Monday, March 29, 2010

Denny Hamlin Wins Martinsville Amid Bold Late Race Pit Strategy


Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Suppressing the agony of a season-long knee pain, Denny Hamlin used both a fresh set of tires and some considerable muscle to push past Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon to win the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Rescheduled after a steady rain soaked the Virginia short track event on Sunday, the 500 lap race started noontime Monday running under prominently clear skies. As the green flag fell to the relieved drivers and NASCAR fans, the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 started with NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Kevin Harvick leading. Continuing to hold the lead after the race's first caution period between lap 43 to 47, Harvick's #29 Chevrolet would soon develop a critical mechanical problem. Braking issues would force the Richard Childress Racing #29 Chevrolet behind the wall early in the event. Finishing 35th and 100 laps down, Kevin Harvick is dealt a serious blow in the championship points which would not be completely realized until after the Martinsville race.



Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

With the customarily multitude of cautions (13 on this event), the major accident of the afternoon's race occurred on lap 171 when a 4-car mess through turn 3. Elliott Sadler, David Stremme, Paul Menard and AJ Allendinger are involved in the melee. The #26 Ford being driven by David Stremme and well as the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford of AJ Allmendinger suffered the worst damage with both vehicle spewing solids.

Through the last half of this Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the first spot was dominated by the #31 CAT Chevrolet of Jeff Burton and the #11 FedEx Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin. Scheduled to have leg surgery on Monday afternoon prior to the Sunday race rain out, Hamlin was experiencing a difficult 2010 Sprint Cup campaign. Before Martinsville, Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin had yet to score a single top 10 finish in 5 previous Sprint Cup races. Having won at Martinsville Speedway fall of 2009, the #11 FedEx Toyota was in full-readiness to gain 2010 momentum.

Through the latter laps, Denny Hamlin was leading but determined Jeff Burton was beginning to lean on the #11 Toyota. With under 20 laps to go, the challenge from the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet would fizzle as a right front tire begin to lose pressure forcing Jeff Burton off the pace. Attempting to soldier on, Burton continued to circulate at a slightly reduced speed several laps until the #31 Chevrolet's tire finally began to shredding. As Denny Hamlin appeared to have an drive to take the famous Martinsville Speedway Grandfather Clock trophy with a 2.6 second lead on teammate Kyle Busch, the caution fell for debris from Jeff Burton's tire.

On Denny Hamlin's way to Martinsville Speedway victory lane, his #11 Joe Gibbs Racing crew made a race winning decision which puzzled many. Leading with only a handful of laps remaining, Hamlin's #11 FedEx Toyota came to pit lane with teammate and 2nd place running #18 Toyota of Kyle Busch in tow. Being the only two top 10 cars to make a journey down for four-tire service, the Joe Gibbs Racing cars emerged rejoined the field near the back of the lead lap contenders for a restart just 5 laps to go. With the Martinsville short-track famous for its relatively flat corners and tight quarters racing, it was believed that Hamlin in company with Joe Gibbs Racing threw away victory. With Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas forfeiting their 1st and 2nd places leaving Hendrick Motorsports' #24 Dupont Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon in the lead.

On the lap 496 double-file restart, Gordon masterfully used his front row position to jet out to an uncontested 1st place run. As the #24 Chevrolet skated away, three-wide battles ensued for much of the top 10 positions with the Joe Gibbs Racing #11 and #18 making the hardest charges. While Denny Hamlin was able to push through into 4th by the second last lap, Kyle Busch found himself out of room. Squeezed, Kyle Busch was incidentally clipped by the #98 Ford of Paul Menard through turn 3. Just as Gordon prepared to take the white flag with an well-assured victory, the yellow flag fell as the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was less than 100 feet to the start-finish line.

Within the Green-White-Checker finish, Gordon's challengers were better able to pursue the #24 car taking full advantage of Jeff Gordon misplacing his car into turn one. With the clear and present fight coming from front row restarter #39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman up high, Matt Kenseth pushed his Roush-Fenway Racing #17 Ford aggressively pass Jeff Gordon taking the lead out of Martinsville's turn 2. However, Kenseth's lead would only last down the backstretch as hard charges from Gordon and Hamlin forced the #17 Crown Royal Ford wide into turn 3 and 4. With the door opened, Hamlin out-powered Gordon through the white flag lap taking his second straight Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup win.



Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Joey Logano, the youngest of Joe Gibbs Racing young driver lineup, was inspired by Hamlin's push into the lead following his teammate to take 2nd at the finish line. Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Michael Waltrip Racing's Martin Truex Jr rounded out the top-5 for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500.

Of other notable drivers, Jimmie Johnson finished 9th, Dale Earnhardt Jr came in 15th, Mark Martin finished 21st and the Busch brothers finished together in 22nd and 23rd position with the younger brother Kyle edging Kurt. Having been in prime shape to steal the race through the Green-White-Checker, Matt Kenseth struggled around to finish 18th place. Kenseth has an opportunity to claim the points lead but lost too many positions at the end. Instead, Jimmie Johnson is the current 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader following the Martinsville event 14 points ahead of Greg Biffle.

Taking a week off for Easter, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour will stop at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday April 10th for the first point-scoring night race of the 2010 season.


2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Goodys Fast Pain Relief 500
Martinsville Speedway
Race Results

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor/ Car Make
1) 11 Denny Hamlin     FedEx Freight Toyota
2) 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
3) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
4) 39 Ryan Newman Haas Automation Chevrolet
5) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
6) 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
7) 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
8) 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
9) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
10) 16 Greg Biffle US Census Ford
11) 47 Marcos Ambrose Little Debbie Toyota
12) 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Dodge
13) 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
14) 98 Paul Menard NIBCO / Menards Ford
15) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMP Energy Sgr Fr Lghtng/Ntnl Grd Chevrolet
16) 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
17) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford
18) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
19) 37 David Gilliland Gander Mountain Ford
20) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
21) 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
22) 18 Kyle Busch Snickers Toyota
23) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
24) 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford
25) 36 Mike Bliss Wave Energy Drink Chevrolet
26) 14 Tony Stewart Old Spice / Office Depot Chevrolet
27) 34 Travis Kvapil A&W All American Food Ford
28) 00 David Reutimann TUMS Toyota
29) 71 Bobby Labonte TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
30) 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
31) 38 Kevin Conway Extenze Ford
32) 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
33) 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota
34) 7 Robby Gordon VIPFanExprnce.com/Blake Shelton Toyota
35) 29 Kevin Harvick Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
36) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
37) 26 David Stremme Air Guard Ford
38) 43 A J Allmendinger Charter Ford
39) 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
40) 13 Max Papis GEICO Toyota
41) 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
42) 66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota
43) 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota

Will Power Finds the Motion in Delayed Grand Prix of St Petersburg


Photo Credit: Chris Jones

Demonstrating some stewing aggression as the green flag dropped, the Honda engines of 24 IZOD IndyCar Series cars awoke at 10AM Monday for the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg after hard rain silenced the mechanical race beasts on the scheduled Sunday.

As the field took the green, the postponed event set course for a 100 laps distance around the 1.8 mile St Petersburg temporary street course. However, the racing action the first lap as Dario Franchitti and Mike Conway spun through turn 2 drawing the caution

Early on in the start of the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg, race hungry drivers were eager to lead the event. With the Penske Racing #12 of Will Power benefiting from the pole position, a charge from Marco Andretti allowed the Andretti Autosport car to lead on lap 5. The young Andretti's lead would be short-lived as the #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing of Scott Dixon overhauled the #26 Venom Energy car one lap later.

Putting a damper to a fine race, Marco Andretti suffered a punctured tire after lap 31 restart. The time loss getting back to pit road as well as the track position given up on a pit stop dropped Andretti from contention for victory. Marco Andretti would bring his #26 Andretti Autosport car past the finish lane 12th at the end behind teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay.

A spinning #4 National Guard Panther Racing car of Dan Wheldon on lap 46 collected #32 KV Racing Technology's Mario Moraes rendering both drivers out of the event listed 20th and 21st in the final race standings. While some blamed Wheldon for the accident, Panther Racing personnel conveyed that a right rear suspension problem was actually the culprit of the #4 car's spin.

At the point of this third full-course caution, Ryan Briscoe led after Dario Franchitti brief 3 laps on 1st place. The Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing #06 Hideki Mutoh was running a strong 2nd place behind Ryan Briscoe. While that position was lost through a pit stop during the full-course caution, Mutoh's run would be spoiled later in the St Petersburg race by stalling the #06 car on a future pit service. Finishing on the lead lap, 14th place was the result of the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing backup car driven by the 3rd year IndyCar Japanese driver.

As the race neared a climax, Will Power found his way back to the front in his Penske Racing #12 car leading 45 of the final 51 laps to take victory at Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg. Following Power was the Z-Line Designs-sponsored #22 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing machine driven by Justin Wilson. Both Power and Wilson were aided with track position as their vehicles required one fewer pit stop than the rest of the field.

With Australian Will Power making the most of his first full season with Penske Racing, the prestigious race team enjoyed a strong effort overall. Ryan Briscoe, who started the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg in 19th place, vastly improved on his qualifying effort with a 3rd place run. Rounding out the new look black and white Penske cars, Helio Castroneves 4th place allowed the team colours to be shown in 3 of the top-4 finishing spots.

Overcoming first lap difficulties, Scot Dario Franchitti rounds out the top-5 for the Cottonelle-backed #10 Target/Chip Ganassi Racing car. Scott Dixon in the #9 team car would not see the end of the St Petersburg race as the Target car ended lap 73 in the turn 9 wall.

Having also playing the same strategy game as Power and Wilson, IZOD IndyCar's leading lady Danica Patrick emerged from deep in the starting field for a Andretti Autosport team best finish of 7th place.

Stepping away from the established race organizations of the IZOD IndyCar Series, younger teams FAZZT Race Team and Sarah Fisher Racing also recorded some positive results. Coming home 6th at Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg is the #77 of Alex Tagliani. Just missing out on a top-5 finish with a handful of laps remaining, Tagliani and the first year FAZZT Race Team ran competitively throughout the event. Sarah Fisher Racing's #67 car of Graham Rahal came 9th across the lane in the team's first outing for 2010. Gaining 7 positions over his qualifying run, Rahal's run was not entirely clean. On the same lap that Scott Dixon retired, Rahal and #78 HVM Racing's Simona de Silvestro made contact. Spun out, de Silvestro received the worst end of the contact but was still able to finish the race 16th overall.

Taking a one-race break from the temporary street circuits, 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series drivers and teams prepare for their


2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Honda Grand Prix of St Peterburg Final Results

1. 12 Will Power/Australia Penske Racing
2. 22 Justin Wilson/England Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
3. 6 Ryan Briscoe/Australia Penske Racing
4. 3 Helio Castroneves/Brazil Penske Racing
5. 10 Dario Franchitti/Scotland Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
6. 77 Alex Tagliani/Canada FAZZT Race Team
7. 7 Danica Patrick/United States Andretti Autosport
8. 2 Raphael Matos/Brazil Luczo Dragon/de Ferran Motorsports
9. Graham Rahal/United States Sarah Fisher Racing
10. 11 Tony Kanaan/Brazil Andretti Autosport
11. 37 Ryan Hunter-Reay/United States Andretti Autosport
12. 26 Marco Andretti/United States Andretti Autosport
13. 34 Mario Romancini/Brazil Conquest Racing
14. 06 Hideki Mutoh/ Japan Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
15. 14 Vitor Meira/Brazil AJ Foyt Enterprises
16. 78 Simona De Silvestro/Switzerland HVM Racing
17. 8 EJ Viso/Venezuela KV Racing Technology
18. 9 Scott Dixon/New Zealand Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
19. 24 Mike Conway/England Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
20. 4 Dan Wheldon/England Panther Racing
21. 32 Mario Moraes/Brazil KV Racing Technology
22. 5 Takuma Sato/Japan KV Racing Technology
23. 19 Alex Lloyd/England Dale Coyne Racing
24. 18 Milka Duno/Venezuela Dale Coyne Racing

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Jenson Button Wins Suspenseful Australian Grand Prix


Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

Late last year, the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park was in danger of being lost on the Formula 1 schedule. Thanks to a commitment from the Victorian government of Australia and the title sponsorship of Qantas Airways, the Australian Grand Prix was saved. Providing a early season challenge against new race equipment and Formula 1 drivers, the Australian Grand Prix enters 2010 as the first sight of colour to a gray start. Many critical reviews of the season opening 2010 Formula 1 race, Bahrain Grand Prix, judged the event as snooze-worthy.

On Sunday, the Melbourne area endured a rain shower that drenched the 3.295 mile Albert Park complex. Though the rain stopped by the time the 2010 Australian Grand Prix started, potential was already mounting for a much more eventful race than the season opener. With the field starting on intermediate thread Bridgestone tires, the start was guaranteed to challenge the 24 Formula 1 drivers struggling for grip on cooler tires. Right off the starting line, the Lotus-Cosworth of Jarno Trulli became the first retirement when his car suffered hydraulic problems. This is the second time this season that Trulli would fall out to this issue.

Intent on improving on the lost opportunity at Bahrain, German driver Sebastian Vettel rolled to pole position over his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber in Saturday qualifying. As the lights went off to start the Australian Grand Prix, Vettel shot to a slight lead. With pretty of wheel-banging and contact right off the start as the Red Bull-Renault took off, the initial lap will end under with a safety car leading the all cars. A multi-car wreck between Sebastien Buemi, Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi into turn 6 rendered all three of these racers out of competition.

When the safety car returned to pit road, the Albert Park track had dried substantially but the track was still too slippery for most teams to elect a change to slick tires. With many drivers experiencing brief off-track excursions, the only driver who suffered a permanent effect was Renault rookie Vitaly Petrov who slid into the sand trap on lap 9 ending his race. In spite of questionable traction, the drying track tempted the McLaren F1 team to bring Jenson Button to pit lane as the first taker for stick tires. A gamble, Button was running 2nd at this point in the event for McLaren. While Button fought unsuccessfully to completely keep the Mercedes-powered McLaren on the circuit, he would continue to set faster times on the dry weather rubber.

Starting with a 1-2 start for Red Bull Racing, Australian Mark Webber lost touch with his teammate Sebastian Vettel early. Webber fell further back as a late call going to slick tires cost him time running on the slower intermediate Bridgestones. With Vettel still leading the hopes for Red Bull Racing, lap 20 would end the day for the German racing superstar. Described as a wheel issue, Vettel's car spun out the track into the turn 13 sand trap. "...I had huge vibrations building up and as soon as I touched the brakes, I had some sort of failure going in to Turn 13 and ended up in the gravel." Vettel commented on the Red Bull Racing website.

With Sebastian Vettel out of commission, the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button was able to maintain a comfortable grasp on the lead as he went on to win the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. Finishing 12 seconds behind Button was the factory Renault of Robert Kubica. Running without major incident, Kubica's podium for Renault F1 is the first for the team since the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix.

In 3rd position, Felipe Massa brought the Ferrari F2010 home to his Italian race team's first Australian podium since Kimi Raikkonen's win in 2007. Following up the effort of Massa, fellow Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso arrived across the finish line fourth. Alonso position at the finish resulted are a hardest fought 3-way battle through the closing laps. Driving his McLaren-Mercedes Lewis Hamilton, attempting to recover lost ground after a pit road penalty, was slip-streaming (referred in the United States as drafting) Alonso's Ferrari with the resurgent Red Bull Renault of Mark Webber also hot pursuit for both cars. With 2 laps to go, Hamilton timed a move into a braking section on the outside of Alonso. Countering the McLaren, Alonso was successful in holding off the charge by braking only at the last minute. Disturbing Hamilton's momentum, the McLaren slowed to make the corner. However, Mark Webber did not react in time to avoid running into the back of Hamilton causing both of their cars to spin out. Losing touch with Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton would finish 6th while Mark Webber would salvage a 9th place result after being his Red Bull-Renault for a front wing replacement.

After two races, the Formula 1 driver's championship points sees Fernando Alonso holding a 4 point lead over his teammate Felipe Massa. With a total of three podium finishes in the first two races of the 2010 season and their drivers first and second early in the F1 driver's championship, the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team is off to their best start in years.

The Formula 1 cars heads directly to Malaysia for a April 4th running of their county's Grand Prix. In the Malaysia Grand Prix last season, a heavy monsoon downpour led the FIA officials to end the race at 31 laps. Driving for Brawn GP in 2009, Jenson Button triumphed.


2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Race Results

1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2. Robert Kubica Renault F1
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
7. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
8. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
9. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
11. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
12. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
13. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
14. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth
15. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
16. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
17. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
18. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
19. Vitaly Petrov Renault
20. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
21. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
22. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
23. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
24. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth

Heavy Rain Delays IZOD IndyCar Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg to Monday Morning


Photo Credit: Steve Swope

The start of the IZOD IndyCar Series' Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg has been rescheduled for 10AM Monday morning as a large storm blows through the Florida area mid-afternoon Sunday. Race organizers, St Petersburg city officials, broadcast partners as well as the series made the decision at 3:30 PM on Sunday afternoon as up to a inch of rain coated the surface of the Florida temporary street course. IRL President of Competition and Racing Operations Brian Barnhart elaborated that standing water, track drainage, and potential driver visibility were reasons for the postponement of the race. "While our cars are equipped to run in the rain, we take the safety of our teams, event workers and fans very seriously. And with those conditions, even with the Firestone Firehawk rain tires and rain lights that we have, visibility would still be an issue." Barnhart commented.

Unlike the NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway, the IZOD IndyCar Series is faced with the fact they're running on a temporary street course incorporating roadways and part of an airport. For open wheel racing, past events with rain dampening temporary street circuits have resulted in some disgraceful black-eyes.

The most notorious American open wheel event to be broken by wet weather was the Surfers Paradise CART race in 2002. A monsoon-like rain resulting in a 9-car accident made it impossible for the field to safety compete after a mere 8 green flag laps were run on the Australian street course. Because of the need to convert the circuit back to public roads by the last day, CART elected to run the field under the yellow flag for 30 laps in order to push the race beyond the halfway mark. Making for a ridiculous parade, the Surfer's Paradise finish was also marred with additional controversy. With the race distance marked at 60 laps, it was suggested that CART waited until lap 40 to call the event because they didn't want than halfway leader Michael Andretti to claim a victory. Andretti had than announced plans to run the competing IRL Series, this defection might have provoked CART to hold off on declaring the race finished until Mario Dominguez took the lead.

In reaction to the postponement of the IZOD IndyCar event, Sao Paulo runner-up Ryan Hunter-Reay stated "This is probably the best turnout for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg we've ever had, so to have them all out here and have them go home and come back out tomorrow is a disappointment for us." Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's Hideki Mutoh supported the IRL/IndyCar decision saying candidly "If we were to go out and try to race, maybe there would only be one car that would finish."

Predictions call for rain showers to continue into the morning hours of Monday but the IZOD IndyCar vehicles are equipped to run in light to moderate rain thanks to Firestone wet weather tires. ESPN 2 will air the race live in the United States. With the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg scheduled to be shown on ABC, the rescheduling to the cable sports network was an unexpected but unfortunate loss for the teams, drivers and sponsors in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series.

Weather permitting, Will Power in the #12 Penske Racing car will lead off the 24-car field.

Rain Forces NASCAR Sprint Cup Martinsville Event Postponed to Tomorrow


Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Stopping the force of a combined 32,000 horsepower, the Virginia rain has prevented any of the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500's laps from being recorded. Holding the race's open ceremonies under the hope that the than-light rain would dissipate for clearer skies, race plans at Martinsville Speedway would have likely seen the event run to at least the 250 lap halfway point (making the race an official event). Before 3PM, NASCAR were forced to squash any plans of racing on Sunday announcing that the race's start will be postponed to tomorrow (Monday, March 29th) at noon. Serving as an iffy rescheduling, forecasts on the Martinsville, Virginia area tomorrow still calls for a 30% chance of showers. However, there's a 70% chance that at least half of the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 will be run.

With Kevin Harvick starting off in front, the race at Martinsville Speedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series will be shown live on Fox.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Power Produces IZOD IndyCar Pole on Streets of St Petersburg


Photo Credit: Dan Helrigel/IndyCar

After starting the 2010 IZOD IndyCar season outside of the United States for the first time in series history within the thrilling Sao Paulo round, the teams return to the streets of St Petersburg, Florida. The 6th visit for the IndyCar Series, Penske Racing holds three of previous race victories on the 1.8 mile, 11-turn circuit.

In qualifying for the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg, Penske Racing driver Will Power backed up a fastest speed in Friday practice to grab the pole position for Sunday's event. Blitzing the temporary race course in 1 minute, 1.6026 seconds, this fastest time by the Penske Racing #12 car is roughly 8/10ths of a second faster than the pole time of Graham Rahal in 2009.

Securing his last pole at Edmonton last July, a race that Will Power went on to dominate to victory. In a post race interview, Power responded to a question regarding his confidence going into tomorrow's race by saying "Yeah, been very strong all weekend, really happy for all of the Verizon guys. It's their first full season, so started off very strongly and that was hard work in that session. Tried to save the good Reds (faster, softer alternative tires) for the Fast Six and had a light run."

Posting a best time just 0.2771 seconds slower than Power's Penske Racing machine, Tony Kanaan falls short Andretti Autosport's first pole since the June 2008 race at Richmond. Andretti Autosport does has reason to celebrate with two cars being in the Firestone Fast Six qualifiers as the #26 car of Marco Andretti was 6th quickest in the afternoon time trial session.



Photo Credit: Ron McQueeney

Filling the 3rd through 5th spots in the Firestone Fast Six were the #9 Target/Chip Ganassi Racing car of Scott Dixon, the #22 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Justin Wilson and Will Power's teammate Helio Castroneves in the #3 Penske machine. As for Penske Racing's 3rd driver Ryan Briscoe, his #6 car will start deep in the grid in 19th place after struggling to find speed around the 1.8 mile track. Briscoe enters the race as the defending 2009 winner at St Petersburg.

Another car finding trouble in St Petersburg qualifying was the #10 driven by Sao Paulo polesitter Dario Franchitti. On Sunday, Franchitti will be making his 200th open-wheel racing start in North America at St Petersburg (86 races in the IRL IndyCar Series and 114 in the defunct CART tour).

Competing in his first race of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar season, Graham Rahal has placed the Sarah Fisher Racing #67 in a sluggish 16th place in qualifying. With the partnership between Rahal and Sarah Fisher Racing scheduled only for St Petersburg as well as the next race at Barber Motorsports Park on April 11th, rumours have continued to run on Rahal's future plans in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Some indications have Graham Rahal returning to Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing later this season.

The 2010 Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg will air on ABC at 3:30PM.


2010 IZOD IndyCar Series
Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg Starting Grid

Pos #| Car #| Driver/Team

1. 12 Will Power/Australia Penske Racing
2. 11 Tony Kanaan/Brazil Andretti Autosport
3. 9 Scott Dixon/New Zealand Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
4. 22 Justin Wilson/England Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
5. 3 Helio Castroneves/Brazil Penske Racing
6. 26 Marco Andretti/United States Andretti Autosport
7. 37 Ryan Hunter-Reay/United States Andretti Autosport
8. 77 Alex Tagliani/Canada FAZZT Race Team
9. 8 EJ Viso/Venezuela KV Racing Technology
10. 24 Mike Conway/England Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
11. 5 Takuma Sato/Japan KV Racing Technology
12. 06 Hideki Mutoh/ Japan Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
13. 10 Dario Franchitti/Scotland Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
14. 78 Simona De Silvestro/Switzerland HVM Racing
15. 4 Dan Wheldon/England Panther Racing
16. Graham Rahal/United States Sarah Fisher Racing
17. 14 Vitor Meira/Brazil AJ Foyt Enterprises
18. 34 Mario Romancini/Brazil Conquest Racing
19. 6 Ryan Briscoe/Australia Penske Racing
20. 32 Mario Moraes/Brazil KV Racing Technology
21. 7 Danica Patrick/United States Andretti Autosport
22. 19 Alex Lloyd/England Dale Coyne Racing
23. 2 Raphael Matos/Brazil Luczo Dragon/de Ferran Motorsports
24. 18 Milka Duno/Venezuela Dale Coyne Racing

Vettel leads Red Bull Racing Front Row in Australian Grand Prix Qualifying


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP


2010 Formula 1
Australian Grand Prix Starting Order

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
8. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
9. Robert Kubica Renault F1
10. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
11. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
12. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
13. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
14. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
15. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
16. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
17. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
18. Vitaly Petrov Renault
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
21. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
22. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
23. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
24. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth

Friday, March 26, 2010

Wash out at Martinsville Speedway Sets Sprint Cup Race by Owner Points; Harvick to lead field Sunday


Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The second short track event in the NASCAR Sprint Cup's two-race mini series, teams enter the Martinsville Speedway knowing that this weekend's 500 lap affair on the flat, 0.526 mile oval is a contrast to the high-banked all-concrete oval of Bristol Motor Speedway. Having held a top NASCAR race since 1947, Martinsville Speedway history will this weekend include NASCAR's reintroduction of rear spoiler blades to the Sprint Cup stock car.

As was predicted through the week, rain poured on Virginia state and 0.526 mile Martinsville Speedway short track through the Friday afternoon canceling NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying. With the field set on the newly-established 2010 car owner points, Kevin Harvick narrow point lead margin was all the #29 Chevrolet needed to take the prime starting spot over Roush-Fenway Racing's #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth.

While qualifying for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 was scrubbed, an afternoon practice session provided a baseline for where NASCAR Sprint Cup teams measure on the Martinsville Short track. In the practice session, Ryan Newman driving the #39 Stewart/Haas Racing-owned Chevrolet scored fastest lap time at 19.535 seconds, equating to an average speed of 96.934 miles per hour. Running on the tight 0.526 mile bullring, the time differentials of the top 13 cars in the practice was only 1/10th of a second.

Hendrick Motorsports placed well through the first practice on a track they have won 7 of the last 10 event held. Leading the Hendrick bunch, Mark Martin #5 Chevrolet placed just behind Newman at a time a mere 0.015 seconds slower. Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr were measured 4th, 7th and 15th respectively. Unfortunately with Sunday's grid positions being placed by car owner points, the quickest Hendrick Motorsport car will start deepest in the field in a still honourable 16th place spot.

In historic context, Martinsville Speedway had been a stumbling block for Roush-Fenway Racing Sprint Cup program. Often seen charging through the field during the race after slow qualifying times, it would be common to see the Roush-Fenway cars fight up to the top 10. Last season however, the now-Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver Jamie McMurray was the only top 10 finisher with a Roush-Fenway Racing Ford Fusion. Rain was probably a welcomed sight to the Four-car Ford operation as David Ragan was the highest placed team car in the practice session in 18th place. Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle both benefit with top 5 starts for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 on Sunday.

As the practice saw the top 2 positions held by Hendrick-built cars, a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota driven by quick-learning Tasmanian import Marcos Ambrose took third spot. Hoping to turn around a disappointing result in the Food City 500 at Bristol, Ambrose finished 14th in his first run at Martinsville this time last year. Fall race winner of 2009 Denny Hamlin was 5th fastest in the practice but will be haunted early in Sunday's main event by a 19th place starting spot amounting from many misfortunes for the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on the first 5 races of 2010.

With the Martinsville Speedway round for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series to be set on 2010 car owners points, Terry Cook, Casey Mears and Johnny Sauter wheeling a second Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet failed to qualify.

The Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway set to begin Sunday at 1PM but weather forecast call for a 70 percent chance of persistent rain in the Virginia state area. Weather permitting, the 6th race in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be airing on Fox as well as TSN in Canada.


NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Starting Lineup for Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Martinsville Speedway

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor/ Car Make
1) 29 Kevin Harvick    Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
2) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
3) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
4) 16 Greg Biffle US Census Ford
5) 14 Tony Stewart Old Spice / Office Depot Chevrolet
6) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
7) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
8) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMP Energy Sgr Fr Lghtng/Ntnl Grd Chevrolet
9) 98 Paul Menard NIBCO / Menards Ford
10) 18 Kyle Busch Snickers Toyota
11) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
12) 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
13) 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
14) 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
15) 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
16) 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
17) 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
18) 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota
19) 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
20) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
21) 43 A J Allmendinger Charter Ford
22) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
23) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford
24) 00 David Reutimann TUMS Toyota
25) 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford
26) 39 Ryan Newman Haas Automation Chevrolet
27) 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
28) 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
29) 71 Bobby Labonte TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
30) 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Dodge
31) 47 Marcos Ambrose Little Debbie Toyota
32) 38 Kevin Conway Extenze Ford
33) 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
34) 34 Travis Kvapil A&W All American Food Ford
35) 37 David Gilliland Gander Mountain Ford
36) 26 David Stremme Air Guard Ford
37) 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
38) 7 Robby Gordon VIPFanExprnce.com/Blake Shelton Toyota
39) 36 Mike Bliss Wave Energy Drink Chevrolet
40) 13 Max Papis GEICO Toyota
41) 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota
42) 66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota
43) 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota

Formula 1: Hamilton, McLaren Leads Day 1 Practice for Australia Grand Prix


Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/ LAT Photographic

Following 2010 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Formula 1 teams were able to assess where there competitive program stood against the best efforts of their rivals. A quick glance at the podium following the race in Bahrain, fans of the glimmering red Scuderia Ferraris were able to cheer loudly as the team's F2010 car went to a 1-2 finish. Beyond the success of Ferarri, a certified turf war between major two Mercedes-Benz powered teams of Mercedes GP and McLaren, a Red Bull Racing mechanical struggle that proved costly for the than F1 superstar Sebastian Vettel as well as a survival of the fittest between the three new Formula 1 teams became the dominant memories of the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix.

For the second race of the 2010 Formula 1 season, the world open-wheel series team sets foot in the land down under for the Australian Grand Prix. Racing within the stunning Albert Park circuit, the 12 teams of making up the 2010 Formula 1 grid realize that this Melbourne track is also a punishing test for their new racing equipment.

In Day 1, two practice sessions took place around Australian midday. Following a ho-hum debut with his Renault F1 team in Bahrain, Robert Kubica and his formula 1 car flew to the fastest time in the initial tune-up for the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. Setting a time of 1 minute, 26.927 seconds, Kubica outran the factory Mercedes GP team's Nico Rosberg by two-tenths of a second. The McLaren Mercedes team driver Jenson Button placed third in front of the Ferrari of Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel piloting his Red Bull-Renault.


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP


Through the first practice, the BMW Sauber team gained exposure in a less than desirable way as the car driven by Kamui Kobayashi would bring out two red flag periods. Colliding with a track marker cone, the BMW Sauber-Ferrari's impact with the plastic marker caused the front wing assembly to break off. Sent back onto the Albert Park track for lapping, Kobayashi would learn that the front wing repair was not lasting. The aerodynamic front piece came away from the Sauber drawing the practice session's second red flag. While the first practice for Kobayashi in the Sauber was less than fruitful, the second day 1 session saw an improvement to 13th fastest.

As the second session of qualifying commenced, a light rain dampened the Melbourne race circuit. However, with the precipitation registering mostly as sprinkles, most teams continued lapping on the track on dry weather slick tires. With the track still intact for dry weather runs, the cooler temperatures of the second session also aided teams in improving their speeds over the first practice. The second practice was so fast that 9 drivers bested Robert Kubica's time in the morning.

Leading Formula 1 drivers after the second practice would be the McLaren Mercedes group led by 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton blistering around Albert Park in 1 minute, 25.801 seconds. Two-tenths behind Hamilton, Jenson Button put his car ahead of the second Red Bull Racing vehicle of Mark Webber. With Mark Webber making a fantastic showing in front of his homeland population, he was also positioned ahead of Michael Schumacher.

Two honable mentions from the second practice are Vitaly Petrov in 5th and Toro Rosso team driver Sebastian Buemi in 6th place.

Preview: 2010 IZOD IndyCar Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg


Photo Credit: Ron McQueeney

Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg


Track Type: Temporary Street Circuit
Track Length: 1.8 Mile
Number of Turns: 14

First Race: 1985. First IndyCar race in 2005
Number of Laps: 100 laps
Mileage: 180 Miles

2009 Polesitter: Graham Rahal

2009 Podium

1. Ryan Briscoe
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay
3. Justin Wilson


2010 IndyCar Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg Entry List

06 Hideki Mutoh/ Japan/ Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
2 Raphael Matos/Brazil/ Luczo Dragon/de Ferran Motorsports
3 Helio Castroneves/Brazil/ Penske Racing
4 Dan Wheldon/England/ Panther Racing
5 Takuma Sato/Japan/ KV Racing Technology
6 Ryan Briscoe/Australia/ Penske Racing
7 Danica Patrick/United States/ Andretti Autosport
8 EJ Viso/Venezuela/ KV Racing Technology
9 Scott Dixon/New Zealand/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
10 Dario Franchitti/Scotland/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
11 Tony Kanaan/Brazil/ Andretti Autosport
12 Will Power/Australia/ Penske Racing
14 Vitor Meira/Brazil/ AJ Foyt Enterprises
18 Milka Duno/Venezuela/ Dale Coyne Racing
19 Alex Lloyd/England/ Dale Coyne Racing
22 Justin Wilson/England/ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
24 Mike Conway/England/ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
26 Marco Andretti/United States/ Andretti Autosport
32 Mario Moraes/Brazil/ KV Racing Technology
34 Mario Romancini/Brazil/ Conquest Racing
37 Ryan Hunter-Reay/United States/ Andretti Autosport
67 Graham Rahal/United States/ Sarah Fisher Racing
77 Alex Tagliani/Canada/ FAZZT Race Team
78 Simona De Silvestro/Switzerland HVM Racing

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Cup Series Reunited with the Rear Spoiler


Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Through the past two weeks of coverage for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, it's interesting how much attention a slightly-contoured 64.5 x 3.5 inch piece of sheetmetal can receive within the NASCAR press. The Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway will be the first competition since 2007 where a spoiler will adorn the rear deck lid of NASCAR Sprint Cup cars.

The rear spoiler will of course replace the carbon-fiber rear wing as an aerodynamic enhancer to the tricky handling COT design Sprint Cup car. Under belief that the rear spoiler will restore some more needed downforce to the NASCAR vehicle, the spoiler blade will also be set at a fixed 70 degree angle to eliminate the adjustability option that the rear wing presented race teams. Regardless of the aerodynamic performance potential, the vanquishing of the notorious rear wing will immediately be greeted as a welcoming site on appearance alone.

Through a high-profile, two-day open test for Sprint Cup series teams at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jeff Burton driving his #31 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevrolet set the fastest lap. Clocked at 28.539 seconds with an average speed of 189.215 miles per hour, Burton's speed was more than 7/10ths of a mile of hour faster than Ryan Newman's pole lap for the 2009 Coca-Cola 600. Second fastest car in the Charlotte spoiler test was fellow RCR teammate Kevin Harvick at a comparably more leisurely speed of 187.885 MPH. Judging by the gaps between the top times recorded in the test, it seems reasonably to accept that the change from a wing to the rear spoiler will have little affect to speeds around the 1.5 mile oval.

While competing on the smallest and slowest track on the NASCAR Sprint cup schedule, this weekend's race on the Martinsville Speedway will be a test as maximum downforce will be sought in hustling around concrete paved corners.

While the the return of the rear spoiler is clearly a back to basics move for the NASCAR series, some future changes for the premier stock car racing tour will again challenge traditions. NASCAR has indicated through earlier reports this week that testing of fuel-injection is progressing well. Penciling in the replacement of the cornerstone carburetor setup Sprint Cup in 2011, a fuel-injected NASCAR engine may also run a gasoline blended with ethanol.

Race Preview: NASCAR Sprint Cup Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500




Martinsville Speedway


Track Length: 0.526 Mile
Highest Banking: 12 Degrees
Listed Race Distance/Actual Race Distance: 263 miles
Laps: 500 laps
Previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Events Held:
122

2009 Race Winner:
None (Qualifying canceled due to weather)
2009 Pole Winner: Jimmie Johnson


Lead Changes in Past 5 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Races

2009: 13
2008: 20
2007: 14
2006: 12
2005: 17


Cautions in Past 5 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Races

2009: 12
2008: 18
2007: 13
2006: 16
2005: 16


Top 5 Lap Leaders In Last 10 Races

1. Jimmie Johnson 1,380
2. Jeff Gordon 942
3. Tony Stewart 829
4. Denny Hamlin 737
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr 307


Top 5 Average Finishers In Last 10 Races

1. Jimmie Johnson 2.5
2. Jeff Gordon 2.9
3.
Denny Hamlin 7.2
4. Tony Stewart 9.6
5.
Juan Pablo Montoya 11.0 (Ran in only 6 past Martinsville events)


Wins at Car Make In Last 10 Races

Chevrolet:
8
Dodge:
0
Ford:
0
Toyota:
2


Cars Entered for 2010 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500: 46

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Jimmie Johnson Takes Golden Win at Bristol


Photo Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images


The first short track event on the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule, the running of the Food City 500 at 0.533 mile Bristol Motor Speedway was an anticipated fan pleaser. The close quarter stock car battles and Saturday Night racing roots has reflected on the Bristol track grandstands morphing the once humble short track into a 160,000 spectator NASCAR stadium.

Friday pole winner Joey Logano in the #20 Home Depot Toyota led the 43-car field for the first time in his short Sprint Cup career. Along with a new pole sitter, competitors immediately enjoyed the widened racing surface which reclaimed most of the room lost when the SAFER barrier was installed. A testament to a well-planned more by Bristol Motor Speedway track organizers, the first 100 laps of the race, there were 9 lead changes with the majority coming as legitimate passes, not pit stop exchanges. While Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski would score early Sprint Cup series bonus points for leading, 5-time Bristol winner Kurt Busch stepped up as an race favourite on the first lap. Fresh off the manic race at Atlanta, the Penske Racing-sponsored #2 Miller Lite Dodge was the lead car for 55% of the event's distance.

With only one caution Two short track favourites Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann both parked their cars due to engine problems. In fact, the fluid from Bowyer's #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet drew the second caution of the Food City 500. Losing a cylinder, Reutimann's failed engine ended what was becoming a top-flight performance for the Aaron's #00 Toyota having been run in 3rd place prior to the lap 113 end. Only a few laps past David Reuitmann's retirement, the Bristol polesitter found trouble. After the first place start, Logano's poor luck at Bristol continued as his day went south early in the event. Dropping to 12th by lap 88, the orange #20 Toyota pitted 16 laps later under green for a flat tire. While Logano lost 3 laps as his Home Depot team tended to the #20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing troubles worsen as teammate Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx draw a caution on lap 115 when he slammed the wall in turn 2. Tire difficulties for the #18 car of Kyle Busch later on lap 263 completed a Joe Gibbs Racing trouble trifecta. However, Busch's #18 Toyota would overcome his tire problems to finish 9th.

The biggest wreck through the Food City 500 came on lap 342 with a turn 3 incident that damaged 13 cars. Contributed by Greg Biffle having radio issues where he could not hear his Roush-Fenway Racing spotter, the accident started on the backstretch. With the #5 Chevrolet of Mark Martin running on the outside, Biffle's #16 Ford edged up the track and drove Martin into the wall. Wounded by the wall impact, Martin's car continued slower and was unable to make the turn 3 corner. Along with Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya and Marcus Ambrose suffered the worst damage within the large scale pileup.


Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR


With a wet weather outlook late in the afternoon, the Bristol Motor Speedway started under the optimism that rain would hold off for at least the completion of 500 laps. Ultimately, the race went the full distance despite two cautions resulting due to rain sprinkles which ate 40 laps as the dampness lifted from the concrete surface.

As Kurt Busch asserted authority over the lead position for a likely second-straight victory, the Food City 500 was slowed on lap 483 when a debris flag dropped on the Bristol Motor Speedway. Playing pit strategy with two tires instead of four, Roush-Fenway Racing Fords positioned themselves in the first three positions on the restart with Greg Biffle's #16, Matt Kenseth #17 and Carl Edwards #99.

On the final lap 490 restart, 4th place Tony Stewart driving his #14 Chevrolet stormed through the three-car Ford group taking the late lead two laps later. However, as Stewart's Chevrolet carved his way through the Blue Oval contingent, the Hendrick Motorsports #48 Lowes Chevy of Jimmie Johnson followed. With 4 laps to go, Johnson powered past Stewart to win his 50th NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Lighting up the rear tires through a wide variety of burnouts on track, Johnson's celebration of his milestone win also involved smoking the Goodyear rubber against the dividing wall of the track and pit lane as well as on the way to victory lane. Having beaten the driver whom's nickname was Smoke, Jimmie Johnson seemingly wanted to take that away from Tony Stewart too after the Food City 500.



Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Likely unsatisfied as a 'true racer' driver with 2nd place in the Food City 500, Tony Stewart position as a car owner sees the season-best result in a much more positive light. Having dominated the Bristol Motor Speedway event throughout the day, Kurt Busch captured a 3rd place and elevated himself 5 spots in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup points. The Roush-Fenway Racing trio finished 4th through 6th with Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, and Carl Edwards. Embattled by the NASCAR probation and the heightened media attention reflecting back to the Atlanta incident, the #99 of Edwards comfortably raced even with Brad Keselowski in the Food City 500.

Always receiving a high amount of media coverage, Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr showed well in the Bristol race. Despite a pit road speeding penalty on lap 325, the #88 National Guard/Amp Energy Chevrolet dodged the lap 342 carnage to finish 7th on the day. With the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season proving better than 2009 for Earnhardt, he now sits 8th in series points.

Kevin Harvick continues to hold the points lead in NASCAR Sprint Cup recovering from another poor qualifying effort to finish 11th in the Food City 500. But the leading margin is only a single point over Matt Kenseth.


Food City 500
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Bristol Motor Speedway

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor/Car Make
1) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
2) 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
3) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
4) 16 Greg Biffle U.S. Census Ford
5) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
6) 99 Carl Edwards Scotts Ford
7) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
8) 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet
9) 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
10) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
11) 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
12) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Toyota
13) 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Dodge Dodge
14) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
15) 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
16) 39 Ryan Newman Haas Automation Chevrolet
17) 43 A J Allmendinger Insignia/Best Buy Ford
18) 98 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford
19) 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
20) 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford
21) 71 Bobby Labonte TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
22) 7 Robby Gordon Warner Music Nashville/Blake Shelton Toyota
23) 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
24) 26 David Stremme Air National Guard Ford
25) 34 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
26) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
27) 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
28) 37 Kevin Conway Extenze Ford
29) 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
30) 90 Casey Mears Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevrolet
31) 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota
32) 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
33) 47 Marcos Ambrose Little Debbie Toyota
34) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford
35) 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
36) 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
37) 46 Terry Cook Whitney Motorsports Dodge
38) 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
39) 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Construction/Graceway Chevrolet
40) 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
41) 55 Michael Waltrip PRISM Motorsports Toyota
42) 66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota
43) 87 Joe Nemechek ComputerWorks Toyota

Peugeot Wins 2010 12-Hours of Sebring


Photo Credit: GM Media

After two times where the Peugeot 908 HDI FAP prototype came up short of the 12 Hour of Sebring victory in 2008 and 2009, the French marque claimed the prestigious victory through a triumphant effort by the two-car team. Piloted through the final laps by Alexander Wurz, the #07 Peugeot 908 crossed the line 13.817 seconds ahead of the #08 team car which was in the hands of Formula 1 driver and Champ Car champion Sebastian Bourdais. Joined by his co-drivers Anthony Davidson and Marc Gene, the #07 Peugeot team celebrated a picture perfect 12 hour run.


Photo Credit: Aston Martin

Behind the French-made diesel-powered prototypes, the #007 Lola-Aston Martin took third on the podium only 3 laps behind the indomitable Peugeot team. With long-standing corporate history at Sebring started with the first 12 hour race, Aston Martin toasted the podium finish. Aston Martin Chairman David Richards praised the team saying “Another immaculate performance by George (Team Principal, George Howard-Chappell) and his team in finishing here as fastest petrol car and a great start to the season.” Unlike the Peugeot squad, the Lola-Aston Martin is committed to running the second round in Long Beach with the American Le Mans Series.

In the P2 category for prototypes, the Porsche RS Spyder once again found class victory at Sebring campaigned by the CytoSport team. Finishing 4th overall in the 12-Hours of Sebring, the driver lineup was a road racing all-star team consisting of Greg Pickett, Klaus Graf and Sascha Maassen. 14 laps behind the Peugeot 908, the CtyoSport group did finish 4 laps ahead of their P2 rival Patron Highcroft Racing opponent.

The third prototype class, the all-new Prototype Challenge took their first green flag torture-testing the Chevrolet-powered spec racers. While all but one car that started the Prototype Challenge class were running at the end, many of the teams faced interruptions such as Primetime Racing team which needed an extended time to replace a broken rear suspension piece. Overcoming the bad luck of fellow the Prototype Challenge, the #55 Level 5 Motorsports car co-driven by team owner Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Canadian Mark Wilkins rolled to victory in class and an impressive 10th overall finish.

Even before the race started, the GT class was guaranteed to be the most contested category in the 12-Hours of Sebring. This promise was fulfilled even before the race started as the fastest qualifying #90 Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 was bumped to the back of the GT2 class field after failing post-qualifying technical inspection. Having to start from pitlane, the #90 car did soldier through the event for a podium finish in class. Through the 12 hour race, the #17 Falken Tire Porsche grabbed the lead from the start of the race but the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT would be holding the lead through the second hour and for much of the remaining event.

As some in GT2 showed strength in the 12-hour duration at Sebring International Raceway, some of the production-based vehicles experienced less than desirable results. The early leading #17 Falken Tire Porsche would be drawn to pit road in two occasions for a rear wheel and tire flying off the vehicle on-track. In the second case, the rear wheel would damaging fellow Porsche, the #45 Flying Lizards car.

The #75 Jaguar XKRS GT2 car suffered a quick withdraw from the event due to engine overheating problem disappointing of team owner and driver Paul Gentilozzi. While the Jaguar averted a catastrophic failure, the Ferrari 430 GT of Scott Sharp's new Extreme Speed Motorsports experienced an extreme hot engine compartment late in the 12-Hour race. With Sharp at the wheel, he brought the Patron-sponsored Ferrari to a stop off the course. A fast-acting track worker with a fire extinguisher prevented the red hot fire from engulfing the whole car.

Another entrant in class, the Ford GT run for the 3rd year by Robertson Racing also fell on tough luck. After a Monday testing crash at Sebring, the #40 Ford GT was skillfully repaired in time for Friday qualifying. In the race, more misfortune found the Robertson Racing effort in the 9th of 12 hours. Running off-track, some comic relief could be found with a Florida Fresh track sign planted onto the front of the Ford GT once the #40 car returned onto the race surface. Repairs on the Robertson Racing #40 Ford GT allowed the team to finish rounding out 10th in the GT2 class.

The final GT2 hard luck story goes to the Corvette Racing team at the 2010 Sebring event. While the Peugeot Sport team enjoyed a near clockwork 12 hour race in the prototype category, the GT2 class saw the prominent Corvette Racing team suffer a rare mistake in pit road within the 3rd hour of the timed event. Reportedly caused by crossed radio communications, the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C6R was heading down pit road for service when the car made hard contact with the #4 Corvette Racing teammate. Not only embarrassing, this collision endangered the crew members of both teams. Fortunately, no one on pit lane suffered injuries as result of the American car tingle. While the #3 Corvette was already displaced deep in the GT2 standings with repairs for a fluid leak, the #4 car damage forced the car behind the wall for repairs taking Corvette Racing out of winning contention for the GT2 class at Sebring. The cars would finish the race 9th and 10th place in class.


Photo Credit: GM Media

The GT2 class winner from last year, he #62 Ferrari 430 GT waltzed to victory after a late race caution positioned the Risi Competizione car one lap ahead of the BMW M3 pair. Gianmaria Bruni, Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer shared the red Ferrari for a second-straight Sebring win.

Winning the GT Challenge class after scoring pole on Friday, the #81 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car driven by Butch Leitzinger, Juan Gonzalez and Leh Keen ended the 12-Hours of Sebring race exactly where they started. A bonus for Alex Job Racing was the racing organization's sweep of the GT Challenge podium with the #23 in 2nd and #80 finishing 3rd at Sebring.

The story of the 2010 12-Hours of Sebring is of course the overall victory of the Peugeot 908 diesel prototype car. The French automaker now holds the sports car racing Triple Crown by winning at Le Mans, the Petit Le Mans in Road Atlanta and now Sebring.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Allgaier Showed All the Right Stuff for Nationwide Win at Bristol


Photo Credit:
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Through the latter stages of the NASCAR Nationwide series event at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Saturday afternoon race was a triumph for the Penske Racing Dodge team. With the #22 car Brad Keselowski set the pace through 71 laps in the latter stages of the Scotts Turf Builder 300, the 2008 ARCA ReMax champion Justin Allgaier used a late restart to captured his first major NASCAR victory over teammate Keselowski.

Started with mid-day pole qualifying for the afternoon's NASCAR Nationwide Series race, Penske Racing's Brad Keselowski skated his #22 Dodge around Bristol the fastest of any competitor in qualifying. Joey Logano, Kelly Bires, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle rounded out the top-five in the timed session.

Once the green flag dropped, a hectic start allowed Keselowski's front row comrade Logano to muscle by to lead the first 21 laps in his #20 Toyota. Overpowering Logano, his stampeding Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 22 holding the top spot for 58 laps.

With eager, young talent of the NASCAR Nationwide Series fighting the position within the tight 0.533 mile short oval, Saturday's Scotts Turf Builder 300 race at Bristol Motor Speedway delivered the customary calamity. In all, the the 300 lap event was slowed on 11 occasions by yellow flags. The most serious incident occurred on lap 90 started when the #7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Scott Wimmer drilled a slowing #11 Toyota of Brian Scott into turn 1. As Scott's car was sent sliding up the track, the Toyota came to a brief rest between turn 1 and 2. Unable to avoid Scott's car stationary, the #16 Colin Braun-driven Ford struck the #11 and was in turn pounded by #66 Toyota of Steve Wallace. The impact of Wallace's car lifted Braun's vehicle partially off the ground. Fortunately resulting without any injuries, a 12 minute red flag to clean up the messy wreck accompanied this 3rd race caution. In spite being involved in the caution,
Scott Wimmer survived better than the other three cars actually leading the Bristol race for several laps following this particular caution. Wimmer brought the #7 Chevrolet to the race's finish 10th on the day.



Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

With regular NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski double-dipping, Kasey Kahne driving the #38 Toyota also held the lead of the NASCAR Nationwide support race. Leading 22 laps by the midway point in the event, Kahne appeared to be a contender for the race victory until a lap 187 multi-car crash knocked the #38 Toyota out of the running.

With Justin Allgaier holding off an aggressive but clean challenge from Brad Keselowski through the final laps, another more physical fight came for 5th place spot as the #33 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick motored through Joey Logano's Toyota sending the Joe Gibb Racing car around in the final corner.

Following the completion of the Scotts Turf Builder 300, Carl Edwards continues to hold off Brad Keselowski in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers points. However, thanks to the second place finish. Keselowski closed nearly half the point difference to Edwards standing only 26 markers back. Justin Allgaier Bristol win not only vaulted him to 3rd in 2010 points but places the driver only 5 points behind Edwards.


2010 Scotts Turf Builder 300
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Bristol Motor Speedway

Top 10 Finishers
1) 12 Justin Allgaier Verizon Wireless Dodge
2) 22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Dodge
3) 18 Kyle Busch Z-Line Designs Toyota
4) 60 Carl Edwards Copart Ford
5) 33 Kevin Harvick Rheem Chevrolet
6) 27 Greg Biffle Red Man Moist Snuff Ford
7) 32 Reed Sorenson Dollar General Stores Toyota
8) 40 Mike Bliss Key Motorsports Chevrolet
9) 10 Jason Leffler ABF Toyota
10) 7 Scott Wimmer JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Other Notables

11) 98 Paul Menard Tide/Menards Ford
12) 88 Kelly Bires Hellmann's Chevrolet
14) 20 Joey Logano GameStop/God of War III Toyota
16) 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy/ComputerWorks Chevrolet
29) 11 Brian Scott AccuDoc Toyota
30) 99 Trevor Bayne Diamond-Waltrip Racing Toyota
32) 38 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Toyota
33) 62 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota
37) 16 Colin Braun Con-way Ford
38) 66 Steve Wallace 5-hour Energy Toyota

Friday, March 19, 2010

Peugeot to lead 12-Hours of Sebring Race


Photo Credit: Aston Martin


Showing themselves to be indisputably fast through the previous two days of practice, Peugeot 908 HDI FAP racing vehicles established themselves as the rabbits for the 2010 12 Hours of Sebring. Between the two-car team of Peugeot Sport, the #07 Peugeot 908 of Marc Gene, Alex Wurz, and Anthony Davidson delivered a best lap 1 minute, 45.214 seconds around the 3.7 mile Sebring track beating the #08 car.

While the presence Peugeot 908 prototypes on the front row is hardly a surprise, the more amazing story of the class comes behind the French team (very closely, in fac). After Friday qualifying at Sebring, the competing prototype Aston Martin-powered Lola has been running on the race favourite Peugeot team. Settling in 3rd place, the Lowes-sponsored LMP #007 car clocked a relatively strong lap 0.8 seconds slower than the lead Peugeot. Even more of a confidence builder for the one-year old Lola-Aston Martin is that they were only 0.238 seconds back of the second diesel-powered Peugeot. The Lola-Aston Martin Team's Principal George-Howard Chappell commented "Third position is exactly where we hoped and expected to be.". Chappell also expresses confidence in the reliability of the #007 car.

Rounding out the top 5 for the prototype class is the Drayson Racing #8 Lola-Mazda 1.246 seconds slower and the Patron Highcroft Racing HPD ARX-01c sitting 2.470 seconds behind the leader's time.

In the GT2 class the #90 Rahal-Letterman Racing BMW M3 leads the category with a lap time of 2 minutes, 0.782 seconds. However, through post-race inspection the BMW M3 failed a stall test causing their top time to be disallowed. Thereby, the #45 Flying Lizards Porsche 997 RSR inherited the pole in the GT2 class after running 6/10th of a second slower than the disqualified BMW M3.


Photo Credit: GM Media


Also with the exclusion of the Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3, the starting positions of other GT2 cars have been bumped up. With Porsche 997 RSRs starting 1-2, 3rd place in GT2 sees the #62 Risi Competizione vehicle leading the large contingent of Ferrari 430 GT race cars. Struggling for speed through the week against German and Italian-built challengers, the American Chevrolet Corvette C6Rs could only pull off a 4th and 5th place showing on Friday. Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan stated after qualifying "We've still got a lot of work to do and we are climbing a steep learning curve. As a testament to the highly-competitive fight shaping by for the GT2 class in Sebring (and likely the entire ALMS season for 2010) 1st through 8th in the class is separated by under 1.1 seconds.

As for the two Challenge classes running for the first time at Sebring, the #99 Green Earth Team took the Prototype Challenge series' first pole narrowly beating the #95 Level5 car. Gunnar Jeanette drove the #99 car in the lap which vaulted the team over the #95 car being hustled by IndyCar regular Ryan Hunter-Reay added as a co-driver for the Sebring event. An exciting on track battle for Friday qualifying, the class' main source of heart race occurred on Tuesday. A loss to the new Prototype Challenge class, the ALMS mainstay Intersport Racing team needed to withdraw from the 12 Hours of Sebring after their car wrecked dramatically following a right rear suspension failure. While driver Jon Field was not seriously hurt, their Oreca prototype went airborne and flipped several times.

The 7-car GT Challenge field will be led by an #81 Alex Job Racing-owned Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. To be driven by Butch Leitzinger, Juan Gonzalez and Leh Keen on Saturday, the #80 Alex Job Racing teammate secured the full front row for the GT Challenge.

With ambient temperatures in Sebring, Florida slated to peak at 80 degrees Fehrenheit, a hot Florida weekend will heat up the racing surface promising to challenge every driver with a slick race track. The 2010 12 Hours of Sebring starts at 10:30 AM on Saturday.

Logano in Home Depot Toyota Nails Bristol Pole


Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR


After a one weekend hiatus following the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series returns for a two-race short track engagement rounding out the month of March. The concrete surface of the 0.533 mile Bristol Motor Speedway oval starts the short track trek in Sunday's Food City 500 race.

Through pole qualifying on this high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway, the 19 year old Joey Logano set fastest time sailing his #20 Home Depot Toyota around in a swift 15.396 seconds. Enjoying a strong sophomore season so far in 2010, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year Joey Logano pole is his first-career top start in the series. However, while Joey Logano's pole compliments the obvious maturing of the Joe Gibbs Racing's young talent, Logano's true growth will come on Sunday as he attempts to survive the Food City 500. After running the two Bristol races of 2009, Logano sported 38th and 34th place finishes.

Winding up 2nd place, Kurt Busch was only 1/100th of a second slower in his Penske Racing #2 Miller Lite Dodge. A 4-time winner at Bristol Motor Speedway with his last victory coming March of 2006, Kurt Busch has always been a perrenial front-runner almost every time race's raced on the oval.

While a racing adage says "money buys speed", the tight quarters and tricky corners of Bristol has a habit of defeating the notion even as well-funded Sprint Cup superteams adapt to the short track. With this being said, occasions in qualifying for lightly-financed teams to pull off an upset performance exists as a possibility. For this past qualifying session at Bristol, Dave Blaney driving the Prism Motorsports Toyota jockeyed his #66 car for a brilliant 3rd place. This qualifying result is Dave Blaney's 2nd top-5 qualifying performance for the short 2010 season.

Fourth and five place spots were snatched by the Hendrick Motorsport duo of Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon while Chevrolet brandmate Juan Pablo Montoya continues to search for his first oval victory.

With this weekend's race being the first since the dramatic Atlanta incident involving Carl Edwards' late-race revenge shot on Brad Keselowski, thoughts surround what this will mean for the short track event. One of those questions regards whether a three-race suspension will affect Edwards' on-track performance. This question was answered by the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards securing 8th place on the grid. A second question for whether a stewing Keselowski might seek a return shot on Edwards at Bristol will be revealed in the race. However, the pair will start considerably far apart as Brad Keselowski could do no better than 36th in qualifying.

Last year's Food City 500 winner Kyle Busch will have a long journey to the front as the #18 Toyota encountered troubles in qualifying. Kyle Busch will start 38th for Sunday's race.

For many car owners, a top finish in the Food City 500 will prove itself a much valued commodity. With the first 5 races concluded the NASCAR Sprint Cup field will be measured on 2010 car owner points. The top-35 cars will be guaranteed a starting position through the next races. Prior to the running the upcoming Sprint Cup race at Bristol, the #36 Chevrolet and #37 Ford are sitting tied for the 35th spot. A coveted spot which will aid teams in collecting sponsorship and respect in the Sprint Cup series, 39th place #13 Toyota is only 29 points outside of the top-35 position.


2010 Food City 500 Starting Order
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Bristol Motor Speedway

1) 20 Joey Logano      Home Depot Toyota
2) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
3) 66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota
4) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
5) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
6) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
7) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
8) 99 Carl Edwards Scotts Ford
9) 47 Marcos Ambrose Little Debbie Toyota
10) 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
11) 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
12) 98 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford
13) 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
14) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
15) 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
16) 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
17) 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet
18) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
19) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Toyota
20) 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
21) 39 Ryan Newman Haas Automation Chevrolet
22) 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
23) 43 A J Allmendinger Insignia/Best Buy Ford
24) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford
25) 16 Greg Biffle U.S. Census Ford
26) 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
27) 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Construction/Graceway Chevrolet
28) 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
29) 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota
30) 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
31) 26 David Stremme Air National Guard Ford
32) 7 Robby Gordon Warner Music Nashville/Blake Shelton Toyota
33) 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
34) 90 Casey Mears Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevrolet
35) 87 Joe Nemechek ComputerWorks Toyota
36) 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Dodge Dodge
37) 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford
38) 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
39) 55 Michael Waltrip PRISM Motorsports Toyota
40) 46 Terry Cook Whitney Motorsports Dodge
41) 34 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
42) 37 Kevin Conway Extenze Ford
43) 71 Bobby Labonte TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet