Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Three Crew Chiefs Say What Their Drivers Must Do to Win Sprint Cup

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Denny Hamlin is said to be over his minor meltdown after the Phoenix race, and his crew chief, Mike Ford, is feeling good because they've had the best car and done the most winning down the stretch in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Kevin Harvick is bringing a new car to the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend and as the third-place driver, will race flat out, crew chief Gil Martin said. But before Harvick goes for broke, the team is hanging out the "Gone Fishing" sign and headed to the Keys.

And Jimmie Johnson? Well, he's just a better driver than the other two, or so says crew chief Chad Knaus.

It may be that some of the things said Tuesday in a triple-header media conference featuring the three contending crew chiefs will - for motivational purposes - end up taped to one or another team's tool box in the garage at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Or it may be that it's just a lot of hot air that disappears into the air like so much exhaust smoke out of their engines.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/16/three-crew-chiefs-say-what-their-drivers-must-do-to-win-sprint-c/

Rudolf Krause Robert Kubica Kurt Kuhnke Masami Kuwashima Robert La Caze

Smart ForTwo by Romeo Ferraris


There must be something going around because it seems as though a lot of tuners have been showing an increased interest in small cars lately. And while the Fiat 500 is the most loved model, it seems that the Smart Fortwo has also started to catch tuners attentions. Romeo Ferraris, whom you might remember from their tuning package for the Corvette Z06, is offering a kit for the Fortwo that improves both the car’s appearance and performance.

Thanks to the addition of a new sport air filter and a re-mapped ECU, the three-cylinder 1-liter engine’s output has been increased by 23 hp and 32 Nm of torque for a total of 98 hp, while the 800 cc engine version gets an additional 21 hp and 20 Nm of torque

Next to the engine upgrades, the package also includes new 17 inch, black alloy wheels, different carbon inserts, leather and Alcantara for the interior, an updated dashboard, seats, and an instrument panel.

We can’t say this package thrills us or even excites us in any way, but it’s not a bad gig for a vehicle that was lacking to begin with.

Smart ForTwo by Romeo Ferraris originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 10:30 EST.

read more




Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/smart/2010-smart-fortwo-by-romeo-ferraris-ar100938.html

Tiago Monteiro Andrea Montermini Peter Monteverdi Robin MontgomerieCharrington Juan Pablo Montoya

Alonso and Massa sample classic Ferraris in Spain | F1 video

Video and pictures of Alonso and Massa driving classic Ferraris at the Finali Mondiali.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/v-0viWWXRbY/

Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones Juan Jover

Pocono Raceway making track safer

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/30/834691/pocono-raceway-making-track-safer.html

Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi Erwin Bauer Zsolt Baumgartner

Ferrari rules out kneejerk changes

Ferrari has ruled out making any major changes to its team management in response to its defeat in this year's world championship, though it left the door open to 'minor adjustments'. Fernando Alonso had led the standings going into the Abu Dhabi finale, but lost out to Sebastian Vettel after a disastrous strategy decision left Alonso stuck in traffic for most of the race and down in seventh at the flag. There had been speculation in Italy that some of Ferrari's leading staff might be in the firing line as a consequence, but company president Luca di Montezemolo insisted that this would not happen

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/ferrari-rules-out-kneejerk-changes/

Andrea Chiesa Ettore Chimeri Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood Bob Christie

Ideas to help NASCAR regain its edge

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/26/826521/ideas-to-help-nascar-regain-its.html

Robert Doornbos Ken Downing Bob Drake Paddy Driver Piero Drogo

F1: Loeb: 2009 F1 chance was a one-off

Loeb: 2009 F1 chance was a one-off By Matt Beer Sunday, November 28th 2010, 12:05 GMT World Rally legend Sebastien Loeb believes he missed his only chance to try Formula 1 when 2009's bid to contest an end-of-season grand prix failed to come to fruition. Attempts were made last year to get Loeb into a Toro Rosso seat for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after the Frenchman had impressed in what was originally an informal Red Bull F1 test the previous winter. Loeb went as far as testing a GP2 car in preparation, but was unable to get the required superlicence Related posts:
  1. OTHER: Loeb joins 2010 RoC line-up Loeb joins 2010 RoC line-up By Pablo Elizalde Monday, May...
  2. F1: Vergne: STR test a huge opportunity Vergne: STR test a huge opportunity By Matt Beer Wednesday,...
  3. F1: Toro Rosso to retain Buemi, Alguersuari Toro Rosso to retain Buemi, Alguersuari By Pablo Elizalde Thursday,...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Source: http://doxcar.com/f1-loeb-2009-f1-chance-was-a-one-off/

Bob Sweikert Toranosuke Takagi Noritake Takahara Kunimitsu Takahashi Patrick Tambay

Your questions answered - Brazilian Grand Prix

Do I think Red Bull should have allowed Mark Webber to win in Brazil instead of Sebastian Vettel? Do I think Mercedes and Renault will benefit from such a tight battle this season? Do I agree with Bernie Ecclestone's comment that Lotus are the only new team to have contributed this season? Do I think heads should roll at McLaren? Who do I think has been the best driver in the bottom five teams? And the big question - who is going to win the title?

Watch my answers below.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.


IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE UK, CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2010/11/your_questions_answered_-_braz.html

Helmut Niedermayr Brausch Niemann Gunnar Nilsson Hideki Noda Rodney Nuckey

Blank Nascar / stock car

There was a kit out yrs go... basicly a blank nascar / stockcar... molded in white and no decals that i know of.

Anyone know what the kit was called....

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/scacs/forums/thread/924672.aspx

Kimi Räikkönen Hernando da Silva Ramos PierreHenri Raphanel Dick Rathmann Jim Rathmann

Carpenter replaces Fisher at SFR

Ed Carpenter will drive for Sarah Fisher Racing during the 2011 IndyCar season, with Fisher herself stepping out of the car to focus on her role as team owner. Fisher said she is confident the decision to quit driving will help her team grow. "This change in my career is a direction I have been thinking about very hard," said Fisher in a statement on Monday.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/indycar-news/indycar/carpenter-replaces-fisher-at-sfr/

Mack Hellings Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann

Ecclestone Robbed In London

LONDON ? Formula One czar Bernie Ecclestone received minor injuries when he was robbed outside his London office earlier this week.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/indycar-news/irl/ecclestone-robbed-in-london/

Giancarlo Fisichella John Fitch Christian Fittipaldi Emerson Fittipaldi Wilson Fittipaldi

Monday, November 29, 2010

Speedway Children?s Charities Distributed More Than $725,000 To Local Organizations during Opening Night of Carolina Christmas

Charlotte Motor SpeedwayCONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 24, 2010) - Speedway Children’s Charities donated in excess of $725,000 to organizations in the Charlotte, N.C., region benefiting area children during the grand opening of Carolina Christmas, Nov. 22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In a special presentation Monday night, the dollar amount donated was unveiled in a LED, or...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2010/arca/11/24/speedway-childrens-charities-distributed-more-than-725000-to-local-organizations-during-opening-night-of-carolina-christmas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=speedway-childrens-charities-distributed-more-than-725000-to-local-organizations-during-opening-night-of-carolina-christmas

Chuck Weyant Ken Wharton

BMW to recruit an external driver

BMW is planning to recruit one driver from outside its existing roster for its return to DTM in 2012. The German manufacturer will prioritise its currently-contracted drivers, but its motorsport boss Mario Theissen says there will probably be a spare seat. "We have started to think about our drivers," he told AUTOSPORT

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/other-news/miscellaneous/dtm/bmw-to-recruit-an-external-driver/

Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard Brian Gubby Andre Guelfi Miguel Ángel Guerra

Reed Sorenson And The Dollar General Team Take Home 14th Place Finish In Season Finale At Homestead-Miami Speedway

No. 32 Dollar General Toyota CamryHOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 22, 2010) ? The NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) traveled to Homestead, Florida this weekend for the final race of the 2010 season. Reed Sorenson and the No. 32 Dollar General team entered the weekend with high hopes for a solid finish to the year. Sorenson battled a...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2010/nationwide/11/23/reed-sorenson-and-the-dollar-general-team-take-home-14th-place-finish-in-season-finale-at-homestead-miami-speedway/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reed-sorenson-and-the-dollar-general-team-take-home-14th-place-finish-in-season-finale-at-homestead-miami-speedway

Noritake Takahara Kunimitsu Takahashi Patrick Tambay Luigi Taramazzo Gabriele Tarquini

Germany wins Nations? Cup again

Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher took a fourth consecutive victory for Team Germany in the Nations' Cup element of the Race of Champions in Dusseldorf this evening. The Formula 1 duo beat Team Great Britain in a repeat of last year's final, with British Touring Car champion Jason Plato and three-time World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx not quite able to defeat the host country's heroes at the end. The best-of-three final came down to a decisive race between Priaulx and Schumacher in buggies after the German had beaten Plato and the Channel Islander had seen off Vettel in the first two parts.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/3rdparty/germany-wins-nations-cup-again/

Mike Wilds Jonathan Williams Roger Williamson Dempsey Wilson Desire Wilson

Changes at Hendrick not just about Earnhardt (Yahoo! Sports)

Rick Hendrick made the bold move to swap three crew chiefs with three drivers not save Dale Earnhardt Jr., but to better his team.

Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/changes-at-hendrick-not-just-about-earnhardt-yahoo-sports.html

Nicola Larini Oscar Larrauri Gerard Larrousse Jud Larson Niki Lauda†

2010: Most competitive year in Sprint Cup Series history

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/11/2010-most-competitive-year-in-sprint.html

Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman Dave Charlton

Swanson Tops Sprints

IRWINDALE, Calif. ? Kody Swanson won Thursday night?s 40-lap AMSOIL USAC Western Sprint Car feature at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, but Tony Hunt emerged as the series champion for the fourth time after finishing second. Hunt?s title is his sixth in USAC competition.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/other-news/touring-cars/irc/swanson-tops-sprints/

Tony Marsh Eugene Martin Pierluigi Martini Jochen Mass Felipe Massa

Klien: F1 deals tougher than ever

Christian Klien says he is working on staying in Formula 1 next season, but it is harder than ever for a driver to secure a seat. The 27-year-old Austrian raced in three grands prix of the season with HRT and says the team is his most likely destination for 2011

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/klien-f1-deals-tougher-than-ever/

Stefan Bellof Paul Belmondo Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta

WIN Series: Johanna Long

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/11/win-series-johanna-long.html

Carroll Shelby Tony Shelly Jo Siffert Andre Simon Rob Slotemaker

Celebrity Classics up for grabs from Bonhams at Brooklands

Filed under: , , , ,

1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III
Pan's Labyrinth 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III by Inskip - Click above for high-res image gallery

Few auction houses have dealt with as many celebrity automobiles as Bonhams, and the upcoming event at Brooklands is poised to carry on the tradition.

Among the lots up for grabs during the auction at Mercedes-Benz World will be this unique Rolls-Royce Phantom III. The first of 24 Phantom IIIs sold to the United States, this particular 1936 example - a five-seat limousine with custom Inskip coachwork and 7.3-liter V12 - was used in the bizarre fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth in the chase scene against a Bentley.

Also crossing the auction block at the event on December 6th will be a 1934 Lagonda M45 Tourer once owned by Nick Mason (of Pink Floyd fame) and a Mercedes-Benz 600 formerly owned by Elvis Presley. Other highlights include a '64 Maserati, a '55 Mercedes Gullwing, a 2000 Ferrari 550 GTZ and a '64 AC Cobra. Follow the jump for the full press release and check out the trio of Rolls-Royce photos in the gallery below.



[Source: Bonhams]

Continue reading Celebrity Classics up for grabs from Bonhams at Brooklands

Celebrity Classics up for grabs from Bonhams at Brooklands originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/27/celebrity-classics-up-for-grabs-from-bonhams-at-brooklands/

Roger Williamson Dempsey Wilson Desire Wilson Justin Wilson Vic Wilson

Spy Shots: Pagani C9 caught flexing its V12 muscle

Filed under: , , ,

Spy Shots: Pagani C9
Spy Shots: Pagani C9 - Click above for high-res image gallery

While you might be at home recovering from a Turkey-induced hangover, the dedicated spy photographers of the world are out and about, dutifully catching glimpses of new cars as they are tested. One lucky lensmith caught a camouflaged Pagani C9 being put through a rigorous testing regime.

And rigorous it is, with a reported 500,000-plus combined kilometers having ticked off the odometers of the four prototypes and one test mule. Pagani wants to hit 700,000 kilometers before the car shows its unmasked face, which looks almost Fisker-esque in the photos you see here.

The Pagani C9 is powered by an AMG-developed V12 engine, which is not related to the V12 found in the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series. Rumor has it that the V12 powering the C9 produces over 700 horsepower while also lowering C02 emissions to sub-supercar levels.

We're still calling it the C9, but the real name will be revealed sometime in the next few weeks. Pagani's Zonda replacement, whatever moniker it might wear, should make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2011. If that happens, you can be certain we'll be on hand to capture it from every angle.



[Source: Carpix]

Spy Shots: Pagani C9 caught flexing its V12 muscle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/26/spy-shots-pagani-c9-caught-flexing-its-v12-muscle/

Ken Wharton Ted Whiteaway Graham Whitehead Peter Whitehead Bill Whitehouse

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Toyota man Marquardt to replace Theissen at BMW

Jens Marquardt is to leave his role at Toyota to replace Mario Theissen as head of BMW Motorsport. Marquardt was the team manager of the Toyota F1 team before in effect taking over the day-to-day running of the Toyota Motorsport … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/11/24/toyota-man-marquardt-to-replace-theissen-at-bmw/

Robert La Caze Jacques Laffite Franck Lagorce Jan Lammers Pedro Lamy

Today?s Headlines

Bike-Share, Bike-Share, Bike-Share (Post,�CBS 2,�Observer,�NY1,�AMNY)
Sadik-Khan Says Bike Safety Infrastructure Will Expand With Bike-Sharing (Transpo Nation)
Movement to Keep Chris Ward at Port Authority Grows, But Iris Weinshall On Short List (Crain’s�1,�2)
Ticket Cyclists to Raise Revenue, Says Goldsmith (Transpo Nation)
Van Bramer and Crowley to DOT: With Bumps or�Cameras, Stop Maspeth Speeding (News)
Marcia Kramer Takes Victory Lap Down [...]

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/11/24/todays-headlines-1027/

Chuck Stevenson Ian Stewart Jackie Stewart Jimmy Stewart Siegfried Stohr

Holiday shopping in the fast lane

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/27/828993/holiday-shopping-in-the-fast-lane.html

Aguri Suzuki Toshio Suzuki Jacques Swaters Bob Sweikert Toranosuke Takagi

Bernoldi takes home GT1 pole

Enrique Bernoldi took his first pole in the GT1 World Championship in qualifying for his home round at Interlagos, but while Bernoldi and team-mate Xandi Negrao will start first in the #2 Vitaphone Maserati, the squad's championship-leading #1 car was only 19th. Andrea Bertolini blamed a small mistake and the effects of success ballast for the lack of pace from the MC12 that he shares with Michael Bartels

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/3rdparty/bernoldi-takes-home-gt1-pole/

Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine Chris Irwin JeanPierre Jabouille

Ginetta releases official renderings of new G55

Filed under: , , ,

Ginetta G55 sketch
Ginetta G55 - Click above for image gallery

The Ginetta G50 has so far been the star of the Ginetta GT Supercup, a one-make support series for the British Touring Car Championship. There's a brighter star on the way next year, though, when Ginetta introduces the G55. The new car will compete alongside the G50 in next year's races but in its own class and with separate a points system and podium ceremony.

To go along with its more aggressive looks and aero, the G55's Ford engine is 3.7 liters instead of the G50's 3.5, and it puts out 370 horsepower - 70 horses more than the G50. Other tweaks include beefier brakes front and back and a new exhaust. Current G50 owners can upgrade to the G55 for £25,000 ($39,219 U.S.), or privateers can buy the car new for £75,000 ($117,661 U.S.).

Ginetta's latest will be publicly unveiled at Autosport International on January 13 in Birmingham, England. Follow the jump for the press release, and get a couple of glimpses in the gallery of images below.


Gallery: Ginetta G55


[Source: Ginetta]

Continue reading Ginetta releases official renderings of new G55

Ginetta releases official renderings of new G55 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/28/ginetta-releases-official-renderings-of-new-g55/

Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner Billy Garrett

HKS to partner with Tilke for Austin

The company behind the new United States Grand Prix venue in Austin, Texas, has announced that architectural design firm HKS will work with Hermann Tilke's organisation on the new track. "The HKS Sports and Entertainment Group is extremely energised about our role in bringing the Formula 1 United States venue to life," said Mark Williams, principal of HKS. "We are honoured to work with Tilke, a global leader in racetrack construction, and the entire Formula 1 United States team.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/hks-to-partner-with-tilke-for-austin/

Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann Francois Hesnault

Racing rookie shows she's a fast learner

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/27/828418/racing-rookie-shows-shes-a-fast.html

Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham

Hendrick Shuffles Crew Chief Lineup

(From Left) Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick at Hendrick Motorsports during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour in 2010. (HHP/Harold Hinson) CONCORD, N.C. ? In a shocking move, Hendrick Motorsports has shuffled crew chiefs on three of its four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams for the 2011 season.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/nascar-news/nascar/hendrick-shuffles-crew-chief-lineup/

Massimiliano Papis Mike Parkes Reg Parnell Tim Parnell Johnnie Parsons

Vacca Endorses Life-Saving 20 MPH Speed Limit

Pedestrian survival rates are far higher in 20 mph collisions than at higher speeds.
Speed kills, even when traffic is moving at New York’s citywide limit of 30 miles per hour. According to the UK Department for Transport, if a driver hits a pedestrian at 30 miles per hour, the victim only has a 55 percent [...]

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/11/22/vacca-endorses-life-saving-20-mph-speed-limit/

Paul England Harald Ertl Nasif Estefano Philippe Etancelin Bob Evans

Look at Alonso's face!

Source: http://www.metrof1.com/blogs/metrof1/2010/11/look-at-alonsos-face.html

Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi Naoki Hattori

ARCA Sets Dates At Three Tracks

TOLEDO, Ohio ? The ARCA Racing Series has announced three more dates for its 2011 racing season. Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway April 15 to open a weekend of NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action, and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., will do the same Oct

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/nascar-news/nascar/arca-sets-dates-at-three-tracks/

Tony Settember Hap Sharp Brian ShaweTaylor Carroll Shelby Tony Shelly

Hendrick Motorsports announces changes for 2011

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/11/hendrick-motorsports-announces-changes.html

Derek Warwick John Watson Spider Webb Mark Webber Volker Weidler

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Johnson knows how it feels to chase a champion

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/23/822251/johnson-knows-how-it-feels-to.html

Kenneth McAlpine Perry McCarthy Ernie McCoy Johnny McDowell Jack McGrath

Dale Jr.'s racecar features 'Paint the 88' contest-winning design

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/11/dale-jrs-racecar-features-paint-88.html

Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca Phil Cade Alex Caffi John CampbellJones

Denny Hamlin Leads Title Contenders in Final NASCAR Practice

Filed under: , , , ,

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- After struggling in opening practice Friday and qualifying a disappointing 37th for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale, championship leader Denny Hamlin showed some signs of progress, posting a top-five speed in Saturday's final practice session -- best among the three drivers in contention for the title.

Hamlin's lap of 169.284 mph in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota was fourth best in Happy Hour -- as the final practice is called -- well off Kasey Kahne's pole-winning mark of nearly 177 mph, but ahead of his closest championship rivals. Four-time defending series champ Jimmie Johnson, who trails Hamlin by 15 points in the title hunt, was 22nd fastest in final practice, while Kevin Harvick, who is 46 points behind Hamlin, was 29th fastest.

"I feel pretty good about my car,'' said Hamlin, who made a beeline from the garage to his team transporter after practice. "I feel like we have a better car than the 48 (Johnson). I feel like the 29 (Harvick) is maybe a hair better than us, but we are always a little bit slower in practice than what we are in the race.

"I'm confident that we're going to have a good day tomorrow. We've just got to make sure we stay on the right strategy.''

Harvick, whose Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton was fastest on the day, was similarly satisfied with his team's preparation -- so much so that he parked his No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy before the session ended.

"I'm excited,'' said Harvick. "It should be a fun day tomorrow.''

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/20/denny-hamlin-leads-title-contenders-in-final-nascar-practice/

Guy Tunmer Jack Turner Toni Ulmen Bobby Unser Jerry Unser

NASCAR Off-Season Week 1: Focus on Reed Sorenson

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/11/nascar-off-season-week-1-focus-on-reed.html

Gunther Seiffert Ayrton Senna† Bruno Senna Dorino Serafini Chico Serra

Johnson: 2010 More Fun Than Others

THE CONTENDERS: With a second-place finish in Sunday?s Ford 400, Jimmie Johnson (center) vaulted to his fifth-straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title ahead of Denny Hamlin (left) and Kevin Harvick.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/nascar-news/nascar/johnson-2010-more-fun-than-others/

Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine Chris Irwin JeanPierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson

Johnson achieves 'Drive for Five' as Edwards dominates Homestead

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/11/johnson-achieves-drive-for-five-as.html

Alfonso de Portago Sam Posey Charles Pozzi Jackie Pretorius Ernesto Prinoth

Ricciardo lands Toro Rosso Friday drive

Daniel Ricciardo has been confirmed as Toro Rosso’s third driver for 2011 – and the Aussie will also appear on Friday mornings on race weekends, replacing either Sebastien Buemi or Jaime Alguersuari. Ricciardo, who impressed when he drove the Red … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/11/26/ricciardo-lands-toro-rosso-friday-drive/

Philippe Etancelin Bob Evans Corrado Fabi Teo Fabi Pascal Fabre

Will next year be the real thing for Mercedes?

The end of the season couldn?t have come quick enough for the Silver Arrows team.

Talked up at the start of the year as one of four title-challengers, they have spectacularly failed to compete at the front ? ending as the only one of the ?big four? to not win a race.

A dream Michael Schumacher return coupled with the young Nico Rosberg proving his potential, never failed ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/rgYfcg7O4vo/will-next-year-be-the-real-thing-for-mercedes

Claudio Langes Nicola Larini Oscar Larrauri Gerard Larrousse Jud Larson

Mercedes-Benz Biome Concept


One of the important events that happens at the LA Auto Show that we are all excited about is the Los Angeles Design Challenge, an annual competition at the LA Auto Show that provides up-and-coming designers with the opportunity to collaborate with an automaker to design a futuristic concept vehicle using a few set requirements. This year, the theme of the challenge is to build a safe and comfortable 2+2 compact car that comes with excellent handling and cutting-edge design and weighs in at no more than 1,000 lbs.

This concept comes from Mercedes-Benz, which, incidentally, was built not far from Los Angeles at the company?s US design headquarters in Carlsbad, California. The vehicle is called the Biome Concept and is described as a vehicle that ?grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery?. In layman?s terms, the Biome Concept is pretty much an organic hybrid that was created in complete symbiosis with nature, producing its own oxygen and contributing to the improvement of air quality.

UPDATE 11/26/2010: When the designs for the Los Angeles Design Challenge were entered, no one really expected any of them to see production, but, according to Autocar, Mercedes is looking into using the BIOME Concept as the inspiration for their mid-engined supercar. Mercedes is planning on revealing the concept vehicle in 2015 as a competitor to BMW?s Vision EfficientDynamics? eco-supercar.

Now, we don?t expect the production version to follow the same path as the concept?s creation ? nobody?s silly enough to believe that Mercedes can grow the production version from ?seeds? as how the concept is supposedly born ? but according to Hubert Lee, the man heading Mercedes? California design studio where the BIOME was conceptualized, certain elements of the concept could be translated to the production version. ?We were conscious during its development to ensure it wasn?t too limited or edgy,? he said.

?It had to be do-able without any significant changes.?

Full details and press release after the jump

Mercedes-Benz Biome Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 26 November 2010 19:00 EST.

read more




Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mercedes/2010-mercedes-benz-biome-concept-ar100119.html

Moises Solana Alex SolerRoig Raymond Sommer Vincenzo Sospiri Stephen South

City to Pursue ?Large-Scale? Bike-Share for the Big Apple

After a long and tantalizing build-up, New York City will officially declare its intent to pursue a public bike-share system tomorrow, when it releases a request for proposals to potential operators, the Times reports. At a sufficient scale, the introduction of bike-sharing here promises to open up cycling to huge numbers of New [...]

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/11/22/city-to-pursue-large-scale-bike-share-for-the-big-apple/

David Clapham Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan Peter Collins Bernard Collomb

Lucky Henrik M�ller Inherits Win

Although newcomer Joze Rozman was the fastest driver of the day, it was Henrik M�ller who able to take the checkered flag first in the ianIndy.de� series race at Road Atlanta.� After all, sometimes you need the necessary luck in order to make the old saying come true: ?To finish first, you must first finish.?� [...]

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/iracing-news/lucky-henrik-muller-inherits-win/

Keith Greene Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard Bobby Grim

Victory lane: Ford 400

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/22/818529/victory-lane.html

Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston

Friday, November 26, 2010

Pick your classic grand prix - race 19

Welcome to the final classic grand prix selection of the 2010 Formula 1 season.

We have an eclectic but hopefully fascinating mix of races with which to whet your appetites for the potentially explosive showdown between Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

In their way, our choices collectively sum up everything that is on the table at the Yas Marina circuit on Sunday - there is a title decider, a last race of a classic season, a twist in a battle between two of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport and a showdown between two drivers in one of history's defining cars.

Your job is the same as ever - tell us which is your favourite and we will use the responses on this blog to help us choose from which race to show you the full 'Grand Prix' highlights programme broadcast on the BBC at the time, as well as the shorter highlights edits we cut for all the races.

We will also make available short and long highlights of last year's inaugural race at Abu Dhabi.

The classic races will be available on this website on Wednesday.

I'll run through the choices chronologically.

First is the 1979 United States Grand Prix East - the last race of a classic season.

It was won by Ferrari's Gilles Villeneuve after a battle with Williams driver Alan Jones, the two fastest drivers of the season, both men overshadowing the new world champion, Villeneuve's team-mate Jody Scheckter, as they had all year.

Villeneuve underlined his status as the fastest driver in the world with a scarcely believable performance in practice at the demanding Watkins Glen track in upstate New York. On Friday, in the streaming rain, he had been fastest by a quite staggering margin - nearly nine seconds - from Scheckter.

In dry qualifying, though, the Ferrari, which lacked the downforce of the English-built cars, could manage only third in Villeneuve's hands, with Scheckter 16th. Jones and Brabham's Nelson Piquet were on the front row.

Gilles Villeneuve in the 1979 Ferrari 312T4

Villeneuve was the star of the 1979 season in the Ferrari 312T4. Photo: Getty

But the race started wet, giving Villeneuve his chance, and the great Canadian duly stormed into the lead from Jones.

Villeneuve built a five-second lead in two laps but after that the gap between the two varied. The Michelins on Villeneuve's Ferrari performed better when the rain was heavier, while the Goodyears on Jones's Williams were faster when it eased off.

As the circuit began to dry, Jones closed on Villeneuve and took the lead on lap 31. Three laps later, Villeneuve came in for dry-weather slick tyres, with Jones coming in after a further three laps. There were problems with the right rear but the Williams was waved out when the team manager thought the wheel was on firmly.

As Jones accelerated away, though, the mechanic fitting the wheel signalled frantically that he had not finished and the wheel came loose at the beginning of the back straight, leaving Jones ruing a lost opportunity.

A classic battle was over - and Villeneuve cruised to an ultimately comfortable win.

The next choice is the 1988 Portuguese Grand Prix, our twist in what was to become the long-running battle between two of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport - with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna taking the place of Alonso and Hamilton in our analogy.

This was a season utterly dominated by McLaren, who won 15 of the 16 races. Their drivers, Senna and Prost, locked out the front row, and Prost started the race knowing he absolutely needed to win after a devastating run of form through the summer by Senna.

Senna led off the start but Prost tracked him all the way around the first lap, and was clearly faster and in a position to try to pass as they entered the pit straight.

The Frenchman pulled out of Senna's slipstream to the right, but Senna moved violently over on him, forcing him almost into the pit wall - a move that found an echo in Michael Schumacher's controversial defence from Rubens Barrichello in Hungary this year.

Prost, though, was not to be intimidated. He kept his foot in it and passed the Brazilian into the first corner of the second lap.

Prost went on to a win that was less comfortable than it looked - the McLarens, with their Honda turbos, were very marginal on fuel and Prost had to manage his car carefully while holding off the challenge of the Adrian Newey-designed March of Ivan Capelli, which finished a superb second.

Things did not go so well for Senna. To add to his fuel consumption problems, Senna's digital fuel read-out was proving unreliable, and he slumped defencelessly to finish sixth, putting Prost back into the championship lead with three races to go.

The Mexican Grand Prix of 1991 is our next race, contested between two drivers in one of history's defining cars - the Williams-Renault FW14 representing the 2010 Red Bull-Renault RB6.

Senna, still at McLaren, had won the first four races of the season, but by the time of Mexico, the sixth race, it was clear that the Williams - designed, like the 1988 March and the 2010 Red Bull, by Newey - had moved F1 car design on to a new level.

Unexpectedly, though, it was Williams's unfancied second driver, Riccardo Patrese, who initially got the most from the car, rather than their returning leading star, Nigel Mansell, who was fresh from a difficult season being overshadowed at Ferrari by Prost.

Patrese took pole on the superb Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, from Mansell and Senna.

But the Italian made a poor start, dropping to fourth behind Mansell, Senna and Ferrari's Jean Alesi.

Patrese was soon past Alesi and Senna, and set off after Mansell, who he passed on lap 15, continuing on to a superb, unchallenged win. Only later in the season did Mansell get on top of his team-mate, and go on to push Senna hard for the title.

Finally, there is Portugal 1993 - our title decider.

It is a somewhat overlooked grand prix, which is odd, because in many ways it was a defining race in F1 history.

Prost clinched his fourth, and final, world title at Estoril that sunny Sunday in September, but the weekend -my first foreign grand prix as a reporter, as it happens - was rich with intrigue.

It was overshadowed by Prost's announcement on the Thursday that he was retiring at the end of the season, a decision forced upon him by his Williams team's decision to employ Senna for what turned out to be an apocalyptic 1994 season.

At the age of 38, Prost, whose contract included a clause which said he would not drive alongside Senna, had no stomach for another bitter battle with his arch-rival, and decided to call time on his wonderful career.

But that was not the only way in which the race marked the beginning of the end of one era and the start of another.

That feeling was enhanced by events at McLaren, who had dropped the struggling Michael Andretti after the previous race in Italy and drafted in their test driver, Mika Hakkinen - who proceeded to outqualify Senna and take third place on the grid. The great Brazilian was not amused!

The race, too, had more than a hint of the changing of the guard about it.

Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost on the podium at the 1993 Portuguese Grand Prix

Schumacher, the race-winner, pours champagne over the new world champion, Alain Prost, at Estoril in 1993. Photo: Getty

Prost had unusually been outqualified by team-mate Damon Hill, who then proceeded to stall on the formation lap, forcing him to start at the back.

Prost would almost certainly have cruised to victory had he got a good start. But he had struggled all season with the clutch on the Williams, and he was swamped by the McLarens - with Senna passing Hakkinen at the start - and, particularly, Alesi's Ferrari, which took the lead.

The top six circulated together for the first part of the race, with Alesi leading Senna, Hakkinen, Prost, Michael Schumacher's Benetton and the second Ferrari of Gerhard Berger.

The race distilled down to a battle between Prost and Schumacher, the only two cars stopping only once.

After the stops, Schumacher was in the lead. Prost was right behind, and much faster, but second place was enough for him to clinch the title, even though Hill had now worked his way back up to third place.

Prost made a few attempts to pass, but Schumacher employed some of the tricks that were to become notorious in later years and, not wishing to risk an accident, Prost decided discretion was the better part of valour, and settled for second.

So there it is - what we hope is a great choice to end not only a great F1 season, but our second year of classic grand prix.

I look forward to reading your views.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/11/pick_your_classic_grand_prix_-_1.html

Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison

The Florida State DOT vs. Livability

Activists in Miami are celebrating a likely victory in a months-long campaign for livability improvements on Brickell Avenue, the main drag in the city’s fashionable Brickell neighborhood.
Miami's Brickell Avenue is the center of a thriving residential neighborhood, but you wouldn't know it from the street design. Photo: City-Data
The campaign united the folks at Network [...]

Source: http://streetsblog.net/2010/11/24/the-florida-state-dot-vs-livability/

Dempsey Wilson Desire Wilson Justin Wilson Vic Wilson Joachim Winkelhock

With 5th title in hand, Johnson takes aim on Petty, Earnhardt

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/23/820699/with-5th-title-in-hand-johnson.html

Walt Brown Warwick Brown Adolf Brudes Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni

Rankings: Johnson boosted by title

Jimmie Johnson made history yet again as he clinched a record-breaking fifth straight Sprint Cup title at Homestead last weekend and assured himself of finishing the year as the highest-ranked NASCAR driver in the Castrol Rankings.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/nascar-news/nascar/rankings-johnson-boosted-by-title/

Henri Pescarolo Alessandro PesentiRossi Josef Peters Ronnie Peterson Vitaly Petrov*

Hendrick's gamble not entirely tied to Earnhardt's woes

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/25/825061/major-shuffle.html

George Follmer George Fonder Norberto Fontana Azdrubal Fontes Bayardo Carl Forberg

My F1 2010 season review

I've been watching grand prix racing since before World War II and I can honestly say I have never seen a season with more excitement, drama and intrigue than 2010. This is my review of the year in which Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull team really came of age.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.


CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE UK

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2010/11/my_f1_2010_season_review.html

Nino Vaccarella Bob Veith Jos Verstappen Sebastian Vettel Gilles Villeneuve

NASCAR Chairman Brian France Still Considering Changes for 2011

Filed under: , ,

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Even in the midst of the most dramatic championship scenario NASCAR has had since the inception of its Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff, NASCAR Chairman Brian France said Friday he is still considering changes to the sport, including shortening the length of some races.

In a wide-ranging news conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of Sunday's Ford 400 season finale, France shot down the possibility of moving the final race from South Florida and dismissed the likelihood of ever ending the year at Daytona International Speedway, which is a popular fan suggestion. He also spoke about the lagging television ratings and promised to announce impactful changes to the Nationwide Series in January.

Overall, however, France said this year's tight championship is a result of productive changes NASCAR had already introduced. Denny Hamlin's 15-point edge over Jimmie Johnson is the closest margin entering the final race in seven years. And Kevin Harvick is only 46 points back.

"I think the fact that we are so far into the cycle of, 'It's not the new car anymore, it's the car', and various other little things that we did, all have come together to give us ... if this isn't the best racing we've seen in a long, long time, I think I would be very surprised to hear anybody say that it wasn't,'' France said.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/19/nascar-chairman-brian-france-still-considering-changes-for-2011/

Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci Ronnie Bucknum

Date For 63rd Little 500 Set

Jacob Wilson (87) battles Eric Gordon during the 62nd running of the Pay Less Little 500 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. (David Sink Photo) ANDERSON, Ind

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/qualifying/date-for-63rd-little-500-set/

Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard

Ecclestone taken to hospital after mugging | Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone was taken to hospital after being mugged in London on Wednesday.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/gPZ3wJ3rUpo/

Jonathan Palmer Olivier Panis Giorgio Pantano Massimiliano Papis Mike Parkes

Stadium experts HKS join US GP project

A leading sports stadium design company has joined forces with Tilke GmbH as plans for the US GP venue in Austin continue to take shape. HKS Inc is known in Texas as the architectural firm behind the Dallas Cowboys stadium … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/11/22/stadium-experts-hks-join-us-gp-project/

Brian Hart Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi Naoki Hattori Paul Hawkins

Using Parking Fees to Reduce Street Consumption

In an effort to patch a budget gap, city officials in Washington D.C. are considering increasing the annual� fee for a residential street parking permit from $15 to $30.
The idea seems like a winner overall: It would help move parking fees ever so slightly more in line with the true value of street space (though [...]

Source: http://streetsblog.net/2010/11/22/using-parking-fees-to-reduce-street-consumption/

Brett Lunger Mike MacDowel Herbert MacKayFraser Bill Mackey Lance Macklin

Hendrick reshuffles crew chiefs

Hendrick Motorsports will change the crew chiefs for three of its drivers, with Jeff Gordon ending his long-term partnership with Steve Letarte - who will now work with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Just days after winning its 10th NASCAR Cup title, the team has announced a major reshuffle for 2011. Letarte will move to Earnhardt's car, following another disappointing season for the crowd's favourite driver.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/nascar-news/nascar/hendrick-reshuffles-crew-chiefs/

Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi Luiz Bueno Ian Burgess Luciano Burti