MotoX News: 4/29/12

Saturday

Double DRS too expensive to develop ? Sauber | F1 Fanatic round-up

Double DRS too expensive to develop – Sauber is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

In the round-up: Sauber say they won't be developing their own version of Mercedes' Double DRS because of the cost.

Double DRS too expensive to develop – Sauber is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/05/04/f1-fanatic-roundup-45/

Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa

Raikkonen targets regular podiums for Lotus

Raikkonen targets regular podiums for Lotus is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Kimi Raikkonen says Lotus should be able to compete for podium finishes on a regular basis following their two-three finish in Bahrain.

Raikkonen targets regular podiums for Lotus is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/05/04/raikkonen-targets-regular-podiums-lotus/

Bob Bondurant Felice Bonetto Jo Bonnier Roberto Bonomi

Alonso confident in Ferrari progress

Fernando Alonso was in positive mood at the end of the Mugello test, despite his day being interrupted by a crash. Alonso damaged the front of the car in a low speed impact with the barrier, and lost some two … Continue reading →

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/05/03/alonso-confident-in-ferrari-progress/

Clemente Biondetti Pablo Birger Art Bisch Harry Blanchard

Drag car wreck at Bristol takes out fortunately unattended camera

We complain about robots taking over the world, but there are times when we'd like to leave some of the dirty jobs to our mechanical brethren. Like filming a drag race from right next to a track, for instance. Considering what could happen if things go off-kilter, how about you handle that one, WALL-E?

The above car belongs to Lizzy Musi, who, as you can see from the photo at right, is not your typical drag racer. Musi, the daughter of well-known NHRA/IHRA championship driver Pat Musi, got loose at Bristol Dragway and, as you can see from the video, took out a camera in the process.

Musi, a 21-year-old driver in her first year of racing, was running at the 2012 ADRL Spring Drags III at Bristol, and the wreck happened in a qualifying session. Aside from, you know, that wreck, she's done well so far; she hit 170 mph and cleared a 1/8-mile run in 4.34 seconds on Friday. And thankfully, she walked away from this wreck under her own power. She'll race again another day.

[Hat tip to Jalopnik and Tri-Cities.com]

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/drag-car-wreck-bristol-takes-fortunately-unattended-camera-201417820.html

Gianmaria Bruni Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci Ronnie Bucknum

Friday

Denny Hamlin Foundation gives $150,000 to Richmond Children?s Hospital

Nice news from the camp of Denny Hamlin: his foundation will be contributing $150,000 to Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The donation will help fund research into cystic fibrosis in Richmond.

Hamlin, a Richmond local boy, was pleased to make the donation to a nearby institution: "VCU is one of the country's leading research centers for CF, and it is right here in our own backyard," Hamlin said. "I am honored to support such an outstanding organization with people who are making a difference in the world."

The donation will be spaced out over the course of the next three years. There is no known cure for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects 30,000 children and adults in the United States, but research has doubled the life expectancy of children diagnosed with the disease. The overall median age of survival now stands at 38.

Hamlin, who has a cousin with the disease, has donated money from his race winnings to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since he was racing go-karts as a child. His upcoming Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, scheduled for April 26, will pit local drivers against NASCAR drivers, and proceeds from the race will go to the hospital and other charities.

Related NASCAR highlights from Yahoo! Sports

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/denny-hamlin-foundation-gives-150-000-richmond-children-142856163.html

Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh

Top Speed Rendering: 2014 Maserati mid-engined sportscar

Just two days ago we were reporting that Maserati is preparing a new mid-engined sports car to rival Porsche 911 and today we have a pretty cool rendering of the future car for you. The company is being pretty secretive about this new model, but we still have enough time to learn about it as an official debut is not expected until late in 2014.

It has been rumored that Maserati might revive the GranSport name, so this new model could carry this name. But no matter how it will be called, one thing is for sure: it will share various performance aspects with the Ferrari 458 Italia.

The new Maserati could feature a mid-engined V-8 powerplant like those found in the Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 Italia, but of course do not expect to see it deliver an output of 570 HP. Still the fact that Maserati is trying to come with a Porsche 911 competitor is pretty admirable considering that many other companies have tried and failed. But we have big faith in Maserati, so fingers crossed!

Let us know in the comment section below if you like our rendering.

Top Speed Rendering: 2014 Maserati mid-engined sportscar originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 4 May 2012 09:00 EST.

Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/top-speed-rendering-2014-maserati-mid-engined-sportscar-ar128988.html

Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti George Connor

Video: Tony Stewart, Roush boys are good picks for Texas

Texas time, and that means it's Tony Time! Stewart has dominated at the last few intermediate tracks, and there's no reason to think he won't again this Saturday night. But the Roush boys have had a wee bit of success at this track as well, so could one of them give Tony trouble? Perhaps. Check out the Lone Star State takes from your favorite Yahoo! Sports Jays, Hart and Busbee, right here.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/video-tony-stewart-roush-boys-good-picks-texas-124741157.html

Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford Ray Crawford

Everyone wins?

The High Court in London has ruled on costs in the case between Force India and Aerolab, 1 Malaysia Racing Team (now racing as Caterham F1 Team) and Mike Gascoyne. The case concerned work done by Aerolab on the design of the 2010 Lotus T127 car. Aerolab had previously worked for Force India on the [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/everyone-wins/

Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati George Amick

Video: Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. contend for a Sprint Cup title?

Video time! Your favorite Yahoo! Sports Jays, Hart and Busbee, kick around some burning questions this week. First among those: can Dale Earnhardt Jr. actually win a Cup this year? (Dude is second in the standings, you know.) Also: why no love for Greg Biffle, huh? Watch, enjoy, comment below.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/video-dale-earnhardt-jr-contend-sprint-cup-title-151230664.html

George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage

Thursday

Four different winners - now pick a champion

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/04/four_different_winners_-_now_p.html

Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi

Hinch In At Andretti

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/01/hinch-in-at-andretti.html

David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford

How I Saw It Happen? The High Flying Heartbreak, Edition

There truly was drama in the LBC on Sunday and the trend of action packed races continues for the third event in a row. A weekend that started with incredible controversy surrounding the replacement of the 11 Chevy engines and … Continue reading →

Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/how-i-saw-it-happen-the-high-flying-heartbreak-edition/

Tom Bridger Tony Brise Chris Bristow Peter Broeker

Eleven Days in thy Wilderness...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/rCmI24N28xk/eleven-days-in-thy-wilderness.html

Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi

Wednesday

Perez revels in success

Fernando Alonso raced home to clinch first place in the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, but you might argue that for all his joy at winning, there might have been someone just slightly happier at Sepang that day. Step forward Sergio Perez. The Mexican might not be a household name just yet but, aged 22, [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/-_7itVK0ToQ/perez-revels-in-success

Antonio Creus Larry Crockett Tony Crook Art Cross

Create-a-caption, White House/NASCAR edition

The 2011 Chase drivers visited the White House this week, and oh, were there plenty of fine photos for captioning. Like, for instance, this one, where Tony Stewart is apparently having a go at the leader of the free world. Bravo, Smoke.

Caption this or one of the other ones posted below. Snarky comments not just requested, but required.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/create-caption-white-house-nascar-edition-140752125.html

Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh

Into the Crystal Ball? Drama in the LBC, Edition

Pandora’s box has surely been opened this week. Nearly half the field will see grid penalties this weekend in Long Beach, the setting for the longest running street race in the western hemisphere. Open wheel racing has descended on the … Continue reading →

Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/into-the-crystal-ball-drama-in-the-lbc-edition/

Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain

2012 Jerez MotoGP Sunday Post-Race Press Release Round Up

Press releases from the MotoGP teams after Sunday's race at Jerez:

Year:

2012

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/kRM-_wmKkfM/2012_jerez_motogp_sunday_post_race_press.html

Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk

Mini-racing: Get the entire Richmond experience in 12 minutes

You say you want drama? You say you want controversy? Here you go, friends. Plenty of both in the closing laps of the Richmond race on Saturday night. Kyle Busch took home the victory, but not before controversial decisions that probably cost Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards a real shot at the win. Up next? Talladega, of course. No threat of craziness there whatsoever. Enjoy!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/mini-racing-entire-richmond-experience-12-minutes-121400722.html

Pablo Birger Art Bisch Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen

Tuesday

2012 Jerez MotoGP Sunday Notes - Of Rising Stars

The weather may have tried to claim the leading role at Jerez on Sunday, but after three fascinating races, there are still a few stars which easily outshone it. First and foremost is surely Romano Fenati: the Italian teenager won a Moto3 race at just the second attempt, going one better than his first race. Winning was impressive enough - you had to go back to 1991 and Nobby Ueda to find a rookie with a better debut, and Fenati's victory made him the 3rd youngest winner behind Scott Redding and Marc Marquez - but it was the manner of his victory which impressed most. Not only did the 16-year-old keep his head in the treacherous conditions while all around him fell, ran off track or made other serious mistakes, he also managed to run at a pace simply inconceivable to the rest of the field. Fenati was over 1.5 seconds a lap quicker than the rest, and he went on to win by over 36 seconds. This was just his second ever race in the rain (he won the first one, naturally) and he still felt he lacked experience in the wet. His victory received the loudest round of applause in the media center all day.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/L3CwjhJudt8/2012_jerez_motogp_sunday_notes_of_rising.html

Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz

INDYCAR: The Friday Setup (Long Beach)

Source: http://www.popoffvalve.com/2012/4/13/2945662/indycar-the-friday-setup-long-beach

Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain

The Physics of Carl?s Restart Penalty

A late race penalty on a restart for what some think was a questionable caution at Richmond set into motion circumstances that likely shifted the outcome of the race Saturday night. Once again, NASCAR’s restart rules claimed a victim – this time, Carl Edwards. Angry after the race, Edwards said NASCAR had repeatedly told his [...]

TheNASCARInsiders.com

Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/oGBzAgxWSs0/

Derek Daly Christian Danner Jorge Daponte Anthony Davidson

Greg Biffle calls himself ?the underdog? at Roush Fenway Racing

KANSAS CITY, Kan. ? Greg Biffle's the points leader. He has five top-10 finishes in seven races. His lowest finish of the year is 13th. Yet he says he still views himself as the underdog, not only in the entire Sprint Cup Series, but on his three-car team, Roush Fenway Racing.

"No, I still think the 99 is the number one team at Roush," Biffle said Friday at Kansas Speedway. "I'm the underdog."

The 99 is Carl Edwards, who finished second in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup to Tony Stewart. Edwards also re-signed with the team during the 2011 season with his new contract containing many incentives. The other driver at Roush is Matt Kenseth, the 2003 champion and the only driver on the team to have a Sprint Cup Series championship.

Last year, Biffle finished 16th in the points standings, his worst points finish since 2004. It was also the first time since 2007 that one of the three drivers missed the Chase ?�a testament to the recent success of the existing three Roush teams and drivers.

And that success may make ranking the Roush drivers an exercise in semantics only. Edwards has 19 Cup wins in 272 starts. Kenseth has 22 (in 443 starts) and Biffle has 17 (in 337 starts) ?�a nearly identical win rate. Could Biffle's statement simply be a motivational ploy after missing the Chase last year? He says he feels better than he has in the past five seasons, and the mistakes that plagued his 2011 have vanished so far in 2012.

"I feel an urgency because I'm ready to win it, but that's really, to me, about it," Biffle said. "I feel great. I feel better than I ever have in these past five seasons with the way our team is and how competitive we are and how I'm driving the car and how I feel personally. Yeah, I think anybody feels the urgency to want to win it and, obviously, some day I'm not going to be doing this anymore."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/greg-biffle-calls-himself-underdog-roush-fenway-racing-174628893.html

Erik Comas Franco Comotti George Connor George Constantine

Mini-racing: Get the entire Richmond experience in 12 minutes

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/mini-racing-entire-richmond-experience-12-minutes-121400722.html

Jimmy Davies Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz

Monday

Suzuki Swift Lengthens To Transform It Into The Ertiga

In India, the Maruti-Suzuki brand is the most successful, with nearly 700,000 annual sales and nearly 40% market shed over the past year. But you can always improve, to enter new segments or offering more variations of a model. That’s why enter the MPV segment in India, covering about 10% market share. For this use [...]

Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/210-suzuki-swift-lengthens-to-transform-it-into-the-ertiga.html

Phil Cade Alex Caffi John CampbellJones Adriбn Campos

State of INDYCAR

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/02/state-of-indycar.html

Ettore Chimeri Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood Bob Christie

DW12 IMS Test Photos

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2012/04/ims-test-photos.html

Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux

Marco Andretti goes airborne in crash at Long Beach

The scariest moment of Sunday's Izod IndyCar Long Beach Grand Prix involved Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti and invoked some unnerving flashbacks to the last race of 2011.

As Andretti moved to overtake Rahal, he catapulted over Rahal's right rear tire and went airborne, thankfully landing right side up before spinning and slamming into the tire barriers. Andretti was unhurt, though he emerged from the car grabbing his left wrist.

It was the first time that an IndyCar has been airborne in a race since the fiery crash that took the life of Dan Wheldon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October, and the first time that the new DW12 chassis -- named in honor of Wheldon -- had experienced that type of a real-world crash.

The DW12 chassis features rear wheel protectors behind the back wheels to hopefully prevent these type of incidents. Unfortunately, they seemed no deterrent, as Andretti's car appeared to easily vault over Rahal's. Both drivers placed the blame on the other, with Andretti offering this after the race:

"That was our stint to make hay and we were trying to do so," Andretti said. "It's one thing blocking but it's another thing chopping, and that was a chop. I'm lucky I didn't get upside down, I could have been killed."

Understandably, Andretti and others have been shaken by the loss of Wheldon. While we know all too well that the possibility of death still exists in auto racing, it's still jarring every time a driver references the notion after a crash, no matter the severity.

Thankfully, both drivers were OK. And hopefully we're not seeing any other cars airborne anytime soon.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/marco-andretti-goes-airborne-crash-long-beach-230609393.html

Joie Chitwood Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham

Nine Cars To Test At IMS Wednesday

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

Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen

Sunday

How I Saw It Happen? A Gorgeous Facility PLUS RACE, Edition

I could not in my wildest dreams imagine a race at Barber half as action filled as this weekends race. No more will the track be only known for its visual grandeur that has tainted opinions for three years. Entering … Continue reading →

Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/how-i-saw-it-happen-a-gorgeous-facility-plus-race-edition/

Philippe Adams Walt Ader Kurt Adolff Fred Agabashian

Should Lotus have used team orders in Bahrain? | Debates and polls

Should Lotus have used team orders in Bahrain? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Should Lotus have used team orders to help Kimi Raikkonen pass Romain Grosjean in Bahrain?

Should Lotus have used team orders in Bahrain? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/04/26/lotus-team-orders-bahrain/

Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo Erik Comas

How I Saw It Happen? The Season has Started, Edition

Holy all that is good, the drivers made it through turn 1 repeatedly without absolutely disrespecting each other by running over the cars in front. Last year I was completely embarrassed to call myself an indycar die-hard for the first … Continue reading →

Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/how-i-saw-it-happen-the-season-has-started-edition/

Larry Crockett Tony Crook Art Cross Geoff Crossley

Plenea Build A Volkswagen Assembly Plant in Northwestern China

Shanghai Volkswagen, a joint venture of the German auto giant Volkswagen AG in China, this year plans to build an assembly plant in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to explore the markets of North-West and Central Asia, a source said Thursday authorities local trade. The plant, located in Urumqi, the regional capital, will become operational in [...]

Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/222-plenea-build-a-volkswagen-assembly-plant-in-northwestern-china.html

Tony Brise Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks