(Quote from ALMS website) "The new prototype is the first diesel car in the world to win a major sports car race."

The broadcast crew and the American LeMans Series calls yesterdays 12 hours of Sebring a historical event with the headline reading "Audi diesel-powered R10 TDI of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello power there way to victory in the 12 hours of Sebring."

What really happened: There were two things going on at the 12 hours of Sebring with one being the historical aspect going on in the P1 class with the two Audi TDI's (diesel-powered) prototypes that showed the entire motorsports world that diesel-powered vehicles can win and win they did, the #2 Audi TDI won overall, they had to start from pitroad after a problem race morning and could not start on the pole along side there team Audi.

The other, the 12 hour endorse race that came out with flying colors with lots of passing and interesting driving on this non-smooth surface, for any team to finish, let along finish upfront is a goal in itself, the surface is very bumpy to say the least, I guess it was an old airbase or something, but it makes for good racing. Having a car that not only handles, but sets fast laps is necessary. Every team had there problems though this 12 hour event, whether it was mechanicals with a gearbox or fuel pump to a simply, overheating problems. The trend thoughout this event was if you had a team car, you or your team car had big problems and were either out of the race or many laps down.

The race also had the #4 Chevy Corvette of Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen winning.

Overall, I love 12 hour and 24 hour endorse races, including those that start in the day and go into the night and for the 12 hours of sebring, I watch the entire speed coverage and enjoyed it, simply a great for an endorse race.

See Yeah!
(Writen on March 19, 2006)

This past weekend, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was back in action after a weekend off, with all of the talk and hype in odds before the race of who would win the 400 with either Roush or Hendrick winner, those were good odds. The odds paid off with an interesting race with some side-by side racing and passing. Most of the 400 was the same as years past with the lead streeching it out, but cautions flags graced the field along with blown right front tires.. In the end, the green-white-checkered would play a huge roll in deciding the outcome of this race, before the last caution came out it was between Jimmie Johnson in Hendrick and Matt Kenseth who was leading in Roush, when the field went back green, it was't until the white flag lap going into turn 3 were Johnson drove deep into turn 3 on the outside of Kenseth and down the frontstraight with Jimmie Johnson repeating once again in taking the victory in the 400.

That was the same headline I wrote last year, "Jimmie Johnson wins in Vegas", but one twist, without Chad Knaus..What is up with this team, 2 victories and a 2nd place finish with the points lead in the first three races, we have seen this before, can he keep it up, ask me again in September at Richmond.

"My Take" Should Las Vegas Motor Speedway get a second cup date? Should they also resurface/upgrade the Speedway including adding 20 degrees of banking?

Second Cup date: No, if it means taking it away from a track like Bristol, Martinsville or someother good race track. Smith would have to take it from one of his other tracks, California Speedway would be one in my opinion. That region with California Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix (PIR) are within 2 - 3 hours apart from each other and don't need another Cup date, try other series.

Rebuilding the speedway with new fan zone and 20 degrees of banking including a closer pitroad: In this fans opinion, go for it, but whats the racing going to be like on a new surface...

One thing: Did anyone caught the Formula One race from Bahrain, damn, there was passing, lots of passing thoughout the field and what a fight for the victory between Alonso and Schumacher & during the hole fight, Raikkonen, who started dead last on the field was on a one stop plan coming up though the field to finish 3rd. What a great race for Formula One and Great job to Alonso picking up were he leftoff in winning the race and Ferrari is back.

This Formula One season is going to be interesting with all new rules including new tire rule and qualifing process.

See Yeah!
(Writen on March 15, 2006)

Welcome to Racedriven Weblog, I have been blogging for over a year on my weblog called Racedriven dot com weblog at Racedriven.com . I will be uploading five of my featured columns from the past couple of months dating back to NASCAR in Las Vegas, I will so continue to post columns a couple times a month. Enjoy.

See Yeah!