Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/how-i-saw-it-the-three-peat-edition/
Monday
How I Saw It? The Three-Peat Edition
The 1.75 mile bull ring street circuit had it all, and an honest to goodness pass for the lead. The drivers even gave us nearly 82 laps of more or less clean and professional driving. They didn?t even need to … Continue reading
Sunday
AJ Allmendinger failed random NASCAR drug test, Hornish to replace him at Daytona
Just hours before the Coke Zero 400, NASCAR has announced that AJ Allmendinger has failed a random drug test and has been pulled from the seat of the No. 22 Shell Dodge. Sam Hornish Jr. will be his replacement, and had to fly to Daytona from Charlotte with barely two hours' notice.
NASCAR tested Allmendinger during the Kentucky race weekend. According to NASCAR Vice President Steve O'Donnell, Allmendinger's "A" sample tested positive; according to NASCAR, he has the right to request a test of his "B" sample within 72 hours. O'Donnell spoke to the media at 6 p.m. Eastern but took no questions. There was no indication of what substance triggered the failure.
Allmendinger has been "temporarily suspended," with no word on how long he will be out.
"NASCAR notified Penske Racing this afternoon that AJ Allmendinger was administered a drug test earlier this week, and those results tested positive," Penske said in a statement. "NASCAR has a strict drug testing program that Penske Racing fully supports. Penske Racing will work with NASCAR through this process and its next steps. Sam Hornish Jr., will drive the No. 22 car in tonight's Coke Zero 400."
Allmendinger's teammate Brad Keselowski responded almost immediately on Twitter, noting "No comments on 22 car tonight as we focus on tonight's race. Thank u in advance."
Further details as they become available.
Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa
2012 Silverstone WSBK Superpole: Wet Conditions
Superpole was, unsurprisingly, wet. Two twenty-minute sessions, with only eight riders able to qualify for the second round in with tricky conditions.
Video: AJ Allmendinger questions, retiring numbers
There are several big questions orbiting NASCAR this week, none bigger than the fate of AJ Allmendinger. Though the story is still in progress, we kick around the key components of the issue right here. And on a less solemn note: should numbers be retired from NASCAR? Busbee says yes, Hart says no. Listen to our arguments and have your say right here. Enjoy, friends.
Burnouts and Fandom at IMS
Programming Note: I am awash with guilt because NASCAR and Grand-Am are receiving features on a website specifically devoted to indycar racing. However, this weekend?s events took place at our open wheel home so we were all paying a bit … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/burnouts-and-fandom-at-ims/
Saturday
Sebastian Vettel: ?I was fighting as much as I could?
Sebastian Vettel has kept his championship challenge firmly on track with a solid fourth place in Hungary, but the German felt he had the speed to do a lot better. After starting third Vettel was passed by Jenson Button at … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/07/29/sebastian-vettel-i-was-fighting-as-much-as-i-could/
Ricciardo Expects To Be At Toro Rosso For 2013
Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that he expects to be racing for Scuderia Toro Rosso for the 2013 season, unless things go ?very badly? in the next few races. The young Australian joined the Italian outfit, alongside fellow rookie Jean-Eric Vergne, for the start of the current season replacing Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi. The pair [...]
Do They Need To Show Some Fight Before Their Season Is Over?
The Hungarian Grand Prix was meant to be an opportunity for Mercedes Benz to showcase their new upgrades in performance and to launch their assault on the title race, but in the end it resulted in farce. Lets not forget, the Mercedes Grand Prix team is essentially the skeleton of the old Brawn GP outfit, [...]
Kurt Busch Is In The 51 For A Reason
There was a post yesterday over at SB Nation, written by Jordan Bianchi, that was titled “If I Were A NASCAR Owner, I’d Hire Kurt Busch.” In it, Bianchi makes a case for why a big time owner should hire Kurt Busch, despite his very recent and past problems. His main point is that Busch [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/givUOD5Q8Sw/
Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler
Friday
Audi RS3 Sportback Features And Price
The RS3 Sportback is one of the most aggressive models on the market, riding a five-cylinder engine and direct injection turbocharged, 2.5-liter TFSI, Audi debuted successfully in the TT RS. In addition this engine is combined with Quattro all-wheel drive, so characteristic of the brand with the four rings and an automatic gearbox S tronic [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/299-audi-rs3-sportback-features-and-price.html
Restructuring rumours
There are reports that there is another technical restructuring taking place at Mercedes AMG Petronas. Given that the current structure has not even had time to settle down, it seems rather more likely that any shuffling going on is simply to redistribute roles following the departure of Loic Bigois, who had been managing aerodynamic programmes. [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/restructuring-rumours/
GB 1-2-3
Lewis Hamilton, Paul di Resta and Jenson Button led the Q1 session in Hungary, ahead of Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa. The top 10 was completed by Kimi Raikkonen and Bruno Senna. The two Red Bulls struggled with Mark Webber 16th and Sebastian Vettel 17th, while Daniel Riccardo was [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/gb-1-2-3/
Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi
AJ Allmendinger indefinitely suspended by NASCAR after B sample test
On June 30, Allmendinger was temporarily suspended by NASCAR after his "A" sample tested positive for an unapproved drug, which his representative characterized as a stimulant. Neither NASCAR nor Allmendinger's camp have revealed the specific reason for the positive test.
"On July 24, Allmendinger was found to have violated Sections 12-1 �[actions detrimental to stock car racing] and 19 [NASCAR's substance abuse policy] of the 2012 NASCAR rule book," NASCAR said in the release.
"As outlined in the rule book, NASCAR next will provide Allmendinger a letter outlining a process for reinstatement. By agreeing to the letter, he will be allowed to participate in the Road to Recovery Program."
Sam Hornish, who has driven the Penske No. 22 the past two races in Allmendinger's absence, will continue to fill in Sunday at Indianapolis and the following week at Pocono, according to Penske Racing.
"Penske Racing was notified today of AJ Allmendinger's positive B sample test. We respect NASCAR's policy and the process they have taken with this matter," the team said in a statement.
"Penske Racing is very disappointed with the result of the B sample test and will evaluate its course of action as it pertains to AJ over the coming week."
According to a statement by Allmendinger representative Tara Ragan, the test was "within nanograms of accepted standards."
"This was not the news we wanted to hear and we will work to get to the source of what may have caused this," the statement from Ragan said. "To that end, we have secured the services of an independent lab to conduct thorough testing on every product within AJ's home and motor coach to find what might collaborate with his test, which created results that were within nanograms of accepted standards. We are working closely with NASCAR and Penske Racing to identify the next action steps in this process. ... We expect to have further updates in the upcoming days."
According to USA Today, "stimulants are defined as including amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds" in the NASCAR rule book. (Many ingredients that fit into the above categories are legal. Allmendinger has an endorsement deal with the energy supplement "Fuel in a Bottle," but there is no indication that product had anything to do with the test results.)
Allmendinger signed a one-year contract with Penske to replace Kurt Busch after the 2011 season and had one top 5 and three top 10s through the first 17 races of the season. Allmendinger got his start in the Sprint Cup Series with the now defunct Red Bull Racing team and then moved to Richard Petty Motorsports before arriving at Penske. Allmendinger came to NASCAR from the also now defunct Champ Car World Series, where he won five races in 2006 and finished third in the points standings to current IndyCar drivers Sebastian Bourdais and Justin Wilson.
2012 had been viewed as a "prove-it" year of sorts for the driver, predicted by many to grab the first Sprint Cup Series win of his career and as a potential Chase dark horse. But now we've gone from wondering if and when Allmendinger will be in victory lane to if and when we will ever see him back in the Sprint Cup Series.
The last Sprint Cup Series driver to test positive under NASCAR's current drug testing policy was Jeremy Mayfield, who said that his positive test for methamphetamines was due to a combination of Adderall and Claritin-D. Mayfield has never been reinstated by NASCAR and was arrested in November for possession of meth and stolen property.
There is no timetable for Allmendinger's possible return if he elects to enroll in NASCAR's Road to Recovery program. And if he does elect to pursue legal action, there's also no telling when a resolution would be found. (Mayfield's legal battle with NASCAR stemming from his positive test ended after he declined to file a final appeal this spring.) No matter what his course of action, even if Allmendinger reveals the specific reason for the test and enters NASCAR's treatment program, the events of the last week won't be forgotten, but they'll be much easier to be forgiven.
Even upon possible reinstatement, there's no guarantee that a ride will be available for Allmendinger. Penske admitted that there were already inquiries about the availability of the No. 22, and without a win to his credit, there may not be any suitors for Allmendinger.
Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti
Thursday
Repsol Press Release: Casey Stoner Talks About Defending His MotoGP Title
After yesterday's interview with Dani Pedrosa, it was just a matter of time before the Repsol Media Service issued their tradition mid-season interview with reigning World Champion Casey Stoner. In the intervew, The Australian talks to the Repsol PR team about his season so far, the difficulties of defending a championship, the intense level of competition at the top of the championship, and what to expect from Marc Marquez when he moves up to the premier class. The full text of the press release interview is below:
“I am World Champion and I don’t give up easily”
Casey Stoner faces the second half of the season eager to defend his Crown as reigning MotoGP World Champion.
Repsol Media Service - Wednesday 01/08/2012
In one of the closest seasons of recent years, reigning MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner has taken four victories to date. His most recent triumph came this past weekend at Laguna Seca, adding to a further three podiums from the opening ten races of 2012. The Repsol Honda Team’s Australian rider is third in the overall standings and will be trying to take a second consecutive title this year to sign off his career on a high note.
Just past the halfway point of the season, how do you evaluate your riding, the team and the bike so far?
Round Number:
10 Year:
2012
At Home With Scott Jones: Friday From Laguna
Laguna baby!
Elevation. Laguna Seca has it
Nine more, and we won't be able to see this any longer
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