Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/jean-todts-manifesto/
Tuesday
A document from Jean Todt
I have now had the chance to take a look at Jean Todt’s first official publication in the 2013 FIA election campaign and I don’t think there is much that can be disputed in it. Jean has done a lot in his first term of office. The document is looking backwards at what has been […]
Monday
Dario Franchitti update: broken back, ankle in wreck
In a terrifying wreck at Sunday's Shell-Penzoil Grand Prix of Houston, four-time IndyCar series champion Dario Franchitti was seriously injured, fracturing two vertebrae, breaking his right ankle and sustaining a concussion. Wreckage flew into the stands nearby, injuring 13 fans. Eleven fans were treated on-site, and the remaining two were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.
On the final lap of the race, Franchitti and Takuma Sato got tangled up in Turn 5, with Franchitti clipping Sato's back wheel and spinning into the catch fence. EJ Viso, trailing, was able to avoid the wreckage of Franchitti's car but hit Sato. The race was halted, and Will Power was declared the winner in a muted celebration.
For a long time, the television cameras only carried distant shots of Franchitti's wreckage, leading to obvious concerns. But Franchitti's team owner, Chip Ganassi, soon brought good news after visiting with Franchitti. "He's got a sore ankle and back," Ganassi said, "but he's OK."
Franchitti underwent surgery Sunday night to stabilize the ankle. He is expected to remain in Houston for "a few days," according to a team report, "at which time he will be transported to Indianapolis for further evaluation.
"Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes. They mean a lot to me," Franchitti said in a statement. "I would also like to send my best to all the fans involved in the accident and hope that everyone is alright."
The wreck occurred almost two years to the day that Dan Wheldon died in a wreck in Las Vegas, a tragedy where almost every driver in Houston was present. ?The smells and the visuals, for me, and even talking to Will [Power], you have the remnants of Vegas popping into your head with you coming around the corner and you can't drive through it because there's a field of debris,? Scott Dixon said. ?There was no near the amount of damage that we saw [in 2011], but seeing the replay was a big shock.?
The replay is above. Below, a fan video of the wreck:
Clearly, as painful as this was, it could have been so, so much worse.
2013 MotoGP Championship Standings After Round 15, Sepang, Malaysia
MotoGP Championship standings for round 15, 2013
Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler
Sunday
Craziest Moment: Dale Earnhardt Jr.?s engine explodes entering turn one
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joey Logano's Chase hopes might have gone up in literal smoke Sunday evening at Chicagoland Speedway.
As Earnhardt Jr. was entering turn one at over 200 MPH on lap 226, a big plume of white smoke suddenly erupted from his car, blinding the track behind him. With a fire starting underneath the car and the smoke trailing, Junior spun the car to the inside grass and climbed out as the car cooked like a hamburger on an unattended grill.
Soon after the rain delay, Junior worked his way into the top five, but saw his hopes for a win disappear when he was involved in a chain reaction incident on pit road. The mess -- which happened when drivers simply ran out of real estate as they tried to exit and enter their pits under alternate pit strategies -- busted up the front end of Junior's car. By the time his Hendrick team had finished working on it, the nose of the car had been worked on more than a Hollywood star's face.
[Photos: Matt Kenseth wins Geico 400 at Chicagoland]
Logano's car started smoking well before that. The polesitter had one of the fastest cars during the day on Sunday before rain delayed the race more than five hours, and was still fast once the race resumed Sunday night. However, smoke started coming out the tailpipes of his car. The engine was going sour.
He was able to limp his sick engine around as long as possible, but on lap 177, it emitted its final puff of smoke. It had given up the ghost.
[Related: Rick Hendrick talks about decision to put Gordon into Chase]
Junior finished 35th and Logano finished 37th, and both drivers are at the bottom of the Chase standings. Logano is 52 points behind Matt Kenseth, who won Sunday night's race, and Junior is 53 points behind in 13th. That's more than entire race's worth of points. Yes, there are nine races to go, but that's a pretty sizeable hole.
Saturday
Travis Kvapil arrested after incident at his house
In a news release late Wednesday afternoon, the Mooresville Police Department said officers responded to Kvapil's home following a 911 phone call regarding an assault involving his wife.
After an investigation, Kvapil, 37, was arrested. He was taken to the Iredell County Jail and held under a domestic hold awaiting an appearance in District Court Wednesday.
The 2003 Truck Series champion currently drives for BK Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He finished 26th Sunday at Kansas Speedway despite a lap 148 spin. He's currently 27th in the points standings and his best finish of the season is a 16th at Bristol in August.
Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
Friday
Thursday
Jeff Gordon knocks Kevin Harvick off the Sprint Cup pole at Charlotte
Hey, whaddya know? That was an entertaining qualifying session.
A flurry of fast cars late in Thursday's Sprint Cup qualifying session for Saturday's race at Charlotte ended with the last car, Jeff Gordon, on top and on the pole for Saturday night's race.
He knocked off Kevin Harvick, who had taken the pole on the run prior to Gordon's. Harvick had previously knocked Greg Biffle off the pole, who had taken it from Kasey Kahne, who starts fifth. Kahne had held it for most of the session.
Jimmie Johnson is fourth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is sixth. Ryan Newman starts seventh while Kyle and Kurt Busch will be in the fifth row in ninth and 10th. Joey Logano is 12th, Clint Bowyer is 14th, Carl Edwards is 15th and Matt Kenseth is 20th.
Wednesday
The Nationwide Series Is Going To Be Awesome In 2013
Thanks to a strong mix of young drivers and veterans trying to fight their way back to the top, with help from the NASCAR rule limiting drivers to one series for points, we are about to see the re-emergence of the Nationwide Series in 2013. I mean, have you seen the driver lineup? Instead of [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
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Tuesday
Monday
Hyundai Veloster Night Racer Concept by EGR Group
Last week, Hyundai unveiled the first details on the Genesis Coupe concept car specially developed for the 2013 SEMA show in cooperation with Bisimoto Engineering. Today it’s time to learn about another concept from the Korean automaker: a Veloster developed in cooperation with EGR Group.
As its name suggests, the Veloster Night Racer was specially developed for the night racing circuits. To achieve this, the concept received a vivid, yellow paint scheme, a Wurton roof-mounted, LED light bar and custom, ONEighty-branded headlights. The exterior was also updated with a specially developed body kit, hood deflector, window visors, a rear spoiler and bumper guard. The concept sits on special DPE three-piece, lightweight racing wheels.
As this was a concept developed for the circuit, Hyundai and EGR Group also equipped the Veloster with a roll cage and racing seats with Takata harnesses.
Bisimoto Engineering checked in to tune the Hyundai Veloster’s 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine and MagnaFlow added in an exhaust system. This helped push the final output to 250 horsepower — up from the stock 201 horsepower. Helping drag this hatchback to a stop are oversized Brembo brakes.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Hyundai Veloster.
Hyundai Veloster Night Racer Concept by EGR Group originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 5 October 2013 12:00 EST.
Sunday
Iowa Rain Out Causes Pit Crew Problems
On a normal NASCAR weekend when the Truck Series and/or Nationwide Series run companion to the Cup cars, there are a lot of pit crew members who double or triple dip. Crew members make some extra cash and get more reps, and the teams get top talent pitting their cars. But this last weekend presented [...] 
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Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
Saturday
Friday
Happy Hour: Tires, passing and more Cup drivers in Nationwide
Throughout the week you can send us your best questions, jokes, rants and just plain miscellaneous thoughts to happyhourmailbag@yahoo.com or @NickBromberg. We'll post them here, have a good time and everyone's happy. Right? Oh who are we kidding, this is NASCAR. No one is ever happy.
A lot was made about the "revolutionary" tire at Atlanta, so we might as well start with a question about tires, right?
I thought the Atlanta race was fantastic because of the tire fall off. Two questions:
1. Was it the track or the new tire that caused the falloff or both?
2. What other tracks promote tire fall off? Why?
Thanks. Love the blog.
-Drew
It was a good race -- but that was it. It wasn't great, nor did it come close to approaching some of the classics that we've seen at Atlanta in the past.
If we weren't told that a different tire was being used on Sunday night, would we have known a difference? I ask that question in all seriousness. The reason the tire had to be so revolutionary was because the tires that were originally used at the beginning of the Atlanta tire test weren't lasting very long.
That's not to say that the tire was a failure by any means -- though calling it a success right after the race was a bit of premature PR. The tire had fall-off and it had durability. But why should that be such of a big deal? It is only because we're used to races at tracks with fresh pavement and no tire fall-off.
And that's not Goodyear's exclusive fault. I'm of the thought that all parties involved should have been more proactive than reactive when it came to the newfound demands of the new car, but that's a different topic for a different day. As Geoffrey Miller wrote this week, we're all just listening to the hype machine spin all around us. Now, speaking of the new car...
_____________________
My question is: We know the teams and the manufacturers use wind tunnels to test these cars; do they not have a wind tunnel that can simulate air flow during a passing situation? Can they not do such testing, with scales under the tires in order to measure downforce and how it's affected by side-by-side racing?
It just seems to me that, when the Gen 6 car was introduced, a lot of teams were "surprised" at how one car coming up alongside another could make the first car loose. If the teams were doing their homework, wouldn't that have come up in either wind-tunnel testing, or computer simulations? And if this actually WAS a known problem, shouldn't teams--and NASCAR--have addressed such a problem? I have trouble believing that NASCAR or the major teams would WANT to have cars getting wrecked because another car took away the air on the side; but then, maybe they ARE catering to the fans who watch the races only for the wrecks, and who are more interested in the pit stops than the RACING, which to me has always been about passing other cars under the green flag.
At the most recent Bristol race, the most excitement I saw was when Kasey Kahne was trying to run down and then pass Matt Kenseth at the end. But then, maybe I'm an old fogey; to me, that stuff USED to be what racing was all about, two cars side-by-side, one going for the pass, the other trying to prevent it. Maybe the modern definition of racing IS about wrecks and gaining positions on pit road...but as far as I'm concerned, racing will always be about passing under green and tradin' paint if that's what it takes to make it happen.
And I'm beginning to miss that part of Cup racing.
- Buzz
There's only so much you can do when it comes to simulations. My armchair analysis wonders if it's because teams don't spend that much time running in packs or near each other during practice, and then the only time that the cars are very close to each other is during a race.
Now, I understand why teams play it the way they do -- you don't want to get a car crashed in practice. But I have to wonder if there's some data to be gathered.
_____________________
How big a points lead would Sam Hornish Jr. have at the moment if the Cup regulars didn't keep stealing his wins? I know he has finished 2nd to his team mates from Cup twice this year at least, and he once again was leading the Nationwide regulars at Atlanta. Only to have 3rd place behind Harvick and Busch. Here's a crazy idea, don't give Cup regulars who are driving in the 'minors' points. Sure Sam finished 3rd, but he was highest Nationwide driver so give him points for the win. That would give Kyle Larson a 2nd, not a 5th. Yes I realize that the Cup drivers coming 'down' to a Nationwide race may draw in a few more fans into the stands, but why should the full time Nationwide drivers be penalized for a more experienced, over qualified driver stealing a win? Wouldn't people cry foul if a professional baseball team such as St. Louis played a minor league team and acted like they did a major accomplishment when they stomped em? There wouldn't have been nearly as many drivers a lap down at the end of the Nationwide race if were there were no Cup drivers blowing the field away from the drop of the green. I am sorry Kyle, but the only wins that count in my book for Cup drivers are CUP WINS. You can pat yourself on the back all you want for your Truck and Nationwide wins and pad your win total to your hearts content...... but all you did was beat up the 'minors'. Good Job, you beat someone you SHOULD beat
Tell me the extra track time doesn't help, look at the line Harvick found during the Nationwide race and how he transferred that over to his Cup finish. Now sure, every other driver saw it and used it as well but still, he had the ON TRACK experience of implementing it.
And Cup drivers could still race for the Owner's Points Championship, that's all they get anyway when they run Nationwide. Deal out the owner point's as you would a normal race.
- Shawn
Oh man, Shawn, that's a lot of math. Sam has finished second five times this year and they've all been to Cup drivers. If you want to give him four more points (one for another position and then three for the win) for each race, he'd have 20 more points. But then we'd play the game with everyone else.
In case you were wondering, Austin Dillon has finished second once this year and that was to Trevor Bayne in the first Iowa race.
I'm also really not sure about the attendance impacts either. It sure seems that many fans are suffering Cup fatigue in the Nationwide Series. I wonder which outweighs the other?
I'm going to break this next one down line by line.
_____________________
1---Make it more of a drivers' race, less of a chassis tuners' race. Put chassis adjusters inside the car. Electric motors or other gizmos can replace the cranks in the back windows. Let the driver adjust their suspension during the running. We want to watch the drivers race at their best, not be hindered by a car that doesn't suit the track at that time.
What if we put navigators in the passenger side of the car similar to rally racing? And then if there needs to be an adjustment he/she climbs in the back of the car and makes it?
2---More of a drivers' race---more road courses. Fewer dull mile-and-a-half roundandroundandround races.
Let's race the whole F1 schedule? How fun would that be?
3---Pick up the quality of the low budget teams to make them more competitive. I don't know enough about it, but some smart people must have some good ideas for co-op chassis building of top quality cars or other ways to increase the size of the competitive field.
So the most competitive field in Sprint Cup history isn't competitive enough?
4--For the playoffs...err, Chase...drop the twelve-position Chase points driver out of the Chase each week and put the highest points non-Chase drive into the Chase. Those races would be fun to watch with the risk of being dropped from the playoffs!
I wouldn't be surprised if elimination implemented in the near future.
5---In Nationwide, put any Cup driver in the top half of the Cup points in the back to start. Who wants to see Kyle Bush win another Nationwide race, or Harvick, or Keselowski, etc.? Let them race, but make it tough on them in order to even out the competition.
Someone has converted to our cause!
6---More night races...it suits my schedule better.
Are the Gen 6 car bodies more fragile? They seem to get knocked apart from moderate impacts more than previous car generations.
- Ken
Carbon fiber, baby. Carbon fiber.
_____________________
I have a good question and suggestion for the cup race. I know the last race is at Homestead. Well why not let everyone race for points up till the homestead race. The top 10 drivers in points take that week off and have one final race at Daytona where those drivers race for the cup. No points, just whomever takes the checkered flag takes home the cup. That way those 10 drivers have 2 weeks to prepare and you can have a Daytona cup week party just like they do for the Daytona 500.
Because right now, I think it is unfair with what is going on with the 48, that Hendrick shows Johnson more attention and pours more money into his team then the other teams.
- Thomas
If you think that Hendrick focuses on the No. 48 more than the teams of Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Dale freaking Earnhardt Jr., you're out of your mind.
I don't know if NASCAR should end with a restrictor plate race. I like the idea of ending at Daytona, but the unpredictability of plate racing could lead to something really bizarre happening. Would that be a good thing or too Derrike Cope? I'm all for a plate race staying in the Chase. Just not sure about being at the end -- though I've waffled on this.
Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris
Thursday
Chrome Horn Episode 25: Richmond II
Join yours truly and Geoffrey Miller as we talk... well, we don't have to tell you what we talk about because it's pretty obvious, don't you think?
Got any questions for us to use in the mailbag or the podcast? Hit us at HappyHourMailbag@Yahoo.com.
Click here to download the podcast or here to listen to in your browser. And we're now on iTunes! Find us in the Podcast section right here and subscribe. Listen!
Wednesday
New Indianapolis road track ?better? than F1 version | IndyCar
The new Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course which IndyCar will race on next year is expected to be an improvement over the layout F1 used.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/10/02/new-indianapolis-road-track-better-than-f1-version/
Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari
Tuesday
Chrome Horn Episode 25: Richmond II
Join yours truly and Geoffrey Miller as we talk... well, we don't have to tell you what we talk about because it's pretty obvious, don't you think?
Got any questions for us to use in the mailbag or the podcast? Hit us at HappyHourMailbag@Yahoo.com.
Click here to download the podcast or here to listen to in your browser. And we're now on iTunes! Find us in the Podcast section right here and subscribe. Listen!
Monday
What Does The Future Hold For Button?
The admission of Jenson Button last week that his McLaren deal has been extended was no huge surprise ? but what is intriguing is the length of the deal. He ?couldn?t say? about anything beyond 2014, which suggests that the deal is only for a single year, with a possible option on it. Is it [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/mUDjFt1E_yI/what-does-the-future-hold-for-button
Sunday
NASCAR penalizes Michael Waltrip Racing for Richmond actions; Ryan Newman now in the Chase, Martin Truex Jr. out
NASCAR moved Ryan Newman into the Chase for the Sprint Cup and Martin Truex Jr. out after investigating the final laps of Saturday night's race at Richmond.
Truex and teammates Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers received 50 point penalties. The penalties are as follows:
MWR was found to have violated Section 12-4 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing). As a result, MWR?s three teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (No. 15, 55, 56) have been penalized with the loss of 50 championship driver and 50 championship owner points, respectively.
These point penalties are assessed following the season?s 26th regular season race and not after the seeding for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Therefore, the point total for the No. 56 car driven by Martin Truex Jr. is reduced to 691, putting him in 17th position and eliminating him from the second Wild Card berth for the Chase field. Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 car, now moves up into the Chase as the second Wild Card participant.
[Related: NAPA launching review of Michael Waltrip Racing sponsorship]
During the final laps at Richmond, Bowyer spun and caused a late caution while Ryan Newman was leading. If Newman had won, he would have gotten a Wild Card seed over Bowyer's teammate Martin Truex Jr. After pitting, Newman re-entered the track in fifth during the caution and finished third. Truex got the second Wild Card on a tiebreaker with Newman.
"Based upon our review of Saturday night?s race at Richmond, it is our determination that the MWR organization attempted to manipulate the outcome of the race," NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said in the release. "As the sport?s sanctioning body, it is our responsibility to ensure there is a fair and level playing field for all of our competitors and this action today reflects our commitment to that."
The Chase is NASCAR's 10 race playoff amongst 12 drivers. Until Monday, NASCAR has never issued penalties that have affected the composition of the Chase field since the Chase's inception in 2004.
It's also important to note that Bowyer's 50 point deduction does not affect his Chase total -- so in essence, it's an empty points penalty. He will still start the Chase in 7th place with 2000 points. Matt Kenseth is the top seed with 2015 points.
[Watch: One-on-one with Dale Earnhardt Jr.]
Jeff Gordon was also affected by the MWR maneuver, as Bowyer and Brian Vickers, who was in the No. 55, slowed down over the last few laps to ensure that Joey Logano got ahead of them. That moved Gordon from 10th place and a guaranteed spot in the Chase to 11th place. Gordon was ineligible for a Wild Card because he didn't have a win while Logano would have gotten a Wild Card over Truex by virtue of his win at Michigan. However, Gordon is still out of the Chase.
Michael Waltrip Racing was also fined $300,000 and director of competition Ty Norris was also suspended indefinitely. Crew chiefs Chad Johnston (Truex), Brian Pattie (Bowyer) and Scott Miller (Vickers) were placed on probation until the end of the year.
Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen
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