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Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
Saturday
Two Teams In The Seat We All Strive For
Do you remember when you were a little kid in your backyard playing whiffle ball with your buddies? �You always pretended it was the bottom of the ninth in game seven of the World Series. �There were two outs, the bases were loaded, and your team was down three runs. �You strode to the plate [...]
Kimi R�ikk�nen?s NASCAR experiment is officially over
Kimi R�ikk�nen's dalliance with NASCAR is over after just two official races.
Reports out of Europe indicate that R�ikk�nen will return to F1 in 2012, driving for Lotus Renault GP in the first year of a two-year contract.
R�ikk�nen had driven two races in NASCAR's national series, one apiece in the Camping World Trucks and Nationwide series, for Kyle Busch and Joe Nemechek, respectively. He splashed into NASCAR with acclaim, but finished 15th in the trucks race and 27th at the Nationwide race. He also tore up Robby Gordon's car in testing, and didn't end up driving in the Sprint Cup race at Sonoma, as had been predicted.
R�ikk�nen, the 2007 World Driver's Champion, paid truck owner Kyle Busch an estimated $100,000 per race, and while he initially said he would be running three to five races, Busch said R�ikk�nen only paid for two.
R�ikk�nen had left F1 after the 2009 season, driving rally cars and dabbling in NASCAR while never really parting from the F1 scene. His name frequently came up in team rumors, and now it appears he'll be back where he belonged all along.
[Via SBNation.]
Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman
Sutil voted Driver of the Weekend for Brazil
Adrian Sutil became the ninth different F1 racer to be voted Driver of the Weekend in 2011.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/12/10/sutil-named-driver-weekend-germany/
Grosjean joins Lotus F1 Team
Lotus Renault GP and its sponsor Total have announced that Romain Grosjean will race alongside Kimi R�ikk�nen next season. The two companies are also pleased to confirm that they have renewed their sponsorship agreement for another year. The 2011 GP2 Series champion gained useful experience with the team throughout the year as LRGP?s third driver. [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/grosjean-joins-lotus-f1-team/
Friday
Engines Engines Engines
It?s been a while since I have pontificated on the new chassis, but there really hasn?t been much new news on that front and the number one news item was kind of lost in the wake of Las Vegas. We … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/engines-engines-engines/
JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd
Suzuki Post-Portimao Test Press Release: Camier's First Outing On The GSX-R 1000
The press release from Suzuki after the Crescent team's first World Superbike test:
Year:
2011
Senna wins top UK independent film award
Senna won the Best Documentary prize at the British Independent Film Awards in London last night – one of the biggest accolades it has received to date. It was also nominated for a BIFA for Best Film, but lost out … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/12/05/senna-wins-top-uk-independent-film-award/
Indianapolis Colts try to get some Tony Stewart mojo, still fail
In a now-desperate attempt to get some winning feel in their ranks, the Indianapolis Colts invited Tony Stewart (the shorter one, pictured above with Colts tight end Dallas Clark) to come hang out on the sidelines as the team played the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
The Colts lost, 27-19, and remain winless on the season. They're 0-11, and they're headed straight for 0-16 territory.
Perhaps it's Stewart's example that's causing so much trouble. After all, he went winless during his regular season and then came back to win the championship. Come on, Colts! The Super Bowl's just out there waiting to be snagged!
The Choice Facing Valencia: A New Surface Or A New Track Layout
Valencia has been a permanent fixture on the MotoGP calendar since the track was completed in 1999, but when the MotoGP riders return to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the final round of the 2012 MotoGP season, they could be coming to a radically different circuit. According to Valencia newspaper El Mercantil Valenciano, the management of the circuit intends to put forward a proposal to completely change a large part of the track layout at the next meeting of the Administration Council, the public body that oversees the track, in December 14th of this year. If that proposal is rejected, they will demand that the track is resurfaced as an urgent priority.
Source:
Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa
Thursday
Shocker: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins Most Popular Driver award for ninth time
Do yourself a favor and sit down before you read this. Oh, you're already sitting down? OK, cool. Maybe lay down, then, and read this from a prone position. We don't want you to hurt yourself from the shock of the news we're about to tell you.
Ready? OK, here it is: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won NASCAR's most popular driver award.
I know, crazy, right? But this is the world we're living in now. Junior was named the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association's Most Popular Driver for the ninth straight year.
Junior took the highest number of the nearly 1.5 million votes cast in the 2011 effort, sponsored by Wheaties Fuel. He beat out the other nine finalists: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.
[ Related: Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon breakdances ]
You know the rest: Junior was honored, he's hoping to build on the momentum of this year, et cetera et cetera. To be sure, this was a turnaround year for Earnhardt, making the Chase after two straight seasons of disappointment, but he still lacks that elusive next win. Even so, the award shows that he's still got the fans' support, no matter how he runs.
Junior still has a ways to go to catch the all-time leader in Most Popular Driver awards; that would be Awesome Bill Elliott with 16. However, Earnhardt could match Elliott's consecutive streak with 10 if he wins again next year.
So, yes, those of you who wonder what all the fuss is over Junior: this is it. He's got a hell of a lot of fans, like it or not. And these are the diehards. Just imagine what would happen if the dude started winning.
Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Video: Antonio Margarito not bothered by criticism
? Houston coach Kevin Sumlin is considered a top Texas A&M target
? Listen: Pat Forde's take on slew of college football scandals
The Choice Facing Valencia: A New Surface Or A New Track Layout
Valencia has been a permanent fixture on the MotoGP calendar since the track was completed in 1999, but when the MotoGP riders return to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the final round of the 2012 MotoGP season, they could be coming to a radically different circuit. According to Valencia newspaper El Mercantil Valenciano, the management of the circuit intends to put forward a proposal to completely change a large part of the track layout at the next meeting of the Administration Council, the public body that oversees the track, in December 14th of this year. If that proposal is rejected, they will demand that the track is resurfaced as an urgent priority.
Source:
Forza Motorsport Saga known among Old Gamer
The�saga�Forsa�Motorsport�is an old�known among�gamers�and, above�all,�with driving,�it brings together the�models�most powerful�racing cars�of the time, both classic and�recent years, with special attention�in the recreation�of it without�losing a single�detail.�This new installment, the fourth, is�finally�in our stores for�Xbox 360�since last�October 14.�At last we could�taste�first hand�some of the�succulent�new�Microsoft�already�passed us�in their�E3conference. The�demo�is now available�for download from the�console’s online store�(which�can�be accessed from�it [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/92-forza-motorsport-saga-known-among-old-gamer.html
Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi
Wednesday
Car Leasing Offers
The�deals on car�leasing�can�be decisive�for the impact�they have on the�monthly fee�in our fleet.�Briefly�explain�what they are. Leasing�companies�that lease�vehicles�acquire�customers through�previously established economic agreements�with each brand, including discounts�for�volume purchases�planned for�the year.�Based on the�achieved�savings, you get�a fee for�renting�the car�to be�more or less competitive. But�brands can�get�additional discounts�offered�to those already established�with the leasing company.�These special offers�are based�on vehicles that�the manufacturer�is interested in�selling�at [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/101-car-leasing-offers.html
Photographer's Blog: The MotoGP Championship Trophy
In August of last year I posted a desktop wallpaper on my website of the above image with a bit of information about the championship trophy's creator, GARCIAROJALS Studio in Barcelona. I'd seen the trophy up close for the first time while it was on display in the lobby of the mobile Dorna HQ building that travels to the European rounds. I was very impressed by the workmanship and design. It's quite a beaufitul bit of art, and I was pleased to share the above photo with others who shared that opinion.
Forza Motorsport Saga known among Old Gamer
The�saga�Forsa�Motorsport�is an old�known among�gamers�and, above�all,�with driving,�it brings together the�models�most powerful�racing cars�of the time, both classic and�recent years, with special attention�in the recreation�of it without�losing a single�detail.�This new installment, the fourth, is�finally�in our stores for�Xbox 360�since last�October 14.�At last we could�taste�first hand�some of the�succulent�new�Microsoft�already�passed us�in their�E3conference. The�demo�is now available�for download from the�console’s online store�(which�can�be accessed from�it [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/92-forza-motorsport-saga-known-among-old-gamer.html
Power Rankings: Running down the top 10 Sprint Cup tracks
So the season's over. So what? No reason we can't do more Power Rankings. Let's start by running down the top 10 tracks now on the Sprint Cup circuit. Close your eyes, and you can almost smell the burning rubber ...
1. Talladega. Hands down, my favorite track on the schedule for so many reasons. (Note: 2x2 racing is NOT one of those reasons. I'm basing this rating on accrued goodwill, not current performance.) I love everything about this place: the way you can see the campfire smoke from miles away as you approach on the highway, the bizarre subculture of the 'Dega infield, the way cars go four- and five-wide coming out of Turn 4 ... and, oh yeah, the potential for epic wrecks. Yeah, I said it. Talladega rules.
2. Daytona. The legend. Everything about this place is larger than life, from the history to the spectacle. You owe it to yourself to get here at least once. But I'd advise against going deep into the infield in Turn 3. It's like a whole different society out there. Still, find your way to Daytona when you can. You won't ever regret it.
3. Bristol. Short-track bliss. When the stands are full, it's like nowhere else on the planet. The idea of 160,000 NASCAR fans in one place might horrify some segments of our society, but oh, if you let yourself get swept up in the noise and wreckage, it's bliss. Just don't plan on getting home anytime soon.
4. Atlanta. A sentimental choice, as it was the first Sprint Cup-level track at which I caught races. But it's got plenty of pedigree, as it served for years as the host of the season finale, and it also stands as the fastest regular track on the circuit. Now, Bruton Smith, how about bringing back that second date, huh?
5. Indianapolis. A motorsports legend, this track is another must-visit on the proverbial Bucket List. Opinions are divided on how suited it is for NASCAR driving, but ask any driver and they'll tell you this race is near the top of their to-win list.
6. Richmond. Some of the most rabid NASCAR fans on the planet live close to this track, the kind of people who won't buy NASCAR jackets, they'll tattoo images of the jackets onto their very skin. And this short-track joy gives you a great angle of sight to every corner of the track. What could be better?
7. Darlington. Some tracks on this list are all about sleek speed. This one ain't. A Darlington stripe is a badge of ... well, not honor, because pretty much everyone gets one. But it's a badge of something. I guess it's a badge that you were able to keep your car from wrenching itself open like a can of soup. Plus, between "The Lady In Black," "The Track Too Tough To Tame," and the aforementioned stripe, it boasts the best collection of nicknames anywhere.
8. Texas. Sure, it's another of the 1.5-mile cookie-cutter tracks, but Texas makes the list because of its near-constant promotion and fan-oriented approach. Whether you see a great race at Texas is almost irrelevant; you'll have a memorable experience, and hell, that's half of what we follow this sport for anyway, right?
9. Infineon. You've got to love the road courses. It's a law. And Infineon gets an ever-so-slight edge over Watkins Glen because the Glen hasn't opened "The Boot," a twisting extra mile, to NASCAR ... yet. Infineon's Turn 11, the hairpin, is where you can really get some anger out of the way ... as well as some opposing drivers.
10. Las Vegas. You may love it, you may hate it, but the Neon Garage, which gives fans an up-close yet sanitized look at the world of racing, is quite possibly the future of motorsports. All the sights and sounds but very few of the smells and absolutely none of the grime ... it's racing your non-race fan friends could love!
All right, your turn. Where are your favorite tracks? Which would you add, and which would you move around? (And no, I didn't forget Martinsville. That track just ain't for me.) Have at it!
And if you've got suggestions for future offseason Power Rankings, hit us up at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee.
Tuesday
2011 Jerez Combined MotoGP And Moto2 Test Day 3 Unofficial Times: Redding Leads A Smaller Field
The final day of testing for the MotoGP and Moto2 classes for 2012 wrapped up at Jerez under clear skies and slightly cooler conditions, but still perfect for testing Grand Prix motorcycles. The field had thinned out considerably for the final day, with the Colin Edwards' NGM Forward team having gone home, and Carlos Checa having flown out to Moscow to present the Russian round of World Superbikes the evening before, while the Forward and Pons Moto2 teams had also decided to pack up after the second day.
The lack of other riders made no difference to the top of the Moto2 timesheets, Scott Redding once again fastest aboard the Marc VDS Racing Kalex for the third day in a row. Bradley Smith's improvement on the 2012 Tech 3 bike also continued, the Englishman cutting another half a second off his time from yesterday, and ending just a tenth behind Redding. Gino Rea matched the pace of Smith, the young Londoner continuing to test for the Gresini team. Redding's teammate Mika Kallio was 4th fastest on the day, half a second quicker than Tech 3's Xavier Simeon.
Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman
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