Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/monty-python-meets-sebastian-vettel/
Saturday
Monty Python meets Sebastian Vettel
After the Grand Prix in Malaysia Sebastian Vettel said the following: “Obviously I?m the black sheep right now. Obviously I put myself in that position so, as I said, all I can say is apologies to Mark. I know that right now, obviously, having just come out of the car, it?s probably difficult to explain [...]
2013 Aragon World Superbike FP1 Results: BMWs of Melandri and Davies quickest
Tom Sykes was the quickest man at the Aragon tests, despite still suffering from a wrist injury, and he continued to dominate the morning's free practice session, but it was the BMWs of Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies that finally took the top two spots ahead of the Kawasaki man. Eugene Laverty was able to exploit his Aprilia's long legs down the back straight while Leon Camier was able to continue his run of good form at the tests to put his Suzuki in fifth, ahead of the Hondas of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam.
Results:
Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot
Peugeot 2008 the Gala Novelty in Geneva
Peugeot will stand in the upcoming Geneva Motor Show alongside models like the 208 XY and GTi , in 2008, a crossover segment B belonging to rival recent arrivals like the Opel Mokka and the Nissan Juke . Although we all hoped that the signing gala publish all information regarding the model during the course [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/426-peugeot-2008-the-gala-novelty-in-geneva.html
The Chrome Horn Episode 7: Martinsville I
Did you know Danica finished 12th?
Just another short track podcast. Join the one and only Geoffrey Miller and the one and only yours truly for the one and only Chrome Horn Podcast. In our Martinsville I edition we talk JJ, Brian Vickers, the ACM awards and Fox.
Did you know Danica finished 12th?
Click here to download the podcast or here to listen to in your browser. And we're now on iTunes! Find us in the Podcast section right here and subscribe. It'll soon be #1 in comedy.
As always, we'd love to hear from you. Email us your thoughts, questions, rants, etc here and we'll talk about them on our next episode.
Did you know Danica finished 12th?
Warped Wednesday: Put the block on blocking
Welcome to Warped Wednesday. On this, we'll put out the rush to judgment mat, go a little too far and have a little fun. Will it be funny? Sometimes. Will it be crazy and largely unbelievable? Probably. Will not everyone get it? Definitely.
The concept of a driver?s rear bumper serving as his offensive line is absurd. It?s NASCAR and not NASCAB for a reason. There?s no place for blocking in NASCAR.
Blocking, otherwise known as the technique that Joey Logano used to fend off Tony Stewart last week with 11 laps to go and, subsequently, get Stewart to go after him is a dirty tactic that shouldn?t be used at any point in a professional auto race, whether it?s the first or the last lap.
There?s a saying that the best defense is a best offense. That statement should be a universal truth in NASCAR. Don?t want to get passed? Just drive faster than the driver behind you. If he can?t catch you, he can?t pass you. If a driver makes a move to the inside or outside to pass another, the driver ahead should simply let that driver go and hope that he can get past him sometime soon.
Plus, it creates better racing for the fans. If drivers didn?t prevent other drivers from passing them there would be more passes. More passes would equal more entertaining races for the fans. That?s a winning combination. Imagine how the lead change record would be challenged at Talladega if drivers didn?t move in front of each other when a line started making a run at the front of the field?
Racetracks are wide to encourage passing. Much like a driver on the highway, a driver on the racetrack should remain committed to a single line for an entire lap and if a driver takes a different line and is faster, then so be it.
And if you?re going to block, well, you should be crashed. Tony Stewart professed that and also experienced it last year at Talladega. His words met his actions. Let that be a lesson for everyone.
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Friday
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
The launch of the revised 2014 Chevrolet Camaro also marked the return of the Z/28 nomenclature. The Z/28 name was initially used back in 1967 when a special Camaro was designed to compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-Am 2 class. Now, for the 2014 model year, the Z/28 nomenclature is applied to the most capable and fastest Camaro currently available on the market.
The new Camaro Z/28 was not built to compete in a specific race series, but it features track-focused capabilities. When compared to the ZL1, it is significantly lighter and, even though it is no more powerful, it is around three seconds faster around Chevy?s testing track than the Camaro ZL1. Also, as a tribute to the original Camaro Z/28, the new generation is only being offered with a manual gearbox.
Updated 04/02/2013: Chevrolet has unveiled a new video revealing the incredible sound delivered by the V-8 engine of its new Z/28 Camaro. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 2 April 2013 11:20 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/chevrolet/2014-chevrolet-camaro-z-28-ar151374.html
Harry Metcalfe gets on the Ferrari FF
Speaking of Ferrari FF is talk of a new vehicle for more than Ferrari, nothing short of a shooting break concept, ie a growing sport in the back to accommodate two extra passengers in comfort. As I said, a completely new concept for Ferrari that is rapidly gaining market share quite attractive. On the other [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/403-harry-metcalfe-gets-on-the-ferrari-ff.html
Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert
2013 Aragon World Superbike FP1 Results: BMWs of Melandri and Davies quickest
Tom Sykes was the quickest man at the Aragon tests, despite still suffering from a wrist injury, and he continued to dominate the morning's free practice session, but it was the BMWs of Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies that finally took the top two spots ahead of the Kawasaki man. Eugene Laverty was able to exploit his Aprilia's long legs down the back straight while Leon Camier was able to continue his run of good form at the tests to put his Suzuki in fifth, ahead of the Hondas of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam.
Results:
Happy Hour: What you see is sometimes not the caution on TV
New season, new Happy Hour! You know the drill. 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. Right? Oh who are we kidding, this is NASCAR. No one is ever happy.
Let's get to it.
I am losing my noodle dealing with FOX! They have a commercial every 9-10 laps @ Bristol...that's 3 minutes under green and 6 minutes of commercials! Every time we go to commercial something happens! FOX HAS TO GO! I mean they could go side by side...but they don't even do that! Between the supreme downforce Gen6 car and the commercial deal along with NAZICAR telling the drivers they cant speak without"Pappas Please"... Because of the all the downforce a week car with NO TIRES can hold off a strong car with 4???? IS THAT RIGHT? No longer does the fastest car win!?! I AM DONE WITH THIS bull excrement!
- Kaiya
Kaiya bringing the heat right off the bat.
Fox had a terrible race last Sunday from a caution standpoint. They could not time the cautions right at all. I really, really don't think that they want to be in commercial every time a caution happens. They did come out of commercial, I believe, for the Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth incident -- I distinctly remember coming out of commercial straight into a shot of Gordon's damaged racecar.
From CawsNJaws, the race broadcast time was the same as it was last year at 138, while commercial time increased *WELCOME BACK TO THE AT&T HAPPY HOUR PIT REPORT* from 50 minutes in 2012 to 53 minutes on Sunday. So that's just three minutes.
I love that Fox is trying side-by-side in the first commercial break of the race every time, but it seems completely unnecessary if it's also during a caution flag. I wish we could restructure that contract to have side-by-side be the first green flag commercial break of the race. It'd be a nice start.
_____________________
Four races into the 2013 season, I am seeing a trend. Passing has been no easy task at Daytona, Phoenix, Las Vegas, or Bristol. Nascar way over-hyped this new car. (Am I going to be fined for this comment?) That being said, I am not disappointed with any of the racing I've seen, with the exception of the parade at Daytona, or with the Gen-6.
Bristol was my favorite race so far. I was fascinated watching the leaders struggle to drive around the slower cars of David Stremme, Danica Patrick, David Ragan, etc. But for some reason, I can't find anyone who agrees with me.
ps. How about the performances of Kurt Busch, Brian Vickers, and Jamie Mcmurray? Each of these guys was a lap or more down at one point, but bounced back for a top-ten finish. And How about AJ's 13th place finish in the #51?
- John
I thought Bristol was the most compelling race of the Sprint Cup Series season so far, just edging out Daytona. And I'm also not sure how much the new car had to do with it. If you recall, the summer race at Bristol was pretty damn fun last year. Though I've thought that about all of the Bristol races since the repave. The grinding of the top groove has made the bottom a little more effective so far, however, and I'd be totally cool with races like we saw Sunday every time we go to Bristol.
*WELCOME TO THE AT&T HAPPY HOUR MID RACE BREAK*
_____________________
I did some research after watching the great race that was put on at Bristol Sunday.
In 1983 10 out of the 31 races were run on tracks that were under 1 mile. That number shrank to 8 out of 29 by 1993. That number shrank even further to 6 of 36 by 2003 and we still sit at that number in 2013. In the last 30 years the percentage of short tracks on the NASCAR schedule have been cut in half.
My first thought was that seating capacity would have to be an issue as these tracks are smaller. Then I looked up tracks by overall capacity. With 160,000 seats Bristol sits 4th on the list with just 7,000 less seats than Daytona. Richmond at 112,000 seats sits 11th. That's more seats than Kentucky, Kansas, Chicago, and Homestead tracks that have been built and added to the schedule since 1993.
The racing is better and they can get just as many people in the stands as the "big" tracks. I just can't understand how ISC/SMI in their expansion of the sport in the 90's and 2000's didn't build 1 short track to replace the dozens they shut down in that same time period.
Darrell "Furiousd" Watts
Stocking up on "No Doz" for Sunday's race at Auto Club
It's hard to argue against more short track racing, especially in this current car and tire combination. The new car is designed with intermediate tracks in mind, but no matter what the racing at intermediate tracks looks like, NASCAR should always have a nice balance of short tracks on the schedule.
What about a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 approach? With the four plate races and two road course races, that gives you six races for the Dovers and New Hampshires of the world. Then you get 12 intermediate track races and 12 races at tracks under a mile. Sound good?
_____________________
NASCAR regained control of its digital rights from Turner Sports beginning this season. However, it should be embarrassed about the problems on its digital platforms. Among the problems are technical issues with the comment sections on its Website for several weeks and many RaceView users not able to access the application. Fans are frustrated and NASCAR officials have yet to publically address the problems. Maybe NASCAR should be less time fining drivers for benign comments about the Gen6 cars and more time making sure its digital platforms are functioning. Thoughts?
-- Brian Sargent, Oklahoma City
First off, I love the relationship that we at Yahoo! Sports have had with Turner and now NASCAR in my tenure. The ability to have licensed video of most everything during a race broadcast is an awesome thing and I feel enhances the reader experience.
However, I do feel the fans' pain with the transition to the NASCAR-controlled NASCAR.com. Heck, I've experienced it along with you when trying to find information myself or follow along with the race via the scanner or other features.
I think there is great potential with NASCAR's digital offerings, and with a new website, there's always going to be some growing pains. However, it's unfortunate that the many new features of the site have basically been inoperable at times and I hope that those of you who paid for the features are compensated fairly one way or another.
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Thursday
Dorna Press Release: Thrilling Season Opener Sends TV Audience Figures Through The Roof
The 2013 MotoGP season opener can be reckoned a success. Today, Dorna issued a press release reporting a massive rise in TV viewing numbers. Some key figures: Spain saw a rise of 44.6% compared with last year, in Italy, 5.28 million viewers watched the races, while in the UK, audience numbers were up by 75%, due in no small part to the success of Cal Crutchlow.
Below is the press release from Dorna with more detail on TV audience numbers:
Round Number:
1 Year:
2013 Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
Denny Hamlin says he will appeal $25,000 fine
Denny Hamlin took to Twitter Thursday night and said he will appeal the $25,000 fine that NASCAR levied against him for comments he made after Phoenix.
At Las Vegas for testing, an angry Hamlin said that he wasn't going to pay the fine, and elaborated further on Twitter.
The short of the long of it is I believe I was severely disrespected by NASCAR by getting fined. I believe that the simple fact of us not even having a conversation about this issue before I was hit with a fine has something to say about our relationship. What I said was 1 sentence taken completely out of context. Most drivers will tell you that we constantly have our AND nascars best interest in mind when speaking. On the other hand I am a person that worked very hard from the BOTTOM to get where I am today and someone telling me that I can give my 100 percent honest opinion really bothers me. Since being fined in 2010 I have been a lot more careful about what I say to media and I felt this past weekend felt completely in my rights to give a assessment of the question asked. I feel as if today NASCAR lost one of its biggest supporters vocally of where our sport is headed. So in the end there are no winners. I said today I would not pay the fine. I stand by that and will go through the process of appealing. Trust me, this is not about the money.. It's much deeper. I will now shift my focus on giving FedEx and my team what they deserve this weekend, a win.
NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said that the appeal process for Hamlin's fine would be the same as the one that teams go through for technical violations. However, let's be honest; this isn't nearly as objective as a technical violation would be, and that subjectivity could impact Hamlin's chances of winning his appeal for a fine he should have never received in the first place.
Button WILL COMPETE For The Championship
There?s no getting away from the fact that Jenson Button, and McLaren, have made a woeful start to 2012. The British driver has picked up a meagre two points in the opening two rounds, with Sergio Perez?s efforts taking the Woking squad up to a whopping four points so far. Although it?s early days, McLaren [...]
Wednesday
The lessons of F1 history
When I arrived at university, all pink-cheeked and full of idealistic thoughts, one of the first things I read was an essay by a lofty “third year”, who sought to justify Henry Ford’s celebrated remark that “history is bunk”. I did not understand a word of it. History, I thought, was great and full of [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/the-lessons-of-f1-history/
Alain de Changy Colin Chapman Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves
Kyle Busch goes for ?Anger Management? with Charlie Sheen ? on TV, at least
NASCAR fans have long said that noted temperamental driver Kyle Busch could use some anger management. Now ? heads up, terrible pun coming out of Turn 4 ? he's about to get some, courtesy of FX and Charlie Sheen.
Yes, the NASCAR driver everyone loves to hate is headed for Sheen's FX show "Anger Management," according to TMZ. No info yet on a date or plotline, but we'd bet it has something to do with either driving or those little dogs hanging around the hauler. You never know.
And hey, if this works out for Kyle, maybe Sheen could work his mojo on Tony Stewart ... or Joey Logano ... or Kyle's brother Kurt ... or pretty much every NASCAR fan ...
Chilton: Break Has Helped
Marussia newbie Max Chilton believes that F1?s mini break has been beneficial to the team. The Brit stepped up to a full race seat this term, replacing Charles Pic. He has endured a tough start to the campaign, with team-mate, and fellow rookie, Jules Bianchi impressing. But, the former GP2 star believes that the break [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/iUs0XBWfhPU/chilton-break-has-helped
Tuesday
Massa Confident Of Title Challenge
Felipe Massa believes that Ferrari can compete for the Drivers? and Constructors championships this season. The Brazilian racer has shown signs of being back to his best during the opening two Grands Prix, challenging team-mate Fernando Alonso in both qualifying and on race day. He is yet to get himself onto the podium in 2013, [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/oIYUWbnZcYc/massa-confident-of-title-challenge
SRT Viper GTS Orders are Through the Roof
In the grand scheme of auto sales, the majority of buyers will opt for the base model of any particular car, leaving the top trims for those clients with more money. However, it appears that this rule has been flipped on its ear in regards to the SRT Viper. According to SRT, who was as surprised as we are, almost 90 percent of the orders placed for the new Viper are for the more luxurious GTS trim.
To put this in perspective, the standard SRT Viper is priced at $97,395 and the GTS version is set at $120,395 ? a massive $23k hike. For this extra scratch, customers get an increased level of luxury that includes: Sabelt seats wrapped in Nappa premium leather in black, red or caramel, lots of Alcantara, a standard 12-speaker sound system, standard navigation, red brake calipers, and advanced suspension and stability control systems.
Considering that SRT is also going to offer a Viper TA Edition, it is safe to say that the standard version won’t enjoy the success SRT initially hoped for, but these upper-level models should make up for it.
Hit the jump for more details about the SRT Viper.
SRT Viper GTS Orders are Through the Roof originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 9 April 2013 18:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/srt-viper-gts-orders-are-through-the-roof-ar152395.html
2013 Qatar MotoGP Qualifying Practice 1 Result
Results of QP1. The two top riders go through to QP2, to battle for grid slots 1 through 12.
Hustle and bustle in Brazil
Since 2005 the Aut�dromo Jos� Carlos Pace at Interlagos has been under the control of S�o Paulo Turismo, the events company that aims to increase the number of tourists visiting the city. This organisation does not have the money to upgrade the race track and so requires help from the Prefeitura de S�o Paulo. This [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/hustle-and-bustle-in-brazil/
Monday
Do your bets to make NYC trip stylish
Riding any regular car in NYC can be a sign of you not being able to afford luxury service and this will never do for sure. In order to look and feel your best you have to get a taxi to JFK that looks and feels just like you are a superstar. So make sure [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/407-do-your-bets-to-make-nyc-trip-stylish.html
Grosjean: More To Come
Lotus? Romain Grosjean believes that he has not fulfilled his potential in F1 just yet. The Frenchman seems to have put his difficulties of the 2012 season behind him this year, appearing to be much calmer behind the wheel. Grosjean, who is in his second stint in Formula One having raced for Renault, feels that [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/LAUl3xwcLkQ/grosjean-more-to-come
Sunday
Force India signs Mercedes deal for 2014
Force India has confirmed a deal with Mercedes for the turbo era, beginning in 2014. The deal includes engine, associated systems and gearbox. Until now the team has used gearboxes supplied by McLaren. Dr Vijay Mallya said: ?Our new agreement … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/03/28/force-india-signs-mercedes-deal-for-2014/
Danica Patrick got hit in the head by a rock
When you see the headline "Danica Patrick got hit in the head with a rock," your first thought is, "Who threw it?" (Our money would be on one of the Busch brothers. Maybe Tony Stewart.)
But no, turns out Patrick was clonked purely by accident at a Vegas dirt-track race. She's fine, thanks for asking: ?I feel like I have a concussion from [Thursday] night," she said. "I got hit by a rock at the dirt track and I took it to the ground. I feel like this is really sore. It hit me straight in the head. Good thing I had a hat on or I?m feeling like there would have been blood."
On a slightly more serious note, Patrick did have to undergo some testing after her vicious hit in Phoenix, where the entire side of her car was torn open after a blown right tire sent her into the wall.
"I was able to say my name and where I was born [to safety crews]," she said. "They take your blood pressure, they do like vitals and they ask how you?re feeling and I really felt fine. It?s understandable that my neck would be sore. The medical staff always does a checkup the next day, they either call or send you a text to ask how you?re doing ... I said I had a headache on Sunday night and on Monday my neck was sore. They said, 'It sounded like it could have been worse, so we?re glad you?re okay.'"
[Also: African-American female driver overstating claims]
So with her bell rung already, Vegas is off to a great start for Patrick. The whereabouts of the rock are unknown. Surely there are plenty of people ready to chastise it for threatening NASCAR's darling, and quite a few others ready to shake whatever passes for a rock's hand. Either way, somebody could've made a few bucks by selling it on ebay.
Patrick's luck didn't quite extend to the weather; because of a rainout of qualifying, she'll start deep in the pack on Sunday. Here's how it worked: because qualifying was rained out, the top 36 teams from last year took the first 36 spots. That means Brad Keselowski, last year's Sprint Cup champion, will start on the pole. (This pole, however, does not get him into the 2014 Sprint Unlimited preseason race at Daytona.)
Three remaining spots were filled out by teams in the top 36 in 2013 owner's points. So Patrick, David Stremme and Michael McDowell will be in the race. The final four spots were determined by qualifying attempts in 2013; owners' points broke any ties.
The remaining spots for positions 40-43 were determined by qualifying attempts this year, with ties broken by owner points. So Scott Speed, Landon Cassill, Joe Nemechek and Josh Wise were in; Mike Bliss is the only driver left out.
"I don?t know how in the hell it works," Patrick said of qualifying, echoing the thoughts of many. "I am so confused. I don?t know about you guys. I?m sure this is not the best talking point for anybody who is trying to inform me, or who has. But look, you have to go like hell and you just have to qualify as well as you can. That?s all you can do."
"I was just thinking when I walked in, with this being Vegas and all, what the odds would be of a rainout in Vegas," Keselowski said. "I bet that was pretty high. Obviously whenever you can start up front, it's a big deal and you get the first pit stall and all those things that make a big difference on pit road."
The Kobalt Tools 400 starts Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
-Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee.-
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