Massa Wins F1 Grand Prix Of Turkey

With another dominant performance by team Ferrari, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen finished one-two in what proved to be a very subdued race. As in most F1 contest the only passing came at the start and in the pit lane after each team showed their hand on fuel strategy. The only glaring event of the race was when championship points leader Lewis Hamilton had a right front tire blow and he had to limp back to the pits. Luckily he only lost two positions as he had his problem close to the pit entrance and not further down the track. He was able to salvage fifth place.

Ferrari's getting the better start they went into turn one nose to tail and The Ferrari's showed again that they were the cars to beat as Massa had the pole and Raikkonen started from the third position, but on the clean side of the grid. With both of thebasically stayed that way the balance of the race. Defending world champ Fernando Alonso started from grid spot number four but lost two places at the start to the BMW's. But with better pit strategy and his teammates bad luck, finished on the podium with a strong third place.

Maybe there will be a little more on the track action at the next event in Monza, but that is not likely to happen, as the cars tend to get spread apart very quickly on the high speed circuit. As in all the F1 events qualifying will get the most attention as the front runners will once again be vying for the ever important pole position. But congratulations to Felipe Massa and to Ferrari on a most impressive Grand Prix of Turkey as we head off to Monza were the Ferrari fans will be in abundance and as crazy as ever.

Massa Grand Prix of Turkey

Boring Race From Bristol?

Bristol

It what seemed to be anything but the usual Saturday night late August event from Bristol, this race seemed to be missing something. That something was the beating and banging of car bumpers and fenders that send cars flying and tempers flaring. In a nutshell I think I know what caused this phenomenon.

The new track configuration was the reason we had a gentleman's race in Thunder Valley. By making the track wider and flattening out the turns, cars were able to find two if not three racing grooves to get around the 1/2 mile oval. The bullring which once was Bristol Motor Speedway has now been made somewhat tame by the new layout.

You would not have predicted such a clean race based on the yellow flag filled Busch race that took place Friday night. But I guess Carl Edwards and his team had things figured out as they breezed to victory in this NASCAR main event. I wonder if the fans at the race were disappointed when they didn't see any fights, spins or helmets thrown?

But what I came away with from last nights race was satisfaction. I for one never liked all the yellow caution laps at Bristol and the race ending at about midnight. The racing was pure and the ability for the drivers to run high or low and be able to pass without some dirty work was refreshing. This race fan likes to see racing, and that's exactly what we saw at Bristol on Saturday night.

Bristol

Will Parity Ever Come To Formula 1?

Formula 1 Parity

Being totally absorbed by the racing spectacle that is F1 for most of my adult years, it still is hard for me to understand why so few teams dominate each season. In years past it was either Williams or McClaren then it was Ferrari and McClaren and throw in Renault for a few short years and there you have it.

Why can't significant automobile companies like BMW, Honda and the largest Toyota, field cars that have a chance to win on a consistent basis? Each of these companies have enormous budgets to fund their programs, yet with the exception of BMW, have no chance of winning a race.

Are Honda and Toyota trying to do too much by building the entire package, both engine and chassis? Shouldn't they opt to partner with an established team such as Toyota is doing now with Williams? Take my word for it, you will see a Williams Toyota driver on the top step of the podium sooner than one of the factory drivers. With so much promise last year look at where Honda is with only a single point to show for 2007.

I remember the glory years when they partnered with Williams and then McClaren as they had the engine to beat in the pinnacle of the racing world. Is it the drivers? Is there such a void of talent that only a few can get the very last tenth of a second that is needed to win poles and races?

It's my hope that some day I will see six or maybe even eight drivers vie for race wins on any given weekend and as many with a chance for the championship. Michael Schumacher's run was impressive but I think it did the sport more harm than good.

As great as Aryton Senna was he had some stiff competition from the likes of Prost, Mansel, Piquet and Berger and it is my hope that Alonso and Hamilton will have several rivals in the years to come. So come on a Toyota, Honda and BMW, get your acts together and find your way to the top of the podium!

Formula 1 Parity

What's Up With NASCAR Points?

NASCAR POINTS

I have just come to see by way of a show on ESPN that if the chase were to begin today Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson would be tied with the same number of points. So there goes a 500 plus point advantage that Gordon now enjoys over Johnson who sits sixth in the standings, but by virtue of having the same number of wins (four) they are tied going into the chase. Take the example of Kurt Busch who just won in Michigan. If he wins the final three races before the chase ends he could possibly be number one on the leader board, even though he is more than 700 points back from Gordon.

Now I have always been in favor of the winner of the race getting substantially more points than the rest of the field but this system can't be looking good to Jeff Gordon or Denny Hamlin. Hamilin who sits second in the points because of consistent high finishes and only one victory, which could put him dead last when the chase begins. How do you explain that to his sponsors when they go to the rear of the field when the playoff starts? Why do all 43 cars have to score points in each race? Why not have only the top 20 or 25 finishers score points which would get the also rans and half wrecked cars off the track limping around just to scrounge out every last point. The worst thing you can see on a race track is half a car doing slow laps around an oval looking like a demolition derby.

I know with so many cars vying for points it's hard to come up with a system that is fair to everyone but for the top runners to loose such an advantage seems grossly unfair. I guess this new system is to encourage teams and drivers to race for wins instead of points and if that's the aim than more power to them. In my opinion whatever NASCAR does to try and help stimulate competition it creates just as much controversy. Let me know what you think about the point system and what other ideas you might have that seems a little more fair than what we have now.

NASCAR POINTS

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Loses #8

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The latest battle in the Earnhardt family war ended this week with the stepmother from hell not yielding the #8 to Dale Jr so he can take it with him to Hendrick for next years ride. Well, what's in a number anyway? If you ask me, I think NASCAR should have stepped in and tried to mediate the negotiations between the two teams and make them settle on a fair figure. Dale Jr and his fan base identify with the #8 just as everyone will always identify his father with the #3 and Jeff Gordon with the #24. What could Teresa Earnhardt possibly gain by not giving the number to Jr? Is the bad blood that thick that it's gotten to the point she won't give in and give him his NASCAR identity?

When drivers change rides it takes most if not all season to get use to new colors, numbers, sponsors and all that goes with a change in venue. In the case of Dale Earnhardt Jr the growing pains will be multiplied five fold. What new driver going into the DEI ride he vacated will want to use his #8? Why put that kind of pressure on a new driver on an new team? If you think his fan base hates Jeff Gordon when he beats him at Talledega you ain't seen nothing yet! Seems to me that when things start to spiral down hill it's tough to stop the train from going out of control. What must Dale Sr be thinking up in NASCAR heaven?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Kyle Busch To Gibbs In NASCAR Shuffle

Kyle Busch

Well the speculation has ended and it looks like Kyle Busch will be headed to Joe Gibbs Racing and be put in the number 18 car replacing JJ Yeley. It seems like a good fit for both sides as Kyle is probably the most talented young driver in the series and he is a proven race winner who is consistently running up front. Yeley has been a disappointment ever since replacing Bobby Labonte after Labonte left for a ride with Petty. I'm still trying to figure that move out two years later. I guess some things just can't be explained as Labonte went from a championship caliber organization to an also ran.

But getting back to Busch and his new ride, we should see a resurgence with the 18 car come next season. I am sure that JGR will make the changes necessary for Kyle to be a winner. If rumor is correct they will be shelling out big bucks to Busch and a national sponsor will probably replace Interstate Batteries to help pay for it. It would be a little sad as the Gibbs-Interstate relationship dates back to the original team that Gibbs formed with Dale Jarrett. And is it possible that Toyota would lure JGR away from Chevrolet? Toyota needs to real in a top team and Gibbs seems like a perfect fit. Remember Toyota has deep pockets.

Sometimes change is good and next year there will be a bunch of new paint schemes on cars with numbers that will take time to recognize. In the end we will all get use to it and become familiar by mid season when everything shakes out in the ever changing world of The Nextel or should I say "Sprint Cup". Winston Cup still sounds better, doesn't it?


Kyle Busch

Wild Finish At The Glen

In one of the most unbelievable finishes at the famed road course at Watkins Glen, Tony Stewart bested the Nextel Cup field to take his third victory in four races. It was a day that say several cars off the course as you would expect on a road course, but the most surprising and stunning off was Geoff Gordon on the next to last lap. Turn one caught out Stewart early in the race but Gordon made the same mistake at the absolute wrong time as he gave up the lead one lap from the white flag and gave away a sure win. Gordon and Stewart had the two dominant cars all day and it was no surprise that they were one-two at the end of this very entertaining race.

Road course racing with these 3400 pound 750 horsepower monsters is always fun to watch as it always breeds caution flags and keeps the racing close. Thankfully fuel issues did not play a role at the end of the race as the top four ran nose to tail, but I think everyone could not believe that Gordon went off in turn one. When Gordon went off in turn one Stewart seem to slow which gave Carl Edwards the chance to get right on his bumper for the last two green flag laps. Edwards tried his best and went off at the next to last turn but managed to keep his foot in it and salvage a top ten finish.

The entertainment for the day came on a late restart when Juan Montoya got tapped from behind by Martin Truex, lost the rear end under braking and sent him into Kevin Harvick entering turn one. The wreck also took out Jeff Burton who collected Montoya's wounded car and Harvick came out with a fight on his mind. He got into Montoya's face and the pushing and shoving started when he thought Montoya took him out with a banzai move. Even after he saw the replay which showed Montoya being hit from behind he said he still wanted to kick his ass. But that's Harvick being Harvick.

So on the goes the Nextel Cup circus with the next stop in the Irish Hills of Michigan and a track that usually is decided by gas mileage and could produce a surprise and or a first time winner. Even with his late race mishap Jeff Gordon still has a commanding lead in the standings as other drivers vie for the top twelve positions. The biggest loser in the race was Dale Earhnhardt Jr. who was battling Kurt Busch for the final playoff position, as he lost his engine at mid race and allot of ground in the championship hunt.