The other motorsports thread (Nascar, Indy, WTC, BTCC, etc)

Hey all

This thread is for discussing other motorsports in general. I am a fan of the British Touring Car Championship and World Rally Championship. However, due to irregular tv times or channel slots (it goes on ITV 4 which I cant get as I dont have SKY or Digital TV) they are slowly declining in popularity. Also with the dropping of major manufacturers in the WRC it seems it wont be growing back to its old ways with teams like Ford now being private teams rather than run by the car manufacturers.

Anyway, enjoy :)

I enjoyed the NASCAR race today at Talledega. 2 big wrecks, no injuries, and controversy to the end. Congrats to Tony Stewart and glad to see Jimmie Johnson get the lead in points from Carl Edwards.

I am sad to see WRC waining in popularity. I didn't realize it was losing support in Europe as well. It is not broadcast here in America anymore, Speed Channel and WRC couldn't agree on a contract I think. I would certainly watch as much of it as I could.

2008 Sprint Cup Standings ( 10/5/2008 )

1 Jimmie Johnson 5718 Leader

2 Carl Edwards 5646 -72

3 Greg Biffle 5641 -77

4 Jeff Burton 5619 -99

5 Clint Bowyer 5566 -152

6 Kevin Harvick 5547 -171

7 Tony Stewart 5515 -203

8 Jeff Gordon 5486 -232

9 Matt Kenseth 5473 -245

10 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5469 -249

11 Kyle Busch 5387 -331

12 Denny Hamlin 5383 -335

Regan Smith should have won that race, not Stewart.

Yeah true for WRC, I loved it as a kid. Sit down watch some F1 on Speedvision and then there would be some WRC... Better than Saturday morning cartoons, but on a Sunday!

Regan Smith should have won that race, not Stewart.

XSamFisherX

I was divided, at first it looked like Regan Smith was still behind Stewart when Smith swerved below the yellow line. Then when I saw it a few more times Regan had just gotten underneath Stewart. And Stewart did what a driver in that spot should do. But like Jeff Gordon said on WindTunnel with Dave Despain, Regan will learn that you do not go below that yellow line and if you wreck the guy then that is what happens.

OH GOD!

This week also has MotoGP at the same day as F1, with a really close time too!

well, at Asia, they are aired not together, but it is sitll "shocked" me.

Am I seeing that IndyCar is running in Australia right now? How did I miss this?

Briscoe, Dixon, Hunter-Reay @ Lap 20

ROSSI SET FOR WALES RALLY DRIVE:

Six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will switch from two wheels to four next month when he drives in the Wales Rally GB.

The 29-year-old will race in a Ford Focus which will carry logos in support of the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

Rossi, who is said to be interested in a long-term switch to rallying, first raced in the Welsh Rally back in 2002.

"I am hoping for a good result at next weekend's Monza Rally to prepare for the forests of Wales," said Rossi.

"I'm also delighted to be supporting BBC Children in Need, which does such vital work in the UK.

"It's a great charity and one I'm very pleased to be involved in."

The charity will hold a charity auction on Friday 5 December, as well as collecting money over the course of the action.

"It's a tremendous honour to have Valentino Rossi promoting the charity," said Children in Need spokesman Marc Phillips.

"We have had a remarkable response to this year's event on 14 November - and this will be a fabulous final flourish for us."

Rossi made his World Rally debut in Wales in 2002 but crashed out on the second stage, while he finished 11th in the 2006 Rally New Zealand.

He has also competed in the last three Monza Rally races, winning the 2006 and 2007 events.

Rossi has also been linked with a move to Formula One recently having tested for Ferrari, but he has signed a two-year contract to keep him at Yamaha until 2010.

Wales Rally organiser Andrew Coe added: "He is a supreme ambassador for all forms of motorsport, as well as a remarkably-gifted sportsman.

"We look forward to seeing him take on the challenges of the Welsh forests."

Rossi's co-driver in Wales will be his 48-year-old compatriot Carlo Cassina, with the event starting on 4 December and running for four days.

SOURCE: BBC SPORT

McRAE IS HONOURED IN HALL OF FAME:

Motor racing legend Colin McRae has been inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.

Former World Rally champion McRae, who died in a helicopter crash alongside his young son last September, is one of four new inductees.

Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam-winning captain David Sole was also honoured.

And Olympic swimmer Catherine Brown and disability sportswoman Isabel Newstead were recognised for their outstanding sporting achievements.

McRae, the son of five-times British rally champion Jimmy, wrote his name in the record books in 1995 when he became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon presided over the occasion at the National Museum of Scotland.

And Sturgeon said: "It is a fantastic privilege to be able to pay tribute to Catherine, Colin, David and Isabel.

"Honouring these sporting greats highlights our outstanding achievements as a nation and gives us a great opportunity to look back on the many champions that our country has produced.

"Their induction into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame will help ensure that their legacy continues to inspire for generations to come."

Accepting the award on behalf of McRae was his wife, Alison, and father Jim.

Alison said: "Colin would have been honoured and privileged to become a member of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame and take his place alongside the greats of Scottish sporting history."

Sole, who was capped 44 times for Scotland's rugby union team, will forever be remembered for the inspirational manner in which he led his side out at Murrayfield for the Grand Slam decider against England in 1990, with the Scots famously triumphing 13-7.

The loose-head prop also captained the British and Irish Lions in two of their three series-winning tests against Australia in 1989.

Brown is one of Scotland's most successful-ever female swimmers.

She achieved 29 British records spread over a 16-year career in which she won three European Championship medals and went on to swim at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, winning bronze in the 400m free****

Isabel Newstead excelled in several sports, including swimming, athletics and shooting, and won nine medals across all three sports at the Paralympic Games in Athens in 1984.

She also competed in the 1988 and 2004 Paralympics, winning a gold medal in the women's air pistol. She passed away in 2007.

SOURCE: BBC SPORT

Agreed, he is a true legend of the World Rally Championship along with others like Richard Burns. Its a shame what has happened to these two individuals and their families.

As for Rossi, good for him for doing this for charity when I bet many sponsors would have paid good money to be on his car.

Well the NASCAR season has come to an end. And it seems 2008 is the year for history making of all sorts.  Formula 1 crowns youngest and first Briton champion (that's not right? :P), US elections make history, and NASCAR has only it's second driver to three-peat to the championship.

Jimmie Johnson 2006, 2007, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion

Carl Edwards did all he could, won the race and led the most laps, but Johnson's consistency and determination were a wall he could not climb.

Personally, I am sad to see that Jeff Gordon failed to win a race this year (first time in 14 years) and am hopeful that team will come on strong next year. You really can't beat the Hendrick Motorsports 2009 line-up (Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin).

Looking ahead, things are changing, testing has been banned by NASCAR for all teams, saving about $1 million per team, but causing layoffs. How will the slumping economy further affect the smaller teams? Are changes in store for the Car of Tomorrow (COT)? Will the Chase format be changed? Who knows but next year looks to be an exciting year just as this past one was. One prediction, I think that in less than 5 years we will see a hybrid powertrain similar to the next year's F1 and ALMS KERS systems. It will be exciting nonetheless, and we will watch because racing is just fun!

Damon Hill, Sir Jackie Stewart et al not ring a bell? :P

Its good when you can get some competition into the mix, I just hope Nascar wont get the F1 situation of "oh look, Schumacher wins it.... again......"

Yes I rather thought that might raise some eyebrows.  A bit of sharp wit and poking fun at all the announcers and commentators that say, 'well it doesn't/shouldn't matter, but it is worth mentioning he is the first black man to win an F1 championship.'

I doubt Jimmie could keep it going like Schumie.  For one NASCAR doesn't back Jimmie quite like the FIA supported Ferrari. :D  And it's less about the manufacturers than it is the drivers.  So while it is possible, I see Earnhardt Jr. or certainly Edwards making strong runs next year.

Also, in IndyCar news Helio Castroneves will not get an extension on his court date that would have postponed it till after the IndyCar season next year.  May be a bit of uncertainty if he is not able/allowed to the finish the season after the trial.

MotoGP

Opening round in Qatar has been delayed due to poor weather conditions. Hey, it's Malaysia all over again!

QATAR MOTOGP CANCELLED BY STORM

The opening round of the 2009 MotoGP championship in Qatar had to be cancelled on Sunday night after torrential rain.

Earlier in the day the 125cc and 250cc races had been shortened by the weather but the rain returned with a vengeance as the riders lined up on the grid.

Race organisers are considering the possibility of postponing the race until Monday.

Casey Stoner had been due to start on pole position ahead of Valentino Rossi.

The signs were not good on Saturday, when rain fell just before and after the MotoGP qualifying session.

Sunday's racing programme began with the 125cc race, which had to be stopped after just four laps because of the rain.

Italy's Andrea Iannone was declared the winner, ahead of Julian Simon and Sandro Cortese, with Britain's Bradley Smith in fifth place.

The 250cc riders fared slightly better, with their race reduced from 20 to 13 laps because of earlier weather problems.

Spain's Hector Barbera won ahead of French pair Jules Cluzel and Mike Di Meglio, getting the crowd warmed up for the eagerly-anticipated main race.

But with the riders in place on the grid, the heavens opened and a combination of rain and high winds made racing impossible.

Qatar has an average of eight days' rain per year, and if the race had taken place during the day, it would just have been a factor for the riders to deal with rather than stopping the race.

But because it was being staged under lights, the glare off the wet track would have made racing impossible.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

EDIT: The race has been re-scheduled for 7PM BST on Monday 13th April.

UK viewers can catch the Qatar opening round on the BBC Red Button service or on the BBC Sport website by tuning in at 6:45 PM. The race starts at 7.

Also, XSFX, from the unlikely headlines thread:

The forecaster for F1.com is presented with the award for most accurate weather predictor of 2009, somehow managing to correctly forecast the flood that hit Bahrain.Redders1989

UK viewers can catch the Qatar opening round on the BBC Red Button service or on the BBC Sport website by tuning in at 6:45 PM. The race starts at 7.

Also, XSFX, from the unlikely headlines thread:

[QUOTE="Redders1989"]The forecaster for F1.com is presented with the award for most accurate weather predictor of 2009, somehow managing to correctly forecast the flood that hit Bahrain.Redders1989

Man, Here in Indonesia we should wake up at midnight to watch it.

Because here is the GMT+7 time zone.(So, 6:45+7=1:45 AM)

The biggest news of the day and possibly the week, yes moreso than the diffusers. :P

Helio is Free!

A mistrial was declared in the tax evasion case today.

Full Story

NASCAR:

If anyone has a chance to watch the last 5 laps of the Sprint Cup race at Talledega, it was pretty hair-raising. Carl Edwards went airborne 50 yards from the checkered flag and pulled a 'Ricky Bobby' to finish.

NASCAR:

If anyone has a chance to watch the last 5 laps of the Sprint Cup race at Talledega, it was pretty hair-raising. Carl Edwards went airborne 50 yards from the checkered flag and pulled a 'Ricky Bobby' to finish.

mgmeek

YouTube linkage?

[QUOTE="mgmeek"]

NASCAR:

If anyone has a chance to watch the last 5 laps of the Sprint Cup race at Talledega, it was pretty hair-raising. Carl Edwards went airborne 50 yards from the checkered flag and pulled a 'Ricky Bobby' to finish.

Redders1989

YouTube linkage?

Well, it just happened but I'll try.

The finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcCWhltnS2E

The first big one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ruiRLRa4Q

Most definitely a blessing that nobody was 'seriously' injured. As of last night they said that 8 people were treated for injuries but none life-threatening.

Yeah SamFisher, P4 a former V8 Supercar champ, Aussie Marcos Ambrose and P5 former F1 driver Scott Speed. To survive 'Dega and finish in the top 5 is a massive accomplishment.

MotoGP: Three races, three different winners, three different Championship leaders - Now Rossi heads the table.

In other news, congratulations to young Bradley Smith from the UK, who won his first GP race in the 125cc cIass.

Heh, well the Indy 500 falls on the same day as the Monaco GP. How 'bout that?Redders1989

[QUOTE="Redders1989"]Heh, well the Indy 500 falls on the same day as the Monaco GP. How 'bout that?XSamFisherX

And Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.

Addition: This World Superbike racing is amazing! Spies either P1 or Plast but so fun to watch. 

[QUOTE="XSamFisherX"][QUOTE="Redders1989"]Heh, well the Indy 500 falls on the same day as the Monaco GP. How b'out that?mgmeek

And Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.

Addition: This World Superbike racing is amazing! Spies either P1 or Plast but so fun to watch.

Spies vs Haga/Fabrizio was insane.:twisted:

[QUOTE="mgmeek"]

[QUOTE="XSamFisherX"][QUOTE="Redders1989"]Heh, well the Indy 500 falls on the same day as the Monaco GP. How b'out that?kono11

And Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.

Addition: This World Superbike racing is amazing! Spies either P1 or Plast but so fun to watch.

Spies vs Haga/Fabrizio was insane.:twisted:

When they get to the US in a few weeks the fans are going to be crazy!

Haga is great racer, unfortunate bad luck in Race 2. But I love his after race interview, usually has a funny soundbite.

Rossi lost because he falls on a corner.The falll is caused by a wrong choice of tyre. And he also get a ride through penalty.

Uh. Justice is NOT served.

Chaos at the WTCC Pau Race 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYO4yPmf5AI

Three accounts of blame in my opinion; the driver, for going a little too fast when the safety car signs were out, and seeing as he was leading, he should've expected it to appear where it did, also the safety car driver, for pulling across the track and braking, and finally race control for sending the safety car out so late.

One of my friend's bf works for the WTTC, and he said it was the safety car driver'#s fault entirely.

MotoGP - Stoner breaks Rossi's Mugello streak, Toseland finishes 7th

And a good word for 125cc rider Bradley Smith, who took his 2nd victory and now leads the championship!