Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/-n6dXelPkPo/jolly-green-sea-turtles.html
Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla
Sunday
Want a NASCAR chassis? An old COT wing? Here?s your chance
Ever dreamed of having a NASCAR show car to call your own? Or wondered if you could have a COT wing after they were replaced by the spoilers that are on the current cars?
Well, if you've got some spare cash lying around, you're in luck. Richard Childress Racing is auctioning off some equipment and parts on December 6. (We hear that driveshafts make great Christmas presents.)
Some of the items up for bid include the car chassis , an old Clint Bowyer or Casey Mears era Jack Daniel's show car without the drive train, random car parts and even a copier and an ice maker. RCR is downsizing from four Sprint Cup teams to three after the departure of Bowyer to Michael Waltrip Racing.
If you want some of the stuff, you can sign up at the auction site. We're thinking that this may be a great time to finally go through with our threats to start our own NASCAR team. There seem to be plenty of qualified drivers available.
(If you participate in the online auction or head on over in person, drop us a line. We'd love to see the gas can you purchase.)
Saturday
MotoGP Silly Season 2013 Starts Early - Yamaha Keen To Hang On To Lorenzo
With all the debate and discussion over the changes coming to MotoGP for 2012 - 1000cc machines, the appearance of the Claiming Rule Team machines, arguments over exactly what the Aprilia bike is, and the ongoing talks over the imposition of a rev limit and spec ECU for 2013, it is easy to overlook the fact that it is not just the bikes which are changing. All four of MotoGP's so-called Aliens are out of contract at the end of next season, as well as just about every other rider on the MotoGP grid. With the last five years utterly dominated by the Fantastic Four - Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner winning all but four races in 5 season - the key for any factory to securing a MotoGP title has been having at least one Alien on its books.
Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman
Kimi R�ikk�nen injured in a race. A snowmobile race.
The newly-minted Formula One star-to-be was in an accident in a snowmobile race in Austria, but apparently walked away with only a sore wrist. Lotus Renault, his F1 team, informed fans via Twitter that "he's absolutely fine." Good news: "We just spoke to Kimi. There's nothing to worry about, he only has a sore wrist. He might have it checked again on Monday, but that's all."
Well, that's a bit disappointing. Racing has a proud tradition of drivers injuring themselves doing insanely stupid off-track things (Jimmie Johnson surfing atop a golf cart, for one). Shame this one won't add much to that legend.
R�ikk�nen was the 2007 world champion but left the sport temporarily in 2009. He dabbled a bit in NASCAR but recently signed a two-year deal to drive for Lotus Renault.
Webber delighted to end year on a high
Mark Webber has spoken of his delight that he has finished 2011 on a high after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix. Webber finished ahead of team-mate Sebastian Vettel and McLaren’s Jenson Button in Brazil to pick up his first win of the 2011 season. Speaking afterwards, the Australian said: “I felt good all weekend, Sebastian [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/dNIBo5z_9Sw/webber-delighted-to-end-year-on-a-high
Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen
Friday
Join us for the latest Yahoo! Sports NASCAR Chat, Wed. at 1 ET
Time again for another Yahoo! Sports NASCAR live chat. Join us Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern to talk NASCAR, Christmas shopping, whatever. It's the offseason. We go where the conversational winds take us. See you here!
MotoGP Rules Tweaked: Testing Restrictions Ended, 9 CRT Entries Accepted, Minimum Weights Increased
MotoGP's rule-making body, the Grand Prix Commission, adopted a number of changes to the MotoGP rules in a meeting on Wednesday. As expected, the testing restrictions were dropped, now to be limited by tire allocation. Other changes adopted include an increase in the minimum weight, the introduction of rear-facing red lights to be carried in wet conditions, a slight tweak to the 107% qualifying minimum time, and explicitly granting authority to impose penalties on event organizers. The GPC also considered the entry list for the 2012 MotoGP season, and accepted 9 CRT entries, along with 1 reserve CRT entry.
Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd David Brabham
Kimi R�ikk�nen injured in a race. A snowmobile race.
The newly-minted Formula One star-to-be was in an accident in a snowmobile race in Austria, but apparently walked away with only a sore wrist. Lotus Renault, his F1 team, informed fans via Twitter that "he's absolutely fine." Good news: "We just spoke to Kimi. There's nothing to worry about, he only has a sore wrist. He might have it checked again on Monday, but that's all."
Well, that's a bit disappointing. Racing has a proud tradition of drivers injuring themselves doing insanely stupid off-track things (Jimmie Johnson surfing atop a golf cart, for one). Shame this one won't add much to that legend.
R�ikk�nen was the 2007 world champion but left the sport temporarily in 2009. He dabbled a bit in NASCAR but recently signed a two-year deal to drive for Lotus Renault.
Tony Stewart officially accepts championship at Sprint Cup banquet
The Sprint Cup Series' Champion's week came to an end on Friday night with the annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas. Well, officially, anyway. There's probably a handful of NASCAR-types still partying as you read this.
Didn't stay up for the banquet Friday night? No problem, we've got you covered.
? Speed led off its coverage with a red carpet special similar to a Hollywood awards show preview. The key takeaway? Yes, Amy, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s girlfriend, is real.
?�When Tony Stewart was introduced at the head table, Jimmie Johnson walked out ? much to everyone's surprise�? and feigned surprise that his name wasn't on the dinner card. That Jimmie, he sure is vanilla, eh?
?�Host Reba McEntire was solid and got in a couple of zingers including this one:
"Earlier I was out front and saw Kyle Busch drive right past the valet," McEntire said. "Well, I guess NASCAR officials are only allowed to park his car."
(Busch wasn't an official honoree at the banquet as he finished outside the top 10 in points.)
?�When Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski were introduced, they were emphasized as the winners of the wild card that went to the two drivers with the most wins in 11th-2oth place in the points standings before the Chase. However, Hamlin and Keselowski were 11th and 12th in the points and would have gotten into the Chase anyway under the previous top 12 format.
?�Yes, the video of Jeff Gordon breakdancing got played.
?�For you east coast NASCAR fans, it must have been really weird to see Johnson speaking before midnight.
?�Robert Weaver, the Ice Cream Man, won the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Weaver, an 83-year-old Talladega native, won for his over 50 years of volunteerism for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.
?�One of the reasons that the NASCAR banquet can be a snoozer��? yes, even more so than your typical race at Pocono��? is the scripted speeches for all of the drivers honored. Mad props to Keselowski, who clearly went on stage and winged it. It was compelling and well done, simply because it was clear that it wasn't off a teleprompter or a page of notes. Plus, he was even able to joke about his past history with Carl Edwards.
?�Matt Kenseth said that if he would have known that there wasn't going to be a comedian, he would have told some jokes. We all missed out. And he thanked Ollie's Bargain Outlet in his speech and snuck in a toilet-related Fluidmaster joke. You don't hear that every day.
?�During his speech, Edwards compared being honored (again) for finishing second as akin to sitting in the dentist's chair. Edwards handled the remarks about the championship battle with class all throughout the evening and he'll be at the head table very shortly.
?�Sprint CEO Dan Hesse announced that the company has extended its sponsorship of the Cup Series through 2016.
?�Stewart, who shared the head table with his former crew chief Darian Grubb, thanked Grubb for his commitment and dedication to Stewart-Haas since the organization's inception. Stewart's car was on display off to the side of the head table, but unfortunately didn't change to a Mobil 1 paint scheme two-thirds of the way through the evening.
Brian Pattie named Clint Bowyer?s new crew chief
Bowyer will be driving the No. 15 Five-Hour Energy Toyota Camry. Pattie has won 18 times on the Nationwide circuit, and he guided Montoya to a Chase berth in 2009 and a Watkins Glen win in 2010. Plus, he was able to handle the radio presence of Montoya, hands-down one of the most critical drivers in Sprint Cup.
Bowyer, Pattie and Waltrip all had glowing words for each other in the press release announcing the hiring.
? Waltrip: "Brian is someone whose [sic] been on our radar for a very long time."
? Bowyer: "We both grew up working on dirt cars and have pretty similar backgrounds ... I think we speak the same language."
? Pattie: "I know how close [MWR] is to joining the upper echelon of the Sprint Cup series."
So nice to see team, driver and crew chief so happy together, isn't it?
Thursday
Kurt Busch out at Penske Racing
UPDATE: 
Monday morning, Busch released the following statement:
"Coming to a mutual agreement to go our separate ways is a positive step for me. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I took time to reflect on what is most important to me and realized I need to find a way to put the fun back into racing. It's time for a fresh start. Leaving a great organization and a lucrative contract is not easy, but it allows me to take a deep breath and work on things that can make me a better driver and a better person.�
"I recognize the passion and emotion that have helped me succeed on the track need to be better channeled off the track.�The past few months I began working with a sports psychologist to help me better deal with my emotions, especially following moments of frustration during competition."�
On Sunday, the Charlotte Observer and That's Racin reported Busch had been fired.
Busch will not return next season to drive Penske Racing's No. 22 Dodge, multiple sources confirmed to the Observer and ThatsRacin.com on Sunday night.
An official announcement of Busch's departure from the organization is expected from Penske on Monday.
The final straw came�at the season's final race at Homestead where he was videotaped swearing at a reporter, an incident that�resulted in a�$50,000 fine from NASCAR. At Richmond, he had to be restrained from going after a reporter in the garage and ripped another reporter's transcript in half.
Earlier this week, Busch admitted that he was seeing a sports psychologist for his temper and anger issues, which have been on display during multiple radio tirades aimed at his crew chief and crew. The man on the�receiving end�of those rants for the past two years, crew chief Steve Addington, parted ways with Penske at the end of the year and will be the crew chief for Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart in 2012.
With�Busch out of his�ride at Penske, the move�poses two huge questions:�Who will fill his emptied seat in the No. 22 and where does Busch go next?
Remember, this�isn't�the first time Busch has been fired. In 2005, just a year after winning the�inaugural Chase for the Sprint Cup, Busch was suspended by Roush Racing with two races to go in the season after being cited for driving recklessly near Phoenix International Raceway. After the suspension, Roush president Geoff Smith said that the team was retiring from being Busch's apologist.
When he departed from Roush, Busch had already been slated at Penske to fill the seat of the retiring Rusty Wallace. Now, with sponsorship concerns forcing teams like Roush and Richard Childress Racing to downsize to three cars and the closure of Red Bull Racing, Busch's career�could be�at a definite crossroads. He's one of the best drivers in NASCAR. But losing a job at Penske could mean he may never be at one of the best teams again, though former teammate Jeff Burton tweeted this:
Big news. Kurt will find a ride in the future. He has enough talent,someone will give him a shot. He will have to show he's learned.
As of now, there's no top-notch ride available. Busch could drive for a team with lesser equipment, or take a year off and prove to teams and sponsors that he's a changed driver in the hopes of landing a fully funded ride in 2013. However, those options�will be�limited a year from now, too. He's burned bridges at Roush (and by relation, Richard Petty Motorsports),�and the stables at Hendrick, Childress�and Gibbs are full.
The emerence of Brad Keselowski in 2011 would make�parting ways with Busch easier.�In the second�half of the season, Keselowski developed into the caliber of driver�a team can call its No. 1.�
So who will Penske hire to drive the No. 22? David Ragan, David Reutimann and Brian Vickers would instantly become the top candidates for the open seat.�Ragan is 26, just won his first career Sprint Cup race at Daytona and is clean-cut and polite ? a major reason why UPS became his sponsor. Both Reutimann and Vickers have two career Sprint Cup wins, but Reutimann's age, 40, may be working against him, while Vickers, who had his own run-ins this season,�struggled in 2011.
As�far as sponsorship,�Shell, which expressed disappointment with Busch's actions at Homestead,�likely will stay on board.�Part of the move from�RCR to Penske in 2011 was as a partnership�across all of Penske's businesses.
Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert
A sad story from Finland
Finnish former F1 driver and double Le Mans winner JJ Lehto has been sentenced to two years and four months in jail for his involvement in a boating accident which killed a friend. The prosecution argued that Lehto was drunk at the time of the accident, which occurred in June 2010, when Lehto’s boat hit [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/a-sad-story-from-finland/
Motivated Raikkonen set for January test with old car
Kimi Raikkonen says he?s fully motivated and doesn?t expect to have any problems in getting up to speed in 2012. He?s also confirmed that in January he will have a run in a two-year-old car, which is allowed under the … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/12/21/motivated-raikkonen-set-for-january-test-with-old-car/
Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk
Kimi Raikkonen?s First Interview About Formula 1 Return! (Video)
As you all probably know by now,�Kimi Raikkonen is set to return to Formula 1 with Renault (to become Lotus) �in 2012. Here he is discussing the return… [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.] What are your thoughts on Raikkonen?s return? Get [...]
Wednesday
Out goes Sutil
The Sahara Force India Formula One Team has confirmed that Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg will form its line-up for the 2012 season. This means that the star of the team’s 2011 World Championship challenge, Adrian Sutil,has been left in the lurch. The team did not name a reserve driver. “Our new line-up means [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/out-goes-sutil/
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