2010: ROLEX

This very name brings meaning to many, from those that are wealthy elite who wear the iconic brand on their wrists all around the world, to those that are teams, drivers, and motorsports fans, officials, and enthusiasts. Today, we focus on the latter, as today is the start of the 2010 motorsports season in North America, with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona . This race will feature many drivers from many different disciplines of motorsport, and pro am drivers from all walks of life. This is the race that not only tests the physical and mechanical toughness of the machine, but also the physical and mental toughness for the drives who suffer from the limits of darkness, fatigue, weather, mechanical failure, and all other sorts of hurdles that can stop teams from winning the coveted Rolex Oyster Perpetual Daytona watch, leaving them dead in their tracks. In today's edition - this true international race of champions, there's 4 time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, 2008 & 2009 Indy Car Series Champions Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, 5 time Rolex 24 winner Hurley Haywood - in his last start of this great race, 2 Time Rolex 24 Winner Max Papis, and Multiple Rolex winner Scott Pruett all running in the Daytona Prototype class. In the GT class, there's former NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte in the The Racer Group Porsche, Jordan Taylor - son of Rolex 24 Winner and 2010 participant Wayne Taylor, and television star Patrick Dempsey in his Mazda RX8. On top of that, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is making its famed return to motorsports in the U.S. Considering all these facts, it looks like it will be a very exciting race..only time will tell how the race unfolds, and I a for one am looking very forward to it.

F1: Is Bernie That Spiteful of North America?...

Ever since F1 dropped the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this month, that's been the multi million dollar question. Since the fiasco at the 2005 United States Grand Prix, F1 in North America has slowly dropped off in popularity and stature, eventually leading to its removal in 2007 from the Formula 1 World Championship. The Canadian GP is a bit of a different story, as bad promoting and unpaid claims between promoters and F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One Management.

All this makes me wonder...Is Bernie that spiteful of N. America? he even went on saying "Formula one doesn't even need America", shortly after the Indianapolis demise. Some time after that, the FIA has expanded to other tracks around the world - China, Turkey, Bahrain, and most notably Singapore and Valencia, Spain. Basically ignoring the US & Canada entirely

I believe that the continent deserves a race somewhere, anywhere!, personally. Its a global sport, and to take out a major continent, deprives all of the fans of F1 of actually wanting to see a great series around the world. Also, the series is based on manufactures, there's no denying that. Mercedes (McLarren), Ferrari, BMW, & Toyota all have a major automotive market here in N. America, and with the recent dropping out of Montreal, I believe it has irritated the manufacturers just a little bit more, to say the least.

"It is a problem that must be dealt with seriously by Ecclestone. F1 is a global sport and we must be in North America,"
Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari Team President speaking on the issue, after Canada's demise

Recently, the mayor of Montreal, Gerald Trudeau, says its "still possible" to save the Canadian GP. I hope so, to be honest with you, and bring back the U.S. while you're at it, because we're not all huge fans of NASCAR, like many would believe. F1 is very different, as I know, watching a ferarri scream by me at 150 miles per hour and I was 5 feet away from the rumble strips. Don't deny the North American fans of something as exciting as that, Bernie.

Photo Credit: F1 Fanatic.co.uk

Powerful Day In The Land of Oz

Aussie native, Will Power, has set the fastest practice time in the IRL Indy Car Series, Thursday - clearly becoming the favorite (along with fellow natives Ryan Briscoe, & Scott Dixon) for the Nikon Indy 300, an exhibition race at Surfer's Paradise, Australia, and the final race of the 2008 season. Despite setting the lap time of 1:34.8, he's still knows its not the fastest practice time that matters:

"It's still early and qualifying isn't until tomorrow.........That and Sunday are all that matter to me. I am glad we are quick, but we still need to improve the car a bit. This is a very competitive field and we will have to be faster (during qualifications)."

Helio Castroneves, who received clearance to leave the U.S., after being indicted earlier this month for federal tax charges, set the second fastest lap with a 1:36.1 on the 2.796 mile street circuit. Fresh out of his NASCAR ride, and back in the series that gave him a series championship in 2007 - Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi Racing has set the 3rd fastest practice time, only being .10 seconds behind Castroneves.

Despite this race being an exhibition only event, this race is very well known in size and stature throughout Australia, sometimes being likened to Indy, and for this reason, I have started calling it the Oz version of the Indianapolis 500. In fact, a majority of the field that raced the 500 this year, have raced in years past at Surfers Paradise in the CART/Champ Car days of competition

"That will not make one inch of difference when it comes to race time. This is one race every serious Indy Car driver wants to compete in and win." - Dario Franchitti

The Nikon Indy 300 starts this coming Saturday, at 10:30pm, Eastern Time


Photo Credit: Indy Racing League

Formula One: Alonso to BMW Sauber?

Its a possibility. Rumors were confirmed to the Spanish media that BMW Sauber and 2 time Formula 1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso of Renault have talked about the chance of having a ride with BMW for 2009. This year has been a bit of a disappointment, since he has suffered from 3 DNF's, and no podiums or wins, but nothing probably compared to the nightmare of his time spent in the McLarren stable (a.k.a. "Mclarri" for how silly that season went down) When asked about future commitments in formula one, he said he will not announce anything after the Singapore GP. So in other words, we'll have to wait & see. oh, and a bit of a tip to know? He's been highly praised by Honda Team Engineer Ross Brawn as a driver. Who's the last driver Brawn Praised? Miachel Schumacher, when he and Braun himself worked for Benneton & Ferrari, earning 7 world championships.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: The Chase Is On!

The Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway marked the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series's Chase for the Cup. current points leader, Kyle Busch - despite having a great season, has not had a great start to the chase due to an Ill handling car, and a accident which sent him straight to the back of the field, finishing 36th.

Greg Biffle, however cant complain - considering he won the race and the "darkhorse" of the chasers as he's been called, is off to a great start. the next round of the chase is scheduled to be head at the Dover International Speedway next Sunday



Photos Courtesy: Speed Channel / NASCAR

Sebastien Who?...

No, it's not Sebastien Bourdais, but his teammate - Sebastien Vettel, of Team Torro Rosso, won Sunday's Italian Grand Prix - the last European stop on the Formula One World Championship calendar before heading off to Singapore for their inaugural & historic night race.

Vettel, therefore became the youngest winner ever in formula one, at 21 years - the previous record holder being Renault's Fernando Alonso (22 years). He lead entirely outright from pole position, earning the top spot in bad weather conditions during Saturday's qualifying session, and has never relinquished the lead from the start, leaving second place Heikki Kovalainen's Mercedes McLarren 12 seconds back. His teammate Sebastien Bourdais, almost claimed a podium, but was passed near the end by BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeild.

Points leader & Kovalaninen's teammate, Lewis Hamilton, continues to struggle going into Singapore, as his lead has been reduced to a single point. Its obvious that the penalty he received at the last round in Belgium took a huge chunk of his lead away.


Photo Courtesy: Speed Channel / Formula One Management

Newly Crowned Indy Car Champion Dixon Looking Forward To Surfers Paradise

As the Indy Car Series nearly draws to a close, it has so far been an amazing season, from Danica Patrick's first win (finally!) , to the long awaited unification between IRL & Champ Car, to the closest finish in series a few weeks ago at Chicagoland Speedway.



Scott Dixon, of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, was elated to win the series title, beating out Team Penske's Helio Castroneves. Castroneves was elated to just win a race this season, and I cant blame him, as he said "give me my hat!" to Scott Dixon in victory lane after finding out he was the winner, referring to the Firestone Tires winner's hat. The Chicagoland race came down to .001 seconds between he and Dixon, with the latter winning the championship. Now as the series title chase is over, the season still remains with 1 race to go as the teams and drivers head to Australia for the non points Nikon Indy 300 this coming October at Surfers Paradise.



Video Courtesy: Speed Channel/Brightcove, Photo Courtesy: Indy Racing League

Motorcycles At Indianapolis

Sunday's Moto Grand Prix race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was certainly amazing to see. My Reasons for watching?:

• Its the first time since 1909 the year the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened that motorcycles had raced there
• Nicky Hayden - a local, from Owensboro, Kentucky finished second, and it was a great finish for him, and his first podium for 2008.
• Racing in the rain - Indy isn't well known for racing in the rain, mostly because of constant rained out Indy 500's & Brickyard 400's, and the fact that GP raced there, flying down the straightaway close to 200 miles per hour amazed me, and all in the rain- unbelieveable!

Valentino Rossi Came away with the win, with the race being red flagged with 8 laps remaining due to heavy wind & rain - remnants from Hurricane Ike.


Video Courtesy: Speed Channel, Brightcove

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

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

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

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

Scott Kalitta : 1962- 2008

The sad news has spread throughout the racing community today. Multiple NHRA champion funny car driver Scott Kalitta, Has passed away from his injuries from a terrifying accident, during the Lucas Oil Supernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey, eerily enough, the very racetrack where he first started his drag racing career. My heart goes out to his family, and to the crew, officials, and fans of the NHRA. He died doing what he so passionately loved, and he'll sorely be missed. Race in peace, my friend.

“Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form."

-National Hot Rod Association Statements, on the Passing of Scott Kalitta





Here's the Broadcast of the event, led by announcers Paul Page, Gary Gerould, Dave Rieff & Mike Dunn, of ESPN



Photo Courtesy: Auto Racing Daily
Video Courtesy: ESPN, You Tube

The Monkey is Finally Off Junior's Back

It took about 76 races, a team change, a sponsor change, and a new set of teammates to do it, but he finally did. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has finally won a race this year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He won the LifeLock 400 @ Michigan International Speedway, on a bit of a lucky break, considering the caution caused by Sam Hornish, Jr. spinning out, with 3 laps to go, creating a green-white-checkered finish as his fuel was running really low towards the end, so much so- that he ran out of fuel on the cool down lap, having to be pushed into victory lane.

"We needed that caution. It is what it is. We run out, we run out. We knew we had a chance to win the race. They can write what they want about how we did it but we got one. We made it happen." - Dale Earnhardt Jr

The next race- a race I myself am looking forward to is the Toyota/Save Mart 350 from the road course in Sonoma, California. Finally, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series can go fast and turn left....and right, this weekend, a rarity in the "running joke" of the series.


Photo Courtesy: Paddock Talk.com

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

Scotty Doesnt Know....How to Quit, Kubica's Comeback, Khane's Win in Pocono, & The Battle of the Diesels - The Remix

Texas Motor Speedway - Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon won the Bombardier Lear Jet 550, extending his lead to 35 points in the IRL Indy Car Series championship over Team Penske's Helio Castroneves. The race ended under caution when second place Marco Andertti (Andretti Green racing) and 3rd place Ryan Hunter-Reay (Rahal-Letterman Racing) at the time collided with each other towards the end of the race

The "Mclarri" (McLaren & Ferarri) Streak is Broken!!!!....Robert Kubica Wins Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix...breaking the stranglehold in the series, usually ending by Mclaren or Ferrari going to the podium. It's his first career win, and BMW Sauber earned its first 1-2 finish. David Coulthard, was so excited to finish 3rd, he was literally running from his parked car in the pits to get to the podium. the next race will be @ the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours, France (much to the disappointment of most Americans like myself, considering the Canadian G.P. is the only North American stop on the F1 tour this year)



Rolex Series: Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Pruett won the 6 hours @ the Glen in Watkins Glen, NY, extending his points lead....and being a Ganassi fan, kinda makes me a little happy, to be honest. They're 34 points ahead of defending series champions - The Gainsco Pontiac Riley Team, headed by Bob Stallings



NASCAR Sprint Cup: As much as I personally am not into the whole NASCAR thing, I gotta respect Kasey Kahne for winning the race at Pocono. I didn't see much of the race, but i know it was long hard & fought one, mostly because the 500 miles just seem to have gone on forever, almost...at least Toyota still has the manufacturer's points lead, and I hope they might win it, come November in Homestead






Le Mans Series: Finally, the wait is over...The 76Th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is less than a week away. Can the Peugeot Team repeat the dominant-like run of their first few stints of the 12 Hours of Sebring over the Audi R10? It should be an interesting battle of the diesels


Photos Courtesy of: Indy Racing League, American Le Mans Series, Toyota, Canada.com, The UK Mirror

Coming Soon: The Hot Lap Motorsport Podcast

Hey all you racers, I finally got off my sabbatacle to give you this recent update:

Thanks to my friends at the Hung Throttle Podcast, who answered some questions I've had, I got to know a little bit about podcasting, and I someday hope to be a future broadcaster in motorsports...so I broke my bank and bought a Zoom H2 Handy Recorder, and I plan to start podcasting, with a local karting driver, and friend of mine- on the subject of motorsports around the world, the good and the bad...Coming soon, guys

See ya later

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