sebastien bourdais possibly comfirming toro rosso deal and other racing news

It’s Seabass-Mania!

Well.. looks like Bourdais will go to the mid-rate Toro Rosso team pending contract details in 2008, and he will go to such exotic places such as Singapore in F1. Hopefully, Seabass could make a decent career out of it. There’s no Craig Hampson to complain with him though.

Mo Nunn back with Forsythe? Da Matta on his way back?

Apparently, former F1 and IRL owner and former Ganassi engineer Mo Nunn is back with Forsythe Racing in Champ Car as an engineer. He could not get into it while owning cars in the IRL, and he had “retired.” Now he’s with Forsythe and Champ Car, maybe he’ll be happy again.

Also, Cristiano Da Matta is pondering a comeback. It’s only been five years since he won the CART championship. Maybe Da Matta’s playing Deerhunter for a while for some payback. It would be nice to see him back.

Damnica Patrick still thinks Dan Wheldon is a bitch

Look at this quote about Dan Wheldon… Danica thinks she’s so high and mighty here that she can talk shit about Dan Wheldon no matter what (even if the contact between Dan and Franchitti caused a flip that could have been worse than it was):

“Dan just came up and hit Dario and Dario flipped around,” Patrick said. “Dan drives really aggressively out there. He said it himself on pit lane at Milwaukee that he’s tougher. I don’t know if tougher means rougher, because he doesn’t play completely fair out there. I even said that on my radio, ‘Dan better play fair today. I’m serious because he likes to drive up and intimidate you.”

Why would Dapper Dan intentionally take someone out? Hey Danica, go race on cold tires and cause a 17-car accident. Even if I sound like Jim Rome here.

Jeremy Mayfield out after this season

Looks like Jeremy Mayfield is out at Bill Davis after this year, after making 8 out of 21 races so far this season. After Ray Evernham screwin’ the development driver/girlfriend and neglecting the team in early 2006, Mayfield’s career has not been on track. Maybe the truck series is a better idea for him in 2008 as Nextel Cup/Busch Series is STACKED.

champ car’s getting more support

Even if you may have never heard of Grafiprint, hey. Another sponsored car. And the race on ABC to boot (with Watkins Glen NASCAR being on ESPN). Makes the field look better. I mean, what the hell is a Rollcoater? A Joost? (ok, I’ve kind of heard the Joost name before, techies) Sure, the IRL may have all of the inherited names and the inherited teams (they even have Dr. Terry Trammell!), but Tony George is repeatedly running it into the ground. Here is a comparison of Tony George’s running of the IRL:

Champ Car will be back. Maybe I just don’t know what Indy means.

markus winkelhock = the next robert doornbos?

I’ve seen this idea floating around in a couple of places around these internets. I want to see European Grand Prix sensation Markus Winkelhock in a Champ Car in 2008 (if he does not get a F1 ride within the next year). With drivers like Robert Doornbos and Neel Jani having success in these F1-like cars and the chances of Champ Car dying or a merger getting ever the smaller, plus Winklehock handling the rain in a crappy Spyker (due to great strategy) and having a funny name, Winklehock might have success here… hell, he might become a household name. He’d be awesome for the series, like Robert Doornbos is (even if Doornbos had more experience).

Just a thought.

i have an art history exam to study for

So, considering that most drivers are making appearances… or pimping, like Bill Lester probably is. I don’t have much to say.. only a couple things of interest.

NASCAR wants to take over the Latin American market.. it might be business but boy you know your sport is growing too fast when.. (insert Jeff Foxworthy joke here), and ratings for the Brickyard 400.. down. from 4.8 to a 4.1. Maybe if that ugly wing isn’t used in the COT next year then.. yeah

Also, Champ Car may really be in Orlando now. Good news.

Fan Friendly Events Planned for MIS IRL weekend.. like a MIS funeral for the Gomers losing the trac?

Oh well. Time to study hard.

the worst liveries of each race series in 2007 so far

Even though I just started this blog, it is the midseason. so we shall review the liveries of the race cars. I am an art student and what got me into racing initially was the colors and paint schemes of the cars. So let’s all puke together. Here are the worst liveries of 2007. Two rules though, no unsponsored cars except if there is a team design that they always use (that is like half the field of Champ Car, and everyone who is not a CART detractor in the Indy Racing League), and it has to run regularly (no David Reutimann Busch Series Talladega car… uglier than shit).

(afforementioned Reutimann’s Talladega Car)

link-a-rama 2 (opinions and more news from around the racing world): electric boogaloo

So, uhhh. check out these links while I download another Klaxons song..

John Daly, a NASCAR broadcast critic, and his thoughts on the Brickyard 400 ESPN broadcast. (Daly Planet)

Sebastien Vettel replaces Scott Speed. Damn, I thought it was Bourdais.. just kidding (F1 Blog)

Show your support for a Champ Car Grand Prix in Orlando, FL in 2008. (thanks champcarfanatics) (Orlando Sentinel)

NASCAR strategy: drive fast and turn left…. ahahahaha (the Onion)

Steve Wallace is ok.. he better avoid those convenience stores next time. (AHN)

sebastien bourdais nascar rumors and other news

Where the hell is Sebastien Bourdais going?

I have to admit, I never hated Sebastien Bourdais, for his attitude, or anything, considering his past antics with not winning (for example, Mont-Tremblant where he blasted Doornbos for blocking). He’s accomplished all he can in Champ Car. But now, the NASCAR mafia have chimed in with many rumors with him going to NASCAR thanks to the Newman-Haas/Yates merger, possibly in their attempts to be Jayski or something, as well as the marketing possibilities that Bourdais overkill brings and the fact Toro Rosso sucks. Bourdais entering NASCAR would be overhyped like Montoya if Bourdais were to run 10th-20th in points so Brian Francehole would get the European market. The rumor was first reported in a little tidbit the Winston-Salem Journal.

(Another point, Champ Car is valuable in creating drivers, like Power, Jani, Graham Rahal, etc., something that the IRL are losers at. Plus the fact that CART created IRL’s drivers (except for FHM-ica), and the IRL is trying to get credit for it.)

Personally, I see him at NASCAR if his F1 career stinks, and I think the NASCAR bloggers will be getting hardons for it.

Dale Jr. sponsor rumors

Speaking of hardons, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had many rumors lately on his primary sponsor and number. We already knows he listens to Walkmans, and that he wears Sambas. Pretty hip. The National Guard wants to sponsor Jr, which would mean that ugly paint scheme (due to the horrible neon yellow day-glo, not the american flag livery) would be driven by Junior. The National Guard flag on Junior’s car would be so patriotic, though. Casey Mears would move to the Kellogg’s car. This is what, his 4th different ride in 4 years?
Kasey Kahne and Budweiser?

Also, speaking of hardons, NASCAR’s hottest driver, Kasey Kahne might be sponsored by America’s best beer. Budweiser. Ok, Bud is not America’s best beer, but it is one of the most marketed. See, there he is drinking a Bud Light. So all of those hot girls that cheer for Kahne are getting real drunk and I can’t wait to hook up with one or two. Maybe Evernham can hook up with one of those Kahne fans. Just kidding.

Jenson Button to quit F1?

Or so he says if he is not winning. Must be that Honda’s concentrating more on NASCAR or something. But yeah, Button’s pissed, don’t go press his buttons, he’s got a case of the mondays.

weekend race review 7/27-7/29

This weekend is not much of a big weekend in the racing world, as there was the Brickyard 400, a pretty big event, the Grand Prix of San Jose, which is an event that is gaining some steam, an NHRA race, and not much else. (edit: F1, the IRL, the ALMS, etc would also be racing if it were a “big weekend in the race world.”)

Allstate Brickyard 400

The overpromoted, yet somewhat underwhelming Allstate Brickyard 400 was won by Tony Stewart and his crew, who gave the IMS fence a nice climb in front of his hometown fans. He also dissed the ESPN people, telling them that they should climb the fence to see how it feels, not to mention the fact that he cussed on national television (ow my ears). Expect an apology tomorrow from Joe Gibbs PR, because NASCAR is overly politically correct on that stuff. That’s why I have some respect for Tony on that front. Other than that, it was kind of an underwhelming race with crashes, a lot of tire problems (goodyear’s tires suck), Rusty Wallace saying “Juan Pablo has done good for his first time at this track,” Dale Jarrett being a good commentator, and Brent Musberger (go back to sucking Michigan Wolverine dick you piece of scum never mind this is a racing blog). At least Juan Pablo finished second. Toyota also had their first Busch Series win with Jason Leffler winning in the Great Clips Toyota.

San Jose GP presented by Redback

The GP of San Jose had its own problems in the start, with eventual winner Robert Doornbos losing a wing in the first lap, and a lot of melee and hijinx. But that turned out to be a decent, exciting race where Doornbos passed Neel Jani with about 10 minutes to go in the race. It looks like San Jose has developed into one of the best races in the schedule. Raphael Matos is also the Champ Car Atlantic champion winning the 2 million dollar prize. He will move up to Champ Car, possibly with Sierra Sierra racing, so Champ Car may have 18-20 cars in the 2008 season, meaning only good things will happen with the series (no reason for Champ Car to die and run out of money, NASCAR-heads).

NHRA Nationals at Infineon

Greg Andrerson got his 50th win of his career in the Pro Stock Circuit at Infineon. Everyone’s favorite driver, John Force (who has had a rough season), won the Funny Car drag race, Tony Schumacher won Top Fuel, and Pro Stock Motorcycle driver Matt Smith padded his points lead with a win.

weekend race schedule/preview

since all that is on TV is the Michael Vick dogfighting trial, Barry Bonds’ chase for 756, the Phil Spector murder case, and neverending coverage of the party lives of crackwhore Lindsay Lohan and drinker extraordinare Paris Hilton.. let’s see the weekend race schedule. watch something else over the weekend for once, racing is awesome. Or you could also get wasted on Saturday night at a college or a bar or something.

NASCAR – Brickyard 400 at Indy, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck at O’Reilly Raceway Park

NASCAR Craftsman Truck –

Friday: Power Stroke Diesel 200 8:00PM on SPEED (Qualifying at 4:30PM on SPEED)

NASCAR Busch Series –

Saturday: Final Practice 12:30PM on ESPN2, Qualifying at 4:30PM, Kroger 200 at 8:00PM

NASCAR Nextel Cup –

Saturday: Qualifying at 10:00 AM (prime hangover time), HappyHour at 3:30PM, ESPN2
Sunday: Brickyard 400 at 2:00 PM, ESPN (1:00 PM pregame)

Brickyard 400 Preview

Jokingly called the Dickyard 400 by the few homosexual people (have friends who are gay that follow it, but i’m not gay at all) who actually follow NASCAR, this race is one of the best sleep aids of the year for those who don’t like oval racing. If this really was the Dickyard 400, Jeff Gordon or Kasey Kahne would win every time. Personally, I predict Tony Stewart to go for his second win in a row in front of the hometown fans.

Champ Car World Series – Grand Prix of San Jose

Sunday: San Jose Grand Prix: 6:00 PM ESPN2

On after the Brickyard 400, the San Jose Grand Prix is no laughing matter and certainly no pushover. It’s an important race in the schedule as Will Power, Sebastien Bourdais, Justin Wilson, and Robert Doornbos fight for the Vanderbilt Cup. And with Indycar fans having an off weekend (except for Tony George where he gets his wads of cash at the Brickyard to screw over other people), this open wheel race is the one to watch. Wait. Champ Car is always the open wheel series that people should watch. Also this.

NHRA – Fram Autolite Nationals

Sunday: NHRA at Infineon 8:00 ESPN2

It’s been an up and down year for the NHRA and it’s 4 national series. Up because of the racing and getting bought out by equity partners so the series would stay in good stability. Down because of the loss of Eric Medlen as well as the lack of a battle in any of the series (all 4 championship leaders lead by a margin of 100 or more). Ashley Force gets a lot of needed attention for the series though.

champ car phoenix promo

sweet promo for the Champ Car Phoenix GP coming in December despite NASCAR’s attempt to crash the party. I wonder what marketing/graphic design firm did all of their promotional spots?

(also the song is Teddybears STHLM ft. Mad Cobra – Cobrastyle)