Results Below:
Monday
Matt Kenseth says he's (sort of) watching the points standings
Matt Kenseth is winless.
Through seven Sprint Cup Series races, it's hardly a shocking statement. Jimmie Johnson is winless too. So is Tony Stewart. And Jeff Gordon. Kasey Kahne, too. But with seven different winners in the first seven Sprint Cup Series races, it may be jarring to some to see Kenseth's name not on the list after he won seven races last year.
However, when you look through the list of seven winners, there aren't any surprises. It's not like someone has jumped up and snagged an unexpected win or two unless you thought Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in the midst of another four-year winless streak.
Kenseth isn't surprised either.
?I can?t say I?m totally shocked, I think whenever you throw a pretty big rules change at everybody some people are going to pick up on it sooner than others," he said Thursday. "I think it always spreads the field out a little bit because some guys are going to hit it and some guys are going to miss it and I think that always creates passing and mixes the field up and makes the racing more interesting in my mind. I think that everybody every week is probably gaining on it and the field is going to get closer together as we keep rolling through the year here.� It?s been interesting because there?s been a lot of different winners and been some guys that have won a lot that haven?t won yet.?
He won last year's race at Darlington after taking the lead after a late restart. It was his third win of the year, though Darlington was the 11th race of the season in 2013 and not the eighth.
Even as he's winless this season, he's higher in the points standings now than he was at this point a year ago. However, Kenseth said he isn't staring at the standings. It's more of a quick look.
"I don?t know about close attention, you always kind of know where you?re at once the week is over you maybe glance at the standings," Kenseth said. "They always park in order of points so when you show up parked the next week you kind of know where you?re at. That really hasn?t changed. I don?t know I think maybe when you get closer to the 26 cutoff then you probably study it a little more and see where everybody is and who?s in and who?s out and that kind of thing."
And based on past history in Chase seasons, a winless driver or two or three is likely to make the Chase anyway. If Kenseth keeps this pace up, he'll likely be just fine when it comes to September.
"Is there going to be 10 winners? Is there going to be 20 winners? I don?t know ? the way it?s going. How important are your points going to be?" Kenseth asked. "I would think, history suggests that there?s going to be a few guys added by points that didn?t win."
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Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi
Sunday
Testing in Barcelona
The first thing to say about this week’s test in Barcelona is that the times recorded are irrelevant because different teams were doing different things and one cannot make any sensible comparisons, so headlines such as “Wolff faster than Vettel” are wildly misleading. The fact that the fastest time of the test was Pastor Maldonado’s […]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/testing-in-barcelona/
Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh
Saturday
Happy Hour: It's overwhelmingly related to Dale Earnhardt Jr. this week
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.
Before we get to what happened on the track at Talladega, namely with one driver, did you get the chance to read Jay Busbee's story about the Talladega infield? I would go try to replicate it in the Kansas infield this weekend, but that'd be like Hangover 2 compared to the original Hangover. It'd simply be a blatant ripoff. I'm not going to do that. But I am going to be on the lookout for fun things.
Now, let's start with Junior, shall we? I wrote this post on Monday based off of Junior's reaction on Sunday. What I got in response we'll sample below.
I'm not even much of a #8 fan, and still think this story was full of it to put it nicely.� So much so I took the time to send this email.� EVERYONE knew what he was doing, race announcers we're all over it too.� Did you have nothing better to write about or just trying to get a lot of attention? OBVIOUSLY he was staying back to avoid getting in the middle of a wreck that almost certainly would happen. If you couldn't figure that out, or didn't hear the race announcers talking about it, you might want to find another sport to write about. I have a feeling this won't be read, along with a ton of #8 fans saying much worse things. I tried to keep it polite. - Mike
Is Mike stuck in the Dale Earnhardt Inc. past? Looks like he is. No one is saying it isn't obvious of what Junior was doing. I simply explained that with the way the Chase is set up, it was an easily defensible move. Defensible against (unedited) things like this...
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if earnhart wants to lay back and cruse - y is he racing at all - - ??? the fans� dont want to see him - or anyone else - not try to win a race. the competition of the race is what it is all about - not some stupid points system. Would dale sr do the same ???� - how about fireball roberts - - king richard�� ???
I dont think so. I believe for them - they would race go karts - scooters - skate boards - if that is what they had and they would race to win. Jr is a disappointment - to me and the fans, i dont know how many fans feel the way i do but i am not a jr fan anymore - Jim
Hey Nick forget any reasoning your trying to use ? Nascar should worry ? if their drivers don?t want to try then why pay to see guys driving in circles.� I am both a huge Nascar fan and a Jr. fan ? but what he and his team did Sunday violate that fan performer relationship to the highest level. How about a race where all 43 drivers pull that crap. Then see how Nascar cannot fill the seats. - Michael
Why should NASCAR worry when drivers are legitimately using the system to their advantage? Is it the utopian way NASCAR would like them to use it? No. But every upside has a downside, you know, and if this is it, then so be it.
And besides, playing the system to your advantage is nothing new. What about Tony Stewart in 2005 at Homestead? It was clear that with the lead he had going into the race, he and crew chief Greg Zipadelli played it smart and safe (especially at the end) to guarantee a top-20 finish and the title. The same with Brad Keselowski in 2012. He knew with the lead he had over Jimmie Johnson at the final race, he didn't have to risk it all, especially after Johnson had a problem at Homestead.
To say that drivers would have gone all out in the past no matter the title circumstances is absolute bunk and another reason why the "the past was so much better in NASCAR" comments are ridiculous. The myths of NASCAR from 20-50 years ago have gotten unsustainable at points.
If you don't want drivers sacrificing some races throughout the season at the benefit of a greater good (the title), then there shouldn't be a championship. Does anyone gripe when a position player (like Texas' Mitch Moreland) comes in to pitch in a baseball game late in a blowout? No, because people realize that the losing team knows there's far more reward in saving the bullpen than trying to win a game that's almost unwinnable.
Was Dale Earnhardt Jr. in an unwinnable situation on Sunday? No. But much like a baseball team in the scenario above, he saw present risk outweighed the potential reward. It's not the end of the world.�
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I think we have to clear the air about something. Brad Keselowski is loose cannon on the track. When you're 6 laps down and start getting in the way of leading drivers......HE'S WRONG!
Earnhart had to back off so he could stay out of a late race crash situation. He was Right wasn't he. These racing cars don't grow on trees ya know!
But then again, the situation over a week ago involving Gordon and two other drivers that looked like they were running interference so Keselowski could stay in the lead and win. looked more like the old PAYOLA in the Rock and Roll days. The NASCAR game these guys play is wearing really thin on me. - Gerald
Calling Brad a loose cannon is a bit far, but what if Keselowski had said after the race that he was flat out wanting to learn something for October rather than try to win the race?
As I said in Power Rankings on Tuesday, I see both sides of the issue, and if he's second in line and the driver ahead of him has the same issue, it's a non-story. It just so happened that he was the one that got loose and took out a majority of the field.
And if you're screaming for a conspiracy about last week, you're yelling in the wrong echo chamber. Why would a winless Jeff Gordon be running interference for Brad freaking Keselowski? Really?
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How come NASCAR didn't throw the yellow before hamlin took the white flag with the crash happening right before the flag stand?� i've seen NASCAR throw a yellow before a green flag to start a race, due to mark martin crashing into johnson at michigan I think about 10 years ago.� Bowman and Allgaier were right in the middle of the pack, when they crashed and let the drivers continue then throw the flag on the backstraight with 5 cars that were in the need for gas in the top 7, Hamlin, Harvick, Vickers, Biffle, and Larson.� They basically gave the race to Hamlin because they didn't want to throw a caution to ruin a possible side by side racing that was going to give a great finish. - Matt
The thought of throwing the yellow right before they came across the start/finish line crossed my mind too when the accident happened, but there's no way in heck NASCAR could have gotten the caution thrown before Hamlin had taken the white flag. Unless you think people in the NASCAR tower have superhuman reaction skills for some reason. (And Mark Martin hit Jimmie Johnson at Talladega. I have vivid memories of watching that on television.)
What left me a bit perplexed was the lack of a caution until the drivers were on the backstretch. It was a completely caution-worthy incident and the bumper at the exit of the tri-oval wasn't going anywhere (Unless someone could have run out and gotten it in less than 30 seconds, which was not going to happen). I get that NASCAR wants to prevent a last-lap caution unless absolutely necessary, but it felt almost teasing that half of the final lap was completed before the caution flag had come out.
Heck, just think about the craziness that would have happened if Greg Biffle passed Hamlin before the caution lights came on? The field is supposed to be frozen on the final lap at the moment of caution, rather than the use of the last scoring loop.
It's also ridiculous to complain that the race finished under yellow too. Crashes happen at Talladega, and most people were expecting one, right? A good race with an anti-climactic ending should have the same principles that a bad race with a climactic finish has applied to it. The end of a race is not the determining factor of a race's quality.
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Friday
Daniel Ricciardo: ?We?ve just got to keep chipping away??
Daniel Ricciardo continues to impress the F1 paddock with his strong form, and on a weekend when team mate Sebastian Vettel has been hampered by technical gremlins the Aussie has showcased his talent by securing third on the Barcelona grid. … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/05/10/daniel-ricciardo-weve-just-got-to-keep-chipping-away/
Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman
Thursday
Gibbs Ultimately Owns This Penalty
Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket? If the answer’s yes, did you try telling the officer, ‘that wasn’t my intent’? Or maybe you were just a MPH or two over the limit, did you try telling him, ‘I wasn’t speeding that much’? When he got done laughing at you, did he still write you [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/Pn4EUpdz5fs/
Christian Danner Jorge Daponte Anthony Davidson Jimmy Davies
Wednesday
NCMA Porsche by Design: Porsche 356 Speedster
One of the most notable and memorable of the early Porsche cars is the Speedster. This car actually came into existence at the insistence of U.S. distributor Max Hoffman. He was able to convince Ferdinand Porsche that there was a market for a ?stripper? car. A stripper is essentially a barebones Roadster that could be easily converted into a racing specification car without too much trouble. The low level of standard equipment also kept prices low, leaving you more budget for race gear and modifications.
This particular Black Speedster here carries a particularly special heritage. It was owned by none other than James Dean, twice. Dean bought the car to race in SCCA competition, but after a few years he sold it to a car collector named Bruce Meyers. Later in 1974 Dean bought the car back from Bruce. This particular model does not wear a Speedster badge as Dean had it removed from the car during his first ownership.
Porsche dropped the Speedster model from the 356 lineup in 1959 in favor of building the newer Convertible D cars. Only 3,122 of Speedsters were ever constructed.
When the cars first entered production there were powered by a 1.5-liter flat-four engine that produced 64 horsepower. Before the production ended, you could order a race-ready Carrera spec model with 128 horsepower. With the proper gearing in the transmission, a Speedster could reach speeds of over 125 mph, making it one of the fastest cars of the era.
Dean?s car here was a mid-range ?Super? model that managed 88 horsepower from its 1.6-liter engine. The car is still in Dean?s family under the ownership of his son, Chad.
NCMA Porsche by Design: Porsche 356 Speedster originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 14 May 2014 12:00 EST.
Another race, another DNF for Kevin Harvick after he loses an engine at Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas ? It's been the ultimate boom-or-bust season for Kevin Harvick. Or to use another cliche, we can call it a roller-coaster season. Either way, there's been a peak and a lot of valleys.
He was fast again on Monday in the Duck Commander 500. Fast for the laps he was on track, anyway.
After qualifying second, Harvick was running right with race leader and teammate Tony Stewart when the engine on his No. 4 car expired. The day was over and Harvick had completed 28 of the race's 334 laps.
"Something happened with the engine," Harvick said. "The Jimmy John's Chevrolet was really fast. It?s frustrating. I don?t know what else I can say."
Harvick ended up 42nd. Crew chief Rodney Childers' initial diagnosis was an oil pump that got knocked loose.
Looks like something knocked the oil pump belt off it and then blew up about a 1/2lap later. Craziest crap ever?
? Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4) April 7, 2014 Harvick won the second race of the season at Phoenix and finished seventh last week at Martinsville. But after the engine failure at Texas, he's either had a crash or an equipment malfunction in the other five races. He's currently 26th in the points standings.
Harvick is in a similar situation to teammate Kurt Busch, who is 25th in the standings. Busch had tire issues at Texas on Sunday and was the cause of three different caution flags because of them.
Because of the new win-and-you're-essentially-in points format for the Chase, Harvick and Busch don't need to panic at all. Remember, drivers with a win are eligible if they're in the top 30 in points.
The two have had a myriad of issues throughout the first seven races and Harvick is still 31 points ahead of 31st place. If things are as far south as Chile right now, it'd have to be downright Antarctican for either of them to miss the Chase in the very likely in the very-likely case that 16 or less drivers win a race. It's simply implausible.
The simple fact of qualification doesn't make everything OK, though. Simply qualifying for the Chase isn't the ultimate goal for either team. But there's plenty of time to figure things out, and the speed has been there, even if the finishes haven't been. And we'll look on the bright side. If you're going to struggle for a seven-race stretch of the season, you'd rather have it happen at the beginning than the end, right?
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Tuesday
Thanks for 3 Years, Now Win My Stuff
Three years and four days ago I posted my first article on this hole-in-the-wall-sorry-excuse-for-a-fake-indycar-blog blog with bewilderment about what could eventually happen once I pressed ?upload? that faithful day. My original mission objectives were simple: start a new hobby, become … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/thanks-for-3-years-now-win-my-stuff/
Monday
Contact with Danica Patrick sends Brad Keselowski spinning into the infield
TALLADEGA, Ala. ? It didn't take long for the first on-track incident at Talladega at Sunday's Aaron's 499. The only surprise is how little damage ensued from what could have been a catastrophic wreck.
Danica Patrick was leading the race at lap 14 when Brad Keselowski decided to make a run for the front. Keselowski had pushed Patrick to the lead, but when he tried to make a pass for the lead, he made contact with Patrick's front bumper and spun deep into the grass.
Who's at fault here? Keselowski (or his spotter) for cutting down too early? Patrick for drifting up into Keselowski? Your answer probably depends on which driver you prefer.
Keselowski, who won this event in 2012, managed to keep the car shiny side up, pointing in the right direction, and still rolling. His momentum carried him back up the track, and Trevor Bayne narrowly missed him. Jamie McMurray was the only other driver to suffer damage as a result of the spin.
Keselowski suffered damage to his radiator, and repair to that cost him six laps. He would go on to cause another, larger wreck. Before this day was over, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and many other big names would be knocked out of contention by a variety of wrecks.
Denny Hamlin won the race under caution, his first win at a superspeedway. Patrick finished 22nd, and Keselowski finished 38th.
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Sunday
Saturday
Kimi Raikkonen: ?I?m sure we can do much better??
Kimi Raikkonen remains confident that his 2014 season will take a turn for the better once things finally start falling into place for him. The Finn has not been comfortable with the F14 T thus far, and has struggled to … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/05/09/kimi-raikkonen-im-sure-we-can-do-much-better/
Friday
A quick round-up
There is a fair bit happening today in the F1 and automobile world and so I am going to do a quick round-up rather than blow-by-blow stories. There is action aplenty with the newly-established Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV company, which was established in January and will IPO in the autumn. The Italian led firm has […]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/a-quick-round-up/
Dry weekend ahead in Barcelona | 2014 Spanish Grand Prix weather
F1's run of rain-hit Saturdays should not continue as the Circuit de Catalunya is forecast to be bathed in sunshine throughout the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/05/08/dry-weekend-ahead-barcelona/
Thursday
Honda S660
When it comes to Japanese sports roadsters, there’s nothing better than the Mazda MX-5. That much a lot of people can agree on. But while the MX-5’s status within this segment is undisputed, a host of automakers are determined to break in and make a name for themselves.
One of these companies is Honda and a few month ago at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, we were introduced to the Honda S660 Concept, a prototype mini roadster that pays homage to the beloved 90’s model, the Honda Beat.
The Beat ended its production in 1996 but it seems that a successor in the S660 is expected to be produced in the near future. According to a report from Japanese site Response, Honda is preparing to build a production model of the S660 Concept at the company’s plant in Yokkaichi. Yes, that’s the same factory that built the Beat, so there’s a little case here of the Japanese automaker coming full circle with its entry-level sports roadster.
Honda reportedly expects to see a production model of the S660 next year so we’re looking forward to seeing how that one’s going to look and perform. There’s a chance that we’re not going to see anything bigger than a 660 cc, three-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces just 64 horsepower.
But we’re crossing our fingers that Honda opts for a full liter under the production S660. If anything, it deserves as much if its going to line up against the Mazda MX-5.
Note: Concept version pictured here.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Honda S660.
Honda S660 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 7 May 2014 08:00 EST.
Source: http://feeds.topspeed.com/~r/topspeed/~3/ynbUw4HTLCc/2016-honda-s660-ar163454.html
Wednesday
Nigel Stepney 1958-2014
Former Ferrari chief mechanic Nigel Stepney was killed after being struck by a truck on the M20 motorway on Friday morning. He was 56. Although inevitably his name will always be associated with the unfortunate 2007 ‘Spygate’ scandal ? an … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/05/02/nigel-stepney-1958-2014/
Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels
Tuesday
Into The Crystal Ball ? The Beautiful Facility Edition
Sunday will mark the fifth time the Verizon IndyCar Series descends upon the quiet, green hills of central Alabama and the beautifully manicured grounds of Barber Motorsports Park. The purpose built motorcycle track has found an unlikely partner with indycar … Continue reading 
Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot
Monday
Magnussen facing normal rookie struggles, says Boullier
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says that Kevin Magnussen’s recent struggles are par for the course for a rookie driver ? especially one with an underperforming car. ?Obviously it’s a completely normal process for a young rookie driver who is … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/04/23/magnussen-facing-normal-rookie-struggles-says-boullier/
Sunday
Carl Edwards' front-tire changer shows us the aftermath of taking a lugnut to the face
You've got to look out for more than just cars on pit road.
Mike Lingerfelt, the front-tire changer for Carl Edwards' car, took a fliying lugnut to the mouth on Saturday night at Richmond. And as you can expect, it doesn't look too pretty.
Not real happy about taking a lugnut to the face or the shredding tires tonight! pic.twitter.com/vWZ20LuMEi
? Mike Lingerfelt (@MikeLingerfelt) April 27, 2014 The split lip seems bad enough, but the circle imprint is what makes the photo.
The lugnuts from tires that have been recently removed from a car can find themselves underneath the new tires of a car on pit road. When a driver accelerates out of his pit box, the spinning tires shoot the lugnuts out from underneath them, pelting anyone and anything in their path. And sometimes even starting fires if the friction is severe enough to cause a spark and hit spilled fuel on the concrete.
The shredding tires reference in Lingerfelt's tweet is about the tire degradation in Saturday night's race. Tires were wearing quickly around the 0.75-mile track and many teams had right front tires that wore down to the cords or simply came apart.
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Roberto Bussinello Jenson Button Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca
Martin Truex Jr.'s 2014 hasn't gone well through the first six races
After NAPA left Michael Waltrip Racing in the wake of the Richmond race-manipulation scandal, Martin Truex Jr. was able to make the best of a bad situation.
Because NAPA left, his full-time ride at MWR was gone. But Furniture Row Racing, who made the 2013 Chase with Kurt Busch, had an opening because Busch was heading to Stewart-Haas Racing. From one team penalized out of the Chase to one that made it? Not too bad at all.
However, that last sentence is not what we'd use to describe his 2014 season. Through a sixth of the Sprint Cup Series schedule, Truex is 28th in the points standings and his 21st place finish Sunday was his second-best of the season.
It wasn't without drama, too. Truex got together with Brad Keselowski ? who seemed to be in the midst of everything Sunday ? and spun around to cause a caution on lap 412. However, he stayed on the lead lap.
One spot below Truex in the standings is Danica Patrick, who looked poised for another solid finish after qualifying 10th at Martinsville, her highest non-restrictor plate start of her career.
Patrick, who finished 14th at California and 18th at Bristol, fell like a rock through the field as soon as the race began. While she stayed out of trouble (simply a statement of fact), she was an absolute nonfactor.
Other drivers in their neighborhood:
? Aric Almirola is 26th through six races despite finishing eighth Sunday and third at Bristol. How is that possible? Well, he finished 39th at Daytona and 43rd at California.
? While short tracks have been good to Almirola, they haven't been kind to Jamie McMurray. McMurray fell to 23rd in the standings after finishing 42nd at Martinsville when he made contact with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crashed. At Bristol, McMurray finished 38th. In the other four races, his lowest finish is 14th.
? Kevin Harvick is staggeringly 25th. He's in good shape because of his Phoenix win, but if this was the old points format you'd have already seen innumerable articles asking if Harvick would make the Chase.
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