Saturday, April 30, 2011

2011 IZOD INDYCAR Driver Statistics After First 3 Races

Photo Credit: Dan Helrigel

As the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series completed with the running of the first 3 races, patterns for the new year is beginning to form. Examining some statistics during the rounds at St Petersburg, Barber and Long Beach sheds light on a very interesting IZOD INDYCAR Series season for 2011.

Below, I have collected some key numbers based largely on early calculations. Every driver who has competed so far in the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series.

2011 IZOD INDYCAR Points After 3 Races

122 Franchitti, Dario
115 Power, Will
87 Kanaan, Tony
80 Servia, Oriol
74 Conway, Mike
73 Tagliani, Alex
66 de Silvestro, Simona
66 Dixon, Scott
66 Briscoe, Ryan
64 Meira, Vitor
57 Patrick, Danica
57 Matos, Raphael
56 Sato, Takuma
56 Castroneves, Helio
54 Andretti, Marco
49 Hildebrand, JR
44 Hinchcliffe, James
44 Wilson, Justin
44 Kimball, Charlie
43 Saavedra, Sebastian
42 Rahal, Graham
40 Jakes, James
40 Hunter-Reay, Ryan
34 Bourdais, Sebastien
34 Viso, EJ
28 Beatriz, Ana
24 Pagenaud, Simon
14 Paul Tracy



Drivers Average Qualifying Position

Power, Will 1.00
Dixon, Scott 4.67
Franchitti, Dario 5.33
Wilson, Justin 5.33
Castroneves, Helio 6.33
Briscoe, Ryan 6.33
Conway, Mike 7.67
Servia, Oriol 8.33
Hinchcliffe, James 9.50
Andretti, Marco 10.00
Tagliani, Alex 10.33
Hunter-Reay, Ryan 11.00
Rahal, Graham 12.67
Kanaan, Tony 14.00
Sato, Takuma 14.67
Meira, Vitor 15.00
de Silvestro, Simona 16.00
Matos, Raphael 16.33
Viso, EJ 18.67
Bourdais, Sebastien 19.67
Patrick, Danica 20.33
Saavedra, Sebastian 21.67
Hildebrand, JR 22.33
Kimball, Charlie 22.67
Pagenaud, Simon 23.00
Jakes, James 23.33
Beatriz, Ana 23.50
Paul Tracy 25.00



Drivers Average Finishes After 3 Races

Franchitti, Dario 2.33
Power, Will 4.33
Kanaan, Tony 5.67
Servia, Oriol 6.67
Pagenaud, Simon 8
Tagliani, Alex 8.67
Meira, Vitor 9.67
de Silvestro, Simona 11
Patrick, Danica 12
Dixon, Scott 12
Matos, Raphael 12.67
Castroneves, Helio 13
Hildebrand, JR 13.67
Briscoe, Ryan 13.67
Sato, Takuma 14
Hinchcliffe, James 14
Conway, Mike 15.33
Paul Tracy 16
Rahal, Graham 16
Beatriz, Ana 16.5
Wilson, Justin 17
Saavedra, Sebastian 17.67
Andretti, Marco 18
Jakes, James 18.33
Kimball, Charlie 18.67
Hunter-Reay, Ryan 19.33
Bourdais, Sebastien 21
Viso, EJ 22.33



Drivers Percentage of Laps Completed in 2011
(Reflects only the percentage of races a driver has run.)
Tagliani, Alex 100.00
Servia, Oriol 100.00
Power, Will 100.00
Paul Tracy 100.00
Pagenaud, Simon 100.00
Meira, Vitor 100.00
Kanaan, Tony 100.00
Hildebrand, JR 100.00
Franchitti, Dario 100.00
Patrick, Danica 99.64
de Silvestro, Simona 98.91
Sato, Takuma 98.55
Dixon, Scott 98.18
Beatriz, Ana 97.84
Rahal, Graham 97.82
Castroneves, Helio 94.55
Matos, Raphael 89.82
Wilson, Justin 87.27
Briscoe, Ryan 86.18
Hunter-Reay, Ryan 80.00
Jakes, James 77.09
Saavedra, Sebastian 76.36
Hinchcliffe, James 71.43
Kimball, Charlie 70.55
Viso, EJ 70.18
Conway, Mike 47.64
Andretti, Marco 46.18
Bourdais, Sebastien 42.55

Juan-Pablo Montoya Claims Richmond Pole

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/ Getty Images for NASCAR


Into the late stage of Friday afternoon qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway, Juan Pablo Montoya captured his 2nd pole position of 2011. Wheeling his Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing's #42 Chevrolet around the 0.75-mile short oval in 20.989 seconds, Montoya outpaced the Furniture Row #78 Chevy of Regan Smith by roughly 14/100ths of a second. On the second row is the Richard Childress Racing #33 of Clint Bowyer accompanied with the #4 Toyota of Kasey Kahne. Mark Martin in the #5 Chevrolet rounds out the top-5 for the 400-mile event.

The time trials for the CROWN ROYAL Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 at Richmond was highly beneficial to Chevrolet teams. Five of the top-six qualifers for Saturday night's event were Chevrolet Impalas with the Red Bull Toyota of Kasey Kahne becoming the only non-General Motors team to break into the grouping. Chevrolet vehicles had dominated the Richmond short track from 2006 to 2008 until the recent success of Joe Gibbs Racing-fielded Toyota Camrys. For the past two spring races at Richmond International Raceway, Kyle Busch celebrated in victory lane. Busch will start 20th on Saturday night with his teammate Denny Hamlin starting 11th. Winning late summer events at the track in 2009 and 2010, Hamlin was also won the Friday night NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Richmond.

The CROWN ROYAL Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 starts at 7:30 pm Eastern time on Saturday night.



NASCAR Sprint Cup
Richmond International Raceway
CROWN ROYAL Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400

Qualifying Results
 
  1. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
  2. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
  3. 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
  4. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
  5. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
  6. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
  7. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
  8. 99 Carl Edwards Scotts eZ Seed Ford
  9. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
  10. 27 Paul Menard Libman / Menards Chevrolet
  11. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
  12. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
  13. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. Army Medicine Chevrolet
  14. 47 Bobby Labonte Kingsford / Bush's Toyota
  15. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
  16. 30 David Stremme EchoStor Technologies Chevrolet
  17. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
  18. 43 A J Allmendinger Nautica Ford
  19. 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
  20. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Pretzel Toyota
  21. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
  22. 66 Michael McDowell K Love Toyota
  23. 23 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
  24. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
  25. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
  26. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy.com Pellet & Wood Stoves
  27. 27 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
  28. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
  29. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
  30. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
  31. 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 / Office Depot Chevrolet
  32. 60 Mike Skinner Big Red Toyota
  33. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
  34. 09 Landon Cassill Security Benefit / Thank a Teacher Today 
  35. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
  36. 22 Kurt Busch Shell / Pennzoil Dodge 
  37. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
  38. 32 Ken Schrader H&B Railroad / FAS Lane Racing Ford
  39. 34 David Gilliland Gander Mountain Ford
  40. 46 J J Yeley Red Line Oil Chevrolet
  41. 71 Andy Lally # Interstate Moving Services Ford
  42. 7 Robby Gordon Fast Five / Speed Energy Dodge
  43. 37 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford

  
Did Not Qualify: # 92 Brian Keselowski #.

Race Weekend Weather Forecast: April 29th to May 1st, 2011

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR


Eastern times listed

Sao Paulo, Brazil
Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300
IZOD INDYCAR Series

Saturday:

8:30 am- IZOD INDYCAR Practice 1A
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

9:00 am- IZOD INDYCAR Practice 1B
Temperature: 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

1:00 pm IZOD INDYCAR Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

3:00 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series Qualifying
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Sunday:

8:30 am- IZOD INDYCAR Series Warm up
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

1:20 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series Race
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with Clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Richmond, Virginia
Richmond International Raceway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series


Friday:

9:00 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

12:00 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (69 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:45 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:10 pm NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (74 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

5:35 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

7:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Race
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Saturday:

7:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Race
Temperature: 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

Thursday, April 28, 2011

2011 Plans for Go Canada Racing Announced; Two Sprint Cup Runs Planned

Photo Credit: Greig Reekie

This past weekend's NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Nashville Superspeedway marked the inaugural outing for the #67 Go Canada Racing Ford Mustang. A team founded by Canadian investment firm co-founder Steve Meehan, the new Nationwide Series race team was assembled around Canadian stock car prospect J.R. Fitzpatrick. In the Nashville 300 race last Saturday, Fitzpatrick and the #67 Go Canada Racing team qualified 21st. In their first field test as a full-fledged organization, the efforts over the race's 300-miles secured a 27st place finish 4 laps down to Nashville winner Carl Edwards. While the team was disappointed not to experience breakaway success, the #67 Canadian-based NASCAR Nationwide Series team completed the final distance of their initial event. 

Determined to build on their first track appearance, Go Canada Racing has announced plans for 9 additional NASCAR Nationwide Series events in 2011. Consisting of 6 ovals and all 3 road courses, the team's next race will by the May event at the one-mile Dover International Speedway. JR Fitzpatrick will wheel the #67 stock car in these Nationwide Series races having competed on all tracks with exception of Chicagoland in either previous NASCAR Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series events.

JR Fitzpatrick and Go Canada Racing will also vie to be part of the August NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Ponoco Raceway as well as the road course at Watkins Glen. Qualifying for either of these races will be a significant first for the race team and Fitzpatrick.


NASCAR Nationwide Series

May 14- Dover International Speedway (Dover, DE
Jun 18- Michigan International Speedway (Brooklyn, MI)
Jun 25- Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI)
Jul 16- New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, NH)
Aug 20- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal, QC, Canada)
Sep 17- Chicagoland Speedway (Chicago,Il)
Oct 1- Dover International Speedway (Dover, DE)
Nov 12- Phoenix International Raceway (Phoenix, AZ)
Nov 19- Homestead-Miami Speedway (Miami, FL)


NASCAR Sprint Cup
Aug 7- Pocono International Raceway (Pocono, PA)
Aug 14- Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, NY)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Edwards Sings to NASCAR Nationwide Victory Lane at Nashville

Photo Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Lee Montgomery
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(April 23, 2011)

LEBANON, Tenn.—Carl Edwards returned to victory lane at Nashville Superspeedway for the first time since 2007, winning Saturday’s Nashville 300 Nationwide Series race.

The victory was Edwards’ second of the season and 31st of his career—tying him for fourth all time with NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Jack Ingram.

Edwards had won three Nationwide races in a row in 2006-07 but went six races at Nashville without winning again. His four Nashville victories are tops among all drivers at the 1.33-mile track.

“Was it 2007?” Edwards said. “That’s a long time to run poorly somewhere. Seemed like every time we came we won for a little while. Was it three in a row? Then all of a sudden, we came here and really struggled. That’s really trying on everybody.

“I have to give credit to (car owner) Jack Roush, to Ford, (engine builder) Doug Yates, (crew chief) Mike Beam, the guys at the shop. It looked like we were facing some insurmountable challenges, and they worked hard and got these cars better.”

Saturday, Edwards was the best, leading five times for 148 laps in beating Kyle Busch to the checkered flag by .521 seconds. Edwards surged past Busch as the two dueled for the lead with 35 laps to go.

Busch was gunning for a weekend sweep after his victory in Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series race but came up short as his Toyota was “just not quite fast enough.”

Brad Keselowski finished third and Joey Logano fourth as Sprint Cup regulars swept the top four spots in the Nationwide Series’ first stand-alone race of the season. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fifth for the best finish among Nationwide regulars and moved into a tie for the points lead with Justin Allgaier.

Edwards and Busch traded the lead three times and raced side by side for more than three laps not long after a restart with 44 laps to go.

“At the end of the race, I was pedaling for all I had,” Edwards said. “I was kind of excited at the beginning of the race. I thought, ‘Boy, we’re going to run off with this thing. It’s going to be easy.’ Then at the end, that was white-knuckle. I was driving as hard as I can drive, racing him and Brad.

“In the end, it’s better to have a race like that, but it was really nerve-wracking for me.”

Edwards led Lap 189 of 225, with Busch coming back to lead Lap 190. Edwards led Lap 191 and finally got clear of Busch, even as Keselowski was challenging from third.

“I didn’t quite finish that pass,” Busch said. “He had a really fast car. We could keep up with him momentarily but not for the whole run. It was a good show right there, a little bit of racing back and forth. … Brad was right behind us and kind of lurking in the distance there.”

In the end, both drivers agreed Edwards’ No. 60 was simply the better car.

“Our Ford was just slightly better than his car, just slightly,” Edwards said. “He’s savvy enough of a racer, he knew how to keep me behind him and how to force the issue. He made it really hard on me, but he also gave me plenty of room. You can race a bunch of different ways out there, but that was a very clean race. That was really good. It was fun. I was really having a blast out there.”


2011 NASCAR Nationwide Seires
Nashville 300
Nashville Superspeedway

Race Results

Pos # | Car #|  Driver/ Sponsor  | Car Make

1) 60 Carl Edwards Ford Drive one. Ford
2) 18 Kyle Busch Z-Line Designs Toyota
3) 22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Dodge
4) 20 Joey Logano Harvest Investments Toyota
5) 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. RickyvsTrevor.com Ford
6) 16 Trevor Bayne RickyvsTrevor.com Ford
7) 33 Austin Dillon Rheem Heating, Cooling & Water Heating Chevrolet
8) 32 Reed Sorenson Dollar General Chevrolet
9) 7 Josh Wise Eutechnyx Chevrolet
10) 88 Aric Almirola Grand Touring Vodka Chevrolet
11) 31 Justin Allgaier Wolfpack Rentals Chevrolet
12) 09 Kenny Wallace RAB Racing Toyota
13) 2 Elliott Sadler Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet
14) 64 David Reutimann Flatout Flatbread Toyota
15) 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet
16) 99 Ryan Truex Pastrana Waltrip Racing Toyota
17) 66 Steve Wallace 5-hour Energy Toyota
18) 01 Mike Wallace Colormatch Coating Solutions Chevrolet
19) 62 Michael Annett Pilot Travel Centers/Flying J Toyota
20) 70 David Stremme Foretravel Chevrolet
21) 40 Scott Wimmer Key Motorsports Chevrolet
22) 11 Brian Scott Shore Lodge Toyota
23) 51 Jeremy Clements www.racedaysponsor.com Chevrolet
24) 87 Kevin Conway Extenze Toyota
25) 81 Blake Koch daystar.com Dodge
26) 39 Danny O'Quinn Jr. Rimz One Ford
27) 67 JR Fitzpatrick Go Canada Racing Ford
28) 89 Morgan Shepherd Racing with Jesus/Imperial Bedding Chevrolet
29) 30 Mikey Kile AccuDoc Chevrolet
30) 28 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Inc. Dodge
31) 19 Mike Bliss TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
32) 14 Eric McClure Hefty BlackOut/Reynolds Chevrolet
33) 15 Timmy Hill Rick Ware Racing Ford
34) 23 Robert Richardson Jr. Wildlife Conservation Society Dodge
35) 52 Tim Schendel TRX Alliance Chevrolet
36) 79 Tim Andrews Sports Massage USA Ford
37) 49 Dennis Setzer Jay Robinson Inc. Chevrolet
38) 74 Mike Harmon Riverwalk Cafe Chevrolet
39) 68 Matthew Carter Fleur de Lis Farms Chevrolet
40) 41 Carl Long Lilly Trucking Ford
41) 05 Willie Allen 31-W Insulation Chevrolet
42) 44 Jeff Green TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
43) 75 Johnny Chapman Rick Ware Racing Ford

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Hamilton Slays Vettel's Perfect Formula 1 Season with China Win

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

The first two races of the 2011 Formula 1 season took on a very predictable tone as 2010 World Champion driver Sebastian Vettel claiming victories in dominant fashion in the Australian and Chinese Grand Prix. Planting Red Bull Racing in an affirmative position, Vettel took his Renault powered Formula 1 car to a third consecutive pole for the Chinese Grand Prix. However, for those who have grown used to Formula 1 lacking raw, on-track competition, the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix was an event that suspended all garden variety notions of the world championship of open wheel racing.

Setting the grid for the start of the grand prix, the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel was beside the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button and ahead of Lewis Hamilton's McLaren. Favoured in his 2011 title defense drive, the Chinese Grand Prix standing start changed the complex of this season. Though Vettel launched well off the line, both McLaren Formula 1 race cars rocketed past the Red Bull-Renault into the first corner. Shuffled back to third early in the Shanghai race, Vettel entered into an unfamiliar place for this season.


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

With Jenson Button leading, the McLaren-Mercedes preceded at the front of the Chinese Grand Prix as concerns existed in durability of the Pirelli racing tires. Featuring two tread options, most drivers and teams chose the softer set of tires for racing. One notable exception early was Vettel's Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber who started on harder racing slicks in efforts to seek a solution in overcoming a disastrous qualifying attempt Saturday which nested an 18th place grid position. Perhaps planning to gain track position through potentially running longer on his Pirelli tires, Webber's work in advancing places on the racetrack was hindered by the slower, harder compound. Ultimately, Mark Webber would pit on the same strategy with the other front-running teams negating early race plan for more competitive, softer compound Pirelli tires.

The pit road would ultimately shake up the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix. In the case of early race leader Jenson Button, the first pit stop on lap 13 for the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion involved a most bizarre moment in the driver's career. Taxiing down pit road, Button mistakenly steered into the Red Bull Racing team pit stall. Awaiting Sebastian Vettel, the bewildered Red Bull Racing crew were eager to see the McLaren promptly leave the pit service area. Barely stopping, Jenson Button quickly noticed his error continuing on to his McLaren pit crew. Due to the graffe, Button did lose track position to Vettel placing the Red Bull-Renault one place higher in the race standings.

As front-running drivers Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel surrendered their position for pit stops, the Mercedes GP team emerged as a Chinese Grand Prix contender. In the hands of Nico Rosberg, the German driver and race organization mastered short-pitting to place themselves in the lead for 8 laps. After a tough first two races in the 2011 Formula 1 season, the showing for Mercedes GP in China reestablishes the momentum the team started their inaugural 2010 season. Nico Rosberg would remain at the front through the reminder of the grand prix but lost positions running on worn tires in the late race stages. The Mercedes GP team chanced a different pit road plan to vault the German up to 2rd place until the faster cars of McLaren and Red Bull Racing overhauled Nico Rosberg. Rosberg would just miss the podium but finish a season best 5th at the Chinese Grand Prix.


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Scuderia Ferrari also gambled on a two-pit stop race strategy for track position. The success was mixed during the 56-lap distance as Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa finished 6th as well as 7th place. The longer late stint also proved costly to the Ferrari team as they rode in higher positions just ahead of the checkered flag.

As part of the story in the closing stages of the Chinese Grand Prix focused on the slowing of some vehicles, the McLaren-Mercedes piloted by Lewis Hamilton was on a mission to the front lapping the Shanghai track. Sitting in 4th place on lap 40, Hamilton utilized his fresher tires, KERBS and adjustable rear wing system to pass Rosberg and Massa in only 4 laps setting sights on the leading Red Bull-Renault. Eating into the modest lead of just under 4 seconds, Lewis Hamilton's superior lap times put the silver McLaren right on the gearbox of Sebastian Vettel. On lap 52, Hamilton brief attempt at working over Vettel for the lead paid off in turn seven ending off a thrilling climb to the front. As Hamilton led the final 4 laps of the Chinese Grand Prix, the 2008 World Champion pulled a 5.1 second lead on the second place Sebastian Vettel.

Though disappointed by his attempt at a fifth straight Formula 1 season victory going back to last season's Brazilian Grand Prix being foil, Vettel and Red Bull Racing maintains an ongoing streak of podium finishes. Sebastian Vettel could also take relief with the arrival of the lap 56 checkered as his hard-charging teammate was closing distance. Starting 18th, Webber's strategy adjustment allowed the second Red Bull Racing car to surge through the field at an alarming rate. Clocked as one of the fastest cars on the racetrack, Mark Webber's three-stop plan allowed the Australian to maneuver himself to the front. With some Formula 1 observers noting Webber's results as considerably lackluster compared to his dominating teammate, the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix establishes again the strength of both Red Bull Racing cars.

Rolling out the top-10 behind the Nico Rosberg and the Ferrari Formula 1 cars, Michael Schumacher continues to challenge fellow drivers on-track with skills that only a 7-time World Champion would possess. Finishing 8th, Schumacher was more than 26 seconds in front of Lotus Renault Racing's Vitaly Petrov and 10th place Kamui Kobayashi.

As Sebastian Vettel's early season showing and Mark Webber's drive in China reflects, the Red Bull Racing team is shown as a formidable squad again in 2011. However, McLaren F1 is proving to be an early challenger having at least one car on the podium at the end of grand prix this season. After three races in the 2011 Formula 1 season, Vettel is 21 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Next race for the Formula 1 tour will ake place on May 8th as drivers and teams are given a long preparation for the Turkish Grand Prix.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Go Canada Racing a Go at NASCAR Nationwide Race in Nashville

Photo Credit: Greig Reekie

At this moment, a Canadian national election is playing out with various parties vying to convince the North American country's people that their beliefs best represent Canada. Attempting to ignite the notions for what Canadian values are most important, candidates challenge the for the heart and soul of Canada for a nationwide vote. Well over 800 kilometers away from the Windsor/Detroit border crossing, an patriotic surge of Canadian spirit will ride around a 1.25 mile oval this weekend as part of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Nashville.

Announced this Tuesday, a co-owner of multi-billion dollar financial firm Investment Planning Counsel has pursued a new, personal venture. Entering the very competitive NASCAR stock car racing circuit, Canadian business Steve Meehan unveiled his Go Canada Racing team. Selected to drive Meehan's Canadian stock car racing is stand-out JR Fitzpatrick.

A champion of the 2006 CASCAR Super Series (now reorganized as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series), the youthful talent of Fitzpatrick has not been a phenomenon limited only to the top side of the 49th parallel. Driving a NASCAR Camping World Series Truck for TRG Motorsports at the Daytona 250-mile race in 2009, JR Fitzpatrick not only survived the high-speed competition but firmly challenged the more veteran stock car drivers. Fitzpatrick finished 4th in that race which kicked off some initial interest later from the Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI) race team. Though JR Fitzpatrick and KHI were able to compete several races together in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and two Nationwide Series road races, the pairing never reached full potential. KHI decided late in 2009 to divest themselves from driver development and focused solely on placing established drivers to please sponsors. Returning to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series full-time in 2010, Fitzpatrick regrouped for a title-contending season with two wins.

Delivering JR Fitzpatrick his dream position for competing in a major United States NASCAR tour, the Go Canada Racing team have matched the 22-year old driver with experienced crew chief Newt Moore. Enthusiastic about the team, Fitzpatrick responds "Steve has put together an outstanding team and given us the tools to succeed in this sport. We have a great crew, a great car, and a great team, and I'm looking forward to competing with some of NASCAR's best, starting this weekend in Nashville."

Debuting at the Nashville Superspeedway's NASCAR Nationwide Series race on April 23rd, Go Canada Racing will wear a white #67 Ford Mustang with bright red details. A highly ambitious operation, Go Canada Racing is not the first Canadian owner/driver combination to run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series tour. Oshawa, Ontario's car owner and past driver Randy MacDonald has employed fellow countryman on two occasion. Reigning 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion DJ Kennington drove many races for MacDonald Motorsports from 2007 to 2009. Current French-Canadian INDYCAR driver Alex Tagliani also joining the team for the 2009 Nationwide Series race in Montreal.

Based heavily on Canadian symbols and people, even the car number of the Meehan-owned team is significantly Canadian. The number '67' represents the year in the 19th century when Canada proceeded to becoming an independent nation.

Due to NASCAR's commitment to provide a 43-car field in the Nashville 300, the #67 Go Canada Racing Ford Mustang is assured a starting spot for this first outing. Through two Friday practice sessions for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, JR Fitzpatrick placed 25th and 33rd fastest on the timing charts. Competing against some of the best stock car racing drivers and teams, Go Canada Racing understands success will be hard-earned. Comparing the race teams in the United States to the organizations in Canada, Fitzpatrick says "I think the competitiveness in the United States is the major difference. In Canada you go out each week and there are 5-10 guys that are going to be your main competition. In the states you have 25 guys that you are racing each week."

Showing endurance through harsh winters and ruggedness interacting with a vast country like fellow country mates, it is impossible to believe that Fitzpatrick or anyone in the entire freshman Canadian racing team will bow to this challenge. As team owner Steve Meehan iterates, 7 million avid NASCAR fans in the true north strong and free will support the #67 Ford Mustang.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Race Weekend Weather Forecast: April 15th to 17th, 2011

Photo Credit: Nissan North America Inc.


Shanghai, China
Chinese Grand Prix
Formula 1
(Times are Local)

Friday:
10:00 am- Formula 1 Practice
Temperature: 24 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:00 pm- Formula 1 Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Saturday:
11:00 am- Formula 1 Practice
Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:00 pm- Formula 1 Qualifying
Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

Sunday:
3:00 pm- Formula 1 Race
Temperature: 23 Degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Long Beach, California
Streets of Long Beach
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
IZOD INDYCAR Series/ Firestone Indy Lights/ American Le Mans Series


Friday:
7:15 am American Le Mans Series Practice
Temperature: 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


10:00 am- IZOD INDYCAR Practice
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

12:15 pm- Firestone Indy Lights Practice
Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:25 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:55 pm- American Le Mans Series Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Saturday:
8:00 am- Firestone Indy Lights Series Practice
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

10:25 am- IZOD INDYCAR Practice
Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

12:55 pm- Firestone Indy Lights Practice
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:30 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series Qualifying
Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:30 pm- American Le Mans Series Race
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Sunday:
8:00 am- Firestone Indy Lights Warm up
Temperature: 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

9:15 am- IZOD INDYCAR Series Warm up
Temperature: 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

11:05 am- Firestone Indy Lights Race
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

1:15 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series Race
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Talladega, Alabama
Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series/ARCA Racing Series


Thursday:
10:00 am- ARCA Racing Series Practice
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

3:00 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:00 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/ Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

5:05 pm- ARCA Racing Series Qualifying
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Friday:
10:00 am- ARCA Racing Series Practice
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

11:00 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

1:00 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of rain
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

2:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of thunderstorms
Chance of Precipitation: 80%

4:00 pm- ARCA Racing Series Race
Temperature: 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Thunderstorms with chance of damaging winds
Chance of Precipitation: 100%


Saturday:
10:05 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying
Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:00 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Race
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Sunday:
12:00 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Race
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Kenseth Caps Losing Streak with Texas Win

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/ Getty Images for NASCAR



By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(April 9, 2011)

FORT WORTH, Texas — After a 76-race absence from victory lane, Matt Kenseth needed a quick refresher course.

“Show me where to park this thing,” Kenseth radioed to crew chief Jimmy Fennig after beating race runner-up Clint Bowyer to the checkered flag by a whopping 8.315 seconds in Saturday night’s Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. “It’s been a while.”

That it had. Kenseth’s NASCARSprint Cup Series winless streak dated to February 2009, when he won the Daytona 500 and the second race of the season at Fontana, Calif. — and nothing after that.

The victory was Kenseth’s second at Texas and the 19th of his NASCAR SprintCup career. Kenseth’s Roush Fenway Racing teammates Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle came home third and fourth, respectively, with Paul Menard completing the top five.

Marcos Ambrose ran sixth and polesitter David Ragan seventh, as Ford drivers claimed five of the top seven positions. Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kurt Busch completed the top 10.

“I’ve said it after every win, but especially after over two years, I didn’t know if I’d ever have a chance to get here again,” Kenseth said after climbing form his car in victory lane. “We had a packed house tonight, and it probably wasn’t the closest finish for them, but we had great racing all night.”

Kenseth, who led 169 of 334 laps, said staying out front in clean air was the key to winning the race.

“A couple of times, when we got behind a little bit, it took awhile to get to the front. We were short on fuel (because of a fueling issue on pit road), but because of the tire situation—how much time you could gain on (new) tires — we got lucky. When we pitted, it forced the field to pit. That was the key in long runs.”

Long runs indeed. The race ended on a green-flag run of 114 laps, after the only violent wreck of the night caused the fifth caution of the race on Lap 215.

Kenseth passed Bowyer for the lead on Lap 249, but one lap later, Kenseth relinquished the top spot when he brought the No. 17 Ford to pit road.

With Kenseth bearing down, Bowyer had made a spectacular save a few laps earlier, after his car slid sideways as he tried to pass the lapped car of Brian Vickers.

“Dang it,” Bowyer said. “That was my fault, totally my fault. You come up on those lappers, and they hold you up so bad. Matt started to catch me, and I was pressing, trying to get around (Vickers). He gave me room. I just slid up and got into him.

“Man, I thought it was going to end our day completely.”

Kenseth’s pit stop on Lap 250, necessary because his car hadn’t taken on a full load of fuel on the previous stop, started a parade to pit road that lasted 26 laps. Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch pressed the issue by staying out as long as possible, hoping for a caution.

Busch pitted on Lap 270. Stewart waited until Lap 276, opening a fuel window that would allow him to finish the race without another stop—or so he thought. But Stewart was penalized for speeding on pit road and then ran out of fuel on the last lap, finishing 12th, the last car on the lead lap.

Bowyer had just grabbed the lead after a restart on Lap 214 when a bone-jarring wreck on the backstretch sent the cars of Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin and Regan Smith to the garage. Brad Keselowski checked up in front of Truex, who did likewise, and the chain reaction turned Truex sideways after slight contact from Kevin Harvick.



Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR


Martin and Smith were innocent victims, but their cars were crippled nonetheless.

Notes: Edwards regained the series lead by nine points over Kyle Busch, who finished 16th. Kenseth moved up six spots to third. … Earnhardt climbed two positions to sixth in the standings, his highest ranking since he finished second in the 2010 season-opening Daytona 500. … The 169 laps Kenseth led were 61 more than he led all last year.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Carl Edwards Lassos First Nationwide Win of 2011 at Texas

 
Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(April 8, 2011)

FORT WORTH, Texas — Carl Edwards held off tenacious Brad Keselowski to win Friday night’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The victory was Edwards’ second at Texas, his first of the season, the 30th of his career and the first for the new Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Keselowski crossed the stripe .482 seconds behind Edwards. Paul Menard came home third, followed by Joey Logano and Elliott Sadler. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished eighth and retained the series points lead.

Kyle Busch, who was gunning for his third consecutive win and fourth of the season, was chasing Edwards as the two battled for the lead on Lap 88 when the No. 52 Chevrolet of Tim Schendel blew a tire and slid up into Busch’s path. With no room to maneuver and no time to react, Busch slammed into the back of Schendel’s car, knocking Busch’s No. 18 Toyota out of the race.

“We started out a little bit tight, and the track was actually coming our way a little bit,” Busch said. “It started to free up a little bit that last run right before we wrecked. We felt pretty good about it. We were just biding our time. We were just running there—we were running hard, but we were just running.

“It felt like we were probably the only car that was going to give Carl a shot. It’s a shame that we didn’t have the chance to race it out the rest of the night.”

Race Weekend Weather Forecast: April 8th to 10th, 2011

Photo credit: Dan Helrigel


Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysian Grand Prix
Formula 1

(Times are Local)

Friday:

10 am- Formula 1 Practice
Temperature: 28 degrees Fahrenheit (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2 pm- Formula 1 Practice
Temperature: 32 degrees Celsius (89 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Saturday:

1 pm- Formula 1 Practice
Temperature: 32 degrees Celsius (89 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with possible thunderstorms
Chance of Precipitation: 80%
4 pm- Formula 1 Qualifying
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloud with possible thunderstorms
Chance of Precipitation: 70%


Sunday:

4 pm- Formula 1 Race
Temperature: 31 Degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with thunderstorms
Chance of Precipitation: 80%


Birmingham, Alabama
Barber Motorsports Park
Honda Grand Prix of Alabama
IZOD INDYCAR Series/ Firestone Indy Lights/ Grand Am Rolex Series

Thursday:

2:25 pm- Grand Am Rolex Series Practice
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Mostly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Friday:

8:40 am- Grand Am Rolex Series Practice
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

10:40 am- Grand Am Rolex Series Qualifying
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

12:15 pm- Firestone Indy Lights Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

1:20 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:55 pm- Firestone Indy Lights Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

4:00 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series Practice
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (83 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 100%


Saturday:

8:00 am- IZOD INDYCAR Series Practice
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 30%

8:30 am- Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 30%

9:25 am- IZOD INDYCAR Series Qualifying
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 30%

3:00 pm- Grand Am Rolex Series Race
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Sunday:

8:00 am- Firestone Indy Lights Warm up
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

9:00 am- IZOD INDYCAR Series Warm up
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

12:00 pm- Firestone Indy Lights Race
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

2:45 pm- IZOD INDYCAR Series Race
Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 20%



Fort Worth, Texas
Texas Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series

(Times are for Eastern time zone)

Thursday:

2:00 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:10 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/ Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

6 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%




Friday:

9:30 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with cloudy periods
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

11:15 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:00 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:10 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

 5:40 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying
Temperature: 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

7:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Race
Temperature: 30 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear/Night
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Saturday:

6:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Race
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with cloudy periods
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Hinchcliffe Joins 2011 IZOD INDYCAR for Barber, North American Races


Photo Credit: Dan Helrigel

A moment for Canadian auto racing fans to rejoice, an announcement Tuesday affirms as of the second IZOD INDYCAR round at Barber Motorsports Park a third Canadian driver (in addition to full-time Alex Tagiani and part-time entrant Paul Tracy) will compete in the 2011 North America's top open wheel series. 2010 Firestone Indy Lights title contender and open wheel standout James Hinchcliffe will wheel Newman/Haas Racing's second race car.

Since the December and January tests, the young Toronto driver impressed Newman/Haas Racing. So promising of a 2011 season together, Newman/Haas Racing and James Hinchcliffe were present at the IZOD INDYCAR open test at Barber Motorsports Park. Clocking the whirling 2.3 mile road course within the top-10 fastest cars throughout the two-day preparation session, the potential INDYCAR rookie and veteran team meshed.

Speed was definitely in the Newman/Haas Racing machine wheeled by Hinchcliffe. However, as is the case in professional auto racing, what or who is in a race car is as important as what is on the side pods. As the opening St Petersburg round for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series approached, Newman/Haas Racing arrived with only one race entry for veteran Brazilian driver Oriol Servia. As Servia's sponsorship came together just in time for the streets of St Petersburg race, James Hinchcliffe was unable to obtain the financial backing to be involved in the open wheel racing series' season premiere.

Sponsoring James Hinchcliffe for all the North American races on the IZOD INDYCAR Series tour is Sprott Inc., an asset management company based in Toronto. “As a Canadian-based company it’s naturally exciting to support one of Canada’s next generation motorsport talents,” company Chairman Eric Sprott declared in the Newman/Haas Racing release on the sponsorship announcement. A publicly traded advising over 2,000 clients and 1.2 billion dollars, Sprott Inc. pairs them with a hometown 24-year old professional racer known for representing his sponsors on as well as off track with enthusiasm.

Prepared to make his first career IZOD INDYCAR start at Barber Motorsports Park, Hinchcliffe's move up through the auto racing ranks from go-karts into 2 years of the Firestone Indy Lights has reached an ultimate goal. “Finally making my IndyCar debut really is a dream come true and the end of a 15-year journey getting me to this point,”. Hinchcliffe 2011 plans includes the 2011 Indianapolis 500 and the Canadian IZOD INDYCAR races in Edmonton as well as his prized Honda Indy of Toronto.

James Hinchcliffe's IZOD INDYCAR career will officially start this weekend at the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama when the Canadian takes the green flag Sunday.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Paul Tracy Drives For Five with DeFerran Dragon in 2011

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter


Despite the popularity of Paul Tracy in the North American open wheel racing circuit, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion has been without a full-time presence in the reunified INDYCAR Series. Able to pick up rides for the Indy 500 as well as the Canadian rounds in Toronto and Edmonton (tracks where his fanfare is at an understandable height), Tracy appearances through the rest of the IZOD INDYCAR schedule depended largely on substitution of other drivers. For 2011, the 42 year-old open wheel favourite will be making a few more scheduled appearances in the 17-race IZOD INDYCAR Series.

Running at least five races for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series season, Paul Tracy will join the DeFerran Dragon Racing team. Debuting with the team at the Toyota Grand Prix at Long Beach, The double race at Texas Motor Speedway and the road course of Infineon Raceway at Sonoma sandwiches the two Canadian rounds of the INDYCAR tour. For the first time, Paul Tracy will also be driving the Honda Indy of Toronto and the Edmonton Indy for DeFerran Dragon Racing after competing with KV Racing Technology in 2009 and 2010. No sponsors have been announced relating to the driver/team partnership but expect the DeFerran Dragon Racing car to wear one or several prominent corporate names.

Sitting on the sidelines for the IZOD INDYCAR season opening round in St Petersburg and the upcoming race at Barber Motorsport Park starting 2011, the driving deal for Paul Tracy reactivates DeFerran Dragon Racing. Competing through 2009 and 2010 with Raphael Matos as a driver, DeFerran Dragon Racing had made plans prior to the new year after collaborating with 2003 INDYCAR champion Tony Kanaan. The deal between Kanaan and the team fell apart a month ahead of the IZOD INDYCAR season opener in St Petersburg when sponsorship prospects did not materialize. Due to the lack of finances to start the 2011 tour, team owners Gil de Ferran and Jay Penske elected to suspend operations laying off their employees.

In addition to the de Ferran Dragon Racing ride, Tracy will attempt the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing. Wix Filters will sponsor Paul Tracy through the month of May activities at the Brickyard.