A From the Marbles first! We're attempting the chat triple this year, and first up is the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco Sunday at 7:45 AM ET. Grab your coffee and join us as we gaze in envy at the people sunbathing on the multi-million dollar yachts while watching the race.
Saturday
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 [...] 
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George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage
2013 Barcelona Post-Race MotoGP Test Press Releases
Press releases from some of the MotoGP teams after the test at Barcelona:
Year:
2013 
Friday
Audi A8
The third-generation Audi A8 has been around since 2009 and since then, we’ve seen numerous facelifts and upgrades attributed to the German automaker’s resident high-class luxury sedan.
For the 2014 model, the A8 has again been treated to a number of revisions, which include similar updates made to the rest of the Audi lineup, including subtle but still noticeable tweaks to the front bumper and front grille. Similarly, Audi’s famous LED lighting technology can still be found on the A8, albeit with its own set of minor modifications.
As far as the powertrain, the 2014 A8 still features the same pair of engine options found on the 2013 model: a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 that develops 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that produces 420 horsepower and 444 pound-feet of torque for the 4.0T.
These upgrades are expected to bolster the A8’s standing in the competitive luxury-class segment. They’re much needed, in our opinion, given that the BMW 7-Series is still pushing strong and Mercedes has just launched the next-generation S-Class.
Click past the jump to read about the 2014 Audi A8
Audi A8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 21 June 2013 11:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/audi/2014-audi-a8-ar158145.html
James Hinchcliffe pays tribute to his friend Greg Moore at Indy 500
Racing is a dangerous business, and it can turn deadly. Canadian driver Greg Moore was an exceptional open-wheel driver who died far too soon, in 1999 at age 24. A friend and colleage of such notables as Dario Franchitti, Moore appeared headed for a career of racing stardom before dying in a wreck in the 1999 season finale. The new documentary "A Hero's Drive" recounts that story, and so much more, in heartbreaking detail.
A proud Canadian, Moore wore red gloves no matter what his sponsor's colors. James Hinchcliffe, also a Canadian, was just 12 years old at the time of Moore's death, and considered Moore his hero. Moore never got to race at Indianapolis, but Hinchcliffe offered some small measure of tribute by carrying a pair of Moore's gloves during qualifying. It was a powerful moment, and a perfect way to memorialize Moore.
Above is part 1 of "A Hero's Drive." Below are parts 2 and 3.
Part 2:
Part 3:
Thursday
Denny Hamlin wins Dover pole, continues his impressive return from injury
So it looks like Denny Hamlin's season might not be the toast we all assumed it was after he vacated the #11 for four races because of injury.
Hamlin secured his third pole of the season on Friday afternoon at Dover. That's fine work for a guy just weeks removed from a broken vertebra in his back.�What's even more impressive is that Dover is one of Hamlin's worst tracks. He has an average finish of 19.6 in Dover; only Daytona and Sonoma have been more inhospitable. Still, he got around the Monster Mile at 22.788 seconds, for a speed of 157.978 mph.
The trick for Hamlin now is winning a race or two. He appears near-certain to work his way back into the top 20; he's 53 points out of the top 20 with 14 races left to close that gap. In the two races he's finished since his return, he's come in second and fourth. We thought it'd take Hamlin until 2014 to get back into Chase competition; now it looks like he'll be there by Independence Day.
Hamlin will be joined at the front of the pack by three other Toyotas: Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Jamie McMurray round out the top 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start 12th, and points leader Jimmie Johnson will start 24th.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Danica Patrick admits she was angry at boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. over wreck
? Slideshow: Danica Patrick's looks outside of the track
? Should Indy adopt NASCAR rule?
Drag racin? yoga instructor takes car for a full spin, keeps right on rolling
Yoga teaches you to calm your mind, to let go of your worldly concerns and troubles and embrace the infinite. It also gives you some amazing reflexes behind the wheel, apparently.
Meet Amy Taub, a yoga instructor who drag races in her spare time for her family's team, T&F Racing. While at full throttle, Amy had quite the spin at Atco Dragway in New Jersey, but managed to wheel her way right out of the skid. Not a bad move at 140 miles per hour.
You can see the full video from the spin and her run right here. Best part of that video is the thumbs-up she shoots the ambulance that had come racing out onto the track, sirens flaring, to rescue her from what everyone assumed would be a vicious crack-up.
We'd tell you not to try this at home, but we don't think you could even get close to that.
[Via The Big Lead.]
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Hendrick pursuing new sponsor for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
? Daytona International Speedway plans major redesign
? Power Rankings: Johnson leads a familiar cast
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 [...] 
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Dennis: F1 Too Physical For Women
McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has played down talk that women could soon be racing in F1 on a regular basis. Williams test driver Susie Wolff is the closest female to a full seat, and is pushing to secure her superlicense. However, Dennis believes that F1 is too much physically for women, and doesn?t think that [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/Ogs2ivmFbSM/dennis-f1-too-physical-for-women
Wednesday
2013 Barcelona Post-Race Test Times, 2pm: Bradl Leads, As Suzuki Makes Debut
The Montmelo circuit just outside of Barcelona is a hive of activity, as all but the Repsol and Gresini Honda teams take to the track. As of 2pm, Stefan Bradl was the fastest man on track, just a fraction quicker than Nicky Hayden and late arrival Jorge Lorenzo, while Andrea Dovizioso, Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi are all within three tenths of Bradl's time.
Much of the interest was around the Suzuki garage, where Randy de Puniet made his debut on the bike, after it had been given a shakedown by Nobu Aoki. So far, and some 15 laps in, De Puniet has lapped at 1:44.089, which is some 1.8 seconds off the time of Bradl. In comparison, De Puniet did a 1'43.186 during qualifying on the Aprilia ART machine he has been riding so far this year.
While Jorge Lorenzo was a late arrival, choosing to get some rest in the morning after a hard race yesterday, Bradley Smith left the track early. The Tech 3 man is scheduled to have surgery tonight to repair his little finger, and fix the scaphoid in his left wrist, damage from his crash at Mugello.
Times as of 2pm
Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh
Carl Edwards locks keys in car, still wins pole in Michigan
Carl Edwards has won his first pole via qualifying in more than a year, but not without a bit of nerve-wracking pre-qualifying drama.
Early Friday, a few hours before qualifying began, Edwards went for a run and locked his keys in his rental car. What to do? The rental car company was no help. After some scheming and plotting, Edwards and his PR agent found a local used-car dealership, coaxed out a mechanic who had a few coathangers and a crowbar, and broke into the car.
"It kept my mind off the stress of qualifying," Edwards laughed. "It was a little adventure. Jimmy (Fennig, crew chief) says I should go running more often. If he had known how close I was to not making it back I don?t think he would say that.?
So who was this mysterious savior-with-a-crowbar who helped one of NASCAR's finest drivers break into a car? "I don?t want to call the guy out," Edwards said. "I mean he did use a crowbar to break into the car. I didn?t ask him how he knew how to do that so well."
The irony of a NASCAR driver being unable to drive wasn't lost on Carl. "I am just furthering the belief that drivers can?t take care of themselves," he said with a wry grin. "I have people coming to help me all the time, so that isn?t good."
Once he actually drove his company car, Edwards turned a lap of 202.452 mph at Michigan International Speedway, taking his first pole on speed in 49 races and setting himself up as the man to beat in Sunday's Quicken Loans 400. Michigan is one of Edwards' best tracks; he's won twice and finished in the top 10 a career-best 13 times there.
"I'm happy with that lap," Edwards said after his qualifying. "I don?t think I could go any faster if I ran it again."
Fortunately, he doesn't need to. He'll start on the front row alongside Kurt Busch, who's had an impressive recent run of speed. Busch has started first or second in four of the last six races. Rounding out the top five are Kasey Kahne, Paul Menard and Aric Almirola. Other notables: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 12th, Tony Stewart 14th, Jimmie Johnson 17th.
"To be second, that?s qualifying, now we?ve just got to step into the race and that?s where we?ve got to close the deal," Busch said. "We haven?t been as strong as we?ve needed to be in the last section of the race, like after the last pit stop or with two pit stops to go, that?s where we have to find a little bit more improvement. But otherwise, these Furniture Row guys are phenomenal, and we?re knocking on the door.?
Michigan repaved the track in time for the start of the 2012 season, and drivers indicated that the dreaded "new track feel" is starting to fade.
"It's just going to continue to get better," Martin Truex Jr. said. "Last year, there was times you just felt like you were along for the ride. It was hard to do anything with what you had. ... Hopefully, the groove will widen out. It's pretty narrow right now."
"The new track is super fun to race on," said Edwards, not missing a chance to ladle out the praise. "The pavement seems like it has aged more in a year than a lot of new track surfaces have and hopefully we can keep developing a Goodyear tire and keep making it softer and softer to where it becomes the old Michigan here in a year or two. I think that is going to be awesome.?
Edwards joked that even though he's started on the pole several times this season, this would be the first one to actually count for next year's Sprint Unlimited race. (Others were via rainout.)
"There are a few things I like about racing at Michigan," Edwards said. "The first is that it is the site of my first Sprint Cup start, a huge day for me personally. I will never forget when they said ?Gentlemen, start your engines.? That was one of the most emotional moments I?ve ever had in a race car."
And fortunately, you can't lock your keys in an NASCAR car.
-Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee.-
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Rick Hendrick slams Brad Keselowski after criticism
? Autopsy reveals Jason Leffler died of neck injury
? Happy Hour: The good and bad of TNT's race coverage
2013 Barcelona Post-Race Test Times, 2pm: Bradl Leads, As Suzuki Makes Debut
The Montmelo circuit just outside of Barcelona is a hive of activity, as all but the Repsol and Gresini Honda teams take to the track. As of 2pm, Stefan Bradl was the fastest man on track, just a fraction quicker than Nicky Hayden and late arrival Jorge Lorenzo, while Andrea Dovizioso, Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi are all within three tenths of Bradl's time.
Much of the interest was around the Suzuki garage, where Randy de Puniet made his debut on the bike, after it had been given a shakedown by Nobu Aoki. So far, and some 15 laps in, De Puniet has lapped at 1:44.089, which is some 1.8 seconds off the time of Bradl. In comparison, De Puniet did a 1'43.186 during qualifying on the Aprilia ART machine he has been riding so far this year.
While Jorge Lorenzo was a late arrival, choosing to get some rest in the morning after a hard race yesterday, Bradley Smith left the track early. The Tech 3 man is scheduled to have surgery tonight to repair his little finger, and fix the scaphoid in his left wrist, damage from his crash at Mugello.
Times as of 2pm
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