Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[IndyCar crowns its first post-reconciliation champion (Spoiler Alert)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/indycar-crowns-its-first-post-reconciliation-champion-spoiler-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/indycar-crowns-its-first-post-reconciliation-champion-spoiler-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/indycar-crowns-its-first-post-reconciliation-champion-spoiler-a/#commentsFiled under:


Firestone Indy 300 IndyCar Series finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway

Although he wanted it so bad it hurt, Ryan Briscoe just couldn't buy himself a yellow flag in the Firestone Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Team Penske driver was leading the season points battle with just seven laps remaining in this, the final race of the season at Homestead, and might have won the race and the championship had this been any other race. You see, fuel consumption became an issue and Briscoe had to pit with just seven laps between himself and the trophy for a splash and go. The reason? This was the first IndyCar race in history without a single yellow flag.

It's not as if these guys want to see crashes during the race, but up until today, they could always count on at least one incident to slow things down for a stretch, conserving fuel in the process. Not this time. As Briscoe pitted, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Dario Franchitti took the lead and never looked back. Just as in 2007, when it was Scott Dixon who had to pit and thereby relinquish the crown to Dario, Briscoe saw his hopes fade as even Dixon passed him in the race and in the final points tally. Had he been able to hold onto his lead, Briscoe would have been the sixth different IRL/IndyCar champ in the past six years.

As disappointing as it was for Briscoe, the year ended up being a good one for Franchitti, who did short stint in NASCAR before returning to IndyCar's open wheelers. Yesterday's title is Franchitti's second and the third for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. In an odd bit of meaninglessly trivial statistics, it was the 10th series win for Dario, on the 10th day of the 10th month in the number 10 car. And Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy, while Kennedy's was Lincoln. The top three in the final points tally were Franchitti (616), Dixon (605), and Briscoe (604). Due to the lack of yellows, yesterday's race at Homestead went down as the second fastest in IndyCar Series history, with an average speed of 201.420 mph.

[Photo credit: Shawn Payne/IndyCar]

Continue reading IndyCar crowns its first post-reconciliation champion (Spoiler Alert)

IndyCar crowns its first post-reconciliation champion (Spoiler Alert) originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey, Meadow Brook, and Michael, oh my! This August offers plenty of action for all types of car lovers. The Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance launches the month in style, along with the SEMA Show 'n Shine half a continent away in Pasadena. For folks who are going to be near Reno, the annual Hot August Nights show hits the biggest little city in the world this month as well. The biggest events for the Autoblog crew (as well as thousands of others) will be the Woodward Dream Cruise and the week-long classic car fest in Monterey, California, capped off by the world-renowned Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

There's lots of racing action, too, most notably the return of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher to the cockpit for Ferrari in Spain. The world's premier racing series also visits Spa at the end of the month. Meanwhile, ALMS makes stops at Mid-Ohio, Road America and Mosport; IndyCar hits Kentucky, Mid-Ohio, Infineon Raceway and Chicago; and NASCAR fans can look forward to races at Pocono, Watkins Glen, MIS and Bristol.

If none of those events appeal to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. Please use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: August Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: August Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsautoblog calendarAutoblog event calendarAutoblogCalendarAutoblogEventCalendarf1formula 1formula1Hot August NightsHotAugustNightsindycarindycar seriesindycarsIndycarSeriesmeadow brook concoursMeadowBrookConcoursnascarpebble beachpebble beach concourspebble beach concours delegancePebbleBeachPebbleBeachConcoursPebbleBeachConcoursDelegancesemawoodwardwoodward dream cruiseWoodwardDreamCruiseSat, 01 Aug 2009 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT - Detroit Grand Prix 2008: The IndyCars take to the track]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/01/spoiler-alert-detroit-grand-prix-2008-the-indycars-take-to-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/01/spoiler-alert-detroit-grand-prix-2008-the-indycars-take-to-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/01/spoiler-alert-detroit-grand-prix-2008-the-indycars-take-to-th/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click on Helio Castroneves for a high res gallery

As the first season of the reunited IndyCar series winds down, the open wheel racers took to the Belle Isle track to close out the Detroit Grand Prix weekend. Scott Dixon sat on the pole holding a slim lead over Helio Castroneves in the season standings with three races to go including this one. If the race is still sitting on your DVR and you don't want to spoil the surprise, just enjoy the gallery for now, it won't spoil your appetite. Otherwise follow the jump for the results.

Gallery: Detroit Grand Prix 08: IndyCars


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT - Detroit Grand Prix 2008: The IndyCars take to the track

SPOILER ALERT - Detroit Grand Prix 2008: The IndyCars take to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>detroit grand prixdetroit grand prix 2008DetroitGrandPrixDetroitGrandPrix2008indycarindycar racing leagueindycar seriesindycarracingleagueindycarsindycarseriesjustin wilsonJustinWilsonMon, 01 Sep 2008 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda to supply IndyCar engines at least 5 more years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/25/honda-commits-to-at-least-another-5-years-of-indycar-engine-supp/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/25/honda-commits-to-at-least-another-5-years-of-indycar-engine-supp/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/25/honda-commits-to-at-least-another-5-years-of-indycar-engine-supp/#commentsFiled under: ,



Honda is now in its third season as the sole supplier of engines for the IndyCar series, and it has decided to re-up for another five years. Honda originally jumped into IndyCar from the now-departed Champ Cars in 2003, and at that time, the H was still competing with Toyota and General Motors. The other two manufacturers eventually dropped out, leaving Honda to supply the whole field. Honda's new committment isn't an exclusive deal. The Indy Racing League is holding a roundtable summit in Indianapolis next month to discuss new technical rules for the chassis and engines. Other manufacturers will be welcome to join the series in the future as well, but at least Indy officials know that Honda will be around for a while. IndyCars are currently running 3.5L 3.0L (I forgot they went back to 3.5L last year after several years at 3.0L) normally-aspirated, ethanol-fueled V8s. The biggest event of the IndyCar season is kicking off right about now with the running of the 92nd Indianapolis 500.

Gallery: Detroit GP 2007: IRL race action


Gallery: Detroit GP 2007: IRL Backstsage


[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda to supply IndyCar engines at least 5 more years

Honda to supply IndyCar engines at least 5 more years originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 May 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hondaindycarindycar racing leagueindycar seriesIndycarRacingLeagueindycarsindycarseriesSun, 25 May 2008 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Green Flag: IndyCars run on 100% Ethanol at Daytona]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/27/green-flag-indycars-run-on-100-ethanol-at-daytona/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/27/green-flag-indycars-run-on-100-ethanol-at-daytona/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/27/green-flag-indycars-run-on-100-ethanol-at-daytona/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tony Kanaan testing at Daytona

Yesterday marked a historical milestone for open-wheel racing and for the movement towards alternative energy motorsports as former IndyCar champions Tonny Kanaan and Sam Hornish Jr. ran tests on 100% ethanol fuel. The champs ran the new 3.5-liter Honda V8s around the road course at Daytona all day without incident, marking the first time open-wheel racing has been run on a completely renewable fuel source, in advance of the series' shift to ethanol for the 2007 season.

The drivers' performance was competitive against Scott Dixon and Vitor Meira who ran on the 2006 mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% methanol; all drivers clocking comparable lap times.

The historical significance of the day of testing was even further enhanced by the venue, as this was the first time since 1959 that Indy cars ran at Daytona.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Green Flag: IndyCars run on 100% Ethanol at Daytona originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100%dallaradaytonaethanolfuelgreenhondahornishindyindycarskanaanmethanoltestWed, 27 Sep 2006 15:47:00 EST