INDYCAR: Sao Paolo Indy 300

Or was it 400 or 500 miles? As I feel a bit like “Punksta-Tony Phil,” after having let my face grown long whilst hibernating inside in front of le Telescreen in anticipation of the two Open wheel races this weekend...

As Saturday felt like a total letdown, as first I managed to ‘Bugger the recording device’s inputs and thus was overly bummed when trying to watch F1 Qualifying in the morning. Oh Whale! At least I’ll be able to listen to the Indy Car qualifying session via le internets... Although that too was almost GOOBERED by the fine folks at IndyCar.com... Before Brian “LMA” BraveHeart ‘N Tony Cottman decided they’d better scrap the ice skating demo thru the SambaDrome in Sao Paolo, as apparently many of the drivers weren’t sticking their triple toe loops, eh?

While fortunately I didn’t have any hot liquids in hand to spew all over myself when reading ‘Jeffie’s Sao Paolo Live Blog last evening... As I’d missed the Preamble portion when Mr. Dashley claimed that Messer BraveHeart musta had really Large Manly Attachments to cancel the Qualie session in front of 50,000 frenetic Brazilians!

Thus, upon hitting the snooze button around 7:34AM, I knew there was a reason for setting the alarm clock... OH SHEISA! ‘Dat’s right we jump ahead this morning/LOSE 1hr of sleep as I ran out to le Telescreen “Just-in-Time” to see Guess Who? Whale it woulda made me spew my drinks if I had one since it was none other then You-know-who... Or whoever coined the moniker Princess Perma Pout! A.k.a.DannaCar or as Meesh likes to call her; Princess Sparkle Pony... (Otay, got that outta duh way, eh?)

So tunin’ in ‘bout 7:45AM, Err 8:45AM I totally missed the Sunday morning Qualifying session which was a first in league history and thus was overly surprised ‘N pleased to learn that ‘TAG and NOT Tags which Mr. BRUT Arute-Arute really started to ANNOY me with... Hey if we put ‘MAGS ‘N TAGS together does that mean we’ll get the Maytag Man? Oh Never Mind!

But where’s my Numero Uno Boy? Ah, way-to-go Justin BIG UNIT Wilson, who’s slotted into P3, and Gee Wally, AHEM! Guess what? The Swiss Miss, a.k.a. Simona De Silvestro was starting one row AHEAD of Danica... With Simona in P11, one spot behind the highest qualifying Rookie; Takuma Sato, whilst Princess Sparkly was directly behind De Silvestro on Row 7, while later on Sunday Night I believe I heard the Speed Freaks mention that She’d finished 2nd in class...

And speakin’ of Drinks... TANK GAWD I wasn’t playing NO Drinks games for every time Danica PEAK’ed at me on the TV or whenever their was the mandatory Talking Heads Public Service Announcement of her progress...

Yet Professor Jon (Beekhuis) ‘N Robbie Buhl had me in stitches before we’d even gone Green when Eagle Eye Beekhuis said hey, Ryan Briscoe just found out a really COOL way to gain positions by going down the Pit lane... As it just made me bust out laughing how these ex-Drivers still think like they’re behind the keyboards and notice any driver trying to get that “Unfair Advantage.”

And I won’t try describing the Race, especially since all of the IRL BloggaRatzi have scribbled all ‘bout it, as I enjoyed the two Live blogs take’s of So Here’s What I’m Thinking & My Name is IRL, as the latter is definitely more PG Rated... Something to do with having his Kindren P1 – P4 in the house vs. Toronto’s fiery Meesh being the only Blogger I know whose site has a Cuss-O-Meter upon it!

And is it bad to root for more then ‘Juan driver or even perhaps against your “Favourite?” As I found myself cheerin’ for TAG to do the improvable in his very first outing for his brand new FAZZT Race Team... Then it was onto Justin before it was obvious they’d gotten the strategy wrong, before ultimately rooting for Will “Hunka-Hunka” Power... As that Hippy Dippy Weatherman, a.k.a. Mr. BRUT Arute-Arute broke into a really BAD segway ‘bout Elvis when asking the Aussie if he knew that Mr. Presley was a big PB ‘N Banana’s Fan when asking Will what’s-ya eatin? No, Thank You Very Little Jack!

But back to Rio, Err Sao Paolo ‘N the Hippy-Dippy guy, as yuh got the second part right Sparky! Err that Mother of All Rainstorms... As I don’t believe I’ve ever heard/seen HAIL during a racing event... So spare a thought for all of those devoted Fans, not to mention brave Track workers along with everybody who did a great job in getting the show back on the road! Not to mention did Y’all notice that there was LOTSO passing on a “Twisty” circuit, eh?

And hey, wasn’t it COOL how Versus BUMPED the program following the Indy Car race instead of breaking away for Golf or Veggie Slicers when the Rain’s Red Flag period made the show go past the 11:30AM end time... Or did I just imagine that?

As wouldn’t it be funny if it was the “Toowoomba Toronadoe” (Thanxs, Jeffie) who delivered The Captain’s second “Wally,” Err IndyCar Crown? So keep kickin’ ARSE Will and Good On You Mate! As you’ve definitely Passed the Audition! As in what’s up with those bloody, blistered hands, CRIKEY’S!

And that was before I’d even watched the day’s Big Show, the Formula 1 race from Bahrain, which I have to admit was kinda a let down after the Sao Paolo Hydrofest!

Sharp Dressed Ferrari’s

Last night I listened to a very brief interview with Scott Sharp about his new American Le Mans Series Race Team, Extreme Speed Motorsports, which is funded by his longtime sponsor (6yrs) Patron Tequila.

Sharp got a very brief chance to talk about his new team which is apparently running a brace of the Scuderia’s F430GTC’s in the hotly contested GT2 class, as Scott’s team prepares for this Saturday’s upcoming 58th running of the 12hrs of Sebring.

Sharp will co-drive his F430GTC with Dominik Farnbacher And Johannes van Overbeek, While his team’s
Second racecar will feature Ed Brown driving with some guy named Joao Barbosa and Guy Cosmo, as you may recall that Barbosa won this year’s Rolex 24 aboard the unsponsored Action Express Daytona Prototype.

Barbosa and Farnbacher have been drafted into the team for just the Endurance events at Sebring and later-on at Petit Le Mans, while Brown who’s slowly working his way up the ranks of Amateur racing drivers also just happens to be the President & CEO of Tequila Patron Spirits, which has also signed on to be the ALMS Title Sponsor this season.

You can check out Sharp ‘N Co’s brace of red cars prepared by Maranello’s Ferrari Corse Clienti going head-to-head with Meesh’s favourite Team Owner Boobie Ray-X’s (Bobby Rahal) BMW squad this Saturday on the SPEED Channel, who’ll be broadcasting the majority of the race...

Tommy Hilfiger to get IZID treatment

Just had this ‘lil news blurb sent to me from Indiana... that the Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. has announced that it will acquire Tommy Hilfiger in a deal worth 3 billion... As in B in Billions! As the tie-up of the sheik Hilfiger with IZOD’s parent company PVH should see combined sales of $4.6b... As PVH owns a multitude of clothing brands such as Calvin Klein and Arrow to name just a few, as the deal will enable PVH to introduce its brands abroad...

Lotus back to Indy

(Photo courtesy of KV Racing Technology)

So according to the KVRT press release awaiting me in the No Fenders mailbox this morning was the announcement that Lotus and Cosworth are set to return to the Indy Car ranks beginning at St. Pete in just a Fortnight’s time, as Lotus and Cosworth will partner with KV Racing Technology in its collaborative effort to return the storied marcque back into Indy Car racing, as Takuma Sato will pilot the classic Lotus green & yellow Dallara Honda in 2010.

So, I’m not sure what this means if anything for the young British lion James Rossiter? Or how does Honda feel about having Cosworth potentially plastered on the racecar’s flanks whilst the Japanese company has an “exclusive” arrangement with the Indy Racing League until 2011...

Yet, remember that KVRT co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe own Cosworth Engineering, so this is definitely a vested interest for Kevin’s engine building concern which has just returned to the rarefied climes of Formula 1 after a 3yr absence, coincidently with the rebranded Malaysian Lotus Racing F1 Team.

Yet according to Kevin Lee during today’s third practice session in Sao Paolo during what was supposed to be the very first Indy Car qualifying session... He noted that the James Rossiter “Deal” still isn’t dead and we could see up to a five car operation at KVRT sometime during the season? As Mr. Chrome Horn, a.k.a. Paul Tracy will run Indy and the two Canada events for the team, so it looks like the ex-Champ Car squad will be extremely busy this season as it tries to crash the Penske-TCGR Party...

Sao Paolo IndyCar Blues

So, I’m NOT gonna rip the racetrack, designer or city for Sao Paolo, Brazil’s Indy Car Qualifying debacle that has just occurred due to the extremely slippy concrete surface of the Sambadromo super special straightaway spectator bowl... Try sayin’ that fast five times, eh? And although the event seems somewhat poorly planned, take into consideration that it’s a condensed 2-day schedule along with taking place in a city of 12 million people, which would be like shutting down traffic in New York say on a Friday night!

But I am gonna RIP IndyCar.com... As not only have they made their website extremely DIFFICULT to navigate for Mwah... Along with having a myriad of Technical Difficulties today, BUTT! They couldn’t even post the CORRECT qualifying time... Claiming it begun at "3:33SP"PM New York Time... (3:30 ET) Which is apparently in a different time zone then Eastern Time? As thanks to “Mr. CHiPs” (Chris Estrada) who got up early today to bring us live coverage of the Indy Car Festiva in South Americana via his Indy Racing Revolution website which has returned to the Blogosphere... Clued me into the fact that the supposed qualifying would actually begin at 10:30AM out here on the West Coast instead of 12:30PM per IndyCar, so you may wanna check him out for further updates...

As the plan now is for grinders to come in and Diamond-grind the billiard table smooth concrete surface this evening, with qualifying slated for 8:30AM ET, as you’ll need to follow the bouncing ball to find it in the either...

And let’s hope Dario Franchitti’s words aren’t prophetic of the race after having claimed that the course was better suited for Ricky Carmichael, you know the ex-AMA Supercross legend...

Starship F1 stirs up the Desert Sands of Bahrain

As Bahraini Ground Control has given the Green Light for the 2010 Formula 1 season to commence, some scant 24hrs ago, as I feel like I’ve been running around the clock, in my anticipation of hearing one of the sweetest sounds in Motorsports live once again, whilst awaiting the highly anticipated return to the Grid Iron of one of the sport’s all time Greatest… As in the Seven Times World Champion.

Michael Schumacher
“I’m like a ‘child looking forward to Christmas,” and that his ‘batteries are recharged.’
(Source: Adam Cooper’s F1 Blog.com)

Michael Schumacher – Like a child looking forward to Christmas

Ah, the Life “O Riley, Err an esteemed Bake ‘N Shake (Cut ‘N Paste) ‘Vurd Botcherer, eh? Or is ‘Dat a 40 Somme-thun with a Confuzer… As I’ve been coundin’ down the months “N weeks ‘til we finally went racing proper, Err Open wheel Racing, with not one but two great Left ‘N Right Twisties venues slated for this weekend. As Formula 1 kicks off its season in the Desert Sands of Bahrain, whilst Indy Car contests the inaugural Streets of Sao Paolo…

DON’T FORGET TO SPRING AHEAD TONIGHT!!! +1hr...

So perhaps I was feeling a wee bit like a ‘Young-un on Christmas morning as I decided to arise at 3AM to hear those glorious landSharks ripping up the ‘Ash-fault in the Kingdom of Bahrain Friday morning, Aye Karumba!

As I guess the curiosity of just how the return of DER TERMINATOR! Nee Michael Schumacher would transpire got the better of Mwah, eh? Although I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Schuey wind-up in P3 on Day 1, albeit the meat in the McLaren sandwich, with Lewis ahead and Jenson behind, in the somewhat controversial MP4-25’s, which there’s much speculation over its rear wing bleed slot arrangement.

Thus, I’m still awaiting the 41yr old German to become awash in a Battle Royale between such esteemed SuperStarz like the young ‘ZEBB, ‘JENSE, Fredrico, JAGUAR, Felipe, Weber, etc, along with the Young Lions like the Nico Brothers, The Krakow Kid, Timo, etc nipping at his heels. Not to mention the Rookies, who will hope to not be lapped too many times by the legend… While it’ll be interesting to see who does what and which new boyz Team excels, eh?

Schumacher’s return, what’s changed?

And there’s been much banter over the new teams “lack” of speed, which is always such an oxymoron for me… Ok, yeah, Bruno Senna was a most un-F1-like 11+ seconds behind in the brand new Hispania Racing car built by Dallara, but it was the very first ever 20 laps it had ever run, grounding to a halt at the end of Practise 2 with a rear wheel nut failure… Of which I’d like to see the Team & Driver not Sugar-coat next time, albeit spare a thought for this Team’s Mechanic’s, Engineer’s, etc who are doing Yeoman’s like work just to get the two Spanish racecar’s onto the grid and I expect to see them improve quickly! As it would be ironic if they were to outpace both the much more hyped Lotus and Virgin efforts, eh? And although I know ‘tis because of a lack of sponsors, nevertheless the driver’s name on the sidepod reminds me of some cars with Mika, Kimi and DC on their McLarein flanks…

And I was gonna say something sarcastic ‘bout wanting ‘The SPEED Boyz (Bob, David ‘N Steve) to shut their traps at 3AM for the very first time in order to let us just hear the banshee wail of those marvelous V8 lumps… Not to mention going off to commercial break just a scant 8min after starting the telecast… BUTT! Apparently my Old School recordin’ device has gotten back at me in their defense as for reasons unexplained it didn’t record today’s “Qualie” session at Oh-DARK-30, SHEISA! (So I’ll haveda wait ‘til 7:30PM tonight… After the Supercross)

Now I wunder if I’m gonna have as much fun tryin’ to get the IMS Radio Network to come up on the newly BASTARDIZED IndyCar website… Ah, the life of a visually impaired ‘Vurd Botcherer, eh?

2010 Formula 1 Season primer

Just in case Y’all weren’t aware of… Like last season, once again there’s plenty ‘O changes to this season’s running, as there’s been multiple driver changes amongst various teams, not to mention the influx of three truly New Boyz Teams, with a further two F1 Constructors under new management…

Then there’s the multitude ‘O Rule Changes, with a few highlighted here:

Three segment Qualifying session, but slowest 7-cars eliminated in first two rounds, leaving 10 for Pole Position shootout.

Top 10 cars must start upon tyres used in Qualifying, unless sufficiently damaged to warrant FIA Approval to replace.

In-race refueling banned.

Drivers now allowed only 11-sets of Bridgestone rubber per Grand Prix weekend. Three-sets must be returned prior to Saturday running.

Front tyres 25mm narrower width; were 270mm, now 245mm.

2010 F1 Rule Changes

2010 F1 Teams & Drivers line-up

NOTE
The sole remaining Race Seat listed as TBA for the Hispania Racing F1 Team has been filled by India’s Karun Chandhok, who unfortunately ran zero laps in Friday’s practice due to his car not being completed in time, as a hydraulic systems error was found at 4AM and not correctable by practice, as the Mechanics have been working around the clock nonstop…

pressdog snoops out Graham Rahal’s new 2010 Indy Car ride!

DAMN YOU ‘PRESS-DAWG!!!

Once again your ‘Steamed No fenders Scribe has been out scooped by that all knowing Iowa Ian pressdog… With the great news that Graham ‘Wunder Boy Rahal will guest drive for Sarah Fisher Racing at the next two Street Course events of St. Pete ‘N Barber, read here!

Let’s hope this is the beginning to something great happening for SFR! Like could you imagine Dollar General being in the winner’s circle, eh? Whale now it could indeed happen… While NO word on Graham’s remaining 2010 season plans… Which hopefully we’ll know more about soon, eh?

And it’s easy for me to say, especially since it AIN’T my Moohlah, BUTT! If I were Dollar General and Tire Kingdom, I’d come up with the extra Dinero to fund a second SFR ride for the races currently not being run by either Sarah Fisher or Jay Howard and insert Graham Rahal for these outings… Then I’d pony up the further coinage to pay for Graham’s Dad to pull his Dallara/Honda outta mothballs and run it as a third SFR-RLR entry in this year’s Indy 500.

Then SFR-RLR could see De Ferran Luczo Dragon Racing, DFLDR or LDR-DFM or whatever they’re going by these days ‘N raise them in the Alphabet Soup wars, eh?

Moraes joins KV Racing Technology

KV Racing Technology has announced today that Mario Moraes will drive for the team during the 2010 IZOD Indy Car Series season. He will pilot the #32 Banco Panamericano – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone Indy Car at this weekend’s season opening Saõ Paulo Indy 300, March 13-14, on the streets of Saõ Paulo, Brazil.


Moraes will also have sponsorship from the Holiday Inn Parque Anhembi and Itatiaia Group in Saõ Paulo, joins Takuma Sato in the No. 5 KV Racing Technology Indy Car and E. J. Viso in the No. 8 PDVSA – KV Racing Technology Indy Car in a three-car effort for KVRT in Brazil.

Originally speculation suggested that Rookie James Rossiter would be behind the keyboard of the No. 32 chassis in a Team Lotus USA collaboration, which apparently either the check hasn’t cleared or this will occur sometime later this season? As recall that Rossiter was originally slated to be one half of the USF1 effort and supposedly comes complete with the necessary budget…

(Photo courtesy of KV Racing Technology)

Versus IndyCar teaser

Versus TV line-up reminder… Along with a very funny story from Mrs. JP on telling directTV to take a HIKE!

First ‘N Foremost… Kudos to the brilliant story JP’s “Better Half,” a.k.a. Mrs. JP recently penned on JP’s IndyCar Blog over the plight of trying to DITCH that DASTARDLY dirrectTV behemoth, which still DOESN’T carry Versus on its satellite system… Which makes me cringe every time I see/hear those pesky dirrectTV commercials whilst watching my Comcast Cable service… As perhaps I’ll scribble about the horrors of trying to obtain CART/Champ Car Television coverage someday… Or did I already do so? As I DON’T Recall! But this story is HILLARIOUS! As in what? You mean they race Go Karts in Indiana?

Mrs. JP’s Adventures in Satellite TV

Meanwhile, in case you weren’t aware… Versus is broadcasting some ‘lil ‘Ol Open wheel Racing series this weekend, which WOO-HOO! Your esteemed scribe will be able to either watch live or record before gallavanting across the Mountaintops…

VERSUS IndyCar Info
Versus will air an action-packed weekend of sports, beginning on Saturday, March 13, at 2PM ET, with 60 minutes of pre-race qualifying coverage for the Sao Paulo Indy 300 race - the 2010 season-opening IZOD IndyCar Series event, before the network shifts into high-gear on Sunday, March 14, with three hours of live race coverage beginning at 11:30 AM ET.

Also, I believe that Versus will be re-airing the Sao Paolo IndyCar race Monday night at 9PM ET. But as ALWAYS! Check your local listings and also beware that many portions of the country Spring Forward this Sunday morning at 2AM!
And lastly, if by any chance Y’all have dirrectTV and can void your contract in order to receive Versus, then by all means DUMP the BASTARDOES TOOT SWEET!

As I hear that DishTV is CHEAPER!

You really should listen to Trackside

So I’m a little late to the party, as I’ve just begun listening to Trackside with Cavin ‘N Kevin on a weekly basis in the year 2010, BUTT!

I’m certainly warming-up to listening to this Dynamic Duo pontificate each week on 1070-The Fan, which I’ve been tunin’ into via le internets… As after all, where else can you go to hear Curt Cavin actually make Gil De Ferran laugh out loud multiple times? Or go from The Captain’s other Prodigal Son, a.k.a. Gil De Ferran, who’s quite methodical, and always uses thought out reasoning to the mile ‘O minute, flame retardant required verbosity of Davey “STUD!” Hamilton… As I was totally unaware of the fact that Davey and Gil have something in common… They’re both members of the 1995 Indy 500 Rookie Class…

Along with the somewhat coy musings of Cavin, like; we’re still awaiting the announcement of who Dale Coyne’s Primary Driver will be… After Kevin announced Milka Duno’s full season inking… Not to mention Curt’s quip about Milka only meeting 2 of the 4 portions of Boy Scouts of America requirements…

And I’m certain that both Kevin ‘N Cavin will have plenty to say during this Thursday evening’s Preamble for the Indy Car season opener on the Streets of Sao Paolo…

FAZZT Race Team preview

Sao Paulo Indy 300 Race Preview
Driver: Alex Tagliani
Entry: No. 77 Bowers and Wilkins FAZZT Race Team Dallara/Firestone/Honda
Event/Track: Sao Paulo Indy 300, Temporary Street Circuit, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Event Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010 11:30 a.m. on Versus
Race 1 of 17

No. 77 Bowers and Wilkins FAZZT Race Team News and Notes
This is the first race event for the newly formed FAZZT Race Team. 2010 will be Tagliani's first full IndyCar Series season and his 10th season of open wheel racing. Tagliani previously raced in the CART Series in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and was the pole sitter of the event in 2000. Tagliani last drove at a test on Jan. 20 at Sebring International Raceway.

Alex Tagliani
"The FAZZT Race Team has done an excellent job preparing for this event. It will be the first race for us as a team but with the experience on our team it certainly doesn't feel that way. Starting the season in Sao Paulo will be good because it is a brand new track and everyone will start fresh and from the same page. No one has past information from this track so we will all be relying on our work during testing and applying that to the track. We tested well over the winter and I think we have a good place to start from on Saturday and that will be the difference for the teams this weekend as two days is not a lot of time to work on the car, you have to be happy with the car you brought to the track. I have only seen a video of this track and I think it will definitely be an interesting track to race and also a good track for the fans."

Event Notes
The course is a 2.6-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit comprised mainly of asphalt with a section of concrete in the Sambodromo area.
This is the first time the IZOD Indy Car Series has raced in South America. The course runs through the Sambodromo, which normally serves as part of the parade route for the carnival celebration…

TAG laces up skates before heading south

Walter Gretzky, Alex and Eddie Shack
(Photo courtesy of FAZZT Race Team)

Alex Tagliani has been busy racking up his Frequent Flyer miles according to his FAZZT Race Team’s latest release, as hopefully he’ll remember to change into his driving boots upon arriving in Sao Paolo, eh?

As Alex Tagliani got his first opportunity as an actor playing a small speaking role for the upcoming film, Score: A Hockey Musical. Alex played himself in the film along with other Canadians such as Walter Gretzky, Marc Jordan and Margaret Atwood in a scene that was filmed at an ice hockey rink in Toronto. Alex thoroughly enjoyed the experience although he wasn't certain he would give up his role as IZOD IndyCar driver anytime soon.

"This was an incredible opportunity," said Alex. "I had so much fun doing this today! I got to put on my hockey skates again and it's been quite awhile since I had those on my feet. And I completely enjoyed meeting all of the actors and singers who are in the film. I don't think I will be pursuing a career in movies, but I had a great time and was honored to be invited to participate in the film."

As it sounds like he’ll be keeping his “Day Job” for now, eh?

Junior Dutchman returns to Indy Lights

Last night around 5:15PM (Pacific) as Don Kay went off the Air from his weekly Autosport Radio Show, he threw out the little tidbit that Junior Strous who was apparently in the audience would be driving for HVM Racing and an announcement would be following shortly… So here’s the Press Release that was awaiting me this morning in the No Fenders mailbox.

HVM Racing Launches Indy Lights Program with Strous
Dutch Driver Eager to Take Winning Ways to IZOD IndyCar Series
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (March 10, 2010) -
HVM Racing will participate in the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights season with a car driven by Junior Strous, with the intention of progressing the Dutch racer to the IZOD IndyCar Series. The 23-year-old driver won two races and led the FIL championship standings in 2009 before having to stop his season early. He will pilot the Shell/HVM Racing car, beginning with the series-opening Streets of St. Petersburg (Fla.) on March 28.

HVM Racing team principal and owner Keith Wiggins recognizes the benefits of a ladder system to develop drivers for the premier-level IZOD IndyCar Series and welcomes the opportunity to work with the young driver.

"Junior is a proven talent," Wiggins said. "He's won races, so we know he has good skills behind the wheel. We will start him in a (Firestone Indy) Lights car and plan to do some testing with him in the big car at some point this season also. I have no doubt that with continued development he will be in an IZOD IndyCar Series car in the future."

"I'm now closer to reaching my ultimate goal and that's racing the big IndyCars," Strous said. "If I have a chance to improve my position, I'll always go for it. The HVM partnership offers me good opportunities both for the short and long term in my racing career. HVM is the place to be to achieve my goals."

Strous will run with sponsorship from Shell and the European-based Car Channel Television Network. Car Channel has acquired the live television broadcasting rights for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights in the Netherlands.

"The IZOD IndyCar Series has a large fan base in Europe," said Etienne Marijnissen, CEO of Car Channel. "Junior driving for Keith Wiggins and HVM is a great development for European televisions viewers, who will get a better understanding and feeling for the fast and exciting Indy Racing League. We will follow Junior and the team on and off track. It will be an exciting racing season in the highest level of motorsports."

HVM Racing currently fields the No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing entry, driven by Simona De Silvestro, in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

BAT Wings unfurled

(BAT IndyCar rendering; Source: nextindycar-wordpress.com)

Coming live from its Bat lair situated somewheres in Indiana… The “5th Wheel” of New 2012 Indy Car’s has finally tipped its hands by releasing the rendering above, along with the launching of it’s new website/blog page, as the story was originally broken by Racecar Engineering.

Fifth firm to reveal Indycar 2012 concept next week

And I’ll defer to “Mr. CHiPs, nee Chris Estrada’s post for more background on the project, since he’s gone to the effort of divulging the image and website info for this story.

The BAT soars

And although I’m adamantly against the notion of covered wheels, wheel fairings or in the BAT’s case the boxed in sidepods, nevertheless I have to say I like their sketch way better then the Delta Wing’s.

Yet I’m not sure why this just finally hit me, or that I haven’t heard one single discussion over it, BUTT! How in the HELL are they gonna do those “lightning-fast” Pit stops with covered rear wheels? I mean how do you change tyres? As in has anybody looked into the problems Formula 1 had recently with its now fortunately BANNED wheel spats… Which were intended to provide front brake cooling, yet caused several tyre issues, as in those black majik rings disembarking the chassis… So, this seems like another potential recipe for problems… And what happens if/when a tyre bursts during racing, as in isn’t this just another way of potentially introducing more shrapnel to be discarded from the chassis, although I’d have to assume this has already been studied?

Moss does triple gainer

In case by now you haven’t’ heard, Sir Stirling Moss took a nasty tumble down his home’s elevator shaft after apparently not noticing that the lift had malfunctioned, stopping on the floor above as the 80yr old Brit stepped thru the floor’s partition and fell a long ways down an empty elevator shaft Breaking both ankles, four foot bones and chipped four vertebrae, along with a lot of nasty skin abrasions…

Sir Stirling Moss recovering in hospital after lift shaft accident

The last chance I had to see the “Best Man to never win the World Championship” was last summer whilst milling about the BRDC’s Clubhouse at Jolly ‘Ol Silverstone, but I missed him by ‘Dat Much… As I was told I’d just missed seeing Sir Stirling upon returning from the Loo…

And my favourite memory of Moss has to be upon walking past the mangled front bodywork of an extremely rare Shelby GT350R at the Monterey Historics that he’d crumpled against his opposition upon giving it the Rowdy Holmes treatment, as Moss’s solution to the crumpled front fender was to autograph it and simply walk away! (Although you’re NOT supposed to have any contact when Vintage Racing…)

Stirling Moss Speaks

Streets of Sao Paolo preview

Whale its almost time for the season opening Indy Racing League’s kickoff event in Sao Paolo, Brazil, which I’ll apparently be missing… As I’m quite interested to know if it’ll turn out to be a good race or not? Although it’s gotta beat that other stuff on le Telescreen right now, eh?

And apparently 24 Dallara chassis have been shipped to Brazil, so we’ll have a decent field, perhaps even some of the not so Usual Suspects up front? And here’s a very brief look at some of the rule changes.

Technical changes
Honda 4-position fuel map button removed, now only full rich or safety modes available in cockpit.

P2P, Err Push to assist horsepower button’s available “boost” effectively doubles along with multiple duration’s dependant upon racing circuit.

Reverse gear mandatory for all Road/Street circuits.

Hopefully Milka-licious ‘N DannaCar won’t need to use it!

Brazil Entry list

Desert sands of Bahrain await F1

So this past weekend I watched a large portion of the 2hr taped delayed Australian V8 Supercars event which was taking place upon the Bahrain International Circuit, as the Commodores ‘N Falcon’s were using the newly elongated Formula 1 layout, which made for lots of very entertaining “Criss-Cross” overtaking maneuvers thru the circuit’s new portion of “Ash-fault,” so we could have a good race on our hands upcoming this weekend…

2010 F1 Rule Changes

The F1 Class of 2010

You can catch all of the action beginning very early Friday morning on the SPEED Channel, but as ALWAYS! Check your local listings...

F1: 2010 launch - HRT

(HRT F1; Source: F1 Fanatic.co.uk)

Come On Down! You’re the very next F1 Constructor… As the former Campos Meta 1 Team broke cover last Thursday, just a scant 10 days prior to Bahrain, as the newly rebranded HRT F1 Team held a press conference in Murcia, Spain where it showed off its new Racecar along with confirming Karun Chandhok as their second driver, which has been widely expected… While I don’t know if Jose Maria Lopez was named as the Spanish squad’s Test/Reserve Driver or not, although this too was expected...

Yet I wouldn’t expect too much from either Bruno Senna or Chandhok as the chassis hasn’t turned a wheel in anger, nor run a single test session this year, so HRT will definitely be starting at a disadvantage… But then again, at least they made it to the party!

2010 Car launch: HRT F1

HRT F1 in pictures

Roush has Penske’s number

Nah, nuthin’ to do with some Roundy-round action from somewhat Hotlanta…As I was scourin’ le internets for something to scribble ‘bout… I found it interesting to learn that Jack Roush (Senior) has just scored his most amazing 400th victory… While I thought it was simply astonishing when The Captain cracked the massive 300 mark in 2008.

So I guess its somewhat ironic that Roush’s monstrous “W” tally comes no less than from the hands of his son Jack Roush Jr. and co-driver Billy Johnson in this weekend’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Homestead, where after Roush Jr. had secured Pole Position, the Ford Mustang GT was deemed to have illegal brake ducting and forced to start from the rear of the grid.

Yet I suppose its worth noting that The King of the Outlaw’s, a.k.a. Steve Kinser has amassed more victories then either the Cat-in-the-Hat or Roger Penske with an insane 520-plus! Not to mention 20 World ‘O Outlaw titles, as interestingly it was the same Messer Kinser who made his one and only Indy 500 start as a 42yr old “Rookie” in 1997…

F1 Back in the USSR

As we already know, Vitaly Petrov is set to become the very first ever “Rooskie” to compete in Formula 1 when the Russian debutant takes his place upon the starting grid in Bahrain…

Thus it should come as little surprise that ‘Mother Russia has also struck a deal with Petrov’s Team Renault to provide signage of Russia’s Automotive brand Lada, as after all Renault previously purchased a 25% stake in Lada’s parent company Avtovaz for $1 billion in 2008, with Russia seeking to improve its automobile production capabilities, as Renault is set to introduce several models in Russia, hoping to take advantage of the countries own Cash for Clunkers program which has just begun… As Renault’s cooperative effort will boost Lada plant production to 160,000 vehicles annually, as Renault competes against Ford for the valuable market share.

Lada will be featured on the Renault R30 chassis along with Vitaly Petrov’s ‘Kit, i.e.; overalls & crash bucket, yet the Reggie’s sidepods still seem to have an abundance of sponsorship space available, although I’d expect this to be somewhat remedied this weekend, eh?

Meanwhile, also hoping to cash in on the veritable Ruble bonanza between Renault and Russia is none other then Uncle Bernaughty, (Ecclestone) who hopes for further backing of his sport by Vladimir Putin will enable him to finally crack the Iron Curtain and get his long sought after Moscow Grand Prix installed…

BLAME KANA-DUH!

Canadian COOL Dude Brian McKeever

Otay, so I’ve waited until Canada’s euphoria over winning the big ice match has hopefully somewhat subsided, as I’ve tried to keep from getting overly emotional about this, BUTT! As a visually impaired ‘Vurd Botcherer, nee Hack, Scribe or Blogger… Take your pick; I’M PISSED OFF at Canada!

While the country above me reveled in the ecstasy of winning the big Hockey game… I’d been counting down to the day’s other race on the final day of the Winter Games, the Men’s 50k Cross Country event that was to potentially see history being made when the very first Blind Athlete, nonetheless from Canada competed in the Alpine event, after Calgary’s Brian McKeever had been selected as a member of Canada’s Olympics’ squad by winning an able body qualifying event…

Thus, upon going from the highest high’s of staying up late to see The Peacock, nee NBC milk the SHIT outta Steve Holcomb ‘N Team USA winning Gold aboard the Night Train, I’d learned that Brian McKeever had been told on the eve of his historic outing, that he’d been given the ‘Boot and wouldn’t be competing in the following day’s Men’s Cross Country relay…

So all I can say which is PG-Rated is SHAME ON YOU CANADA! As they claimed it wasn’t a Publicity Stunt by selecting the Blind Athlete as a member of their Team… But then when it came down to brass tacts, sorry Brian, but we really wanna win the event and you’re our weakest link!

This coming from a nation who created the Terry Fox award for these very Olympics, which was co-awarded to Joannie Rochette & Petra Majdic for demonstrating the enduring spirit of Mr. Fox, (not to mention Canada’s other national hero Rick Hansen…) along with the host city itself having elected a wheelchair bound Quadriplegic named Sam Sullivan to be its Mayor when the Winter Games were initially awarded…

Majdic, Rochette recipients of Terry Fox award

So, in case you cannot tell, I have a really big problem with Canada’s attitude towards denying Brian McKeever his place in the History Books, along with getting to play in the snow enroute to becoming the very first Blind Athlete to compete in the normal Olympics, which I’ve naively thought was the whole spirit of the games, yet I’ve obviously come to understand their true meanings by dubbing them the COMMERCIALYMPICS!

But I’m still extremely disappointed by Canada, who I’ve come to believe is a very progressive nation, while I’m touched by McKeever’s continuous uplifting spirit, while although he only has 10% of his normal vision remaining, nevertheless, he had his sideburns fashioned into Hockey Sticks! (Talk ‘bout national spirit, eh!) While his older brother marvels at his tenacity to pursue his dream of making the Olympic Team by persevering through the chilliness outdoors whilst riding the bus to and from weekly practice sessions.

For a Legally Blind Cross-Country Skier, a Triumphant Perspective

Oh Whale, hopefully Brian will kick ARSE in the upcoming Kuh-Naidiun Paralympics which run from March 11th thru March 21st.

And ironically, or was that karmically? I’m told that on the day in question, the weather was so bad (foggy) that they were probably ALL skiing blind!

And whilst surfing le internets for another photo of my new “Role Model,” I was very disturbed to have the very first story to pop-up, regarding Hate Mail being sent to McKeever’s Olympic teammates… As after all it was NOT their faults, it was the Canadian Olympic Team Organization’s… As I’m NOT even sure I can blame their coach for making the decision to exclude McKeever, eh?

So Good Luck Brian!

Pickett Out, Bodine’s “Hulkie Shuffle” tribute in for Hot-lanta

According to Marc of Full Throttle, NielsenHo, who I’ve taken to calling Nelson Pickett Junior, a.k.a. Nelson Piquet Jr. has apparently, ran into that gigantic impenetrable wall known as sponsorship Dinero… Or in his case lack of Greenbacks to continue his budding TinTop career in the rarefied world ‘O RASSCAR… As it appears that Pickett Jnr. Will not contest this weekend’s Pickem-Up race in Atlanta.

Don’t cry for me, Nielsen ho

Meanwhile, apparently 60yr old Geoff Bodine, the man behind the Bodine bobsleds that just won Gold Up North Eh! Will take part in the Atlanta Camping World Truck race in a specially prepared Dodge replicating the famous Night Train motif that Steve Holcomb ‘N Co. rode to fame in Kana-Duh, so check out the No. 95 Danny Gill Racing truck this Saturday evening, along with younger brother Todd bodine’s No. 30 which will also pay homage to the Night Train’s success, along with everyone who helped make it happen…

The Highs and Lows of Whistler’s Sliding Centre

Nodar Kumaritashvili

By now Y’all know that USA-1’s 4-man Night Train Bobsled driven by Steve Holcomb has ended America’s 62yr drought of winning the Gold medal in this prestigious winter event, as Holcomb not only made history by accomplishing this, he also set two brand new track records in the process during Day 1’s first half of the event, enroute to capturing America’s first Gold medal in the 4-Man Bobsleigh in 62 years…

Yet, unfortunately the just concluded XXI Winter Olympics at Vancouver, BC will most likely be remembered as the venue where 21yr old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was fatally killed in a training accident just hours prior to the Opening ceremonies of the Winter Games.

And the track was obviously deluged with many critics, including Team USA female Bobsledder Shauna Rohbock exclaiming that the Whistler Sliding Centre’s track was simply “Stupidly Fast!”

And there was much carnage during the Bobsledding events, which I don’t know if any of the women’s teams suffered crashes? Although the 2-Man Bobsled saw at least three sleds crash during practice, not to mention Australia and Switzerland withdrawing from competition and a further four sleds barrel rolling during the first day’s competition.

The 4-man Bobsled competition wasn’t any less daunting, as a total of six sleds crashed on Day 1, nearly 25% of the sleds entered… While Liechtenstein, Netherlands and USA all withdrew from competition, as both Liechtenstein’s pilot Michael Klingler and the USA-2’s John Napier Suffered injuries during competition.

But it was the Netherland’s pilot Edwin van Calker who I think had the most courage of the entire event, as he sensibly told his coach that he simply was too “RATTLED” to compete in the 4-man event, claiming he simply lacked the necessary confidence to continue on.

van Calker had previously crashed during 2-man practice and then struggled mightily every time down the course thru the infamous Turn 13 which was nicknamed 50-50 by no less then Steve Holcomb after crashing during a training run when Teams first tested the circuit back in 2009, as Holcomb noted that only half of the sled’s were making it thru the overly fast corner…

Yet apparently van Calker is already receiving ridicule for withdrawing from the Games and bearing the brunt of bad jokes like: “Why did the chicken cross the bobsled track?” Yet no less than the reigning Swiss World Champion was forced to withdraw due to a concussion obtained during the 2-man event, while nobody seems to be belaboring Switzerland’s other pilot withdrawing for safety reasons after suffering two crashes, as a total of eight men’s sleds crashed…

Yet imagine the fury of partaking in this sport, not to mention Luge or Skeleton… As for me, the signature voice of Olympic Bobsledding will always be John Morgan, who is a former US Bobsledder, who’ve I’ve just learned watched his older brother die in a Bobsledding accident in Italy in 1981 on his very first broadcast assignment, as Morgan rushed to his brother’s side only to find he had no pulse…

As Morgan called the on track action, he noted how the 4-man sleds that weigh in at 500lbs were dropping four stories in the first 150 meters of the undulating 16-turn course, which totaled a length of some 16 football fields whilst dropping a total of 50 stories! Not to mention the 71 miles of pipe needing 800 bends to pump the nitrogen underneath the concrete slabs foundation to keep the ice cool… As Day 1 saw a track temperature of 26 deg f, while Morgan called Day 2’s warmer surface “Soft Ice,” with a temperature of 31.5-32 degrees. But most interesting to me was the comment that they use sandpaper on the sleds runners, while reaching record terminal velocities of nearly 96mph!

Quattro Females to contest 2010 IndyCar season

Great News for Indiana Bureau Chief Danny B… Who’ll be ecstatic over the just released announcement that Milka-licious has been inked to a full season ride at Dale Coyne Racing… Yep, that’s correct; Milka Duno will be on hand for the entire 2010 IndyCar season, piloting the No. 18 (CITGO) Dallara Honda racecar, with DCR set to announce its second driver next week. Can you say J.R. Hildebrand?

So let’s get ready to rumble Gwils!!! As I don’t know if Los Wages is giving odds on when the next Milka v Danica Smack Down will occur… Nor if the Swiss Miss Simona De Silvestro figures into the mix, while Sarah Fisher seems just way too classy to get involved in any of the Hi-Jinx, with ‘Bia (Ana Beatriz) joining her ‘Seesters in Brazil, where I’m guessing that one fifth of the grid will be made-up of Femme Fatales… So Move over DannaCar! Otay, NO adult beverages fifth jokes here, as it’ll actually only be 1/6th of the grid, since Sarah Fisher is skipping the Sao Paolo Mardi Gras… Although there could be a record five females at Indy this year, so who need’s the Delta Wing, eh?

Doing the F1 Team Samba

Three New Formula 1 Teams in, Take one down, pass ‘em around… Two New F1 Formula 1 Teams in…

So late yesterday the FIA finally published its updated 2010 F1 Entry list and GASP! There was NO mention of USF1, whale that’s not exactly true, as the FIA denoted that Pete & Ken had asked for special deferment of their 2010 entry until 2011, albeit USF1 will not be competing this season… While multiple reports claim that on Tuesday the remaining employees were told to pack up and go home as they’re now on Unpaid Leave, as sadly it seems this is probably the end of the road for the USF1 Team, as it would seem hard pressed for them to be given a second chance in 2011, but who knows?

Meanwhile the New & Improved F1 Entry list also made NO mention of the upstart Serbian Stefan GP Team, although Uncle Bernaughty is pushing hard for their inclusion, albeit time is running out as the Big ‘Ol (747) Jetliner’s depart from Heathrow and Milan on Friday, so tick, tock, eh? And the FIA says it’s too late for last minute entries to be added at such short notice and its 2011 selection process will be announced shortly.

Next up is the newly rebadged Hispano-Suiza, Err Campos Meta 1 Team, who applied for the name change of Hispania Racing Team (not hysteria) which the FIA rejected… And instead will now be known as HRT, which seems quite puzzling to me, especially since it’s known that the Holden Racing Team, and NOT Hormone Replacement Therapy As James Allen wryly penned has been flying the HRT banner for some 20yrs now, so go figure? Wonder if GM will have anything to say about this?

Yet it was nice to see Bruno Senna’s name listed on the entry list, while not surprisingly Karun Chandhok is set to be confirmed as the HRT’s second driver today when the Team is scheduled to hold a press conference in southern Spain.

With USF1’s exclusion for the 2010 season, the revitalized Sauber effort has now inherited the American squad’s car numbers 22 & 23, previously having held the No’s 26-27. So will the number 22 be as lucky for Pedro De la Rosa as it’s been for the past two year’s holders Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who both drove it to their respective World Championships… Although I still don’t get the logic in continuing on with the name of BMW Sauber F1 Team, as in BMW ran away from F1...

Final 2010 F1 Entry list

HVM announces Swiss Miss for 2010 season

By now I’m guessin’ Y’all have heard the news that HVM Racing has announced former Atlantics standout Simona De Silvestro as the driver of its No. 78 Dallara Honda racecar for the entire 17 race season of the 2010 IZOD Indy Car Series. In a partnership deal with Team Stargate Worlds, the Switzerland native, now residing in Scottsdale, AZ will pilot the Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing entry fulltime with primary sponsorship from Stargate Resistance and associate sponsorship from Bernard Richards Manufacture (BRM), FireSky, Cheyenne Mountain Games, and Cardinal Technologies.

And I was all set to tuen-in to the BIG Indy Car Teleconference yesterday afternoon, BUTT! For reasons unknown my telephone decided to CRAP out at the last moment and thus you’re Humble No Fenders scribe was unable to participate… AIN’T Technology Swell?

Can you hear me now? Oh Crap, that’s right I’m on Verizon… Herroe-Herroe?

So I wasn’t able to disconcert if HVM is simply running a one car team this season? As “Bad Bobby D,” a.k.a. Robert Doornbos seems to have faded from the radar, while I noticed that Speedgear has all of his merchandise currently on sale… Although later on Simona divulged that she’s working with Race Engineer Mike Cannon, who seems to be HVM Racing’s lead Engineer, so perhaps no Bobby D this year?

And with yesterday’s announcement, we’re now assured of at least three Femme Fatales blitzing the field in Sao Paolo, as You-know-who will be there, along with De Silvestro and ‘Bia, a.k.a. Ana Beatriz, who for now is just doing a “One-Off” for her home race in Brazil, with hopes of running in this year’s Indy 500.

No word on where Indiana Bureau Chief Danny B’s favourite driver Milka-licious will wind-up at? Or if she’ll be bringing her CITGO sponsorship to Brazil or stateside in the near future…

But Hey! Fortunately I did get to listen to Simona on Autosport Radio yesterday, as I can only surmise that she’s making the Media circuit rounds…

Now we already know that Simona is very easy on the eyes… But I found her youthful energism to be quite enjoyable… Dare I say it? Simona seemed way more outgoing then You-know-who! And I really enjoyed her quip about her Dad telling her that when she was very small, (Baby?) whenever Formula 1 came on the TV she would get quiet… As Formula 1 has always been the dream, as like almost all European drivers, and I didn’t know it, but Simona’s name is actually Italian, which comes from her Poppa, who owns Automobile Dealerships…

De Silvestro got started like most aspiring youngsters by racing Go Karts, which she did for nearly 10yrs, before moving onto Formula Renault and then Formula BMW, where Simona was quick to point out that she’d raced the road course at Indianapolis as part of the F1 Circus’s supporting cast back in 2006.

And yeah, she has actually tested on an Oval, although she alluded to the fact that it was in an Indy Lights car recently, but there were actually other cars out there with her… Although her first thought upon this experience was: “Crazy Americans!” Albeit Simona’s been in the states now for six years, as she also told Don Kay that her manager Imran Safiulla had known Keith Wiggins in the past and that he’d put the deal together… And it’ll obviously be a new experience for her on an Oval in the Big Cars… And how it’s really strange to her that last year she was watching Dario & TK and now she’s racing with them… As she’s talked briefly to both Mr. Dashley (Dario Franchitti) and Tony Kanaan…

Simona also noted that the speed ‘N power of the Indy Car is quite amazing compared to the Atlantics chassis… As in Atlantics you can go down the straights, relax and think about other things… But in the Indy Car the straights arrive so fast and you have to pay attention every moment, as Simona confessed that she’d made a silly mistake when spinning her car in Barber testing last week on Day 1, but she did finish three tenth’s ahead of Princess on Day 2…

So welcome to the Big Leagues Simona. Good Luck and Kick DannaCar’s ARSE!

And of course now I’ve found Robin Miller’s story on Simona’s signing which states that Doornbos’s funding fell thru and HVM will only be a one car Team for the time being, although they’d like to expand to a two car operation… Hmm? Can you say Graham Rahal, please…

INDYCAR: HVM signs Simona De Silvestro

Lotus announces News Giant as new Team Sponsor

(Heikke Kovalainen & New Lotus Duds; Source: CNN Worldwide)

In case you haven’t heard already, this morning Lotus Racing and CNN International announced there new partnership deal. Here’s an excerpt of the press release that was sent to No Fenders.

CNN MAKES ITS FORMULA ONE ™ DEBUT WITH LOTUS RACING
Lotus Racing and CNN International have today announced a partnership deal that sees the newest Formula One™ team entering into a long-term agreement with the world’s leading news network. CNN’s world-famous logo will feature on the T127 race cars, the drivers’ overalls and on all team clothing.

The deal will be managed by CNN’s commercial ‘Partner Solutions Group’, which is led by Rani R. Raad, senior vice president of CNN International Advertising Sales.

“The combination of two such iconic and aspirational global brands fits perfectly with CNN’s worldwide reach and brand positioning,” said Raad. “This unique partnership with Lotus Racing takes CNN into a new era of marketing and promotions and puts us in front of a worldwide audience of millions.”

A delighted Lotus Racing Team Principal Tony Fernandes commented: “We are very proud to welcome CNN into the Lotus Racing family. It is a sign of the positive impact we have already made in the global business market that such a prestigious brand, familiar to millions around the world as the definitive source of news and current affairs, has made the decision to partner with us. The whole team and I are looking forward to working with CNN in the months and years to come on some very exciting campaigns…”

Sato says Hello

Taku rides again

There seems to be some unrest over Japanese racer Takuma Sato’s installation at KV Racing Technology this season, in lieu of the apparent lack of Yanks contesting the Indy Car Series…

Yet I find Taku-san to be quite refreshing, as no less then Team Co-Owner JV had the following to say during last week’s Open Test.

Jimmy Vasser
"He's polite, he's smart and he's really fast"
(Source: Robin Miller; speedtv.com)

And I’ve always enjoyed Taku’s On track performances, with my most favourite moment being when upon making a Banzai pass upon an aging DC, (David Coulthard) as the Square-jawed Scot exasperatingly told the upstart Japanese Piloto afterwards: “I would have NEVER made that pass…” (In that situation) Sato eagerly snapped back: “I KNOW!” As I believe this was during Taku’s BAR-Honda days?

Then Takuma also had the nerve to overtake his ex-Teammate and future F1 World Champion ‘JENSE at no less the mighty Spa Francorchamps in his lowly ‘B-Team “Super Best Friends” (Super Aguri) racecar, which at the time was outperforming the lowly “Works” Honda racecar Button was driving…

And imagine the fact that upon Taku’s being replaced by ‘Rubino in the Honda F1 Team, that local Japanese dissent was so vocal that Honda decided to help Aguri Suzuki set-up a satellite Grand Prix Organization provided with Factory lumps just in order to keep the overly popular Sato in Formula 1!

I mean imagine if there was such a similar groundswell for Ed Carpenter? Nah, too many DAMN people only wanna know what DannaCar’s doing now.

So I for one am looking very forward to seeing Taku-san kick some ARSE On track this season, along with winning Rookie of the Year Honours! Now does anybody know if Taku likes Snakes?

KV Racing Technology Barber Open Test notes

Time running out on USF1?

Unfortunately it seems that time; money & faith are running out upon the beleaguered USF1 Team, as speculation continues to rampantly swirl over the upstart American Formula 1 Team’s impending demise…

With wild speculation covering all ranges of the map, from Chad Hurley having left the building to trying to do a deal with rivals Campos Meta and Zoran Stefanović to merge the two Operations, to Ken ‘N Pete blocking his attempts… As Stefanović now has put out another barb publicly about Dreamers at USF1 and how somebody should be in a big trouble if there’s an empty spot upon this year’s Formula 1 Grid… Can you say FIA? (OOPS! Sorry FIA, we really didn’t mean that, as Stefan GP has now posted a supposed apology…)

Meanwhile Stefan GP has also publicly stated how its bulk container has arrived in Bahrain, even giving out the DHL packaging tracking slip details and claims its ready to debut its Ahem! Completed racecar… Although claims suggest that only ONE chassis has been completed, with requisite spares desperately sparse, as there’s a bit of reluctance to press ahead without an Official entry…

And this is also the same outfit that needed to cancel its planned Test session at Portimao due to the fact that the Team has NO proper Bridgestone rubber!

Meanwhile we’re all awaiting to see what Jean Todt ‘N the FIA do over USF1’s entry now that its Technical Delegate Charlie whiting has been to Charlotte to view first hand exactly what is going on there… As in can they really build a racecar in time for Barcelona or are they simply too busy making Toasters instead?

And while USF1 has NO Driver’s to go along with its missing Type 1 Racecar’s, Stefan GP is supposedly poised to announce Jacques Villeneuve as Kazuki Nakajima’s teammate aboard their Shiny red S01’s propelled by rebadged Toyota ‘lumps… Now if somebody could just convince Bridgestone to give them a couple ‘O sets of tyres, eh? Hmm? Why does that remind me of another upstart F1 Team named Toleman and Pirelli?

Meanwhile last night on The Speed Report (TSR) Bob Varsha noted that USF1 has now asked the FIA for deferral of its 2010 F1 entry until the 2011 season and that Ken Anderson and Chad Hurley are willing to back that up with a 7-figure bond, while I certainly hope I’m NOT reading too much into this… But Varsha failed to mention his friend Peter Windsor’s name, while Dave Despain mused cryptic thoughts about how The House ‘O Windsor may not even be involved anymore? Or is this just more media mastery crafted by USF1’s Sporting Director?

So it appears to be crunch time as the F1 Circus will shortly be packing its Bags, not to mention 40’ Containers along with those all important racecar’s for shipping to Bahrain, as will it be 11, 12 or 13 Formula 1 Constructors taking part in the seasons opening Grand Prix?

MicFish ‘N Chip

Sitting down for lunch on Friday afternoon I turned on le Telescreen for a little background noise… And indeed NOISE it was, as the SPEED Channel had once again digressed into the DannaCar Network… URGH! As Kyle Petty rambled on ‘bout Lazyboy recliners and Princess not bein’ comfortable with her Steering wheel position, Blah-blah-blah…

Thus my DannaCar-intolerant thoughts were interrupted by the Talking Heads noting how Jamie ‘Mac, (McMurray) winner of this year’s DayToner Pothole 600 was sportin’ a new sponsor this week, as in those very same burnt orange arches that jumped off the Newman Haas Lanigan Racing Ship, leaving the Son ‘O Stash without an Indy Car seat… (Currently)

So I’m wunderin’ if it’s just me who finds it interesting how ‘Cheep has pilfered MicDougal’s away from rival Carl Haas… And if this will lead to seeing Graham Rahal windup at TCGR after all, Hmm? Couldn’t Chip do another “Development Driver” deal with Graham, say having him pound ‘round in a second Grand Am Riley-BMW (coincidence that his Pappy runs BMW’s ALMS GT Program, not to mention some car dealerships, eh?) and perhaps drive a third Ganassi entry at let’s see? The Brickyard, Hmm? Another RLR/Ganassi effort sponsored by Mickey D’s?

Then The Cheepster could bring him back full time in 2011, as after all ‘Cheep… Roger’s got three fulltime Open Wheel Racecarz, so DON’T you needs to up the ante? Or is it just one more sign of how ACK! That Tin Top Bomber series Down South still rules the roost…

Spanning the Globe - As there’s other Racing going on besides Planet DannaCar

Spending way too much time inside this weekend, as hey that bright yellow thingy has been popping in ‘N out of the clouds this afternoon … After another rainy Northwest day yesterday…

I found it entertaining to note the wide variety of racing series on le Telescreen, as there really are other series already competing besides that ever so present Danica Patrick and her 2010 World Tour, as surprisingly I watched my very first ever “Aussie” V8 Supercars event yesterday from none other then Yas Island and the Yas Marina circuit, which previously held the very last round of the 2009 Formula 1 Championship in Abu Dabi.

Then today, while probably everybody Up North Eh! In “Oh Kana-Duh” was watching some ‘lil ‘Ol Hockey game in Vancouver, BC eh? I accidently tuned into the season opener of the World Superbike Championship, (WSBK) coming from Down Under on Phillip Island in Austraila, Mates!

And those riders are simply BONKERS! As maximum velocity was reached by none other then Max Biaggi, who twisted his Aprilia’s throttle to an amazing 320kph… (As in 198.72mph!) CRIKEY’S!

Yet it was the 26yr old Englishman Leon Haslam leading away from the front in Race 1, having scored his first ever WSBK SuperPole, as Haslam streaked away with the two factory Ducati Xerox riders of Michel Fabrizio
And Noriyuki Haga nipping at his heels as the trio sped away from the pack, before Haslam aboard his Alstare Suzuki led from wire to wire and defeated Fabrizio in a photo finish of 4-one thousand’s of a second!

And it was entertaining to hear how Haslam was punching a hole in the air for the trio of riders at 297kph, while Haga in third was benefitting from the draft while cruising about at 305kph! With Biaggi blistering the field while chasing the leading group with an astounding 316kph, SHEISA!

Yet I missed the majority of Race 2 due to a TV Guide hiccup which claimed it was the WSBK Boyz at Silverstone next, (Huh?) so I went for a walkabout instead, returning “Just-in-Time” to see Race 2’s final four laps with Haslam Leading once again, albeit being stalked by Carlos Checa riding for the Althea Ducati Team alongside his aptly nicknamed teammate, Shane “Shakey” Byrne.

Yet apparently the crafty 38yr old Spaniard had been saving his tyres and on the final lap with just three corners remaining, Checa made his move and powered past Haslam to claim his first victory of the season.

And Oh yeah, I failed to mention the AMA Supercross race from Atlanta, Georgia last night, where Ryan Dungee won his third race of the season…

EXCLUSIVE: Delta Wing Update Kit revealed!

(Photo courtesy of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)

Apparently the entire furor over the perceived looks of the Delta Wing Project’s much discussed views upon its styling cues tipped the scales when Indy Carr league officials learned that NO less then their Number 1 media darling had weighed-in on the matter… As Danica Patrick was heard saying: “ARE YOU KIDDING?” When recently having seen the initial Delta Wing images…

Thus, with much poking ‘N prodding… OUCH! Exclaimed the Cheepster, still harbouring some broken ribs… He asked Master Designer Ben (Bowlby) to see if he could come up with some sort of update kit to his latest creation that would possibly be a little more palatable to those angry 40yr olds scribbling ‘bout his pet project on their Confuzers…

Bowlby says that the major shift of philosophy should make ALL of the Open Wheel critics happy, as it’s now got four Open Wheels along with lots of sponsorship space and plenty of rear Downforce… Not to mention UV protection and should really stick on the leagues Short tracks, although he encouraged his Boss to stay away from taking it for a spin until he’s fully recovered…

While NO word on whether Chip and partner Felix will insist upon Juan ‘N Jamie’s contracts being modified to prohibit riding on top of? While Bowlby claims that rear decklid should also protect Dario in case of any Blow-over’s in the future!

Have you taken your Randy letter to the Mailbox yet?

THE ‘DAWG’s letter writing campaign to incoming Indy Car CEO Randy Bernard is fast approaching, as pressdog wants Y’all to get your letters to him in time for his first day on March 1st, 2010… Which YIKES! Is just right (‘N left) around the corner, so in ‘Dawgsta-speak, DO IT NOW!

And yeah, your humble No Fenders Scribe did indeed mail his 1pg letter earlier this week…Although I left out the part ‘bout wanting FREE Popcorn!

Tick-Tock ... Time Running Short to Write to Randy by March 1

Chip’s Delta Wang World Tour runs afowl!

Apparently The Cheepster, nee chip Ganassi, was busy celebrating his recent Roundy-round DayToner 647 victory, along with perhaps combining a little business with some pleasure? By beating the ALL YUHS NEEDS TO KNOW – BY GUMMIT! IS WHAT I TELLS YUHS… World Tour over his much ballyhooed Delta Wang thingy-muh-jig… Err excuse me rocket Sledcar!

As according to TSR this past Sunday evening, Chip suffered a couple of broken ribs whilst navigating the powdery stuff skiing. Mmmm…. Sprinkles! Although there was no word upon where it happened or if Messer’s Kalkhoven ‘N George were present?

And NO! I have NOT changed my tune upon the Delta Wang (Putang) thingy ‘Juan iota… Nor do I intend to, as it simply DEFEATS the purpose of what Open Wheel Racing is supposed to be… As in FOUR ‘COUNT-EM 4 OPEN/Exposed majik rings… Preferably black rubber without any gimmicky sidewall colouring, which is making it hard for me to know what to think over the initial reports about the BAT project…

Yet I do have to say that the related image by an unknown source in Pop Off valve’s story is somewhat more palatable then the original Flying V Tricycle shaped Klingon-mobile.

Indy Car fan's designs changing opinions about the DeltaWing

As Y’all will never guess what the Topic du Jour was on last week’s Trackside with Cavin ‘N Kevin, on which I had to pull the plug as it got overly dronish on trying to Pooh-Pooh the Naysayers over the Delta Wang thingy… As how many covered wheels belong visible on an Open Wheel Racing Car?

Can you say ZERO!

As the more people I hear trying to be overly neutral, nee PC over Chip’s Delta Wing project, the more I conjure up images of a PIG with lipstick!

Yet interestingly, Cavin pointed out that one of the few current ICS Team Owners who wasn’t onboard the Good Ship Ganassi, was none other then a one Mr. Roger Penske, so it would be interesting to know just exactly how many Team Owners really were behind the Cheepster, as in behind this project and not On track as Cavin coyly noted.

Yet I still DON’T get-it??? As in the need to SCREW-UP Open Wheel Racing by picking some Buck Rogers Podmobile Phalanx LSR contraction to continue racing in 2012… I mean if it’s so necessary then why HASN’T Formula 1 felt the need to implement some sorta futuristic tricyclemobile, eh? Or put a myriad of florescent lighting on their racecar’s sidepods?

You can read my elongated thoughts upon the Delta Wang thingy here,
So what really is the story behind Project Delta Wing?

Then again, BEWARE! I’m ‘Juan of ‘Dem 40yrs Olds Somethings-aruthers with a Confuzer… Not to mention being a verrittble ‘Vurd Botcherer, nee Blogger! So uze may wannas consults your neighbor’s 10yrs olds insteads, eh? As who knows, perhaps young Johnny will be more enlightened on the matter… If his Pappy is willing to take him to the racetrack?

Dario gets a Shave ‘N Haircut at the Barber

(Dario Franchitti’s wrecked No. 10; Source: Birmingham News.com)

Apparently reigning 2009 Indy Car Series Champion Dario “REO Speedwagon” Franchitti had a little excursion today at Barber Motorsports Park, when he went off course to due a little gardening in his racecar. No word on whether or not this was related to cold tyres, with testing being delayed a few hours this morning due to the frigid temperatures…

Dario Franchitti wads up his car at Barber

INDYCAR: And Their Off! Testing begins

Albeit 90min late due to the unseasonably cool ambient temperature blanketing Birmingham for the foreseeable future, as Yawn! Surprise-surprise... Team Penske was 1-2, with Ryan Briscoe leading Helio Castroneves, with Penske’s third cog Will Power slotting in at P4, as the Penske black, white & red Freightrain was interrupted by Team England’s, Err Dryer & Reinbold’s new recruit Justin ‘BIG UNIT Wilson…

Rounding out the Top 5 was some Dude Y’all call The Iceman, nee Scott Dixon, but how ‘bout that KV Racing Technology squad, with EJ “What, Me Worry?” Viso leading new boy Takuma Sato in an impressive sweep of P6-7, while ‘TK, (Tony Kanaan) Dario Franchitti and Heideki Mutoh rounded out the Top 10 respectively. Twenty Drivers participated, with You-know-Who… ACK! Danica Patrick leading a trio of Femme Fatales home in P18, with rookie Simona De Silvestro and Sarah Fisher following Princess on the Time sheets…

Meanwhile the day’s other debutant drivers, Rookie Mario Romancini finished in 12th, With James Rossiter nipping at his heels in 13th, as Rossiter and De Silvestro are just testing currently, with no Race Drives announced as of yet.

Day 2 will kick-off at 9AM, temperature permitting, before the Firestone Indy Lights take over the 2.38 mile 17 turn road course on Friday…

Where are the Yanks?

Apparently yesterday Mr. Chrome Horn, nee Paul Tracy set off a firestorm upon twitter with his comments towards only four Yanks being on the grid, while he, Buddy Rice and Graham Rahal all sat at home, and he hoped we enjoyed it! while Curt Cavin has now reported that “The Son ‘O Stash” (Graham Rahal) is now throwing the N-CUP word around, claiming he’ll definitely not be at the season opening Brazil Indy Car race…

So why all of the massive grumblings over the potential loss of American Open Wheel Drivers in Indy Car? I mean this isn’t an exactly new phenomena, which I’ll hazard a guess is partially a result of something known as The Split!

But I applaud Stephanie’s take on the matter the best… As in why AREN’T Top 500 American Companies stepping up to the plate instead? Or is it simply related to the fact that there simply isn’t enough Bang for the Almighty buck in Open Wheel Racing? I mean after all RASSCAR’s on FOX, TNT and ESPN/ABC, with 1,497hrs coverage of DayToner on SPEED alone… Not to mention that every 6min a commercial break is run during the 14hr Preamble, with Drivers trained to profusely spew out their obligatory list of corporate donor’s every 69 seconds… So how can Indy Car currently compete?

Its time to revise our definition of ride-buying

And back in the late 1980’s – early 1990’s (Yeah, I know I’m dating myself here…) we had the last vestiges of the great Hatfield’s vs. McCoy’s, Err Unser vs. Andretti duel with ‘Lil Al racing against Mikey, not to mention names like Bobby Rahal, Rick Mears and Danny Sullivan…

And yet apparently History is repeating itself once again? As recall that one of Champ Car’s guiding lights was the rediscovered AJ Almendinger, whom after being let go from RuSport after failing to live-up to Carl Russo’s expectations, was snapped-up by Gerald Forsythe and subsequently went on a tear winning five races alongside PT at Forsythe Racing, even being labeled a future Championship contender. Yet Gerald Forsythe was unwilling to put-up the necessary Dinero to compete with the call of a Foreign backed Tin Top Team, as Almendinger, who some had nicknamed “Wall-Dinger” prior to his renaissance at Forsythe bolted for the lure of a 3yr, $9 million deal to race a Red Bull Toyota Camry in RASSCAR instead…

Now is this AJ’s fault? Or is it Gerald Forsythe’s fault for being too stingy? (Ask Tracy how those contract dealings went…) Or is it simply the harsh reality of a Racing Driver’s relatively short window of opportunity… While I’m certain there’s a reason that Mr. Forsythe is a Multi-millionaire and I’m not!

As I certainly DON’T have the answers, nor will I try to answer them… Although I find it absolutely pathetic that McDonald’s quickly pulled the plug upon funding NHLR after its Patriarch Paul Newman left the Building, instead wishing to ‘Wink-Wink, Nudge-Nudge, focus upon the Olympics… Of which I’ve taken to calling the COMMERCIALYPICS… Which in turn sees its own share of disparity between certain American athletes, as in the Ski Jumping members have to pay their own way, while Geoff Bodine stepped-up to the plate for the Bobsledders…

Do we need Graham Rahal to stay in Indy Car? HELL YES! And it seems absolutely PATHETIC that NO American Corporation is willing to jump behind him… Especially since Indy Car costs only a fraction of what it takes to run Down South, like in one-third the amount? Ok, at least 50% less…

But its also bothersome that John Edwards has decided to go race a Mazda RX8 in the Grand Am GT class instead, which I don’t know if that has anything to do with Edwards being politely told he’s not experienced enough to run with the ‘Big Boyz...

So, yeah it would be excellent to see Ed Carpenter, Rice, Rahal and even ‘Ol PT all with fulltime gigs in Indy Cars this year and beyond, but it AIN’T gonna happen, and as far as I know the Kuh-Nucks aren’t whimpering over only having one fulltime driver this year, eh?

Open Wheel Merry-go-Round

Whale, its that time of the season, as in almost time for the ‘Big Boyz to go racin’ again… And I simply cannot keep up with the Hyper-drive flurry of Open Wheel Racing Announcements, namely Driver signings…

Sheez! How do these guys do it? As Ryan over at Junior Open Wheel Talent is busy keeping his finger on the pulse of Indy Lights announcements, plus his new Ladder Report, along with keeping tabs of all the various Junior Formulae…

While Up North Eh! The ‘CAM WOW! Of The Other Side has been keeping busy breaking news on the latest Indy Car Gluteus Maximums numbers of all the various Team/Driver line-ups, not to mention where I first read about the new BAT Project, which I’m dubbing the 5th Wheel for the New & Improved 2012 Indy Car chassis search…

Meanwhile Mr. Earle previously posted a Headcount story over at My Name is IRL. Although I’m a little worried about his paying Homage to Godzilla… Something to do with Heideki Mutoh being confirmed at the esteemed ICS Firm of Newman Haas Lanigan Racing? While thinking about Takuma Sato’s confirmation at KV Racing Technology for reasons unknown made me start humming that ‘80’s Fad song Turning Japanese, I really think So? Which fortunately yesterday’s Teleconference musak cleared outta my head!

NO Word on whether or not “CAM WOW ‘N Mr. Earle are involved in a friendly round of who’s Driving What – Where, Pop goes the Driver game, which I think is somewhat akin to some ‘lil ‘Ol Hockey game recently played between USA ‘N Canada… Oh Never Mind!

Yet, interestingly Jan “Van Hagar” Heylen is listed as the pilot of the No. 17 Team E Indy Lights car… Does anybody know who this Team is? While Brian Herta Autosport (BHA) is now a confirmed two car entity with a single I500 entry this May, as Brian’s co-owner’s name Steve Newey is driving me crazy, since I know I know the name, from F1? I can’t seem to recall exactly what his CV is? While I’m most entertained by the new Team Cake Motorsports, which apparently is in conjunction with Wayne Taylor Racing, as in Sports Car fame…

Whale upon closer inspection, its actually Cape Motorsports, with Gustavo Yacaman behind the wheel of the No. 10, as I’m guessing that Cape has something to do with Wayne Taylor’s S. African roots…

Welcome to Team E

Meanwhile, NO word on whether or not the Indy Car Driver’s are busy working’ on their Tan’s or busy makin’ Snowmen Down South in Sweet Home Alabama…

OOPS!
Just read Ryan’s post about Gustavo Yacaman’s signing and its actually a collaboration between Dominic and Nicholas Cape And Wayne Taylor; Sorry ‘bout that Dominic & Nicholas…

Gustavo Yacaman Signs with Cape Motorsports/Wayne Taylor Racing

Penske first to the Barber

Today began the continued frenzied building of excitement towards the fast approaching 2010 Indy Car Series, as Team Penske held a Press Briefing which included a Teleconference that I was able to participate in thanks to Team Penske and the IRL as part of Media Day at Barber Motorsports Park.

Thus sitting on hold with some Don’t Worry – Be Happy musak playing in the background I thought to myself how odd that the Teleconference was starting late as a voice came on the line at 4min past the appointed time telling us to please be patient, before we switched over to hearing the Star Penske personnel getting into their seats in an overly noisy venue as Will Power told somebody about having done some racing/driving(?) somewhere; 6 or 10 laps? While Helio Castroneves’s smile could be heard thru the phoneline as he jubilantly said Hi as he entered the arena, while Ryan Briscoe got asked to slide down…

before Team Penske President Tim Cindric kicked off the Briefing at 8min past, which I mused to myself that it seemed so Un-Penske-like as I thought he ran with Military precision. Perhaps they had trouble getting thru the DannaCar media scrum?

But it was very COOL getting to partake in eavesdropping on the Media briefing, which I’d heard the news about somewhere prior, claiming that Team Penske would be changing colours, but it was interesting to hear Cindric confirm that indeed it was the start of a new era for Team Penske, who will no longer be running its long standing traditional red & white (BAD HABITS) Marlboro livery…

As Phillip Morris has effectively left the sport, which Cindric noted that the Tobacco Giant had first sponsored racetracks way back in 1987 before joining Penske in 1990, when “EMMO” (Emerson Fittipaldi) brought the red ‘N white cigarette brand to The Captain’s Ship along with the No. 1 plate after leaving Patrick Racing, co-owned by somebody named Chip.

So I found it entertaining how Cindric coyly noted how the team will now be representing the Altria Group instead, in some sort of Corporate Services role, as when asked, Cindric said the simplest way to explain it was. If you were at Daytona you saw a massive Red Tent there, which had a bunch of Penske Racing memorabilia, as a backdrop to promote Altria’s various entities, with the Red Tent traveling to approx. 15 venues this year, 10 NASCAR and 5 Indy Car…

Thus, in case you didn’t know, Altria Group Inc is the parent company of Phillip Morris, having changed the companies name in 2008 to divert attention away from the worldwide name recognition that Phillip Morris and its synonymous red & white branding carries.

Yet Altria still controls Philip Morris USA, US Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton and Ste Michelle Wine Estates, along with a 28.7% interest in UK based Brewer SABMiller and Phillip Morris Capital.

And apparently Altria’s current portfolio includes a massive 42 Cigarette brands, including such names as Marlboro, L&M, Virginia Slims, not to mention Smokeless Tobacco giants Copenhagen and Skoal.

And I was totally unaware that Altria owns the very upscale Chateau Ste Michelle Estates which are right in my backyard, so to speak, as in nearby Woodinville, WA, which holds a great yearly Outdoors music concert series… Not to mention once hosting the Steam locomotive Dinner train. As Altria currently possesses 22 different Vino brands, including Chateau Ste Michelle, Columbia Crest and Snoqualmie, (all local names) not to mention three Champagne brands including Domaine Ste Michelle…

So it’s interesting that Anheiser-Busch long ago snapped-up Redhook Brewery with Altria grabbing Chateau Ste Michelle, yet NO major Motorsports events out here in the Pacific Northwest. But I digress, eh?

Cindric also noted it’s the first time Penske has run a 3-car Operation full season since 1994, which I’m certain they’d like to emulate that season this year, when Penske simply obliterated the CART competition with ‘Lil Al, Emerson and Paul Tracy racking up some 15 wins and Al Unser Jr. claiming his second Indy 500 and CART Championships…

Otherwise it was seemingly the typical Pre-season banter, of how all the drivers expected to do great, beat the competition and leave everybody in their wake whilst “Working Together!” Although Bruce Martin did get a chuckle outta Hulio when asking him how he felt by getting ganged-up by two “Aussies” on the Team… While Will Power eluded to the fact that Qualifying will be crucial at Barber since it’s really difficult to pass there… As in NO word on whether or not they’ve done anything about installing passing zones? Yet we’ll have to wait ‘N see. While I was politely surprised to hear Hulio mention Justin Wilson’s name when asked about if it was going to be another typical Penske vs. TCGR season on track again?

as that concluded the audio portion of the event while everyone was invited to go downstairs and take a look-see and snap pictures of the new Verizon liveried Penske racecar’s… Although I believe NO tyre kicking was allowed!

INDYCAR: BMS Open Test Entry lists revealed

Whale I first read the FIL list from over at JOWT before reading the ICS list over at 16th & Georgetown…

And don’t worry, its gonna be alright! Danny Boy Wheldon and his No. 4 Panther Racing Cammo-car will be around in 2010… But apparently Wheldon was busy askin’ his son what he thought the future IndyCar should look like instead, before they went’ for a gander at the shoe store at the Mall; was I supposed to be somewhere south this week?

2010 Barber Test Entry lists

NOTE
I just received word from FAZZT Race Team that they & ‘TAG (Alex Tagliani) have decided to skip the Barber Motorsports Park Open Indy Car test this coming Wednesday – Thursday due to the forecasted inclement weather… As in lower then expected temperatures which could be in the low 50’s or below? Which is a minimum preferred ambient temperature for the Firestone rubber. So looks like Wheldon won’t be the only one skipping the test…

Write to Randy and John

Ok Race Fans, we need to do this pronto, as I’m a little behind here once again, as that pressdog guy has been uber creative by having figured out ways to not only contact Indy Car’s VP John Lewis, but also initiated a letter campaign to soon to be newly anointed Indy Car CEO Randy Bernard.

So you can get the info below – and please NO “Randy Andy” or “Dear John” letters… Just keep it simple ‘N sane and let these two guys know your thoughts upon the current status of the Indy Car Series…

IndyCar Fans: Remember to Write to Randy

John Lewis, VP of Marketing, Talks about IndyCar's Effort to Talk to Fans

And don’t forget that Keith Wiggins ‘N Co. want to also hear from you too!

HVM WANTS YOU!

And now I’ve gotta go write a concise one page letter to Mr. Bernard asking to please choose anything BESIDES the Delta Wing and when in the HELL is Indy Car coming back to Portland?

Mission Accomplished!

Although I won’t post my snazzy ‘Juan page letter written to ‘THE DAWG’s strict guidelines, but DAMN! What’s all this bright stuff outside here, eh? On my way to the nearest mailbox, as I think they call it the Sun? Must be something wrong though, as it’s NOT supposed to be sunny here…

Mergification

If I’ve done my homework correctly, then today is the 2yr Birthday of that storied Open Wheel Racing Mergification ceremony hosted on SPEED TV, where Kevin “Smiley Face”Kalkhoven and Tony “I WON!” George announced the long overdue reunification of Open Wheel Racing in the US, after what is known as The Split came to an end after an acrimonious 12+ years as the frenzied Popperatzi’s flash bulbs continuously took pictures of Kevin and Tony shaking hands jubilantly.

But it’s been a wild ‘N wooly two years since this ridiculously overdrawn affair occurred, (the merger) as I’ll leave Y’all to ponder if Open Wheel Racing is better off or worse today?

Of the crumbling Champ Car World Series Dynasty, only a handful of Teams still exist in the Indy Car Series today, as Gerald Forsythe is nowhere to be seen, having left Mr. Chrome Horn, nee Paul Tracy High ‘N Dry… While Paul Gentilozzi is now busy trying to resurrect Jaguar’s Sports Car legacy with his RSR GT2 program.

Kevin Kalkhoven along with partner Jimmy Vasser continue trying to mold KV Racing Technology into a front runner in IndyCar, with a revolving cast of Drivers, including The Thrill from the West Hill, (Paul Tracy) whose been moonlighting for them the past two seasons.

Derrick Walker who planned to merge with the IRL seemingly got the Shaft when business partner Craig Gore took his Aussie Vineyards sponsorship and prized driver Will Power to KVRT instead, leaving the longtime CART, Champ Car and IRL Team Owner holding the Bag… As scuttlebutt now suggests that the venerable Scotsman may be trying to work a deal with Robby Gordon for a return to The Speedway this May?

Eric Bachelart has been fighting gamely to stay afloat with his low-bucks conquest Racing Organization, as he continues to bravely field a lone single car entry with a cast of assorted racing drivers, having unfortunately bought brand new Panoz DP1’s just prior to the merger! Yet Bachelart plans to contest 2010 and hopefully Jan “Van Hagar” Heylan will be back in the seat for the fast approaching season? Or will it be “Moana Vye’s” Tomas Scheckter?

Carl Russo and his upstart RuSport Racing Team have long since left the fight, with signature driver AJ Almendinger going’ south to pursue a Tin top career, first for Red Bull before some ex-F1 Piloto named Scott Speed replaced him, with AJ now racing for Richard Petty Motorsports.

AJ’s teammate was a chap affectionately known here at No Fenders as Justin ‘BIG UNIT Wilson, who is one of only two Champ Car drivers to have won an event in Indy Car’s… Can you name the other? (He’s currently seeking a ride…) While the final Hotschue to drive for the amalgamation between Rocketsports Racing and RuSport, which became RSPORTS alongside Wilson, was ‘TAG, a.k.a. Alex Tagliani, who will now drive for the brand new FAZZT Race Team in 2010.

Minardi Team USA, which was a combination of the plucky “Aussie” Paul Stoddart and veteran Champ Car Team Owner Keith Wiggins, who’d run the ex-Tony Bettenhausen Operation under multiple guises, including a stint with Cedric The Entertainer, ran a well oiled machine that saw Open Wheel upstart Bad Bobby D, a.k.a. Robert Doornbos to two wins, third in the overall standings and the series final rookie of the Year honours, as well as being one of the few drivers besides PT to get underneath The Hamburgular’s skin, while his teammate was the blazing fast, crash prone Dan “Speedy-Dry” Clarke.

And while apparently Stoddart is in the Outback on a Walkabout, Wiggins joined the Party in 2008 as HVM Racing and looks set to run Doornbos once again this season, although it’s unclear if a second car will be run? As apparently the long arm of the IHJ, nee Brian Braveheart has given the Black flag to the “Swiss Miss” female Atlantics Standout Simona de Silvestro, who tested for the Team at Sebring and reportedly was quite impressive…

Seeming to have possibly lost their way is the once mighty Newman Haas Racing Team, which moved to the IRL under the auspices of Newman Haas Lanigan Racing, with Justin Wilson replacing departed 4-Time Champ Car Champion Sebastian Bourdais, (The Hamburgular) who was seeking greener pastures in the rarefied world of Formula 1, while The Son ‘O Stash, a.k.a. Graham Rahal was trying to master the art of Oval racing at NHLR, who now apparently is without a ride while the Team is seeking sponsorship, Err dare I say it? Paying Drivers... Although I’d be happy to see Alex ‘Pink Lloyd Shine-On, along with Heideki Mutoh continuing his Dream of being an Indy Car Driver with NHLR, although I still say Milka-licious in the number Double Zero is too much to pass-up for me… (Just wishful thinking, as I know she’s a No. 23 CITGO Girl Thru ‘N Thru…)

Dale Coyne, the proverbial Little Team that Could! Finally broke its Duck with Justin Wilson’s second Indy Car victory last year at Watkins Glen, after a 25yr victory drought, and will be known as the only driver to win in 2009 besides Penske ‘N TCGR. Although Justin has now jumped to Team England, Err Dryer & Reinbold Racing, while DCR expects to have two full time entries, with hopefully Tomas “Rockem-Sockem” Scheckter and whom some are calling Captain America, nee J.R. Hildebrand at the controls.

And lets not forget the handful of Champ Car Drivers who never got their fair shot in this much vaunted single seater series, as names such as Simon Pagenaud, Ryan Dalziel, Andrew Ranger, Katherine Legge, (The Other Danica) Oriel Servia and David Martinez come to mind. (HELL! I suppose I need to even mention Bruno “WINEYBAGS” Junqueira here, eh?) Not to mention Mario “Boom-Boom” Dominguez, Jan “Van Hagar” Heylen, Nelson Philippe, Neil Jani and “Christian Comedy,” (Tristan Gommendy) or “Shorty,” a.k.a. Cristiano Da Matta…

And yeah, I realize this story is lopsided, as where’s Darren “DangerMouse” Manning, buddy “Hot Rod” Rice, Townsend Bell, Arie Luyendyk Jr., etc. Not to mention that Ed Carpenter looks to be sitting on the sidelines, Hmm? Perhaps he could seek refuge at DCR?

And notice how I didn’t say anything ‘bout tony George being gone from Indy Car’s pressdog…

But Hey! Let’s get Ready to Rumble… As its almost time to go racing! Not to mention the barking of those fire breathing Honda powered Ethanol lumps being uncorked in Sweet Home Alabama… At Barber Motorsports Park, where a bunch of other drivers will participate with Princess this February 24-26 in preparations for the IndyCar Season Opener in Sao Paolo, Brazil on March 14th, which Y’all can watch on Versus with Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl and “Professor” Jon Beekhuis in the Announce Booth, while “LyndieCar,” (Lindy Thackston) Robbie ‘Purple Floyd ‘N BRUT Arute-Arute will potentially be trolling the Pit lane, albeit I’m not sure about the Sao Paolo race which probably will be a remote broadcast with just Messer Jack Arute on location? As I haven’t heard of any Airtimes yet.

And oh yeah, by the way, I think only Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal have won races in Indy Car since 2008, when reunification began for the URGH! “Transition Teams… As after all it was a TAKEOVER, not a Merger! But Hey, I’m looking forward to the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series, as it sure BEATS the HELL outta some ‘lil ‘Ol Roundy-round SpinCar series, or You-know-Who and her 24/7 media circus! NO? DON’T know who ‘Dat is? Whale just look for the flock ‘O media circle in Birmingham…