Source: http://www.popoffvalve.com/2012/9/14/3330856/indycar-the-friday-setup-fontana
Monday
Your handy cheat sheet for the 2014 Budweiser Duel qualifying races for the Daytona 500
The Budweiser Duel qualifying races at Daytona are unique, as it is the only occasion that NASCAR runs races to decide the starting grid for a race. But the ways drivers can make Sunday's Daytona 500 in the Duel can get a tad complicated.
So we're here to help. Or at least make it so that you may want to leave this post open for reference when the two Duel races are being run Thursday evening.
After Dave Blaney withdrew Wednesday evening following the vicious practice crash on the frontstretch, 48 cars are vying for 43 spots, so five cars will go home.
13 of those 48 cars are guaranteed not to miss the race. They are:
Austin Dillon (starting first in Daytona 500)
Martin Truex Jr. (starting second)
Greg Biffle (via Sunday's qualifying speed)
Carl Edwards (via Sunday's qualifying speed)
Ryan Newman (via Sunday's qualifying speed)
Brad Keselowski (via Sunday's qualifying speed)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (guaranteed provisional via 2013 owner's points)
Jeff Gordon (guaranteed provisional via 2013 owner's points)
Jimmie Johnson (guaranteed provisional via 2013 owner's points)
Matt Kenseth (guaranteed provisional via 2013 owner's points)
Clint Bowyer (guaranteed provisional via 2013 owner's points)
Kyle Busch (guaranteed provisional via 2013 owner's points)
Tony Stewart (guaranteed provisional via winning 2011 championship)
The top 15 cars in each Duel are guaranteed to start the Daytona 500. (the first Duel fills out odd-numbered positions 3-31, while the second fills out even-numbered positions 4-32.) With the final seven positions (37-43) reserved for provisionals, spots 33, 34, 35 and 36 go to the fastest cars. Hence why Biffle, Edwards, Newman and Brad Keselowski are already guaranteed spots.
Got all that? Because provisionals are based off of the 2013 owner's points standings, Kasey Kahne isn't in the same position as, say, Michael McDowell. To miss the race, Kahne would need to finish outside the top 15 in his duel, have four drivers ahead of him during Sunday's front row qualifying session also miss out on the top 15 in their respective duels and have six -- or seven, if the Past Champion's Provisional isn't used -- drivers in the 2013 owner's standings also not finish in the top 15 and require a provisional.
We told you it was complicated. Here are who we think are the drivers in the most danger of missing the 500 and that five of the names below will fail to qualify for the race.
Duel 1:
Reed Sorenson
Parker Kligerman
Cole Whitt
Michael McDowell
Josh Wise
Joe Nemechek
Alex Bowman
Duel 2:
Landon Cassill
Eric McClure
Terry Labonte (could get Past Champion's Provisional)
Bobby Labonte (could get Past Champion's Provisional)
Ryan Truex
Morgan Shepherd
Or will it be someone who isn't on the list? You can find the starting lineup for the first Duel HERE and the second Duel HERE.
- - - - - - -
Sunday
Gresini Press Release: Simeon And Baldassari's Crew Chiefs Analyze Moto2 Preseason Testing
The Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 team issued a press release reviewing progress in testing so far. The crew chiefs of Xavier Simeon and Lorenzo Baldassari talk about the steps made at the two tests in Spain, and look ahead to the season to come. The press release appears below:
MOTO2 PRE-SEASON TEST DEBRIEF WITH TOMMASO RAPONI AND DAVID JABAL
Throughout February, the Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 carried out the first major phase of winter testing in preparation of the 2014 World Championship campaign: despite being forced to miss both Almeria and Valencia test, due to the injury suffered last February 6, Xavier Siméon was able to make the most of the recent Jerez test. The Belgian rider, alongside his crew chief Tommaso Raponi, went down to business working on the 2014 Suter chassis set-up reaching soon a good feeling, confirmed by the ninth overall fastest time in the combined standings, but especially by a very steady pace over the long distance.
Year:
2014 
Saturday
Friday
Williams finally confirms Smedley appointment
Williams has finally confirmed the arrival of Felipe Massa’s long time Ferrari race engineer, Rob Smedley. He will take up the newly created role of Head of Vehicle Performance. Williams says that he will ?strengthen the trackside team whilst also … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/02/25/williams-finally-confirms-smedley-appointment/
Thursday
Tyres more consistent and durable, says Hembery
Paul Hembery says that the teams made good progress with Pirelli’s latest tyres in Bahrain this week, and the conclusion is that they are more consistent and durable than last year. Pirelli admits that it has taken a conservative route, … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/02/22/tyres-more-consistent-and-durable-says-hembery/
Wednesday
NASCAR Still Working Out New Inspection Process
The introduction of the Gen 6 car this season has brought with it some new equipment for the inspection process, namely the new laser measuring rig (see details and a photo here). The laser system helps NASCAR more accurately measure the chassis and things like where and how the rear end is located. But the [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/aDp_tzepnag/
Tuesday
After Seattle?s Super Bowl win, Kyle Busch gets to wear Seahawks gear at Daytona
Kyle Busch will be looking like a Seahawks fan in Daytona.
He and Kasey Kahne had a bet on Sunday night's Super Bowl, and after Kahne's Seahawks won, Busch will be wearing Seattle gear in a couple of weeks. And he may even have a personalized jersey. After the Seahawks caught wind of the bet between the two drivers, the team's official Twitter account tweeted this picture:
@kaseykahne Thanks, Kasey. Next stop: Speedweeks! cc @KyleBusch pic.twitter.com/7riwPa3WHT
? Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 3, 2014
We'll give the Seahawks a pass on "Speedweek." After winning the Super Bowl, getting a NASCAR event's name right is probably not too high on the list of priorities.
Busch was at the game Sunday night wearing a Peyton Manning jersey. We'll avoid the joke asking if he could have played better than Manning. First, because it's preposterous, and secondly, have you seen Busch's performance when he's been in the Chase? (Yes, that's as low-hanging as asking if Tim Tebow would have done better last night.)
Almost game time folks... Getting ready to party w @snickers n the nfl tailgate party! pic.twitter.com/7aXOFFjQLZ ? Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) February 2, 2014
Congratulations to Kahne. Given that he was on the losing end of seemingly every encounter with Busch in 2013, he needed the win.
- - - - - - -
Monday
Weekend Review? A Texas Ramble Edition
Instead of the usual five point rundown to review the weekend, I want to prose a bit on the current state of indycar at Texas. On a warm Saturday night last weekend, in front of a sparse looking crowd, indycar … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/weekend-review-a-texas-ramble-edition/
Sunday
Rosberg quickest as Raikkonen crashes in Bahrain | 2014 F1 season
Nico Rosberg underlined Mercedes' growing status as pre-season favourites by putting the W05 on top of the times sheets again on the final day of the second test in Bahrain.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/02/22/rosberg-quicket-raikkonen-crashes-bahrain/
Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli
Saturday
Ecclestone still confident he will win German case
Bernie Ecclestone may have won the battle in the UK high court today, but it remains to be seen whether he will win the war. In the civil action for damages filed by Constantin Media the judge deemed that the … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/02/20/ecclestone-still-confident-he-will-win-german-case/
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Gene Haas reportedly interested in owning a Formula 1 team UPDATE: Haas confirms
Could the expansion of Gene Haas' racing ownership grow to include Formula 1?
German website Auto Motor Sport reports that Haas is one of three candidates to become a Formula 1 team owner in 2015. The sanctioning body accepted applications for new team ownership at the end of 2013.
From AMS (translated from German):
The most interesting candidate is certainly Gene Haas. The 62-year-old Californian has already been successful in motor sport operates. It operates since 2002 a Nascar team, most recently in fusion with superstar Tony Stewart. Gene Haas is financially prepared. He is not only the world's largest manufacturer of CNC machines, but has the Windshear wind tunnel in Concord, North Carolina, also one of the best wind tunnels in the world. Renowned Formula 1 teams were part of the customer base of the wind sheer. Haas will enter 2015 with its own team in Formula 1 - Haas Racing. The cars are to be designed in-house, but initially built by Dallara.Engine and transmission partner would be Ferrari. Since Gene Haas prefer operates in the background, the role of team leaders from the former Red Bull team manager Guenther Steiner would be occupied. A three-digit million amount as Formula 1 budget would be for Haas Racing guarantees to a factory with the most advanced equipment in North Carolina. This ensures that the bankruptcy of the ex-candidate USF1 (2010) are not repeated.
In December, Ferrari officials said that Ferrari had been contacted by a US bidder.
Haas confirmed his interest in a statement on Thursday.
"We have responded to the FIA's 'call for expression of interest' regarding a Formula One entry on behalf of Haas Racing Development,?? Haas said. ?We respect the FIA's evaluation process and will share more details in the coming weeks."
Stewart-Haas Racing was formed from the former Haas CNC team in 2009 when Haas gave 50 percent of the team to Tony Stewart. SHR operated as a two-car team through the 2011 season. Danica Patrick drove for the team full-time in 2013 and with the addition of Kurt Busch for 2014, Stewart-Haas is at four teams. That's the NASCAR limit.
US F1 was the last attempt by an American-based team to enter Formula 1. During its infancy, the team had big plans. Heck, it even went after Kyle Busch in 2009. At least publicly, anyway.
The US F1 attempted entry officially went under in 2010. The team fired all of its employees and had $3.5 million in debt. It didn't even make a car.
American interest would probably increase from an entry into the series, especially with the success of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Tex. There's a possible second grand prix in the United States too -- The Grand Prix of America in New Jersey -- but spats over contracts have made that race's possible appearance on a future F1 schedule tenuous at best.
- - - - - - -
Tuesday
Monday
BMW Individual 4 Series Gran Coupe
Well that didn?t take long. Just a few weeks after BMW announced it was going to apply its Individual treatment to the new 4 Series Coupe and Convertible, it has now announced that the Gran Coupe model will be available with the same custom touch.
Aside from the asinine idea that the freshly made 4 Series is available in a Gran Coupe four-door when the model was created specifically to be a coupe only, the Individual program does make the new 4 a very desirable car. Some of the choices available with the Individual include multiple paint options, bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels, Ash Grain White dash trim, leather covered dash and Merino leather for the seats. The leather is available in several colors with contrast piping and filigree stitching. The seat color in our photos here is Nutmeg.
If an Individual model 4 Series Gran Coupe is the car of your dreams, your local BMW can get you set up.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.
BMW Individual 4 Series Gran Coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 17 February 2014 10:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/2015-bmw-individual-4-series-gran-coupe-ar162353.html
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 [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/R3FUmt0CNcQ/
Raikkonen ?more mature? since rejoining Ferrari | 2014 F1 season
Kimi Raikkonen has brought a new maturity to his work for the Ferrari team according to team principal Stefano Domenicali.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/02/12/raikkonen-matured-since-last-ferrari-stint-domenicali/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)