Saturday
Five hours and 20 minutes after the race ? an 80-page e-magazine
Why wait days for your F1 coverage? Produced from the F1 circuit at Valencia, GP+ is a PDF electronic magazine that gives you the full story from the European Grand Prix weekend. In this issue we look at Fernando Alonso’s amazing victory… We talk to Felipe Massa… We look back at Spain’s version of Enzo [...]
2012 Assen MotoGP Qualifying Practice: Blistering Last Lap Nabs Pole In Rain-Hit Session
Results and summary of qualifying for the MotoGP class at Assen:
Friday
2012 Assen MotoGP Friday Press Releases
Press releases from the MotoGP teams after qualifying at Assen:
Year:
2012
2012 Assen Moto2 And Moto3 Friday Press Releases
Press releases from the Moto2 and Moto3 teams after qualifying at Assen:
Year:
2012
2012 Aragon World Supersport FP1 Results: Parkes Approaches Lap Record
Broc Parkes was within under half a second of his own lap record from last year at the end of the first Free Practice session. Sam Lowes was half a second slower while Fabien Foret was a further half a second off. Expect the lap record to be broken today or tomorrow.
Results:
Happy Hour: Which driver is next to break a long winless streak?
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.
Admit it. You felt just the tiniest bit good for Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Sunday. Even if you hate the guy, you have to feel for him. And oh, Junior Nation: you have every right to rub it in our faces ... for a week.
And now, your letters. Guess what the topic is!
Congrats to Dale Jr. on his win. He becomes the second driver (Joey Logano) this year to snap a multi-year winless streak. This brings me to wonder if any other drivers with long dry spells can break out this year. The list of active drivers that have gone 2+ years without a win are:
Jamie McMurray - 56 races
Juan Montoya - 65 races
David Reutimann - 66 races
Mark Martin - 93 races
Jeff Burton - 128 races
Casey Mears - 177 races
Martin Truex Jr - 182 races
Joe Nemechek - 267 races
Bobby Labonte - 303 races
? John Davis
Great list there. Some of those surprised me a bit. It's really been 128 races since Burton won? Anyway, let's break it down. Of these guys, the only ones you'd seriously say are theoretically at the peak of their skills are McMurray, Montoya and Reutimann. Nemechek isn't going to win a race; he needs to start finishing them first. Labonte, Mears and Reutimann lack the equipment. Martin just doesn't seem to be able to finish. Burton has been on a long, long slide.
So that leaves Truex and the Ganassi boys. Both McMurray and Montoya have been a total mess for about the last three years. So I'm thinking Truex is the one most likely to break out and get that win. Of course, rain could throw all that into chaos. Expect these guys to stay out in anything short of a hurricane. And you? Which of these drivers do you project as the best bet to win next?
____________________
Junior has been really consistent and being very careful on his positions. Do we now consider him a title contender? He has the makings of one this year. I say he could be depending on winning more. but would like your opinion on it.
? Matt P.
Wynne
My opinion is that he's absolutely a title contender. Think of it this way: ironically, for a guy derided for so long as unable to escape the accolades of his name, he's now unable to escape the derision attached to it. If it were anybody, and I mean anybody, else with Junior's numbers this year, we'd be talking about him as a championship contender. But since it's Junior, we're waiting for the other shoe to drop ... and for him to run over his bare foot. I don't think he's a lock yet for the Cup; I'd put Johnson and Kenseth ahead of him, at least. But he's going to be in the Chase, he's going to have bonus points, and that's good news for Junior fans indeed.
____________________
Everyone has noticed that whenever a car gets out ahead of the pack by 2 or 3 seconds, then holds that lead the mysterious "debris caution" comes out. We've all talked about it, for good or bad it's really hard to deny that it happens. Junior was out in front by 4 seconds near the end of the race.... he was maintaining the lead.... Where was the flag?
In a weird way, it almost proves the damn things exist. ;-)
? Tim Palmer
Weeeeellll ... yes and no. There's an old line in the law about absence of evidence not being the same thing as evidence of absence. In other words, just because they didn't throw a caution flag this time doesn't mean the others weren't legit. (Stop laughing!) We've had several long-green-flag finishes this year, so this isn't entirely a surprise. But yes, short of a thermonuclear warhead going off in Turn 3, this race was going under green to the finish.
Jay? we need some investigative reporting here. Who was the hottie Dale Jr. kissed in victory lane? Inquiring NASCAR fans HAVE to know?
? No Name Given
Well, I don't know that I'd call Jimmie Johnson a hottie, but ... oh, you mean the girl. That was Junior's girlfriend. She does exist. We've covered her in these pages before. But we're finding out all this new info about Junior now! One day, we'll look back on the days when he was a goofy loser with some nostalgia, won't we?
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What's wrong with NASCAR? Denny Hamlin asking his crew chief, "How hard do you want me to go for this win" with about 7 laps to go at Pocono should tell everyone clearly enough. The emphasis on winning races simply does not exist. I hate to single out Denny, but TNT broadcasting the driver-crew chief conversation should let everyone know where the priorities of the drivers are at.
? Lee Anderson
Fort Worth, TX
Yep, no two ways about it: points racing is the way of the future. Unless, of course, NASCAR were to jack up the points for winning/placing top 10 and/or reduce the penalty for finishing so low. Other than that, smart points racing is going to dominate.
_____________________
What on earth is wrong with Tony Eury Jr? He complained after the NNS race that the drivers weren't respecting Danica Patrick because "they hate losing to a girl." Far be it from me to point this out, but she hasn't beaten anybody. She has not once contended for a win yet. I watched the race and saw everything I usually see. Sure, in her second spin Austin Dillon took the air off her spoiler, but I think Tony Jr is just frustrated that she doesn't know how to do that to anybody else. There is a lot to learn about these cars aerodynamically and I think she is doing fine in her progression. But come on, Tony Jr - don't give her excuses like that!
S. Bilger
Seattle, WA
I get what you're saying, but technically speaking, every time she doesn't finish dead last, she IS beating somebody. That said, I would be surprised if Patrick didn't cringe a bit at those comments. The last thing she wants is to be judged as, is as a "girl racer." You're right, she doesn't need those excuses, and if she'd made them herself, she'd have been blasted. Anyway, there's an easy solution: start trading some paint and winning some races, Danica.
____________________
About Junior's victory at Michigan all I have is this to say, Jay: Please cover golf more often. You clearly have been the jinx all along.
Jeff "The Real Slim Sarge" Smith
Statesboro, GA
Seeing as how I was covering the US Open the last time Junior won, there might be something to that. Hey, 88: call me. I'm more than willing to play sick on weekends you need a win.
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!
Video: Get all the results of your road-course weekend right here
What the ... ? NASCAR cars turning right? That shouldn't be! Anyway, we had plenty of road course hijinks this weekend at Road America and Sonoma, and in the end, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Clint Bowyer were your big winners. But Danica Patrick and Kurt Busch gained back some respect points, too, which is always nice. Enjoy this recap!
Thursday
Montezemolo rallies the Maranello troops
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has reminded his team not to get too excited after Fernando Alonso?s Valencia win, pointing out that Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull had a clear advantage. Montezemolo, who was in Valencia for Ferrari’s disappointing qualifying … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/06/27/montezemolo-rallies-the-maranello-troops/
Danica Patrick?s GoDaddy ads to de-emphasize sexy elements; winning races now important
For most of its existence, the web hosting company GoDaddy.com has built an image apparently cultivated by love-starved 14-year-old boys ? skin, sass and temptation. And it's worked well enough that GoDaddy has become an institution, albeit one you wouldn't want to show your mother.
Along the way, the company's centerpiece, the insanely controversial NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, has doffed her firesuit more than a time or two. The star of a record 10 Super Bowl ads, Patrick has been a willing participant in campaigns that skirt flyover-state notions of decency. (Even so, Patrick has always had a wry smile on the ads, like she was in on the joke all along.)
Here, for instance, is Patrick feeling the urge to shower:
You get the idea.
Now, though, Patrick and GoDaddy are looking to go legit ?�or, at least, a little more legit. As USA Today notes, GoDaddy has hired a new advertising firm and is taking a less raunchy approach to its ads. That will, in turn, mean that Patrick likely won't be disrobing or body-painting scantily-clad models any more. The attention-grabbing tactics served their purpose:
"As the company grows, you tend to find yourself accommodating to the masses more as opposed to trying to be polarizing," Patrick said. "They achieved that size that they just need to have that solid, mainstream presence, and that trustworthiness and credibility and things that come along with taking a slightly more safer route. I'm ready for it."
And that seems to be just fine with Patrick, who is moving in a more conservative direction herself, sponsor-wise. Coca-Cola, Tissot watches and Nationwide Insurance, among others, are companies that don't need Patrick to writhe on a hood in a bikini.
Patrick has come under considerable scrutiny, and criticism, for her perceived line-jumping in moving through NASCAR's ranks. Put it this way: She's not as popular as she is because of her on-track statistics. Still, de-emphasizing the sexy side of her persona is a savvy move to combat much of the criticism she receives, and to help move her brand forward. Next step? Actually winning a doggone race.
GoDaddy, Danica Patrick going conservative [USA Today]
-Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee. No shower scenes, promise.
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The London Grand Prix ? PR stunt or the real deal?
A month ago McLaren sponsor Santander invited the media to an event in London today with the premise “Ever imagined what a London Grand Prix might look like? Jenson and Lewis have.” The company followed up with the promise of … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/06/28/the-london-grand-prix-pr-stunt-or-the-real-deal/
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2012 Assen MotoGP FP1 Result: Lorenzo Takes Top In Final Minutes
Jorge Lorenzo ended the first session of free practice for the MotoGP class at Assen on top of the timesheets, squeaking ahead of Casey Stoner as the session ended. Stoner had dominated for much of the session, but the Yamahas closed the gap as FP1 drew to a close. In the end, Lorenzo took a slim lead over the Australian. Stoner's Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa also slipped through ahead of Stoner to take 2nd, leaving the Australian in 3rd.
Ben Spies posted a respectable 4th fastest time, at the track where he secured his first and so far only victory in MotoGP. Nicky Hayden put the factory Ducati in 5th, three quarters of a second behind Lorenzo, and just ahead of Alvaro Bautista on the San Carlo Gresini Honda. Hector Barbera took 7th on the Pramac Ducati, following Andrea Dovizioso around to end ahead of the Italian, forcing Dovizioso down into 8th, just ahead of Monster Tech 3 Yamaha teammate Cal Crutchlow. Valentino Rossi rounds out the top 10, just under a second slower than Lorenzo.
Results:
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