Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/b8agox1rYqA/modern-day-villans.html
Saturday
Whatever Happened To? Takuma Sato?
I never really warmed to the idea of staking a bet on the F1 result when Takuma Sato was around. Unpredictable didn?t even cover it. Short and comical, he looked more suited to competing in Japanese game show Takeshi?s Castle than Formula One racing. Active at the pinnacle of motorsport from 2002 to early 2008, [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/FJxfNUYu1Lo/whatever-happened-to-takuma-sato-2
Juan Manuel Bordeu Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion
Friday
Rossi, Ducati And Yamaha: And The Winner Is...
So what are we to make of Valentino Rossi's not-so-shock decision to leave Ducati and go back to Yamaha? The initial reaction from fans and media was that the biggest losers from the move are Ducati as a manufacturer and Rossi's reputation as miracle worker when it comes to bike development. There is some merit in both those arguments, but perhaps it is not quite so clear cut as that. Rossi's two years at Ducati have done a lot of damage to both parties - as well as to MotoGP's popularity and TV income - but in the end, this move could have some very positive long-term repercussions.
Kissing A Frog
Valentino Rossi's honeymoon period with the Ducati lasted just a few laps. From the very beginning, Rossi realized that this was not the bike he had been expecting. The bike had no front-end feel, an excessively aggressive power delivery and a seating position that would not allow him to shift his weight as he needed. Three days after finishing third in the race at Valencia, Rossi ended the test 1.7 seconds slower than Casey Stoner, the man whose bike he was now riding. Rossi looked stiff and awkward, a shadow of the rider he was a few days earlier on the Yamaha.
After shoulder surgery and development over the winter, Rossi was not much faster. At the final test ahead of the season opener at Qatar, he was 1.4 behind the leader, Casey Stoner. In the 14 months since then, the gap has been roughly halved, but Rossi on the Ducati is still some seven or eight tenths behind the leaders, and looking only marginally less stiff, awkward and uncomfortable than he did back in November 2010. On a good day, he finishes 6th, telling reporters "this is our potential."
Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich
WSBK News: Liberty Racing Strongly Rumoured To Be Missing Moscow
Troubled World Superbike team Liberty Racing are rumoured not to be running their three riders at the next race at Moscow Raceway. Italian outlet Omnicourse reports that the three Liberty riders, along with Team Grillini, are missing from the entry list and will not be racing. With all of the troubles Liberty Racing is going through, it wouldn't come as a surprise if they were indeed pulling out of the next race, or indeed the rest of the season.
Coulthard hits 300kph in Lincoln Tunnel demo run | F1 Fanatic round-up
Coulthard hits 300kph in Lincoln Tunnel demo run is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
In the round-up: Video of David Coulthard racing through the Lincoln Tunnel in a Red Bull demo ? Domenicali says Massa could keep Ferrari seat
Coulthard hits 300kph in Lincoln Tunnel demo run is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/08/17/f1-fanatic-roundup-178/
JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger
Thursday
John Wes Townley(!) to make Cup debut at Pocono on Sunday
Yes, the same John Wes Townley who planned to return to NASCAR before the 2012 season but was suspended by his team, RAB Racing, for the first race of the Camping World Truck Series season for being arrested for DUI. The same John Wes Townley who parted ways with Richard Childress Racing after just five Nationwide Series races in 2010 and boasts not one single top 10 in 57 NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races.
Huh.
Townley will be driving the No. 32 for FAS Lane Racing this year. The car, in 34th position in the owner's points standings, is locked into the race. While FAS Lane hasn't been competitive this year, Ken Schrader, Terry Labonte, Mike Bliss, Reed Sorenson and TJ Bell have all taken turns behind the wheel. Labonte and Bliss have NASCAR championships. Hell, TJ Bell has 13 top 10s in the Truck Series. And now Townley will join them on the No. 32 driver roster.
The reasoning for FAS Lane putting Townley in the car is simple. His father is the co-founder of Zaxby's Restaurants. Zaxby's has sponsored Townley for much of his career and will be on the No. 32 on Sunday. It's precious funding for a team that's been off the pace but running at the finish at all but three Sprint Cup Series races this season -- and those three ended early because of accidents.
It's not a stretch to wonder if Townley would have a NASCAR career if it wasn't for the funding that his family provides. Yes, Zaxby's hasn't sponsored his truck for RAB this year, but the chain sponsored his first 44 NASCAR races. He may not even have gotten a shot if he hadn't had a father who is the CFO of the chain and a stockholder in over 40 restaurants.
But with the sponsorship landscape being what it is in NASCAR, funding has become the 1B to talent's 1A. (Or maybe it's the other way around?) Just look at the patchwork of sponsors that Matt Kenseth, the freaking points leader before crashing on Sunday, has had this season. With the costs of fielding a Sprint Cup car -- lest even a competitive one -- still rising while corporate spending isn't, a situation like this was inevitable.
Related NASCAR news from Yahoo! Sports:
Mini-racing: Get the Pocono II experience in ten minutes, minus the rain
Sunday was a tragic day in NASCAR history with the death of a fan to a lightning strike, and we should never minimize that. Before that, however, there was a race ... here's what happened there.
Allmendinger?s NASCAR Career Is Effectively Over
Since we broke the news on Twitter before Saturday night’s race that A.J. Allmendinger was being replaced by Sam Hornish, the Dinger’s world has come apart. NASCAR announced he had failed a drug test, and Allmendinger has since requested the B sample be tested and admitted he tested positive for a stimulant. Penske has tabbed [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/CyT8Wbpc7T0/
Video: What exactly happened with AJ Allmendinger?
So you know the developing story with AJ Allmendinger. Your favorite Yahoo! Sports Jays, Hart and Busbee, are on the case and kicking around the matter. We go with what we know, which is: HOW THE HECK DID THIS HAPPEN? Watch the video, and fire away with your comments below.
Wednesday
Danica Patrick?s day ends just after it begins at Watkins Glen
At Road America, the first Nationwide road course race of the season, Danica Patrick was in fourth on the final lap before getting spun into the gravel trap by Jacques Villeneuve. At Watkins Glen on Saturday, contact was the main storyline for Patrick once again. Except this time, it was on the first lap rather than the last one. And not only was it on the first lap, it was on the first turn.
[Related: Carl Edwards wins Nationwide race in first start this year]
As the field went into Turn 1 after taking the green flag, Ryan Truex got loose and slid into the grass on the inside of the downhill right-hander. As he attempted to gather the car up, he slid back onto the track, right into the path of Patrick and the rest of the field. And that was that for Patrick's chances. The damage to her front fender and radiator forced her to take the car to the garage. She finished dead last at 43rd.
It was Patrick's sixth DNF� (did not finish) in 21 starts this season. She has one top-10 finish.
As quoted in USA Today, "I wish I would have done it differently," said Patrick. "But that's the way accidents happen.
"It's unfortunate, because we really felt like we could have a strong finish... I just feel so bad," Patrick continued. "I wish it would've gone differently."
Carl Edwards ended up winning the race.
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Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati
Michael Andretti calls move to Cup in 2013 ?highly unlikely?
Rumors have been swirling about Andretti Autosport's potential move to NASCAR and the Sprint Cup Series, but according to Michael Andretti, the chances of the team fielding a Sprint Cup car in 2013 are dwindling.
Andretti told the Indianapolis Star that the move wasn't dead, but it wasn't looking good either. ""We've got a couple of (sponsorship) deals working, but it's getting late," Andretti said on Friday. "It's not dead yet, but it's highly unlikely."
Andretti Autosport currently fields teams for Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Izod IndyCar Series. Hunter-Reay has won the last three races of the season to take over the points lead with five races to go.
Any move to the Cup Series for Andretti Autosport has been strongly linked to Dodge, which currently does not have a flagship team for the 2013 season after Penske's move to Ford for next year. The team currently fields Chevys in the IndyCar Series, but any manufacturer conflicts likely wouldn't be an issue with a Sprint Cup move. Penske runs Chevys in the IndyCar Series and Chip Ganassi is affiliated with Chevy in NASCAR and Honda in IndyCar.
F1 and the Olympics
I think that Formula 1 should be included in the Olympic Games, and I cannot see any real reason that justifies its exclusion. Although it was by no means official, there is no doubt that by wearing decals supporting Team GB, both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button showed that they agree with this. “Having the [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/f1-and-the-olympics/
Tuesday
2012 Silverstone WSBK Race Two: Torrential Rain Causes Chaos
With the rain falling before the start of the race, the race was declared wet and the distance was reduced to 17 laps to allow for the extra time to change the bikes to their wet configurations.
George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage
Power Rankings: Blue Deuce Triumphant
The race is done, and that means it's time for Power Rankings. Each week throughout the season, we'll size up who's rising and who's falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. It is not scientific, nor is it meant to be. And remember, whoever your favorite driver is, we're biased against him and like someone else better. We continue with a new face 'round these parts:
Dropping out of the rankings: Ryan Newman. Just barely. Call him 12.1.
Lucky Dog: Marcos Ambrose, of course. He's a longshot to make the Chase, but with just one more win, he'd be in. That's either very cool or a traveshamockery, one of the two. Still, good on ya, Aussie.
The Carl Edwards DNF: Jamie McMurray, who continues an inexplicable (well, maybe a little explicable) slide into irrelevance.
All right, your turn. Fire away, friends.
Happy Hour: Is Carl Edwards in a bridesmaid swoon?
Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.
Is it hot where you are? At the risk of descending into hack comedian material, SWEET MOTHER OF MERCY IT'S SO HOT I JUST SAW A SQUIRREL BURST INTO FLAME. You know it's hot when you get into the pool and it doesn't feel cool, it just feels like you're sitting in the kiddie pool. (Ew.) Anyway, your favorite NASCAR drivers are ... oh, wait, they're in like 200-degree cars for four hours while we watch in air-conditioned comfort. Never mind.
Your letters:
Carl Edwards can say what he wants, but he simply isn't over the 2011 season. The telling quote was toward the end of his interview [after Kentucky] ? he first says he's "not tore up" over losing to Tony Stewart last year on a tiebreaker, but then later states, "We got beat on a crazy call by Darian Grubb" ... so basically, yeah, he's still tore up over last year, and anyone who knows Carl or has been around the garage ? journalists included ?�know that it's true.
He absolutely cannot let it go (not saying that I blame him, just saying that it's a fact). You didn't get beat on a "crazy call", Carl - you got beat in 10 races, 5 of which Stewart won. The Chase isn't won or lost by one call by one crew chief on one occasion. Your choices are: 1) Get over it or 2) Miss the Chase. I'm betting on #2.
Nathan Bitner
Asheville, N.C.
There certainly seems to be something to this second-place curse, and I can't even imagine how tough it must be for Carl Edwards to lose the closest championship run in all sports history. Seriously, even an extra-inning World Series Game 7 has to finish with one team winning. The 2011 Chase finished with both drivers dead freaking even.
What Edwards should have taken from his defeat, though, is that nobody is ever, ever out of it when the Chase begins ... and, hell, even five or six races into the Chase. Therefore, the rule is simple: Get. In. The. Chase. Can he do it? I think so, but unless something changes in a hurry, I don't see him making any noise even if he does. That team is still shell-shocked, whether they're willing to publicly admit it or not.
____________________
Re: Dinger. [Potentially libelous jumping-to-conclusions deleted] I believe it will end his career because this is a sponsor driven sport and nobody will stake their name on even a suspected drug user. It will not make a real difference if his B sample comes back clean because he will already be labeled.
Dale
(AKA Gator)
Allmendinger's situation is so ever-changing right now that I'm hesitant to even comment on it because you might read this article after he's been found innocent of all charges, and then won't I look stupid calling for his head? Anyway, perception is reality in NASCAR, and you're right, he's dug himself a huge hole here. Best-case scenario, short of a "B" sample exoneration, is that he puts this behind him and doesn't get into an ugly he-said/NASCAR-said fight. We know how that will turn out. But again, let's hold off on making him into a NASCAR drug kingpin until we know more.
____________________
NASCAR seriously needs to re-think what they're doing at Daytona and Talladega. What they're offering us at these two tracks is boring to watch, unless you like to see torn-up race cars.There's no racing, no passing, everyone just rides around waiting for the crash. They've just messed around with things to the point where these plate races are a waste of time to watch. Brian France should fire himself!
Bruce Collier
Richmond, Va.
(Throws up hands in absolute defeat on the plate-race issue)
____________________
I'm very disappointed in a lot of the Nationwide drivers from Friday's race. [Danica Patrick] had a very powerful and stout car that could almost run by itself and didn't need someone pushing her. I think had she not been wrecked the big story of the weekend would have been her first win. But the reason I'm so disappointed is the blatant and obvious attitude of the other drivers toward the 7 car. The only two drivers that would work with her were the 22 and the 88. Everyone else seemed to avoid working with her like she had cooties. I have to feel like this was a very bad black eye for the drivers and makes me embarrassed to think to how they may treat others who are different in the future just because they have a perceived notion that "someone" doesn't belong with them on the race track.
Cliff Francis
Ashland, Kent.
____________________
Jay: I would really like to see how NASCAR fans feel about Austin Dillon keep bring up that he would like to drive the #3 in cup series. I hear this all the time and in my opinion, he has been groomed by grampa [Richard Choldress] for awhile now and gets the best everything money can buy, and he keeps asking for more and more and now he wants to drive #3 in cup series. It looks as if he is begging for it and putting grampa on the spot in front of the media hoping he will jump up and say "Yes." It's kind of pathetic for someone to want something to special when he has not earned it, and personally I think it should be retired.
"MidMichigan Online Auctions"
Interesting name there, friend. Anyway, I'm in the "retire the number" camp for the 3, the 43 and certain others, though many do disagree with me. I understand the appeal of having a number out there every week, but to me it does diminish the value of the number itself. And yes, many drivers have jumped numbers throughout their career, but certain numbers are iconic and should stay that way.
____________________
It seems that perhaps Brad Keselowski is the only Cup Series driver who "gets it;" that once you're in the top 10 in points as the season winds down to the Chase, WINS MATTER. Seems like everyone else in the Cup series (other than perhaps Kasey Kahne, who's desperately trying to get into the Chase) is just on cruise control, as if 3rd is as good as a win, which is as good as 5th place. Have the other drivers truly forgotten about the Chase bonus for wins, or is the fear of losing a spot or two when actually racing for a win that large of a fear?
Where else in sports do we see that attitude, where "almost" winning is good enough?
Mark D. Knight
New Salisbury, Ind.
Wrigley Field.
And yes, losing a spot or 20 is a huge fear, particularly when you've got so many drivers bunched around 10th place and so many fighting for a wild card spot. We're going to have several drivers with one win on the outside looking in. The solutions? Either let everyone who wins a race into the Chase, or amp up the point value for high finishes. Make a top-10 finish worth more than one point better than an 11th-place. Or, hell, do away with the Chase altogether and don't worry if the season is already settled by September.
And on that note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here. Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
Monday
Airing of Grievances? The False Hope Edition
The rumor mill was churning �today about the possible addition of Scuderia Coloni to the 2013 indycar grid. Admittedly, the talk comes on the heels of the team?s abrupt departure from Formula 1 feeder series GP2 so it may just … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/airing-of-grievances-the-false-hope-edition/
Join us for the latest Yahoo! Sports NASCAR chat, Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. ET
Time again for another Yahoo! Sports NASCAR chat! Off week? Forget that! We're back at it, talking Indy this weekend and other matters of interest. Join us at 1:30 ET (a half-hour later than usual) on Tuesday and we'll roll it!
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