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| November 2024 News |
| Article Index |
11/24 - Verstappen Secures F1 Championship
11/14 - Penske Bought Long Beach Grand Prix
11/12 - NASCAR Playoffs Are a Dumb Idea
11/14 - Penske Bought Long Beach Grand Prix
11/12 - NASCAR Playoffs Are a Dumb Idea
NASCAR Playoffs Are a Dumb Idea
Nov 12 - While Playoffs make sense in ball games
where two teams at a time face off against each
other, it makes no sense in motor sports, where
you have individual drivers competing against each
other all at once. No motor sports entity ever
questioned that in the history of racing
championships; until Brian France, the CEO of
NASCAR. In 2003, he created a 10-week-long
playoff system, thinking it would boost NASCAR's
popularity to NFL levels.
Then, after Jimmie Johnson’s sixth title in 10
years of the the Chase format, France made an
even more desperate move: An elimination-style
playoff system that would whittle the field to four
drivers, then have them square off for a single,
winner-take-all championship race.
Why are the other drivers even out there for the
last 10 races? It doesn't make much sense.
Nov 12 - While Playoffs make sense in ball games
where two teams at a time face off against each
other, it makes no sense in motor sports, where
you have individual drivers competing against each
other all at once. No motor sports entity ever
questioned that in the history of racing
championships; until Brian France, the CEO of
NASCAR. In 2003, he created a 10-week-long
playoff system, thinking it would boost NASCAR's
popularity to NFL levels.
Then, after Jimmie Johnson’s sixth title in 10
years of the the Chase format, France made an
even more desperate move: An elimination-style
playoff system that would whittle the field to four
drivers, then have them square off for a single,
winner-take-all championship race.
Why are the other drivers even out there for the
last 10 races? It doesn't make much sense.
Kyle Larson led the most laps, won the most stages and races of any other driver in the series.
Two of his wins were during the Playoffs.
He ran one less race as he missed the Coca-cola 600 due to racing in the Indy 500.
Two of his wins were during the Playoffs.
He ran one less race as he missed the Coca-cola 600 due to racing in the Indy 500.
Racing fans expect the driver who has been the
fastest and most consistent over the entire season
to win a championship. That is not how it's works
in NASCAR and 2024 was a prime example.
While Joey Logano is the new NASCAR
champion, his average finish this year was 17.1,
which ranks 13th in the series. He ranked 11th in
top-five finishes and 13th in top-10 finishes.
If this were the old rules, Logano would have
finished outside the top 10 this year.
Logano got lucky several times during the Playoffs.
He won 3 of his 4 wins during those last 10 races,
including the all important last race.
Also, he would have been eliminated from the
Playoffs at Martinsville but for a controversial
disqualification of Christopher Bell.
fastest and most consistent over the entire season
to win a championship. That is not how it's works
in NASCAR and 2024 was a prime example.
While Joey Logano is the new NASCAR
champion, his average finish this year was 17.1,
which ranks 13th in the series. He ranked 11th in
top-five finishes and 13th in top-10 finishes.
If this were the old rules, Logano would have
finished outside the top 10 this year.
Logano got lucky several times during the Playoffs.
He won 3 of his 4 wins during those last 10 races,
including the all important last race.
Also, he would have been eliminated from the
Playoffs at Martinsville but for a controversial
disqualification of Christopher Bell.
Penske Bought Long Beach Grand Prix
Nov 14 - Roger Penske purchased the Grand Prix
of Long Beach - a favorite race on the IndyCar
calendar.
It is the longest running major street race held in
North America. 2025 marks the event's 50th
anniversary.
It was started in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race by
event founder Chris Pook, and became a Formula
One event in 1976.
In 1984, the race switched from a Formula One
race to a CART IndyCar event.
It became an IndyCar Series race event in 2009.
Nov 14 - Roger Penske purchased the Grand Prix
of Long Beach - a favorite race on the IndyCar
calendar.
It is the longest running major street race held in
North America. 2025 marks the event's 50th
anniversary.
It was started in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race by
event founder Chris Pook, and became a Formula
One event in 1976.
In 1984, the race switched from a Formula One
race to a CART IndyCar event.
It became an IndyCar Series race event in 2009.
Penske bought the race from Gerry Forsythe,
who owned half the event with the late Kevin
Kalkhoven.
Forsythe bought Kalkhoven’s shares earlier this
year. Forsythe then turned around and sold the
entire package to Penske Entertainment. The
financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Penske also own the Detroit Grand Prix.
Last month, Penske announced he and the Dallas
Cowboys were going to start a street race in
Arlington TX, which will debut in 2026.
who owned half the event with the late Kevin
Kalkhoven.
Forsythe bought Kalkhoven’s shares earlier this
year. Forsythe then turned around and sold the
entire package to Penske Entertainment. The
financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Penske also own the Detroit Grand Prix.
Last month, Penske announced he and the Dallas
Cowboys were going to start a street race in
Arlington TX, which will debut in 2026.
The circuit has undergone numerous layout changes since the race's inception in 1975.
All iterations have featured a signature hairpin turn, main stretch along Shoreline Drive,
and back stretch along Seaside Way or Ocean Boulevard.
All iterations have featured a signature hairpin turn, main stretch along Shoreline Drive,
and back stretch along Seaside Way or Ocean Boulevard.
| Chris Pook |
| Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven |
The current race circuit is a
1.968-mile (3.167 km) long.
The temporary road course
is laid out in the city streets
surrounding the Long Beach
Convention Center.
The sharp hairpin turn is
followed by a long, slightly
curved front straightaway.
The circuit is situated on the
Long Beach waterfront, and
is lined with palm trees.
1.968-mile (3.167 km) long.
The temporary road course
is laid out in the city streets
surrounding the Long Beach
Convention Center.
The sharp hairpin turn is
followed by a long, slightly
curved front straightaway.
The circuit is situated on the
Long Beach waterfront, and
is lined with palm trees.
Mario Andretti won the race in Formula 1 in 1977.
He won it three more times in CART. (1984-1985, 1987)
Al Unser, Jr. won the race a record six times. (1988-1991, 1994-1995)
He won it three more times in CART. (1984-1985, 1987)
Al Unser, Jr. won the race a record six times. (1988-1991, 1994-1995)
11/14 - Beginning in 2026, Formula One's Monaco Grand Prix is being moved
from its traditional date of Memorial Day weekend to the first weekend in June.
That will prevent a clash with the Indy 500.
from its traditional date of Memorial Day weekend to the first weekend in June.
That will prevent a clash with the Indy 500.
Verstappen Secures F1 Championship
Nov 24 - The Red Bull F1 team continued their
dominance entering 2024, with Max Verstappen
winning 7 of the first 10 races of the season.
(Red Bull won every race last year but one. In
2022, they won 17 of the 22 races.)
However, Verstappen has only won 1 of the last
12 races. (He did win the first 4 Sprint races.)
His teammate, Sergio Perez, has not won any.
None the less, with his 5th place finish in Las
Vegas today, Verstappen was able to wrap up
the Drivers Championship,with two races to go.
This feat was aided by the fact that the other
race wins were spread equally among three
other teams - Ferrari (4 wins), McLaren (5 wins)
and Mercedes (4 wins). Additionally, the wins
among each team were equally distributed
between their two drivers. Factor in Red Bull's
drop in dominance and the outlook for 2025
appears very unpredictable for a change.
Nov 24 - The Red Bull F1 team continued their
dominance entering 2024, with Max Verstappen
winning 7 of the first 10 races of the season.
(Red Bull won every race last year but one. In
2022, they won 17 of the 22 races.)
However, Verstappen has only won 1 of the last
12 races. (He did win the first 4 Sprint races.)
His teammate, Sergio Perez, has not won any.
None the less, with his 5th place finish in Las
Vegas today, Verstappen was able to wrap up
the Drivers Championship,with two races to go.
This feat was aided by the fact that the other
race wins were spread equally among three
other teams - Ferrari (4 wins), McLaren (5 wins)
and Mercedes (4 wins). Additionally, the wins
among each team were equally distributed
between their two drivers. Factor in Red Bull's
drop in dominance and the outlook for 2025
appears very unpredictable for a change.
| This is Max Verstappen's 4th championship - all of which have been won consecutively. |