Autoblog

Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win Sprint Cup pole

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:50:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Celebrities

196.434 miles per hour. That's the top speed hit by Stewart-Haas racing driver Danica Patrick during Saturday's qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Not only was that speed good enough to earn Patrick pole position for the race on Sunday, February 24, it is the fastest speed recorded in qualifying for Daytona since 1990.

"You can do anything you want to do, and gender doesn't matter," said Patrick. And she's right: Danica Patrick can now claim to be the first woman to win pole position in NASCAR's top racing division. Since this will be her first full year in the Sprint Cup, she's also the first rookie driver to score pole since Jimmie Johnson managed the feat in 2002.

So, how do you celebrate winning pole position at Daytona? "I'm probably gonna grab some beers," said Patrick. Sounds like a winning plan to us. Scroll down below to watch a video from NASCAR highlighting the historic event.

Continue reading Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win Sprint Cup pole

Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win Sprint Cup pole originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Le Mans starting grid set, Audi hybrid takes pole but Toyotas break up the pack

John Neff — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Audi, Nissan, Toyota, Diesel

There were times during the past two days of qualifying when it looked like Audi might own the first two rows of the starting grid for this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans. The R18 e-tron quattro hybrid cars were running the quickest lap times, with the two diesel R18 Ultras following close behind. The two Toyota TS 030 hybrid cars were also quick, but it seemed they were always nipping at the heels of an Audi's lap time, much like the Audis used to trail the faster Peugeots during qualifying for Le Mans races of the recent past. And we all know how that usually ended for Peugeot.

So when the third and final qualifying session ended last evening, we were surprised to learn the starting grid had ended up as anything but expected. An Audi will have pole position, and a hybrid car at that, which marks the first time such a powertrain has earned the honor. The No. 1 R18 e-tron quattro beat all comers with a fastest lap of 3:23.787, nearly two seconds quicker than last year's pole.

Next to the first R18 e-tron quattro will be another R18, but not a hybrid. The No. 3 R18 Ultra will be starting second, followed by the No. 8 Toyota TS030 hybrid starting third, the other R18 e-tron quattro starting fourth, the No. 7 Toyota TS030 hybrid starting fifth and the final R18 Ultra starting sixth. So not a single car of the quickest six will start next to its twin, which suggests that none of the three powertrain technologies has a lock on leading the race.

In LMP2, the No. 25 Oreca Nissan led the field with a fastest lap of 3:38.181, followed closely by the No. 24 Oak Racing Morgan Judd and then four more Oreca Nissans. The Nissan DeltaWing, racing in an experimental class of its own, wound up near the back of the LMP2 field with a fastest lap of 3:42.612 set on the first day of qualifying.

The GTE Pro class promises to be as exciting as ever this year, with the pole being led by the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia, which recorded a particularly quick lap of 3:56.484 during the final qualifying session. The Ferrari will be followed by Aston Martin Racing's No. 97 Vantage V8 and the first of two Corvette Racing C6 ZR1s.

Lastly, the GTE Am class will be lead by the No. 79 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 RSR with a leading lap time of 3:57.594, followed by another 911 from Prospeed Competition and the No. 99 Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage.

Click here to find out the best place, time and way to experience this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Le Mans starting grid set, Audi hybrid takes pole but Toyotas break up the pack originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alex Tagliani shocks with Indy 500 pole

Noah Joseph — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Canada

Most motor races take place over a weekend, but the Indianapolis 500 is not most races. "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" plays out over the course of weeks, with numerous practice sessions, extensive qualifying heats and finally the race itself. And with qualifying completed, Alex Tagliani has emerged on top.

Hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Tagliani is the first Canadian to take pole position at the Indy 500 in its one hundred year history. Of course, he wouldn't be the only Canadian to win the race, following the notable victory of his countryman Jacques Villeneuve in 1995. But as surprising as Tagliani's pole position was, converting into a win will be another matter. Over the course of seven years in Champ Cars, Tagliani's won just a single race (at Road America in 2004) and has yet to notch up a win since moving over to the IndyCar Series in 2008.

The coveted pole position was expected to go one of Ganassi drivers (Scott Dixon, a previous Indy 500 winner, or his teammate Dario Franchitti, a two-time Indy 500 winner) or one of the Penske boys (three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves or current series frontrunner Will Power). Newman/Haas driver Oriol Servia put up a good fight too, but when the times were finalized at the end of the "fast nine" session, it was Tagliani and his Sam Schmidt Motorsports team who set the fastest qualifying speed in the #77 Bowers & Wilkins Dallara-Honda with a four-lap average of 227.472 mph.

Dixon qualified second and Servia third to line up beside Tagliani on the first three-car row. Sunday's "bump day" session, which gives ambitious drivers a shot at one of the top positions, was marred by heavy rain, preserving Tagliani's position at the front of the pack for when the race gets underway this coming Sunday. Update: Thanks to our astute readers, commenters and tipsters for pointing out the error in reporting the qualifying procedures.

Qualifying for the Indy 500 is based on average speed over a four-lap session (as opposed to a timed lap) and takes place over two days one week before the race. Saturday's "pole day" secures the top 24 positions on the grid, culminating in a second "fast nine" heat where the nine fastest drivers compete to determine their order in the front three rows. Sunday's "bump day", where grid positions 25-33 are filled. The slowest car, however, can be "bumped" by a challenger if he or she sets a higher qualifying speed. Tagliani's pole position, therefor, remains secure.

Alex Tagliani shocks with Indy 500 pole originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cruze Contol: New Chevy WTCC car takes first pole, double victories in Morocco

Noah Joseph — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Cruze at WTCC Marrakech - Click above for a high-res image gallery

While a set of races in the World Touring Car Championship might not ordinarily be something we'd cover here at Autoblog - we doubt you'll mind the spoiler - this weekend's rounds in Marrakech, Morocco, held a series of firsts for the international racing series. Not only was this the first time the championship headed into Africa, but the new Chevy Cruze scored its first pole position and followed up by taking first place in both races, with Nicola Larini taking his first race victory in the series.

The former grand prix driver raced for Ligier-Ford, Modena-Lamborghini and Scuderia Ferrari, scoring a career-best second-place finish with the latter at San Marino in 1994 after taking the DTM title in Germany the year before. The veteran Italian racer has been with the Chevy team in the WTCC since 2005, and scored his first race victory in the series in the second round of the double-header in Marrakech after his team-mate Rob Huff turned the first pole position for the new Chevrolet Cruze racer into the car's maiden victory in the first race. Huff's domination from start to finish was only compounded by the fastest laps that the Cruze claimed en route to the checkered flag in both races. The duo faced tough opposition from a field composed primarily of Seat Leon TSFI and BMW 320si touring cars, but the new Chevy, which was unveiled last October before receiving its official livery in December, ultimately prevailed at the new North African track. Details in the press release after the jump, high-res photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Chevrolet Cruze at Marrakech WTCC

[Source: Chevrolet and Autosport]

Continue reading Cruze Contol: New Chevy WTCC car takes first pole, double victories in Morocco

Cruze Contol: New Chevy WTCC car takes first pole, double victories in Morocco originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 May 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scott Dixon grabs Indy 500 pole

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Scott Dixon, racing for the Target Chip Ganassi IRL team, is your pole sitter for the upcoming Indy 500. Scott took the front spot with a 4-lap average of 226.366 MPH, about 0.5 MPH faster than last year's pole sitter. Slotting in behind Dixon is his teammate, Dan Wheldon, just a fraction slower at 226.110 MPH.

The first 22 slots in the 32-car field have been decided. Dixon and Wheldon will be followed by Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, Tony Kanann and Marco Andretti as the top six. The final 11 slots will be decided this Saturday and Sunday. The 92nd Indy 500 takes place on Sunday, May 25.

[Source: AP]

Scott Dixon grabs Indy 500 pole originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 May 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pole Position: Remix for your iPod

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Toys/Games, Lifestyle

Click above to view screenshots from Pole Position: Remix

NAMCO, the video game company that brought us some of the cheesiest yet most compelling video game titles of all time, is releasing Pole Position: Remix specifically for your little iPod. This is the game's 25th anniversary year, and the new title, which will thankfully not use 25-year-old graphics, has also been updated with new game play like 3D versions of its four tracks, and a Misake Point track that will only be available on the iPod version.

And since you'll be playing this on the music device du jour, the game comes with an updated soundtrack, but you can also listen to your own tunes while you spin the wheel -- we expect to find a lot of Pole Position playlists in people's libraries. If you do that, album art from your music collection will show up on billboards, both randomly and from what's playing, which is pretty trick. The game will sell for $4.99 on iTunes, and works on the iPod nano with video, and the classic and new iPods.

Thanks for the tip, Jen!

[Source: TUAW]

Gallery: Pole Position: Remix

Pole Position: Remix for your iPod originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Pole Position commericial, circa the '80s

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos

When kids nowadays roll their eyes when hearing about how tough we had it when WE were kids, they frequently think we might be exaggerating, especially when we talk about video games. Pong was inconceivably archaic, but the games that showed up in the next few years from the once-dominant Atari seemed like an incredible leap forward in terms of graphics and playability, games like Pole Position in particular. Full color, simulated 3-D renderings, authentic race car sounds - it had it all and was controlled with an 8-direction stick and one red button.

Those were the days. Well, thanks to YouTube, we can relive the excitement this video game instilled in gamers by viewing Atari's television campaign for Pole Position. Clearly aimed at the whole family, we see how easy it was for an everyday couple and their kids to experience the thrill of real formula racing at the flip of a switch. It was like being lifted by the hand of God and dumped from your boring Rabbit into a fleet of Formula cars. Don't worry about the helmets, kids. They won't help when you fly off course and explode on impact with that Pole Position billboard. But fear not, there's always a reset button somewhere. Click through to relive your glory days.

[Source: Atari via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Pole Position commericial, circa the '80s

VIDEO: Pole Position commericial, circa the '80s originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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