Herck fastest in GP2 testing

Michael Herck was quickest for Coloni as GP2 testing in Abu Dhabi resumed today ahead of next weekend's Asia series opener. The teams switched to a 2.939-mile configuration of the Yas Marina track for today's test, and will also use this layout for the forthcoming races. Herck emerged on top of an extremely close afternoon session during a late exchange of fast times following a red flag near the end of the day.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/other-news/formula-cars/gp2/herck-fastest-in-gp2-testing/

Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V

Blake's Takes: They Used to Call Bill France, Jr. a Smart-A**ed Kid, Too

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Editor's Note: Ben Blake is a long-time racing reporter and commentator known for his honest, perceptive and irreverent commentary. He started covering NASCAR and motorsports in 1982 with The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch and later spent 10 years as chief NASCAR editor for Racer magazine and for SpeedTV. He is author or co-author of five NASCAR-related books, including Dale Earnhardt: Determined, the authorized biography of Dale Earnhardt.

Well, I've been watching Brian France again lately, and heaven still my pen.

I haven't paid much attention to Brian in the four or so years since I came off full-time NASCAR beat coverage, but he still strikes me the same way - an arrogant punk with the smug look of someone born on third base thinking he hit a triple.

Brian (right), current chief officer of NASCAR, just doesn't seem to have focus and grip on the huge product he inherited, third-generation scion of the France clan of motorsport moguls. Sure, he played a large part in developing NASCAR's network-television packages in 2000, and for that we'll give him some credit. On the other hand, he's responsible for that abortion called The Chase to the Sprint Cup championship, and other mental breakdowns.

Funny thing though: Scribes older than I, ones who came to the game when founder Big Bill France was unquestioned Big Chief, thought pretty much the same of little Billy France -- William C. France, or Bill France "Jr." -- who was given the controls in 1972, when his father, Big Bill, decided to back away. Billy (left) was 38 when he ascended to the throne, about the same age as Brian was when Bill Jr. stepped aside in 2003.

Billy was an arrogant punk, the old hands said, a smart-a**ed kid who got the job through the lineage rather than through any demonstrated aptitude.

Moreover, the old man had bequeathed to his son the beginnings of a series sponsorship, from R.J. Reynolds, which over its 33-year lifetime grew to multimillions of dollars annually and pretty much kept the game alive during the cruel years following the Detroit pull-outs of 1970 and 1971 and the OPEC oil embargo in 1973-74.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/02/blakes-takes-they-used-to-call-bill-france-jr-a-smart-assed/

Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr

With Kenseth Family Expecting; Back-Up Drivers are Set for Daytona Through Las Vegas

Katie & Matt Kenseth - Photo Credit: David Becker/Getty Images With the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season set to return to action at Daytona International Speedway next week, Roush Fenway Racing?s Matt Kenseth and his wife Katie are expecting great things for the month of February with the addition of a new baby.  The Kenseths...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/02/04/with-kenseth-family-expecting-back-up-drivers-are-set-for-daytona-through-las-vegas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=with-kenseth-family-expecting-back-up-drivers-are-set-for-daytona-through-las-vegas

David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney

Video: Top Gear Mexico remarks get the animated dramatization treatment

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Next Media Animation of Top Gear Mexico controversy
Mexico takes on Top Gear in animated form - Click above to watch video after the jump

It started with politically incorrect commentary from Jerermy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May; the hosting trio of the BBC's Top Gear. When discussing the Mexican-built Mastretta MXT, the three quickly turned to jokes relating the car to stereotypical viewpoints on Mexican citizens.

Shortly thereafter, the Mexican Ambassador didn't find the spot humorous and complained to the BBC, which in turn has issued an apology (kind of). Now this entire affair has reached the modern pinnacle of worldwide attention... it's been (That's right, you guessed it!) turned into a cartoon by Next Media Animation. Finally!

Click past the jump to view Taiwan's take on the the show's falling out with Mexico. And remember, Top Gear can suck it!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Top Gear Mexico remarks get the animated dramatization treatment

Video: Top Gear Mexico remarks get the animated dramatization treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/04/video-top-gear-mexico-remarks-get-the-animated-dramatiza/

Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V

NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil to run the Truck Series championship

Given the choice of pursuing another Camping World Truck Series title or trying to make the Sprint Cup Series playoffs, Travis Kvapil chose to go trucking. the 2001 Truck Series rookie of the year and 2003 champion will replace former … Continue reading

Source: http://nascar-news-update.com/nascar-driver-travis-kvapil-to-run-the-truck-series-championship/

Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven

New Charity-Branded Packages of BC and Goody?s Powders Go On Sale To Benefit Wounded Warrior Project and Victory Junction on Behalf of Trace Adkins and Richard Petty

PickAPowder.com, the friendly rivalry campaign between Trace Adkins and Richard Petty, is giving fans a chance to not only fight tough pain but also help children fighting for their lives and injured service members fighting for our country Country Music Singer Trace Adkins Tries Getting Into the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford FusionMemphis, TN...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/02/04/new-charity-branded-packages-of-bc-and-goody%e2%80%99s-powders-go-on-sale-to-benefit-wounded-warrior-project-and-victory-junction-on-behalf-of-trace-adkins-and-richard-petty/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-charity-branded-packages-of-bc-and-goody%25e2%2580%2599s-powders-go-on-sale-to-benefit-wounded-warrior-project-and-victory-junction-on-behalf-of-trace-adkins-and-richard-petty

Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton

Guest stars on AUTOSPORT.com Live

Subscribe to AUTOSPORT's Live coverage of the second day of the Valencia test and you might just get the opportunity to ask questions to some Formula 1 folk. We've been promised visits from some special guests up in the press centre during the day, including Team Lotus's chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne and Virgin's new race driver Jerome D'Ambrosio. Unfortunately we can't promise when they will come on because of the nature of testing, but we expect Jerome to visit us imminently.

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/guest-stars-on-autosport-com-live/

William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon

Brawn: Forward exhausts not essential

Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn expects a number of outfits to experiment with blown floor concepts before the first race of the season - following the interest caused by Renault's radical new design. Renault caused a stir at the opening Formula 1 test in Valencia when its new R31 featured sidepod exhausts ? which exit at the front of the car to blow gases along the under-body

Source: http://www.inracingnews.com/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/brawn-forward-exhausts-not-essential/

David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney

Bloomberg?s BusinessWeek names MIS boss ?Innovator?

Michigan International SpeedwayBROOKLYN, Mich. (Feb. 4, 2011) ? Bloomberg Businessweek has named Michigan International Speedway chief Roger Curtis an ?Innovator? for his efforts to bring research and development testing to the Brooklyn, Mich., racetrack. Curtis says his position in auto innovation is an unlikely one. For most of his 18 years in motorsports administration, he...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2011/arca/02/04/bloomberg%e2%80%99s-businessweek-names-mis-boss-%e2%80%98innovator%e2%80%99/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bloomberg%25e2%2580%2599s-businessweek-names-mis-boss-%25e2%2580%2598innovator%25e2%2580%2599

Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V