Indy Car Info

Thursday

Chad Norris to take over as crew chief for Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards will have a new crew chief for the rest of 2012.

Bob Osborne, Edwards' crew chief for all but 27 races of his Sprint Cup Series career, is stepping down from his post atop the No. 99 pit box for medical reasons. Chad Norris will become Edwards' crew chief.

"I have had the pleasure of working with Carl Edwards for the past nine years and, during that time, my focus has been building a championship-caliber program," Osborne said in a release. "I'm proud of the 18 wins we've had together in Sprint Cup Series competition and our two second-place points finishes.

"At this time in my life, however, concerns with my health have necessitated that I change my role within the organization," Osborne added. "This transition is not an easy one, but I'm thankful to have the full support of Jack [Roush], Carl and the entire organization. I also have every confidence in Chad Norris, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to pursue a championship in 2012. I also appreciate the privacy and respect that the community will give me and my family during this difficult time."

[Power Rankings: When in doubt go with Jimmie Johnson]

Osborne will remain with Roush as a senior member of the company's management team and steering committee. Norris has been with Roush Fenway since 2005 and was in charge of Roush's R&D team and was the crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse in the Daytona 500.

Edwards, who finished second to Tony Stewart in last year's Chase, is currently in 11th place in the Sprint Cup points standings ?�46 points behind 10th place Brad Keselowski. However, Edwards is currently sitting outside the Chase at the moment with zero wins. His last win was at Las Vegas back in March of 2011. Stewart and Edwards were tied in the points column at the end of last season, but Stewart had five wins to Edwards' one.

Following a 20th-place finish at Kentucky in which Edwards had to stop late for fuel, Edwards backed Osborne, calling him the best crew chief in the business and �urged his team to stick together.

"I cannot say enough good things about Bob Osborne," Edwards said in a statement. "I'm so thankful for what he's done for me as a driver, and he is without a doubt one of the smartest guys in the sport. I'm also appreciative of the fact that he'll continue to be a resource for me and our team as we focus on these final races. We're very fortunate to have Chad Norris as part of our organization to take over for the No. 99. I've known Chad for a long time and he is a fierce competitor. We've got our work cut out for us over the next seven races, and I've got every confidence Chad can lead our team to where we need to be."

Will Norris be the spark that Edwards needs over the final seven races to snag a wild card or move into the top 10?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/chad-norris-over-crew-chief-carl-edwards-125457534--nascar.html

Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla

Scary moment on Daytona pit road as Ryan Newman nearly takes out pit crew member

Almost a very scary moment at Daytona on Saturday night as Ryan Newman found himself spun around on pit road. And if there's one place you don't want to be traveling backwards at high speed, it's the one place on the track where there are actual unprotected people walking around. Some fast dancing by the men on pit road averted disaster, but still ... whew. This could've been a whole lot worse.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/scary-moment-daytona-pit-road-ryan-newman-nearly-021155332--nascar.html

Clemar Bucci Ronnie Bucknum Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi

Franchitti Day After Photo Shoot

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/05/franchitti-day-after-photo-shoot.html

Roberto Bussinello Jenson Button Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca

How I Saw it? The Yellow Free Doube-Shot Edition

Another one in the books at Mid-Ohio, and still not a single yellow to be seen in two races. I?m really liking this kinder and gentler, but way more hardcore style of racing we have seen the last few weeks. … Continue reading →

Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/how-i-saw-it-the-yellow-free-doube-shot-edition/

Franco Comotti George Connor George Constantine John Cordts

Wednesday

Battle underway to save historic Nazareth Speedway

All over the United States, you can find historic but shuttered tracks, locales which once hosted all-out assaults of speed and sound but now sit abandoned, often gone to seed. Each of these tracks has its own hardy band of defenders and advocates who hope they can entice racing to return.

Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania never hosted a Sprint Cup-level race, but did host lower series races (and IndyCar races) until 2004. Familiar names like Matt Kenseth, Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves and Greg Biffle ran there; Martin Truex Jr. won the last Nationwide race there in May 2004. The track is owned by ISC, but its role in the Northeast has been usurped by fellow ISC track Watkins Glen. Shoot, even the grandstands were ripped up from Nazareth and shipped over to Watkins Glen. The indignity!

You can see the track in full flower above ... and in full overgrown shrub below. For more about the speedway preservation effort, visit their Facebook page.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/battle-underway-save-historic-nazareth-speedway-130202645--nascar.html

Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown

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.

Race Details

Round Number:

2012

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/H21uZEfhmnY/2012_silverstone_wsbk_superpole_wet_cond.html

Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh

Championship Title Tightens

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/06/saturday-nights-struggles-in-iowa-for.html

Erwin Bauer Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman

Ham strings them along

Lewis Hamilton continued to set the pace in Q2 qualifying in Hungary, beating Sebastian Vettel by three tenths. Pastor Maldonado was third ahead of Felipe Massa’s Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus and Fernando Alonso. Jenson Button was next ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, Romain Grosjean and Bruno Senna. Out went Mark Webber, Paul di Resta, Nico Rosberg, [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/ham-strings-them-along/

Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews

2012 Silverstone WSBK Friday Round Up: Rain, Rumours and Results

One of the paddock's worst-kept secrets was the cancellation of the Portimao round at the end of the 2012 World Superbike championship. Luckily for fans of the Portugese circuit, the track was confirmed as definitely being on the calendar, as the financial penalties for its not being held were greater than the costs. This, however, wasn't the biggest rumour to hit the paddock as, fresh on the heels of Ben Spies being almost certain to join the BWM Motorrad Italia team next year alongside Marco Melandri, we were treated with hints that Valentino Rossi would possibly be joining the Superbike paddock on a Yamaha in 2015.

Race Details

Round Number:

2012

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/i_v32gxt_EY/2012_silverstone_wsbk_friday_round_up_ra.html

Alex Caffi John CampbellJones Adriбn Campos John Cannon

Tuesday

Four different winners - now pick a champion

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/04/four_different_winners_-_now_p.html

Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux

Join us for the latest Yahoo! Sports NASCAR Chat, Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET

Time again for the latest Yahoo! Sports NASCAR chat, and as long as we don't go in for four tires instead of two, we should all be just fine. Join us here at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/join-us-latest-yahoo-sports-nascar-chat-tuesday-121614350--nascar.html

Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco

Allmendinger?s business manager says he tested positive for amphetamines

AJ Allmendinger's business manager said Wednesday that the driver tested positive for amphetamines, however, they were unsure of what the amphetamine exactly was.

From the Associated Press:

Allmendinger's business manager, Tara Ragan, confirmed multiple media reports Wednesday that an amphetamine triggered the positive test. Ragan said Allmendinger was waiting for additional data from the laboratory that might help identify the source of the amphetamine.

''What is it, exactly? That, we still don't know,'' Ragan said.

NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said on SPEED's Race Hub Wednesday night that it was protocol to inform Allmendinger of the specific substance. Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR Tuesday after his 'B' sample corroborated with the positive drug test of his 'A' sample after the Kentucky race on June 30.

"Actually, specific substance, not stimulant, that is something that they said. We don't reveal the actual substance," Higdon said. "But it's part of the protocol that's outlined in our rulebook, the medical review officer does in fact inform the competitor of the exact substance that he or she has tested positive for. That information is also conveyed to NASCAR."

Well then, that's interesting, isn't it? Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said that the team hasn't been notified of the specifics, saying that all the team knows is what's been released by Allmendinger's camp publicly.

Earlier Wednesday, Ragan confirmed that Allmendinger would be entering NASCAR's Road to Recovery Program immediately in an attempt to return to the track as fast as possible. Given the likely timeline of the program ? generally five months or so ? it's doubtful that Allmendinger will be eligible to compete before the end of the season. Sam Hornish is scheduled to be in the car on Sunday at Indianapolis and the following weekend at Pocono.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/allmendinger-business-manager-says-tested-positive-amphetamines-024845243--nascar.html

John Cannon Eitel Cantoni Bill Cantrell Ivan Capelli

Chad Norris to take over as crew chief for Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards will have a new crew chief for the rest of 2012.

[Power Rankings: When in doubt go with Jimmie Johnson]

Following a 20th-place finish at Kentucky in which Edwards had to stop late for fuel, Edwards backed Osborne, calling him the best crew chief in the business and �urged his team to stick together.

Will Norris be the spark that Edwards needs over the final seven races to snag a wild card or move into the top 10?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/chad-norris-over-crew-chief-carl-edwards-125457534--nascar.html

Adriбn Campos John Cannon Eitel Cantoni Bill Cantrell

Monday

Power Rankings: Not much doubt about the top

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 guy who's back in the front yet again...

1. Jimmie Johnson: Seriously, any doubt who the best driver and team is in NASCAR right now? Sure, they're not at the top of the standings, but that's a mere technicality. Everything is clicking exactly right for the 48 team now. Not saying they're going to run away with the title, but once the Chase hits, there will be no room for mistakes against Johnson. Last week: 1.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: The fact that Earnhardt tied Jeff Gordon for the most consecutive lead-lap finishes in NASCAR history on Sunday (21) is fairly impressive and speaks to the nature of his season: consistency above flashiness. This is the kind of run that validates a lot of people's faith in him for all these years. Last week: 1.

3. Matt Kenseth: Look, I'm not trying to start anything here, but did anybody find it curious that Joey Logano took out Matt Kenseth and cost him the points lead? The same Logano whom Kenseth may well be replacing? It could be just random coincidence, but screw that: conspiracy! Last week: 2.

4. Denny Hamlin: Good early-race run by Hamlin, but seriously: nobody was catching Jimmie Johnson on Sunday. He could've had a podium finish in the Indy 500 the way he was running. Hamlin, though, is surely looking forward to this weekend at Pocono. Hey, somebody has to. Last week: 4.

5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski's save during a restart on Sunday was one of the best moves of the year, NASCAR-wise, and shows that these guys actually can do a little more than point the car straight and turn it left. Anybody else in the mood for some more dirt-track racing.� Last week: 7.

6. Greg Biffle: Biffle's not at the top of the points any longer, but he's not fading, either. He's got success in the Chase, so he'll need to keep storing up info on these tracks for future reference. But we won't be coming back to Indy this year. Aw, too bad. Last week: 6.

7. Kasey Kahne: An unexpectedly unspectacular run from Kahne after what had been a sustained stretch of excellence. Still, he remains in the driver's seat (sorry) for the wild card, and should be well-positioned come Chase time to make a run at whatsisname in the 48. Last week: 3.

8. Jeff Gordon: Yes, yes, why is Gordon so high in the Power Rankings when he's so low in the standings? Because Gordon is, hands down, one of the best drivers at the moment. Problem is, the NASCAR season stretches aaaalll the way back to February, and in the early part of the year, Gordon was, well, awful. He'll need more than top-five finishes to make any more noise this year. Last week: 9.

9. Tony Stewart: Does any Stewart fan really care how he finishes the regular season? I mean, he's in the Chase. And he's shown that he can flip a switch and put on a 10-race sprint sprint to grab himself a Cup. What more do you need, huh? Till then, it's all just riding around. Last week: 8.

10. Kyle Busch: You know, we haven't had any crazy stories out of Kyle in quite some time. I'm not prepared to do a "New Kyle" article yet; we've been burned before there. But I will say that if he gets into the Chase (IF), he should be better from the lack of distractions. In theory. Last week: NR.

11. Ryan Newman: I didn't give Newman much of a chance on Sunday, but he did well enough to keep himself very much in the wild card hunt. He's going to need some good luck or a bad break to befall his rivals, but for the moment he's right there. Just keep bringing us the Bloomin' Onions, Ryan, and all will be right with the world. Last week: 11.

12. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer provided one of Sunday's few carnage highlights, spinning across the grass and ticking the wall. Even so, he still managed to salvage a decent finish. He's a guy who seems like he would have run well in any era of NASCAR, from the run-what-you-brung 1940s to the Jupiter 500 days of 2200. Last week: 10.

Dropping out of the rankings: Joey Logano.

Lucky Dog: Mark Martin, who brought home another strong finish. Why's this cat not racing full time again?

The Carl Edwards DNF: Carl Edwards, who began the Chad Norris era with an ignominious engine misfire. Getting tighter around the 99 camp...

All right, your turn. Fire away, friends.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/power-rankings-not-much-doubt-top-170011225--nascar.html

Alberto Crespo Antonio Creus Larry Crockett Tony Crook

UPDATE: Fan killed; nine injured by lightning after Pocono race

UPDATE: Shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Pocono Raceway officials announced that a fan was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital. Details have not been released.

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Tough news out of Pocono, as the same storm that shut down the race after 98 of a scheduled 160 laps also sent down a lightning strike that injured 10 fans just outside the track.

Pocono officials indicated that several of the fans were treated and released from the infield care center, but that five were transported directly to local hospitals. Their names and conditions were not released. In all, two fans are listed as critical, one as moderate, two as minor, and five treated and released.

"Me and my friend just ran into our truck during all the nasty weather," Kyle Manger, a race fan from New Jersey, told The Sporting News. "The visibility was very poor and all of a sudden �[I] saw a bolt of lightning right in front of our windshield. When it became a little more visible, we saw two bodies next to a destroyed tent with people scrambling."

Jeff Gordon, the race's winner, recalled seeing lightning strikes right after the race ended, including the one that may have injured the fans. "I'm pretty sure I know which one it was," he said. "We were walking down pit road, the umbrellas weren't doing any good, there was a huge, huge crack from lightning. You could tell it was very close. That's the thing that's going to take away from the victory, is the fact that somebody was affected by that."

NASCAR fans have been struck by lightning at tracks in the past. Three fans suffered minor injuries during a thunderstorm in Daytona in 2004. And in 1983, two spectators were killed and six injured during a storm at Dover.

More NASCAR coverage from Yahoo! Sports

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/ten-fans-affected-lightning-pocono-race-230516742--nascar.html

Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews

2012 Silverstone WSBK Friday Round Up: Rain, Rumours and Results

Race Details

Round Number:

2012

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/i_v32gxt_EY/2012_silverstone_wsbk_friday_round_up_ra.html

Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem Jean Behra