| APRIL 2007 |
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
Latest news is at the bottom
April 1 - St Petersburg Florida - Helio
Castroneves will start on the pole for
tomorrow's race.
Darren Manning qualifies the Foyt
Enterprises car in 5th.
Get live coverage on the web at ESPN
IndyCar Racecast
Castroneves will start on the pole for
tomorrow's race.
Darren Manning qualifies the Foyt
Enterprises car in 5th.
Get live coverage on the web at ESPN
IndyCar Racecast
| Tomas Scheckter at the St Pete Grand Prix |
Luxurious yachts line up in the Bay to
watch the IndyCar grand prix in
Florida. A certain 150 footer is owned
by Roger Penske.
watch the IndyCar grand prix in
Florida. A certain 150 footer is owned
by Roger Penske.
April 1, 2007 - The FIA has made some Formula One rule changes to driver aids for next year.
They will provide a standard ECU for all the cars. The thinking is that this will prevent cheating
when Traction Control is banned.
Also outlawed in 2008 will be the use of systems which help the drivers locate the clutch bite point
prior to the start of a race.
They will provide a standard ECU for all the cars. The thinking is that this will prevent cheating
when Traction Control is banned.
Also outlawed in 2008 will be the use of systems which help the drivers locate the clutch bite point
prior to the start of a race.
RACE NOTES
April 1, 2007 - 79 degrees and sunny, with wind. Race
start at 2:45 p.m.
1st lap or two, Jeff Simmons hit and knocked out
Kosuke Matsuura for the 2nd week in a row.
Simmons has no business in IndyCar. The caution
period lasted till lap 7. Did Matsuura just cuss on live
ESPN?
Pitstops lap 31
Dan Wheldon in first place
Helio bumped Wheldon out of the way on restart. Helio
thought Dan's been blocking him in turn 4. Helio would
go on to lead most of the day.
Vitor Meira lost 3rd, takes it in to the barrier on lap 37 -
full course yellow.
Got restarted, lost half his front wing, trying to stay on
lead lap. (Limps through rest of race.) Marco Andretti
decides to come in for fuel and 4 tires.
Same Team crash - Ed Carpenter ran into Anthony Foyt
and got air-born, spun an stalled on lap 45. Ed's out.
Went from Local yellow to full course yellow
April 1, 2007 - 79 degrees and sunny, with wind. Race
start at 2:45 p.m.
1st lap or two, Jeff Simmons hit and knocked out
Kosuke Matsuura for the 2nd week in a row.
Simmons has no business in IndyCar. The caution
period lasted till lap 7. Did Matsuura just cuss on live
ESPN?
Pitstops lap 31
Dan Wheldon in first place
Helio bumped Wheldon out of the way on restart. Helio
thought Dan's been blocking him in turn 4. Helio would
go on to lead most of the day.
Vitor Meira lost 3rd, takes it in to the barrier on lap 37 -
full course yellow.
Got restarted, lost half his front wing, trying to stay on
lead lap. (Limps through rest of race.) Marco Andretti
decides to come in for fuel and 4 tires.
Same Team crash - Ed Carpenter ran into Anthony Foyt
and got air-born, spun an stalled on lap 45. Ed's out.
Went from Local yellow to full course yellow
Sam Hornish, Jr. had climbed to 3rd, but on lap 65, an
error, locking up tires into turn, let 4 cars past
Manning pit on green on lap 66.
Darren Manning was doing great, up in 4th a lot, but
then his back-end got loose and spun on lap 75 of 100.
His qualifying position was the best Foyt Enterprises
has done since 2001.
On lap 89, Sarah Fisher began to get lapped by the
leaders. Sarah is on the Dreyer & Reinbold team. This
is her first time turning right in an IndyCar, her goal was
to finish, and she did.
Danica Patrick, in 9th, is behind her teammates (3rd,
4th, 5th) and she is directly behind her old team-mate,
Buddy Rice, who is on the less-well-funded Dreyer &
Reinbold team, on lap 93
Helio Castroneves had gearbox problems at the end,
but won the race for the second year in a row. Helio
said he did not hit Wheldon on purpose, "It happened
right when they were going green."
Scott Dixon took 2nd place.
Tony Kanaan did well to finish 3rd, after a forced spin
early in the race. Kanaan wrecked the car yesterday in
a powerful crash. Los Lobos played at the track last
night, while Kanaan's team began work to repair the car.
error, locking up tires into turn, let 4 cars past
Manning pit on green on lap 66.
Darren Manning was doing great, up in 4th a lot, but
then his back-end got loose and spun on lap 75 of 100.
His qualifying position was the best Foyt Enterprises
has done since 2001.
On lap 89, Sarah Fisher began to get lapped by the
leaders. Sarah is on the Dreyer & Reinbold team. This
is her first time turning right in an IndyCar, her goal was
to finish, and she did.
Danica Patrick, in 9th, is behind her teammates (3rd,
4th, 5th) and she is directly behind her old team-mate,
Buddy Rice, who is on the less-well-funded Dreyer &
Reinbold team, on lap 93
Helio Castroneves had gearbox problems at the end,
but won the race for the second year in a row. Helio
said he did not hit Wheldon on purpose, "It happened
right when they were going green."
Scott Dixon took 2nd place.
Tony Kanaan did well to finish 3rd, after a forced spin
early in the race. Kanaan wrecked the car yesterday in
a powerful crash. Los Lobos played at the track last
night, while Kanaan's team began work to repair the car.
| IRL IndyCar - St Petersburg Grand Prix |
| Helio Castroneves started the St. Pete g.p. from the pole position and won the race |
April 8 - The Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix started with Ferrari's
Felipe Massa on the pole. Right behind him was his team-mate, Kimi
Raikkonen. Next to them sat the two McLaren's, with Fernando
Alonso in front of Lewis Hamilton.
Both McLaren's were able to take the lead by the first couple of turns.
Alonso had the lead at the first turn. Hamilton had followed Alonso up
the inside and fought side by side with Massa for a few turns before
taking 2nd place. Hamilton fought all day with the red Ferrari's in his
rear view mirrors. As he held up the Ferrari's, Fernando ran off with a
20-second lead. Hamilton tricked Massa into overshooting a turn,
which allowed Raikkonen to take over third, but not get around the
rookie Hamilton.
Alonso maintained his lead and won the race in the hot sun. Hamilton
is looking outstanding as he finishes his first two grand prix on the
podium!
Felipe Massa on the pole. Right behind him was his team-mate, Kimi
Raikkonen. Next to them sat the two McLaren's, with Fernando
Alonso in front of Lewis Hamilton.
Both McLaren's were able to take the lead by the first couple of turns.
Alonso had the lead at the first turn. Hamilton had followed Alonso up
the inside and fought side by side with Massa for a few turns before
taking 2nd place. Hamilton fought all day with the red Ferrari's in his
rear view mirrors. As he held up the Ferrari's, Fernando ran off with a
20-second lead. Hamilton tricked Massa into overshooting a turn,
which allowed Raikkonen to take over third, but not get around the
rookie Hamilton.
Alonso maintained his lead and won the race in the hot sun. Hamilton
is looking outstanding as he finishes his first two grand prix on the
podium!
| Lewis Hamilton passing Felipe Massa at T2 of 1st lap |
Ron Dennis on podium next to his driver,
Lewis Hamilton, who finished second.
Lewis said this was the toughest race of
his life.
Lewis Hamilton, who finished second.
Lewis said this was the toughest race of
his life.
April 14 - Paul Tracy suffered a frontal impact in Turn One during
Saturday morning's Champ Car practice at Long Beach. He complained of
back pain and was taken to the hospital where it was discovered he had
suffered a compression fracture to his first lumbar vertebrae.
No immediate timetable was given for Tracy's return. Tracy will be replaced
in the Forsythe Championship Racing #3 entry by 2005 Champ Car World
Series runner-up Oriol Servia.
Saturday morning's Champ Car practice at Long Beach. He complained of
back pain and was taken to the hospital where it was discovered he had
suffered a compression fracture to his first lumbar vertebrae.
No immediate timetable was given for Tracy's return. Tracy will be replaced
in the Forsythe Championship Racing #3 entry by 2005 Champ Car World
Series runner-up Oriol Servia.
April 11 - 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier has teamed up with Indy Pro Series championship team owner
Sam Schmidt for an entry in the 91st Indianapolis 500.
Lazier will drive the No. 99 car. Tim Neff is the race strategist.
Lazier's 14 starts at Indy include the 1996 victory and five other top-10 finishes. Last year, he advanced 13 positions to
finish 12th in a Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-prepared car. Lazier has competed in every "500" since 1995. He made his
first Indianapolis 500 start in 1991.
Since forming Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2001, former IndyCar Series driver Schmidt has entered a car in the
Indianapolis 500 each year, with a top finish of sixth in 2002 with Richie Hearn. Schmidt competed in three 500-Mile
Races (1997-99), with a high starting spot of sixth and best finish of 26th (both in 1998). Schmidt was paralyzed from
the chest down in an on-track accident during testing in January 2000.
"It's a pleasure to be here this early in April as opposed to early in May," Schmidt said. "I clearly think this is our best
opportunity since we finished sixth in 2002 to be competitive and be at the front at the end. I'm very pleased to make
this announcement having Buddy Lazier signed to a full-month program with all the resources, the cars and Honda
engines to do it right. Our team is pretty pumped up."
Sam Schmidt Motorsports has won two of the past three Indy Pro Series driver championships, and Alex Lloyd in the
No. 7 Lucas Oil/Isilon Systems/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car is atop the standings after three of 16 rounds.
Sam Schmidt for an entry in the 91st Indianapolis 500.
Lazier will drive the No. 99 car. Tim Neff is the race strategist.
Lazier's 14 starts at Indy include the 1996 victory and five other top-10 finishes. Last year, he advanced 13 positions to
finish 12th in a Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-prepared car. Lazier has competed in every "500" since 1995. He made his
first Indianapolis 500 start in 1991.
Since forming Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2001, former IndyCar Series driver Schmidt has entered a car in the
Indianapolis 500 each year, with a top finish of sixth in 2002 with Richie Hearn. Schmidt competed in three 500-Mile
Races (1997-99), with a high starting spot of sixth and best finish of 26th (both in 1998). Schmidt was paralyzed from
the chest down in an on-track accident during testing in January 2000.
"It's a pleasure to be here this early in April as opposed to early in May," Schmidt said. "I clearly think this is our best
opportunity since we finished sixth in 2002 to be competitive and be at the front at the end. I'm very pleased to make
this announcement having Buddy Lazier signed to a full-month program with all the resources, the cars and Honda
engines to do it right. Our team is pretty pumped up."
Sam Schmidt Motorsports has won two of the past three Indy Pro Series driver championships, and Alex Lloyd in the
No. 7 Lucas Oil/Isilon Systems/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car is atop the standings after three of 16 rounds.
April 14 - F1 rookie, Lewis Hamilton, is still looking smashing. In today's
qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in the Formula One series, this rookie out
qualified 2-time defending World's Driving Champion, Fernando Alonso, as well
as experienced veteran Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari. Felipe Massa is on pole
and he wound winning the race the next day.
qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in the Formula One series, this rookie out
qualified 2-time defending World's Driving Champion, Fernando Alonso, as well
as experienced veteran Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari. Felipe Massa is on pole
and he wound winning the race the next day.
April 14 - A 1-hour television broadcast about speed, will be broadcast Tuesday, April
17th at 10 a.m.and 1 p.m. on PBS. It will be watched by millions of children in
classrooms as part of science education.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is partnering with Ball State University and the Best Buy
Children's Foundation to deliver the exciting science of racing to a potential audience of
more than 19.5 million students in five countries Tuesday, April 17.
Ball State's ongoing "Electronic Field Trip" satellite classroom series will broadcast
"Going, Going Faster: The Science of Speed" from the world-famous IMS to
classrooms in all 50 states plus Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Nigeria. The
broadcasts will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (ET), providing a glimpse into racing at
the legendary facility that many students living far away from Indianapolis may not
otherwise experience.
"Going, Going, Faster; The Science of Speed," will be an interactive, 60-minute
broadcast allowing students to explore Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion, which
states an object usually stays in motion with the same speed unless acted upon by an
unbalanced force.
In addition to following IndyCar Series and NASCAR drivers around the track, students
will watch demonstrations that show how race cars gain speed and turn corners
employing the scientific principles of inertia, friction and downforce.
Many local PBS stations will air the broadcast live, but classrooms also can access the
broadcast and archived shows on Ball State's EFT Web site, www.bsu.edu/eft, and on
Apple's Learning Interchange Web site, http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali.
17th at 10 a.m.and 1 p.m. on PBS. It will be watched by millions of children in
classrooms as part of science education.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is partnering with Ball State University and the Best Buy
Children's Foundation to deliver the exciting science of racing to a potential audience of
more than 19.5 million students in five countries Tuesday, April 17.
Ball State's ongoing "Electronic Field Trip" satellite classroom series will broadcast
"Going, Going Faster: The Science of Speed" from the world-famous IMS to
classrooms in all 50 states plus Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Nigeria. The
broadcasts will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (ET), providing a glimpse into racing at
the legendary facility that many students living far away from Indianapolis may not
otherwise experience.
"Going, Going, Faster; The Science of Speed," will be an interactive, 60-minute
broadcast allowing students to explore Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion, which
states an object usually stays in motion with the same speed unless acted upon by an
unbalanced force.
In addition to following IndyCar Series and NASCAR drivers around the track, students
will watch demonstrations that show how race cars gain speed and turn corners
employing the scientific principles of inertia, friction and downforce.
Many local PBS stations will air the broadcast live, but classrooms also can access the
broadcast and archived shows on Ball State's EFT Web site, www.bsu.edu/eft, and on
Apple's Learning Interchange Web site, http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali.
April 21 - It was kind of funny to see Japanese driver
Kosuke Matsuura spin out on the first lap and destroy his
car after all the hype in Japan.
Vitor Meira dropped out on lap 69 with car handling
problems.
Sarah Fisher showed off a new sponsor. She got lapped a
few times.
Marco Andretti lost it on lap 134 and spanked the wall. He
was shaken and bruised, but otherwise uninjured.
Dan Wheldon led much of the day, but at the end, it was
Tony Kanaan taking the checkered flag. This was the
expectant father's 8th IndyCar win. This makes the 3rd win
in 4 years at Motegi Japan for the Andretti-Green Racing
team.
2nd Place moved Wheldon into the Points Lead. Dario
Franchitti finished in 3rd.
I have to give a thumbs down to the music ESPN decided to
play during the telecast - it was that ridiculous music that
Vonage uses in their commercials - the "Woo Hoo, Woo Hoo
Hoo" song. As soon as I hear the first "Woo Hoo", I'm hit
the MUTE button.
For the race stats - click on 2007 IRL Race Statistics
The IRL races in Kansas next weekend.
One more race to go before the Month of May!
Kosuke Matsuura spin out on the first lap and destroy his
car after all the hype in Japan.
Vitor Meira dropped out on lap 69 with car handling
problems.
Sarah Fisher showed off a new sponsor. She got lapped a
few times.
Marco Andretti lost it on lap 134 and spanked the wall. He
was shaken and bruised, but otherwise uninjured.
Dan Wheldon led much of the day, but at the end, it was
Tony Kanaan taking the checkered flag. This was the
expectant father's 8th IndyCar win. This makes the 3rd win
in 4 years at Motegi Japan for the Andretti-Green Racing
team.
2nd Place moved Wheldon into the Points Lead. Dario
Franchitti finished in 3rd.
I have to give a thumbs down to the music ESPN decided to
play during the telecast - it was that ridiculous music that
Vonage uses in their commercials - the "Woo Hoo, Woo Hoo
Hoo" song. As soon as I hear the first "Woo Hoo", I'm hit
the MUTE button.
For the race stats - click on 2007 IRL Race Statistics
The IRL races in Kansas next weekend.
One more race to go before the Month of May!
| IRL IndyCar - Japan 300 |
Japan has been wanting to break away from U.S.
protection and in a pre-race fly-by, showed off their
new stealth fighter jets.
protection and in a pre-race fly-by, showed off their
new stealth fighter jets.
Tony Kanaan's crew donned Japanese headbands while Tony posed for photos
with some colorful characters.
with some colorful characters.
| Kanaan leads at Twin Ring Motegi |
| Loser? |
| Kosuke Matsuura had a weekend to forget |
| Sarah Fisher |
| Sarah Fisher |
| Champ Car continues to ply sex for attention, yet nothing they try attracts as much attention as one Danica Patrick. |
Can Kubica drive? Or is
he just another pretty face?
he just another pretty face?
Photos from the Bahrain Grand Prix
| Bahrain A.F. Fly By |
| The Autograph Boat! |
Bernie's new wife Slavica.
The Crash Test
Dummies
Dummies
