| September 2013 |
| Latest news is at the bottom |
MotoGP Excites at Silverstone
Sep 1 - After sweeping all three MotoGP
races in America, rookie Marc Marquez
then won the following race in Czechloslovakia.
Today he would start from pole at the Silverstone
circuit in Britian.
Starting from P2, Jorge Lorenzo got the whole
shot and lead the race with Marquez right on his
tail the whole time. Marquez was also driving
with a collarbone injury.
During the last 3 laps, these two had a very
exciting dual as you can see from the following
6-minute video which may take a minute to load.
Lorenzo is riding the blue bike and Marquez is
on the orange bike, followed by his teammate
Dani Pedrosa.
Sep 1 - After sweeping all three MotoGP
races in America, rookie Marc Marquez
then won the following race in Czechloslovakia.
Today he would start from pole at the Silverstone
circuit in Britian.
Starting from P2, Jorge Lorenzo got the whole
shot and lead the race with Marquez right on his
tail the whole time. Marquez was also driving
with a collarbone injury.
During the last 3 laps, these two had a very
exciting dual as you can see from the following
6-minute video which may take a minute to load.
Lorenzo is riding the blue bike and Marquez is
on the orange bike, followed by his teammate
Dani Pedrosa.
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
Baltimore IndyCar Race Dive Bombing Chaos
Sep 1 - I thought I saw a lot of wrecks in the ALMS race
this morning from Baltimore. Little did I know the
carnage that was to come.
Apparently it was a very hot and muggy day in Baltimore.
I wouldn't want to race on a street course, especially one
with a chicane like Baltimore's. This tire/speed bump
thing they set up probably gave every driver today a
case of hemorrhoids.
From the narrow concrete lined walls to the tight turns, I
doubt a single IndyCar escaped damage today as cars
spun and hit each other, bringing out 6 yellow flags. This
included several traffic jams in the corners that affected
lots of cars.
I would have to say the worst thing that happened was
during a restart when Penske driver Will Power put
Scott Dixon in the wall and out of the race. Hard
charging Dixon had already survived numerous setbacks
during the day and he's chasing the championship.
Team Penske seems to find a way to wreck his hopes
each week. Ironically, Penske Driver Helio
Castroneves retains the points lead while Dixon falls
further behind in points.
None the less, the end of the race was incredibly
exciting. Simon Pagenaud won it, his second win of
the year. Josef Newgarden finished 2nd and
Sebastien Bourdais 3rd.
Sep 1 - I thought I saw a lot of wrecks in the ALMS race
this morning from Baltimore. Little did I know the
carnage that was to come.
Apparently it was a very hot and muggy day in Baltimore.
I wouldn't want to race on a street course, especially one
with a chicane like Baltimore's. This tire/speed bump
thing they set up probably gave every driver today a
case of hemorrhoids.
From the narrow concrete lined walls to the tight turns, I
doubt a single IndyCar escaped damage today as cars
spun and hit each other, bringing out 6 yellow flags. This
included several traffic jams in the corners that affected
lots of cars.
I would have to say the worst thing that happened was
during a restart when Penske driver Will Power put
Scott Dixon in the wall and out of the race. Hard
charging Dixon had already survived numerous setbacks
during the day and he's chasing the championship.
Team Penske seems to find a way to wreck his hopes
each week. Ironically, Penske Driver Helio
Castroneves retains the points lead while Dixon falls
further behind in points.
None the less, the end of the race was incredibly
exciting. Simon Pagenaud won it, his second win of
the year. Josef Newgarden finished 2nd and
Sebastien Bourdais 3rd.
| Peter Dempsey going through chicane during Indy Lights practice. |
| Graham Rahal spun Scott Dixon resulting in this corner traffic jam. |
Vettel's Performance Continues
Sep 8 - Sebastian Vettel, 26, won the Italian Grand Prix
at Monza today from the pole position.
Today's win was the German's 32nd win. That ties
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso's career F1 wins.
However, Alonso has done 208 races so far and Vettel
has only done 113.
Vettel continues to lead the drivers championship with
222 points to Alonso's 169. Vettel has won the last 3
driver championships.
Monza is the fastest and oldest track in Formula One,
having begun hosting races in 1950. It is very close to
the Ferrari factory.
Sep 8 - Sebastian Vettel, 26, won the Italian Grand Prix
at Monza today from the pole position.
Today's win was the German's 32nd win. That ties
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso's career F1 wins.
However, Alonso has done 208 races so far and Vettel
has only done 113.
Vettel continues to lead the drivers championship with
222 points to Alonso's 169. Vettel has won the last 3
driver championships.
Monza is the fastest and oldest track in Formula One,
having begun hosting races in 1950. It is very close to
the Ferrari factory.
1. Michael Schumacher
2. Alain Prost
3. Ayrton Senna
2. Alain Prost
3. Ayrton Senna
Wins
91
51
41
91
51
41
Starts
307
199
161
307
199
161
| Sebastian Vettel |
| MOST GP WINS IN F1 HISTORY |
Montoya Will Race IndyCar in 2014
Sept 17 - Juan Pablo Montoya is returning to the
Indianapolis 500, and he’ll drive for the most successful
team owner in Indianapolis 500 history, Roger Penske.
Although the 2014 Indianapolis 500 will be Montoya’s
first “500” since 2000, he has competed in a race at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year since.
Montoya won the Indianapolis 500 for team owner Chip
Ganassi in his only attempt in 2000 when he dominated
that race, leading 167 of the 200 laps and becoming the
first rookie to win at Indianapolis since Graham Hill in
1966. Montoya later returned to the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway in 2001 in Formula One with Williams and
competed in the United States Grand Prix from 2001-06,
after which he left to join Ganassi’s NASCAR Sprint Cup
team and raced at the Brickyard 400 from 2007-13. He
finished second in the Brickyard 400 his rookie season in
NASCAR as he became the first driver ever to compete
in all three races at IMS.
“You have to remember, I've been out of the open-wheel
for a while, so I'm going to have to get up to speed with
everything again, but I'm looking forward to the
challenge,” said Montoya.
Montoya competed in CART from 1999-2000 and joined
Nigel Mansell as the only driver to win the CART title in
his rookie season. He won 11 races during those two
years, including the Indy 500, and set rookie records for
wins (seven) and laps led (954) in 1999. He had an
incredible 14 poles and 14 podiums in his 41 starts in
1999-2000.
Sept 17 - Juan Pablo Montoya is returning to the
Indianapolis 500, and he’ll drive for the most successful
team owner in Indianapolis 500 history, Roger Penske.
Although the 2014 Indianapolis 500 will be Montoya’s
first “500” since 2000, he has competed in a race at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year since.
Montoya won the Indianapolis 500 for team owner Chip
Ganassi in his only attempt in 2000 when he dominated
that race, leading 167 of the 200 laps and becoming the
first rookie to win at Indianapolis since Graham Hill in
1966. Montoya later returned to the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway in 2001 in Formula One with Williams and
competed in the United States Grand Prix from 2001-06,
after which he left to join Ganassi’s NASCAR Sprint Cup
team and raced at the Brickyard 400 from 2007-13. He
finished second in the Brickyard 400 his rookie season in
NASCAR as he became the first driver ever to compete
in all three races at IMS.
“You have to remember, I've been out of the open-wheel
for a while, so I'm going to have to get up to speed with
everything again, but I'm looking forward to the
challenge,” said Montoya.
Montoya competed in CART from 1999-2000 and joined
Nigel Mansell as the only driver to win the CART title in
his rookie season. He won 11 races during those two
years, including the Indy 500, and set rookie records for
wins (seven) and laps led (954) in 1999. He had an
incredible 14 poles and 14 podiums in his 41 starts in
1999-2000.
During his time with Williams and McLaren in Formula
One, he won seven races, including the prestigious
Monaco Grand Prix in 2003. He made the jump to
NASCAR in 2007 and scored two Cup wins, at Sonoma
in 2007 and Watkins Glen in 2010. He also won the 2007
NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Mexico City.
He is also a three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at
Daytona, including his first attempt in 2007.
“I don't feel like I wasted seven years in NASCAR,”
Montoya said. “I think it's been a great experience for
me. It made me a lot better driver. I learned things that I
think if I would have stayed in open-wheel I would never
have learned. You become a lot smarter driver.
One, he won seven races, including the prestigious
Monaco Grand Prix in 2003. He made the jump to
NASCAR in 2007 and scored two Cup wins, at Sonoma
in 2007 and Watkins Glen in 2010. He also won the 2007
NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Mexico City.
He is also a three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at
Daytona, including his first attempt in 2007.
“I don't feel like I wasted seven years in NASCAR,”
Montoya said. “I think it's been a great experience for
me. It made me a lot better driver. I learned things that I
think if I would have stayed in open-wheel I would never
have learned. You become a lot smarter driver.
Juan Montoya
F1 Silly Season
Sept 21 - The biggest question of the Formula One driver
line-up for 2014 concerned Kimi Räikkönen. Upon
returning to F1 two years ago, the Lotus team saw their
fortunes improve with Räikkönen's driving skills. While I
did not expected to ever see them on the podium,
Räikkönen brought them a win right away and seven
podiums the first year. This year he won another race
and has seen six podiums.
The 2007 champion was certainly not making the same
money upon his return to F1, having been the highest
paid athlete in the world at one point when he drove for
Ferrari. To add injury to insult, it was reported that Lotus
was behind in their payment to Räikkönen.
The world wondered if Räikkönen would remain at Lotus,
who certainly would have liked to retain him. Meanwhile
at Ferrari, Felipe Massa's tenure has been speculated
about for several years as his teammate Fernando
Alonso has outperformed him since joining the team in
2010. Also, Massa has not won a race or a pole since
2008.
It was announced that Massa has been replaced by
Räikkönen at Ferrari for 2014. It looks like Massa will
not return to F1 next year as he does not want to drive
for any of the teams incapable of winning.
Now the really interesting point is what effect this is
going to have on the 2005-06 champion Alonso. When
paired with another fantastic driver, Lewis Hamilton at
McLaren in 2007, the drivers were not on speaking
terms. As Hamilton went on to finish the season in 2nd
place and Alonso in 3rd, Alonso left the team, returning
to the Renault team. We are now left to wonder if the
combination of the Ice Man (Räikkönen) and Alonso on
the same team is going to be explosive.
Another driver confirmation was also made. Daniel
Ricciardo is moving to Red Bull to partner with world
champion Sebastian Vettel, as he replaces the retiring
Mark Webber.
Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta have not yet been
confirmed as drivers next season.
Sept 21 - The biggest question of the Formula One driver
line-up for 2014 concerned Kimi Räikkönen. Upon
returning to F1 two years ago, the Lotus team saw their
fortunes improve with Räikkönen's driving skills. While I
did not expected to ever see them on the podium,
Räikkönen brought them a win right away and seven
podiums the first year. This year he won another race
and has seen six podiums.
The 2007 champion was certainly not making the same
money upon his return to F1, having been the highest
paid athlete in the world at one point when he drove for
Ferrari. To add injury to insult, it was reported that Lotus
was behind in their payment to Räikkönen.
The world wondered if Räikkönen would remain at Lotus,
who certainly would have liked to retain him. Meanwhile
at Ferrari, Felipe Massa's tenure has been speculated
about for several years as his teammate Fernando
Alonso has outperformed him since joining the team in
2010. Also, Massa has not won a race or a pole since
2008.
It was announced that Massa has been replaced by
Räikkönen at Ferrari for 2014. It looks like Massa will
not return to F1 next year as he does not want to drive
for any of the teams incapable of winning.
Now the really interesting point is what effect this is
going to have on the 2005-06 champion Alonso. When
paired with another fantastic driver, Lewis Hamilton at
McLaren in 2007, the drivers were not on speaking
terms. As Hamilton went on to finish the season in 2nd
place and Alonso in 3rd, Alonso left the team, returning
to the Renault team. We are now left to wonder if the
combination of the Ice Man (Räikkönen) and Alonso on
the same team is going to be explosive.
Another driver confirmation was also made. Daniel
Ricciardo is moving to Red Bull to partner with world
champion Sebastian Vettel, as he replaces the retiring
Mark Webber.
Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta have not yet been
confirmed as drivers next season.
| Kimi Räikkönen |
| Daniel Ricciardo |
Video has been removed.
