Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/05/09/kimi-raikkonen-im-sure-we-can-do-much-better/
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
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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Saturday
2014 Jerez Moto3 FP1: Famous Names Lead The Way
Isaac Vinales has topped the timesheets in the opening Moto3 practice at the Jerez circuit in Spain. The local rider finished the session with a time of 1:47.388 which put him three tenths clear of fellow Spaniard Alex Marquez. Vinales' Calvo KTM teammate Jakub Kornfeil rounded out the top three placing's for the morning session. Alex Rins and last round's victor Romano Fenati took fourth and fifth places respectively as Efren Vazquez, Niklas Ajo, Brad Binder, Philipp Oettl and Danny Kent completed the top 10.
Championship leader Jack Miller had to settle for a disappointing twelfth place and will look to quickly rediscover his Jerez testing pace in the day's remaining session.
Friday
Top TEN Drivers Not On The 2014 Grid
Half of the grid this season have participated in their race for their new respective teams, and with all the close season regulation changes now implemented, it seems that there?s never been a better place to start an F1 career. Three rookies ? Marcus Ericsson, Kevin Magnussen and Daniil Kvyat ? joined a paddock where [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/oBD0pt9miNI/top-ten-drivers-not-on-the-2014-grid-2
Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux
Thursday
Chevrolet Restricting Camaro Z/28 Parts to Preserve Exclusivity
With a $75,000 sticker attached to its windshield, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is a muscle car very few people can afford. However, a lot more enthusiasts could afford to buy counterfeited parts and turn their regular Camaro (almost) into a Z/28 clone.
And since the entire Z/28 production for 2014 is already sold out, more and more people are likely to seek an aftermarket upgrade to get their Z/28 fix. To prevent that and keep their exclusive customers happy, Chevrolet plans to restrict 35 of the Z/28’s parts, which will only be available to driver that already owns the said vehicle.
At least that’s what GM Authority claims, quoting "dealer sources" and providing a list of components, along with their part number, that won’t be offered as performance or visual upgrades.
The inventory is quite extensive and hints that Chevrolet aims to protect an array of aesthetic, interior and powertrain parts ranging from body flares and aprons to seats, brakes and differential. Even the "Flowtie" front grille badge, which had its gold center cut out to improve airflow and lower coolant and oil temperature, has been barred.
Some Camaro owners will obviously lose their temper following this decision, but at least we won’t get to see any V-6-powered "Z/28s" wandering the streets.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and to see exactly what parts are restricted.
Chevrolet Restricting Camaro Z/28 Parts to Preserve Exclusivity originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 30 April 2014 17:00 EST.
Wednesday
A Ferrari FF Bursts into Flames in Hong Kong
It hasn’t been long since we’ve shown you footage of a Nissan GT-R Spec-V burning on the Nurburgring track and, unfortunately, we have to get back on the "sports cars on fire" topic with a Ferrari FF as the main character.
It’s widely known that Ferraris are likely to go up in flames if handled inappropriately, but the FF shooting brake wasn’t one of them. At least not to the same extent as the 458 Italia, which had to be recalled after several models burned to a crisp.
Ferrari FF fires have been isolated for now, with the previous incident having occurred in Poland a couple of years ago, but, as of today, the number of FFs totaled by flames increased by one. It all happened in Hong Kong, where an owner lost its beloved vehicle shortly after exiting a tunnel.
According to local reports, the fire started from the FF’s engine compartment, with smoke quickly turning into a fire that spread rapidly by swallowing both the nose of the car and the interior. There’s no official word as to what may have caused the fire, but it’s believed it may have something to do with an electrical short.
Interestingly enough, the FF in question was being delivered to its owner after being inspected at the local Ferrari service center the day before.
Click past the jump to read more about the Ferrari FF.
A Ferrari FF Bursts into Flames in Hong Kong originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 29 April 2014 11:00 EST.
Tuesday
Live: 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Aragon race two | F1 Fanatic Live
Follow the second Formula Renault 3.5 race of the weekend from Motorland Aragon on F1 Fanatic Live.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/04/27/live-2014-formula-renault-3-5-aragon-race-two/
Monday
Live: 2014 IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama | F1 Fanatic Live
Follow the 2014 IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama from Barber Motorsport Park on F1 Fanatic Live.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/04/27/live-2014-indycar-grand-prix-alabama/
JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz Duke Dinsmore
Sunday
Three hours and 20 minutes after the flag
The Great Firewall of China is not going to stop GP+ publishing – although the Chinese are none too keen on allowing us to tell the world about their Grand Prix. There was a huge crowd in Shanghai to watch an absolutely exemplary display of driving from Lewis Hamilton, who led from lights to flag […]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/three-hours-and-20-minutes-after-the-flag/
Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler
Saturday
2014 Argentina MotoGP Preview - A Long Awaited Visit To The Middle Of Nowhere
Why on earth would you organize a MotoGP race in what is effectively the middle of nowhere? The answer is as simple as it is obvious: money. Dorna are being well paid by the circuit to bring the three Grand Prix classes to the little town of Termas de Rio Hondo in the heart of the Argentinian pampas. (And in case you should start to rail against Dorna's greed, it is fair to point out that a significant part of that money will also go to the teams, to pay transport costs and to cover at least part of their annual budget. Some of that money, but not all.)
A more relevant question might be why would a circuit in the middle of nowhere pay Dorna a massive amount of money to come race there? If it's in the middle of nowhere, then surely they are unlikely to make back at the gate what they paid to Dorna to organize the race? They won't, but that is not necessarily the point. The circuit, after all, is not paying most of the fee. The vast majority of the cash (indeed, probably all of it) is being paid by the regional authorities, with help from the central government. The regional tourism promotion council is counting on the increased profile of the Santiago del Estero province attracting more visitors to the region, and to Argentina in general.
Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli
Friday
Happy Hour: It's alternate universe week here at From the Marbles
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.
This is a very interesting mailbag this week. We have a good question and some, uh, other questions. Let's get right to it.
Lets say we live in an alternate universe where NASCAR doesn't have a list as long as Talladega's backstretch of races that have had cautions of "questionable legitimacy" in the closing laps. Does the caution at the end of Bristol elicit a different reaction? - Darrell
Or what if Denny Hamlin doesn't say what he did after Michigan in 2010 saying that NASCAR called cautions for show business?
NASCAR did the right thing by admitting a mistake right away, even though the initial explanation was different than the next one. It didn't do that when the caution light controversy happened in 2004, when Carl Edwards slowed down in a truck race when he saw the caution lights and ultimately lost the win because the race stayed green. That said, the sanctioning body got very lucky the rain came.
What would have happened if it hadn't rained and Edwards lost the lead on the ensuing green-white-checker restart? That's a black eye, even if it's an accident. With the rain, it's just a body blow that could have been a whole lot worse if it wasn't for some good timing.
But yes, now that we know there's a button that can easily be pushed, there are going to be a lot of jokes over the next few races about debris cautions, especially after a long green flag run.
Darrell started us off with a question about living in an alternate universe. Now we get into the questions from readers who may be in alternate universes.
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If NASCAR wants to end a race under green flags then why is it so hard to just stop counting caution laps as part of racing....There is absolutely NO racing involved in caution laps...Make them race all the posted miles. - Keith
This is ridiculous for points races. I have no problem with not counting caution laps for exhibition races, but one of the strategical points of racing is fuel management. How do you do that when you don't know how long the race is going to be? And how long would a race at Martinsville take if we didn't count caution laps? A race with over a dozen cautions there can sometimes seem interminable. Do we want to have a five-hour race? Why?
On this next one, I'm going to go line-by-line.
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First i think the "chase" is stupid. it is just an attempt to copy the other sports that have a playoff system that generates a lot of money. That was not what the primary focus of Nascar was to start with.
NASCAR wasn't started to make money?
What was important was what a driver and crew did all season long.
OK, I'll buy that point there, and say that three points for a regular season win can easily be wiped out in the Chase.
And I believe it still could be with a system of points awarded as to the finish of the driver in each race. this would determine the true championship diver and team.
So what do you call the points system that's in place now? You know, the one that decreases by a point for every position.
That would eliminate all the silly extra points for this and that and all the rest of the things that detract from the really important thing, which is how the drivers finish the race.
Three extra points for winning the race and a lap-led bonus point and a most-laps led bonus point detracts from the finishing order? Right now, if a driver finishes 10th and leads the most laps, he can have as many points as the driver in eighth, assuming that driver didn't lead a lap. How is that detracting from the finishing order?
The fans have never really understood the point system as it was anyway, with so many points for this and that and another thing. most would only know where a driver stood after a race was completed.
What is hard to understand about this points system? It may not be the best points system, but it's certainly not hard to figure out.
So why not simplfy everything and get back to what was important the racing each week and make it possible for the average fan to understand exactly where a driver and team is in the championship as each races happens. And at the end of the season the driver and team with the most finishing points would be the champion... simple enough? - Steve
OK, I get it, you just want the Chase gone. The points system is just the whipping boy. And now we go from someone who apparently thinks winning is too important to someone who thinks that winning isn't important enough.
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I really think NASCAR made a mistake when they went to this format. Now winning a race is not a necessity. I compare it to golf when the sponsors started throwing a lot of money into the game of golf. You didn't have to win a single tournament and still be the money leader. It made it rather boring. Why take a chance when you can come in tenth and make a lot of money. Now NASCAR for a weird reason thought it would be more interesting to at least give 12 hopefuls the chance to win. Never mind about the entire season, just do enough to get to the last races, heck you could probably save your best car for those races and look good. If someone won 9 races in the season and then went to the Chase and had 2 bad showings or a DNF they're out, it doesn't seem fair does it? If they wanted to change the system all they had to do is change they way they scored to make it more competitive. That way you could do the whole season and not break it up into this short season for 12 people. - Chris
I'm really not sure where you're getting the number 12 from, Chris. And who these "hopefuls" are. The Chase has been expanded to 16 drivers and the new Chase asn't given anyone any new hope for a win. Has it dictated strategy for some teams? That's what the sanctioning body hopes. But Front Row Motorsports' chances at a win didn't suddenly increase with a new win-and-your-in points system.�
To increase their chances, they'd have to employ an a differing strategy than they'd otherwise do under the old points system. And Chris, you alluded to a decrease in risk taking, so that would be something that runs counter to your point, right?
The Chase really hasn't changed either. The drivers in the elimination spots weren't going to win the Chase anyway. They're just being formally eliminated rather than informally eliminated. One bad showing ruined the chances of Dale Earnhardt Jr. last year and there were no eliminations then.
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Everywhere I go, I read or hear, "Points don't matter any more."� But of course they do.
Unless exactly 16 of the top 30 drivers split the 26 wins in the regular season, points determines who is in the chase. Any less than 16 race winners and points fill out the chase. Any more than 16 race winners and points eliminate race winners from the chase.� (Yes, despite what we've been told, it is not, "Win and you're in.") And no, even if Parker Kligerman gets a crap shoot win at Taladega, he doesn't go to the chase unless he gets enough points to finish in the top 30. Wins are now more important, but points didn't go away.� So please stop telling us they did.� Your comments? - Kurt
Kurt, are you new here?
�
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Thursday
Jimmie Johnson isn't worried about needing to notch a race win anytime soon
Jimmie Johnson, we salute your honesty.
On Friday at Auto Club Speedway, Johnson was asked if he and his team felt the need to win a race to essentially qualify themselves for the Chase. After all, it's been an entire one-ninth of the Sprint Cup Series schedule and Johnson and the No. 48 bunch are winless. These are desperate times, right?
No.
?It?s not even close to time yet," Johnson said. "When you look at the stats and you have 16 different winners in a year it?s a pretty rare occurrence. I still think that points are every bit as important as they have been until you get to Homestead. Even when you get into the Chase itself the top guy in points will advance in pretty much every scenario or every scenario, even the final one to race at Homestead. So points are still the focus in what I?m looking at. We have been able to win multiple races a year with a certain mindset.� I am not going to chase home runs. I?m looking at a smooth and consistent 26 races and when we get a look at a home run we are going to swing for it. But we are not stepping up to the plate every time trying to hit it out.?
Yes, you read that correctly, the No. 48 team isn't purposely gunning for broke every week in the name of a new playoff format. And why should they? The Lowe's group has been so good throughout Johnson's career that switching approaches would be a desperate and futile change. After all, Johnson has won multiple races in each of his Sprint Cup seasons.
If we were, say, at race 24 and Johnson was winless, perhaps the approach for the six-time champion would change. But there's no need to do so, even as some have gotten caught up in the dust-storm that was Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Las Vegas strategy play in thy name of the hallowed 2014 Chase.
But right now, Johnson's talking the sensible talk. The odds of 16 or more race winners is very low based on previous Chase-era history. Points accumulation hasn't gone away nor is it any less important. Johnson knows it. And others certainly do too.
?I absolutely care about points," Johnson said. "I think that it?s a pretty rare situation to have 16 different winners in 26 races. There will be people transferring into the Chase based on points. Even as you look at three races and how many spots are available on the second segment and third segment the point?s leader or the highest person in points without a win is going to transfer. Absolutely points are still very important until Homestead and then it doesn?t matter.?
�
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Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen
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