Dan Wheldon recorded Target’s second win of the season through four rounds, becoming the first repeat winner at Kansas Speedway in the process. Wheldon opened up a 2.1778 second gap over Tony Kanaan and notched his 14th career victory. Wheldon’s last victory came at Kansas Speedway last season. The win is the 18th for Target Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series, and 58th overall in open wheel racing.
Wheldon moves up from fifth to third in the Indy racing League points standings with 135 points. Next up for the team is the Indianapolis 500, May 25th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (NOON ET on ABC).
Apparently Chip Ganassi stays on Wheldon pretty hard. First there is a fuel mileage issue.
I told a few people in interviews already about this" Wheldon says, "Chip gets on my #### so much about not saving fuel. He's on me all the time. Apparently he says that I just like to lead from the front and that's lost me a lot of races. So every possible opportunity, I was saving."
Then there is the whining thing.
"Last year there were situations where I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm not allowed to say too much because Chip says I sound like a spoiled brat when I complain about stuff like that."
Too bad the Englishman has a bit in his mouth. You would think a former IRL champion would be free to speak as he sees fit. I guess not. It's disappointing that a young veteran of Wheldon's stature, just hitting his stride, feels like his owner is acting like his daddy.
ChampCars sister series, the Indy Racing League (IRL) has Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher. ChampCar has Katherine Legge. Her pink and purple web site Is all woman. Her skills on the course are all driver. Legge finished sixth in ChampCars Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday.
"Woman Driver" is the first in-depth look at Katherine Legge, in her own words along with commentary from those who have witnessed the transformation from her humble beginnings to her meteroic rise in the male-dominated world of motorsports.
Some say she doesn’t belong on the racetrack. Year after year, she has to prove that she has the grit, the stamina, the physical strength, and the wherewithal to not only race, but to meet all the demands of a career as a race car driver. Who is this young superstar, who came seemingly out of nowhere to capture the hearts and minds of open wheel racing fans? “Woman Driver” is the poignant and inspiring true story of Katherine Legge and her remarkable journey through the highly competitive world of racing.
The story recounts Katherine’s early years, as she sacrificed every available moment of her childhood by racing go-karts. By sheer force of determination, and with the weight of history and gender at her heels, she advanced through the amateur ranks to the professional level. And then the real challenges began.
The top 14 finishers in the Busch Race on Saturday in Atlanta were Nextel Cup regulars or Buschwackers. I'm throwing them out. Who won the BUSCH race? Sam Hornish Jr.,.
Wait. He is an Indy Racing League (IRL) regular. Does that make him a Buschwacker?
Let's see, who's blog is this? Mine damn it! I am making the rules here.
HORNISH WINS!
"HAMPTON, Ga. (March 17, 2007) – Sam Hornish Jr. came from one lap down in his Penske Truck Rental Dodge Charger to post his first-ever top-15 finish in the Busch Series in Saturday's Nicorette 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hornish, who ran in the top 15 for most of the 195-lap event, lost a lap on lap 128 when he received a pass-through penalty for speeding into his pit during a green-flag stop. That dropped him outside the top 20, but he remained in the top 25.
"That’s really my first green-flag pit stop in these cars and it takes some getting used to," said Hornish, who qualified fifth for his fifth Busch Series race. "It’s more difficult than what we have with Indy Cars. Of course, we drive Indy Cars in there a lot harder and they slow down quicker, but you have the pit speed limiter. It was real close, but I knew there might be an opportunity to get black-flagged there.""
Wallace’s veteran experience helped him "methodically move forward from his 40th starting position. A combination of patience on the race track by Wallace and speed by the Phoenix Racing team during pit stops would help move the #7 GEICO Chevrolet to the front of the field. Wallace would run as high as 3rd, while also leading a lap for the 4th time in 5 races, resulting in 20 bonus points this season. When the checkered flag waved at the 1.54-mile quad-oval, Wallace would finish on the Lead Lap in the 17th position, a substantial improvement over his 40th place starting spot. In 2007, Wallace has been nothing less than consistent, as his finish in Atlanta moved him up to 8th position in driver points. He sits just 35 points removed from the Top 5, after being 54 points removed just a week ago.
Fresh off of a top-10 finish at Las Vegas, Shane Huffman finished 19th "at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the NASCAR Busch Series Nicorette 300."
At last, some good news. The word of Bobby Hamilton's passing has really put my week on a low. But now I have a silver lining. My favorite IRL driver, Dario Franchitti will be back with AGR for another year. This is good news.
It should mean a competitive race car for Dario. But he will have to overcome last year's poor performance. And he may have to face being the fourth wheel on the crowded team where Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti will get all the good stuff leaving Tony Kanaan and Dario to suck the hind teats. But hey, how bad can it be having to go home to meet Ashlie Judd every night?
Still, "he will continue to provide a lot in the development areas we are working on." = Scary
Dario Franchitti will remain with Andretti Green Racing for a fifth consecutive season in the IndyCar Series this year. The team has confirmed the news that the Scot will complete their four-car line-up, joining Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick on the team. He said: "I haven't been this excited to get back in a race car for quite a long time. We had some very good race cars last year and I expect to be contending for race wins this season." Andretti Green Racing is the winningest team in Indy Racing League history.
Franchitti had a difficult year in 2006, but team boss Michael Andretti believes the experienced Scot can recapture his race-winning form this year. "Dario has proven over and over that he is one of the best drivers in the world," said Andretti, "and we are happy he's going to return to the Indy Car Series. He is a fantastic leader and along with Tony Kanaan, he will continue to provide a lot in the development areas we are working on."
Franchitti, received the first track time of ’07 this week at California Speedway during a Honda manufacturer test along with Dan Wheldon and Vitor Meira. “We had some very good race cars last season and I expect to be contending for race wins when we return to the track in March.” This will mark Franchitti’s 10th season with the Andretti Green team. He spent five seasons with Team Green before joining Andretti Green Racing in 2003.
In announcing it has re-signed Dario Franchitti for 2007, Andretti Green Racing adds another seasoned driver for the 17-race IndyCar Series season. Franchitti has four IndyCar Series victories and three pole starts in 50 starts. Last season, AGR cars visited Victory Lane twice, Kanaan at Milwaukee and Andretti at Infineon, after compiling 19 aggregate victories the previous two years. Franchitti, 33, recorded seven top-10 finishes in 13 races last season, with a high of second to Andretti on the Infineon Raceway road course in August. He’ll drive the No. 27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone.
Michael Andretti is glad to have all of his deals done. I'm encouraged with the changes we've made in the off-season and it should produce better results for us on the track. " It's very important to us that Canadian Club has returned for the 2007 season. We've had a long relationship with Beam Global Spirits & Wine and we appreciate their support and activation. The season-opening race on the IndyCar Series schedule is Saturday, March 24, from Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Canadian Club, in its second season of partnership with AGR, will also be an associate sponsor on AGR's IndyCar Series entries driven by Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick. A member of the Beam Global Spirits & Wine family, Canadian Club is one of the largest and most prominent Canadian whisky brands in the world. The brand features Canadian Club 6-year old, Canadian Club Reserve, Canadian Club Sherry Cask and Canadian Club Classic® 12. Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is the fourth largest spirits company in the world. With nine of the world s top-100 premium spirits in its portfolio, the company s brands hold global and national leadership positions in key categories, including Jim Beam® bourbon; Canadian Club® Canadian whisky; Courvoisier® cognac; Laphroaig® Scotch; Sauza® tequila; Larios® gin; Whisky DYC®; Teacher s® Scotch; and DeKuyper® cordials.
Franchitti will also team with Bryan Herta and his brother, Marino Franchitti, in the XM Satellite Radio-sponsored Acura-powered Courage as AGR ventures into the American Le Mans Series LMP2 class in 2007. Franchitti will see some time in the #26 XM Satellite Radio ALMS car at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the first event on the 2007 ALMS schedule where Canadian Club will also be an associate sponsor on that car. Dario stated, "On the ALMS front, to be able to drive with Acura power will certainly give us plenty of great opportunities on tracks where I've been successful in the past. I've driven with Marino before and we're both excited about being together in a world-class car."
Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 (unofficially ) and six other occasions (probably if they still did this). Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
