Sunday, August 24, 2008

American Le Mans: Audi TDI's, Dindo Capello Dominates Again at Mosport

It's another front row start in the prototype class for the Audi Sport TDI R10's this coming weekend for the Mobil 1 Grand Prix at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario Canada. Rinaldo "Dindo" Capello earned the pole right next to his teammate Marco Werner, beating his previous record set last year by over 1.8 seconds with a time of 1:04.094 seconds at the speed of over 138.12mph




In GT, the lone Chevrolet Corvette's in the GT1 class battled each other for the top spot with a time of 1:13.878 at the speed of 119.82 mph earned by Johnny O' Connel, edging teammate Olivera Beretta by 0.069 seconds. Jamie Melo Earned the GT2 pole in his Rizi Competizione Ferarri 430GT at a time of 1:16.863, at 115.17 mph speeds.



Video Courtesy: American Le Mans Series, Speed Channel, Brightcove

Indy Car: Castroneves on Pole, Team Penske Sweeps The Front Row for Sonoma

Days after Team Penske's race hauler suffered a fire en route to Sonoma, California's Infineon Raceway for this Sunday's Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix - The team has rebounded by earning the front row positions for today's race. Helio Castroneves earned the pole position with a qualifying time of 1:16.90 at the speed of 108.8mph, with teammate Ryan Briscoe almost edging him out by a time of 1:16.91, at the speed of 107.7mph





The rest of the top 5 stands out with former Champ Car star Will Power, 2004 Indy Car Champion Tony Kannan, and current series points leader Scott Dixon .




Video Courtesy: Indy Racing League/You Tube

Thursday, August 14, 2008

How Safe Is NASCAR's Car of Today?

That was proven at last weeks NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race - The Centurion Boats At The Glen in Watkins Glen, New York. With 8 laps remaining before Kyle Busch took the win, a chain reaction accident caused by David Gilliland and Michael McDowell, hitting each other in turn 11, with Sam Hornish, Jr. going into the pit lane water barrier seconds later. Amazingly, no one was hurt - drivers, photographers or spectators, in for what I call the road course version of "The Big One" For those that has questioned how the COT was constructed, and being allowed in NASCAR, you be the judge:






I can agree with the crowd's reaction as they saw the video, as well. Ironically, McDowell was also involved in the very first major crash with the COT during a qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway back in April, 2008. Speed was not so beautiful on either one of those days - for those that may get the inside humor on that note.

Video Courtesy: ESPN/NASCAR/You Tube

Sunday, August 3, 2008

ROBBED! - AIM Autosport Wins The Closest Rolex Series Race in Montreal - 0.064 Seconds

I really wanted you all to see this because this finish is totally amazing, along with Leigh Diffey's emotional announcing

Video Courtesy: Speed Channel, Brightcove

Canadians Finish 1-2 @ Giles Villenuve, NASCAR Finally Races in The Rain - Officially



Ron Fellows has finally won the racetrack that has eluded him for so many years. Saturday was the race for the NASCAR Nationwide Series @ Circuit Gilles Villenuve in Montreal, Canada, which not only was history for the winner, and the entire nation - considering Fellows, and fellow Canadian, Patrick Carpentier finished first and second, but it also was history for NASCAR itself. This race was the very first point paying race that NASCAR has ever run in the rain. What was the only other race they ever had under wet conditions before that? - an exhibition race held at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, in 1997.


This is incredible to finally win here," - Ron Fellows, as he brought his wife & family into the victory lane garage celebration."It's a great day for Canadians and it's very special here at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Gilles was a hero of mine."

Fellows is definitely no stranger to wet weather driving- or winning, for that matter. He has run the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the wet with the GM Corvette Racing Factory Team for the better part of the decade taking multiple GT class victories. I can now honestly say that NASCAR no longer has to deal with the old saying of "go fast & turn left" as much, because they actually were able to do more than that, and has totally taken me by surprise driving in wet conditions. It looks like Formula One may just have some competition for wet weather driving, after all.

Photo Courtesy: The National Post, Reuters
Video Courtesy: ESPN, You Tube

Friday, August 1, 2008

The Dark Side of Formula One: Exposed

I gotta be honest...every time I head out to a professional event on a racetrack here in the Unites States, its so amazing, wonderful & fan friendly. I have gone to an IRL event recently in the past few years at Homestead Miami Speedway, and everyone in the paddock was so nice - it was almost scary & shocking at the same time. I even got Max Papis, who was running a Grand Am Rolex Series race the night before, to sign a piece of his race car that broke off in an accident.

Former Indy Car Series driver Robbie Buhl, signing autographs for kids during the 1996 Indianapolis 500.



But this totally irritates me, on how Formula 1 and their drivers can be. how can anyone still be a fan of drivers like this, I wonder? :



Kimi, I respect you as a driver, and champion, but all she wanted was an autograph most likely for her daughter, and you knocked down her child?, although it was inadvertent, and all you did was keep on walking like nothing happened? World champion or not, you should have some sense of decency for what happened, seeing that kid cry. I've seen drivers here in my part of the world actually go to children's hospitals to bring joy to the faces of kids - Racing for Kids, is a pretty good example. To add to that, some drivers here race for charity events - Tony Stewart, and the Prelude to the Dream event at his racetrack- Eldora Speedway. The driver behind the machine isn't supposed to be a machine all the time. Have a sense of feeling & care, Kimi.

Also, Juan Pablo Montoya, back when he was in F1 for the Williams BMW Team. As much of a fan as I am of Montoya (I've followed him since his days in CART for Target Chip Ganassi Racing to his recent stint in NASCAR for that very team) I gotta disagree with this incident, because he didn't see where he was going, and walked straight into the camera:



My opinion? I doubt that Formula One Management will ever release this type of footage on their broadcasts because they want to keep as many fans in the seats, spending as much money as possible. Bernie Ecclestone - of "Formula One doesn't need America" fame, considering he's nearing his 80's in age, just might have a heart attack on the spot if this ever did get out onto a broadcast. maybe fans overseas might look at the sport a little bit differently.

Photo Courtesy: The Auto Channel
Video Courtesy: You Tube