Thursday, December 30, 2010

Auto Racing Legend Juan Montoya Leaves Formula One For NASCAR

Famous Formula One racer Juan Pablo Montoya has officially turned in his keys and has embarked on a new career in NASCAR. As of Tuesday July 11, Montoya announced that he will be driving on Chip Ganassi�s Nextel Cup team. Being that there are 4 Nextel Cup races left it is a sure thing that Montoya will make his debut some time this year before the season ends. Rumor has it that this was purely a financial move as the potential growth and current earnings of NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers have far outweighed that of their Formula One counterparts.

As announced in his latest press release, "Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition to the NASCAR scene," said Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman of the McLaren Group. "We have agreed that with so many things happening in Juan Pablo's life right now, he should take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and personally for the future." His decision to join NASCAR has been well taken to by both NASCAR and Formula One. "We believe that Juan Pablo's decision to move to NASCAR is very important for him professionally and we will give him every support to ensure that it is a successful transition," said Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

Formula One will miss a very talented and adored driver, and NASCAR will gain a great driver with a hugely diverse and international following. NASCAR officials have been looking to add diversity to their Nextel Cup races as announced earlier in the year and Juan Pablo will be a very welcome addition. This will be a boon to NASCAR as it tries to maintain the remarkable growth it has seen in the past decade. By adding diversity they are looking to add to their fan base and change the misconception that it is a southern or redneck sport. With racetracks being built in Chicago, Las Vegas and California and races being held in new countries like Canada this will only help to further diversify the sport.

Yes, NASCAR still has a huge southern following and should be very thankful for it as this is the most intensely loyal fan base of any sport. Montoya will definitely add character, charm, and ability to the NASCAR crowd. He will also, undoubtedly, keep the other NASCAR drivers on their toes with his immense experience and superior open road skills. Montoya�s debut will definitely be a much anticipated and welcome event for NASCAR fans everywhere.

David Maillie specializes in automotive safety products and information. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information, tips, safety and money saving products for your auto please visit http://www.mdwholesale.com

Article Source: Auto Racing Legend Juan Montoya Leaves Formula One For NASCAR

Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/3477/auto-racing-legend-juan-montoya-leaves-formula-one-for-nascar

Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood Mika Häkkinen

Your questions answered - F1 2010

Was 2010 the best Formula 1 season of all time? Will the 'old' Michael Schumacher be back in 2011? Is Vettel a deserving champion given Alonso was in a much slower car? Will Webber ever win the title? Will Ferrari ever favour Massa over Alonso? Who impressed me most - Kubica or Rosberg?

Watch my answers below:

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CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE UK

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2010/11/your_questions_answered_-_f1_2.html

Kenny Wallace Jason Keller Coleman Pressley Mike Wallace

Video: Button and Hamilton make a surprise visit to the world's greatest garage


First, McLaren Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were left alone to assemble one of their cars. Now, in a new Web video, the teammates wander through the McLaren racing-car collection and get up-close with a major historical milestone : Ayrton Senna's 1988 McLaren MP4/4http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dCclIT9q8/TDJNWev7R1I/AAAAAAAAGb4/AJeWZMwlHJg/s1600/Button+and+Hamilton+make+a+surprise+visit+to+the+world%27s+greatest+garage.jpg


Credit : autoevolution

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/J-ei49F2mws/button-and-hamilton-make-surprise-visit.html

Tony Raines Long John Silver s Chevrolet Tayler Malsam Iron Horse Jeans Toyota

Turkish Grand Prix 2010 Race gallery


Lewis Hamilton won the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix with a bit of a luck from the collision of the Red Bull mates, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton's first win of the season. His team mate Jenson Button finished second and Mark Webber who was leading the race before the incident, finished thirdhttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dCclIT9q8/TAP6axiLoVI/AAAAAAAAGRY/nT0P8oc4FBA/s1600/Turkish+Grand+Prix+2010+Race+gallery.jpg


Credit : Daylife, F1Fanatic

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/rpr_vaitc98/turkish-grand-prix-2010-race-gallery.html

Braun Racing Toyota Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford Mike Bliss

Repaved Daytona Track Smooth and Bump-Free, Drivers Say

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The freshly repaved track at Daytona International Speedway is smooth, has plenty of grip and plenty of room for racing, said NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who participated in Wednesday's Goodyear tire tests at the track.

"They smoothed out all the bumps," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion. "The track is real smooth. It's got a lot of grip. The track reminds me a lot like Talladega was like when they first finished it.

"The racing during the drafting was exciting and I think it is going to be a good show, a more exciting show for the fans because the cars are going to stay real tight on each other throughout entire runs."

The speedway said 18 drivers took part in the tire test Wednesday -- the first day of a two-day Goodyear test to determine the proper tire compound for the 2.5-mile speedway's new racing surface before the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. Drivers turned laps on the speedway in both single car and drafting sessions.

It was the first time race cars have been on the track at speed since the repaving job was completed earlier this month. From July to December, the entire track was repaved for only the second time since it was built and opened in 1959.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/15/repaved-daytona-track-smooth-and-bump-free-drivers-say/

A and W Ford Kevin Conway Extenze Toyota Mattias Ekstrom

Jimmie Johnson (Who Else?) Named Driver of the Year

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Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has been named Driver of the Year for the fourth time -- tying a record with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon for the most wins in the prestigious award's 44-year history and putting him ahead of three-time winners Mario Andretti and Darrell Waltrip.

Johnson, who is the first to win five consecutive Sprint Cup titles, edged drag racing legend John Force, who won a historic 15th National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) championship. Johnson received 10 first-place votes from the 20-member panel of racing journalists and broadcasters while Force earned seven votes. Kyle Busch, who won a NASCAR-best 24 races in three national divisions this season, received one first-place vote.

"Among such tough competition; with the voting panel, who it is and how well-versed they are in motorsports, it's a huge, huge honor," said Johnson, who will receive a Tissot watch and trophy from the organization.

Driver of the Year President Barry Smoyer said the final vote came following one of the most "spirited" debates in the history of the award, which honors the best driver in an American four-wheel racing series or best American driver racing overseas.

"As many people have said already, it will be a long time before anyone will set the bar as high as Jimmie Johnson," Schmoyer said.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/15/jimmie-johnson-who-else-named-driver-of-the-year/

Phil Hill Peter Hirt David Hobbs Gary Hocking