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NHRA: New Zmax Dragstrip at Charlotte Set for Opener

06-Sep-08

This weekend, the NHRA will stage its first event in the new $60 million facility built at Lowe’s Motorspeedway in Concord, N.C.

Called the CAROLINA NATIONALS, the inagural event kicks off with qualifying rounds beginning Friday.

The new track has 4 lanes for competition, a first of its kind. For this event, only two lanes will be used. The second set of lanes may one day be implemented to allow competition to continue in the secondary lanes after an oil down or other incident that may delay action.

Kurt and Warren Johnson were among 4 pro stock teams that tested at the track Thursday. KJ set the fastest time during the test at 6.680 @ 206.35 mph. Warren ran 6.685 @ 207.43, both had high praise for the new track.

“This is absolutely the best facility I have ever raced at in my career,” stated the younger Johnson.  “Since no one had really gone down this track before, we came here today expecting to only make eighth-mile runs.  However, our ACDelco Cobalt was able to go to the finish line four times with no problems whatsoever, showing that a lot of people paid attention when building this new track.  This is a huge addition to our sport, and I can’t wait to come back next weekend and race.”

“There is no doubt that this is a tremendous facility,” added WJ.  “The track didn’t have a whole lot of rubber on it, and yet it held everything that our GM Performance Parts GXP, as well as every other team, put out there, and it is only going to get better from here.  In addition, the shutdown area here is smoother than the racing surfaces at many of the other tracks we run on during the year.  All in all, considering how quickly this project was completed, you’d have to say they did a bang-up job.  This promises to be a great race.”

During the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis last weekend, John Force had this to say;

“When I see ol’ Bruton,” drag racing legend John Force said, “I am going to kiss him on the lips.”

 

“I sent my own guys down there to take pictures,” Force said at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. “I didn’t want to listen to the rumors or look at things on the Internet. I wanted to see it.

“My guys came back with the pictures and said, ‘Man! Look at this!’ (NHRA president Tom) Compton called me from down there and said, ‘I have to give Bruton credit. This thing down here makes you want to cry.’ ”

To O.Bruton Smith and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. a tip of the ol’ racing cap. Lets hope it is a successful and safe weekend for the Carolina nationals.

Filed in FAST, Fans, General, NHRA, Sponsors, Teams, grumpy's gander, the Need for Speed!! | | Comments (0) »

NASCAR: Hanna Forces Sunday Doubleheader at Richmond

06-Sep-08

Bummer! Hurricane Hanna is having her way with the whole eastern region. NA$CAR cancelled Friday’s qualifying sessions for both the cup and cup light series. Rains are forecasted to stay in the area through Saturday night.

All track activity was cancelled for today. So, Sunday will be a doubleheader day at Richmond. The cup race will roll at 1:00 eastern. TV coverage will be on ESPN. The cup light event is scheduled for 7 p.m. eastern and will be on ESPN2.

“We have been in constant touch with the governor’s office, Henrico County officials and other local officials,” NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter said. “We reached this decision after much discussion and consideration.”

According to the rules, both fields will be set by owner points. Three drivers will miss the cup show, notably rookie wonder, Joey Logano in the #02 Home Depot Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Sterling Marlin and Tony Raines will also miss the show. Logano will have to wait until next week at New Hampshire for his debut.

Grumpy is bummed by this development. You can’t change the weather. You also can’t beat the magic of racing under the lights at Richmond. Grumpy has this event at the top of the ‘to do list’.

We all know that this is the last race before the final Chase for the Championship begins. The stakes are very high for teams sitting seventh on down to about 15th. The cut off is at 12. A lot can change on the outcome of this race.

Grumpy thinks Richmond should be the first race in the Chase. But that is a rant for another day.

 

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NASCAR: Gillette-Evernham files suit against Robby Gordon

05-Sep-08

From SceneDaily;

Gillett Evernham Motorsports has filed suit against Robby Gordon saying the owner/driver of Robby Gordon Motorsports violated terms of a tentative agreement that would have sold his team to GEM for $23.5 million earlier this year.

The deal, agreed to Jan. 29, was pending an audit and other due diligence from GEM, which could have adjusted the price.
 
If the deal had gone through, Gordon would have had a four-year driving contract with GEM that would have paid him $3 million annually plus 45 percent of race winnings as well as insurance and other provisions customary for NASCAR driver agreements – a package likely worth at least $5 million annually. Gordon also could have had a spot on the team’s board of directors. GEM would have acquired Gordon’s shop and property in Charlotte.

As part of the agreement, GEM pledged to provide Gordon with all “racing infrastructure” and to support Gordon’s car “in substantially the same manner in which GEM supports its most supported car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup” for the 2008 season.
 
Three days after the agreement was signed, GEM and Gordon announced a technical, manufacturing and marketing partnership. At that time, GEM owner George Gillett, in an interview with NASCAR Scene, stated that he did not buy Gordon’s operation and was more likely to add a fourth car to his stable and hoped Gordon would add a second or third car to his.

According to the lawsuit, GEM was pursuing efforts to close the deal. The contract includes an exclusivity clause, which GEM claims would not allow Gordon to entertain talks with other teams about possible mergers. In May, Gordon asked out of the deal, according to the lawsuit, in exchange for an engine deal for the remainder of the season.

The exclusivity clause is the primary basis for the lawsuit, filed Aug. 25 in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte. GEM claims in court documents that Gordon has talked to other teams about merging. It also claims that Gordon made disparaging remarks that he wasn’t getting comparable engines to the other GEM drivers during a DirecTV telecast last month at Watkins Glen.

The lawsuit also claims that Gordon ignored the advice of GEM and terminated his previous deal with Ford prematurely, before GEM could get a sponsorship deal from Dodge for Gordon’s car. Dodge and GEM couldn’t agree on a manufacturer’s deal for Gordon’s car.
 
GEM, which has supplied engines and other services for Gordon throughout the season, is asking for unspecified damages for Gordon’s breach of the agreement and for the agreement to be declared null and void, according to the complaint.

“We categorically reject the allegations that are contained in the complaint, and the truth will come out if the case proceeds,” Gordon said in a statement released through his race team. “In the meantime, we think it is best to allow that to happen in the court proceedings rather than in the media.

“Therefore, although we have much to say, we won’t be making a further statement about it at this time.”

***************

Lets see, When Robby was driving Chevys, he complained that DEI was not giving him the best stuff. He switched to Fords and had an engine agreement with Yates. Again, he complained that the engines he got were not as good as the stuff RYR drivers got. Now, he seems to have issues with the engines from GEM. Hmm, I see a pattern here.

Next season, perhaps he could switch to Toyotas and get an agreement with Joe Gibbs for his motors.

It is very unusual that the details of a drivers compensation was released. With those kind of numbers, Robby is an idiot to continue to struggle as a one man band.

Filed in General, Huh?, I Feel the Need, Nascar, Sponsors, Teams, grumpy's gander | | Comments (0) »

Salt Flats: Motorcyclist Killed during Record Attempt

04-Sep-08

Grumpy’s note: I was doing some research today in order to put up another story about the quest for speed records at the historic Bonneville Salt Falts in Utah’s west desert.

The race vehicle pictured is from a collection of photos taken during Speed Weeks and has no connection to this story.

The vast surface of the Salt Flats are just waiting for those bold enough to design, build and attempt to take their place in the history books. Tragically, one who dared to live the dream was lost today.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AFP) - A motorcyclist was killed after losing control of his bike at 385 kilometers (239 miles) per hour and crashing on Utah’s famous Bonneville Salt Flats, authorities and reports said Thursday.

The American Motorcyclist Association said in a statement on its website that 49-year-old Cliff Gullett of Montana was killed in an accident during a time trial at the location, around 185 kilometers (115 miles) west of Salt Lake City.

The AMA said Gullett was competing in the 500cc class during a time trial speed racing event when his bike crashed. Reports said Gullett was aiming to set a record for the fastest two-stroke, two-cylinder motorcycle.

The Salt Lake Tribune cited police investigators as saying Gullett was travelling at 239 miles per hour before the crash.

The Bonneville Salt Flats have been used as a speed testing ground since 1896 and became famous in 1935 when British motorsport legend Malcolm Campbell broke the world land speed record at the site.

********************

At anglerred, we love all things fast. Some, more than others. Grumpy is not much of a motorcycle fan. I can say that anyone who has the stones to ride one at speeds over 100 mph is a better man.

We extend our most sincere thoughts, prayers of comfort and support to the family, friends and team members of Cliff Gullett.

Godspeed, Cliff Gullett

Filed in FAST, General, I Feel the Need, Off-Road, grumpy's gander, the Need for Speed!! | | Comments (0) »

Grand Am: NASCAR to Purchase Grand Am Series

04-Sep-08

DAYTONA BEACH — NASCAR Holdings today announced an agreement to acquire the Grand-American Road Racing Association.

The future move will allow for resource sharing between Grand-Am and NASCAR while both organizations continue to operate independently.

NASCAR Holdings is the legal operating entity that includes the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing and many of its subsidiaries.

Grand-Am, one of the world’s most competitive road racing organizations, and NASCAR, the No. 1 spectator sport in the U.S., will combine marketing and communications efforts to include brand management, research, marketing and public relations.

Grand-Am consists of six racing series, including the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, which has millions of loyal fans.

“This combination of resources will benefit Grand-Am and NASCAR, their competitors and fans, as the two companies work together to enhance the two sports,” said Jim France, NASCAR vice chairman and Grand-Am founder.

The two racing brands will continue to independently sanction and officiate race events for their own series and there will be no change in management. Roger Edmondson will continue to serve as president of Grand-Am.

There has been a rise in crossover drivers and team owners between Grand-Am and NASCAR in recent years. NASCAR drivers such as Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Kyle Petty, Bobby Labonte, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon have raced in the Grand-Am Rolex Series.

Full time driver and 2008 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype team champion Scott Pruett has driven in many NASCAR events. Chip Ganassi and Richard Childress own teams in both sports.

The Grand-American Road Racing Association was established in 1999 and is based here.

NASCAR, celebrating 60 years of racing in 2008, holds 17 of the top 20 highest attended sporting events in the U.S., and is the No. 2 rated regular-season sport on television.

************

Grumpy’s take: Good move for NA$CAR, the Rolex Sports Car Series, featuring the Daytona prototypes are exciting to watch. Perhaps this is what the NA$CAR fans need too. These guys are not afraid to mix it up and bump to pass.

Besides sharing the july event at Daytona, the Grand Am Series runs at Watkins Glen on the same weekend as NA$CAR.

The Grand Am Series is set to hold its season’s final event at the massive road course, Miller Motorsports Park in, Tooele, Ut. Watch for live TV coverage on SPEED.

Filed in Fans, General, GrandAm, I Feel the Need, Nascar, Race Ramblings, Sponsors, grumpy's gander | | Comments (0) »

NASCAR: Jeff Hammond’s (Muzzled) Gift For The Obvious - California & The COT

04-Sep-08

Hmmmm … anyone else just wake up from the bad dream that was yet another long, boring race weekend in California? Well, if not, I sure did - and just in time to read the following from Jeff Hammond … who, curiously, doesn’t really mention that the Cup Light race was just as boring as the Cup race because both California and Michigan “sister”-tracks absolutely, well, suck - and have sucked long before the COT came onto the scene. (Try about when NASCAR/ISC started to “standardize” and “safety-ize” and otherwise MESS with stock car racin’.)

Though, granted, I suppose that whole “boring, boring, boring” statement for each race held at these venues would be pretty redundant - so another ‘hmmmmmmm’, before I get all redundant myself here, anyway, grin …

But, hey - at least in the following excerpts, I am savin’ you from Hammond’s half-hearted cheerleading to “hold on, fans”, because someday NASCAR/ISC will get it right, etc., sigh. Honestly, if the guy’s gonna’ start an article that says “Let’s not sugarcoat this, folks,” mid-section it with “NASCAR is smart enough,” and end it with “don’t give up on this sport”?

Come on, lol … he lost me his second line in: “I know the last couple of weeks have been frustrating from a fans’ standpoint.”

The last couple of weeks? Are you kidding me???

Ah, but it gets so much better - at least if you’re into reading about the terribly obvious:

To be fair, I don’t know that the track in California is the [ONLY] problem. Let’s face it, Bristol has a bunch more banking, and they faced the same issues a couple weeks ago. So are we going to blame the track? What’s the other common denominator here? The answer is this new car. [No ... really?]

[...]

I think we are really going to have to look hard and do some serious analysis about what we can do to make this better. I am just being honest. I just wasn’t that impressed with the racing we saw this weekend. I am looking for the opportunity where these guys can put on more of a show with passing and hard racing. [Wow - and that all just started to gel for ya' this past weekend? Way to be on the ball, there.]

It is frustrating for all those involved. I think we all are disappointed because again, this is not what we had hoped for in this deal. You can’t tell me that the folks at NASCAR right now aren’t the same way. I mean c’mon, this isn’t what they are looking for either. [Dude - they're lookin' for money. Yours, mine, teams', sponsors' - any buck is a good buck to the Frances, long as it's in their pockets. "Racing" be damned, as that's just an expensive side-show now ... and an increasingly lousy one, at that.]

[...]

We are hoping and praying [pray harder, lol] the racing will improve because now we are going back to these tracks with this new car not for the second time but now for the third time. The hope is we can be better and we can work in some areas that will allow us to be better. There clearly is more effort to make these cars handle better at places like Dover and Richmond. We have to build a database and pull the information out that is necessary to fix it. That’s what NASCAR did when they built this car from the safety issue. [Then they obviously need different data - any data. Data, anyone? No, seriously- anyone?? grin]

No one can deny that this car has been tested time and time again. The results have shown less injuries than ever before — everything from broken shoulder blades to broken ribs, even to losing someone, there has been a dramatic decline with this new car. NASCAR set out to make the car safer, and they have passed that with flying colors. [Sigh ... can't dispute at least part of that after McDowell's crash, especially, though all of this will be a very moot point if the RACIN' isn't put back into whatever "safe race car" they're trying to run out there. Sad fact, perhaps - but that's the way it is. NO one in their right mind wants injuries of any kind out there, but it happens; it's part of the sport, and the "risk-factor" part of such adrenaline-rushin' passion for it. Otherwise, we'd all be watching cycling - which, at this point, is actually more exciting than NASCAR , at least from a "racing" perspective.]

Now, by working on the safety side of it, they may have gotten complacent on what they needed to do on the competitive side of it. Maybe they were looking for more help from the teams, but the teams have now had their shot at it. [Bullshit.] So maybe it is time for everyone to sit down and put their heads together and figure out a way to fix this. [Just which "heads" are gonna' do that, Hammond? Ya' think NASCAR/ISC's about to open this up to real discussion and/or input from anyone outside of their own circle - the very brainchildren who created this problem in the first place, have seen it evolving (make that spiraling), and have still accomplished nothing in the way of fixing it yet, OR in the way of letting teams TRY to fix it with engineering prowess presently penalized all to hell and back, IF tried? Think again.] Full Article

Ok, so … tap-dance much, Hammond?

How about truly not ’sugarcoating’ it:

NASCAR/ISC has had their head up their collectively France-esque asses since the day they decided to run this COT-pos for a full season - long before any of the bugs were worked out for “fans”, let alone for racers. Any talk of “help from the teams” to achieve “better racing” is a complete load of crap, as well, because every time teams have tried to tweak anything on this squished-blowfish-lookin’ behemoth, they’ve been penalized up the … well, to be redundant again and again here … ass.

California and Michigan tracks both either need to be revamped entirely, or they need to lose ALL dates. Yet, that sort of major overhaul and thus expense falls directly on ISC’s plate, the buck-thirsty right-hand of “God” in this scenario - which of course is NASCAR. They’re equally evil partners in what appears to me to be a truly nefarious plot to kill stock car racing over, and over … and over. (But only until it’s REALLY dead, lol.) Which means that we’ll probably never see either change actually made before the last fan’s asked to turn out the lights on this once-great sport.

“NASCAR’s too smart” to WHAT, then, Hammond?

I’m sorry, but as much as he’s “trying” to be honest to we “fans” out here, he can’t be - not if he wants to keep his job; because NASCAR/ISC will pull his hard-card faster than I can bitch a blue streak about the COT the moment he steps over ANY line in telling us the truth about any - any - NASCAR/ISC situation.

Of course, the real issue with even that idea of unvarnished “truth” - coming from him or anyone else connected to NASCAR/ISC the way Jeff Hammond is - is that we, as fans, already know what the “problems” are.

And, quite frankly, “NASCAR [FANS] ARE TOO SMART TO” CONTINUE TO PUT UP WITH (MUCH LESS PAY OUT FOR) THIS WHITE-WASHED, LILLY-LIVERED, YELLOW-BELLIED (lol - remind me to tell you about one of my mother’s classic Irish tirades sometime) PSUEDO-RACIN’ CRAP THAT’S BEEN PASSIN’ FOR IT LATELY. (While, not so curiously, nothin’ much is passin’ on the TRACK - any track - anymore … hence the “issue” here, ahem).

How about I review and expound, because God knows we all need to beat this to death, grin:

1. The COT isn’t working; and it ain’t GONNA’ work until they bring us back a RACE car.

The concept of an entirely safe race car is an oxymoron, anyway - and real heavy on the ‘moron’ if any driver thinks that he’ll ever strap himself into somethin’ doin’ around 200mph and not be risking his life. Hell, we can all stub our toes, trip, fall and break our necks at any moment. Life itself is a risk - but somehow, we’re now going to take the ‘risk’ outa’ NASCAR RACIN’?

Get real. Thus far, NASCAR/ISC has only managed to take the RACIN’ out.

Needless to say, then, which is of course why I’m writing it - it’s time to put RACIN’ back into this “safe car” equation, or else NASCAR is over. Done. Finito.

I, along with millions of other true, grass roots RACIN’ fans, will simply start enjoying true “stock car” racin’ again at our local dirt tracks. Meanwhile, NASCAR/ISC can sit there holding a very pretty, overstuffed bag of the money we wasted on “NASCAR racin’” JUST this year alone. Hell … look at the grandstands, if you ever even attend a NASCAR race again (because God knows they won’t let broadcast cameras pan ‘em much anymore) - many true stock car fans are already doing just this already. We’ve not just been priced out … there’s simply nothin’ to enjoy in terms of “racing” at a NASCAR “race” anymore, so we might as well stay home and toss our money on the BBQ. (At least then, we’d spend about the same while truly enjoying the luxury of not being jammed into stifling-hot stands like freakin’ sardines with knees in our backs and JJ fans whinin’ “foul” every other minute over our shoulders (lol), channel-surfin’, playin’ with our kids, drinkin’ ourselves into oblivion without risking a DUI, catchin’ up on our z’s - you know - basic weekend stuff like that.)

2. All “snooze-fest” ovals like California and Michigan need to be retooled, rebanked and rebuilt, or, they need to be eliminated from the schedule entirely. Period.

3. Bruton Smith might be the only hope this sport has left, but only because he’s made his venues into mini-Disney-Worlds for fans who pay a helluva’ lot of money to attend races, only to end up standin’ around starin’ at each other during the races themselves. Dumbstruck, because they can’t actually find a race goin’ on anywhere - unless it’s to the restrooms, of course.

I mean, GEEZ … at least SMI gives them something else to do until they have the unique “fan experience” of spending four hours just trying to get out of the parking lot with a hundred-thousand-plus other equally drunk, pissed off, cranky and otherwise “frustrated” fans.

There. Now, that’s not “sugarcoating” it, lol …

[Hey, Grump!! grin ... thanks for keepin' the torches burning here at anglerred while I've been sleepin' through this mid-season nonsense - fabulous job, darlin'! Are you sure you're glad to see me back, tho? hehe]

Filed in Cup Light, Dirt, Fans, GRIN, General, Huh?, I Feel the Need, Jackass, Nascar, Sponsors, angler's attitude | | Comments (3) »

NASCAR: David Stremme gets the call from Penske

03-Sep-08

David Stremme got the call he has been wanting. Penske Racing will make the announcement today that Stremme will be the driver of the #12 Dodge currently sponsored by Alltel. Stremme has been working as a test team driver for Penske Racing during the ‘08 season as well as driving the #64 cup light entry from Rusty Wallace Inc.

The #12 Alltel Dodge is currently driven by Ryan Newman. He will part from Penske Racing at the conclusion of the ‘08 season to join Tony Stweart in the new Stewart-Haas Racing team. No sponsor has been announced for Newman’s ride yet.

Stremme is another driver cast aside from Ganassi Racing. Plucked from the cup light series when he drove for Armando Fitz & Terry Bradshaw. At that time, he showed plenty of promise and may have developed into a contender if left to run in that series for a couple of seasons. Ganassi decided to kick Sterling Marlin to the curb and put in Stremme for the car formerly sponsored by Coors Light. It was seen as a move to give Coors a younger hip looking dude to match the marketing power of Dale Earnhardt jr. who was driving for rival sponsor, Budweiser.

The big question now is; will Roger Penske try to move the owner points from the #12 car to the #77 to help Sam Hornish jr. stay in the top 35? Would NA$CAR allow such a move? Richard Childress has a similar issue with his new #33 team to be driven by Clint Bowyer. Can he move the owner points being earned by Bowyer in the #07 this season. Casey Mears has been named to drive the #07, sponsored by Jack Daniels. Mears lost his ride in the Hendrick Motorsports #5 to Mark Martin.

As quickly as we get the picture on who will drive for whom, we add more questions.

 

Stay tuned!

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Dario Franchitti back to IRL in ‘09

02-Sep-08

The 2007 Indy 500 and IRL champion began the ‘08 season as a rookie in the NA$CAR cup series. Driving the #40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi, the venture was short lived as the lack of sponsorship caused Ganassi to park the entry and lay off some of the team. Dario has continued to run a limited cup light schedule with no clear idea where he will fit in for the future. Clearly, this is not what Franchitti had in mind when he left Andretti-Green racing to run with NA$CAR. Timing is everything.

Now comes news that Ganassi will field a car for Franchitti in the IRL for the ‘09 season.  Chip Ganassi, Team Owner: “It is going to be very exciting to have Dario in one of our IndyCars next year. I have always admired his competitive spirit when he raced against us and have really grown to see more of what he is about this season while he raced in NASCAR. When there was a possibility of an opening on our IndyCar team, the only person I thought about was Dario. This is going to be a great move for Dario and for our team. There is little in my racing career that I am more proud of than my team’s partnership with Target. We will be entering our 20th year with Target in 2009 and we could not be happier.”

Dario Franchitti, Driver #10 Target Honda Dallara: “Part of the reason that I signed with Ganassi last year was because of how many options that Chip has at his disposal for a driver. You can do almost any form of racing that you want. With unification and the new schedule having more road and street courses it made me think about this more and more. I have really enjoyed this last season in stockcars and have not completely closed that chapter of my professional career but the opportunity that arose was just something I could not pass up. I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of one of those Target cars and be a teammate to Scott Dixon. Target is a tremendous sponsor and they and Chip always give you everything you need to win.”

Filed in Cup Light, FAST, Fans, IRL, Indy, Nascar, Sponsors, grumpy's gander | | Comments (0) »

INDYCAR: Justin Wilson wins at Belle Isle

01-Sep-08

  • By Dave Lewandowski
  • indycar.com

DETROIT - Justin Wilson’s first IndyCar Series victory wasn’t without drama or controversy, but it didn’t faze the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver. A win is a win …

That was apparent in Belle Isle’s picturesque Victory Circle, where the driver of the No. 02 McDonald’s car appeared taller than his 6-foot-3 frame. Maybe it was the wide smile or just the company on the podium (Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan).

“I was so desperate to get a victory this year in, my first one in IndyCar (Series) and my first one with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing,” the Denver-based Brit said. “This means a lot. It’s the most important win of my career.”

Though he was the runner-up in the second Detroit Indy Grand Prix presented by Firestone, Castroneves saw a bright side. The finish, coupled with points leader Scott Dixon’s fifth place, forced the IndyCar Series championship chase to the final points-paying race of the season - Sept. 7 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Wilson, who was limited to two laps on the 14-turn, 2.07-mile Belle Isle circuit in the morning warmup because of a steering issue, held off Castroneves for the team’s second victory of the season (Graham Rahal won the first street course race) by 4.4058 seconds on Lap 87 of a two-hour timed race.

He inherited the point on Lap 73 after race chief steward Brian Barnhart penalized Castroneves for blocking Wilson, who was running second since Lap 60.  After a restart on Lap 69, Wilson kept up the pressure on Castroneves. He made two attempts to pass on Lap 72 but was rebuffed by Castroneves, who went low and then back high on the narrow circuit. Barnhart, after reviewing the video, said it was a clear violation.

“We talk about blocking every week in the drivers’ meeting and tell them what they can and can’t do and what the code of conduct is on the racetrack,” said Barnhart, the sanctioning Indy Racing League’s president of competition and operations. “(Castroneves) clearly moved his car to impede the progress of a following car and moved his car in response to the actions and the line taken by a following car. That’s what we tell them in the drivers’ meeting every week. We made the same decision early in the race with the (Darren) Manning and (Bruno) Junqueira cars and, unfortunately, you have to call it like you see it.”

Barnhart said the championship didn’t factor into the decision. Castroneves, who lost 10 points in the transaction, of course didn’t agree with the call.

“Consistency is the only thing I ask for,” said Castroneves, driver of the No. 3 Team Penske car who led a field-high 53 laps to earn three bonus points. “I’ve been in this series since 2002 and we never had a situation like this. We always have a warning and then if you do it again, then you’re going to be penalized. All of the sudden, I didn’t get any warning. It was, ‘Move over, or you’re going to be black flagged.’ It was uncalled for. I know that (Barnhart) is trying to put pressure on and make everyone disciplined, but two races to go for the championship I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”

Wilson was grateful for the call.

“Helio was racing hard,” Wilson said. “I got a good run out of Turn 12 and started to overlap and I had the inside for the next corner. Before we got halfway down the straight, he started to come across and I had to lift or we both were going to crash. I was a little upset at the time, but I was relieved hen the officials put it right.”

Castroneves’ championship gap is 30 points, which means Dixon has to finish eighth or higher on the 1.5-mile oval to secure his second title not matter what Castroneves does. Castroneves, who has a series-record eight runner-up finishes this season, is seeking his first series title. Dixon, the pole sitter who led the first 18 laps had an opportunity to wrap up the title, wasn’t too happy with the race either. He was shuffled back to 18th after the first pit stop under yellow while most other cars remained on the course, and couldn’t move higher than fifth the remainder of the race. 

“I think we clearly had the quickest car today,” he said. “Nobody was going to touch us, and still we ended up fifth. So I think that’s disappointing. I think that’s what makes it tough to deal with.”

Oriol Servia, who started third in the No. 5 KV Racing Technology car, finished a season-high fourth and posted his fourth top 10 on a road/street course in his first IndyCar Series season. Ryan Hunter-Reay overcame a flat right-rear tire midway through the race to finish sixth in the No. 17 Team Ethanol car for Rahal Letterman Racing, while Bruno Junqueira in the No. 18 Z-Line Designs entry for Dale Coyne Racing jumped 17 spots to finish seventh.

“Fourth was a good result, but when you’re so close to the podium I just feels not enough,” Servia said. “The car was good, especially toward the end of each (fuel/tire) stint but at the beginning it just wasn’t fast enough. I was trying. I was giving it all I could. We’re getting there.”

Will Power, who drove the No. 8 Aussie Vineyards — Team Australia car for two laps with a broken front wing incurred in the bump and run with Hunter-Reay’s car, finished eighth. Ryan Briscoe was ninth and and A.J. Foyt IV recorded his first top 10 on a road/street course (see story).

 

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NHRA: John Force Missed the cut at U.S. Nationals

31-Aug-08

John Force is a 14 time NHRA Funny Car Champion. His 4 car team is considered the elite among the top teams. Easily the most colorful personality in drag racing, Force will miss the show at Indy. The U.S. Nationals is the ‘Super Bowl’ of the NHRA schedule.

Despite being a former champion, John Force was bumped out of the field of 16 that will compete for the funny car crown on Monday.

“I was given every opportunity to get to race in the greatest show on earth,” Force said after failing to make it down the track on his final run. “I feel like I let the fans down and that’s what hurts the most.”

“I ain’t dead yet,” said Force, who had already clinched his spot in the NHRA’s six-race Countdown to One championship series that begins with the Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway @ Concord on Sept. 11-14. “We’ll be there at that new place out East … where is it? … Charlotte.”

Thats the way it works in the NHRA. You are either fast enough to make the field of 16 in the professional catagories, or you go home. No past champion provisionals, nobodys ‘locked in’ no matter how good their season.

If you are thinking you have read this post before, you have a good memory and you are a regular reader. John Force missed the field last year for the same event. Grumpy was so startled by it, it had to be posted.

Hmm, DeJa Vue all over again.

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