Raikkonen Wins Spanish Grand Prix

Spanish Grand Prix

About the only thing exciting about the Spanish Grand Prix was Fernando Alonso scoring second starting position for the race in a car which has been well of the pace. His efforts on Saturday gave his cheering hometown fans the only thing to be happy about as his Renault engine blew up early after the first pit stop.

The Ferrari's of Raikkonen and Massa were no match for the rest of the field as they were in lockstep throughout the race, only losing positions during pit stops. Kimi Raikkonen won the pole and had a dominant race as he led his Ferrari teammate to the checkered flag. Lewis Hamilton drove to a well deserved third place finish after two consecutive poor races. His teammate did not fare so well as Heikki Kovalainen went hard into a tire barrier after a front tire failure. Thankfully he escaped serious injury and will be fit to race next week in Turkey.

What we did see in Spain was a very close race amongst most of the teams as qualifying times were within a few tenths of each other and all eight point scoring positions finished on the lead lap. Seven different teams scored points in the race, unusual for a Formula 1 race. BMW proved strong again as Robert Kubica outpaced his teammate Nick Heidfeld and finish right behind Hamilton in fourth place. Points also were also scored for Red Bull, Honda, Williams and Toyota.

Well its on to Turkey for what should be a more eventful race on a track where there may actually be some passing for position. A relatively new track with some good corners for overtaking, should produce more action, even among the top runners. Congratulations to Kimi Raikkonen and team Ferrari for another dominant performance and hoping that we get a new winning team in the not to distant future in Formula 1.

Spanish Grand Prix

Massa Wins F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain

Formula 1

BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica won the pole position but Felipe Massa of Ferrari won the race in convincing fashion in the Grand Prix of Bahrain. Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari finished second and Kubica third to round out the podium.

The surprise of the weekend was the lackluster performance of team McClaren as they seemed never to have the speed required to run up front. Lewis Hamilton qualified third but a poor start found him way behind after one lap and then his opportunity to finish in the points were dashed when he ran into Alonso's Renualt on lap two. With a new nose con replaced he could not muster enough speed to score points while teammate Heikki Kovalainen languished in 5th place all race long.

By winning in Bahrain Massa has temporarily gotten a reprieve from the Italian press for his poor start to the 2008 season. When you are a Ferrari driver you are expected to either win the race or finish well in the points. With team mate Raikkonen the favored driver and reigning world champ, Massa is under the most intense pressure. Even though he is in his third season as a Ferrari driver, most F1 people still find it hard to believe he is driving for the team. Now the biggest rumor is that Fernando Alonso is on his way to Ferrari next year if his Renault doesn't perform to his liking.

Well the merry go round of F1 is always full of stories that keep us wondering what will happen next. But a big congratulations goes out to BMW Sauber for winning their first pole and finishing third and fourth in the race. I think we are seeing the gradual progression of teams like BMW, Toyota and Williams as they march closer to the front running teams of Ferrari and McClaren. This improvement of other teams will keep my attention as I will be eager to wake up early Sunday mornings to watch all the races from the upcoming European swing of the F1 Championship.

Formula 1

Hamlin Wins In Martinsville

NASCAR

When Denny Hamlin came across the finish line in Martinsville I am sure he let out a big sigh of relief. Two weeks earlier he had a sure win taken away when his car failed to pick up the fuel he needed to complete the last three laps in Bristol. But he had better luck for the Goody's 500 as he fended off a late race charge by Jeff Gordon to post victory number one for 2008.

The biggest impression I took away from this race was how a car's performance can change during a long green flag run. For thirty laps you could be garbage and the next seventy your completely dialed in. Just ask Dale Earnhardt Jr., who seemed to go in and out with the performance of his AMP Chevrolet. One minute he has the car to beat, but in the end he had to fight and claw for his sixth place finish.

Wild and wacky as all Martinsville races are, it has always amazed me how they can fit 43 cars on the track, but even more amazing in the pits. The pit crews really have to be at their sharpest on this most dangerous of pit lanes on the Nascar circuit. There is absolutely no room for error or you could find yourself flat on your back from the bumper of an oncoming car. Be careful out there!!

But on a closing note, congratulations to Denny Hamlin as this home state boy came away with a well deserved victory. His teammate Tony Stewart battled all day and found himself a strong fourth place when the checkered flag fell, rubber stamping Toyota's mark on the Cup series.

But Team Hendrick put their own stamp on this race as all four cars ran strong all day. They may not have won the race but dominated the pace from the drop of the green flag, letting the competition know that the Bow Tie boys are alive and kicking. On to Texas for a high speed chase around a tricky race track, were the racing is a much different flavor then the paper clip of Martinsville.

NASCAR

Kanaan's Bad Luck Gives Dixon Win

IRL

New American open-wheel era or not, it was business as usual Saturday night in the IRL IndyCar Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Chip Ganassi Racing entry, driven by former series champion Scott Dixon, won the season-opener for the third straight year. He took the lead late in the 200-lap race when Tony Kanaan ran out of luck.

While none of the newcomers making the transition from the Champ Car World Series to the newly unified IndyCar series were able to compete with the leaders, predetermination of a disaster proved wrong as the newcomers stayed out of the way of the faster cars and for the most part out of trouble.

On the final lap of last years final race, Dixon, the New Zealand driver lost the IRL IndyCar Series championship to Dario Franchitti when he ran out of fuel on the last lap, got off to a great start with the victory in the Gainsco Indy 300. But it didn't look much like a race he could win.

Kanaan came out of the last round of green flag pit stops in the lead and appeared well on the way to a victory until Ernesto Viso, a rookie driving for one of the former Champ Car teams that just joined the IRL, punctured a tire and spun on the 193rd of 200 laps. Viso slid sideways across the track, Kanaan tried to go under him and almost made it, but he hit Viso's car with the right front of his Seven-Eleven Dallara-Honda, knocking his right front out of alignment.

Kanaan stayed out front for a few laps behind the pace car, with his damaged tire barely touching the ground. But he slowly drove his damaged car into the pits as the green flag waved on lap 197, giving the lead to Dixon, who came away with his second win at Homestead.

Marco Andretti, who led a race-high 85 laps, finished second, about five car-lengths behind the winner. It seemed that it was his race to win about mid-race on but I think his inexperience and a longer final stop put him out of contention for the win.

Hopefully this will be the start of a unified open wheel series that can grow and flourish under the banner of the IRL. In the future I would like to see them go to International circuits, road corses and more street venues to give it the same flavor as the heyday of the early 1990's. Good luck IRL, this hopeful race fan wants to see you succeed.

IRL

Raikkonen Cruises to Victory in Malaysia

Formula 1

Kimi Raikkonen had the type of race that all F1 drivers dream of as he won the Malaysian Grand Prix in easy fashion over BMW's Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen of McClaren. Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa seemed to have another brain fade moment as he spun out of a sure second place finish, cementing his probalble demise from the team after 2008.

In just one weeks time the Ferrari team went from miserable to unbeatable and Kimi showed why he has to be once again the favorite to win the championship. If Ferrari can give him a reliable car than he will consistently score high positions for the balance of the season. Lewis Hamilton of McClaren had a bit of a reversal from his fortunes the week before in Australia, with a race filled with penalties, a long first pit stop and a slower Mark Webber. But after all this fifth place points for his efforts were well deserved.

The balance of the points paying positions were not so surprising other than that the Williams of Nico Rosberg had a miserable weekend. After scoring the first podium finish in his career a week earlier, he did not qualify well and had a first lap shunt with Timo Glock's Toyota which basically ended his horrible weekend.

No real racing in this GP as all the passing was accomplished in the pits. Alonso had a bit of a tussle with Mark Webber for seventh spot at the end but settled for 8th place points in his inferior Renault. Hamilton caught Trulli at the last lap but used discretion and did not push the issue settling for fifth.

Congratulations to Kimi Raikkonen for a much deserved win and for team Ferrari for bouncing back strong in the second round of the championship. I am still looking for that first breakthrough win for BMW but it will probably be at the hands of trouble for Ferrari and McClaren in the same race. Let's keep routing for the "Dark Horses" and not just the prancing ones.

Formula 1

Chevy Finally Wins In Bristol

Nascar

With an unprecedented one, two, three finish, The Richard Childress Racing stable had a clean sweep in Thunder Valley. Jeff Burton won the race on a green-white-checker created by his teammate Kevin Harvick when he lost control and put Tony Stewart in the wall. Another wild finish at the track famous for the dramatic endings most race fans want to see.

When all three of your cars run consistently upfront the entire race, good things will happen when the checkered flag falls. Of the three RCR cars, Harvick probably had the best and Burton the third best, but track position at the end of the race played the key role for Burton to come across the finish line first.

It seemed a cruel fate for the two Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota's of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin as each had a shot to win at the end. But like in previous races in Bristol, fuel pickup problems befell each driver on the last two restarts. Stewart lost the lead to Hamlin then Hamlin lost his lead to Burton when their Camry's froze at the restart, as if they were standing still. I guess the each crew chief will have some explaining to do this week as they try and swallow hard after an apparent victory was snatched from them.

But it was good to see the Bow-Tie Brigade run one-two-three as Chevy got a much deserved first win in the Sprint Cup series. I think Dale Earnhardt was grinning from ear to ear as he his old team stole a victory at a track he loved so much. But I think now you will see all the Hendrick Chevy's run better as the momentum has shifted and they give Toyota and Ford a run for the championship. So let's enjoy the Easter break and look forward to another bump and grind race at the Paper Clip they call a racetrack, Martinsville, VA.

Nascar

Formula 1 Starts With A Bang In Australia

Formula 1

Well the Formula 1 season got off to a rocky but exciting start with only seven of the twenty-two cars finishing when the checkered flag fell. Lewis Hamilton showed why he has to be considered the front runner for the championship as his McClaren Mercedes was by far the class of the field as he won the race handily over Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg.

The Ferrari's had trouble from the start with Kimi Raikkonen starting 15th on the grid and finding trouble twice during the race only to stop with five laps to go with a mechanical failure. Felipe Massa found trouble also as his Prancing Horse did not finish, probably as a result with his accident with the Dinosaur of F1, David Coultard. Time to hang it up David or stop getting in the way of quicker cars.

On balance I enjoyed the fact that the safety car came out a few times to bunch the cars up and we actually had some good old fashion racing. With an inferior Renault, Fernando Alonso showed some fight with his duel with Heikki Kovalainen at the end to take fourth at the finish. It seemed to me that Kovalainen thought the race was over after he passed Alonso for fourth place, only to get re-passed on the front straight. Wake up Heikki, you just lost a point that could be important come season's end.

Surprises were a plenty at this Australian GP and I only hope that the excitement of this race carries over to the races that follow. I think the reduction in drivers aides such as traction control and engine braking will bring the field closer together and we will see what we saw today, RACING! Keep the faith, we all want to see a battle, even though I think it will be from second place back.

Formula 1

NASCAR Blues

Nascar

So what have we witnessed in the past two races on the senior NASCAR circuit? A faulty cover on the oil cooler tank that propelled Carl Edwards to victory in Las Vegas and a grumpy Tony Stewart complaining about Goodyear's lousy tires. How can this sport condone cheating? How can it accept the off color comments from a top driver concerning their only tire supplier?

If they really wanted to crack down on the illegal that Carl Edwards drove to victory lane they should take the win away from him and award him 43rd place points. Let them appeal the decision in the NASCAR court, but penalize them to the extent they understand cheating won't be tolerated.

Why does Tony Stewart get to make comments, and personal ones to boot, about any injustice he feels bestowed upon him? Is Goodyear that bad a partner that they deserve such a tongue lashing from this big mouth of the sport? Sometimes taking the high road is the better part of valour and more will come from a considered word than a disparaging one.

But what did we really find out about the last two weeks on NASCAR racing? Kyle Busch is the driver to beat, not only in Cup, but The Nationwide and Truck series as well. This kid has made a fan out of me and I think he will develop into the next great "Dale Earnhardt" type driver; great driver with a big attitude. Keep it up Kyle, NASCAR needs a driver like you, now and in the years to come.

NASCAR

Formula 1 Preview

Formula 1

In great anticipation for the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship, the beginning of the season is but a fortnight away. What teams and drivers will challenge the McClaren and Ferrari dominance of the last several seasons? Will my favorite team, Williams, begin a resurgence that is long overdue? Will Honda and Toyota finally show some strength at the front of the field considering all the money they spend?

But the most intriguing story will be that of two time champion Fernando Alonso, returning to what many feel is a sub-par Renault team. Can his superior driving talent improve the performance of the team as he did for them in 2004? Was last year's poor performance due to his absence? Time will tell, but in my humble opinion this will be a very trying year for the Spaniard and his new team as they try to find that delicate balance that is required in this most demanding form of motor racing.

The next interesting story will be how Nico Rosberg fairs for team Williams. Given his status as a great young talent, the Williams team has to put a very good catr under him to retain his services in 2009. Formula 1 is a sport with very little patients and even shorter memory, as only the successful are rewarded. I was surprised that Rosberg stayed with Williams and did not jump ship to McClaren as most thought, but maybe this is the year that Williams goes forward and McClaren back.

The balance of the teams seem once again rather ordinary. With the exception of BMW, whom I feel should contend for a win in 2008, Red Bull, Honda, Toyota, STR, Super Aguri, Force India should all should vie for back of the pack. Red Bull could be a sleeper amongst the group but their driver lineup of Coultard and Webber will hold them back. Maybe Toyota can make some strides but they will be better served in the Williams cars.

The last subject to touch on is the removal of driver aids such as traction control and enginge breaking. This change could prove to be an equalizer, much in the same as rain is on race day. But the better teams seem to find their way around the obstacles put forth by the FIA and the cars just go faster and faster. Personally I wish they had stayed with the V10 engine as it proved to be more reliable and sounded OH SO much nicer.

Well get ready F1 fans for another season packed with excitement and of course controversy. Forgot to mention the top three drivers, Rikkonen, Massa and Hamilton, but they need no introduction, as they will be strong from the get-go. I can hear those engines already racing around Albert Park. Happy racing!

Formula 1

IRL-Champ Car Merger Too Little Too Late?

IRL

Did you see the press conference today with the main participants involved in the merger of the IRL and Champ Car? In my view this is a situation that has been manifesting for 12 years and this merger may be too little too late! When Tony George drafted a plan to form The IRL in 1994 it was the start of the destruction of one of the finest racing series this country has known.

So what good has transpired in the last dozen years? Oh yeah, the Brickyard 400 has become more popular than the Indy 500. The stars of Nascar are now a household name. Can you for the life of me name one famous IRL driver? There is that one guy who's married to Ashely Judd and the pretty girl who hasn't won a single race!

But on a more serious note, can we assume that this merger has any chance of resurrecting open wheel racing at a high level? Or is it in such disrepair were the only race that will be on their calendar is The Indy 500? Why has it taken so long for intelligent men to finally realize that one series was the only answer. Even a man as influential as Roger Penske couldn't bring Tony George to his senses.

But from the ashes of the fire maybe something positive can become of this unification. This hopeful fan would love to see this series grow and thrive in the years to come. But as an open wheel fan I feel I have been cheated out of 12 years of good racing, years I will never get back. Like a prison term we are now all on probation, with the hope that we fare well and return to a constructive life on the open wheel stage.

Fantastic Finish For The Daytona 500

Daytona 500

The long wait is finally over and the 50th running of the Great American Race had a finish that was worthy as one of the best. Once again the fastest car did not win the race, rather a consistent car with a very helpful teammate did. Ryan Newman came out on top with the help of a big time push on the back stretch by teammate Kurt Busch to take an exciting victory.

Kyle Busch, running his first Cup race for Joe Gibbs Racing had the car to beat all day. From the drop of the green flag his Toyota Camry was by far the quickest car. Both his teammates, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin also had strong cars at the start, but Stewart had to battle his way back a few times and Hamlin ran into trouble early on.

My favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a good showing for his first ride for Hendrick motor sports, but was a consistent 4th place car all day. Junior just didn't have a car to win or a teammate to help him as all three of them fell by the wayside.

At the white flag Tony Stewart had the lead but chose to go to the bottom of the race track instead of staying high to block the Penske duo of Newman and Busch. I guess Tony thought he would get more help from Kyle Busch on the bottom but he was too far back to give Tony the push needed. In fact, the Dodge Chargers were the cars to beat at the finish as Reed Sorenson also played a key role by helping the Penske cars push across the finish line 1-2.

Well, all in all it was a pretty good race for the new Cup Car as it seemed like a race from the late 70's and earl;y 80's, prior to restrictor plates. The cars spread out very nicely for most of the race but found their way to bunch up at the end for another fantastic finish. Congratulations to Ryan Newman for snagging the biggest prize in Cup competition and his first win since September of 05. Maybe the Hendrick dream team won't be as dominant as most have predicted for 2008. What do you thing? The Auto Racing Junkie would like to know!

Daytona 500

Rolex 24 Opens The Racing Season

Rolex 24

Well race fans the long dry spell for competitive racing is about to end with the Rolex 24 endurance race from the racing capital of the world, Daytona International. What seemed like an incredibly long wait for some racing action other than Monster Trucks, we now have the roar of good old American sports car racing to kick off the 2008 campaign.

With a stellar cast of teams and an even more impressive cast of drivers, we can expect this years race to be both entertaining and exciting. Even though a 24 hour event I bet that it will come down to last hour of the race to determine a well deserved winner. Personally I would like to see a team with a few NASCAR guys on the top of the podium just to show the racing world that they can make right turns as well as lefts.

As the driver lineup shows this is truly a race with International flavor as drivers from around the globe descend on the motor racing capital of the USA. With a heavy European and Latin presence this form of motor sport truly shines and pairs what you might call some "Odd Couples" of racing. It's good to see that Jimmie Johnson and Juan Pablo Montoya from the NASCAR ranks, but it would have been even better with some more big names competing.

Well buckle up your harness and get ready for some beating and banging. Although it's a road race there will be plenty of action with fenders rubbing and bumpers smashing. But the best thing of all is that the new 2008 racing season is upon us. Next in line will be the good old boys of NASCAR than all the open wheel guys get into the act with F1 around the corner. Enjoy and have a blast with the Rolex 24.

Rolex 24