Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/FRiJBvyizEU/saubers-future-looking-bright
Saturday
Sauber?s Future Looking Bright?
Esteban Gutierrez will fill the void left at Sauber with the departure of talented young driver, Sergio Perez. Gutierrez played the role of test and reserve driver for Sauber last season and proved his potential during testing in Abu Dhabi to earn his promotion to a racing position for 2013. The promising Mexican?s promotion was, [...]
Fernando and Nicky go dancing
Some people think that Fernando Alonso is rather dour and not very friendly, but at the Wrooom F1 and MotoGP Press Ski Meeting in Madonna di Campiglio, in the Italian Alps, he showed a rather different side to his character in the course of an evening event held at the Chalet Fiat, up in the [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/fernando-and-nicky-go-dancing/
2013 Silly Season? Who?s Where, and What?s What
It may only be October, but it?s never too early to start thinking about silly season in indycar world. Without the post-Vegas fallout to contend with this year, silly season has picked up steam much earlier this year than in … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/2013-silly-season-whos-where-and-whats-what/
Friday
An idea for CVC Capital Partners?
Formula 1 fans pretty much agree that the cost of tickets is too high. You don’t hear many people singing the praises or the Formula One group, Bernie Ecclestone, or CVC Capital Partners. They are seen to be greedy and exploitative. They do not much care because they are printing money which they then give [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/an-idea-for-cvc-capital-partners/
Button Excited By Perez Partnership
Jenson Button has revealed that he is excited to be racing alongside Sergio Perez. The Mexican racer has joined McLaren from Sauber, following an impressive 2012 campaign. Although he is just 22-years-old, Button believes that he is a top driver: “The most important thing is that you have a good working relationship, that you can [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/pj2D0abzku0/button-excited-by-perez-partnership
Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman
Sebastian Vettel survives first lap spin, wet Brazilian Grand Prix to win 2012 F1 title
A potentially anti-climactic Formula 1 title race got turned on its head on the first lap on Sunday at the Interlagos Circuit. And for a moment, it looked like Fernando Alonso would be able to complete an incredible comeback.
Alonso entered Sunday's finale 13 points behind Sebastian Vettel for the title. Alonso started seventh, and Vettel fourth. On the first lap of a damp start, Alonso charged up to fourth, while Vettel slid back a bit and found himself three-wide with Bruno Senna to his inside.
Senna and Vettel made contact, destroying the front end of Senna's car and sending Vettel around for a spin. And then Vettel was hit again for good measure. Senna was unable to continue, and it looked like Vettel was going to be forced to retire or, at the very least, limp his way through the next 70-plus laps hoping for Alonso to fail.
There was significant damage to the diffuser on Vettel's left side (which is located in front of the rear wheel), but there was no tire puncture or suspension damage. After Vettel got his car pointed in the right direction and back up to speed, he started working his way back through the field.
Game on.
As the rain continued to fall, teams were forced to put on the intermediate rain tires, though some waited longer than others. The two that lasted the longest on slick tires were Nico Hulkenberg and Jenson Button, who by virtue of not pitting, had a 43-second lead over the rest of the field in the slippery conditions.
Had the race gone caution free, that significant advantage (barring a catastrophe for either driver) meant that Alonso, who ran in fourth, would likely do no better than third. Vettel was just a few positions back, enough to maintain his edge. But the caution flag flew for debris -- yes, those happen in F1 too, though not nearly as often -- erasing the the monster gap. Alonso had his chance.
He moved up to second thanks to a crash in the first turn between Lewis Hamilton, driving his final race for McLaren before moving to Mercedes, and Hulkenberg, but Button, who won the race, was long gone. Alonso needed Vettel to fall back. He didn't.
Vettel and his damaged car finished in sixth, while Alonso maintained second. Vettel won the championship by three points for his third consecutive title.
While the 25-year-old's performance this season wasn't as dominant as his 2011 one where he won 11 times and finished on the podium all but twice, Vettel won five times (including four straight) and finished on the podium 10 times in a 2012 that featured eight different winners.
Thursday
2012 season in the rear view: Greg Biffle
Vitals: 5th in the points standings. 2 wins, 12 top 5s, 21 top 10s. 0 DNFs.
Moment to remember: After winning at Michigan in August, Biffle issued this statement:
Biffle was battling with Jimmie Johnson in the waning laps when Johnson lost an engine. On the ensuing restart for the oil that Johnson's car dropped on the track, Biffle pulled away from Brad Keselowski for his second win of the season.
The win also vaulted Biffle to the Sprint Cup Series points lead for the second time of the season and he'd hold that lead until the points were reset before Chicago.
Moment to forget: Biffle's proclamation at Michigan wasn't supported by finishing outside the top 10 in the first three Chase races. But the final blow to his championship hopes came at Kansas, when Biffle hit the turn four wall. He finished 27th, his lowest finish of the season, and left the track 11th in the points standings.
The wrap: Heck, it's almost like Biffle and Carl Edwards swapped places at Roush from last year to this year. After only three top fives and 10 top 10s all of last season, Biffle was a mainstay at the front of the field this season. And the fact that Kansas was the lowest finish of the season for Biffle was a testament to how well the team ran on a weekly basis. Biffle finished outside the top 20 an astonishing four times in 2012 and on two of those occasions, he finished 21st.
If we're looking for a stick-and-ball sports comparison, Biffle's closest comp could be the 2001 Seattle Mariners;� a team with a fantastic regular season that gets lost in the lights of a playoff loss.
Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco
Danica Patrick announces her divorce
Tough personal news out of NASCAR Tuesday, as Danica Patrick has announced via her Facebook page that she and Paul Hospenthal, her husband of seven years, will be divorcing.
"I am sad to inform my fans that after seven years, Paul and I have decided to amicably end our marriage," Patrick wrote in a statement. "This isn't easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this. He has been an important person and friend in my life and that's how we will remain moving forward."
[Photos: Danica Patrick and Paul Hospenthal]
Hospenthal, a physical therapist, was not often present by Patrick's side during pre-race events in the way that many other NASCAR spouses are. The two met while he was treating Patrick for a non-racing injury, and married in 2005.
This year, Patrick was named the most popular driver in NASCAR's Nationwide series, and will begin racing full time in the top-level Sprint Cup series next year for Tony Stewart's Stewart-Haas Racing.
[Related: Looking back at the 2012 NASCAR season]
In 33 Nationwide races this year, Patrick ranked 10th and posted an average finish of 18.8, a year that included four top 10s. In the tougher Sprint Cup series, her average finish over 10 races was 28.3.
-Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee.-
More Danica Patrick coverage from Yahoo! Sports:
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Beer-chugging champ Brad Keselowski is perfect NASCAR pitchman
? Winless Wizards coach Randy Wittman wonders if he's dumb
? Y! Music: Journalist who streaked on Rihanna's jet explains why
2013 Silly Season? Who?s Where, and What?s What
It may only be October, but it?s never too early to start thinking about silly season in indycar world. Without the post-Vegas fallout to contend with this year, silly season has picked up steam much earlier this year than in … Continue reading
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/2013-silly-season-whos-where-and-whats-what/
Fun and games in Brazil
Felipe Massa’s Desafio Internacional das Estrelas, took place at the Beto Carrero World kart track over the weekend with qualifying, and two races. The grid for the first race was decided by a top 10 run-off of qualifiers and the grid for the second featured the top eight finishers of the first race in reverse [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/fun-and-games-in-brazil/
Wednesday
2013 World Superbike Calendar Updated Again
The FIM today issued a press release confirming the news that the Indian round of World Superbikes has been moved to November 17th, as we reported earlier today. Below is the official press release:
FIM Superbike, Supersport World Championships & FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup
2013 Provisional calendar, updated 15 January (Change in bold)
The World Superbike race in India has been moved from the 10 March to the 17 November due to an insufficient period of time to properly finalise the training of the marshals and medical staff around the racetrack. FIM representatives will be at the Indian track on 19, 20 and 21 this January, in order to carry out the final racetrack homologation and provide the relevant seminars about the different aspects involved in the sporting organisation of the event.
Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi
Max Chilton confirmed at Marussia for 2013
Marussia has confirmed the not unexpected news that Max Chilton will partner Timo Glock in 2013. Chilton, who impressed in GP2 this season, drove for the team in FP1 in Abu Dhabi, and was its official reserve for the last … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/12/18/max-chilton-confirmed-at-marussia-for-2013/
BREAKING: Kenseth Out At Roush; To Gibbs
Sources are telling TNI, Roush Fenway executives announced to the organization today that Matt Kenseth would be leaving the team at the end of the season. Despite earlier rumors that Penske would be Kenseth’s destination, all signs indicate Joe Gibbs Racing as the driver’s future home. What that means for the Gibbs teams is not [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/Vkga0Chqd_E/
Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris
Tuesday
Infiniti Q50
In 2009, Infiniti replaced the G35 with the more powerful G37 Now another switch is set to take place in 2014. This time around, however, the model is not changing just the engine, but it will adopt a new nomenclature and design too.
The new Q50 has received a smooth yet dynamic design language, with LED-infused headlights, a "double arch" grille and a crescent-shaped C-pillar. For the interior, Infiniti has placed higher-quality materials and user-focused advanced technology.
In the U.S. market, the Q50 will be offered with a standard 3.7-liter V-6 engine, but customers interested in environment can opt for a new-to-the-model hybrid version that will combine a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and an electric motor.
The new Infiniti Q50 made its world debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and will be put on sale in the summer 2013 in both standard and hybrid versions.
UPDATE 01/15/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs. Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Infiniti Q50.
Infiniti Q50 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 15 January 2013 15:15 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/infiniti/2014-infiniti-q50-ar127410.html
World Superbike Calendar Facing Shake Up: India To Be Moved To November, Brno Gone Until 2015
The confusion surrounding the Indian round of World Superbikes looks close to being resolved. According to reports on the ever well-informed GPOne.com, the race at the Buddh International Circuit is to be rescheduled from 10th of March to the 17th of November, moving it from being the second race of the season to being the season finale.
The race had been facing a number of problems, including logistical and customs issues, casting doubt over whether the race could go ahead as scheduled in March. The customs issues - both the 15-day inspection period for technical equipment, and the temporary import duty charged - are not so much of a problem, according to GPOne. The real issue, the site reports, is that the race organizers are not yet ready to put on the event. They do not have the organization in place to manage an event of this magnitude, and need a number of months to get everything arranged. The problem lies not with Buddh International Circuit itself, located not far from New Delhi, as the circuit has successfully organized two Formula One races already.
Source:
BMW 3 Series Prepared By AC Schnitzer
We have before us the last work of AC Schnitzer, a renowned German trainer. It has taken its hero the BMW 3 Series and introduced a package composed of both aesthetic and mechanical changes. Come on, a house brand preparation Schnitzer fledged. Aesthetically, this preparation certainly stands by new front and rear spoilers which the [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/351-bmw-3-series-prepared-by-ac-schnitzer.html
Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever
Monday
Some Advice For Christmas
There was an article in the Charlotte Observer last week�about a woman named Christmas Abbott who is attempting to become a tire changer. She’s being supported in her effort by Turner Motorsports and is being coached by veteran jackman and coach Shaun Peet and the guys at Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR and Turner have a [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/527IvTHlEAI/
Mercedes Confident 2014 Engine Will Give Hamilton Advantage
Mercedes engine managing director Andy Cowell believes that the team?s 2014 developments will give its drivers the advantage. Regulation changes will see engine capacity reduced and turbochargers introduced as the sport looks to evolve. Cowell feels that the new powerplant Mercedes are working on could be key and will hand Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg [...]
Sunday
HRC Press Release: Shuhei Nakamoto Looks Back At 2012, And Forward To 2013
With the kickoff to the 2013 season growing ever closer, those involved in motorcycle racing are starting to look back at 2012 and look ahead to 2013. After yesterday's review from Bridgestone, Honda are the next organization to issue a press release interview with a senior management figure. The press release interview with HRC Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto makes for fascinating reading, providing an insight into the 2012 season and expectations of 2013.
The interview covers the preparations for the switch to 1000cc, and the confidence with which HRC went into the new era. However, Honda soon ran into trouble, with the increase in the minimum weight added in December 2011, and the revised construction of Bridgestone tires supplied for the 2012 season, both the softer rear tire and the revised front tire (for additional detail into why the weight increase was announced so late, see the editor's note below the interview). Nakamoto provides some interesting details on how HRC dealt with the extra weight and the revised tires, revealing that it cost them half a season to solve the problems they had created. The HRC boss also explains why he believes that having multiple tire manufacturers is a better solution for all involved, creating more competition and allowing multiple solutions for different bikes. Nakamoto states that he believes this is one of the reasons why MotoGP racing has become so predictable.
Nakamoto also has very high praise for both Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez, the man brought in to replace him. His compliments on Marquez approach and talent are telling, Nakamoto revealing that at the HRC test in Sepang, Marquez was already lapping at the same pace that Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner were running. Nakamoto also provides insight into why he will miss Casey Stoner, and exactly how important the Australian was to Honda's racing program. Nakamoto rates Stoner above any other rider in the MotoGP paddock.
Year:
2013 
Piero Carini Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto
Clint Bowyer is sick of talking about Jeff Gordon
At some point in our lives, we've all gotten sick of talking about a significant moment, only for the topic to be brought up again and again. And it's safe to say that Clint Bowyer has reached that point when talking about Jeff Gordon.
As you've seen over and over again (and replayed to chariots of fire music and turned into a meme), Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer at Phoenix, the next-to-last race of 2012 after contact between the two had sent Gordon into the wall laps earlier. The intentional crash destroyed Bowyer's championship hopes (and his car) and after pulling to pit road, Bowyer made a full sprint to the garage area to find Gordon while the two drivers' teams ended up in a big scrum.
Bowyer hasn't forgiven Gordon for that moment, or if he has in private, he's certainly not showing it.
"Who cares? Really, who cares?" Bowyer said on Thursday when he was asked if he talked to Gordon between the banquet and Daytona testing. "Apparently you guys do way more than we do. I can promise you that. I missed that deer that I was talking about in Texas though, if that makes you feel any better. That was more important on my off-season list than figuring out where I was going to vacation and who I was going to vacation with. My neighbor shot it, it sucked. Yes. He was really happy -- I was not."
The subject was broached because Gordon and Bowyer spent New Year's in the same location -- on P. Diddy's yacht. And also because there has been no apparent resolution to the feud. In an era of NASCAR where drivers have been branded as "too vanilla," that's pretty rare. So yes, there were questions that needed to be asked.
"I was on the damndest boat you've ever seen in your life," Bowyer said. "I'm from Kansas. We don't have big boats in Kansas. We don't have very big bodies of water so I think (Gordon) was on that same boat, but there was a lot of other people on there and it was a big time being had. Yes, he was on there and I think it was on the same island. I'm pretty sure he was on there. It was pretty late. Put it that way."
"I had a great New Year's. I enjoyed myself very much," Gordon said.
So no, they didn't toast the arrival of 2013 together. Or did they?
"Yeah we held hands and walked on the boat, discussed the past year and enjoyed ourselves throughout the whole vacation," Bowyer said (sarcastically). "That was the one person I wanted to -- that I definitely wanted to vacation with."
"I could not wait to get there for that very reason."
Max Chilton confirmed at Marussia for 2013
Marussia has confirmed the not unexpected news that Max Chilton will partner Timo Glock in 2013. Chilton, who impressed in GP2 this season, drove for the team in FP1 in Abu Dhabi, and was its official reserve for the last … Continue reading
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/12/18/max-chilton-confirmed-at-marussia-for-2013/
Guido Forti 1940 ? 2013
Guido Forti was a racer in the 1960s and early 1970s but then decided to join forces with engineer Paolo Guerci joined forces to run a young Teo Fabi to the Italian Formula Ford 2000. The team was successful and moved up to Formula 3 the following year with Fabi in the Italian and European [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/guido-forti-1940-2013/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)