Dixon, Wheldon make up all-Target/Ganassi front row at Kansas
April 26, 2008
The Target Team has got the 1.5 mile ovals figured out, that is for sure. Their duo of drivers, Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon, will start side-by-side on the front row after qualifying first and second in today’s 4-lap qualifying session. In surprising fashion, Thomas Scheckter pedaled his Dallara into fourth place, and will start on the outside of Danica Patrick. He’s running for the Luczo Dragon Tracing team that has only had their Dallara for two-weeks, and they are a thread to win this race. Maybe Roger Penske has given his kid some trick parts to his kid? I’m thinking so.
And then there is the story of Marty Roth who blew the socks off of everyone with his performance.
Michelin races to learn, races to win in American Le Mans Series technical partnership
April 26, 2008
The American Le Mans Series is one of the most technically challenging racing series in the world. One could arguably say that the young series is second only to Formula 1 in the level of technical expertise, design, and competition. For the series to be successful and their teams to be competitive, they need manufacturers on board as technical partners. One essential partner for over two thirds of the teams in the American Le Mans Series paddock is Michelin Tires, who bring the motto, “Race to learn, race to win” to the table. And win the have done. Recently at the 2008 Tequila Patrón ALMS at Long Beach they broke the 250-win mark in American Le Mans Series competition.
This past weekend, the boys from Fastmachines.com had a special opportunity to spend some time with engineers from Michelin and learn more about what their technical partnership brings to the ALMS, and what the competition on the track brings to the road tires that the everyday consumer can buy.
Dixon quickest in Kansas practice
April 26, 2008
The IRL returns from Japan (with a few guys from Long Beach) to hold the final race before the month of May at the Road Runner Turbo 300 at Kansas Speedway. Scott Dixon posted the overall quickest speed this morning at 214.792 mph. At the other end of the time sheet, Mario Moraes crashed in the morning practice session, and is likely out for the weekend. Read more
NHRA Title Sponsor Switching from POWERade to Full Throttle in 2009
April 25, 2008
In an announcement made jointly by the NHRA and the Coca-Cola corporation, the POWERade brand will be replaced by Coca-Cola’s energy drink brand, Full Throttle, as title sponsor of the NHRA’s professional series in 2009. The announcement also revealed the deal includes a two-year partnership extension through the 2013 season and the new series will be called the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. For the sake of the sport of NHRA drag racing, let’s hope the Full Throttle brand managers take this sponsorship more seriously than the POWERade brand managers did. Read more
Patrick Victory Not A Surprise
April 25, 2008
(Monday Morning Crew Chief/Friday Edition)
I wrote the book on Danica Patrick, the one that describes how a girl could go from karting to almost winning the Indy 500 as a young woman. The fact she won a race at Twin Ring Motegi doesn’t surprise me, because she’s such a tough nut — her recent appearance in the Sports Illustrated swim suit issue aside. Read more
NASCAR Trivia Contest
April 24, 2008
Calling all the NASCAR knowledgeable: we have two copies of Daytona 500 - 50 Years of the Great American Race, a highly-collectible 2-DVD set that we’re giving away to the first two people to answer the following Daytona 500 trivia question. We’ve come up with a question that we don’t think is “Google-able” too easily….but we could be wrong. Read more
Notes & Bolts, Vol 1
April 24, 2008
My (weekly?) observations, random reads, leads and stream-of-consciousness ramblings from around the open car world.
- Let me be the last writer to congratulate Danica Patrick on her win. I’ve been a supporter all along of Guthrie, St. James, Fisher, Patrick and Duno. I watched them all run at Indy and cheered when Danica led in 2005. Glad to see she got the monkey off her back and expect more wins in her career, for sure.
- Her win plays right into Gene and Tony’s marketing plan as she IS the face and, thanks to Sports Illustrated, the body of the IRL. I’m checking London bookie odds on her Indy 500 victory as we speak.
- Good to see the fuel strategy play out as she’s been bitten by that more than once but I am getting a little tired of that story line. More often that not, races are decided sitting still rather than lapping the track (and not just in the IRL either).
- Did anyone else notice how much the Motgei 300 trophy looks like the Indy 500 Borg Warner award?
- Kansas is this week – if Danica can repeat, she’ll be the eighth different winner in eight events held there.
- The series re-merges this weekend as the former Champ Car guys return to ovals. Must be odd driving two different cars, two different weeks but it’s good to have them all in one race again.
- Rumors have it the IRL has 44 engines for the Indy 500. That’s one per team as the entry list is now at 39. Don’t break anything.
- My Open-Wheel-to-Nascar Stat Tracker is below. Seems Montoya’s improving in his second season but Dario and Sam are suffering. Wonder why? (Please, don’t’ tell me it’s the “learning curve.” These guys have been racing cars since they were like five).
| Driver | Starts | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| Allendinger | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carpentier | 5 | 26.8 | 33 |
| Franchitti | 7 | 31 | 31.2 |
| Hornish | 8 | 22.8 | 26.8 |
| Montoya | 8 | 19 | 15.8 |
| Villeneuve | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red Bull Air Race world series swings through U.S. cities
April 24, 2008
The Red Bull Air Race series began their 10-race 2008 tour in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, and are sending 380 tons of planes and equipment to southern California over the next few days in preparation for the U.S. leg of the season that includes stops in San Diego and Detroit. Paul Bonhomme heads to the States fresh off an opening race win at a race where 2007 Champ, Mike Mangold failed to make the final. Read more
MotoGP off-week quick hits
April 24, 2008
Rumor: Is Nicki Hayden headed to Ducati in 2009?
The MotoGP series has another off weekend coming up as the teams prepare to go to China, but an obscure rumor has surfaced that suggests that Nikki Hayden might be headed to Ducati in 2009. Guerin Green of the Cherry Creek News reports on rumors from Italy that the Kentucky Kid might make the jump next year. Apparently the scenario would involve a bunch of musical chairs with either Andrea Dovizioso or Marco Melandri moving into Hayden’s ride, and Hayden joining Casey Stoner to create a Ducati super-team.
Green’s report seems to be the lone story about this rumor, so read at your own risk.
Ferrari Defend Mosley, Kind Of
April 22, 2008
Luca Montezemolo has issued forth with comments relative to Max Mosley’s “personal” predicament. That should give you a clue where he stands. Read more