While Marco Andretti’s father Michael had mixed emotions over his son’s Formula 1 testing debut with Honda this past December at Jerez, Grandpa Mario was very upbeat…
Mario could do nothing but sing the praises of his grandson, saying the kid’s got the “right stuff” for becoming a Formula 1 driver…
Mario says that he’ll accompany Marco to his next F1 test and is fairly certain that Marco will test again sometime in 2007. Mario commented on how Marco’s got the right physique for being a modern day Formula 1 driver…
In his best “BLOODY NIGE” (Nigel Mansell) impersonation… Mario noted how he’d like to sample a modern day Formula 1 chassis. Mario noted that the cockpits are a bit tighter than the days of his World Championship driving, but his shoulders aren’t that broad…
Perhaps you’ll recall that Il Leone’s (Mansell) backside became too large to fit into the McLaren chassis after his planned return to racing full time in Formula 1 for 1995…
Monday, January 8, 2007
Toyota gunning for GM
Although there has been speculation that the Toyota Motor Corp. was poised to overtake General Motors for most sales the past few years, Toyota appears to be set to finally accomplish this task in 2007…
Toyota is set to supplant GM as the world’s number one Automaker with production of 9.3-9.4 million units this year while GM hovers around its past 2yr’s production level of 9.1-9.2 million units…
This would make Toyota the very first non-American manufacturer to do so, as GM has held this honor for 75 years since surpassing the Ford Motor Co. back in 1932…
Toyota seeks further media exposure this season as its key racing programs will spotlight the world’s two largest series: Formula 1 and “RASSCAR” as Toyota makes its Nextel Cup debut with their No. 1 selling Camry…
Toyota is set to supplant GM as the world’s number one Automaker with production of 9.3-9.4 million units this year while GM hovers around its past 2yr’s production level of 9.1-9.2 million units…
This would make Toyota the very first non-American manufacturer to do so, as GM has held this honor for 75 years since surpassing the Ford Motor Co. back in 1932…
Toyota seeks further media exposure this season as its key racing programs will spotlight the world’s two largest series: Formula 1 and “RASSCAR” as Toyota makes its Nextel Cup debut with their No. 1 selling Camry…
A Brawny Ferrari?
Although it’s been widely speculated for some time now, Ross Brawn has finally publicly stated that he hopes to return to the Prancing Horse in 2008…
Brawn who was Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s Technical Director for 10 years decided to take a sabbatical at the end of the 2006 Formula 1 season…
Brawn departed along with Ferrari’s engine guru Paolo Martinelli, upon Michael Schumacher’s retirement. Brawn now hopes to return to Ferrari in 2008 most likely as Jean Todt’s replacement as Team Principal…
Brawn who was Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s Technical Director for 10 years decided to take a sabbatical at the end of the 2006 Formula 1 season…
Brawn departed along with Ferrari’s engine guru Paolo Martinelli, upon Michael Schumacher’s retirement. Brawn now hopes to return to Ferrari in 2008 most likely as Jean Todt’s replacement as Team Principal…
100 MPH Club
Ok, so I’m tooting my own horn… But today’s stories marks the 100th blog posting of my short lived career…
Friday, January 5, 2007
Paris-Dakar Rally
Although you would be hard pressed to even know that this truly remarkable event is about to take place, the Paris-Dakar Rally is set to begin the 29th running of the epic event tomorrow…
Unfortunately all the Speed Channel can dribble on about is “RASSCAR,” the Barrett-Jackson auction, “Pinks,” Unique Whips and other non-worthy television programming…
Truly exemplifying the meaning of Extreme sports, The Dakar makes the X-Games look like child’s play…
To me the Paris-Dakar Rally is the Ironman of all motorsports... The challenging marathon tests the limits of fellow competitor’s driving skills, navigational abilities and mechanical reliability over a 15 day span…
Not only do the competitor’s encounter the physical demands of competing and just trying to survive the event, they’re subjected to a vast range of brutal terrain, constantly changing climate conditions as well as possible brushes with gun toting bandito’s…
The United States most noticeable competitor will be “RASSCAR’s” Robby Gordon, once again competing in a Hummer. Gordon previously became the first American to win multiple rally stages of The Dakar behind the wheel of a VW. Gordon enters this year’s event fresh off his win in the Baja 1000...
It will also be interesting to see how Dakar Rally debutants Peterson/White Lightning do…
Unfortunately all the Speed Channel can dribble on about is “RASSCAR,” the Barrett-Jackson auction, “Pinks,” Unique Whips and other non-worthy television programming…
Truly exemplifying the meaning of Extreme sports, The Dakar makes the X-Games look like child’s play…
To me the Paris-Dakar Rally is the Ironman of all motorsports... The challenging marathon tests the limits of fellow competitor’s driving skills, navigational abilities and mechanical reliability over a 15 day span…
Not only do the competitor’s encounter the physical demands of competing and just trying to survive the event, they’re subjected to a vast range of brutal terrain, constantly changing climate conditions as well as possible brushes with gun toting bandito’s…
The United States most noticeable competitor will be “RASSCAR’s” Robby Gordon, once again competing in a Hummer. Gordon previously became the first American to win multiple rally stages of The Dakar behind the wheel of a VW. Gordon enters this year’s event fresh off his win in the Baja 1000...
It will also be interesting to see how Dakar Rally debutants Peterson/White Lightning do…
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Robin’s Rant
Robin Miller has penned his version of Champ Cars 2006 season review and he’s managed to squeeze it all into a single page…
Miller seems to lament on his favourite “whipping-boy,” better known as either “Sugar Ray” or “Sand Dune” Tracy. Miller also gives AJ Almendinger his just rewards, from zero to hero and back to zero in less than six months, i.e.; fired by RuSPORT. Winning his very 1st Champ Car race with Forsythe, going on a tear to challenge for the Championship prior to DEFECTING to “RASSCAR…”
I’m very pleased to see that Miller gave Justin Wilson a classy move award regarding his non-plussed attitude over Sebastian Bourdais PUNTING him out of the lead during the final lap at Mexico City. As Miller noted, Wilson didn’t whine about the incident and this inspired him to give Wilson the recognition that he so rightly deserves…
For more Robin Miller rantings, see: It's Miller Time
Miller seems to lament on his favourite “whipping-boy,” better known as either “Sugar Ray” or “Sand Dune” Tracy. Miller also gives AJ Almendinger his just rewards, from zero to hero and back to zero in less than six months, i.e.; fired by RuSPORT. Winning his very 1st Champ Car race with Forsythe, going on a tear to challenge for the Championship prior to DEFECTING to “RASSCAR…”
I’m very pleased to see that Miller gave Justin Wilson a classy move award regarding his non-plussed attitude over Sebastian Bourdais PUNTING him out of the lead during the final lap at Mexico City. As Miller noted, Wilson didn’t whine about the incident and this inspired him to give Wilson the recognition that he so rightly deserves…
For more Robin Miller rantings, see: It's Miller Time
Counting Cars
As previously mentioned, conversations between Kevin Kalkhoven and “Ronnie” (Tony) George have cooled considerably regarding the two Open Wheel stalwarts “secret talks” last summer towards an impending Champ Car-IRL merger…
In a previous interview wit the IRL’sPresident Brian Barnhart: Barnhart has publicly stated that although he thinks Kevin & Tony are still talking to each other, they’re talks have diminished since they both have realized how difficult a possible merger would be…
Barnhart also went on to discuss the conjecture over lack of entrants for the upcoming IRL season, saying he’s not concerned about only having 16 cars at the moment. Barnhart expects 2-4 more cars to show up on the grid prior to the Homestead season opener next March…
Rumours of Adrian Fernandez’s IRL team’s demise appear to be premature. Speculation suggests that Fernandez is close to finalizing a multi-year deal to run P.J. Chesson in a single car effort beginning next season…
There have also been reports that Larry Cahill will campaign a two car team next season as part of his efforts to sanction a new event in Missouri in 2007…
The IRL will switch from Methanol to Ethanol in 2007, becoming the very first racing series to run on 100% Ethanol as its fuel source. Interestingly the IRL has allowed Honda to revert back to equipping all of the teams with 3.5 liters naturally aspirated engines vs. the 3.0 liter units run previously. This is due to the loss of horsepower upon converting to Ethanol…
In a previous interview wit the IRL’sPresident Brian Barnhart: Barnhart has publicly stated that although he thinks Kevin & Tony are still talking to each other, they’re talks have diminished since they both have realized how difficult a possible merger would be…
Barnhart also went on to discuss the conjecture over lack of entrants for the upcoming IRL season, saying he’s not concerned about only having 16 cars at the moment. Barnhart expects 2-4 more cars to show up on the grid prior to the Homestead season opener next March…
Rumours of Adrian Fernandez’s IRL team’s demise appear to be premature. Speculation suggests that Fernandez is close to finalizing a multi-year deal to run P.J. Chesson in a single car effort beginning next season…
There have also been reports that Larry Cahill will campaign a two car team next season as part of his efforts to sanction a new event in Missouri in 2007…
The IRL will switch from Methanol to Ethanol in 2007, becoming the very first racing series to run on 100% Ethanol as its fuel source. Interestingly the IRL has allowed Honda to revert back to equipping all of the teams with 3.5 liters naturally aspirated engines vs. the 3.0 liter units run previously. This is due to the loss of horsepower upon converting to Ethanol…
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