Source: http://www.popoffvalve.com/2012/9/13/3326244/indycar-power-rankings-fontana
Tuesday
Chase Power Rankings: Have the Big Three become The Big Four?
The fifth race of the Chase is over, and that means it's time for Power Rankings! But we're doing things a little differently now that we're in the postseason. It's all-Chasers, all the time. Good job, good effort for those of you that didn't make it, but we've got bigger fish to focus on. We'll be judging who's running well, considering not just finishing position but quality of run, expected potential, and general gut feelings. As always, we hate your guy and are biased against him. Now, enjoy.
Oh, and as for last week's attempt at Mafia names for our favorite drivers ... let us never speak of that one again. Every race season has an Auto Club Speedway, right?
1. Denny Hamlin: This top spot is likely to rotate among the Big Three, and perhaps the Big Four, over the next few weeks. Right now, we're giving the nod to Hambone over Vader, but only by a hairsbreadth. This very easily could have been a big victory for Hamlin, and #11 fans should be pleased with the fact that he didn't seem to enjoy his second-place finish very much. Last week: 3.
2. Jimmie Johnson: Another week, another outstanding run from Johnson. Last year, we were all falling over ourselves at how amazing it was that Carl Edwards was finishing so high week after week. Now we've got three guys doing it. Johnson took the wise approach to fuel management on Saturday night; if he'd run out, he'd have a much higher hill to climb. Last week: 2.
3. Brad Keselowski: Sure, he falls out of the top spot here, but he's still running the show points-wise. This makes next week a key for Keselowski: you can afford to have an off week, but you need to be able to rebound immediately or you're going to get passed like you lost the draft. Last week: 1.
4. Clint Bowyer: Rawhide's rise is one of the more notable efforts of the season, and it'd be a shame if he doesn't get himself into the top crew here in the next couple weeks. Also: his press conferences are joys of (perhaps) Five-Hour-Energy-filled energy. Last week: 5.
5. Kasey Kahne: Decent run for Mr. Kahne at Charlotte, but we all expected a lot more out of him. Eighth place is not enough, sir! Anyway, his chances at a Cup are fading fast, but he's already turned a previously horrid season into a success. Last week: 6.
6. Martin Truex Jr.: True story: Truex wants everyone to mean HIM when they refer to "Junior." (May not be a true story.) Also a true story: this will never happen. But MTJ is establishing his good name all by himself. Last week: 9.
7. Jeff Gordon: Looks like the dream is about over for Jeff. Here's hoping that there's some kind of change in the points system (heresy!) in order to prevent one bad finish from decimating your entire season. Last week: 4.
8. Greg Biffle: All right, good to know that Biffle is starting to validate that first-place regular-season finish. Barring some lost haulers en route to a track, Biffle won't be in this hunt. Still, he's the class of the Roush squad this year. Last week: 12.
9. Matt Kenseth: Um, no offense with that "class of Roush" crack in the Biffle entry, Matt. You done good by winning Talladega, of course, but it's been a tough road these last few months. Hopefully your five-race swan song will go well for you. Last week: 10.
10. Tony Stewart: It's been a rocky Chase all the way around for Mr. Stewart, with the Talladega Monstrosity being the worst of a rough go. But he's getting sponsorship lined up for 2013, which has to be a big relief. Last week: 8.
11. Kevin Harvick: Sooner this season is over the better for Harvick fans. Nothing's working well enough, but nothing's going bad enough for a wholesale change, either. Well, at least he had himself a kid, so the year's not a total wash. Last week: 11.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Salute to Junior for taking the tough path to stepping out of the car this year. Not like he'll miss out on Vegas; the "most popular driver of the year" always ends up there anyway. Last week: 7.
Non-Chaser of the Week: Carl Edwards. Good to see Carl running strong this week. Shame he wasn't able to earlier this year, but if history is any guide, he'll be right back in the mix in 2013.
All right, you're up. Who belongs where? Have your say!
Monday
Into The Crystal Ball? One Last Time For 2012 Edition
As the indycar world turns finds itself at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California for the final episode of the 2012 season. Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power are in heated competition to claim their first championship and the right to … Continue reading 
Aston Martin AMVOX7 Chronograph by Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin are celebrating eight years of partnership with the unveiling of the AMVOX7 - the first vertical-trigger chronograph equipped with a power reserve display. As usual, exclusivity comes with a quite a big price: $26,000.
The watch features design elements seen on the latest Aston Martin models. For example, its dial was inspired by the radiator grille of the Vanquish. As a first for Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, the AMVOX introduces an intuitive display method that is in perfect accord with the sensation of immediacy conferred by a sporting outlook and the power reserve display. You will have to release the lever to unlock the glass, and then press at 12 o’clock to start or stop the timing function. Pressing at 6 o’clock will reset the time.
The watch is equipped with a Jaeger-LeCoultre 756 automatic mechanical caliber with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of 65-hour power reserve. The comparison between the AMVOX’s "motor" to that of the new Aston Martin Vanquish is inevitable.
Aston Martin AMVOX7 Chronograph by Jaeger-LeCoultre originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 11 November 2012 06:00 EST.
Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler
Sunday
Jimmie Johnson beats Brad Keselowski on late race restart to extend points lead
FORT WORTH, Texas --�If you had any doubts that this Chase wasn't going to be an appropriate sequel to last year's battle between Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, your feelings should be assuaded after Sunday's AAA Texas 500 after the two drivers atop the Sprint Cup Series points standings traded figurative punches over a flurry of late race restarts.
Five-time champion and incumbent points leader Jimmie Johnson pulled away from Brad Keselowski on the race's ultimate restart with two laps to go to take the race win and extend his points lead by five to seven points with two races to go.
[Related: Bizarre pre-race mishap strikes Kevin Harvick]
It was a relatively anti-climactic finish after a torrential sequence of racing between the two just before Mark Martin's crash to bring out the race's final caution. On that restart with nine scheduled laps to go, Keselowski started on the inside as the race leader, and drove into turn three on the first lap of the restart with Johnson seemingly attached to his outside.
That got Keselowski loose and allowed Johnson to pull away, albeit for a flash. Keselowski somehow kept the car pointed straight with his foot in the gas and pulled up alongside Johnson on the frontstretch as he wiggled with eight laps to go. As the two dove into one again attached at the sidepanels, Keselowski's car bobbled again. But he stayed in the gas. Again.
As he moved up the track, he Johnson went with him to avoid any contact. Finally, as the two hurtled through turn two, Johnson had to get out of the gas, and Keselowski pulled away, seemingly for the final time. Until Martin crashed.
"I raced hard, and I'm sure someone would say dirty," Keselowski said. Hell, anytime you run close to certain guys you're racing them dirty according to certain people. But I raced hard and we both came back around, so there's something to be said for that."
After that restart Johnson wasn't happy with Keselowski, saying he jumped the restart, and when the caution for Martin came out, he pulled up alongside Keselowski to�show his displeasure for the racing that had taken place. However, afterwards, out of the heat of the moment, Johnson acknowledged the racing that got hot, but didn't boil over.
"I just pointed at him and wanted him to use his head," Johnson said. "There's no sense in taking us both out in the process. If he was taking me out you can count on the fact that I would have been in the gas and trying to take him with me. And it just doesn't need to come down to that.
"Brad also after the race came into victory lane and shook my hand. The cool thing about it is we walked up to that line, we got right to the edge. And then it stopped and he showed a very class move coming to victory lane and shaking my hand afterwards too."
On the ultimate restart, Keselowski spun the tires ever so slightly, which allowed Johnson to beat him to the line. Even with Keselowski as they headed into turn one, Johnson pinched him down to the white line and took off like a rocket.
"Yeah, I felt like we were just going to wreck. I wasn't looking to be the guy that wrecked him poorly," Keselowski said. I didn't really enjoy the last time that happened with Kyle (Busch) over here (at Bristol in the Nationwide Series), and I don't think he did either. He might not believe that, but that's just not the way you want to run a race and not the way I want to win a championship."
"That was pretty much the only choice I had was to put ourselves in a bad position like I did before. I felt lucky to survive that one."
After pitting from the lead on lap 276, Keselowski wanted to stop short in his pit stall for a clean exit, but slid the tires as he slowed to a stop. So instead of a clean exit, his crew was forced to push him backwards so he could get out, and he fell from first to ninth.
He worked his way up to fifth when the caution came out on lap 311 for Marcos Ambrose's crash, and while the four cars in front took four tires, Keselowski took two, allowing him to leave the pits in first.
At a track like Texas that has fairly significant tire fall-off, it was impressive that Keselowski was able to hold off the four fresh-tired drivers behind him on two restarts. And when he had sprinted away from Johnson after their dustup, it looked like it'd be the winning strategy and one that would have given him a one point lead heading into Phoenix and Homestead.
"But getting that last yellow ? and with restarts, and I've used this analogy, they're like rock, paper, scissors," Keselowski said. "Eventually you're going to lose them, it's just a matter of time, because there's always a strategy to counter-act the strategy. To win two out of three I felt lucky to do that, but I didn't win the last one today."
And it meant that Johnson won the race and lengthened his points lead. While Keselowski said he feels he controls his own destiny, as he could win the championship by winning the final two races and leading the most laps if Johnson finishes second, Johnson likes his spot too, especially after winning back to back races from the first starting position.
"It's a small amount of control but we're definitely in control," Johnson said. "We don't have to make up any points. Seven points is nothing to feel comfortable about or to relax on. So we're going to go into Phoenix and act as if we're behind and go in there to try and sit on the pole and win the race again."
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Yamaha XT250
The dual sport character of the Yamaha XT250 has conquered a lot of fans. To keep its fans loyal, Yamaha came up with a series of small upgrades for the 2013 model year. The biggest change is represented by the new fuel injection system which replaces the earlier model?s 33mm Teikei carburetor. Yamaha claims that thanks to the new fuel injection system the bike offers an improved fuel economy of 76 mpg - a 3 mph improvement when compared to the old 73 mpg rating.
The bike is propelled by a 249cc air-cooled SOHC engine married to a five speed transmission. The engine remained unchanged, but it received a larger gas tank to improve the bike?s range (2.6 gallons versus 2.4 gallons on last year?s model). Another important modification was the replacement of the old CDI (Capacitive Discharge Ignition) ignition system with a new TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition) technology.
The suspensions remained unchanged and the bike continues to sit on a 35mm telescopic fork with 8.9-inches of travel and a swingarm with rebound-adjustable monoshock with 7.1-inches of travel.
As far as breaking power goes, the 2013 Yamaha XT250 is equipped with 245mm front and 203mm rear disc brakes.
Hit the jump for more information on the Yamaha XT250
Yamaha XT250 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 10 November 2012 07:55 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/yamaha/2013-yamaha-xt250-ar132068.html
Saturday
The Top TEN Formula One Lookalikes
With the world populated by approximately 6,973,738,433 people, it?s understandable that of us look like somebody else. F1 has not escaped this and there are a few racers who look very similar to other famous personalities. Here are our top ten CLICK HERE TO REVEAL THE TOP TEN F1 LOOKALIKES
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/ioIcZEgb_QA/the-top-ten-formula-one-lookalikes
George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams
VIDEO: Ricky Stenhouse wins Kansas Nationwide race in hectic fuel mileage finish
Kyle Busch was oh-so-close to getting his first Nationwide Series victory for his own Kyle Busch Motorsports team on Saturday afternoon at Kansas Speedway.
After the race was extended because of a late crash, many cars near the front of the field were pushing the limits of their fuel tanks. Busch was one of them, and it looked like he was going to grab that first win as he led Ricky Stenhouse to the line as the white flag waved.
However, Busch started to wiggle his car back and forth on the backstretch of the final lap, and in turn 3, his car ran dry, allowing Stenhouse to pass him for the race win.
Saturday's race featured 12 cautions, including one when Stenhouse made contact with Joey Logano. Will we see that type of action on Sunday? We'll find out soon.
Sponsorship tittle-tattle
There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks after McLaren losing Vodafone and looking to Mexico for money. It has been suggested that the signing of Sergio Perez was decided in order to give the McLaren marketing people the opportunity to delve into new markets in central and south America. These rumours need [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/sponsorship-tittle-tattle/
Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi
Friday
Danica Patrick wrecks herself crashing Landon Cassill
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Danica Patrick was frustrated with Landon Cassill. However, as she drove into turn one on Cassill's rear bumper on lap 155 of Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, she got the worse end of the accident.
Patrick entered the corner with her front fender on Cassill's rear bumper, and maintained the contact through the turn while moving him up the track. Her message was delivered, as Cassill's car went into a spin. But Patrick's did too, and when she went to straighten her car out in turn 2, she ended up sliding back up the track and slamming into the wall.
"I have just been really frustrated with the No. 83," Patrick said after getting out of her car. "He slammed into me on the front straight for no other reason than his radio communication 'She was in the way.' I've always played fair. If it's one time, I can imagine frustration. But it's been pretty consistent with him getting in to me. So at some point in time, I have to stand up for myself, or everybody's going to do it. So, the bummer is that this is my Texas car. We were having a good run, we were making the car better. And, I'm out of the race and he's not."
Her crew chief, Stewart-Haas Racing competition director Greg Zipadelli was not amused with Patrick's attempt at retaliation, telling her, according to the ESPN broadcast that "You know better than to do that."
Before crashing Cassill, Patrick was inside the top 20 and on the lead lap in her eighth Sprint Cup Series start of the season before she moves full time to the series in 2013. But because of the damange, she finished 32nd. Cassill was able to keep going. He finished 18th.
"My situation with [Cassill] is really a product of frustration," Patrick said. "He got into me on the front straight and said I was just in the way. That's really no good reason to hit me. If it's one time, I can imagine it's frustration, but it's been quite a few times with him. At some point I have to stand up for myself so this doesn't happen with other people. I chose today. The bummer about it is that my car is out, and he's still out there going, so I've got to work on how to do that."
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Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler
Happy Hour: When is a guarantee not a guarantee?
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 or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.
Yeah, we're late this week. Sorry. Anyway, right now in golf there's the Ryder Cup, which I know you probably don't care about but hear me out. It's a team-vs.-team competition. How awesome would that be for NASCAR? Two-on-two battles, head-to-head showdowns? Tell me you wouldn't want to see a 20-lap showdown between Jimmie Johnson/Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin/Kyle Busch. Brad Keselowski vs. Kevin Harvick for all the marbles? Make this happen, NASCAR.
Also, update on our Last Chaser Standing competition: Greg Biffle came in last among eligible Chasers last week, so he joins Jeff Gordon on the virtual sidelines.
All right, your letters:
Seriously, why is the media playing up Denny Hamlin's supposed "called shot" so much? If anything, it was a balk at best. He kept saying in all of his interviews heading into the race, that he didn't mean it as a called shot and only meant it like every other driver that says "we'll go get 'em next week." But then after he won, because the media hyped the false intention of the statement, he plays it up like he really did call the shot with his antics after getting out the car and pointing, then swinging.
Either own it or don't, but don't take credit for it after you retracted your call, Denny.
? Nick J
Los Angeles, CA
OK, look, I'm biased here, but is there ANY chance that both drivers and fans won't default to the tired "it's the media's fault!" every time a storyline doesn't play out exactly the way they want? I thought Hamlin not only did a great thing by guaranteeing a win at Loudon, I thought he shot himself in the foot by backing off of it.
Here's the thing that both athletes and fans are realizing, now that they've got instant access via social media: maybe the media does serve a purpose after all. Denny wasn't misquoted when he guaranteed that win; that was straight from his phone to your eyes. Every time an athlete says something dumb/provocative/misguided on Twitter, the whole "the media twists our words" argument gets that much weaker.
But enough Journalistic Whining. Hamlin should've owned the guarantee from the start. Playing it tentative is what people hate about NASCAR these days; what's the harm in talking big at a track where you know you have success?
____________________
After perusing the new schedule I think it would help NASCAR if a few changes were made. Swap Miami with Vegas. Take the second race at Pocono and Michigan and replace them with North Wilkesboro and Rockingham. Last but not least put that shiny new road course at Kansas in the Chase as their second date. I would love to see all the west coast stuff back-to-back as well for logistical reasons for smaller teams, but some concessions have to made.
? Matt Lightner
The biggest problem with that scenario is that Vegas is owned by SMI and Homestead by ISC, and no way ISC is giving up that plum season-ending date without some serious compensation. Also, the North Wilkesboro and Rockingham tracks aren't really Sprint Cup-ready (sorry, guys). The Kansas road course is a great idea, but for whatever reason NASCAR is against a road course in the Chase. Nice thoughts, though.
____________________
Did I see the headline right: "Kyle Busch annoyed with lack of TV interviews"? Are you kiddin' me? He can't be serious. "I've had a second-place, third-place, fourth-place, fifth-place and sixth-place finish this year with no drama throughout the race and don't get a TV interview." Think about it, Kyle, if you weren't such a butt-head when the TV people did interview you, maybe if you didn't storm off like a kid who just got his favorite toy taken away, maybe if you didn't just give two-word answers to questions ... I'm just sayin'.
? Steve Donovan
Davenport, Iowa
Yeah, that was a bit curious to me too ... to be fair, Kyle has been a lot better in interviews this year, but truth is, he hasn't yet hit that sweet spot of interesting-without-drama; other drivers, like Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson, can be engaging even when they've had a bad day. With Kyle, you never know what you're going to get. That's the way it goes, though. There are ways to change that, though, Kyle.
____________________
A NASCAR fan in a "non-NASCAR city" ... that's the story of my life. I'm from Long Island, born and raised. The Island used to have a big racing culture with Islip Speedway and Freeport open as well as the still-operating Riverhead Raceway. But Islip and Freeport are gone. Riverhead is barely surviving. The NY media could care less about racing. If it isn't about Mark Sanchez, Eli Manning, David Wright or Derek Jeter, the NY sports media doesn't want to hear about it.
And that is reflected in the culture here now. All I heard from pre-K through 12th grade was the traditional "how can watch cars go in circles?" If I go to a place like Buffalo Wild Wings, I have to ask at least three times to get the race on one of the TVs. Contrast that with the BWW in Charlotte at the Hall of Fame, racing is always on.
Don't get me wrong, I love Long Island (minus how damn expensive the place is to live). But it's very frustrating being a race fan from NY.
? Rob
Long Island
What, no Tebow? Keep fightin' the good fight, Rob.
____________________
The mile and a half tracks with long green flag runs have gotten really boring. Tires are reliable. Engines are reliable. Cars are tough and hold up under moderate pounding. The winner is the driver that can best get his 800+ hp down to the pavement. It is a chassis tuner's race and less of a driver's race.
How can we make this more of a driver's race? Oval tracks are so 19th century, when cars raced on horse tracks because the roads weren't fit to race on. How about putting wedge and track bar electric adjusters inside the cars for the drivers to adjust ( or maladjust) as conditions change? Maybe even regular competition restarts to liven things up (which are now called competition cautions). There must be some way put more driver skills and
thrills back in front of the fans.
? Ken
Here's what you do: switch the stickers on the cars between qualifying and the race. So Jimmie Johnson might qualify with a rocket and find himself driving a sled. Stephen Leicht might find himself behind the wheel of a winning automobile. Hey, you got a better idea?
____________________
The original Indy 500s went on for 7 or more hours and were an endurance run as well as for flat out speed. Using that as a model, shouldn't someone build a five-mile track and run a 1000-mile race?
? Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
As nice as the idea is in theory, the truth is that if you think the Pocono and Michigan races are too long at 400-500 miles, you're going to loathe one that goes on twice that long. Unless it was a thousand miles in a straight line, Cannonball Run-style. Then I'm all over it.
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. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here. Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
A new team principal at Caterham
Caterham F1 Team has confirmed that Cyril Abiteboul has been promoted to the role of Team Principal with immediate effect. He will combine that role with his current responsibilities as CEO, a post he took up in September 2012. “Having launched our partnership with Renault in Paris on Monday the plan Kamarudin and I formed [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/a-new-team-principal-at-caterham/
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