Sunday, June 24, 2012

Alonso Feels at Home with European GP Win


Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG



The first 7 races of the 2012 Formula 1 racing season has produced an unpredictable year to a series that had long been regarded as near scripted. For the 8th event on the Formula 1 calendar, the 5.419-kilometer Valencia Street Circuit holds the European Grand Prix with the potential of becoming a venue for an unprecedented trend or the location for the first two-time winner of the 2012 season.

Set up as 57 laps, Sunday’s European Grand Prix featured a 23-car grid after Marussia F1’s Timo Glock was unwell from a weekend-long illness to compete by race time. On pole, the winner of the previous two races in Valencia, Spain Sebastian Vettel sailed his Red Bull-Renault to an advantage over the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton (a driver fresh off the Canadian Grand Prix victory two weeks ago). Through what was ultimately a clean start for the Formula 1 cars, Vettel pulled away to an easy lead in the Red Bull-Renault looking as if he would be the driver that become the first to repeat in 2012.

While the 2012 European Grand Prix initial laps were rather tame, it would be deeper into the race where several on-track altercations between competitors would transpire. At lap 20 on the Valencia race course, Formula 1 stewards would react to Bruno Senna’s Williams-Renault and the Sauber-Ferrari of Kamui Kobayashi making contact. Executing a drive-through penalty on the Williams F1 car of Senna, Kobayashi would fall victim to another incident of contact with the Ferrari of Felipe Massa retiring on lap 33.

As Sebastian Vettel held onto a 20-second lead just ahead of making his second pit stop of the race for medium compound Pirelli tires, a safety car period brought upon the European Grand Prix on lap 28 when Toro Rosso-Ferrari of Jean-Eric Vergne and Heikki Kovalainen’s Caterham-Renault made contact. Erasing Vettel’s leg-up on the competition, the Red Bull Racing ream’s efforts for winning the European Grand Prix for a third-straight year would ultimately be defeated on the lap 33 restart. Launching to the lead with the intent of recreating his lost advantage, Vettel’s race car began to lose power eventually slowing to a stop. With Sebastian Vettel slowing to what would be a retirement, the Ferrari driven by Spanish drive Fernando Alonso took the lead to the pleasure of a home country crowd. Leading the European Grand Prix from lap 34, Fernando Alonso rose from 11th place to the lead of the race.


Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti



Alonso’s Ferrari was steadily out front of the European Grand Prix in the late laps, the fight for the remaining podium positions. Attempting to score a podium, the Sahara Force India team placed driver Paul di Resta on a one-stop strategy after a lap 23 stop for medium compound slick tires. Installed in a podium spot late, di Resta’s older tires allowed the Mercedes-Benz powered car to fall prey to other race contenders who had pitted later.

Also fighting to hold a podium position was the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Fighting off a push from the Williams-Renault of Pastor Maldonado, Hamilton was defending a 3rd place with two laps to go in the European Grand Prix. As Lewis Hamilton moved to protect his podium spot on lap 56, he forced the charging Maldonado off the preferred racing line and the two cars collided. The McLaren ended the race impacted into the retaining wall with a 19th place finish. Pastor Maldonado limped home in 10th place but was docked 20 seconds for the altercation with Hamilton.

Winning his second Formula 1 race in his home country of Spain (last win coming in 2006), Fernando Alonso’s victory is the first at the Valencia track. A home turf victory for Fernando Alonso, his celebration did not wait for the customary pit lane arrival. Parking his Ferrari F2012 race car on a corner, the Spaniard partied on-track as a salute to his nation who were only too happy to cheer on Alonso.

Trailing Alonso by 6.4 seconds, the 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen put the Lotus-Renault into the runner-up spot for the second race in a row this season. Raikkonen ties his best result of the 2012 Formula 1 tour achieved at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Early in the race, Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus F1 teammate Romain Grosjean was in position for a potential podium until his Renault engine lost power in a similar fashion to Sebastian Vettel. In post race, two Renault engine failures were linked to an alternator problem according to the powerplant supplier.

Prevailing in the hard-fought battle for the third place position of the 2012 European Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher scored his first podium for Mercedes GP in three seasons for the team. Only the third time of 2012 where Schumacher scored points after a grand prix, this year has been a particularly hard season for the veteran driver of the Mercedes factory team. The first 8 races of the year for the 7-time world champion contained 5 DNFs occurring while teammate Nico Rosberg scored the Mercedes GP team‘s first win in China. Rosberg claimed 6th place for the Mercedes GP squad becoming the sixth straight Formula 1 race where he has scored grand prix points.


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP



Mark Webber and Nico Hulkenberg wrap up the top 5 finishing positions at the European Grand Prix. Due to Pastor Maldonado’s late race foal, Williams F1 teammate Bruno Senna was promoted to 10th after his early race issues.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone is next for the 2012 Formula 1 season set for July 8th.



2012 Formula 1
European Grand Prix
Race Results


1 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
2 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
3 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
4 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
5 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
6 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
7 11 Paul di Resta Force India
8 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
9 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
10 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
11 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
12 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
13 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
14 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
15 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
16 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
17 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth
18 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth
19 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
20 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
21 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
22 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
23 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Vettel Takes Pole for European GP



2012 Formula 1
European Grand Prix
Qualifying Results


1 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
3 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
4 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
5 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
6 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
7 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
8 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
9 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
10 11 Paul di Resta Force India
11 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
12 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
13 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
14 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
15 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
16 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
17 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
18 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
19 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
20 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
21 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth
22 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth
23 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
24 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth

Monday, June 18, 2012

Fellows Returns to JR Motorsports for 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Road Races

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

A road racing ace who has stepped on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, Canada's Ron Fellows has also been effective in showing his road racing mastery in NASCAR competition. Winning six times in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series, one of Fellows' greatest triumphs was in the 2008 NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. A race track named after an inspiring figure for Fellows, the patriotic feat was achieved with a JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Less than a week ahead of 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series debut of the three-race road racing campaign, the dynamic duel of JR Motorsports and Ron Fellows will be back together.

Officially announced Monday, Ron Fellows will pilot the #5 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports for the three road course races starting with the June 23rd race at Road America. August races at Watkins Glen and the Montreal Circuit Gilles Villeneuve track will also be part of Ron Fellows' 2012 competitive outing. AER branding and colours will be worn on #5 Chevrolet at Road America this weekend only. Major retail chain Canadian Tire will be the primary sponsor for Fellows through the Watkins Glen and Montreal rounds later in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Canadian driver Ron Fellows enters the JR Motorsports three-car effort where he will be fielded alongside teammates Cole Whitt and Danica Patrick.

Happy to be part of the JR Motorsports in NASCAR Nationwide competition for a 5th year, Ron Fellows enters into the 2012 season confident in what he has grown accustomed of finding in the team. "They have an amazing group of people, and we've been competitive at almost all of the races." said Fellows who added, "That's what brings me back and keeps me young. My relationship with Dale Jr. began more than 10 years ago, and I'm proud to have driven for both him and his father.”

While the 2008 win at Montreal has been the only victory by the pairing, Fellows and the JR Motorsports team has scored 6 top-10 finishes in 9 races together including a close second at Road America last year. Maintaining a role largely behind the scenes in motorsports in general that includes becoming an member of the Mosport Park (now Canadian Tire Motorsports Park) new ownership, these NASCAR road races are some of the only occasions for fans to see one of Canada's most successful road racers.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Earnhardt Jr Rises at Michigan! Ends 143-Race Winless Streak

Photo Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images for NASCAR


The lead storyline through the first two days of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race weekend at Michigan International Speedway circulated around the tires Goodyear brought to the newly repaved 2-mile oval. With an emergency Saturday evening practice session subtracting magnitude of the issue, Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway would receive headlines for another more positive reason. After 200 laps, a driver piloting a superhero-themed car battled his foes for a much-needed triumph.

The Sunday main event was initially threatened by rain showers that drenched the Michigan oval. Pushing the start of the Quicken Loans 400 past 3pm eastern time, the 43-car Father’s Day race still received enough daylight in the mid-June sky to create a rich, Sprint Cup spectacle.

Pole-sitter Marcos Ambrose #9 Ford was part of a trio of blue oval-badged race cars that would lead all but one of the race’s first 69 laps. Ambrose, the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle and the #17 car driven by Biffle’s Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth led early at the Michigan racetrack. Over the span of the Ford Fusions leading, four cautions would slow the progress of the Quicken Loans 400. With two being competitions caution called so the tire situation of days prior would be assessed, the issue was ultimately defused in the 400-mile race limited to only some blistering Goodyear rubber coming off some cars. The race’s first caution involved a lap 3 spin by the #51 Chevrolet driven by the heavily scrutinized Kurt Busch. The Phoenix Racing #51 car would also spin on lap 121 of the Quicken Loans 400 ending with the elder Busch driver placed 30th in the finishing order.

Photo Credit: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images for NASCAR

Progressing from a 17th place qualifying position, the black and green #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr had been moving in the right direction during the first one-third distance of the Michigan International Speedway race. On lap 70, the Hendrick Motorsports car themed to support the upcoming Batman movie “Dark Knight Rises” flew to the front of the Quicken Loans 400. The site of Earnhardt Jr’s last points-scoring win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series back in 2008, crowds were anxious to see if the #88 Chevrolet will have the staying power to keep the top spot to the end.

Unwilling to simply allow NASCAR Sprint Cup’s most popular driver to claim a win, the efforts of Dale Earnhardt Jr was challenged by auto racing comrade Tony Stewart. In a similar Hendrick Motorsports prepped Chevrolet Impala to that of Earnhardt Jr’s team vehicle, Stewart powered his #14 car around the #88 on lap 87. Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevrolet and the #42 of Juan-Pablo Montoya would also spend a handful of laps at the front of the 400-mile event. After Ford’s dominating the early stage of the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Chevrolet had an impressive control of the later stages of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

As Chevrolet and Ford teams enjoyed being at the peak of competition at Michigan, one of Toyota’s most prolific organizations had an outing at Michigan they would prefer to forget. Joe Gibbs Racing saw all three cars fall deep in the running order. First, the #18 car of Kyle Busch spent an extended time in the garage due to a valvetrain issue on the car’s race engine. Busch returned the race 40 laps down to the leader and would finish the day 32nd across the start/finish line.

In back-to-back incidents, the remaining Joe Gibbs Racing vehicles driven by Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin were taken out of competition. Logano’s #20 Toyota was part of a lap 127 wreck that collected the #38 of David Gilliland and the #5 Hendrick Motorsports car of Kasey Kahne. Both winners in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, Joey Logano and Kahne would retire from the Quicken Loans 400. The #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin would leave the Michigan race on lap 134 when an apparently harmless spin turned into an inferno from the Joe Gibbs Racing car’s engine compartment. Denny Hamlin was classified 34th in the race while the #20 of Joey Logano ended the day in 35th spot.


Photo Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images for NASCAR

When the final caution period of the Quicken Loans 400 concluded on lap 140, the #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr led Tony Stewart across the flag for the crucial green flag. Without another yellow flag slowing the Michigan race in the last 60 laps, teams would require one remaining pit stop for fuel under green flag racing conditions. A pivotal moment, the Hendrick Motorsports crew rose to the occasion to give Earnhardt Jr a flawless, final pit service stop for two tires and fuel on lap 164. Retaking the lead on lap 171, the #88 Chevrolet would lead the final 30 circuits around the Michigan International Speedway to cross the line first.

Victorious at the Quicken Loans 400, Dale Earnhardt Jr entered the winner’s circle in what was celebrated as a popular 2012 race win. Convincing winning the Michigan International Speedway race by 5.3 seconds over Tony Stewart, the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet led for 95 laps on the day. In what had previously been a rare state, Dale Earnhardt Jr was the class of the field. “
I saved a little in my pocket in the last 50 laps and ran only as hard as I thought I needed to, and at the end of the race, this thing was a rocket and I couldn’t slow it down, it was so fast.” said Earnhardt Jr.

143 races and 4 years since his last Sprint Cup Series win in a regular event, this second win with Hendrick Motorsports is the result of some long struggles. Responding to the racing fortunes of past races, Earnhardt Jr commented, “I was so nervous in the last few laps of that race four years ago, and today, this was the worst -- that’s the worst feeling riding around there with 15 laps to go wondering what’s going to happen or how you were going to lose.” While just winning his first race of 2012, Dale Earnhardt Jr has actually been enjoying a strong season overall with the victory at Michigan now catapulting him to second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points standing.

Finishing second, Tony Stewart placed ahead of the Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusions of NASCAR Sprint Cup point’s leader Matt Kenseth and the #16 car of Greg Biffle. With Dale Earnhardt Jr becoming the third driver to add a win to Hendrick Motorsports’ 2012 tally, two teammates also had strong outings at Michigan concluding with top-10 runs. Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Chevrolet finished 5th just ahead of Jeff Gordon’s #24 car. Clint Bowyer for Michael Waltrip Racing was the highest finishing Toyota Camry in the Quicken Loans 400 with the #15 5-Hour Energy car.

With many of the approximate 82,000 spectators in audience electric in the celebration of the Dale Earnhardt Jr victory, the next trip for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup tour is to the California road course in Sonoma for the Toyota/Save Mart 350.


2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Quicken Loans 400
Michigan International Speedway
Race Result
 



Pos # Car # Driver Sponsor/ Car Make
1 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. DietMtnDew/TheDarkKnightRises/NtnlGuard Chev
2 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
3 17 Matt Kenseth Ford EcoBoost Ford
4 16 Greg Biffle 3M/Salute Ford
5 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
6 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
7 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
8 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
9 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
10 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet
11 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
12 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
13 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
14 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
15 39 Ryan Newman US ARMY Chevrolet
16 47 Bobby Labonte Charter Toyota
17 43 Aric Almirola Medallion Ford
18 83 Landon Cassill Burger King Toyota
19 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
20 13 Casey Mears Valvoline NEXTGEN Ford
21 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
22 27 Paul Menard Menards/Duracell Chevrolet
23 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford
24 33 Austin Dillon American Ethanol Chevrolet
25 36 Dave Blaney Seal Wrap Chevrolet
26 93 Travis Kvapil Burger King Toyota
27 38 David Gilliland Long John Silver's Ford
28 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
29 55 Mark Martin Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
30 51 Kurt Busch Phoenix Construction Services, Inc. Chevrolet
31 32 Ken Schrader Federated Auto Parts Ford
32 18 Kyle Busch Snickers Toyota
33 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
34 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
35 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
36 10 Tony Raines Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
37 49 JJ Yeley America Israel Racing/JPO Absorbents Toyota
38 98 Michael McDowell Presbyterian Healthcare Ford
39 19 Mike Bliss Humphrey Smith Racing, LLC Toyota
40 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
41 23 Scott Riggs North TX Pipe Chevrolet
42 26 Josh Wise MDS Transport Ford
43 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford







Ryan Hunter-Reay Wins Milwaukee Mile Indyfest

Photo Credit: INDYCAR/ LAT USA


A United States auto racing venue that pre-dates the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, The Milwaukee Mile has been the site of motorsport competition since 1903. Preserved as a staple venue for Indy car-style racing, the one-time centerpiece for open wheel made headlines in 2010 when the IZOD INDYCAR Series was unable to hold a race at the 1.015-mile oval. The Milwaukee Mile’s historic allure brought the major open wheel racing tour back to the racetrack in 2011 but was hurt by poor planning leading to many questions of whether the event will continue for 2012. Five-time winner at The Milwaukee Mile Michael Andretti would save the race through his sports marketing firm proving the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series another chance show-off the 22-lap event as a historical crown jewel.

On race day Saturday, rain delayed the start of the Milwaukee Indyfest by around two hours. However, with aggressive track drying, The Milwaukee Mile’s race start was inevitable. Little past two 2pm local time, pole-sitter Dario Franchitti led the 25-car IZOD INDYCAR field to the double-file start. A neat flawless start for almost all competitors, the #10 car of Franchitti benefited from his front starting position to secure a comfortable lead through the Milwaukee Indyfest’s first 63 laps.

On lap 28, a pit stop for the #67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing car was penalized when Josef Newgarden ran into an air wrench lying in his stall. The penalty for the American driver Newgarden added insult to the injury of losing their 7th place qualifying due to an unapproved engine change. Josef Newgarden would be the first retirement from the event with a mechanical problem reported on the #67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing race machine.

The first caution of the Milwaukee Indyfest was thrown on lap 67 when Simona de Silvestre’s #78 car was stopped in turn 4. The sole Lotus engined runner currently in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series, the HVM Racing car ended its day with the driver de Silvestro stating, "I just made a mistake.”.

With the #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car pitting just ahead of the yellow flag period, the race was ultimately out of the hands of the car’s Scottish driver Dario Franchitti. Later in the race, Franchitti would end up in the turn 3-4 wall finishing a season-worst 19th. The Milwaukee Indyfest event would prove tedious for the Target Chip Ganassi Racing squad with #9 car of Scott Dixon penalized with a drive-though sentence for passing under yellow. Several observers including Dixon questioned the officials’ penalty. "I really don't know what happened on the restart where we got penalized. I think the one they waved off was the one we got out of line when EJ Viso was trying to restart at 20 mph.” said Scott Dixon. Running third when he was assessed the penalty lap 123, Scott Dixon and the #9 car was only able to claim 11th place at the end of 225 laps.

After the 63rd lap, Chevrolet powered would rule The Milwaukee Mile in a dominance not seen since earlier in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR season. The #3 Team Penske car of Helio Castroneves took the lead from Dario Franchitti with James Hinchcliffe leading a lap through a pit stop exchange. Assuming the lead by staying out on the racetrack while others pitted, EJ Viso in the #5 KV Racing Technology vehicle would lead 27 laps. Viso would turn the lead back over to Castroneves on lap 96 during a caution for Justin Wilson #18 Dale Coyne Racing car sitting on the racetrack with a blown Honda engine. Misfortune would also find Wilson’s Dale Coyne Racing teammate James Jakes who was part of a coming-together with the #15 car of Takuma Sato. Unrelated to the crash between Jakes and Sato, the #4 car of JR Hildebrand was also part of the race’s third yellow period as his car stalled due to a mechanical problem.

The winning pass of the event was made on lap 142 when the #28 car of Ryan Hunter-Reay took advantage of a slight bobble by Castroneves. Surviving the attacks under two additional cautions, Hunter-Reay gave the Andretti Autosport group their first victory in 2012. By winning the Milwaukee Indyfest, Ryan Hunter-Reay will have won at least once in all three seasons he raced with Andretti Autosport. "It's amazing. First of all, thank you to all of the fans for coming out, filling a great number of seats in here. What a race. I know we would all have liked to see a little more passing, but from the car it was so busy, just trying to hang on to it. But getting a win for DHL and Sun Drop, it's unreal.” said the winning driver Hunter-Reay. For winning car owner Michael Andretti, the victory in a race promoted by Andretti Sports Marketing was a significant day.


Photo Credit: INDYCAR/ LAT USA



Quietly claiming his best finish of the season, Tony Kanaan finished ahead of the Andretti Autosport #27 car of James Hinchcliffe. For another incredible top-5 performance for the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing #22 car of Oriol Servia, the Spanish driver weaved this way from 20th to 4th in the Milwaukee Indyfest. Rounding out the top-5 for the 2012 Milwaukee Indyfest is the EJ Viso’s #5 car for KV Racing Technology.

With the top-5 in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series’ The Milwaukee Mile all Chevrolet powered, this was the first win by the bowtie win since the Sao Paulo street race event. After 225 laps in the Saturday event, Alex Tagliani’s #98 Bryan Herta Autosport race car was the highest-finishing Honda-engined runner.

The next venue for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series is June 23rd at Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 night race.


2012 IZOD INDYCAR
Milwaukee Indyfest
The Milwaukee Mile
Race Results



Car # Driver Driver Nationality Race Team Engine
1 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay United States Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
2 11 Tony Kanaan Brazil KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
3 27 James Hinchcliffe Canada Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
4 22 Oriol Servia Spain Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet
5 5 EJ Viso Venezuela KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
6 3 Helio Castroneves Brazil Team Penske Chevrolet
7 98 Alex Tagliani Canada Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian Honda
8 20 Ed Carpenter United States Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
9 38 Graham Rahal United States Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
10 8 Rubens Barrichello Brazil KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
11 9 Scott Dixon New Zealand Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
12 12 Will Power Australia Team Penske Chevrolet
13 77 Simon Pagenaud France Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports Honda
14 2 Ryan Briscoe Australia Team Penske Chevrolet
15 26 Marco Andretti United States Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
16 14 Mike Conway England AJ Foyt Enterprises Honda
17 83 Charlie Kimball United States Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
18 6 Katherine Legge England Dragon Racing Chevrolet
19 10 Dario Franchitti Scotland Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
20 15 Takuma Sato Japan Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
21 19 James Jakes England Dale Coyne Racing Honda
22 4 JR Hildebrand United States Panther Racing Chevrolet
23 18 Justin Wilson England Dale Coyne Racing Honda
24 78 Simona de Silvestro Switzerland Lotus-HVM Racing Lotus
25 67 Josef Newgarden United States Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Ambrose Takes Michigan Cup Race Pole with 203.241 MPH Lap


Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images


Michigan International Speedway's brand new surface presented drivers the opportunity to orchestrate a rare feat in modern NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. With speeds exceeding the 200-mile per hour mark in Friday practice, the two-mile Michigan oval was providing an experience that was commonly seen at the Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway prior to restrictor plates were introduced during the late 1980s. With a qualifying time of 190.345 miles per hour recorded by Jamie McMurray in the second Michigan race of 2011, the 2012 qualifying session is set to become the fastest non-restrictor plate track time trial.

In the third practice Friday alone for Sunday's Quicken Loans 400, 14 cars exceeded 200 miles per hour for average speed around the two-mile track. Setting up what was going to be a fast qualifying session Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, speed in practice was repeated by NASCAR Sprint Cup cars. With 19 cars breaking the 200-mile per hour barrier in their timed laps into the Quicken Loans 400, the #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford of Marcos Ambrose was the fastest during the very fast session. Lapping the two-mile, newly-paved oval in 35.426 seconds, the average speed through the pole-winning lap was 203.241 miles per hour.

Second fastest in NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Michigan International Speedway was the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick. Harvick was two-tenths of a second slower than Ambrose translating to an average speed just over 202 miles per hour. Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman rounded out the top-5 for the Quicken Loans 400 line-up Sunday.  

Realizing that the fast times were also putting the reliability of the Goodyear tires at risk, NASCAR has allowed the tire supplier to provide a new set of left side tires for the weekend. A harder and predictably set to drop lap times for Sunday's event, the new Goodyear left-side tires are being supplied to Sprint Cup teams for the first time in a special 75-minute afternoon practice session after the NASCAR Nationwide Series race.


2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Quicken Loans 400
Michigan International Speedway
Qualifying Results


Car # Driver Sponsor/ Car Maker
1 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
2 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet
3 16 Greg Biffle 3M/Salute Ford
4 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
5 39 Ryan Newman US ARMY Chevrolet
6 17 Matt Kenseth Ford EcoBoost Ford
7 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
8 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
9 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
11 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
12 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
13 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
14 55 Mark Martin Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
15 43 Aric Almirola Medallion Ford
16 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
17 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. DietMtnDew/TheDrkKnghtRises/NtnlGrd Chev
18 27 Paul Menard Menards/Duracell Chevrolet
19 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
20 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
21 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
22 33 Austin Dillon American Ethanol Chevrolet
23 23 Scott Riggs North TX Pipe Chevrolet
24 13 Casey Mears Valvoline NEXTGEN Ford
25 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
26 51 Kurt Busch Phoenix Construction Services, Inc. Chevrolet
27 98 Michael McDowell Presbyterian Healthcare Ford
28 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
29 19 Mike Bliss Humphrey Smith Racing, LLC Toyota
30 26 Josh Wise MDS Transport Ford
31 47 Bobby Labonte Charter Toyota
32 83 Landon Cassill Burger King Toyota
33 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
34 18 Kyle Busch Snickers Toyota
35 38 David Gilliland Long John Silver's Ford
36 36 Dave Blaney Seal Wrap Chevrolet
37 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
38 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford
39 93 Travis Kvapil Burger King Toyota
40 32 Ken Schrader Federated Auto Parts Ford
41 10 Tony Raines Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
42 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
43 49 JJ Yeley America Israel Racing/JPO Absorbents Toyota






Franchitti Snags Pole for Milwaukee Indyfest

Photo Credit: INDYCAR/ LAT USA

Returning to the Milkwaukee Mile oval last season after a race promoter fiasco cancelled the 2010 activities at the track, there was questions whether the IZOD INDYCAR Series was going to appear at the complex in 2012. A less-than stellar track audience and TV audience put open wheel racing in doubt until Michael Andretti rescued the Wisconsin state spectacle. Still occurring on Father's day weekend, there is a change to the 225-lap event from the previous year. As opposed to the 2011 race, the 2012 Milwaukee Indyfest was event scheduled early on Saturday afternoon.

In Friday afternoon qualifying, Honda-engined IZOD INDYCAR competitors continued to show force with the 2012 Dallaras. Accomplishing a two-lap speed average of 168.737 miles per hour, Dario Franchitti took pole for Saturday's Milwaukee Indyfest for the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team. After qualifying the #10 car on pole, Franchitti expressed some surprise from the fast effort after practice."Practice is one thing, qualifying is another and then there is the race. For as warm as it it people are fighting the car and everyone wants the same line. I expect tomorrow is going to be tough, especially at the end of a full - stint on those Firestone tires." said Dario Franchitti.

Perhaps on the momentum of the Texas Motor Speedway upset win, the #18 Dale Coyne Racing car piloted by Justin Wilson continues to impress on ovals. "The confidence has helped a lot." said Wilson adding, "I feel like we've made some progress in understanding this car and what it's looking for, so we'll keep chipping away at it and making the car better and better." While qualifying 2nd, Justin Wilson will fall to 12th on the start of the 2012 Milwaukee Indyfest because of an unapproved engine change after the Texas race. Will Power's #12 Team Penske car, the #67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing car of Josef Newgarden, the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing vehicle of Takuma Sato and the Mike Conway driven #14 AJ Foyt Enterprises machine have also been handed grid position penalties of 10 spots.

Promoting the race through his sports event business arm, Michael Andretti's three-car team had mixed fortunes in qualifying. While Ryan Hunter-Reay's #28 car was the fastest Chevrolet-engined competitor presented as 3rd on the time sheet, James Hinchcliffe tied his worse starting spot of the season with a 13th place grid position. Marco Andretti will start 15th on the 1-mile oval with the #26 Chevrolet-powered Dallara. 

Visiting the Milwaukee mile for the first time, 2012 IZOD INDYCAR freshman Rubens Barichello place his #8 KV Racing Technology car 5th fastest between two Team Penske machines. Josef Newgarden for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing also had a very respectable 7th quickest time but will forfeit 10 grid positions Saturday. "Knowing that we had the penalty coming here wasn't too bad because it's been a cycle this year. Everyone's had to go through it at some point and it's just our turn." said Newgarden.

A race with 25 cars, the 225-lap Milwaukee Indyfest main event is scheduled for a 12:30pm Eastern time start. According to weather forecasts, a slight chance of thunderstorms could threaten the race on Saturday.


2012 IZOD INDYCAR
Milwaukee Indyfest
Milwaukee Mile
Qualifying Results


Blue denotes vehicles serving grid position penalties



Car # Driver Driver Nationality Race Team Engine
1 10 Dario Franchitti Scotland Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
2 18Justin WilsonEnglandDale Coyne RacingHonda
3 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay United States Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
4 12Will PowerAustraliaTeam PenskeChevrolet
5 8 Rubens Barrichello Brazil KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
6 3 Helio Castroneves Brazil Team Penske Chevrolet
7 67Josef NewgardenUnited StatesSarah Fisher Hartman RacingHonda
8 5 EJ Viso Venezuela KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
9 2 Ryan Briscoe Australia Team Penske Chevrolet
10 11 Tony Kanaan Brazil KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
11 9 Scott Dixon New Zealand Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
12 77 Simon Pagenaud France Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports Honda
13 27 James Hinchcliffe Canada Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
14 15Takuma SatoJapanRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
15 26 Marco Andretti United States Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
16 4 JR Hildebrand United States Panther Racing Chevrolet
17 38 Graham Rahal United States Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
18 98 Alex Tagliani Canada Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian Honda
19 6 Katherine Legge England Dragon Racing Chevrolet
20 19 James Jakes England Dale Coyne Racing Honda
21 83 Charlie Kimball United States Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
22 22 Oriol Servia Spain Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet
23 20 Ed Carpenter United States Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
24 78 Simona de Silvestro Switzerland Lotus-HVM Racing Lotus
25 14Mike ConwayEnglandAJ Foyt EnterprisesHonda