Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/11/webber_wins_but_vettel_is_stil.html
Saturday
Sprint extends title sponsorship of Sprint Cup Series to 2016
During Friday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse announced that the mobile phone carrier has extended its title sponsorship of the Sprint Cup Series.
Hesse made the announcement while presenting a $5.8 million winner's check to 2011 champion Tony Stewart.
"So, I could not be more pleased than to announce and celebrate tonight, that Sprint and NASCAR have agreed to an extension of our relationship, ensuring that through at least the 2016 season, every champion crowned will be a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion," Hesse said.
Sprint became the official title sponsor of the Cup Series in 2008 after the Sprint-Nextel merger was complete. Nextel became the title sponsor of the Cup Series in 2004 after Winston left the sport. The Nextel contract was set to expire at the end of the 2013 season.
Stewart is the only driver to have won championships with Winston, Nextel and Sprint as the title sponsors.
While the Sprint announcement is good news for the series, especially in light of the sponsorship struggles throughout the industry, it's probably bad news for NASCAR fans who want official NASCAR content on their phones but are not Sprint customers. Currently, the only official NASCAR mobile application with audio and other features is exclusive to Sprint and will likely remain that way for obvious reasons.
Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell
Luca di Montezemolo: ?Winning depends on us, not on others?
Luca di Montezemolo used Ferrari?s Xmas lunch today to encourage the team to work harder in the build-up to 2012. Over 1000 team members and suppliers – including the drivers – were present to hear Montezemolo celebrate 20 years in … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/12/17/luca-di-montezemolo-winning-depends-on-us-not-on-others/
Michigan, Martinsville lay wager on Sugar Bowl
College sports are the paragon of amateur integrity (what? stop laughing!), but that doesn't mean we can't have a friendly wager now and then, right?
Take, for instance, next week's Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Michigan Wolverines do battle against the Virginia Tech Hokies, and as part of the festivities, the two NASCAR tracks most closely associated with those programs, Michigan and Martinsville, have placed a little bet of their own.
If the Hokies win, MIS track president Roger Curtis will travel to Martinsville in April to serve Martinsville hot dogs while wearing the Hokies' maroon and burnt orange. And if the Wolverines win, Martinsville head honcho Clay Campbell will do the reverse, heading to Michigan to serve MIS's Coney Dogs wearing blue and yellow. (Campbell, not the dogs.)
That's nice and all, but there ought to be something with interest for the rest of us. Like, the winning track gets the right to put in a ramp, or the right to keep one driver out of the lineup of the other track's race, or something cool like that. But this'll do, I suppose.
The Sugar Bowl is January 3. Keep your browser tuned to Yahoo! Sports for full coverage...but probably not in the NASCAR section.
Friday
Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon breakdances
NASCAR's Champion's Week festivities in Las Vegas have been a gold mine of hilarious moments so far, but Jeff Gordon stole the show during Thursday's "After the Lap" event.
The day after all 12 Chase drivers participated in the NASCAR version of "The Newlywed Game," they were back on stage for "After the Lap," which ended up turning into a group roast of sorts for the Chasers.
While there were many funny moments to be had ? 2011 Sprint Cup champion and noted Burger King connoisseur Tony Stewart joked about having to change clothes next to runner-up and fitness freak Carl Edwards�? Gordon had the best moment of them all when he showed off his breakdancing moves on stage.
Yes, seriously.
The California-raised Gordon has transformed himself from anti-NASCAR establishment young gun into one of the best drivers in the sport's history with 85 wins and four Sprint Cup titles over the course of his 20-year career.
[ Related: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins Most Popular Driver award for ninth time ]
If a guy like Scott Speed�? a former Red Bull driver who came to NASCAR from Formula 1�? breakdances, it doesn't seem out of the ordinary. But Jeff Freaking Gordon? One of the seemingly most unlikely NASCAR drivers to have any breakdancing skills? That's just awesome. It's like Tiger Woods deciding to get down after a round at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am or if Peyton Manning boogied at the Pro Bowl.
It took some prodding for Gordon, 40, to finally show off his moves, but he reluctantly did for about 10 seconds to roars and applause from fans and his fellow competitors, even prompting Denny Hamlin to laughingly tell Gordon "don't bring that [garbage] into my club." (Hamlin owns a club in the Charlotte area.)
The four-time champion admitted that he was an avid breakdancer when he was younger and that the last time that he had breakdanced (publicly) was at five-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson's wedding.
And while there were quips about Gordon's ability to get a girl soon after he got down�? Gordon also once had an awesome mid-1990s mustache and a rainbow-colored firesuit ? they aren't exactly based in any truth. Gordon is married and has two children with model Ingrid Vandebosch.
For more motorsports news, follow us on Twitter at @FTMNASCAR.
Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Baseball's Hall of Fame debates are about to get a lot less fun
? No-no king Johnny Vander Meer was under the watchful eye of J. Edgar Hoover
? Houston coach Kevin Sumlin is considered a top Texas A&M target
Hyundai New Models
2013 Hyundai Genesis is Hyundai’s model is completely renewed in two years to make way for the sportier version of all. This model is a coupe that Hyundai for quite some time been attracting the attention of all car fans. Smetana already available photos of the model 2013, which was filtered through official Face book [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/116-hyundai-new-models.html
RVM?2011 Season Review Part the Final
So here we are finally at the final installment of the 2011 season in review. I think by now I have gotten 2011 out of my system and we can begin to look towards 2012 with a more focused eye. … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/rvm-2011-season-review-part-the-final/
Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth
Thursday
Photographer's Blog-G.P. Helmet Art
I spent more time on the grid in 2011 than ever before and one of the interesting benefits of this was the level of details I started noticing in some of the helmets. On TV, or even at trackside, it's difficult to see exactly what the helmet designers have done to make each rider's crash hat unique.
So I started grabbing a few close up shots of helmets as they popped out of the hustle and bustle that makes up a G.P. grid. This collection is arbitrary in that I made no effort to look at each helmet to find the best ones. There simply isn't time to do that, nor is it possible to look in a systematic way since the bikes arrive in an unpredictable order, and the grid itself is a fairly hectic space until right before the start when they kick us off.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/wqNvaLzB6gs/photographer_s_blog_gp_helmet_art.html
Hulkenberg and Di Resta confirmed at Force India
Sahara Force India has finally confirmed the not unexpected news that Nico Hulkenberg has been promoted from his third driver role to partner Paul Di Resta in 2012. Dr Vijay Mallya waited until the day after the team’s Xmas party … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/12/16/hulkenberg-and-di-resta-confirmed-at-force-india/
Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
Kimi Raikkonen: My hunger for Formula 1 is ?overwhelming?
After it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen would return to Formula 1 next year, the former World Champion has been speaking about his decision. The 32-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Renault (who will become Lotus in 2012) to return to the sport he left in 2009. Speaking about his decision to return, Raikkonen [...]
Wednesday
Presentations made by Mercedes
In�the presentation made by�Mercedes�to show their�brand new�Class�B�had the opportunity to�chat with a�brand�engineer�told me�a couple�of interesting details.�On one side the�platform using�this model will be�shared by four�brand vehicles�and�all�wheel drive will have�…�although�at least�one�drive�that�can also�be integrated,�for from what�I gathered, did not say so�openly, one of the�Mercedes�cars that�the market will�launch�an SUV that�will compete,�for example, with�the imminent�Audi�Q3. Maintaining the same�base�also�find�substitute�Class A, [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/95-presentations-made-by-mercedes.html
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible
 |
Ford unveiled the 2013 Shelby GT500 at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, but only in its coupe form - an odd decision considering Chevrolet had already announced their ZL1 Convertible. However, this doesn’t mean the masses will not be privy to a GT500 Convertible; it just means that it has been delayed just a bit until the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
Changes in the exterior of the convertible GT500 will follow along the lines of the coupe with a "more modern and edgy" design, as well as new wheels and an overall improved look. Of course, the Convertible model will get a soft top for those cruising days.
As for the power, the GT500 debut promised a top speed of 200 mph for the Coupe model, but we highly doubt that will transfer over to the Convertible. It will, however, be powered by the
As the coupe version the GT500 Convertible will be powered by a 5.8L supercharged V8 engine producing a staggering 650 HP with a quieter and more efficient TVS unit.
Expect more details about the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible at the Detroit Auto Show next week!
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 27 December 2011 18:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ford/2013-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-convertible-ar122163.html
Tuesday
Kurt Busch out at Penske Racing
UPDATE: 
Kurt Busch will not return to Penske Racing in 2012.
Monday morning, Busch released the following statement:
"Coming to a mutual agreement to go our separate ways is a positive step for me. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I took time to reflect on what is most important to me and realized I need to find a way to put the fun back into racing. It's time for a fresh start. Leaving a great organization and a lucrative contract is not easy, but it allows me to take a deep breath and work on things that can make me a better driver and a better person.�
"I recognize the passion and emotion that have helped me succeed on the track need to be better channeled off the track.�The past few months I began working with a sports psychologist to help me better deal with my emotions, especially following moments of frustration during competition."�
On Sunday, the Charlotte Observer and That's Racin reported Busch had been fired.
Busch will not return next season to drive Penske Racing's No. 22 Dodge, multiple sources confirmed to the Observer and ThatsRacin.com on Sunday night.
An official announcement of Busch's departure from the organization is expected from Penske on Monday.
The final straw came�at the season's final race at Homestead where he was videotaped swearing at a reporter, an incident that�resulted in a�$50,000 fine from NASCAR. At Richmond, he had to be restrained from going after a reporter in the garage and ripped another reporter's transcript in half.
Earlier this week, Busch admitted that he was seeing a sports psychologist for his temper and anger issues, which have been on display during multiple radio tirades aimed at his crew chief and crew. The man on the�receiving end�of those rants for the past two years, crew chief Steve Addington, parted ways with Penske at the end of the year and will be the crew chief for Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart in 2012.
With�Busch out of his�ride at Penske, the move�poses two huge questions:�Who will fill his emptied seat in the No. 22 and where does Busch go next?
Remember, this�isn't�the first time Busch has been fired. In 2005, just a year after winning the�inaugural Chase for the Sprint Cup, Busch was suspended by Roush Racing with two races to go in the season after being cited for driving recklessly near Phoenix International Raceway. After the suspension, Roush president Geoff Smith said that the team was retiring from being Busch's apologist.
When he departed from Roush, Busch had already been slated at Penske to fill the seat of the retiring Rusty Wallace. Now, with sponsorship concerns forcing teams like Roush and Richard Childress Racing to downsize to three cars and the closure of Red Bull Racing, Busch's career�could be�at a definite crossroads. He's one of the best drivers in NASCAR. But losing a job at Penske could mean he may never be at one of the best teams again, though former teammate Jeff Burton tweeted this:
Big news. Kurt will find a ride in the future. He has enough talent,someone will give him a shot. He will have to show he's learned.
As of now, there's no top-notch ride available. Busch could drive for a team with lesser equipment, or take a year off and prove to teams and sponsors that he's a changed driver in the hopes of landing a fully funded ride in 2013. However, those options�will be�limited a year from now, too. He's burned bridges at Roush (and by relation, Richard Petty Motorsports),�and the stables at Hendrick, Childress�and Gibbs are full.
The emerence of Brad Keselowski in 2011 would make�parting ways with Busch easier.�In the second�half of the season, Keselowski developed into the caliber of driver�a team can call its No. 1.�
So who will Penske hire to drive the No. 22? David Ragan, David Reutimann and Brian Vickers would instantly become the top candidates for the open seat.�Ragan is 26, just won his first career Sprint Cup race at Daytona and is clean-cut and polite ? a major reason why UPS became his sponsor. Both Reutimann and Vickers have two career Sprint Cup wins, but Reutimann's age, 40, may be working against him, while Vickers, who had his own run-ins this season,�struggled in 2011.
As�far as sponsorship,�Shell, which expressed disappointment with Busch's actions at Homestead,�likely will stay on board.�Part of the move from�RCR to Penske in 2011 was as a partnership�across all of Penske's businesses.
Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux
2012 MotoGP Calendar Changes: Qatar A Week Earlier, Jerez Confirmed, Calendar Still Provisional
The MotoGP schedule for the 2012 season has been tweaked a little, and there is some good news for fans: the season starts seven days earlier, with the Qatar MotoGP round having been moved up a week to April 8th. The move is in response to the Formula One calendar, which sees the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for April 15th, the date originally planned for Qatar, and so the decision was taken to start the MotoGP season a week earlier.
The other changes to the calendar are merely confirmations of what had been widely expected. The German GP is now officially set to take place at the Sachsenring, although as the contracts are yet to be completed, the date is still listed as being subject to contract. Those contracts are a mere formality, however, as the ADAC and the regional government came to an agreement earlier this month to keep the German round of MotoGP at the circuit in Hohenstein-Ernstthal. The Jerez round has also been confirmed, with the mayor of the circuit stepping in to ensure the 2012 date. Beyond 2012 is another matter, however, as the circuit is still in financial turmoil, stemming from alterations made back in 2001, and with new rounds in Argentina and Texas scheduled for 2013, Jerez could well be dropped after that date.
JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz Duke Dinsmore
Happy Hour: Steve Addington, glutton for punishment
Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com (note new address) or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.
Remember, even though the season's done, we're not. Usual nonsense here every day of the week. And hey, if you want to get a letter printed, NOW IS THE TIME. We'll need plenty o'material for this feature each week.
For now, we start by considering the sanity of one of the offseason's central figures ...
Does Steve Addington have a fetish for the undercarriage of multi-passenger conveyances? Why else would he sign on with a third straight driver that WILL throw his crew chief under the bus?
? JT
Ah, undercarriage fetishes. The reason why the internet was invented. Tip: do NOT do a search on the phrase "undercarriage fetishes." Some things you just can't unsee. Anyway, where were we? Oh, yeah, Addington. Yeah, you do have to wonder a bit about his sanity in dealing with the three most notorious hotheads in NASCAR today. Shoot, I'd put them in the top 10 all-time.
But look at it this way: Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart are also three of the most talented drivers in the sport. And if you happen to be the type of person who can let torrents of rage roll off you like rain off a roof, hey, you're going to be running up front all season long. It's a small price to pay for getting the top layer of your skin peeled off over the radio every Sunday.
Plus, have we established that Addington is not, in fact, deaf? Because if he were, that would explain an awful lot.
____________________
I'm a pretty hardcore Tony Stewart fan, and I'm absolutely ecstatic over his championship win (and particularly the fashion in which it was won), but a question troubles me after reading your last mailbag post. One reader thought it suspicious that the top 2 in points were so much faster than the rest of the field. I don't personally think that any funny business was going on (after all, the 48 crew wasn't involved) ... but say that there was. Tony wins the race, and wins the championship on a tiebreaker, then his car fails post-race inspections ? we just had a huge celebration, trophy presentation, the works, and now they take it all away? How would this be handled? Does any inspection occur before all the celebrating to make sure everything is legit? This would be my worst nightmare!
? Tom
Saint Clair Shores, Mich.
Congratulations to you, Tom, and to all the other Smoke fans out there who weathered a drought of six long years between championships. Now, to answer your question: NASCAR did inspections pre-race, bringing Stewart's and Carl Edwards' cars in for a thorough look-over several days before the race.
Now, if you want to get all JFK-conspiracy theory, you could say that Stewart and Edwards could have done work between that inspection and the race, or ? oh, here's an even better one! ? NASCAR let Stewart slide to give Rick Hendrick and Chevy another championship! You know, because they could predict that Stewart would be able to finish just one second ahead of Edwards! Alas, NASCAR does post-race inspections, as well, and Stewart passed.�
Anyway ... boy, we have a tendency to wander in the offseason ... don't sweat it, all's on the up-and-up. Or all's totally rigged. Whichever makes you feel better.
____________________
Jay, Jay, Jay, you still don't get it. You said, "Seriously, Obama could go door-to-door handing out candy- ...
Nope. Sorry. Not going to be taking any more Obama/booing emails. (And oh, I've got plenty.) We've ground that topic into a fine, chewy paste, and we won't be revisiting it again. (Though I have been invited to appear on a couple of conservative radio talk shows; that ought to be fun.) Moving onward ...
____________________
I do have ESPN with my cable package, but if you were ESPN would it not make sense to put the Chase races on ABC? I mean, they are putting movies on ABC Sunday afternoons. It seems the NASCAR race would generate much greater interest than these movies and I am not for sure about those movies' ratings, but they have to be much lower than they would be for NASCAR. At ESPN, is there a reason they give why they will not put the races on regular television?
? Jacob Stotz
Ida, Mich.
Another Michigan writer? We're stomping on the Upper Midwest like Ndamukong Suh! (Sorry, Detroit.) Anyway, here's the deal: ABC/ESPN has made the decision to consolidate the Chase races on the World Wide Leader, with the exception of the Saturday night race, as a way of consolidating the coverage. It does tick some people off, yes, and I agree that there's some kind of cachet that's lost by going to a cable network and not a "broadcast" one ... but we're still very much in a transitional period in sports broadcasting now. Ten years from now, you'll be able to watch Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne on any device imaginable, and the idea of "broadcast networks" will seem as quaint as music on little thin strips of plastic on spools. (And no, Junior Nation, I won't make the obvious next joke. You owe me.)
And those freakin' Sunday afternoon movies do a much better than you'd expect. You'd think pretty much anybody out there who wanted to see "The Mummy Returns" would have done it by now, but yep, it still runs every weekend. There are affiliates out there who won't run certain late-night talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel because two-decade-old M*A*S*H reruns get better ratings. America: when we find something we like, we don't ever let go of it!
____________________
It seems to me that after the Kurt Busch/Dr. Jerry Punch encounter at Homestead that NASCAR and team owners need to take some significant steps to curb the profanity problem. �The bleeps over the radios and in car cameras seemed to have reached record proportions. We try to teach our kids to deal with anger in constructive ways and then they see their heroes in NASCAR breaking all those standards of appropriate behavior. Kurt Busch has been a real poster child of the profanity problem both in and out of the car. I can't understand how Penske allows it and Shell does not take some action.
It is becoming evident that NASCAR is not going to address this problem. I would suggest that if you are offended like I have been that you write to advertisers directly and let them know that this has to be brought under control.
Sponsorship is so hard to come by these days. I guess that I don't understand how drivers and teams can allow anything to happen that could result in negative feedback to a sponsor.
? Richard Lewis
Richard wrote this letter before the $50,000 fine against Busch was announced, so that might soften his stance a little bit. Here's my thing: I don't have a problem with Busch cursing over the radio. Those are in-team communications we're hearing. But I can understand how certain sponsors might not be thrilled with the idea of their poster boy teaching everybody a few new words and phrases. (I'll never look at a monkey and a football the same way again.)
What concerns me much more are the "secret fines" NASCAR metes out for speech. Look at Denny Hamlin; the poor guy is just about neutered now on Twitter after getting fined for speaking out. If you want to attract people to this sport, you need edgy personalities. And edgy personalities sometimes go farther than you'd like. That's the very definition of "edgy." So, yes, we could have a nice, pleasant little array of sponsor-thanking drones, or we could have drivers who speak their minds and occasionally tick off someone in a position of power. I know which one I'd prefer, and I also know which one NASCAR would, too.
Time to wrap up with a little praise.
____________________
That was the worst article I have read lately. Next time take a little longer to write it.
? Gene
I used to get that exact message on pretty much every English paper I turned in from fourth grade right through college. Sad thing is, I have no idea which article he means, and it could really apply to pretty much anything I write.
And on that note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com, find us on Facebook right here, or hit us up on Twitter at @jaybusbee. Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
Alain de Changy Colin Chapman Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves
Aspar "Doing Everything Within The CRT Rules" With Aprilia MotoGP Machine
There has been much speculation on the legality or otherwise of the Aprilia RSV4-based bike to be used by a number of teams operating under the CRT rules in MotoGP in 2012. With the presence of so many members of the Aprilia test team at the recent Valencia and Jerez tests, and first Alex Hofmann and then Randy de Puniet riding a World Superbike spec RSV4R, there were claims that the Aprilia CRT machine was a clear violation of the principle behind the Claiming Rule Team concept.
The Aspar team have taken the criticism to heart, and in an interview with the Spanish magazine Motociclismo, team director Gino Borsoi was at pains to state the team's intention of staying within the CRT rules. Borsoi described at some length the status of the Aprilia project, the direction they are taking and the plans for the future. The project had started a couple of months ago, Borsoi told Motociclismo, after Aspar had decided to run two CRT machines instead of the single Ducati that the squad had run in 2010 and 2011.
Fred Agabashian Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto
Look back at the 2011 seasons of Ragan, Logano and Vickers
Every driver has highs and lows in a year, but rarely are those two in balance. For the next few weeks, we'll be looking at the seasons of all your favorite drivers (and, of course, your least favorite, too). We begin with three who didn't quite live up to their potential, and partly as a result, two are currently out of a job.
First, Brian Vickers of the now-defunct Red Bull team:
Next up, Joe Gibbs Racing's Joey Logano:
Finally, Roush Fenway's David Ragan, the only guy on this list to win a race this year:
More very soon. Weigh in on these three cats below.
Monday
Look back at the 2011 seasons of Menard, Truex and Ambrose
The� 2011 season is over and done, and while there were several drivers who had outstanding seasons, there were quite a few who, well, didn't quite bust through. We're focusing on some of those still-fine gentlemen before we get to the big dogs. Away!
First up, Paul Menard, who was one of many drivers to achieve redemption this year by bringing home an improbable victory:
Next up, Martin Truex Jr., who's now got quite the in-team rival in Clint Bowyer:
Finally, Marcos Ambrose, who started capitalizing on the promise Richard Petty and many others have seen in him for some time:
More to come. Your thoughts on these gentlemen?
RVM? 2011 season review part 1
I have decided to break the season review up into a few as to not inundate you guys with too much worthless banter. I think I will post it in three parts during the coming weeks on Fridays. There is … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/rvm%e2%80%a6-2011-season-review-part-1/
JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz Duke Dinsmore
Ask The Insiders Wednesday #152
The end is near. �All three series will close out their 2011 seasons this weekend at Homestead. �The Truck and Nationwide battles are all but sewed up, but we’ve got one hell of fight for the Cup title. �As we wait to find out who will be crowned, we’ve got the 152nd round of reader [...]
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/ZZh23Z9gx8s/
Richard Childress Racing sings the ?12 Days of Christmas?
You always wondered what the Richard Childress Racing '12 Days of Christmas' would sound like, didn't you?
Now here's your chance. Watch and enjoy.
But we've got one question: What'd they do with Paul Menard?
Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla
Sunday
A Turbulent Start to the NASCAR Off-Season
We’re just a week into the NASCAR off-season and the changes are coming fast and heavy. Layoffs Around The shoe hasn’t dropped everywhere just yet, but so far Roush Fenway has undertaken a massive layoff that we’ve heard was as many as 125 employees. This included many long-time Roush employees. What’s loyalty worth in this [...]
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/PM3iD26qXn8/
Kimi Raikkonen?s First Interview About Formula 1 Return! (Video)
As you all probably know by now,�Kimi Raikkonen is set to return to Formula 1 with Renault (to become Lotus) �in 2012. Here he is discussing the return… [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.] What are your thoughts on Raikkonen?s return? Get [...]
Saturday
A sad story from Finland
Finnish former F1 driver and double Le Mans winner JJ Lehto has been sentenced to two years and four months in jail for his involvement in a boating accident which killed a friend. The prosecution argued that Lehto was drunk at the time of the accident, which occurred in June 2010, when Lehto’s boat hit [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/a-sad-story-from-finland/
Power Rankings: The best feuds of 2011
Welcome to Power Rankings! During the season, we rank your favorite drivers based on who's up, who's down, who's grooving and who's sliding. But now? Now, we dig into the vaults and the memory banks. Today, we offer up the best feuds of 2011. And oh, do we have a bumper crop from which to choose ...
1. Kyle Busch-Richard Childress. One of the most legendary throwdowns in NASCAR history, this Kansas scuffle began when Childress had all he could stand and couldn't stand no more. Busch apparently (and wisely) didn't fight back as the old man threw a punch or two. And "taking off your watch" became an instant NASCAR euphemism for when things are about to get real.
2. Kyle Busch-Kevin Harvick. The perpetually simmering Busch-Harvick feud boiled over at Darlington, as the two traded paint on the track. When Harvick confronted Busch on pit road following the race, Busch shoved Harvick's car forward to get out of the way of the Flying Fists of Happy. This one resonated for months.
3. Kurt Busch-The Penske team. Busch feuded with his team, his owner, his car and himself for most of the year, and ended up the loser when he finally got the boot from the 22.
4. Greg Biffle-Boris Said. The best soundbite of the year, as Said called Biffle an "unprofessional scaredy-cat" and a "chump" after a dustup at Watkins Glen. No word on whether Said ever found his way to Biffle's house to deliver his message in person.
5. Matt Kenseth-Brian Vickers. This feud stretched over several races, as the drivers retaliated back and forth so many times that nobody can quite remember how the whole thing started. Kenseth got the last laugh, though; when asked at Champions Week if he'd spin Vickers to win a race, Kenseth replied, "He wouldn't be leading a race."
6. Ryan Newman-Juan Pablo Montoya. An early battle that's all but forgotten now because Montoya dropped off the radar. Newman allegedly threw some punches in the NASCAR hauler, and apparently got one of those secret fines for it. But nobody who's talking about it knows anything, and nobody who knows anything is talking about it.
7. Kurt Busch-Jimmie Johnson. Busch tried hard to convince everyone that he was "in Jimmie's head," but after getting spun by the 48 at Richmond and self-destructing in the Chase, Busch convinced everyone that he couldn't get out of his own head long enough to find his way into anyone else's.
8. Tony Stewart-Brian Vickers. The Sonoma battle between Vickers and Stewart very nearly cost the eventual champion a berth in the Chase. Stewart decided to play NASCAR sheriff and dump Vickers for blocking; Vickers responded by putting Stewart tail-up onto a tire pile. Stewart's poor finish there almost cost him his Chase spot. Which, as it turned out, would have changed matters dramatically.
9. Kevin Conway-Robby Gordon. If these two were bigger names, this would've been the fight of the year, hands down. As it is, it's the undercard, but a contract battle and alleged garage fisticuffs are nothing to laugh off. Laugh at, yes, but not laugh off.
10. Kasey Kahne-Juan Pablo Montoya. Notable because Montoya managed to get under the skin of the usually low-key Kahne at Pocono. Watching drivers try to sort out who did what to whom is like listening to middle-school girls try to figure out who backstabbed whom.
Honorable mentions: Kyle Busch-Ron Hornaday Jr. (the move that got Kyle benched), Kyle Busch-Elliott Sadler (a case of mistaken identity, as Kyle crashed Sadler apparently thinking he drove for Harvick), Kurt Busch-the NASCAR media (transcripts and facts have no chance against an angry driver), Tony Stewart-the NASCAR media (you'd better ask a good question or else), Clint Bowyer-Juan Pablo Montoya (trouble on the track at Atlanta pretty much iced Bowyer's Chase chances), Jimmie Johnson-Juan Pablo Montoya (no shower is safe from the Montoya Apology Tour), Tony Stewart-Darian Grubb (not a feud per se, but a disagreement that ended, strangely enough, in both a championship and a firing).
All right, your turn. What was your favorite disagreement of the 2011 season? Have your say below.
Friday
MotoGP Silly Season 2013 Starts Early - Yamaha Keen To Hang On To Lorenzo
With all the debate and discussion over the changes coming to MotoGP for 2012 - 1000cc machines, the appearance of the Claiming Rule Team machines, arguments over exactly what the Aprilia bike is, and the ongoing talks over the imposition of a rev limit and spec ECU for 2013, it is easy to overlook the fact that it is not just the bikes which are changing. All four of MotoGP's so-called Aliens are out of contract at the end of next season, as well as just about every other rider on the MotoGP grid. With the last five years utterly dominated by the Fantastic Four - Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner winning all but four races in 5 season - the key for any factory to securing a MotoGP title has been having at least one Alien on its books.
Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais
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