Clint Bowyer made contact with Kyle Larson on lap 1 and then finished last at Richmond

If Clint Bowyer could get a redo of Saturday night's race at Richmond, he'd start over all the way back to before the green flag even flew.

Bowyer ultimately finished last Saturday after a fire in the right-front tire area of his car, but his issues began in turn one on the first lap.

He started third and had a run on polesitter Kyle Larson into turn one. Since he had an opening on the bottom lane and momentum, Bowyer went for the lead. However, Larson came back down to the bottom of the corner and the two made contact, spinning Larson's car around.

?I really hate that happened," Bowyer said. "I really like Kyle (Larson) and I?m a big fan of his. Him and (Brad Keselowski) kind of spun the tires and I just got such a big run him when he moved up. Then I was like, ?Okay, I guess I?m going to go to the bottom if you?re going to give me the bottom.? Then at the last minute he arched it in and I just wasn?t ready for him. I tried to get on the brakes and just got into him. I?m so glad he didn?t hit the wall. I was afraid he hit the wall and ended his night. It certainly didn?t help it at all.?

When the race went back green, Bowyer's car didn't have much long-run speed. He faded back and was forced to pit for a tire issue. Not long after that, the caution came out and Bowyer was caught a lap down.

Then, while pitting for another tire issue, there was a small fire under the right front of Bowyer's car. As he exited the pits, the fire didn't extinguish itself. Instead, it intensified. Bowyer's car, and his night, was cooked.

Mechanical and pit road issues have been a theme for Bowyer this season. While teammate Brian Vickers has found consistency in 2014, Bowyer hasn't. He's now 21st in the standings after qualifying for the Chase and finishing second and seventh in the past two seasons.

There's plenty of time for Bowyer's season to turn around, and a win in the new Sprint Cup win-and-you're-in Chase format would go a long way to doing so.

Right now, his team doesn't look like it's close to winning. Though Talladega, the roulette wheel of NASCAR tracks, is up next. And Bowyer's been pretty good there.

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @NickBromberg

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/clint-bowyer-made-contact-with-kyle-larson-on-lap-one-and-then-finished-last-at-richmond-041401456.html

George Connor George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard

The Weekend Rewind ? How Safe Is Safe Edition

Was it a normal weekend at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, or a dry run for Toronto and Houston? Yes. For a while it seemed like the drivers would be able to control themselves. Sure, we saw Rahal, Power, … Continue reading →

Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/the-weekend-rewind-how-safe-is-safe-edition/

Jose Dolhem Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate George Abecassis

If you are going to Montreal?

Joe Saward will be hosting an Audience in Montreal at its usual venue, at the Pub St Paul, 124 rue St-Paul Est, Vieux-Montr�al, Qu�bec H2Y 1G2. This is down in the old port area. The Audience will take place on Friday, June 6. The event will be for a limited number of Formula One fans […]

Source: https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/if-you-are-going-to-montreal/

Eitel Cantoni Bill Cantrell Ivan Capelli Piero Carini

BMW M6 GranCoupe PD6XX By Prior Design

The folks over at Prior Design have been rolling out some great mods lately, and we’re not talking just about the White Phoenix kit for the 2014 Audi R8. No, the company’s PD550 package for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is way cooler, especially for bringing a Black Series-like look to the four-door coupe before the company even thought about doing it. The German specialist is also known for having a thing for BMWs. It has been modifying anything from compact 3 Series to the larger 7 Series in the past, but, more recently, the tuner turned its focus to the M6 GranCoupe, the four-door coupe we’ve already had an in-depth look at.

As with most Prior Design projects, the M6 GranCoupe received a more aggressive appearance via a body kit that changed everything from the bumpers to the fenders, and added a brand-new hood and a trunk-lid spoiler. The larger rear diffuser blends perfectly with the bumper’s lateral air outlets, and a set of beefier wheels and tires are in place to make sure this M6 stays glued to the road.

Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M6 GranCoupe PD6XX By Prior Design.

BMW M6 GranCoupe PD6XX By Prior Design originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 23 May 2014 17:00 EST.

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Source: http://feeds.topspeed.com/~r/topspeed/~3/42iH1UATib4/2014-bmw-m6-grancoupe-pd6xx-by-prior-design-ar163600.html

Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud

Kimi Raikkonen: ?For sure one day we?ll get there??

Kimi Raikkonen says that the Spanish GP represented a step forward for him after a difficult start to this second Ferrari career. However the Finn insisted that circumstances had conspired to make earlier weekends look worse than they should have. … Continue reading →

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/05/21/kimi-raikkonen-for-sure-one-day-well-get-there/

Jose Dolhem Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate George Abecassis

Testing in Barcelona

The first thing to say about this week’s test in Barcelona is that the times recorded are irrelevant because different teams were doing different things and one cannot make any sensible comparisons, so headlines such as “Wolff faster than Vettel” are wildly misleading. The fact that the fastest time of the test was Pastor Maldonado’s […]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/testing-in-barcelona/

Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi Luiz Bueno Ian Burgess

The Best FIVE Australian Drivers Of All Time

Jack Brabham passed away this week and what a career he had. He was Australia?s greatest ever Formula One driver, winning three drivers? championships. The only one to ever to get to close to Brabham?s record was Alan Jones who won one drivers? title. Here are our five top racers from down under. CLICK HERE [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/-AH5sWxZT6E/the-best-five-australian-drivers-of-all-time

Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem Jean Behra Derek Bell

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon

After numerous batches of spy shots received from our paparazzi located in Germany starting last fall, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon has been finally unveiled, showing us its brand-new rear end and additional cargo space.

Longer and wider than its predecessor, the new estates boasts a best-in-class cargo space when the rear seats are folded and comes with additional rear legroom and improved head room and shoulder room throughout the entire cabin.

Some of the details are still under wraps, but we do know that the wagon will receive most of the engines found in the C-Class Sedan. At least all the four-pots and a six-cylinder for the time being, with other options to be added later on.

Scheduled to spend its first weeks at the 2014 Leipzig Motor Show, the midsize estate will start hitting European showrooms in September. And unless you’re planning to move to the Old Continent over the next few years, there’s a big chance you won’t get to drive one because Mercedes isn’t too keen on bringing it to the United States.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Mercedes C-Class Wagon.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 21 May 2014 16:00 EST.

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Source: http://feeds.topspeed.com/~r/topspeed/~3/GgXPj3Loxvk/2015-mercedes-benz-c-class-wagon-ar160513.html

JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd

Cup Start-And-Parks Dwindling

The practice of starting-and-parking has been a much discussed topic over the last couple of years. If you aren’t aware, starting-and-parking refers to a system in which teams enter a race and pull into the garage after only a few laps with a perfectly good race car in order to collect prize money. Teams can […]

TheNASCARInsiders.com

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

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/7quHncspnAg/

Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci

Maldonado eager for closer competition | 2014 Monaco Grand Prix

Pastor Maldonado is hoping the competition between the leading teams closes up in the coming races.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/05/16/maldonado-eager-closer-competition/

Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti

The Race That Was?Phoenix 1990

Throughout the history of Formula One, there are races which stand out above all else. Races that in one afternoon catapult a driver from mediocrity into a household name, or ruin a reputation built up over the course of decades for another. These are the stories that we all remember, the ones we love and [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/Ne_Ar61j2o4/the-race-that-was-phoenix-1990-3

Jimmy Davies Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz

Lotus aiming for top four in championship ? Lopez | F1 Fanatic Round-up

In the round-up: Lotus aim for top four ? Red Bull expect to retain Ricciardo ? Non-Strategy Group teams 'aren't committed' - Ecclestone

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/05/16/f1-fanatic-round-1605/

Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti

2014 Le Mans MotoGP FP2 Results: Marquez Tops Tight Contest

Marc Marquez topped the field in Friday's second MotoGP qualifying session but only by a hair's breadth. Marquez's 1'33.452 at the Le Mans circuit left him only seven-thousandths clear of Andrea Iannone who put in a blistering lap toward the end of the afternoon session. Alvaro Bautista finished his day another two-tenths back. Bradley Smith (4th) saved his best for last and jumped several places in the order on his final lap.

Dani Pedrosa also set his fast time late in the session but was dropped into fifth after the late runs of Iannone and Smith. Stefan Bradl, still recovering from arm-pump surgery last week, managed sixth just in front of Jorge Lorenzo. Andrea Dovizioso ended the session six-tenths from the leader, followed closely by Aleix Espargaro. An improved final lap allowed Valentino Rossi to climb into 10th from 11th.

Race Details

Round Number: 

5

2014

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/nEk4WEYMT2s/2014_le_mans_motogp_fp2_results.html

Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi Erwin Bauer

'500' Records And Milestones At Risk

Source: http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2014/05/500-records-and-milestones-at-risk.html

Andrea Chiesa Ettore Chimeri Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood

Casey Mears says Marcos Ambrose's punch 'got me pretty good'

Casey Mears participated in Jimmie Johnson's charity 5K race Sunday morning and admitted that yes, Marcos Ambrose did land the punch he threw towards Mears Saturday night.

Mears said his left-eye area, the place where Ambrose connected, was fine and had a sense of humor about the incident.

It's OK, he got me good though," Mears said. "He did. That's one thing I can say, is that out of all the NASCAR fights or punches or when you see people swing, usually it's a lot of fly swatting. He actually connected, so that was pretty good."

Ambrose was 18th while Mears was 19th. Mears also didn't rule out retaliation in the future, though we're not sure what the on-track protocol for punch revenge is.

"I don't think it something you just forget," Mears said. "Obviously, that's kind of where it sits."

NASCAR is investigatiing the incident and penalties, if there are any, will likely be announced on Tuesday.

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @NickBromberg

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/casey-mears-says-marcos-ambrose-s-punch--got-me-pretty-good-181345587.html

John Cannon Eitel Cantoni Bill Cantrell Ivan Capelli

2014 Imola World Supersport Qualifying Results: Red Flag Doesn't Ruin Qualifying

A red flag in the middle of the session didn't slow down qualifying, and neither did a rider trying to kick another rider's bike off the track.

Race Details

Round Number: 

4

2014

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/NNxAcfGaPq8/2014_imola_world_supersport_qualifying_r.html

Jenson Button Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca Phil Cade

Swiss conundrums

Sauber heads to Spain with new versions of the as-yet unsuccessful C33, the team having reportedly shaved 15 kgs from the car and produced ?a significant aerodynamic update”, including a new engine cover and an upgraded front wing. The team says it will also have better software to enable the drivers to get more power […]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/swiss-conundrums/

Gary Brabham Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla

Volkswagen Golf R 400

The Volkswagen Golf R 400 Concept made its debut at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show and immediately, the hot hatch became one of the most exciting models on display. The positive reception was heard all the way in Germany and in response, VW has confirmed that the Golf R 400 Concept won’t be a concept for very long. Equally important, Volkswagen’s R&D boss Heinz-Jakob Neusser also revealed that the production model will produce more horsepower than the "400" in its name will alludes to.

All this should ring music to the ears of those pining to see a production version of the Golf R 400 Concept. Once its built, the Golf R 400 will end up being the crown jewel of the entire Golf lineup, which already includes luminaries like the Golf GTI and the Golf R.

All that though and we still can’t get over the treat of seeing a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine inside the sports hatch packing 400 horsepower. On top of that, it will also carry a dual-clutch automatic transmission and a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

Though specific performance details haven’t been announced, it’s reasonable to expect a 0-yo-60-mph time of under four seconds to go with a top speed of 174 mph. In the end, those numbers may even be conservative, if the production model has more than 400 ponies on tap.

Note: Concept version pictured here.

Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Golf R400.

Volkswagen Golf R 400 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 12 May 2014 08:00 EST.

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Source: http://feeds.topspeed.com/~r/topspeed/~3/gGVb-aZBIDg/2015-volkswagen-golf-r-400-ar163512.html

Raul Boesel Menato Boffa Bob Bondurant Felice Bonetto

Kurt Busch says a successful double would be completing both races

KANSAS CITY, Kan. ? What constitutes a successful Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 for Kurt Busch? Simply completing all 1,100 miles.

"I think finishing both races," Busch said. "That's just a quick honest answer. I'd love to finish in the top half of th field at Indy. I'd love to stay out of trouble all day and just experience it all. But once this week gets further down the road, I think with just the comfort level that I will gain, I'll want more. But right now, it's a matter of just finishing both races. 1,100 miles is tough to do."

While it seems like a simple goal, making all the miles is a task that only one person has accomplished when racing both on the same day. That'd Busch's car owner Tony Stewart.

In 2001, Stewart finished sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte. Robby Gordon has come close twice, completing all the laps in the Indianapolis 500 twice and finishing 11 laps down in 2000 in the Coca-Cola 600 and a lap down in 2002.

What has Stewart told Busch about doing the double?

"He said, you know the IndyCars have less horsepower. They have less pick-up, acceleration, and feel even though the cars weigh 1500 pounds, IndyCars don't accelerate like stock cars do," Busch said. "So you have to look ahead. You have to anticipate. You have to digest what's happening in front of you when guys get side-by-side, how quick you're going to catch them."

Busch said he's gained three pounds through training for both events and recently completed the Indy 500 rookie orientation program. He said he thinks the most important part of his training is upper body strength.

"On the physical side of it, my hands have been very sore after each of the practice sessions just from the death grip on the wheel," Busch said. I need to relax more and just let the car come to me instead of me forcing the car. So, it's just getting comfortable with the dirver controls and knowing where everything is around me."

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @NickBromberg

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/kurt-busch-says-a-successful-double-would-be-completing-both-races-185901549.html

Joie Chitwood Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham

Jimmie Johnson finished third at Darlington after an inauspicious beginning to the race

Jimmie Johnson's car was just flat out not good in the early stages of Saturday night's race at Darlington. And yet he still finished third.

Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were briefly befuddled with the handling of the No. 48. Johnson didn't qualify well on Friday, but instead of deliberately carving his way through the field from the drop of the green flag, he was as stagnant as two-month-old pond water.

At one point while the sun was still up he was racing Josh Wise and Parker Kligerman for 28th spot. No offense to either Wise or Kligerman, but it doesn't happen to often that the six-time champion is racing them for position.

But after some adjustments, Johnson was quickly on his way to the front. He broke into the top 10, and then the top five, and was then second to eventual race-winner Kevin Harvick as the laps counted down.

When the caution flag came out with 10 laps to go, Knaus and Johnson decided to go for track position and beat Harvick, who was taking four tires, out of the pits. It almost worked. Johnson had the lead when the green flag waved, but wasn't able to hold on to it.

"I thought we had a shot at a win," Johnson said after the race. "I think if things stayed green after our last pit stop, we had a good chance at it, good shot at it. I'm happy with Chad's decision to go with two, and there were enough cars that took two that it gave us a little bit of a cushion, maybe enough of a cushion to make it four or five laps there."

"(It was a) solid performance, granted we struggled in qualifying.� We struggled the first run or two of the race, but we got the car turning for me and came to life and really did it the old?fashioned way and kind of drove up through the field before the last pit stop, so proud of the hard work."

Had the race stayed green after the restart with five laps to go, Johnson would have likely been in victory lane. But two caution flags came after it, giving Harvick the opportunity to capitalize with his fresher tires.

As the series heads to its first off-week of the year and Johnson is winless, there's likely little panic from the No. 48 bunch. They may not know the minute details of what they're missing every week, but they know the area that they need to work on. We know we're not going out on much of a limb here, but we bet Johnson gets a win in the next month. Besides, the season still isn't 25 percent complete.

"For us it's just unloading closer," Johnson said. "We seem to find a way come race time to get a good finish and honestly have a shot to win some races. But showing up at the track a little bit closer is key for us.� We're really just trying to get a grasp on these rules, and we go home with what we've learned from a previous race, bring a new mousetrap, and unfortunately we've had to continue to work on it each week.� That's really our goal is to show up closer."

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @NickBromberg

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/jimmie-johnson-finished-third-at-darlington-after-an-inauspicious-beginning-to-the-race-040951933.html

Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi