If you were not already Before the first two training sessions - after the sessions, it is certainly not one. Front seems to be tighter than previously thought, but the question is just, went with the strategy of Ferrari and McLaren in the first two sessions. Soft tires I have not seen, so it seems likely that both have tried to race speed. Since then comes out that Ferrari is not as far forward as I had it yesterday vermuttet yet. Instead of two or three tenths, it is virtually the same level. Raikkonen is overall the fastest lap down, but in the second session, it would have to go through the grips because of the increased tire wear much faster. But both teams would be the fastest, had previously been realized.

Behind it there is the sheer chaos. Red Bull seems to be in a better position than you might expect, the test could be. Already in the first practice session was Mark Webber, the fastest runner in Session Two was Webber got to number two, but the gap was still properly if you take the time of the first practice. And who comes next? Renault? BMW, the most conservative approach for Friday? Toyota, which had a surprisingly good time? Force India, the time from the first session in the second was enough for seventh place? Or is it better than the rest of Williams, but the massive technical problems have not allowed for better times? Frankly, I do not know. Sure seems good only in that fight Honda and Super Aguri is the last place to be. Although Honda was better in the second session, the distance to the front is phenomenal size. Honda has won in any case, ever had a price: this year they have won with a very wide far the prize for the most disgusting color of the team clothing. This reminds me of strange green bile, but presumably it is also exactly what is cooking up just Ross Brawn.

I'm really looking forward to the third training. Here it is at least partly to lay the cards on the table. And then we'll see who stands where.

NASCAR - Bristol 2008
I've seen in the chat that was one or two surprises, the NASCAR oval on which is the road this weekend. What can I say except: It's short track time, boys! ". And the great thing about this weekend is that you drive into Bristol, the most spectacular, craziest and bescheuerste oval of the year. After the huge pot noodle the last week of a length of 2.5 miles (4 km) to 1.5 miles (2.4km) submitted to the NASCAR moved this weekend on a course that is 0.53 miles long, which are just 800 meters. Incl. Straight and steep turns. It's not even the shortest Bristol oval that is Martinsville, which is a few meters shorter. As mad in Bristol but on the one hand, the steep banks, which are inflated with 36 degrees and thus are steeper than those in Daytona and Talladega, on the other hand, the entire system. Bristol is not only a way, it is a modern Colosseum. And then the line in advertising is also called himself. Only once for comparison: In Daytona, the oval 2.5 miles, find 168 000 people space. In Bristol, at just 0.5 miles 160 000 fans sit. This can be achieved because they have built huge grandstands around the circuit, which are, at a tower height. I was unfortunately never been to Bristol and I probably will not succeed, because the course is fully booked for years, but it's been on TV a feast, when the race starts. Before a loud roaring fans can hear the little cars.

In arenas such as Bristol, there are special laws. Firstly, the vote is of course one of those things. There is an average of only 100 mph in the road cut, which sounds slow after the 190 mph orgies of the past weeks. But do not forget the 100 mph you drive at 800 meters. The Wall in Bristol should be avoided. On the course in Martinsville, you can already play with the wall, but here in Bristol should be the result of massive exaggeration. Who has control over here, which is lost. Since last year, but a piece of Bristol's become easier. It has paved the route last year and put all the hump from the course. In Bristol last March was a washboard, however, today it is only a pool table. However, the course it has also slippery.

Pay attention to what you have in the vote? The suspension geometry is extremely important. The car must fall into the banked corners, but go straight to the good. It's true that most cars from asymentrisch, LSST so they rather turn into the corners, go as straight. The new asphalt can fine tune the car a little harder, but the more you go in the direction that he is more restless during acceleration. When the machine is asking one thing: torques t. It does not turn, but moves all the time in fourth gear. Accordingly, in short, the transmission is graded. So the top speed of the engine needs a wide speed range, otherwise you will not get the point.

Aerodynamics plays in Bristol, interestingly, also play a role. First, because the air flow at 100 km have a role to play, on the other hand, there is the phenomenon in Bristol, that the air inside the arena begins after a few laps to move with the car. In other words, it forms a kind of arena within the vortex, the car pushes the entire time, which makes the braking difficult in the curves.

Who can you expect up front? The track is the litmus test for Toyota. If they are good here, then they are good on all other Shorttracks. You do not continue, as well the torque of the Toyota. That it has become better, you know, but how good it really is in a race course? In the only training session can be found in the top ten in four Toyota, including David Reutimann, the fastest time has been achieved. However: the series winner is Jeff Gordon, who is known as a specialist Shortrack. He can score only five wins. An eye should be on Kurt Busch, who won just five times fall. Kyle Busch was the one who has been run here last year, the first victory in a CoT.

Anyway - you should be prepared for each case on a long evening. The race goes over 500 rounds and interruptions are a normal affair here. Each spin is answered with a Caution. The last race before the renovation of the asphalt surface had 15 Cautions, the first race after the change had only nine. Was still very exciting, because the race did much.

The weather this weekend playing a role again. At the moment it rains tomorrow, it looks not really good. On Sunday, it should also leave. If the Nationwide race does not start tomorrow, it is difficult to put it on the Sunday. The Sprint Cup race would like to have four, if not last five hours, and after that to start a second race is not likely. So may well be that the race until Monday NE release goes.

ALMS - Sebring
The longest belt this weekend, but provides the ALMS. The 12 Hours of Sebring is a classic. The race has been held since 1952 and see the list of winners names such as Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, Peter Collins, Dan Gurney, Hans Herrmann, Joakim Bonnier, John Surtees, Bruce McLaren, Mario Andretti, Jo Siffert, Jacky Ickx Hurley Haywood, Hans Heyer, AJ Foyt, Bob Wollek, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Jochen Mass, Bobby Rahal, Klaus Ludwig, Derek Daly, Andy Wallace, Stefan Johansson and of course the entire armada drivers from Audi, the have won the race since 2000 without interruption.

The course is a beast. Sometimes it consists of asphalt tiles, because you drive on an old airfield, part of the course is paved. The bumps are a plague and fight through the cars of the first lap. What is more, the course is very fast. The route is about six miles long, is still the fastest lap time at min 1:47. By comparison, at Spa, where the distance is one kilometer longer, but has more lines, the Formula One championship in the last round, he went 1:48 hours. This shows how fast it goes ahead at Sebring despite some hairpin curves. No wonder that Peugeot has dared to Sebring, because here you can expose the car in 12 hours loads that can not even partially achieved at Le Mans. However, the French have only one car at the start, while Audi's two cars on site. After all, the R10 took the 908 in the qualification from ever seven tenths. The two will probably Hersteler fight for the victory. Of course we should not forget the Porsche Spyder, whose stability is unquestionable, but after the rule changes the ALMS LMP2 car is likely to have a bit harder to achieve victory. It is definitely exciting. Should never forget the legendary finish in the GT2 class in his last year as a low-ranking Mika Salo in a Ferrari to a 12-hour race in the final corner of the Porsche, Joerg Bergmeister. The same can be expected this year.

MotorsTV broadcasts the entire race live. SpeedTV breaks for NASCAR, but it is indeed raining cats and dogs tomorrow in Bristol, so it may well be that speed carries more than advertised.

The ALMS Live timing is hiding behind this address

A1 GP - Mexico
As if F1, NASCAR, ALMS, the marathon is not enough time - including the A1 road again this weekend. Stupid enough to Mexixo, so the race runs concurrently with the race at Bristol. Since you will probably have to somehow share his eyes. Driving is on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez near Mexico City. So of course, on the Formula One road was once earlier, and where the NASCAR Nationwide Series starts once a year. The course is really nice. He has a straight line and then a eeeeeeellllenlange absolutely brilliant infield follows with several S-curves, in the course are always open and faster. This rapid and wide 180-degree turn before the start and finish that is easy on the excessive. Great fun to see, hair-raising task for voting, because you need a hand, the top speed on the long straights, on the other hand, a lot of wings in the S-curves and in the 180 degree turn, so you afloat on the long straight is.

In the championship with 118 points, Switzerland is ahead of France (108) and New Zealand (98). The rest is cut off, even if to bring in three more races to just 90 points. But it is unlikely that all three nations versemmeln while the last race. The race on Sunday night could be so much fun.

And what else?
Sunday evening I accompany the NASCAR race definitely live here in the blog. The formula is one thing I look at them out of bed because there are no live blogging.

In total there are around 20 hours this weekend to see live racing. Since we have to go through :)))))
The italics are repeated times refer only to the premiere!

03/15/2008

03/16/2008

If you were not already Before the first two training sessions - after the sessions, it is certainly not one. Front seems to be closer than you thought ...