On quite a good weekend for fans of tin top motor racing we saw the #BTCC boys in action at Thruxton and the #WTCC in Slovakia, plus the new look #DTM getting under way at Hockenheim as well as the usual #NASCAR fare from Ricmond. #IndyCar and #F2 also provided action for the single seater fans, so here we go with this week’s round up: Continue reading
Filed under: Circuits, Indycar, NASCAR, Tin Tops | Tagged: autoracing, DTM, Indycar, motorsport, NASCAR, racecar | Leave a comment »
#NASCAR at Martinsville. Good to see the modern cars at one of the sport’s spiritual homes. Kasey Kahne racked up pole for Hendrick, but went out with engine woes leaving the #24 and #48 to slug it out for what looked like a certain 200th win for Hendrick, but a late caution (when Rooti stopped on the track) it all went wrong on the restart with Boywer’s #15 starting fast and getting a run down the inside into turn one and then the #15, #24 and #48 all spun leaving Ryan Newman and AJ to run out the last couple of laps pretty much side by side and finishing in that order. Junior got 3rd and a consolation for Hendrick.
#IndyCar from Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama with an odd looking top six shootout for pole after problems for some of the usual suspects, but round one winner Helio Castroneves picked up the pole for Penske this time out, but could only translate that into third whilst retaining the championship lead. Will Power lost last time out due to a poor strategy when starting from pole, but this time started well down the grid and won with a perfect fuel and tyre strategy. Dixon slotted in between the Penske pair for second. Rubens got into the top 10 on his second outing and looks like he might be getting the hang of things.
#F1 and it is good to see that we might be getting the French grand prix back onto the calendar. Ricard is a decent enough circuit too even if it is a bit isolated, but with a good date the weather should be cracking down South: It would be good to have it back in July so that it is adjacent to the British GP again. Our fingers will be crossed for a successful negotiation.
#BTCC got under way at Brands Hatch this weekend with Rob Collard (BMW), Matt Neal (Honda) and Jason Plato (MG) picking up the wins. Close and colourful action for the faithful on a bright day at the Kentich circuit. Almost wish we had gone…
Filed under: Circuits, F1, Indycar, NASCAR, Tin Tops | Tagged: autoracing, BTCC, F1, formula one, Indycar, motorsport, NASCAR, racecar | Leave a comment »
#F1 – So another pole for Lewis and a front row lock out for McLaren with Schumi showing good form to take 3rd on the grid, but that’s not how the race worked out in Sepang. Given how bad the Ferrari is supposed to be who would have thought that with two races done Alonso would have one win and be leading the championship?
The couple of problems that Lewis had seemed to have a disproportionate impact on his race and it was a shame that JB got himself into trouble early on and spoiled his chances and this could have been win number two for him otherwise.
Good stuff from Perez though and we don’t see any conspiracy in him settling for second after that wild moment with a few laps to go. Maldonado binned a good finish in Australia trying to get by Alonso at the end and it would have been easy for Perez to do the same here.
So not the championship table we might have expected at this stage, but an interesting start to the season.
#NASCAR – Another pole for Denny Hamlin at Fontana, but he lost the lead on lap one to his team mate the younger ugly brother. Smoke judged it right at the end though, having got the lead he held into the rain and picked up the win when the race was called with 71 laps still on the board.
So what is going on with the #48 and that penalty appeal? If the car was right why leave the fine in place? If it was wrong why overturn the suspensions and the docked points? Doesn’t make any sense to us.
#IndyCar – And we’re off for another season with a run around the streets of St Pete with Will Power taking pole as Penske locked out the front row. Horrible looking cars, but I suppose that we’ll get used to them: it isn’t the first time that the look of cars has changed and won’t be the last.
Down in sunny Florida Will couldn’t turn pole into a win though and ended up a disappointing 7th well back from winner and Penske team mate Helio after the wrong call on fuel strategy. F1 refugee Rubens was back in 17th on his debut and didn’t really feature.
Filed under: F1, Indycar, NASCAR | Tagged: F1, formula one, Indycar, motorsport, NASCAR, racecar | Leave a comment »
TruckerToggle and I are looking forward to the weekend for the two Daytona Duels behind us and some indication of form emerging fro our favourite racing series. News that Danica has won pole for the Nationwide race today should be good for the sport in raising interest, but well done to her for coming back after that nasty smack on the las lap of her duel Thursday; the lady has guts as well as speed and talent and we wish her well.
The #NASCAR flagship event on Sunday we’ll be following on the internet as usual as we won’t do pay to view, but we’d rather be there in person. The 1996 500 was my first NASCAR race and I have fond memories of that day.
Also blacked out will be F1; my Sky Sports package is cancelled in protest over the F1 coverage and I’ll not watch any of the BBC coverage unless I’m really desperate. The internet will do for me for that as well and, in any case, the new generation of cars look seriously ugly.
#F1 testing has shown the usual mix of times, but it is the qualifying sessions at the race that matter so we’ll wait for that to see what the real performamnce levels are.
On the subject of ugly cars, the new generation of #IndyCar bolides are pretty odd looking too. The need for safety improvements is not denied, but we’re not too sure what a flock of these are gloing to look like on the track together. We’ll know soon enough.
So here we go; the 2012 season is go!
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#F1 – the silly season is pretty much over now and it looks as though we have said farewell to Rubens after a marathon career. On his day pretty damn quick, but maybe not showing that X Factor that makes a world champion. Still, it will seem odd without him around. Why Williams have chosen Senna as his replacement defies logic in our opinion, but there you are. Grove is a bit close to Harwell, so maybe there is something in the air affecting their thinking. Whilst on the subject of Williams it is also farewell to Patrick Head. Maybe it is time for the team to move out from his long shadow.
The Ice Man will be returning with what we’ll have to call Lotus now. Will he be able to settle with a mid grid runner? Can he turn them around, or will he just get bored with it all? We don’t really remember him as being a car sorter and developer which puts a lot of weight on Grosjean’s shoulders and there is a danger that the team will look to Kimi first because he’s a former world champion (if only just), so can Romain get his voice heard? Or will he blow the iceman away?
Torro Rosso had a complete clear out which was fair enough in the sense that they claim to be a sort of F1 academy, but the way that the dismissals were handled seemed very poor. If they truly had decided to move on Seb and Jamie then why wait to tell them? Why have one of them attending a team function the day before the announcement? That sort of thing is shabby.
No changes at the top teams so it should be business as usual once we kick off in March. Testing is not likely to give us any real clues; it all comes down to qualifying and the race to see where the real pace and durability lies. Can Felipe get back to the sort of form that we’ve seen him show before? Whereas having a team mate pushing provides an edge for many drivers we know that Alonso didn’t like it at McLaren, so there could be an interesting situation there. Hamilton ended 2011 looking a bit more settled and it will be good to see him with his old fire. Will the bubble burst for Vettel this year? He is very good and has a very sharp team around him which makes them look strong, especially as the car will no doubt be another good one.
It will be interesting to see how the newer teams fare this year and whether or not they can really start to close the gap. To see one scoring points would be good, even if it was only in one of those strange races where attrition elsewhere promotes them. The sport needs a decent grid all turning in competitive times, but not at the expense of going the spec car route.
As for all the shifting around of commentary teams amongst the broadcasters, well that means nothing to me as I shall be keeping up my embargo on watching. I can follow it on the web quite happily and, whilst I might watch the odd highlights on BBC, the only races I plan to catch live will be those on Speed when I’m in the USA.
#NASCAR – over the pond the departure of the elder Shrub was fairly inevitable after the fan video of his behaviour in the garage area at Homestead surfaced in the public domain. We would have put money on both siblings losing their drives, but the younger Shrub has held on and some credit has to be given to JGR for keeping faith in him and trying to make things work. He is surely one of those drivers who have the natural feel that could make him competitive in other forms of the sport, but he has that self destructive streak still. Whether he can overcome it or not we can only wait and see. Big brother, meanwhile, has a new start and maybe can spring a surprise or two, especially if his past win record can help bring money to the team.
For Penske to take The Dinger was one that we didn’t see coming, but he is a media savvy guy as well as someone who knows how to win (at least he has a winning record in single seaters). We wish him well in the #22 car. His move has opened up the #43 for our friend Aric (we consider Tampa as a second home, which explains why we like to support the Central Florida drivers). He did well last year in the #88 Nationwide ride in terms of finishing near the front and does come with some experience at the top level so we’re hoping that he can keep the #43 knocking on the top 10 this year.
With Speedweeks under way (the 50th Rolex 24 should have started as we’ve been writing this blog) our racing season is under way at last; not long now ‘til the 500!
#IndyCar – we don’t like the look of the new car; really wierd, but we accept the need for safer vehicles. Looks like an intersting season even if the driver & teams line up is still a little fluid. The series got a big wake up call at the end of last season and is almost starting anew in 2012 with the new car, some new engines and a revised calendar. We wish them all well.
Filed under: F1, Indycar, NASCAR | Tagged: autoracing, F1, formula one, Indycar, motorsport, NASCAR, racecar | Leave a comment »
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