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Dan Wheldon 1978 - 2011

am 17. Of on the 17th October 2011 at 17:14 │ Comments {13}

Dan Wheldon is dead The accident provides criticism, questions - and a wave of sympathy.

Obscure ideas about the severity of the accident, one could already make reference to the first pictures and reactions. Over the two-hour transfer was then sad knowing what seemed based on interviews and to pave the tone of the commentators already. Dan Wheldon had died after a horror crash in the twelfth round of the IndyCar season finale "unüberlebbaren injury" as told IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard in a brief statement. The Indy loses one of the most talented pilots in recent years - especially at a moment when his career to go back in a positive direction appeared. The loss to the motorsport world is but it goes far, as evidenced by the numerous expressions of sympathy. further accelerate →

Comments {13} | INDYCAR , IndyCar Series , sad news

Dan Wheldon had a fatal accident

am 17. From on 17 October 2011 00:19 │ Comments {16}

Dan Wheldon, winner of this year's Indianapolis 500, died on Sunday. He suffered a terrible accident during the last race of the IndyCar season in Las Vegas fatal injuries. Our thoughts and best wishes are with his family and his friends.

We will publish later in the day a tribute article for this great driver. How the policy is on this blog: There will be no videos or pictures from the accident and we ask that take this into account in the comments.

Comments {16} | IRL , Motor Sports , sad news

Tom died Walkingshaw

am 12. From on 12 December 2010 at 20:39 │ Comments {1}

One of the most famous and frequently umstrittesten persons of international motorsport is dead Tom Walkingshaw was not only a racer but also a real trickster.

Touring cars without the Scots Tom Walkingshaw was unthinkable in the 80s. His own racing career in the 70s was not without success, but a serious accident ended his hopes of a place in a single-seater. He then focused on touring and building up his own company, Tom Show Walking Racing TWR shortly. Initially he worked with BMW together, but soon he concentrated on the British market. That he managed to persuade the British company Rover to their heavy and equipped with long overhangs Vitesse to get into motorsport, also shows that he had skills. He was able to motivate people and they talk about the craziest things. In fact, he managed to make the Rover compete with this car and he succeeded his greatest success as a driver. In 1984 he won the European Touring Car Championship. His team also won the BTCC, but all the victories were stripped of TEC after the season because he had tricked the chassis.

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Comments {1} | Motorsport , sad news

Preview: ALMS at Laguna Seca / GT1 and GT3 in Brno

am 21. From on 21 May 2010, at 18:00 │ Comments {19}

The ALMS runs late on Saturday evening, their new long-distance event on the cult track of Laguna Seca, for some teams is an important final test before Le Mans. Meanwhile, the GT1 World Championship spends with the GT3 European Championship this weekend in Brno, Czech Republic.

The 6h Laguna Seca builds the American Le Mans Series Sebring and now in addition to the Petit Le Mans endurance on a third pillar in an otherwise over the years, slightly shrunken Calendar. It was an absolutely correct and important step in the race to the ever-popular track near Monterey, California in the month of May, and preferable to increase the duration of the race by 50%.

So the event for the teams that will cross in three weeks the Atlantic to start the 24 hour race at La Sarthe, a welcome last test option before the big race will be, even if Laguna Seca in any way with the Circuit de compare la Sarthe is. further accelerate →

Comments {19} | ALMS , FIA GT , GT1 World Championship , racing , sad news

Henry Surtees 1991 - 2009

am 19. From on 19 July 2009 at 22:24 │ Comments {14}

Sad news from the formula 2 Henry Surtees came today in a horrible accident at Brands Hatch died.

henry-surtees-and-father-john The 18 year old son of racing legend John Surtees started the second round of the Formula Two at Brands Hatch. During the chaotic race came in the rapid passage of Westfield Bend John Clark off the track and slammed into the tire barrier, it broke a wheel which flew across the track and hit on the head Surtees unhappy. Surtees was apparently unconscious, his car drove on, ended up in a guard rail and finally came to a stop. Rescue workers were on site immediately and brought into Surtees Medical Center, from where he was taken to a London clinic. There, Henry Surtees died from his severe head injury. He was only 18 years old.

My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends.

Comments {14} | F2 , sad news

Formula One: Teddy Mayer 1935 - 2009

am 1. From on 1 February 2009 at 16:04 │ Comments {0}

He founded Bruce McLaren, the same team that won two world championships with Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt, and was certainly one of the most famous figures of the 70s in the Formula One circus. Now, Teddy Mayer died at the age of 73 years

m23_2 Born in Pennsylvania, Teddy Mayer emigrated in the 60s along with his brother Timothy and their mutual friend Peter Revson to Europe. Who then would be something in the motor sports go, who had to go to Europe. Timothy wanted to do as a driver's career, his brother Teddy, who had studied law, helped in management. Tim ran for one season (1963) under the thumb of Ken Tyrell in Formula Three team's. Tyrell, even then blessed with the talent to discover other talents he recommended Mayer Bruce McLaren, who took him to the Tasmanian racing series in Australia. Timothy died in 1964 at a race, but Teddy Mayer, McLaren and was part owner of the team.
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Comments {0} | F1 , sad news

Server downtime yesterday / Martinsville NASCAR / IRL Homesteadt / David Leslie died

am 31. From 31 March 2008 at 14:11 │ Comments {3}

The page is back, but I got no response, why the blog was offline completely yesterday. I think all sides were affected by the hoster, so must have a connection problem existed. I have asked my hoster to deliver for the failure of at least an explanation. Frankly, my failure to go so slow on my nerves. I could move, but that's not so easy with a WordPress blog, because only the domain does not move data. I would have to import the blog again and complete the database neuaufsetzten only ex-and then, which I have absolutely no desire, because I still have the problems of last week in the head. Let's see how the server is running in the next few weeks.

NASCAR - Martinsville
Was a truly classic short track race yesterday in Martinsville: exciting, varied and less predictable. Just 3:30 hours took the race, what Martinsville's almost a bit short, although one would have to stop at 18 Cautions very often. But most of the interruptions were ended after two to five rounds, so that it could quickly move on. The haste was necessary because of the Martinsville Speedway was crowded thick rain clouds and drizzle during the race over again easily. Unlike the Super Speedway in Martinsville because of the low speeds but not stopped at the first rain drops. It goes just so long as it possibly can and the track is not too wet. In fact, yesterday we saw on the cameras many raindrops. What has annoyed me however was the fact that Fox was not able to make the fixed and probably remote-controlled cameras clean. While the race was due to the slightly drawn a kind of fog on the zoom lens, the image is not really improved.

The race itself saw a long time out after a Hendrick event. Johnson moved forward, Gordon and Junior make their rounds, not too far from Casey Mears, who yesterday drove one of his better races. Junior was launched to space 21, but soon took the lead in the race and should in the end, most laps led in the account have. Gordon and Johnson were involved in small accidents, but could not continue, and each had the field plowed quickly. Although there were some leadership changes, but it was beside the Hendrick drivers Jeff Burton and only Danny Hamlin, the kämften to the top. Also in the top 10, did little. Here, Stewart, McMurray, Edwards, Bowyer and Ragan were on the road, in between times also appeared Kahne and Vickers, who fell back at the end, however.

This was mainly because they had chosen the wrong pit strategy. That was the theme of the evening anyway, because after 250 laps had been completed and so were the race could be considered complete, it was down to the question: "When will it rain and then who's ahead?". The most widely used word on the radio was "track position". They should give up for new tires, or prefer to remain with the old front-flops? The discussions in all the teams lasted throughout the race. Some gambled away now and then (Tony Stewart), others were with the old tires at the end of a chance, as the victory went to (Jeff Burton). That was the end Danny Hamlin was in the lead, but a coincidence. In one of the many restarts it could well just meander through the traffic, while the actually speed up Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. first got stuck in traffic. Gordon struggled in the last three rounds but ran back to Hamlin, but that was not there. Overtaking is indeed such a thing in Martinsville. After a rather disastrous start to the season of victory for Hamlin was balm to the soul. For a time it looked in the last race as though he had little chance against Kyle Busch, but now we not only open, but is again closer to the top. It was the second victory Toyota, of all places in the heartland of NASCAR. Apparently the fans have become accustomed to, but Toyota and Hamlin, a man had won, which was practically born around the corner, which made things even easier.

Fox delivered yesterday from a usual good work. Not outstanding, but okay. Short track racing is really no easy to moderate, but the director was always the place where the most action was, so that sometimes the drivers could see farther back.

A good race, certainly not for speed fans, but I like the Shorttracks because always something happens and they are the "heart" of NASCAR. Next week it will never again really fast, because it goes to the oval in Texas.

IRL - Homesteadt
Much less varied was the start to the season of the IRL. Only three Cautions broke the 200-lap race, which was both good, because if this oval one departs, it does the same hurt, but on the other hand, one could then also where the problems of the series this year are to be : the former Champ Car teams have a chance, at least on the ovals and the series is dominated by Ganassi, Penske and AGR. Above all, Ganassi and AGR submitted a pace that was breathtaking. Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon and Briscoe were Castronewes so rapidly that they soon had lapped the entire field. Even the strong Danica Patrick from their own team mates lapped. This shows how different the performance of the teams in the IRL itself. But that was most clearly shown in the first round by Dan Wheldon. Had to start because of his accident during the qualifying race from the back and the Inboardkamera was the first rounds at him. She showed, with what speed unfassbarem Wheldon at all passed, the drive is not in the top 10. Whether on the bottom or the top line - Wheldon went past the former Champ Car and IRL teams smaller than the 100 hp would have less.

That was not nice to look at. We had expected that the CC team would not have the speed of the tip, but the best of CC-pilot, who did his rounds without any problems, would end up as five rounds have been lagging behind, but then hard to swallow. Oriol Servia was with his oval experience even the best CC-Pilot, however, closely followed by the amazing Franck Perera, who had only 50 laps on the oval projection just six laps behind.

Took care of the Scandals of the race Tony Kanaan, who dominated the race towards the end, stupid enough, but fired eight rounds before the end of Ernesto Viso was when the shot right in front of Canaan. Canaan just slipped through under Viso, but his front suspension was bent like a straw. He swore like a fishwife, gesticulated wildly and wanted that the race was ended under yellow. That was not the case. His team asked him to let get in at last. "Tony! The car! "It said on the radio constantly, because it suffers precisely at a certain chassis shortages. Kaanan just said "jajajajaja", but went calmly with waidwunden car to restart, where he was then, however, taken out by stewards by Black Flag. This led to discussions after the race, because many drivers were of the opinion that Canaan would have been before the restart to take the field.

Up to the end so it was a very tough start to the season. Tony George has to do, at least for the oval racing something urgently, because if the season in the first half continues to run, most fans have no interest in the race. The stands in Miami were also sparsely occupied and you realize the series also indicated that a few characters such as Paul Tracy are missing. There must be rectified quickly and urgently, otherwise I see during the season get the first Champ Car teams.

BTCC - David Leslie and Richard Lloyd died
- David Leslie is dead, the former BTCC professional (second in the BTCC Championship 1999) passed away yesterday, along with team owner Richard Lloyd in a plane crash in England. It was on the plane that crashed into the house in Kent. According to eyewitnesses, the plane crashed uncontrollably to the ground after the pilot several more "Mayday" was able to pass calls. Leslie was in his late 90s, the second man in the Nissan squad, which took the Primera everything into the ground. He lost narrowly in 1999 against his team-mate Laurent Aiello. Leslie finished his career in 2003 and was subsequently employed on the British version of € Sports as a commentator. In England he worked as a driver and commentator on popular and well known.
Richard Lloyd was a famous British team owner who has competed in the 80 years with various vehicles in Le Mans. This year he worked on a GT2 version of the Aston Martin did, he inserting. Died in the accident three people.

And what else?
- Yes, I did that on Max Mosley and his alleged sex orgy and seen the video. No, I'm not interested. Even if he dresses up as the same as Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Dr. Mengele and Attila and scourge makes me not care which. The sex lives of other people interests me only if I am participating in it. Point. Interestingly, however, is the question of who leaked the video. Since someone apparently wants to make a payment.

- Preview the weekend. It is full of F1, GP2 Asia, Speedcarseries, Porsche Supercup (all Bahrain), ALMS and IRL St Petersburg, WTCC Puebla and NASCAR NW & SC in Texas. But I have yet to see the virher GrandAm and the three BTCC races. All TV dates are already online

03/31/2008

Record. Clock 19:15 NASCAR SC Martinsville Premiere
Record. Clock 20:45 IRL Homesteadt Premiere

01/04/2008

Record. Clock 12:00 NASCAR SC Martinsville Premiere

Comments {3} | Add your own thing , IRL , Motorsports , NASCAR , sad news , Toyota , TV program

Formula One - Alonso at Renault / Sperafico dead brother / Formula One - FIA neutered the Aero Research / Miscellaneous

am 10. From on 10 December 2007 at 19:20 │ Comments {2}

Today, a lead grßere landscape, as Renault has sent out are no current photos of Alonso and Piquet.

Formula One - Back to Renault
Fernando Alonso returns to Renault - if only for one year. The message today was widely expected, even if the rumors about a possible move to take Honda, Toyota and Red Bull in the last few weeks to be taken seriously. The press release from Renault, it is only the proposition that the one driver pairing for 2008 announced. No word as to which term has the contract with the Spaniards. Because so many points to the fact that Ferrari has long been either a valid contract with the double world champion or at least a "letter of intent", so there is a statement of intent. The statement of Raikkonen that he could live with Alonso as a teammate LSST, suggests that one is a deal. Alonso Renault will last longer for sure, but apparently it has seen no other choice but to accept the one-year number. The result was devastating to Renault this year and there is commitment within the group anyway, watched closely Flavio Briatore was probably no other choice. Presumably, he hopes that he can offer Alonso a very good season and this is then considered a final signature at Ferrari. Contracts are in Formula One so rarely worth the paper they are written on, because you rumhantiert behind your back with money.

New team-mate Alonso Piquet Jr. does what this massive promotion. It is difficult to assess why it takes Piquet, but I suspect also that it has something to do with the Treaty of Alonso. Kovalainen has not been shown to be the top driver, who many had expected, so now you try Piquet Jr., and hoping perhaps to find him in a second Hamilton, Vettel and Rosberg. I'm rather skeptical. Although he was a British Formula Three champion in 2004, has since been torn but not much. His second place behind Hamilton in the GP2 is not to be underestimated, however, because he was not just in one of the best cars. When the driving test again, he is not particularly struck me. You will have to wait and see how it is reflected in the race, which indeed have known their own laws.

The exiling Fisichella was already clear that Kovalainen is completely throws out a bit surprising. I had assumed that they offered him a test driver job, but to get this year's champion of the F3 Euro Series, Romain Grosjean. So you have finally released again a Frenchman in a French team.

It is difficult to estimate how Renault will fare next year. Since the mass damper history dating back to 2006, the racing has taken so long. They won the World Cup title in 2006 only because Michael Schumacher in the penultimate race in the lead of the motor flew around the ears. Alonso is one who can get out of a car the last. He also knows how to deal with a car that is worse than it looks. I would not write off Renault times.

Rafael Sperafico dead
In a race to brasiliainischen "Stock Car Light" Series at Interlagos, died in a fiery accident Rafael Sperafico. His car had slid into the corner of the street, in the injured Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso in 2003 difficult. He crashed into the tires of the input table quick links to the start / finish and was thrown back onto the track. Doort collided head-on to the Renato Russo driver's side. Sperafico was killed instantly, Russo is in the hospital with serious injuries, but should not be injured.

Sperafico the name is also known in Europe. His brother Ricardo was the Italian Formula 3000 champion in 2000 and then went into the old F3000 series. His other brother, Rodrigo also drove his cousin Alexandre is currently traveling in the Champ Car Atlantic series. Tragically, his two brothers took part in the race at Interlagos. Rodrigo Sperafico this year was a very sad Vice-champion of the series.

Formula One - Down with the research
The meeting of the WMSC by the FIA ​​last week has brought some interesting news. In addition to the non-punishment of Renault, decided to castrate the research in the area of ​​aerodynamics powerful. For your convenience, I summarize the decisions (that are not yet binding on the sport) times together with the consequences

First Each team may only have a wind tunnel for up to 8 hours use a day.
So far it is so that the team have all run at least a wind tunnel for 24 hours a day. Most teams have even run two wind tunnels. One measures there for days and weeks every little crap, and trying to figure out how the components work in harmony with each other. This brings may even take such nonsense that the doner kebabs in the last year on the BMW. The teams will now be forced to curb this research. Good idea, actually, but several teams (Honda, Toyota, etc.) have in recent years one or two extra high a second wind tunnel. And to demolish the now or rent? In addition: Red Bull and Honda / Super Aguri go nearly identical vehicles and it would be extremely naive to assume that the non-exchange data. Both teams were so enormous advantage over the other. Whether the Toyota, Ferrari or Renault fit? I dare to forecast: In life, no.

Second You may not test more 1:1 models in a wind tunnel, the speed should not exceed more than 50 meters / second
Since BMW is pleased, however. They have just built a year ago for 55 million dollars a new wind tunnel, where you can test at maximum speed 1:1 model. The wind can also be streamed on the side of the car. However, BMW is the only team that has this ability.

Third The CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Research is limited
CFD is basically a simulated wind tunnel. In the new computer parts are tested first before they get into the expensive wind tunnel. CFD is indeed due to the huge computer farms that are needed for this not exactly cheap, but still cheaper than a wind tunnel. Supposedly 50% of the work of an aerodynamics department anyway done in the computer. Now it wants to outline the hardware requirements so that no permanent facilities are built grßere yet. Also, should the amount of staff must be committed, which may work with CFD. As the FIA ​​wants to check something is a mystery to me.

As I said, the changes are almost recommendations of the FIA. Since all teams must first agree before being implemented. It is certainly right to curtail the madness in the aerodynamics, especially as the FIA ​​has noted that with changes to the Flügelgrße not really progresses. Perhaps circumcision also means that those who take turns on the numbers and again more like the classic art of engineering is in demand again by the great Colin Chapman. And have not seen any long car more of a new road is gone. In principle, the cars look since the the same, except that they are always behind jagged.

Formula One - Miscellaneous
Some news from the last days

- Nico Rosberg has extended to Williams. I had typed it, that Rosberg met out of loyalty to the contract with Williams. But obviously likes you very much, and Frank Williams has its rough diamonds like a new contract for next year and, 2009th Williams probably has voluntarily put extra money on it, what with him is known to be a revolution. I think good. Rosberg and Williams are an extremely likeable team and I would treat both Nico and the team, if you still have time right success.

- And on the way you like another well-anchored at Williams Nico. Also the most talented Nico Hulkenberg is probably just about an official test driver contract with the English team to get. If Williams is a bit short with you so just test drivers and Hulkenberg has left in his two days of testing a very good impression on Williams. Not be excluded that they are prepared to replace Nakajima in 2009, which could be replaced after a year of training at Williams probably Trulli at Toyota.

- Super Aguri is still in financial trouble. It has not yet released to the main sponsor for next season and this month has 30 employees. The problem is probably that Honda does not want to put their own resources to continue into the B-team, because you now own is not much to boast stands. Ross Brawn has probably made the Japanese realize that they will be better off if all resource bundles on a team. On the other hand: If the circumcision of aerodynamics were victorious, you will be able to use the team well. It is also possible that Aguri Suzuki sells its shares completely. There are several interested parties who want to Formula One. Also, the entire sale to another company is possible. It still haunts around the message that the Koreans are keen on Formula One.

And what else?
This coming weekend there was the last live racing this year. The A1 runs in Zuhai / China and there is the "Race of Champions." Among the latter I still write what detailed on Friday.

10/12/2007

Record. Clock 14:00 NASCAR Nextel Richmond II PREM
Record. Clock 14:55 NASCAR Nextel NEw Hampshire II PREM
Record. Clock 15:20 DTM 2007 season MotorsTV
Record. Clock 21:00 Champ Car 2007 season MotorsTV
Record. Clock 23:00 WTCC 2007 season Euro

Comments {2} | F1 , F3 Euro , FIA , motor sport , sad news , Toyota , TV program

Colin McRae is dead

am 16. From on 16 September 2007, at 16:04 │ Comments {3}

Since I've just come home, see only the ceremony of Formula One, because I see this sad message:

Ex-WRC champion Colin McRae has just arrived with his 5-year-old son in a helicopter crash. The 39-year-old was at the wheel of the helicopter when it crashed near his residence from unexplained causes. On board were two other people who were also killed.

McRae was 1995 world champion of the WRC, and certainly one of the most enigmatic figures of the first scene and has made well after the end of his career in other racing sports for attention. So he went to the Paris-Dakar as well as for the 24 H of Le Mans.

The condolences and thoughts go out to the family. McRae leaves a wife and daughter Hollie.

Thanks to Dirk for the note in the comments

Comments {3} | sad news