Indy Car Info

Monday

&#39;Cheap&#39; Carbon Fiber being developed by Ford and Dow Automotive Systems

Car manufacturers simply love carbon fiber. Especially high end, exotic sports car makers. Yep, engineers in Italy literally live and breathe carbon fiber, and as carbon fiber has developed, it?s become more accessible and slightly cheaper up to the point where ?regular? car manufacturers are considering using the material once reserved for the most exotic of exotics. One problem still remains, and that?s the simple fact that carbon fiber is still too expensive.

Sure, the actual fibers used to begin the process of creating carbon fiber may be relatively cheap, but the main costs are derived from the intensive manufacturing process and considering that carbon fiber is often applied by hand, it?s easy to understand why it is so expensive. Furthermore, individual carbon filaments used to make the stuff can be five micrometers thin, and yes, that?s a lot thinner than the average human hair.

However, if Ford and Dow Automotive Systems have their way, carbon fiber should become accessible to the ?masses.?

The two are currently researching ways to increase carbon fiber production while also making it simpler and more cost-effective to construct. The biggest reason behind the new partnership is the belief that Ford will someday, in the not too distant future, be able to construct sedans entirely out of carbon fiber, such as the Ford Fusion, but in order to do so, the duo really have their work cut out.

It?s not yet known how much this venture is costing, but we feel unless Ford and Dow really come up with the goods, the American brand may be better off investing this money elsewhere, such as improved car safety. Or perhaps that?s what this is all about, car safety.

We?ll just have to wait and see.

gallery: 2013 Ford Fusion

'Cheap' Carbon Fiber being developed by Ford and Dow Automotive Systems originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 15 April 2012 18:00 EST.

Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/cheap-carbon-fiber-being-developed-by-ford-and-dow-automotive-systems-ar127999.html

Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham Jim Clark†

Weighing Your Car Insurance Options

You do have option in regard to your car insurance. These include the levels of cover you select, types of cover, and how much you pay. While you do not have the ability to set your own rates, you do have the option to select an insurance provider that offers you attractive pricing. Knowing what [...]

Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/166-weighing-your-car-insurance-options.html

Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler

Q1: Hispano-Suiza tops in Shanghai

Sergio Perez set the fastest time in the Q1 session in Shanghai, sending Hispanic fans around the world into paroxysms of joy, bearing Fernando Alonso by a tenth. Romain Grosjean was third for Lotus ahead of Pastor Maldonado, Felipe Massa. Paul di Resta, Bruno Senna, Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/q1-hispano-suiza-tops-in-shanghai/

Sebastien Buemi Luiz Bueno Ian Burgess Luciano Burti

Sunday

McLaren unveil new car for 2012

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/02/at_mclaren_technology_centre_w.html

Chris Craft Jim Crawford Ray Crawford Alberto Crespo

Into the Crystal Ball? OMG ITS FINALLY HERE!!! Edition

We kick the 2012 season off in St. Petersburg, Florida. 26 cars are locked and loaded for the ninth time open wheel has raced at the airport. Emotions will be heavy as the paddock returns to the adopted hometown of … Continue reading →

Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/into-the-crystal-ball-omg-its-finally-here-edition/

Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson

Nine Cars To Test At IMS Wednesday

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/04/nine-cars-to-test-at-ims-wednesday.html

Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti

NASCAR President Mike Helton stands by both inspection and appeals process

NASCAR president Mike Helton talked Friday about John Middlebrook's overturning of the points penalty levied against Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team and the suspensions of crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, standing by the inspection and appeals process.

On Tuesday, Middlebrook, the chief appellate officer for NASCAR, rescinded the points penalties and suspensions following Hendrick Motorsports' final appeal, but kept the $100,000 fine that was levied against Knaus in place.

Helton said the decision upholds the inspection process and what the inspectors found on the C-posts.

"We believe in our inspectors," Helton said."We think that the decision that was made this week supports the inspection process because the elements of the penalty that were upheld indicate that the inspection process, or the inspectors, did their job correctly.

"I think the debate over the decision this week was more about the decision after that point, of how we reacted to it. That's as much a bureaucratic decision as it is a competition decision. So we believe very strongly in our inspection process and are very proud of it.� So the inspection process is status quo as we go forward."

Helton said that despite the overturning of the points penalty and suspensions, he also believed in the validity and legitimacy of the appeals process and that Middlebrook's association with General Motors ? Hendrick Motorsports is aligned with Chevrolet ? wasn't an issue.

"We believe in the appeal panel members, we believe in the chief appellate officer and we believe in that process. And that process exists, and we've been through hearings in the past when our decision has been altered, but that's what the due process is for," Helton said.

"Well, let me answer it this way. When we chose John Middlebrook as our chief appellate officer, we chose him based on our experiences with him for several years, his pragmatic approach to business and to his relationship with race teams and with NASCAR. The reasons that we chose the current chief appellate officer haven't changed.� Our opinion and our belief in our chief appellate officer hasn't changed."

After the appeal on Tuesday, Hendrick said, "I felt from the very beginning that we were clearly by the rulebook, within the guidelines, and the car had been seen multiple times and raced everywhere we raced in 2011."

Helton reiterated Friday that the C-posts were in violation of the rulebook.

"First of all, I go back to the fact that some of our penalties were upheld.� That tells you the inspection process was correct and there was an issue with the car," Helton said. "The pieces that were not upheld, if there's a way for NASCAR to be more clear, and we learn every time we go through a process, whether the penalties are upheld or modified, we learn from the process.� We should because we've worked very hard to do this."

"If we can make it more clear, more understandable, more definitive to where it's more difficult to disagree with it, then we'll continue to try to do that.� In this case, it came out this way."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/nascar-president-mike-helton-stands-both-inspection-appeals-185716084.html

Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger

The Paddock Pulse: April 4 Edition

Source: http://www.popoffvalve.com/2012/4/4/2923455/the-paddock-pulse-april-4-edition

Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger

Saturday

Drivers want drivers? meetings to be meetings about, you know, driving

So has NASCAR become just a bit too fan-friendly? That seemed to be the consensus among drivers asked to comment on the open-to-the-public drivers' meeting last weekend at Las Vegas.

The drivers' meeting takes place a couple of hours before the green flag, and it's a place for drivers and their crew chiefs to learn about whatever little quirks and idiosyncrasies of the track and rules that may now exist. Topics involve matters of pit road speed, merging onto the track, the role of the double yellow lines, and so forth. Not exactly the most thrilling subject matter, but the meetings often turn into "find your driver" photo-fests ... especially when they're open to the public.

"I like the drivers' meeting to be with the drivers and the crew chiefs, and about the race," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "It has become less and less about that. It has to be cool for a fan to be able to have that kind of access. I think there is probably a way to give them that kind of access without going to the lengths that they went to at Vegas. I couldn't see those video screens. I really couldn't pay attention to what was going on. So, the meeting to me didn't serve its purpose."

"The drivers' meeting needs to be more intimate," Jimmie Johnson agreed. "It needs to be an area where drivers, crew chiefs and NASCAR officials can talk about some things ... I just feel like that is what that meeting is for; we need an opportunity to sit there and have open communication weekly. With all the eyes, it limits that ability."

Tony Stewart, naturally, took the opposite view. "I think it's kind of cool," he said. "It allows the fans to also know what the rules are too ... You don't get to sit in pregame meeting with football teams or basketball teams and all that so I think that's a pretty cool deal."

By all accounts, the fans behaved at the Vegas meeting. Of course, heaven only knows what might happen if a too-sauced Talladega fan gets an eyeful of what goes on. Could be quite the howl ... if he can stay awake long enough.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/drivers-want-drivers-meetings-meetings-know-driving-212014430.html

Roberto Bonomi Juan Manuel Bordeu Slim Borgudd Luki Botha

Maybe the solution for Bristol is to build it out of LEGOs?

With all of the talk about how to improve attendance at Bristol, has anyone considered the LEGO option?

Think about it: The track could be rebuilt after every race depending on race quality and attendance. Great race, keep the LEGO blocks intact. Boring race? No problem, just get a bunch of�3-year-olds (they work for free, right?) to demolish the track and rebuild it. It's got to be cheaper than the $1 million in improvements that Bruton Smith has mentioned.

Anyway, Bristol winner Brad Keselowski was in Kansas City on Wednesday to unveil the LEGO replica of Kansas Speedway and build his own car. And there was some pretty awesome attention to detail. Well done on the No. 2 on the scoring pylon.

Note: LEGOs have not been mentioned as an option for the repaving process at Kansas Speedway that is to take place after the April 22 race. And that brown building to the left of the scoring pylon? That's the media center. No word if the LEGO versions of your favorite Yahoo! Sports NASCAR writers were inside gorging themselves on the free buffet.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/maybe-solution-bristol-build-legos-033529455.html

Don Branson Tom Bridger Tony Brise Chris Bristow

Under the Open Wheel Bigtop

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/Oy30VHY21VU/under-open-wheel-bigtop.html

Alan Brown Walt Brown Warwick Brown Adolf Brudes

Friday

2012 Calendar Benefiting Japan Tsunami Relief Now Available

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/03/2012-calendar-benefiting-japan-tsunami.html

Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati George Amick

Caterham principal aims for ?fresh impetus?

Caterham team principal Tony Fernandes has spoken about the decision�to axe�Jarno Trulli in favour of�Vitaly Petrov for the 2012 season. Go here for Red Bull v Cowboys! You heard right! Trulli was under contract for the team, but his future in Formula 1 now looks uncertain after being replaced by the Russian. Speaking about the [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/vIpThGa9LMY/caterham-principal-aims-for-fresh-impetus

Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem

Power Rankings: Tony Stewart is having a nice little run

It's a new season, and that means a new year of 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 as good as it gets right now...

1. Tony Stewart: Time to start opening the conversation of where Tony Stewart fits all-time among NASCAR drivers. Top 10? Absolutely. Top 5? Hmm. Could be. His win at Fontana wasn't a thing of beauty, but it also wasn't a cheap rain-out win either; he fought his way up to the front and earned that bad boy. Last week: 4.

2. Matt Kenseth: You can't really give too much credit one way or another to rain-shortened races, because who the heck knows whose car would have run better in the final third of the race. So we're not going to count Kenseth's 18th-place finish too much against him. But a little. We're catty like that. Last week: 1.

3. Kevin Harvick. Any time you get a top-five finish, you've got to be happy, but still ... rain, dude. Rain. But Harvick is doing exactly what he's supposed to this year, staying close in every race and keeping the leader within sight. It worked to perfection for Carl Edwards last year. Well, almost. Last week: 5.

4. Greg Biffle: Five races, four top 10s for Biffle. That's a solid beginning by any estimation, but as we're seeing, it's absolutely essential to get out to a hot start to prevent the inevitable in-season fade. Think Jeff Gordon wouldn't want to trade places with Biffle? (Bad question. Jeff Gordon would want to trade places with the guy selling hot dogs right about now.) Last week: 2.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Funny how nobody's crying foul about Stewart winning a rain-shortened race, but if Junior had won this one? Oh sweet heaven, it would be a crime against nature, humanity and the church. Still, the fact that Junior brought home the NASCAR equivalent of a podium finish (top three) is another sign that it's clicking for the 88. At this point, we hope he wins the championship without winning a race. Last week: 6.

6. Martin Truex Jr.: Worst part about driving better than you've ever driven in your career? Everybody's wondering when the other shoe is going to drop and you're going to revert to your usual mid-teens spot. Sure hope Other Junior isn't reading the media. Except us. We love you, Other Junior! Last week: 5.

7. Denny Hamlin: What a fake Tony Stewart threw on Denny Hamlin! Sure, he ended up only 11th, but as we've seen, every point can be sacred in NASCAR. If I were Tony, I'd try the old got-your-nose trick every time I saw Denny. Bet it'd work at least half the time. Last week: 7.

8. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson is starting a Twitter hashtag, #6pack, that is nice and all, but brings back horrible memories of that movie of the same name with Kenny Rogers and the kiddie pit crew. That would never work in the real world. For one thing, what kid knows how to modify a C-post? And ... full circle scene.� Last week: 9.

9. Kyle Busch: Kyle led more laps than anybody at Fontana with 80, but a little wall scrape killed his chances of taking a rain-shortened victory. Still, of all the losers, second place is the least loser-y, or something like that. Kyle's going to be just fine. Last week: 10.

10. Carl Edwards: Talked with Edwards last week for an upcoming interview. He was in a Texas Subway and nobody recognized him. I know a few celebs that would go total diva and demand that the staff give them a free sandwich or whatever. Edwards probably just back flipped off the counter to prove he was who he said he was.. Last week: 11.

11. Brad Keselowski: You've got to give @Kes a lot of credit for speaking his mind on Bristol. Sure, he's a little biased and all, having won at the reconfigured track, but he's shown he's not afraid to go after some big names. More importantly, he knows his stuff, which helps. Now, when he takes on the France family, we'll be really impressed ... or we'll wonder why he suddenly got tapped to start the NASCAR Antarctica franchise. Last week: 8.

12. Ryan Newman. Was driving around the other day and heard Ryan Newman on a commercial sounding as enthusiastic as I've ever heard him. (Always weird hearing/seeing NASCAR drivers when I'm not working. I want to scream, "No! I'm off duty!" But that tends to get me looks.) Anyway, Newman must have been hopped up on some of Clint Bowyer's go juice, because he couldn't have been more thrilled to talk about ... whatever it was. Guess it wasn't that great of a commercial. Last week: NR.

Dropping out: Jeff Burton

Lucky Dog: Kurt Busch. KuBu has had some success with rainout races, so it was no surprise to see him snagging his first top-10 of the year. Bringing home a complete car? Now that was a surprise.

DNF: Jeff Gordon. Oh, Jeff. Your whole season is on the verge of imploding. We feel for you, brother. Then we remember you go home to your Manhattan apartment and your beautiful family and we think you could probably do with dragging a few more gas men in your life. Still, nothin' but love for ya, baby.

Next up: Martinsville! Fire up them brakes! And send your comments to us via Twitter at @jaybusbee, via email by clicking here, and via Facebook. Go!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/power-rankings-tony-stewart-having-nice-little-run-212509153.html

Raul Boesel Menato Boffa Bob Bondurant Felice Bonetto

Jimmie Johnson is also a better photographer than you

Here's a photo taken by none other than Jimmie Johnson himself as he approached Bristol on Friday morning. Lovely view, yes?

Johnson said later that his attraction to photography dates back to when he was a kid taking disposable cameras to race tracks. It crystallized into an obsession during a mid-2000s safari, and like all dads, Johnson is now a camera freak. His tools of choice are an iPhone and Instagram; follow him on Instagram at jimmiejohnson.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/jimmie-johnson-better-photographer-152058387.html

Clemente Biondetti Pablo Birger Art Bisch Harry Blanchard

Video: Is Tony Stewart the best driver in NASCAR now?

Is Tony Stewart the best driver in NASCAR right now? Sure seems that way. Your favorite Yahoo! Sports Jays, Hart and Busbee, bring you the inside story on Mr. Stewart, the question of whether Bristol is a must-win for Kyle Busch, and picks for Thunder Valley. What are you reading this for? Watch it!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/video-tony-stewart-best-driver-nascar-now-123830439.html

Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams Walt Ader Kurt Adolff

Thursday

Under the Open Wheel Bigtop

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/Oy30VHY21VU/under-open-wheel-bigtop.html

Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz

Kasey Kahne sets off big wreck, takes out big names

Shades of the early wreck in the Daytona 500! Barely 20 laps into the Food City 500 at Bristol, Kasey Kahne didn't quite clear Regan Smith, setting off a chain reaction that collected several more of the biggest names in the sport. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Marcos Ambrose all suffered damage, with Busch, Edwards and Kahne all seeing their very real chances of winning the race go up in a haze of smoke and blue foam.

Kahne, in particular, is in a lot of trouble standings-wise now. In his first season at Hendrick, the heralded driver has crashed out or brought home poor finishes week after week, and even though we're not out of March, he's already in a win-to-get-in situation with the Chase. The wild card may be his only option if the season isn't to be a total bust.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/kasey-kahne-sets-off-big-wreck-takes-big-193607836.html

Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell

NASCAR President Mike Helton stands by both inspection and appeals process

Helton said the decision upholds the inspection process and what the inspectors found on the C-posts.

Helton reiterated Friday that the C-posts were in violation of the rulebook.

"If we can make it more clear, more understandable, more definitive to where it's more difficult to disagree with it, then we'll continue to try to do that.� In this case, it came out this way."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/nascar-president-mike-helton-stands-both-inspection-appeals-185716084.html

Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams Walt Ader

Drivers react to John Middlebrook?s decision to overturn Jimmie Johnson?s points penalty

Whenever Mike Helton has a press conference it's a big deal. So naturally, the main topic of Friday's press conferences at Auto Club Speedway was NASCAR chief appellate officer John Middlebrook's decision to reduce the penalties against Jimmie Johnson on Tuesday.

Here's what some of the drivers at Auto Club had to say about the decision to overturn the points penalty for Johnson and suspensions for crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, including Johnson's reaction to the appeal.

"The points back, that's huge," Johnson said. "We've had a great couple races here and been able to climb up in the points and get near the top 10,. Getting 25 points back puts us right there, I guess, a point out (of tenth place) and we all know how important points are."

"The disruption, if we were to lose Chad and Ron, would have been huge for our team, for any team. Although we have a lot of depth and felt that we'd survive, you don't want to go to the racetrack without your crew chief and car chief."

Kevin Harvick compared the results of the decision to the OJ Simpson verdict. And well, if there was ever a time to make an OJ Simpson verdict reference, this might have been it given the proximity of Fontana to where the trial took place.

"I think (the appeals process) is fine," Harvick said. "It's a platform for everybody to state your case, and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose just like in the court of law. It's really no different than that. It's no different than watching a case like OJ, and watching OJ go free. Watching that case, there's no way you thought that was going to happen. Then you see the verdict, and then it happens. It's very similar to that. Sometimes you think something is cut and dry, and you think this is going to be the verdict, and the next thing you know it's not. You move on and you go to the next one. But there is a platform for the teams to present their cases to a board, and obviously to the last step they took this time to present it again. I've been involved in it before from the team ownership side, and you prepare no different than you would going to a court case. It's literally the exact same process."

"Honestly I didn't even know about it on Tuesday. They had to call me and tell me because I have learned over the years to not pay attention to anybody but ourselves. I wasn't surprised, because nothing in this sport surprises me anymore."

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, supported the process.

"I thought it was interesting," Junior said. "As an individual in the sport it makes me feel good that NASCAR has such a good appeal process that both sides have the ability to get a fair shake.� It's nice to know that, that is out there and that it is working as designed."

Somewhat surprisingly, Brad Keselowski didn't have a take on the matter.

"As far as how the whole process works, I don't really know and haven't put a lot of effort into understanding it," Keselowski said. "I'm sure there are a lot of different opinions and I'm never short of an opinion. �With this particular one, I just don't find it interesting and don't have an opinion on it. �I didn't join the sport to be a race car drive and argue court cases. �I want to go fast, turn left and win races. Things of that nature haven't really excited me.

"I just don't think that it's very interesting. �I think the focus should be on what's going on at the race track. �Teammates cutting each other's tires down, that to me is interesting. �I don't follow court cases in racing."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/drivers-react-john-middlebrook-decision-overturn-jimmie-johnson-223027145.html

Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews