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Swift Concept 70 - A chassis that is trying too hard to be revolutionary

Swift engineering released yet another Indy Car concept chassis today through a Racer.com story dubbed “Concept 70″. It’s a design that seems to be a mashup of previous Swift designs, including some pretty sexy sidepods and wicked looking shark fin.

However, the front and rear wing look like they were borrowed from a Hot Wheels car, and I’m not sure I can take this design seriously until they remedy that. This evolution still looks a bit like a car for development series to me, not a fire-breathing Indy Car. To me, it’s just trying a little too hard to be “forward thinking” and radical.

But at least it looks like a race car that could be used on ovals and road courses. You can’t say that for the Delta Wing.

Franchitti fast at Toronto, takes pole

Dario Franchitti battled with Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson, and Will Power in today’s Firestone Fast Six qualifying session and won the Peak Pole Award with a lap of 1:01.0 at Exhibition Place in Toronto.

Will Power proved that he is deserving of this part time ride at Penske. He fell just short of winning the pole and will start on the outside of the first row. Power is driving a sweet-looking yellow car with blue accents, sponsored by Penske Truck Rental, and it drives as fast as it looks.
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I can’t believe it, he’s driving away from me

The NASCAR Nationwide Series is in Joliet this weekend with the Cup boys at Chicagoland Speedway, and ran their 300 miler under the lights on Friday night.  The story of the race could be summed up by a radio transmission by Kyle Bush late in the race when he said, “I can’t believe it, he’s driving away from me!”

And Logano did drive away from second-place Kyle Bush, posting his fastest laps of the day as the race came to a close on old tires.  It was an incredible driving performance and a testament to the driving talents of this kid, and the incredible car that the Joe Gibbs Racing team put together.

Logano was driving the same car that he won with at Kansas, a car that seems to have some “special sauce” in it for the 1-1/2″ cookie-cutter ovals.

Logano will try for the double tomorrow in the Cup race but will have his work cut out for him as he starts 24th, deep in the field.

Kyle Busch was less than ecstatic in self again in post race interviews, in fact, he looked as if someone had taken away his birthday. This guy doesn’t like to finish second, and seems to especially hate losing to “Sliced Bread”. Busch told ESPN, “I guess it’s a good *points* day for us” in an overly-sarcastic tone. I love Busch’s drive to win, but sometimes he needs to suck it up and show a bit of class when he loses. We get it, Kyle. You hate to lose.

Kansas City Star: Tire gamble pays off for Logano

Vision loaning Hunter-Reay to Foyt

It has been a tough year for Ryan Hunter-Reay. After a good season in 2008 with Rahal-Letterman, RHR lost his 2009 ride due to team funding issues. This was, of course, after he signed a personal services contract with IZOD that included an Indy Car marketing blitz. Vision Racing put him to work in a second car, but Ryan has struggled with the transition, and barely even made the Indy 500.

The hits keep on coming for Ryan. According to Vision Racing, Ryan will finish out his season in the AJ Foyt car that the injured Vitor Meira was driving.  Foyt’s team has had a rough year as well, and it could be a long seaso for Ryan.

Here’s the press release from Vision:

Indianapolis, Ind. (June 12, 2009)— Considered a win-win situation for all involved, Vision Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay will be taking over piloting duties of A.J. Foyt’s ABC Supply entry for the remainder of the 2009 IndyCar season beginning at next weekend’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway on June 20-21.

Hunter-Reay, who drove the No.21 Vision Honda Dallara to a second place podium finish in the 2009 season opener at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida, is currently tenth in the IndyCar Series Championship driver points standings. ‘RHR’ will have his driving services transferred to A.J. Foyt Racing as a temporary replacement for the injured Vitor Meira.

Meira, who is recovering from a back injury sustained in the Indianapolis 500 last month, is expected to return for the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where AJ Foyt Racing is expected to field two cars for the season finale in October.

Read the rest of the Vision P.R.

MyNameIsIRL.com has more on the shuffle.

Indy Car qualifying recap, race day picks

It is a gorgeous day in southern California, not only because the sun is shining, but because the Indy Car Series is about to light it up in Long Beach.  Today caps off a weekend full of absolutely incredible news and drama.

On Saturday morning, Helio Castroneves returned to the Indy Car paddock and reunited with his Penske crew.  Helio was hugging anybody within arms reach,  and he was having a lot of fun with the fans.

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