butlerskeen's blog

Campaign launched to save Team Lotus

© Save Team Lotus

One side of the Lotus naming dispute has been put forward on a new and in-depth webpage called www.saveteamlotus.com. The basic background is that the Lotus Racing F1 team had its naming rights revoked for next season by Group Lotus and, in order to keep racing under the Lotus name, bought the Team Lotus brand off David Hunt, who had owned it since the original team?s last race in 1994. Group Lotus has now taken Lotus Racing to court to try and stop it using the historic name in Formula One next year. The issue has been a source of constant confusion for many fans and the new webpage offers a breakdown of David Hunt?s and Team Lotus? side of the argument.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/campaign_launched_to_save_team_1.php

Piero Carini Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto

?MARRIED WITH DRAGSTERS? TO DEBUT LATER THIS MONTH

In an ongoing effort to reach out and expose new demographics to all that sportsman drag racing has to offer, Team Dragon Racing Fuels members Kathy (Kati) and Kevin Fisher have developed a new video series that will take the viewers behind the scenes during the team’s 2011 season.

“Married With Dragsters”(www.marriedwithdragsters.com) will take viewers along to not only each of the team’s events, but what it takes to get there.  The series will highlight the stick-to-itiveness needed when you havea husband and wife competingtogether at this level of drag racing.  From the duties at the home office and shop to the sometimes very long hours on the road, and of coursethe racing itself, viewers will see there is a lot more to it all than what first meets the eye.

Source: http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/17196-married-with-dragsters-to-debut-later-this-month

Roberto Bussinello Jenson Button Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca

Ambition - 29 May 2011 - Flickr

Even as a young child Darth had a plan.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/balakov/5772519146/

Chuck Daigh Yannick Dalmas Derek Daly Christian Danner

Onus appearson Childress intiff with Busch

KANSAS CITY, Kan. | NASCAR President Mike Helton absolved Kyle Busch, but said that car owner Richard Childress likely faces penalties for a fight in the garage area after Saturday's Camping World Truck Series race. Media reports indicate that Childress punched Busch after the truck race. Busch battled Richard Childress Racing driver Joey Coulter on the final lap for fifth and then tapped Coulter's truck on the cool-down lap. Busch is on probation until June 15 for an incident with Kevin Harvick on pit road after the Southern 500. Had NASCAR determined that Busch was at fault for the incident with Childress, Busch might have faced the possibility of more penalties. Helton said Sunday that NASCAR's investigation into the incident showed that "Kyle Busch did nothing to provoke or cause the reactions ... (that) would have violated probation. (Busch) did nothing that warranted the actions of Richard Childress." Helton said series officials considered ejecting Childress from the track - the Sprint Cup Rule Book states that officials can eject someone for a variety of things, including fighting - but chose not to do so. "We decided to let Richard stay because there does need to be leadership of an organization, which historically we rely on crew chiefs," Helton said. "Since both organizations have multiple teams, we decided that it would be better if there was an authority from the team and there's not a second-level authority present this weekend for (Childress') organization. Joe Gibbs is here from Joe Gibbs Racing and we chose to allow Richard to participate today." Busch described the incident with Childress as an "altercation," saying he was headed out of the garage area when Childress confronted him. "I don't know that I did anything out of the ordinary that would provoke something of Mr. Childress," Busch said before finishing 12th in Sunday's race. Asked what he thought NASCAR should do to Childress, Busch said: "Whatever they feel best to protect their sport and to protect what we have going on here is to their best discretion. I'm all for whatever they decide to do." NASCAR barred Childress from the pit area Sunday. He watched the race atop his team's hauler for Clint Bowyer. Childress declined to comment about the incident with Busch. Kurt Busch upbeatdespite losing the lead Kurt Busch led a race-high 152 laps, but because he had to pit late for fuel, as many drivers did, he finished ninth. "To have a car lead laps today and be very competitive, I was all smiles," Busch said. "I felt coming into the weekend that if we could pace ourselves, have good team communication, we would be competitive. "There was always something in the back of my mind today that we weren't going to win, but I'm glad that (teammate) Brad Keselowski got this win. For all my guys, we'll take this one and the points. I'm not discouraged at all." earnhardt says betterqualifying would help Dale Earnhardt Jr., who started 28th, was encouraged by his second-place finish, but admits there's more work to do. "We had a good car," Earnhardt said. "We need to work on qualifying to not make the day so long and so hard on us. We need to start in the top 10 so we ain't got to work the first three-quarters of the race trying to get within sight of it." Pit passes Points leader Carl Edwards finished fifth and extended his advantage over second-place Jimmie Johnson to 40 points in the season standings. ... Kevin Harvick, who won last weekend's Coca-Cola 600, finished 11th. - Dustin Long

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/onus_appearson_childress_intiff_with_busch/4902994

Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo

Journalists shocked at Korea award

Scarecrows adorn the entrance to a barren Korean International Circuit © Getty Images

Two leading Formula One journalists have expressed their surprise at Korea being named the best grand prix promoter of the season at the FIA?s annual prize gala in Monaco last Friday. The Korean Grand Prix received the Race Promoters' Trophy despite the event taking place at an incomplete facility with few race fans in attendance and team members and media staying at disparagingly dubbed 'love hotels'. "Korea. Korea? KOREA??!! I must have been somewhere else," said Times correspondent Kevin Eason on Twitter. Daily Mirror journalist Byron Young added, "The Korean GP, complete with event and flight chaos, shoddy hotels and things I won't mention, won the race promotors? trophy. Why?"

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/12/journalists_shocked_at_korea_a.php

Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz

Ambition - 29 May 2011 - Flickr

Even as a young child Darth had a plan.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/balakov/5772519146/

Adolf Brudes Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni Jimmy Bryan

Icarus - 28 May 2011 - Flickr

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipydeus/5769036903/

Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella Mário de Araújo Cabral

Five ways to improve F1

Emerson Fittipaldi in his heyday © Sutton Images

In an interview in the Times, former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi?s outlined his five-point plan to enhance Formula One. Cut costs ?They spend a fortune in wind-tunnel testing alone. Reduce costs and the slowest teams would catch up and make it more even.? Limit downforce ?They need to reduce enormously the downforce in the cars, the only way to bring back overtaking. We need more mechanical grip so that you have longer braking areas, can set up the car coming out of a corner, get in the slipstream and then overtake.? Close the pitlane ?When the safety car goes out they should close the pitlane. Now it?s just a lottery.? Lift ban on team orders ?It is a very stupid rule. It?s why they are called teams, it?s why they have two cars. If a driver is leading in the championship, everything has to go in his favour. What is wrong with that? It?s so easy for teams to camouflage their orders anyway. All they need to do is tell one guy on the radio he has a problem with his brakes. They can bend the rules very easily. In the old days they would even swap cars, so why do we have this ban now?? Retain traditional grands prix ?These places are the soul of racing. The Americas are under-represented. We have Canada back, but there is no USA, no Argentina, no Mexico. We need to stay in the heartlands.?

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/five_ways_to_improve_f1.php

Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk

Team orders in spotlight again

Will Christian Horner regret not utilising team orders in Brazil? © Getty Images

Michael Spearman of The Sun, says that the £65,000 fine Ferrari received for breaching the team orders ban in Germany will seem like loose change if Fernando Alonso wins the drivers? title in Abu Dhabi.

?The extra seven points Alonso collected when Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to move over for him in Germany earlier in the season are now looking even more crucial. ?And the £65,000 fine they picked up for ruthlessly breaking the rules will seem loose change if Alonso clinches the title in his first year with the Maranello team. ?Red Bull could have switched the result yesterday given their crushing dominance and still celebrated their first constructors' championship just five years after coming into the sport. ?That would also have given Webber an extra seven points, leaving him just one behind Alonso.?

The Guardian?s Paul Weaver says that if Fernando Alonso does take the drivers? title in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari owes a debt of gratitude to Red Bull for their decision not to employ team orders in Brazil.

?If Alonso does take the title next week it would not be inappropriate were he and Ferrari to send a few gallons of champagne to Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes. ?While Red Bull should be heartily applauded for the championship they did win today their apparent acceptance that Ferrari might carry off the more glamorous prize continues to baffle Formula One and its globetrotting supporters. ?Their refusal to make life easy for Webber, who has led for much of the season and is still seven points ahead of Vettel, means that whatever happens in the desert next week Alonso, the only driver who was capable of taking the championship in the race today, only has to secure second place to guarantee his third world title.?

The Independent?s David Tremayne is also of the opinion that Red Bull may regret not using team orders in Brazil.

?Had Red Bull elected to adopt team orders and let Webber win ? something that the governing body allows when championships are at stake ? Webber would have left Brazil with 245 points ? just one point off the lead. For some that was confirmation of his suggestion that Vettel is the team's favoured driver ? which generated an angry call from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz in Austria and was much denied by team principal, Christian Horner. ?And it sets up a situation where, if the result is repeated next weekend, as is likely, Vettel and Webber will tie on 256, five behind Alonso.?

The Mirror?s Byron Young has put Lewis Hamilton?s fading title chances down to an inferior McLaren machine and he admits the 2008 World Champion now needs a miracle.

?Sebastian Vettel's victory sends the world title fight to a four-way showdown for the first time in the sport's history. ?Hamilton goes there as part of that story with a 24-point deficit to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, but with just 25 on offer in the final round in six days' time it would take more than a miracle. ?Driving an outclassed McLaren he slugged it out against superior machinery and stiff odds to finish fourth.?

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/team_orders_in_spotlight_again_1.php

Paul Belmondo Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta

THOMAS SETS AA/SA RECORDS WITH V-10 DRAG PAK

Less than one month after making its competition debut, the 2011 Mopar® Challenger V-10 Drag Pak is already rewriting the NHRA record books.

Dave Thomas, of Westchester, Pa., powered his 2011 Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak to a record-setting 9.43-second elapsed time (ET) at 143.90 mph during a test session on Thursday, April 7 at the NHRA Division 1 National Open event at Atco (N.J.) Raceway (the test session allowed for record attempts). Thomas captured both the ET and mph records in the AA/SA class just two weeks after taking ownership of his Mopar Drag Pak, and with only a few passes under his belt in the new V-10-powered beast.

“In less than one month of competition, our 2011 Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak has made its presence known in the NHRA Sportsman ranks,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “Mopar is the only source for racers who want to purchase a factory-built, V-10-powered race-ready package car.”

Source: http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/17195-thomas-sets-aasa-records-with-v-10-drag-pak

Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever