Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/11/post_abu_dhabi.html
Saturday
Friday
Power Rankings: There's no way Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't at the top
�
Guess what's back, back, back again? Power rankings are back, tell a friend. Our weekly From the Marbles staple is back for 2014 and once again, it's far from a scientific formula as it's the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. Direct all your complaints to us at happyhourmailbag@yahoo.com.
And no, we're not expanding Power Rankings to 16 drivers.
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Gotta give the guy who won the Daytona 500 some love. But had Junior not won the 500 and simply finished second for the fourth time in five years, he wasn't going to be far from the top. The No. 88 bunch was on top of its game during Speedweeks; the only bad spot was the crash with Marcos Ambrose in the Sprint Unlimited. And that wasn't weakness, that was a fluke. Anyway, Junior is now on Twitter. But if you're on Twitter, you probably already knew that. And if you're not on Twitter, does it really matter to you?
2. Denny Hamlin: If this is based off of the Daytona 500 alone, Hamlin's a worthy second. If this is based off of the entirety of Speedweeks, Hamlin is also a worthy second. And even has an outside argument for first. Hamlin made a great move on the backstretch on the penultimate lap to get to second, but couldn't get any further. Had he been closer to the front when the restart happened, he might have been the only driver to challenge Junior for the win. Instead, Hamlin had a second-place finish and some emotional confusion.
3. Brad Keselowski: Was the White Deuce the third-best car of the weekend? Kes had both single-car and drafting speed, and once his Duel went south on Thursday, he had very good reason to sit back and simply finish the race and save the car. It was bad fast. Plus, the Duel brought us the "High Life' and "Miller Lite" pit strategies, though we're still not sure what they both mean. And now we think every team needs to base pit calls off of their sponsors.
4. Jimmie Johnson: After getting his rear-view mirror issues sorted out before the monstrous red flag for rain, Johnson was up near the front of the field at the end of the race and a contender for the win while also pushing Dale Earnhardt Jr. And the latter is a prime example of why "team orders" and the like will never really leave NASCAR. Johnson was in a situation where he could go for the win given a strong opportunity for the pass and also play defense for his teammate. As the defending champion of the Daytona 500, we'd all do the same thing in that situation, right?
5. Jeff Gordon: Here's our third Hendrick car in the top five. Gordon was strong on both Thursday and Sunday, sneakily finishing third in his Duel and fourth in the 500. But for as good as he was in both races, he really never felt like a threat for the win even as he pushed Junior on the restart, did he? That's kind of a metaphor for the last few seasons. If he wants title No. 5, it better not be a metaphor for 2014 either.
6. Matt Kenseth: If you're going to mess up and crash, do it when it really doesn't matter. Kenseth mentioned multiple times how badly he felt after causing contact that led to crashes in the Sprint Unlimited and in Daytona 500 practice. But neither affected anything for the Daytona 500 -- well, because Kenseth's car survived that practice crash intact -- and he won his Duel race and finished sixth in the 500.
7. Austin Dillon: Are we weighting the pole run and first-crash save too heavily here and not weighting the contact that caused two other crashes enough? Dillon got shuffled to the back of the pack after the rain delay, but steadily made his way back forward and had an incredible save in the wreck that took out Danica Patrick. He got tagged in the right-rear quarterpanel and somehow got the car pointed in the right direction after he did a 360. However, he then made contact with Kyle Larson and the No. 42 and his teammate Ryan Newman checked up in front of him and went spinning off Dillon's bumper.
8. Greg Biffle: There wasn't a more aggressive driver in the Daytona 500 than Biffle. Well, if there was, it wasn't very obvious from the press box. Biffle had a very fast car and wanted to use it as much as he could to maintain his position at the front, swapping between lanes and making moves whenever he could. Though one of his best power moves -- a sweeping lane change in the trioval to go for the lead in the last half of the race -- didn't amount to anything as he couldn't hold the lead down the backstretch.
9. Landon Cassill: After qualifying for the Daytona 500 via his Duel race, Cassill preached sanity and safety regarding his team's approach to the Daytona 500. His small Hillman Racing team has one speedway car, and Cassill said that it was in their best interests to run a smart race and bring the car home intact. As the Daytona 500 went on, that smart race was one run at the front of the field. Cassill was a mainstay in the top 15 for most of the evening and his 12th place finish was no fluke.
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Stenhouse gets more bonus points for his stone-faced pre-Nationwide race demeanor than his top-10 in the Daytona 500. During the interesting national anthem before Saturday's race, TV cameras showed Stenhouse standing next to girlfriend Danica Patrick. Patrick had a big grin and a "what is going on?" look on her face. Stenhouse was either zoned out or doing a really good job of not cracking up.
11. Kevin Harvick: Strong runs on Thursday and Sunday both ended in disappointment. Harvick was feet from a Duel win and subsequently failed post-race inspection and had to start 38th in the Daytona 500. He ran strongly Sunday, but then was in the middle of the crash off the final corner and slid across the finish line with a battered car and a 13th place finish. But hey, he was the highest-finishing Stewart-Haas car.
12. Reed Sorenson: The kids were so close to eating free! Much like Cassill, Sorenson's run in the top 20 wasn't a fluke either. He may not have had the best car -- a line with Sorenson at the front probably wasn't going to make a run at the lead -- but he hung well in the draft and made the right decisions. He just ended up lodged in the infield as the checkered flag was waving.
Lucky Dog: We'll give it to Kurt Busch who was in the proverbial Lucky Dog spot after his spin out that didn't cause a caution with nine laps to go. We understand NASCAR's desire to keep the race green in that circumstance, but we do wonder how often an incident like that is a caution on, say, lap 10. Busch's radio reaction was pricelessly predictable, however. And rated NC-17.
The DNF: Clint Bowyer delivered the quote of the night after his car blew up Sunday night. Think he was a little jealous of Martin Truex Jr., whose car went kaput before the rain came?
?It?s just a frustrating day first from the rain -- if it was going to blow up, I wish it would have blown up four hours ago.� I could have been home watching.� Just disappointing -- the guys work so hard for this race.� Everybody is out there having fun and we broke our toy.?
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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
Michael Andretti Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella
Thursday
Into the Crystal Ball? Welcome to Sunny Florida Edition
With an actual pre-race article we are FINALLY here! 2014 is upon us and the entire indycar circus is hunkered down in the St. Petersburg paddock ready to battle from the first sight of green on Friday morning. Firestone takes … Continue reading 
Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi
Wednesday
Bridgestone Press Release - Shinji Aoki Discusses The Challenges Of A Dusty Qatar Circuit
The first race of the year means also the first Bridgestone post-race press release. In this debrief, Shinji Aoki discusses the effect the Qatar circuit has on tires, the use of the softer rear tire by the Honda production racers, and Marc Marquez gambling on the harder rear tire. The press release appears below:
Round Number:
1 Year:
2014
Tuesday
Piaggio MP3 500
The Piaggio MP3 500, features a special three wheel configuration which makes it significantly more stable than any other two wheel maxi-scooter. The MP3 500 also features an aggressive style, a comfortable seat and an ergonomically designed handlebar.
The MP3 500 is propelled by a single-cylinder, MASTER, 4-Stroke, 4-Valve, 492.7 Cc engine which delivers a gas mileage of 55-57 Mpg. The unit cranks out a maximum power of 40 Hp and 42.23 Nm of torque at 5,550 Rpm which propel the scooter to a maximum speed of 89 mph. All this power is kept in leash by a CVT automatic transmission.
The ride is kept in check by an innovative parallelogram front suspension and an electro-hydraulic suspension locking system which combine to offer a 40-degree lean angle.
As far as prices are concerned, the Piaggio MP3 500 can be yours for no less than $8,899.
Hit the jump for more information on the Piaggio MP3 500.
Piaggio MP3 500 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 28 February 2014 14:01 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/piaggio/2014-piaggio-mp3-500-ar162559.html
Monday
Paul Menard's third place finish at Las Vegas was his highest since at Kansas in 2012
Yes, that was Paul Menard briefly side-by-side with Jimmie Johnson for second with less than 50 laps to go in Sunday's Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas.
Right after Menard pulled alongside Johnson, the caution flag flew and the field was jumbled after pit stops. But Menard drove through the field throughout the race's final 42 laps and finished third. The last time he finished third? in October 2012.
Menard has one Cup Series victory. It came at Indianapolis in 2011.
"When that caution came out, we knew that we were going to pit," Menard said. "The question was whether or not to take right sides or gas only. Took gas only, spun the tires really bad on the restart.Everybody on the outside lane seemed to really spin their tires. Whoever had clean air seemed like they checked out.� You saw the 2 do that earlier, the 88 did it at the end. So clean air obviously is still very important, but I felt like our car, I could move lanes and we could race people and pass people, which was obviously really important"
Yes, very important. While drivers like Kyle Busch and Joey Logano found their cars hard to handle in traffic, Menard was able to make headway with relative ease.
There was a chance that Menard was going to miss Sunday's race too. His wife, Jennifer, is due to have the couple's first child on Tuesday. Matt Crafton, the 2013 Camping World Truck Series champion who drives part-time for RCR in the Nationwide Series, was on standby for Menard in case he had to fly back to North Carolina.
"My phone is back at the hauler so she might have called, but I told her to call," Menard said. "Matt Crafton is my backup and he really wants to get in the car, so I told Jennifer if it's important, call Matt because he's sure as hell going to tell me.I didn't get the call, though, so I guess everything is good."
- - - - - - -
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
Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert
Thursday
Grand Prix of Indy, a Few Local Reactions
Road racing is on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and there were more than a few questions concerning the whole package. As the self-appointed every-mans indianpolis based indycar lifer and racing addict, I think some pedestrian opinion could be just … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/grand-prix-of-indy-a-few-local-reactions/
Wednesday
All Prices on the SEAT Leon TGI
Although in Spain vehicles fueled by natural gas does not have a particularly high demand, SEAT have not wanted to miss the chance to offer a variant on the body of your Lion with five doors. With a view similar to the new Golf mechanical , Lion TGI block uses a 1.4-liter 110 hp and […]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/634-all-prices-on-the-seat-leon-tgi.html
Tuesday
Piaggio MP3 500
The Piaggio MP3 500, features a special three wheel configuration which makes it significantly more stable than any other two wheel maxi-scooter. The MP3 500 also features an aggressive style, a comfortable seat and an ergonomically designed handlebar.
The MP3 500 is propelled by a single-cylinder, MASTER, 4-Stroke, 4-Valve, 492.7 Cc engine which delivers a gas mileage of 55-57 Mpg. The unit cranks out a maximum power of 40 Hp and 42.23 Nm of torque at 5,550 Rpm which propel the scooter to a maximum speed of 89 mph. All this power is kept in leash by a CVT automatic transmission.
The ride is kept in check by an innovative parallelogram front suspension and an electro-hydraulic suspension locking system which combine to offer a 40-degree lean angle.
As far as prices are concerned, the Piaggio MP3 500 can be yours for no less than $8,899.
Hit the jump for more information on the Piaggio MP3 500.
Piaggio MP3 500 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 28 February 2014 14:01 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/piaggio/2014-piaggio-mp3-500-ar162559.html
Monday
2014 Jerez Moto3 Test Day 1 Times: Fast Fenati Leads Impressive Hanika
After a windy start to the final Moto3 test of the season, Romano Fenati ended the first day in Jerez at the top of the timesheets. The Team Sky VR46 rider topped two of the three sessions for the Moto3 class, ending the day a tenth of a second ahead of Karel Hanika. The young Czech rookie continues to impress on his debut in the class, finishing ahead of his teammate and title favorite Jack Miller, while Danny Kent took 4th on the Husqvarna.
Efren Vazquez was the fastest of the Hondas, the Racing Team Germany rider just under half a second off the pace of Fenati. The Hondas of Estrella Galicia teammates Alex Marquez and Alex Rins were not far behind, Marquez three hundredths slower than Vazquez, Rins nine hundredths slower.
Times at the end of day 1:
Marco Apicella Mбrio de Araъjo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold
Sunday
Happy Hour: Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 500 and Austin Dillon
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.
We're back! And we have some great material for our first in-season Happy Hour. The Madison Rising edition didn't count, we just had some emails that were too good to share. Let's get to it. This is going to be good.
I think they did an awesome rendition of the National Anthem! It showed lots of emotion, and pride . I enjoy country and old music for my favorite music, but I thought this was great! It even sent a chill down my spine. I believe all the soldiers who fought, and those that gave their lives would be proud of Madison Risings rendition of the National Anthem. Thank you! - Nan
Sorry, I had to publish one more. No more Madison Rising forever and ever and ever. And no. Just, no, Nan. No.
---------------
Is the NASCAR glass half empty or half full coming out of Daytona? Junior wins, Junior tweets, etc. great for sport, ( As was Trevor Bayne, Wood Bros. win if i recall), or very low ratings,low secondary market resale ticket prices etc. bad for sport. And as a side question, how much did NASCAR luck out by the veto of the Arizona law and the questions that would have brought this weekend. Thanks, keep the good work going. - Brian
This was the best possible PR outcome for NASCAR that didn't involve a certain female driver in a lime green car. The No. 3 on the pole and then Earnhardt Jr. winning? That's a nice lift. But the million-dollar question is how long it will last. Are more people going to tune in at Phoenix because Junior won? And if they do, are they going to be bored to tears with what we're all expecting to be a one-groove racetrack?
TV ratings were down for the 500, but that's some overrated talk. The race had an over six-hour rain delay. How many people have the ability to put their Sunday afternoon and evening into a NASCAR race, even if it's the Daytona 500?
NASCAR is just like the NFL when it comes to the Arizona bill that was vetoed by Gov. Brewer Wednesday. It allows the focus to be on the racing and not the inevitable "What do you think about this?" questions that would have followed had it been passed. The NFL was in a tougher spot though. Threatening to move the Super Bowl can't be empty talk.
---------------
Brian France mentioned that it could be a possibility if Fox and the track agreed to it. I could see it happening if NASCAR wanted to move it back to President's Day weekend. With a holiday that a lot of people have off on the following day, it'd be a way, a la the Coca-Cola 600 and the Atlanta race, to have a Sunday night race.
---------------
Well, it certainly can't be extremely beneficial from a "getting prepared for Phoenix" perspective, but from an "attention for the sport" one, it is. And I think everyone who wins the Daytona 500 realizes that and it's a worthy tradeoff.
That said, I don't think we're going to be wondering if the media obligations affected Junior and team's performance at Phoenix at all.
---------------
So excited about Jr?s win but it has nothing to do with that sissy punk Dillon and the 3 car. Him and his granddaddy are LIARS and trash. Shut up about them nobody gives a (blank) about them. That had nothing to do with Jr. Dillon caused 2 wrecks that night and he was at the back where he belongs. He will always be there!! He an RC are (blank). Trying to ride now on Jr?s win. Quit trying to shove him down everybody?s throat. Congrats DALE EARNHARDT JR.!!!!! - Marilyn�
Which leads us to this...
I saw a video{taken right after the 500} of one of the drivers talking angrily about Dillon causing wrecks and his path to Sprint Cup competition. Being spoon fed I believe. Who was that driver and where is that video? I haven?t seen or heard about it since that early clip. - Kent
Which leads us to this...
Can you explain the animosity for Austin Dillon? I know many people think he got his ride because of his grandfather. Okay, maybe he did. No doubt NASCAR's most popular driver no doubt started by sweeping his dady's garage for $2 an hour and had to buy his first race car and pay for all his racing expenes on his own, and being the son of Dale Earnhardt Sr. was of no help to him. Nor did Paul Menard get a ride because of his relationship to the car owner, and being the son of Richard Petty did nothing for Kyle Petty. Nope, no one else in the history of NASCAR ever benefited by being born into the right racing family. I now understand: Austin Dillon is evil because he got his ride because he's Richard Childress' grandson. Got it. - Paul
There's going to be a minority of folks who will be so pro-Earnhardt forever that they'll feel no one else can drive the No. 3. But it's Richard Childress's car and Dillon has been using the number since he entered the Camping World Truck Series. It was inevitable, and the inevitability is here.
Paul, the clip was of Kevin Harvick, when he delivered his parting shot to the Dillons and Richard Childress Racing at Martinsville before his departure at the end of the season.
Dillon has legitimate racing talent, and anyone who thinks differently is crazy. You don't win a Nationwide Series title simply because you have fast cars. So what if he didn't win a race. With the way that the Nationwide Series is currently set up, it's hard for a Nationwide regular to take the checkered flag. Plus, he's also got a Truck Series title too. He's the odds-on favorite to become the first driver to win all three NASCAR national series championships. Yes, even over Greg Biffle at this point.
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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
Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris
Saturday
Thought for the day?
As members of the F1 circus wing their way to Australia for the season-opener next weekend in Melbourne, there is a fascinating story to be found in San Francisco, regarding things that effect the environment. Automobile racing is often held up as being a bad thing because it burns a small amount of fuel. This […]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/thought-for-the-day-9/
Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis
Friday
A Ramble on Tires, Push and the Future
As the season reaches the halfway point the future of indycar is starting to look quite bright. Something as simple as an in-depth look at the odd link between downforce, pushy racecars and tires, a bone of contention in their … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/a-ramble-on-tires-push-and-the-future/
Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok
Thursday
2014 Jerez Moto2 And Moto3 Test Day 2 Press Releases
Press releases from the Moto2 and Moto3 teams after the second day of testing at Jerez:
Year:
2014
Wednesday
Tuesday
Power Rankings: The battle is for third as Earnhardt Jr. and Keselowski separate themselves from the pack
Guess what's back, back, back again? Power rankings are back, tell a friend. Our weekly From the Marbles staple is back for 2014 and once again, it's far from a scientific formula as it's the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. Direct all your complaints to us at happyhourmailbag@yahoo.com.
And no, we're not expanding Power Rankings to 16 drivers.
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 1): We touched on it in the Chrome Horn Debrief, but it's worth mentioning again that crediting the new Chase format for Junior's decision to gamble on fuel is unfair to NASCAR history, even if Junior says the decision was motivated by the format. This is not the first time in NASCAR that someone has gambled on fuel mileage to attempt to win a race, nor is it the last. And besides, it's not like the No. 88 was three laps short and threw a Hail Mary.
2. Brad Keselowski (LW: 2): When you've got two guys separated by a single point in the standings and they each have a win this early in the season, we're going to the lowest finish tiebreaker. Keselowski's is third, while Junior's is second. Sorry Brad, you stay in second. But we promise that you're even a closer second than you were last week. Have a Girl Scout cookie.
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 5): Speaking of Girl Scout cookies, what's with the reaction to this ad? Check out some of the tweets that Johnson responded to. Good grief. On the track Sunday, Johnson finished sixth, his third straight top-six finish to start the year. Yes, it's even possible that Johnson and the No. 48 crew is having an "underrated" start to the season. Part of it is the exceptional performances of the two drivers ahead of him and part of it is the fact that Johnson still thinks his team is a tick off. Scary.
4. Jeff Gordon (LW: 4): Three races and three top 10s for Gordon. If yo're tiering the points standings, he's right with Johnson in the second tier. And hey, the early returns are promising over these first three races about the disappearance of the Gordon restart, in which Gordon loses multiple positions immediately after the green flag waves. But don't ask us if that has anything to do with the new points system, because we don't want to see how deep the abyss is.
5. Kevin Harvick (LW: 3): Once again, Harvick was the strongest Stewart-Haas car, but this time he didn't get the highest finish. After a broken left-front hub, Harvick was relegated to a 40th place finish and was actually last amongst his SHR comrades. Yes, he finished below Tony Stewart, though it's not impossible to think that Stewart wasn't racing the final half of Sunday's race. That car just disappeared.
6. Joey Logano (LW: 6): After finishing fourth, having Logano sixth doesn't seem fair. We'll totally admit it. But at the same time, can you really vault him above Harvick? He's ahead of Gordon by one point in the standings, so there's a slight argument there. And he's of course ahead of Harvick too. But if we're going to take the strength of Harvick's races (outside of the hub) and stack them against Logano's, Cupcake gets the edge. And besides, we need some variety.
7. Carl Edwards (LW: 9): We also mentioned this too on the Chrome Horn Debrief, but don't be too quick to jump on Edwards' Vegas performance as an endorsement of Roush. He was far and away better than Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. all weekend. As an endorsement that Jimmy Fennig and Edwards are the best team at the shop? Sure. But nothing more than that at the moment.
8. Matt Kenseth (LW: 8): This was not the most compelling of race-title defenses by Flatline. He wasn't bad by any means -- he did a good job working his way up from a starting position that was settled in the first round of qualifying -- but it wasn't what we became accustomed to last year from this team either. Oh, and we'll also point out here that Kenseth didn't take tires and made a track position gamble for the win with 41 laps to go last year at Vegas. On Sunday, the final restart was with 42 to go.
9. Ryan Newman (LW: 12): It's two straight seventh-place finishes for Newman. We asked in last week's power rankings if he'd quasi-assume the role of Kevin Harvick in being far ahead of his two teammates. Well, after Sunday's race, there's been a different Richard Childress Racing car toting the bucket. If there's parity at RCR and it's not because one team came down to the level of the other two, it's great news for the organization.
10. Denny Hamlin (LW: 6): After the second-place finish at Daytona, Hamlin's finished outside the top 10 the last two weeks. But is it really that big of a concern? He's got two good tracks coming up in the next three weeks as well as one that he was a few football fields from winning at last year. On that note, how many times are we going to relive the Logano-Hamlin Bristol/California dustup over the next two weeks. 100?
11. Kyle Busch (LW: 11): Busch's car was super-fast over the first 100 laps of Sunday's race. From then on, yeah, not so much. After one restart late in the race, Busch's aggression made him some quick gains and you wondered if the car was back to where it was at the beginning of the race. But as soon as Busch made those passes, he started sliding backwards.
12. Paul Menard (LW: NR): PFM's first top-three finish since 2012 is worthy of an appearance in Power Rankings. Menard was an early-2013 Power Rankings staple before sliding out as the summer hit. Will he be able to repeat the effort in 2014? All it'll take is a few more top 10 finishes
�
The Lucky Dog: Martin Truex Jr. finished 14th after a not-so-stellar first two weeks of the season.
The DNF: He finished the race, but Stewart gets it this week.
Dropped Out: Greg Biffle
- - - - - - -
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
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