled by the US government, it’s so comforting to know that some things never change. Just as long as the red cars are running up front…everything will be ok.
I had such high hopes for a competitive season…
Vegas Is Yeley’s NASCAR Debut
March 4, 2004
This Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 Busch Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will mark the beginning of what is most probably going to be an amazing NASCAR career. 2003 USAC Triple Crown Champion J.J. Yeley will drive the Joe Gibbs Racing #18 Vigoro/Home Depot Chevy as part of an A-B-C schedule that will consist of ARCA, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
Las Vegas: Round Three Preview
March 4, 2004
Recent test sessions will be reference tool, in UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 2, 2004) — Bring out the notebooks, or rather, the laptops.
Teams will be doing just that this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, site of Sunday’s UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Taking notes took on added importance in January, when the NASCAR Preseason Thunder test sessions came west to LVMS.
The 1.5-mile track will host the first event of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season using tires that are noticeably different from last year — tires designed to have adequate grip, but a grip that lessens as more laps are run, in effect making tire management a real concern for teams as they determine their set-ups.
Jim McGee Returns To Newman/Haas Racing
March 4, 2004
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. - Jim McGee, widely recognized as one of the most successful team managers or chief mechanics in Champ or Indy car history, has returned to Newman/Haas Racing (NHR) as the director of special operations. McGee served as team manager for NHR in 1993 and 1994 while Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell drove for the team and Mansell won the series championship (1993).
“Motor racing is changing, and we need to make the best of the new opportunities being presented to us,” said Carl Haas, co-owner of Newman/Haas Racing with Paul Newman. “Jim McGee will add to our ability to maximize these opportunities.”
Ferrari In Alonso’s Future?
March 4, 2004
Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has said that Spaniard Benetton driver Fernando Alonso reminds him of a young Michael Schumacher.
“He is similar to Michael when he was at Benetton [early in his career] - a fantastic talent that needs time.”
While the Ferrari chief is in no rush to sign a new driver, having secured current drivers Schumacher and Barrichello through 2006, this is no doubt a ringing endorsement for the future of Alonso. The question is, by the time Schumacher does retire and Ferrari is ready to take on new talent, will a Ferrari still be the most desirable ride in F1?
Jerry Toliver Interview
March 4, 2004
Jerry Toliver, who spent the last year-and-a-half working to put together a competitive Funny Car program to return to the NHRA POWERade Series, realized the fruit of his hard work by winning the NHRA POWERade Series season-opening K&N Filters Winternationals Feb. 29 at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway.
Winning Team Strategy
March 3, 2004
When it comes to team strategy and knowing how to extract maximum performance from two drivers, no one has done it better or longer than Team Penske. In one of my Miami prerace ramblings, I wondered how Sam and Helio would handle the on track pressures of competition. The answer is evident in their 1-2 finish. How does this come about?
Hendrick Motorsports Las Vegas Preview
March 3, 2004
This weekend’s ‘Cup race marks the first start in that series for rookie Kyle Busch. It’s also home track for the 18-year-old. His previous start under NASCAR sanction at Las Vegas was the 2001 Craftsman Truck Series event.
Welcome To Big Time Sports…
March 3, 2004
…and all the problems associated with them. Like gambling. Let me think a minute. NASCAR opens a track in “Lost Wages” Nevada, and now professes to have a problem with drivers gambling? Thats the nature of drivers, every time they get in the car, they are betting that they are going to win. But we can’t walk into a casino and bet on ourselves, can we? Can’t have a Pete Rose type scandal brewing in the wings, can we? More importantly NASCAR needs to maintain their squeaky clean image and not spiral into a potential “Black Sox” scandal. Especially with people talking about how the Daytona 500 was “Adjusted”, shall we say, to help Junior win the thing.