Long it was just a rumor, since today it is then certain: the German Maro Engel one of the nine will be driving Mercedes in the DTM. Since some are wondering: "Maro ... who?". In fact, the German in Germany is largely unknown. He was traveling sporadically from 2001 to 2004 in the junior series. In 2001 he came third in the Formula BMW Junior Championship, in 2002 he landed in Formula BMW in eighth place. He sidewalk in 2003 and 04 in the F3 Euro Series, where he was, however, only very rarely used and could enter no results. Then we went for a rather Maues year in the Italian Formula 3000 series. In 2006 he raced in the British Formula 3 series and the championship was fifth in 2007 he became vice-champion, had, however, against the outstanding Estonian Marko Asmer, who is now a test driver for BMW Sauber, no chance. As for him not yet opened in GP2 A1 in a way, the jump in the DTM has been the best thing that ever happened to him. Engel was born in Munich, but has lived longer in Monaco. If I'm right in the head, his father is not entirely powerless.

Noted he is to me the first time in 2006 in the British F3 series. He had a place at Carlin Motorsport, one of the best addresses in England. They have (in various series) are formed already as riders like Anthony Davidson, Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel. He certainly was not slow in the F3 series, but he lacked exactly that last for quite a tick to go forward. Time he was unlucky, and he was innocent of involvement in an accident, sometimes he himself made a mistake. What distinguishes him is quite a big will to win and the ability to really "bite" to. I think it was 2006, when he at Spa the first run safely in his pocket, and he then left the technology almost at the last minute. In the second race, he waded through half the field and scored his victory after the previous day. Who can such a thing in Spa will not be a bad driver. His experience in touring the area and move towards zero but I'm curious how he proposes this season. At least it's starting to ever quite good - this morning was in the DTM test at Mugello the fastest ever. But service really not the big stars on the go.

Long it was just a rumor, since today it is then certain: the German Maro Engel one of the nine will be driving Mercedes in the DTM. Since some are wondering: ...

Update, 14:43 clock: The discussion about the Goodyear tires in NASCAR does not stop. Tony Stewart repeated his allegations (see below), no more, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. pointed out that yes, it could also be that the tires would look after use as they have done before. Jeff Gordon reported that he was in his car throughout the race so much had to force on course that he's going to have white knuckles through the gloves can see. Then he joked that NASCAR would all have to get really, because no one would have reached the "minimum speed". Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Schrader to after the race were not quite agree. Spencer wieß out that there had nevertheless been no blowouts, Schrader said that the tires would have made the races boring. There have been no fights and the infamous triple-breasted one has seen can not because the cars are so much slipped, so the drivers did not dare to ride side by side for many laps.

If even a friend like Jeff Gordon sponsors about Goodyear publicly makes fun of and agree with Tony Stewart, the tire manufacturers should address all the alarm bells. The opposite seems to be the case of. According to an official PR statement said Goodyear marketing manager Justin Fantozzi: "We are tremendously proud of the wear rates we saw here."

- Snip -

Quite a few have in recent years, every now and then demands that he should go on ovals in Atlanta, Texas and Chicagoland with restrictor plates. The races are too boring, pulled the box apart too quickly. And besides, were 500 miles clearly too much. But yesterday's race was exceptionally shown that even a belt like the 365 laps in Atlanta can still have power.

How diverse were the race demonstrated the following numbers: 26 and the change of leadership at only 35 laps under yellow. Good - some change in leadership came about only in box, but it still went down to the last 30 laps at the front quite lively. The reason was the weather last weekend. They had everything in stock: fog, rain, snow and sunshine. More is almost stationary and the driver were not for testing and had to make their vote during the race. Some were very well placed (Junior, Kyle Busch), others needed more time (Edwards, Kenseth, Johnson) and still others were not at all clear (all Dodge drivers). This resulted despite the very long green phases to beautiful duels at the top and in the midfield. On top of that all drivers had to contend with the wood-like tires. Really like all slipped on ice, each standing at the exit of the curves and angles, it is a miracle that no longer happened. Only the unfortunate Elliot Saddler took care of three breaks in a row because his car was simply undriveable.

And so slipped, skidded, and surfed it to the track - always on the lookout for a good grip and line. But no matter where you were on the road - it is hard to build more grip. The bottom line was slower, but it slipped quickly up into the wall. Usually, but inched up against the wall ranrobben the much faster thing, but went with the tires at all. The only driver to have appeared to make things fun, was Kyle Busch. The front blew away, distanced from the crowd and bought all the cutting. The little brother of Kurt Busch is really a matter for themselves. He was constantly cross and yet he drove consistently fast laps. He is not the type to like Jimmie Johnson holds back a long time. For Kyle Busch there is always all or nothing. He wants to be ahead, he did not want to wait, he's impatient and he's a brilliant vehicle control. One can see by his driving style hardly enough. He would sit in a Chevy, and he came from Carolina, Georgia or any of the other States Redneck - Junior would have to worry about his popularity. On the other side must also say that the race would have been quite well with a win by Carl Edwards may end. The lead was short before the end when his Ford gave up the ghost.

But why is Kyle Busch's driving style suddenly so successful in a situation in recent years, the thrifty races of Gordon and Johnson had so much success? It might be due to the tires. Goodyear this year Mixtures towed to the courses that are so hard that the drivers are having trouble getting the tire to the right temperature. If the restarts you can see it clearly - many drivers jag around wildly until the last seconds to bring the temperature of rubber and even if you already have a couple of laps on the way, has it in fourth gear at low speed spinning tires. When Gibbs Racing has probably found a set you how to get the tires while running fast, but not the same tread overwhelmed. And the driving style of Kyle Busch will probably cause the tires to keep the temperature gleichmßig.

However, the tires are an issue pertaining to all drivers. It moves terribly over Goodyear, who is accused, not cope with the matter. Either the tires hard and explode like in Las Vegas, or they are even harder and you can slide like on ice. Tony Stewart yesterday was the last straw. Although he finished second, he took the interview out after the race the big club and disste Goodyear live on TV in a way, as has been seen rarely. He said:

"That's the worst tire I've ever seen in my life in any professional form of racing. [...] If you do your homework and look at when (Goodyear) exited Formula One and compete the IRL and CART and the World of Outlaws and USAC, you name it, all the other professional sports Goodyear's exited because they can not , they can not keep up ... [...] They do not have the technology, they do not have the people that are smart enough to build a tire. [...] The first thing I'm doing when I get home is dismount anything I've got that's got Goodyears on it. I'm putting Firestone or something else so I feel a lot safer. "

In the "good old friends from Goodyear," a decades-long partner of NASCAR, you will not have been pleased. Other drivers were more diplomatic, but even junior let it be known that he was dissatisfied with Goodyear and have no desire to go with such a tire in Charlotte at the start, where you must take a high line on the wall. From the context of the tire manufacturer can hear that you have no desire to change his strategy because each tire blowouts in a race on television would look bad. Whether it is better for Goodyear, however, if the creme de la creme of U.S. racers at every opportunity, going on about the tires, then is another question.

Oh - and then there was yesterday a historic day, because Kyle Busch won the first race for Toyota Cup, where the champagne corks may have popped. The mood of the fans in the stands was - let's say - reserved. But on the other hand, it was a matter of time until a Gibbs car crossing the finish line would be the first. Tony Stewart, you might have seen something better, but Busch blossomed with his spectacular driving style to someone, which is growing in popularity. He LSST stop crashing. Something that NASCAR fans appreciate that no matter what kind of car someone sits.

Next week it goes to Bristol, arguably the finest short track bescheuersten and NASCAR.

NASCAR - Miscellaneous

- On the edge of the race, Toyota and Ford poisoned because of the oil cap number. In fact, it is a fact that one portion is usually fastened with at least one screw and the reality is that the lack of coverage generated additional downforce. Toyota talking about 100 pounds, could be heard from other teams numbers towards 20 pounds. Toyota would have liked it if Edwards would have deprived the victory, but something does not NASCAR. The fans have seen a winner and should learn at home on the radio that someone else has won.

- Nice article about the sales, make the NASCAR teams with the merchandising.

- From the NASCAR thinks you how to Auseianderziehen the time very close to the NASCAR program on a weekend. Because of the rain came again to drive hard for, and the trucks would not have been on the road, the fans would have seen hardly anything. There has long been thought to push Happy Hour on Sunday, almost as a warmup for the Cup. This would have some air on Saturday and the teams could simultaneously refine the vote on race day.

IRL - Team Walker says goodbye
Somewhat surprising is the message that the team Walker (Team Australia) from the new unit approved series before you could even go to the start. So real reasons are not given and after you have exercised in February pressures on the Champ Cars, so yes, it comes to the merger, the decision is very surprising. About the true causes of Aussteigs can only speculate, but it could very well have something to do with the fact that one is afraid of losing the sporting connection. If the Champ Cars had established itself as TopTeam in the IRL it looks different. In addition - this oval racing is not necessarily a matter for the Australians who prefer to see tangible circuit races. Obviously, the interest was so low that a sponsorship does not make much sense and it has found three weeks before the season started and no new money giving. So with Will Power is still a top pilot in the street.

F1 - Super Aguri saved
A few days before the start of the season comes the redemptive message of Japan's Super Aguri saved. As suggested by many pages you have with the Magma Group is former Ford Europe boss Martin Leach came to an agreement. It is unclear whether magma itself with Aguri einsteigt, or whether magma is a kind of intermediary for the funder. There are no details about the deal because you will have to wait until the weekend. There seems to be the case over the magma, the shares of Honda, as it expressly states that the company has come to an agreement with Honda is certain therefore that Honda continues to provide the chassis and engine. I can not imagine that magma can lift the deal alone. They are certainly not poor, but not so rich that they shake just 50 million times from his sleeve. In addition, the company has more than middlemen, not directed as a pure player. However, Martin Leach probably a motorsports fan on his cap to the manholes in the Jaguar Formula One to go before Ford pulled the savings mania a few years ago the plug. At the time, Leach was but were also not confirmed by Ford and Anthony Davidson and Takuma Sato used as pilots. Super easy it is Agrui not, because the new car has been tested because of financial difficulties hardly.

And what else?
- A few more days and then begins the show. Formula One stands in the wings and you can not wait to see the new car finally on the track. I've got a preview grßere prepared for the season, I bring a week yet.

- I got a first response from Europsort regarding the transmission times of ELMS. There are tentative plans that relate only to Euro sport. There are plans to at least the start of the 1000km race show (about 45min) live. Whether the rest will come with € 2, is not clear from the rough schedule. Even the commentators are not fixed yet. It would surprise me but if € Sports will show the complete five races ago. Somewhat shaken, I've found that the summaries of the races are just 30 minutes, net so maybe 24 minutes. This is a race that lasts five hours, and fight in which Audi and Peugeot are really short. But as I said, the plan is only preliminary.

- Preview again next weekend: It is hard. Who wants to see everything live, a lot of coffee will do. The Formula One Race in Australia. The ALMS has the 12 Hours of Sebring, the MotorsTV show completely live and then there's the NASCAR weekend with the NWS and the Sprint Cup

10/03/2007

11/03/2007

Update, 14:43 clock: The discussion about the Goodyear tires in NASCAR does not stop. Tony Stewart repeated his allegations (see below), no more, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. was ...