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

Audi Wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the 8th Time in 9 Years

Okay - how many of you thought that Audi wasn't going to have a clear shot of winning the race? Anybody? well, it certainly is no surprise to me that Audi with their R10 won the 24 overall in 8 of the past 9 years , despite the Peugeot 908 dominating the first part of the race. never in my life have I seen such an amazing team dominate such an amazing race in the fashion that they have - especially when Peugeot was really putting pressure on them during the entire 24 hours. This truly was a perfect race for Audi, and a classic race for the 275,000 spectators that were on hand to see it who definitely got their money's worth. Peugeot vows to come back next year after finishing second..and so, the battle between the diesels continues on, for sure.


Le Mans Results
1. Dindo Capello (Italy) / Tom Kristensen (Denmark) / Allan McNish (Scotland) Audi Sport North America (Audi R10) 381 laps

2. Marc Gene (Spain) / Nicolas Minassian (France) / Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) Team Peugeot Total (Peugeot 908) 381 laps

3. Franck Montagny (France) / Christian Klien (Austria) / Ricardo Zonta (Brazil) Peugeot Sport Total (Peugeot 908) 379

4. Alexandre Premat (France) / Lucas Luhr (Germany) / Mike Rockenfeller (Germany) Audi Sport Team Joest (Audi R10) 374


Photo Courtesy of F1 Fanatic

A Historical Weekend

History will be the story of this weekend. here's why:

Danica Patrick Wins!!!!! Her first win happened finally, at the Indy 300 at twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan. Its her first win in 50 starts in the Indy Car Series, and she becomes the first woman to win a major open wheel auto racing event, in the history of open wheel racing

Today is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach - The final race sanctioned under the Champ Car World Series - Ever.

The American Le Mans Series races @ Long Beach. Will Audi keep their streak alive, or lose it once again to the Penske Porsche's who have an advantage there

NASCAR is racing south of the border for the Nationwide series (formerly Busch)

Grand Am - Racing, also in Mexico for the Rolex Series

Photo Courtesy : Indy Racing League

The Green Flag Begins In Florida

After living here for so many years, I've noticed one certain thing about motorsports , and the state of Florida. Just about every series in North America, opens their respective series here...just think about it.

• The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for the Grand AM Rolex Series started this past January in Daytona Beach...
• The Daytona 500, for NASCAR starts a few weeks later in the same place
• The AMA Superbikes started there in Daytona as well, during bike week
• The 12 Hours of Sebring Starts Tomorow, in Sebring, FL for the American Le Mans Series, with the SCCA Speed World Challenge & Star Mazda Series
  

and a few weeks after that?

The Indy Racing League / Champ Car World Series Opens their season in Homestead, followed by a race in the streets of St. Petersburg a week later. I know its obviously because of weather reasons..I mean, there's no way the IRL can start at Indianapolis in March, as much as Tony George may love that idea..but usually at this time of year the only thing running at Indy is a snow plow. same goes for every other series and track out there north of Daytona.

and knowing that alone makes me kinda happy, at least for a brief time before spring comes for the rest of the country, the ice thaws, and racing resumes in other parts of the country & Canada, that I can see the best racing here in the sunshine state, and speaking of which - I will not be posting anything here tomorrow, because I will actually be attending the 12 Hours of Sebring for the very first time ever in my life. I had a chance to go to an ALMS event in Miami back in 2002, but circumstances held me back from going. and I refuse to be denied. Also heading down to Homestead for the IRL season opener as well, in 2 weeks time. Peace Out, everybody

Photo Credit :
http://picasaweb.google.com/qqqracing/Motorsport

Racing News & Notes - March 9, 2008...

French manufacturer Peugeot getting ready to run the 12 Hours of Sebring - March 15, 2008



NASCAR

Sprint Cup:

Today's race for the is the Kobalt Tools 500, from Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Jeff Gordon is on the pole position for today's race

Craftsman Trucks:

Friday Night, kyle Busch pulled away from Ron Hornaday to win the American Commercial Lines 200, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Busch is currently at the top of the points standings for the second consecutive week

Nationwide Series:

Matt Kenseth wins the Nicorette 300, from Atlanta Motor Speedway , holding off Kevin Harvick in a green-white-checkered finish

Indy Racing League / Champ Car

A little more than a week since the merger between the IRL and Champ Car was made infamous, teams went out to Sebring, FL from March 3-6, 2008 to do some testing of the new road course version of the Indy car. new additions were made to the cars, some of which are: paddle shift gearboxes, collapsible steering columns, & etc. Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske lead the session with a time of 52.42 seconds (114.689 mph) on the final day of testing. The Indy Racing League season begins @ Homestead Miami Speedway for the Gainsco Indy 300, March 29, 2008

American Le Mans Series / Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series

The countdown to the 56Th annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring is less than a week away, and all the teams are ready. for the first time this year, French manufacturer, Peugeot, will race in the 12 hours, most likely as a preparation race for the 24 hours of Le Mans. I personally expect Audi to take the win, like they have done in years past, but other teams, like the Team Penske Porsche's, as well as Peugeot themselves (they finished second to the Audi's at Last year's Le Mans 24 Hour), may make the race a little challenging for them to do so. The race begins on March 15, 2008, and is the season opener to the American Le Mans Series

The Rolex Sports Car Series ends their 4 week long break with some testing taken at the Homestead Miami Speedway, last week. their season continues on March 29, 2008 @ Homestead, on the same weekend as the Indy Racing League Indy Car Series

Formula One

The 2008 Formula One World championship Begins on Sunday - march 16, 2008 in Melborune, Australia, at the Albert Park Circuit. All teams, such as McLaren, Ferarri, BMW Williams, and Renault and the Middle East. It should be an exciting season, especially after the amazing season we had last year, with teams having brand new chassis to start, and since they have concluded their testing at tracks in Europe and the Middle East, as well. It was a great season in F1 last year, as well as a controversial one on and off the track - with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton almost winning the championship as a rookie - missing out to Kimi Raikkonen of Frearri, which has never been done in the history of the world championship, and ended up being the closest points race in history - by a single point. Hopefully, McLaren and Ferarri will keep their noses clean this year