Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/162-great-flexibility-in-production-and-distribution-vehicles.html
Saturday
Great Flexibility in Production and Distribution Vehicles
It produces small urban electric vehicle. No intention of entering the competition of the great automotive industry. A very specific niche market that allows great flexibility in the production and distribution of vehicles. The company e-ride Industries produces several models and are manufactured with aluminum chassis, Fiberglass body and motor of 72 volts. Clearly, the [...]
Tony Stewart: Zeroing in on the Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? With 17 stock car wins at Daytona International Speedway, Tony Stewart is one of the most successful drivers in history at NASCAR's most legendary track. His 17 victories rank second only to the 34 of Dale Earnhardt.
There's just one tiny little problem with that statistic.
For all his success at Daytona, for all his mastery of this track, the biggest prize ? the Daytona 500 itself ? has eluded Stewart. In 13 starts at the Great American Race, Stewart has notched six top-10s, including a second-place finish in 2004 and a third-place finish in 2008. But you don't race Daytona to get close to winning.
"It's not a good feeling to not have that tally in the win column," Stewart said. "Everything else we have pretty much accomplished in this sport that we want to accomplish.�It's the biggest race of the year; everyone wants to win that race.�I won't say that it is not a complete career if you don't win it, but there is a lot of priority on this."
Thing is, even though he's as prepared as he could possibly be, even though he's in the prime of his talent and his team harmony, Daytona in 2012 doesn't exactly present the best opportunity for Stewart to win. The unholy combination of tandem and pack racing means every driver has a chance to run at the front, and every driver has a chance to get collected in a monstrous wreck. Skill is essential, yes, but extra helpings of luck and good fortune don't hurt either.
Still, Smoke isn't alone in his futility. Legends like Mark Martin have never won this race, and Stewart still has quite a ways to go before he equals Earnhardt's 19-race Daytona losing streak. And if he wins on Sunday, he may not get the kind of salute Earnhardt received when he finally won in 1998: every member of every pit crew lining pit road to salute him. (Stewart, after all, isn't lacking in accolades for his achievements these days.)
But even if he doesn't win on Sunday, he's got plenty of blessings to count, starting with those three championships. And as frustrating as the mounting losses may be, Stewart is patient:
"We've been leading late in these races, and so I feel like [with] the law of averages, we're going to get one eventually," Stewart said. "There have been a lot of them that have slipped away and slipped through our fingers. But we've had good luck here; we just haven't had that good luck during the 500 yet. So we'll just keep digging."
Right now, he's riding a win at the Duels on Thursday and a just-missed-it second-place finish at the Bud Shootout last Saturday night. On Saturday he'll run the Nationwide event, a race he's won an astounding four times in a row and six times of the last seven. Question is, is 2012 the year that he brings his Saturday Daytona dominance to Sunday?
Lotus signs another sponsorship deal
It seems like a never-ending story. Lotus Cars has agreed another motor racing sponsorship to add to the fleet of cars that will be seen in black and gold this season. At the moment the car company is supporting the Lotus F1 team, a variety of IndyCars, teams in GP2 and GP3, various open-wheelers in [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/lotus-signs-another-sponsorship-deal/
Hot or Not: Daytona wrecks product of (a lack) of experience
NEUTRAL: NASCAR's opening weekend was a merciless one on the hard work of team fabricators in the sport's top division. In total, two days of track activity substantially damaged 15 separate Sprint Cup cars with many more requiring varying amounts of repair either before or during the Bud Shootout.
None, of course, felt the same damage as the thrashing Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet received after the gymnastic exhibition it put on exiting Daytona's Turn 4.
And so, naturally, the echo chamber of fear started even before Kyle Busch finished his sensational display of driving ability in Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout: Will Sunday's Daytona 500 be a farcical mess of caution flags and torn up race cars?
I say no.
The reasons for the wrecking exhibition in the season's first exhibition race vary widely, but they are real. But if we have learned anything about race car drivers over the century-plus of race car drivers being called race car drivers, it's that they very often learn how to avoid crashing in the same way over time. Typically, that stretch of time is pretty small.
Let's look at last season, for instance, to see how well the new idea of tandem drafting affected overall accidents in restrictor plate races. In the 2011 Daytona 500, a whopping 16 caution flags waved over the track ? the most ever recorded in the event's 53 editions; 13�of those cautions were for an incident on track and many were of a direct byproduct of drivers losing control while being pushed for laps on end.
The next time Sprint Cup drivers faced the tandem style of racing at Talladega in April 2011, just four of the race's six cautions were for crashes. The 400-miler at Daytona in July featured only six crashes, as did the restrictor plate season finale at Talladega in October. Many variables affect the rate of crashes in a race, but the level of experience drivers had with the push-or-be-pushed racing certainly aided in reducing the number of incidents.
Now, returned to Daytona, crashes have seemingly become much more common again. But let's not forget how different the rules package is this week ? compared even to the January winter testing many teams participated in. The most significant differences to affect handling this year are a smaller rear spoiler (along with it, reduced rear downforce and grip) and a restrictor plate that is aiding in faster speeds.
The result is a car designed to be a bit more unstable during tandem drafting while it goes faster through Daytona's corners ? turns narrower than Talladega's wide open grooves. Additionally, it's more unstable in the pack-racing scenario that NASCAR is looking for, creating more opportunities for trouble when bump-drafting techniques are carried out. Pack racing, in itself, is also somewhat of an unknown at Daytona due to the different car setup and lack of experience in those conditions on Daytona's new pavement in 2011.
Plug all these variables together ? plus the fact that many race teams are on edge about practicing full-race conditions ? and the recipe for what we saw Saturday night in Daytona seems about right. Fortunately, these drivers have light years more time of practice to get properly acclimated to the conditions ahead of the bright lights of Sunday's race.
They will practice Wednesday afternoon, have 150 miles of honest-to-goodness racing action during Thursday's Gatorade Duels qualifying races and more practice both Friday and Saturday.
There is a reason this group is paid to do what they do: pilot NASCAR Sprint Cup race cars. Sure, some mistakes and over aggressiveness will cause more wrecks this weekend, but don't expect to see a Daytona 500 produce torn sheet metal and broken dreams at the same rate�as the Budweiser Shootout.
Moving along, let's talk about a few other things of importance ahead of NASCAR's most exciting weekend.
HOT: I still can't get over Kyle Busch's saves during the Budweiser Shootout. I don't think any feat of driving can top it in 2012. That standard is very, very high.
NOT: It's a shame that ESPN couldn't find a single spot for Busch's on-track action in any of their "Top-10" best play countdowns this weekend. That's a thrilling sight for anyone who has ever driven an automobile, and NASCAR should rightfully expect a bit more help from an organization it calls a TV partner.
NOT: Staying on the TV topic, I've already had enough of Michael Waltrip and Danica Patrick on the Fox broadcast. Fortunately, Danica won't likely be a regular in-studio guest due to either her participation in the Sprint Cup event Fox is covering or her being long gone after her Nationwide duties are filled.
Waltrip, on the other hand, is already tiring me out. I like the guy and he's good for the sport, but overexposure is a very real thing and it's not helped by the blatant conflicts of interest he has in Sprint Cup that Fox seems to sweep under the rug.
NEUTRAL: Kurt Busch's new personality for television after his ouster from Penske Racing is hard to believe right now. It's interesting to watch, but you've got to think the bubble will burst at some point.
HOT: Do you realize Casey Mears will start on the outside of the front row for one of Thursday's Gatorade Duels? Mears, trying to string back together his NASCAR career, easily qualified for the Daytona 500 in startling fashion. Yet, he didn't get a whole lot of coverage from the Sunday qualifying broadcast.
That's unfortunate, because Mears' No. 13 may be the biggest underdog story so far at Daytona.
HOT: Give a call to the drivers in the ARCA race, won in thrilling fashion by Bobby Gerhart Saturday afternoon at Daytona. Normally a lesson in lump-in-your-throat wrecks due to inexperience, the event had mostly a green look to it until a big last-lap crash caused more by cars running out of fuel than bad driving. Kudos ? and if you get the chance to see one of their short-track races, consider me an endorser.
HOT: Finally, a call to NASCAR officials for their insistence ? even at the real cost of design criticism and probably lost enthusiasm from many fans ? for being so proactive in making race cars safe enough that Jeff Gordon can walk away unscathed from his big accident late in the going Saturday.
Nothing NASCAR does, short of making them race at 140 miles per hour, would have kept Gordon's car on the ground after the nasty front end lick on the Turn�4 fence. However, the car has been built with enough safety components to make sure that sudden stop and then violent tumble didn't hurt their star one bit.
That said, NASCAR is still toeing a line of safety that could easily be crossed if they lose interest in pressing for new and improved safety measures. Don't let crashes like Saturday's allow any guards to be laid down ? especially in the sport's major shift to directly accommodate fan demand.
See you in Daytona.
More Daytona 500 news
Greatest Hits of 2011
As we welcome 2012 with open arms, I thought it would be pertinent to look back as the best posts on anotherindycarblog from 2011. I have these posts in no particular order and no solid metrics were used in creating … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/greatest-hits-of-2011/
Friday
Despite crash, Dale Earnhardt Jr. happy about return of pack racing
Even though his Budwesier Shootout ended after a crash, there may not have been a driver happier about the pack racing that dominated most of the evening than Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"I like this kind of racing better," Junior said, referring to the pack racing over the tandem drafting style that has dominated restrictor plate racing over the last two years. "At least I know what to expect.� I feel like I have a better chance with this style than I did last year for damn sure."
Few, if any drivers were better at drafting in a big pack than Junior, who has seven Sprint Cup restrictor plate points wins. And Junior's prowess at slicing and dicing through packs of cars was evident, as he led 12 of the 54 laps he completed before being caught up in a crash when Marcos Ambrose got into Joey Logano.
"This is real similar to when we first put the blades on the roofs," Junior said. "These cars that we have now have a really big greenhouse. There is just a massive closing rate.�When you get bogged down guys can just fly around you."
The multi-car crashes during Saturday night's race were caused when drivers got into the left rear of the cars in front of them ? contact initiated in part by the cars' inability to maintain constant contact nose-to-tail for multiple laps. Those changes to eliminate the two-car tandem for prolonged periods of time worked, Junior said, and not to the point of forcing the cars to overheat while in a traditional restrictor plate pack.
"You don't have to move around. You just hold your damn car where it needs to be and not drive around like an idiot," Junior said. "If you want to drive your car in a straight line and be sensible it is possible [you can]. There is no chaos out there. Yes, there are guys moving around, but it's not necessary. They are not doing it because they are hot or there are problems with their engine running hot or anything like that. They are just having a good time. Everybody is enjoying it."
And while the return of the pack may be the best thing to happen to Junior's restrictor plate chances, he says that the Daytona 500's still anyone's race.
"Maybe being 500 miles guys might use a little better judgment, but I wouldn't count on it. It is a heavy-duty race. It is a pretty big deal to win and its going to be a lot of guys pretty excited about their prospects of winning it. Still pretty much any car can win.� The lottery's still there for the whole field."
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Pat Forde: Butler is in transition, but not dead
? Jimmie Johnson sets sights on Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr.
? Y! Travel: Strangest roadside attractions in the U.S.
JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger
Rejuvenated Hamilton on ?World Champion? ambition
Lewis Hamilton has spoken positively about the 2012 Formula 1 season. Check out Hamilton v Webber from the 2011 Korean Grand Prix! The McLaren man had a disappointing 2011 of course, but he says that he is feeling refreshed and ready to launch a World title bid this year. The 27-year-old said: “I feel very [...]
2012 Jerez Moto2 And Moto3 Test Day 3 Times: Corti And Nakagami Take Moto2, Kent Sweeps Moto3
The final day of testing at Jerez confirmed the results from the first two days, with the Kalexes firmly on top in Moto2 - this time in the hands of Italtrans duo Claudio Corti and Takaaki Nakagami - and Danny Kent leading the KTM domination in Moto3, with only the Honda of Maverick Viñales disturbing the Austrian order.
The weather helped the teams make real progress over the three days of the test, with the last day warm and sunny, temperatures rising to a balmy 19°C, with no recurrence of yesterday's rain. Three full days of testing left many riders exhausted, and as the Jerez tarmac became more slippery as it got warmer, fatigue and weather saw a spate of crashes during the day, with Claudio Corti, Alex de Angelis, Max Neukirchner, Damian Cudlin, Xavier Simeon and Angel Rodriguez among the victims in Moto2, while Luis Salom, Kenta Fuji, Jakub Kornfeil, Niccolo Antonelli, Giulian Pedone and Alessandro Tonucci all falling in Moto3. Most of the riders walked away uninjured - though the same could not be said for their machinery - despite the crashes by Corti and De Angelis causing the session to be red-flagged. Pedone and Tonucci were less lucky, however, Pedone fracturing his wrist while Tonucci fractured his calf bone.
Well Played Hendrick?
**I know I’m a couple of days late on this, but I wanted to weigh in with a little post-mortem on the deal. It was announced on Monday HendrickCars.com would provide various forms of sponsorship for three teams at the Daytona 500, one at the March race at Bristol and one for July’s Coke Zero [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/JiEJqn4W-yE/
Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi
Thursday
Ban Important Element In The Right Of Every Vehicle Performance
The tires are essential elements in the proper performance of any vehicle for transporting passengers or cargo. Must be in the best condition ever for vehicle steering function properly and be comfortable and safe driving. We have all kinds of tires and Tire Pacific Ltd., available to you and “for all types of vehicles” such [...]
Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia
Denny Hamlin will caddy for Bubba Watson at The Masters
All right, technically speaking, Hamlin will be caddying for Bubba on the Wednesday par-3 tournament, not The Masters itself. But still, it's a high honor ... and just like everything good in "The Dukes of Hazzard," it's thanks to the General Lee.
A few weeks back, Watson bought the original General Lee at auction for $110,000. Hamlin, who has known Watson for several years now and played with him several times, agreed to get Watson a firesuit and helmet to match the General Lee. In return, Watson would put Hamlin on the bag for the Masters par 3 tournament, a one-day event played on Augusta's executive-length course.
"He's going to let me hit a shot," said a visibly excited Hamlin, who has never even visited Augusta as a fan. "How nervous do you think I'm going to be?" Hamlin, like Watson a lefty, has taken up golf in recent years and has lopped his handicap down to the mid-teens, respectable for a guy who can't get out and play most weekends.
Of note: Hamlin may not want to do his job at Augusta too well; the winner of the par 3 tourney has never gone on to win The Masters later that week. Then again, a NASCAR driver has never caddied for a par-3 player either. So there you go.
-Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here.-
Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris
Wednesday
2012 Jerez Moto2 And Moto3 Test Day 2 Repsol Press Release
The daily press release from Repsol, covering Maverick Viñales, Miguel Oliveira and Alex Marquez, the three riders they are backing in Moto3:
Year:
2012
Reduce Fleet With 51 Cars
The full Connell approved reduced by more than 50 percent of the fleet depends on the Government to move from 112 to 51 vehicles, it was announced Friday at a news conference Connell vice president and spokesman, Joseph Cascara. Connell spokesman explained that this action “falls within the savings and rationalization plan,” which was released [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/155-reduce-fleet-with-51-cars.html
John Wes Townley suspended by RAB Racing after DUI arrest
John Wes Townley's NASCAR comeback is on hold after he was suspended by RAB Racing after being arrested for DUI early Friday morning in Georgia.
Townley crashed his car into a pole and was arrested after knocking on the door of a nearby residence.
In a statement Friday afternoon, RAB Racing with Brock Maggard owner Robby Benton said that Townley would be suspended indefinitely. Townley, 22, was set to drive in the Camping World Truck Series in 2012.
"Obviously, this is an unfortunate situation," Benton said in the release. "However, we have to react to the severity of the incident accordingly. His actions do not reflect those of RAB Racing, nor the sponsors associated with the team.
"John Wes has accepted full responsibility, and will take the necessary personal steps in order to correct his actions, among other internal sanctions," Benton continued. "We stand by John Wes, and will welcome him back to the team at the appropriate time."
After scoring a ride with Richard Childress Racing to start 2010, Townley parted ways with the team after five races, and came back and ran four more for RAB in the latter half of the season, before leaving the team. He didn't race in 2011.
Last year, Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett was arrested for DWI shortly before the season-opening race at Daytona and was not suspended by Rusty Wallace Incorporated, his team at the time. (Annett will drive for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2012).
Unfortunately, this isn't Townley's first incident involving alcohol. While with Childress in 2010, he was cited for underage possession of alcohol during the Las Vegas race weekend. At the time, Townley said that he learned a "valuable lesson" from the incident.
Bravo to Benton and the rest of RAB Racing for making the right decision in suspending Townley, one made more obvious by the fact that this is Townley's second alcohol-related offense in the past two years. And we hope that Townley can seek the appropriate help and treatment and eventually resume his racing career.
More sports news from the Yahoo! Sports Minute:
Vettel: McLaren ?look strong? in testing | F1 Fanatic round-up
In the round-up: Sebastian Vettel is impressed by McLaren's long-run pace in testing.
Tuesday
2012 Jerez CRT Private Test Day 1 - De Puniet Leads As Development Continues For CRT Bikes
Preseason testing is almost on a round-the-clock schedule at the moment: after the World Superbike machines were rolled off the track and into the garages at the end of day 1 of the official WSBK test, garage doors at Jerez, on the other side of the world, were flung open, and the MotoGP CRT teams rolled onto the track for the first day of a three-day test at the Spanish circuit.
The second CRT test is an all-Aprilia affair, with Aspar's Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro continuing the development of the ART machine, Mattia Pasini getting his second run out on the Speed Master Aprilia ART, and Danilo Petrucci taking the trellis-framed IODA Aprilia out in the afternoon. James Ellison was also at the circuit, but got no further than sitting on the bike, as the team took delivery of their ART machine and spent the first day setting it up properly. As he has been so far throughout the CRT tests, De Puniet was the fastest man on the day, a full second quicker than his teammate Aleix Espargaro, though the Spaniard was also slowed up by the flu. Pasini ended the day 1.7 seconds off the time of De Puniet, while Danilo Petrucci made a solid start on his MotoGP debut by matching the pace of Pasini.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)