Of course they have had their moments in movies. The ’68 Mustang GT 390 was iconised by Steve McQueen in the film “Bullitt” for instance and even the modern day Shelby Mustang GT500 in “I am Legend” looked and sounded the business for sure.

The fact is, see a Ford Mustang in the UK and it will turn heads. As rubbish as guys in pubs will refer to them compared to Ferraris, Porsches, BMW M3s or Audi RS4s these cars are cool to be seen in!

The term “American Sports Car” maybe an oxymoron compared with pretty much anything the Europeans produce in the sports car category. In fact most shopping cars with a GT badge would probably be quicker on an English “B” road. So we take the moral high ground as our tiny little cars can cover the ground faster than a gas guzzler.

Back in the 60s, 1300cc Alfas and Minis would battle with Ford Falcons and Mustangs given a twisty enough circuit and I doubt our views have changed much since.

Yet European cars have changed dramatically and perhaps the Americans have actually had the recipe right for the enthusiast driver on public roads all along.

In the quest for being the fastest, the European manufacturers have been squeezing in engines of ever growing proportions which are now not that dissimilar to our American cousins. A small “compact executive” car like a BMW 3 series or Audi A4  now have V8s powering their sports variants. The larger family sized A6 shares the Lamborghini V10 in its RS badged version.

That is just the sporting versions of normal saloons. The Ferraris, Porsches and Astons have got ever quicker and offer insane amounts of grip that can get around the Top Gear test track in times that allow their owners to scoff at anything produced across the pond. Yet most owners of these cars will never get the chance to explore these limits and those that do (aka highly paid soccer players) will crash them at high speed trying.

Even now, the American Sports Car is still much better at straights bits than windy ones, allowing the driver to act heroically when faced with a deviation in the road more than a few degrees, all at a rather safe speed of next to nothing before powering off to the next bend with verve and determination and above all a rather nice sound.

Not only that but with all the technology packed into a modern European sporting cars extracting zillions of bhp per litre and computer controlled suspension, the only people who really understand how to make them go fast are confined to darkened rooms staring at monitors somewhere in Bavaria. So some back street mechanic armed with a laptop and a large dose of optimism is only going to make it go slower, or not go at all.

So tuning in Europe tends to be restricted to guys wearing their caps the wrong way round driving Saxos with engines that would fit in a Mustang’s glove box. Whereas in the US, tuning sports cars from the factory still positively thrives and it all adds to the enthusiast’s pleasure.

So maybe after 40 odd years of disdain I finally “get” the American Sports Car – simple but effective fun.

Which (eventually) leads me on to the iRacing Mustang. You can lap Summit Point a whisker quicker than a Spec Racer Ford – a car with the word “Rookie” in its series title and is powered by an engine and gearbox from a basic Ford Escort your Grandad used to drive to the shops to get his pipe tobacco.

Yet not only will you feel quite cool given its aggressive looking styling and Bullitt heritage but you will be less likely to embarrass yourself going off backwards into T3. It is relatively easy to drive and not that quick but makes you feel like Steve McQueen, every time you exit pit lane. Not only that but as everyone else isn’t falling off at T3 every other lap the racing is great too.

If you are not sure about American Sports Cars, get the iRacing Mustang, you won’t regret it.

Mixed class racing at its best: SCCA Grand American Championship at Barber Motorsports Park.

Qualifying on pole in the Inside Sim Racing/Podium Assault Corvette C6.R was Marc Payne with a 1:19.5 firmly establishing himself as the favorite for the race.  The winner of the first round at Daytona, Mike Young, was the first Daytona Prototype on the grid with a 1.19.9 followed closely by Road Atlanta winner Colin MacLean with a 1:20.0.  General wisdom at Barber is that a solid qualifying run is the key to the race.  It would not turn out that way this day.

As the green flag dropped Payne retained the lead while MacLean slotted into second place past Young into Turn One.  Payne quickly established a gap at the front only to drop-out before Lap 10 with a missed shift and hard contact with the retaining wall.  MacLean inherited the lead with Chris Damron Jr. and Young in pursuit.

As the race progressed the relentless nature of the track started to take its toll on the competitors.  Corvette class leader Damron Jr. lost control of his car while applying pressure on Young for second place overall.

“At this point I pretty much had a class win in the bag, but my competitive side told me to go for an overall win. So I started pushing harder trying to get around Mike,” said Damron, Jr.

I took the rollercoaster chicane a bit fast and I came out too tight, got up on the curb and just looped it.”

Inheriting the lead in the Corvette class was the hard-charging Daniel Graulty who had been battling a determined Chuck Chambliss the entire race.  Graulty finally passed Chambliss following a pressure-induced mistake in the chicane.  Graulty would go on to take the class win with a six second cushion over Damron Jr with Alex Ulleri rounding out the podium in third.

“With about fifteen laps left, I just tried to make sure I maintained a solid pace, didn’t make any mistakes, and keep the class win intact,” said Graulty.

I didn’t expect this weekend to go this well, but I’m thrilled to bring home the Augusta Valve & Automation Corvette with a class win.”

In the Daytona Prototype class, MacLean was holding a comfortable lead when a problem in the final turn sent his car into the inside wall.  Limping home in second place, MacLean was happy to salvage the valuable points.  The battle for the third spot was down to an intense battle between Young and series regular David Boden.  Crossing the finish line only one tenth of a second ahead of Boden, Young was delighted to secure the final place on the podium.

First overall and taking the Daytona Prototype class victory went to first-time winner Jaymz Mynes after a solid, mistake-free performance.  Working his way up to first place Mynes made no mistake in holding off a charging Graulty for the overall win.

At that point, the heart rate went up and the gas pedal went down.

“The next eight - nine laps were nerve-racking and took FOREVER!” said the winner.  “In the end though I can only assume the chasing C6.R had worn out tires and just settled for the win in his class.”

The following week the series headed to historic Mosport in Canada.  Stay tuned to inRacingNews for the race report coming soon!

Visit www.sscarace.com for information on how to join the series.

Coming off his success at Silverstone, Greger Huttu will be shooting for his fifteenth straight win tonight. However, the slightest chink in Huttu’s armor appeared at Silverstone when Richard Towler pipped him for the pole position. Not only was it the first time Huttu had been denied an iWCRR pole, Towler proceeded to lead the first stint of the race itself before relinquishing the spot to his Scandinavian rival on the first round of pit stops.

Can Towler break Huttu’s string at Indy? Or will Greger make it 15 for 15?  And what of the fierce battle for third in the iWCRR standings featuring Ilkka Haapala, Ben Cornett, Shawn Purdy, Darren Marsh and Dion Vergers?

Catch all the action tonight on iRacing.com.

Ed Carpenter claimed his first ever IndyCar pole position in a qualifying session full of surprises at Kentucky Speedway.

Points leader Will Power was denied pole by Carpenter’s superb run, but still earned a front row slot on a day when most of the regular frontrunners underperformed - including his title rival Dario Franchitti, who was only 11th.

Without a full-time seat for 2010, Carpenter is making only his third appearance of the season at Kentucky in a joint Panther/Vision Racing entry. Having battled in the top five on his return to the series at Chicagoland last week, and come within inches of winning at Kentucky last year, Carpenter put himself in an ideal position to clinch a first career win tomorrow with a pole run averaging 217.933mph over the new two-lap format.

The Panther team looks extremely strong going into Saturday night’s race, with Carpenter’s team-mate Dan Wheldon following up his Chicagoland podium finish with third on the grid today.

Apart from Ganassi’s Scott Dixon, who joins Wheldon on row two, all of Power’s usual rivals were down the order - and puzzled by their lack of speed.

His Penske team-mates Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe were only eighth and ninth, while title threat Franchitti was back in 11th.

Andretti Autosport fared even worse - Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick were unhappy with 15th and 17th places, and Tony Kanaan nearly understeered in the Turn 1 wall and ended up back in 26th, just ahead of team-mate Ryan Hunter-Reay, who spun into the Turn 2 wall on his run.

That gave some underdogs a chance to impress, with Hideki Mutoh qualifying fifth for Newman/Haas and Mario Moraes seventh for KV Racing.

But it was Conquest Racing that, after Carpenter, had most to celebrate, as rookie Bertrand Baguette qualified a surprise, career-best sixth and his new team-mate Tomas Scheckter claimed 10th.

Returnee Paul Tracy could not star on his second appearance with Dreyer & Reinbold though, the former Champ Car champion bemused by his car’s poor pace as he took 23rd. Graham Rahal’s return to Sarah Fisher Racing did not start well either - he bemoaned a severe straightline speed deficit as he struggled to 25th.

Pos  Driver               Team               Speed

 1.  Ed Carpenter         Panther/Vision     217.933mph

 2.  Will Power           Penske             217.829mph

 3.  Dan Wheldon          Panther            217.700mph

 4.  Scott Dixon          Ganassi            217.533mph

 5.  Hideki Mutoh         Newman/Haas        217.374mph

 6.  Bertrand Baguette    Conquest           216.988mph

 7.  Mario Moraes         KV                 216.879mph

 8.  Helio Castroneves    Penske             216.857mph

 9.  Ryan Briscoe         Penske             216.600mph

10.  Tomas Scheckter      Conquest           216.589mph

11.  Dario Franchitti     Ganassi            216.533mph

12.  Vitor Meira          Foyt               216.434mph

13.  Alex Tagliani        FAZZT              216.391mph

14.  Takuma Sato          KV                 216.265mph

15.  Marco Andretti       Andretti           216.173mph

16.  Justin Wilson        Dreyer & Reinbold  215.944mph

17.  Danica Patrick       Andretti           215.820mph

18.  Alex Lloyd           Dale Coyne         215.272mph

19.  Simona de Silvestro  HVM                215.003mph

20.  Raphael Matos        De Ferran Dragon   214.948mph

21.  Sarah Fisher         Sarah Fisher       214.813mph

22.  EJ Viso              KV                 214.595mph

23.  Paul Tracy           Dreyer & Reinbold  214.270mph

24.  Milka Duno           Dale Coyne         213.343mph

25.  Graham Rahal         Sarah Fisher       212.364mph

26.  Tony Kanaan          Andretti           210.831mph

27.  Ryan Hunter-Reay     Andretti

Casey Stoner says he remains fully committed to solving Ducati’s current problems even though he will leave the team at the end of 2010, and is not paying any attention to future employer Honda’s strong form.

Ducati has yet to win a race this year, while Stoner’s future Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa scored his third victory of the season at Indianapolis last weekend and dominated ahead of his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso in Friday practice at Misano today.

But Stoner, who was only eighth fastest in today’s session, said his 2011 team’s performance was of no consolation whatsoever amid Ducati’s issues.

“I have to worry about us at the moment,” said Stoner. “I don’t give a crap about what anybody else is doing at the moment.

“At the moment, we’re struggling with our bike and we need to concentrate. I honestly don’t care if the Yamahas are going well, if the Kawasakis were here and they were doing well. At the moment, we’re not.

“At the moment, we are the slowest bike out there. There are four manufacturers and many times we are the most difficult one.

“So we have to pick up our game, and I know we can do a much better job than what we’re doing.”

The former world champion said he still did not feel the team had found how to extract the potential from the Ducati GP10.

“It’s just difficult to find the solution that makes this bike work,” said Stoner. “We’ve been able to get a great setting for a lot of races, but not a fantastic one, so we just need to keep working.”

Ducati has been persisting with a new fork specification at Misano this weekend, and Stoner reckons the best policy is to continue making bold changes to the bike.

“At the moment I’ve got not a lot to gain and not a lot to lose,” said the Australian, who is fourth in the championship, 132 points behind leader Jorge Lorenzo, at present.

“We’re just going to keep trying different things and see if we can come up with a solution, because I’m sick of finishing third, being on the podium but on the last step and too far away from the lead, so we have to try something big.

“Unfortunately when you try something big, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll arrive at the best setting first time. We have to keep trying a lot of crap settings before we come across a good one.”

Moto2 manufacturer Suter has revealed a chassis designed for the 2012 MotoGP regulations.

The new generation MotoGP rules will see a switch to 1000cc engines, and the possibility of using production-based power units under the ‘claiming rule’ system.

Suter says its design could be adapted to either format, and that a complete bike would be available for between 350,000 and 600,000 euro.

The chassis is presently fitted with a BMW S 1000 RR engine, which has similar dimensions to the Moto2 Honda. BMW, which currently competes in World Superbikes, has been linked to a MotoGP move for 2012, but has no official involvement in Suter’s project.

Carmelo Morales will conduct initial development tests, although Suter is also in talks with other riders. The 32-year-old Spaniard is a double CEV Formula Extreme champion and ran in the top 10 on a Moto2 one-off at Catalunya earlier this year, although his race famously ended in a ferocious crash on the run to the finish line, from which Morales incredibly emerged unhurt apart from bruising.

Laurens Vanthoor took his first pole position in the Formula 3 Euro Series at Brands Hatch on Friday, leading a 1-2-3 for the Signature-Volkswagen team.

The Belgian snatched the top spot from his team-mate Marco Wittmann with three minutes remaining. Wittmann had held provisional pole since the middle of the session, and had just improved on his own time a few seconds before Vanthoor knocked him back.

Championship leader Edoardo Mortara, who had taken pole position in the previous four qualifying sessions this year, had to settle for third behind his two less experienced team-mates.

A Signature walkover had not seemed likely in the first part of the session, when ART’s Valtteri Bottas was setting the pace.

With 11 minutes gone the Finn was on a lap that was then on course to extend his advantage at the front, but he crashed at McLaren, ending his participation for the day.

Bottas, who had been fastest in free practice this morning, was then a spectator as his rivals tried to beat his time. He was eventually pushed back to fifth when Prema’s Daniel Juncadella joined the Signature drivers in getting ahead of him.

The third row of the grid will be an all-ART affair. Alexander Sims had another difficult qualifying session, and he could not better the early lap from Bottas, leaving him sixth.

The third ART car was also in the wars, as Jim Pla caused a red flag when he had a dramatic crash at Paddock Hill Bend. The Frenchman’s car went into the gravel trap backwards, and it then rolled as it dug in to the run-off area.

After a lengthy extrication process, Pla was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. He was reported to have suffered no serious injuries.

The session restarted with just two minutes remaining, but that was not long enough to enable anybody at the front to better their times.

Pos  Driver                  Team       Car  Time     Gap

 1.  Laurens Vanthoor        Signature  D/V  40.696s

 2.  Marco Wittmann          Signature  D/V  40.727s  + 0.031s

 3.  Edoardo Mortara         Signature  D/V  40.804s  + 0.108s

 4.  Daniel Juncadella       Prema      D/M  40.839s  + 0.143s

 5.  Valtteri Bottas         ART        D/M  40.873s  + 0.177s

 6.  Alexander Sims          ART        D/M  40.937s  + 0.241s

 7.  Matias Laine            Motopark   D/V  40.952s  + 0.256s

 8.  Carlos Munoz            Mucke      D/M  41.030s  + 0.334s

 9.  Roberto Merhi           Mucke      D/M  41.061s  + 0.365s

10.  Mika Maki               Motopark   D/V  41.072s  + 0.376s

11.  Jim Pla                 ART        D/M  41.112s  + 0.416s

12.  Nicolas Marroc          Prema      D/M  41.192s  + 0.496s

13.  Antonio Felix da Costa  Motopark   D/V  41.194s  + 0.498s

Jeff Smith will make his British Touring Car Championship debut at Knockhill this weekend.

The Renault Clio Cup racer will drive a Vauxhall Vectra for multiple championship-winning squad Triple 8 Engineering.

Smith, 44, tested the Vectra at Rockingham recently and will partner the team’s regular driver James Nash.

Tech 1 Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo topped the second Formula Renault 3.5 free practice session at Hockenheim on Friday, and in doing so claimed the fastest time of the day.

The Australian’s time of 1m27.758s was two tenths faster than reigning Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup champion Albert Costa, the only other man to crack the 1m28s barrier.

Entering the meeting with an 11-point championship lead over Ricciardo, Carlin’s Mikhail Aleshin ended the afternoon third fastest on 1m28.019s.

Magny-Cours winner Nathanael Berthon (Draco) briefly led the session before being bumped down to fourth spot. Pons Racing’s Ferrari Academy driver Daniel Zampieri recovered from a disappointing morning session, in which could only manage 15th fastest, to claim fifth place.

Fortec’s Jon Lancaster completed the top six. Fellow Briton Greg Mansell, fresh from supporting his father Nigel’s round Britain cycle ride for UK Youth, spent much of the session in third. He would eventually slip to 10th, but fared better than Comtec team-mate Stefano Coletti whose afternoon was disrupted following an off-track incident.

This morning’s pacesetter Esteban Guerrieri could only manage 15th fastest for ISR.

Pos  Driver             Team             Time       Gap

 1.  Daniel Ricciardo   Tech 1           1m27.758s

 2.  Albert Costa       Epsilon Euskadi  1m27.957s  + 0.199s

 3.  Mikhail Aleshin    Carlin           1m28.019s  + 0.261s

 4.  Nathanael Berthon  Draco            1m28.265s  + 0.507s

 5.  Daniel Zampieri    Pons             1m28.277s  + 0.519s

 6.  Jon Lancaster      Fortec           1m28.324s  + 0.566s

 7.  Walter Grubmuller  P1               1m28.439s  + 0.681s

 8.  Keisuke Kunimoto   Epsilon Euskadi  1m28.485s  + 0.727s

 9.  Federico Leo       Pons             1m28.624s  + 0.866s

10.  Greg Mansell       Comtec           1m28.643s  + 0.885s

11.  Jean Eric Vergne   Tech 1           1m28.677s  + 0.919s

12.  Victor Garcia      KMP              1m28.803s  + 1.045s

13.  Anton Nebylitskiy  KMP              1m28.815s  + 1.057s

14.  Filip Salaquarda   ISR              1m28.918s  + 1.160s

15.  Esteban Guerrieri  ISR              1m28.923s  + 1.165s

16.  Jake Rosenzweig    Carlin           1m28.953s  + 1.195s

17.  Nelson Panciatici  Junior Lotus     1m29.002s  + 1.244s

18.  Jan Charouz        P1               1m29.010s  + 1.252s

19.  Julian Leal        Draco            1m29.010s  + 1.252s

20.  Sten Pentus        Fortec           1m29.318s  + 1.560s

21.  Bruno Mendez       FHV Interwetten  1m29.353s  + 1.595s

22.  Stefano Coletti    Comtec           1m29.399s  + 1.641s

23.  Daniil Move        Junior Lotus     1m29.750s  + 1.992s

24.  Sergio Canamasas   FHV Interwetten

Mattias Ekstrom led an Audi lockout of the top five places in the first DTM free practice session of the weekend at Brands Hatch.

Ekstrom, who is Audi’s highest-placed driver in the championship heading into this weekend, edged reigning champion Timo Scheider by just 0.061 seconds.

The two Abt Sportsline drivers moved to the top of the timesheets during a flurry of activity in the middle of the session, with most of the headline times coming from Audis.

The manufacturer will be keen to reverse its recent poor form in relation to Mercedes this weekend, which might explain the bigger push from A4 drivers in comparison to their C-class rivals. Ekstrom also completed the most laps of anyone in the 90-minute session.

The 2008-spec Audis of Miguel Molina, Alexandre Premat and Markus Winkelhock completed the top five. Molina and Premat were the only drivers to make a significant improvement in the final few moments of the session, as most of the field refrained from pushing any harder at the end.

Gary Paffett was the top Mercedes runner in sixth. The HWA Mercedes team had a solid day, with Paul di Resta (seventh) and championship leader Bruno Spengler (ninth) close to Paffett’s time.

Spengler was sandwiched by two more Audis, as Oliver Jarvis and Mike Rockenfeller also made the top 10.

As expected, it was a difficult start to the weekend for those in 2008-spec Mercedes. Susie Stoddart was the fastest of the older Mercedes in 11th, while the other four drivers in the same cars filled places 14-17.

Pos  Driver             Car       Time     Gap

 1.  Mattias Ekstrom    Audi      42.019s

 2.  Timo Scheider      Audi      42.080s  + 0.061s

 3.  Miguel Molina      Audi      42.153s  + 0.134s

 4.  Alexandre Premat   Audi      42.158s  + 0.139s

 5.  Markus Winkelhock  Audi      42.196s  + 0.177s

 6.  Gary Paffett       Mercedes  42.217s  + 0.198s

 7.  Paul di Resta      Mercedes  42.268s  + 0.249s

 8.  Oliver Jarvis      Audi      42.306s  + 0.287s

 9.  Bruno Spengler     Mercedes  42.318s  + 0.299s

10.  Mike Rockenfeller  Audi      42.339s  + 0.320s

11.  Susie Stoddart     Mercedes  42.414s  + 0.395s

12.  Martin Tomczyk     Audi      42.442s  + 0.423s

13.  Ralf Schumacher    Mercedes  42.446s  + 0.427s

14.  Jamie Green        Mercedes  42.489s  + 0.470s

15.  Maro Engel         Mercedes  42.525s  + 0.506s

16.  David Coulthard    Mercedes  42.650s  + 0.631s

17.  Cong Fu Cheng      Mercedes  42.723s  + 0.704s

18.  Katherine Legge    Audi      42.724s  + 0.705s

INDIANAPOLIS — SFI Foundation, Inc. and Impact Racing have settled their differences in relation to a decertification order filed in March and subsequent lawsuits filed thereafter.

Impact will remain a participant in the SFI programs in exchange for certain consideration under the revised contracts. Impact acknowledged that in prior years it did not fully comply with SFI’s specifications, but those problems have now been resolved.

The dispute started in March when SFI issued a “Notice of Decertification,” alleging Impact engaged in production and use of counterfeit SFI conformance labels and patches and affixed them to Impact products that had not been properly certified by SFI.

The terms of the agreement between SFI and Impact were not released.

Dario Franchitti was quickest in a rain-interrupted IndyCar practice session at Kentucky Speedway.

After 20 minutes of clear running initially, moisture and debris at Turn 1 forced the first yellow, before a long rain shower led to a pause of nearly half an hour.

The organisers hoped to fit in at least 15 more minutes of running when the track finally went green again, but had to concede defeat after more rain eight minutes later.

During that final brief spell of track action, Ganassi driver Franchitti put in a 24.4955s lap to usurp Penske’s Helio Castroneves, who had led the way up to then.

Scott Dixon was third in Ganassi’s second car, with Dan Wheldon showing strong form for Panther in fourth, a week after his near-victory at Chicagoland.

Penske’s Ryan Briscoe and Andretti Autosport’s Tony Kanaan completed the top six, while championship leader Will Power (Penske) was back in 10th.

Seventh place was a promising result for Mario Moraes and KV Racing, but the leading underdog of the session was AJ Foyt Racing’s Vitor Meira - who took eighth.

The rain interruptions hampered preparations for the drivers reacclimatising to different teams this weekend. Paul Tracy and Graham Rahal were only 25th and 26th on their returns to Dreyer & Reinbold and Sarah Fisher Racing respectively.

Qualifying for Saturday night’s race is due to take place in just under two hours’ time, with a 20 per cent chance of rain predicted for this afternoon.

Pos  Driver               Team               Time      Gap

 1.  Dario Franchitti     Ganassi            24.4955s

 2.  Helio Castroneves    Penske             24.5183s  + 0.0228s

 3.  Scott Dixon          Ganassi            24.5482s  + 0.0527s

 4.  Dan Wheldon          Panther            24.5494s  + 0.0539s

 5.  Ryan Briscoe         Penske             24.5882s  + 0.0927s

 6.  Tony Kanaan          Andretti           24.6060s  + 0.1105s

 7.  Mario Moraes         KV                 24.6061s  + 0.1106s

 8.  Vitor Meira          Foyt               24.6179s  + 0.1224s

 9.  Marco Andretti       Andretti           24.6265s  + 0.1310s

10.  Will Power           Penske             24.6485s  + 0.1530s

11.  Danica Patrick       Andretti           24.6507s  + 0.1552s

12.  Ryan Hunter-Reay     Andretti           24.6544s  + 0.1589s

13.  Ed Carpenter         Panther/Vision     24.6684s  + 0.1729s

14.  Alex Lloyd           Dale Coyne         24.6842s  + 0.1887s

15.  Takuma Sato          KV                 24.6868s  + 0.1913s

16.  Raphael Matos        De Ferran Dragon   24.7167s  + 0.2212s

17.  Tomas Scheckter      Conquest           24.7242s  + 0.2287s

18.  Alex Tagliani        FAZZT              24.7301s  + 0.2346s

19.  Bertrand Baguette    Conquest           24.7681s  + 0.2726s

20.  Sarah Fisher         Sarah Fisher       24.7960s  + 0.3005s

21.  Justin Wilson        Dreyer & Reinbold  24.8246s  + 0.3291s

22.  EJ Viso              KV                 24.8738s  + 0.3783s

23.  Simona de Silvestro  HVM                24.9016s  + 0.4061s

24.  Hideki Mutoh         Newman/Haas        24.9328s  + 0.4373s

25.  Paul Tracy           Dreyer & Reinbold  24.9797s  + 0.4842s

26.  Graham Rahal         Sarah Fisher       25.0829s  + 0.5874s

27.  Milka Duno           Dale Coyne         25.3171s  + 0.8216s

Casey Stoner put his lack of speed in Friday practice at Misano down to having missed the event in 2009.

Last year’s San Marino Grand Prix was one of three races that Stoner sat out as he recovered from an illness that had hampered his performance for much of the season.

He believes set-up data from that race would have helped him get on the pace today, when he ended the practice hour only eighth.

“That was a difficult session for us, basically because we didn’t have any information from last year because I didn’t race here,” said Stoner.

“The characteristics of the current engine are very different to the one we used in 2008 so it requires a completely different gearbox set-up and obviously that affects a lot of different things.

“We took a bit of a shot in the dark with what we thought would work but unfortunately it wasn’t quite right and we had to spend a lot of time today making adjustments.

“Hopefully the data we gathered can give us a much better idea of where to start from tomorrow and I’m sure we can quickly close the gap to the guys at the top.”

Stoner’s team-mate Nicky Hayden was one place ahead of him, having also had a tough Friday.

“That wasn’t the smoothest session we ever had and I’m losing a lot on T3,” said Hayden. “I hoped to start out a bit closer to the top than that. We need to look for some tenths, maybe by finding some better turning in the front and also adjusting the gearbox a bit better.

“To be honest it’s not one big area we have to improve very much but small improvements in a few different areas.

“We also had a little issue with the fairing, which came a bit loose and my leathers got caught on it so I had to get back to the pit. We were trying something and after that I had basically one chance to make a good lap so we are not sure it is the right direction, which was a bit of a bummer.”

Sergei Afanasiev claimed his maiden Formula 2 pole position at Oschersleben on Friday afternoon.

The 22-year-old Russian started on the front row at Monza and Brands Hatch this season but had not clinched a pole until today.

He saw off the challenge of Kazim Vasiliauskas as the pair traded the top spot during their new-tyre runs in the second half of the session.

Afanasiev finished just under a tenth clear at the top, with Vasiliauskas another two tenths ahead of anyone else.

“The tyres were past their best but it was okay because the track was quite cold,” said Afanasiev. “I was going really fast when I caught Stoneman so I decided to drop back and do my own laps…. Boom, boom, finito. On this circuit it’s very difficult to overtake so it’s important to get a good qualifying.

“If you have followed this year you know that my starting is not my best thing, so hopefully tomorrow I will do my best.”

The second row of the grid for Saturday’s race will be filled by Nicola de Marco and Benjamin Bailly - the pair split by only a couple of hundredths in qualifying.

Championship protagonist Dean Stoneman will start only fifth, but still three places ahead of points leader Jolyon Palmer. Will Bratt and Jack Clarke lie between the pair.

Philipp Eng and Mihai Marinescu round out the top 10, while F2 newcomer Johannes Theobald ended up 17th, despite briefly topping the chart when he headed out earliest for his new tyre run.

Pos  Driver              Time       Gap

 1.  Sergei Afanasiev    1m20.376s

 2.  Kazim Vasiliauskas  1m20.463s  + 0.087s

 3.  Nicola de Marco     1m20.672s  + 0.296s

 4.  Benjamin Bailly     1m20.698s  + 0.322s

 5.  Dean Stoneman       1m20.784s  + 0.408s

 6.  Will Bratt          1m20.838s  + 0.462s

 7.  Jack Clarke         1m20.871s  + 0.495s

 8.  Jolyon Palmer       1m20.916s  + 0.540s

 9.  Philipp Eng         1m20.957s  + 0.581s

10.  Mihai Marinescu     1m21.041s  + 0.665s

11.  Armaan Ebrahim      1m21.097s  + 0.721s

12.  Kelvin Snoeks       1m21.183s  + 0.807s

13.  Ivan Samarin        1m21.330s  + 0.954s

14.  Ricardo Teixeira    1m21.380s  + 1.004s

15.  Benjamin Lariche    1m21.531s  + 1.155s

16.  Julian Theobald     1m21.620s  + 1.244s

17.  Johannes Theobald   1m21.759s  + 1.383s

18.  Plamen Kralev       1m22.178s  + 1.802s

Misano practice pacesetter Dani Pedrosa said he was taking nothing for granted this weekend despite dominating the Friday session.

Honda rider Pedrosa, who won at Indianapolis last weekend, was 0.6 seconds faster than the rest of the pack in Italy today, with his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso next up ahead of the Yamahas.

“It’s been really a good start here in Misano compared to last year and I’m very happy about that,” he said. “We are coming from a strong result at the last race and it’s important to keep the momentum going, which we have done so far.

“But we need to remain very concentrated and focused because we still have some areas to improve, and I’m sure our rivals will also go quicker tomorrow. Our pace has been quite fast today and Andrea is close to the front as well, so this is a good sign for the team.

“I can say this was one of my best Friday practices, but I’m not going to relax at all.”

Dovizioso admitted that the gap from Pedrosa to him was too large, but is optimistic that he can get closer as the weekend progresses.

“I’m happy with the work done during this session and I’m satisfied to be second,” said the Italian. “Six tenths from Dani is quite a big gap but I think we have the opportunity to close this.

“At the end I was able to improve my lap times with the tyres I used for the whole session, so I’m confident we can move forward tomorrow.”

World championship leader Jorge Lorenzo admitted he was struggling for confidence in his Yamaha after ending Friday practice at Misano nearly seven tenths of a second away from Dani Pedrosa’s pace.

Pedrosa was dominant in today’s session at the Italian track, with Lorenzo back in third behind both works Hondas.

“Today was quite difficult for us, more so than we expected,” Lorenzo said. “It’s not my physical condition, I feel completely recovered from the hard weekend in Indianapolis, but we really struggled today and I didn’t have enough confidence in my bike or in the tyres.

“We have some small problems in braking, corner speed and acceleration so I don’t feel like I can ride how I want to at the moment.”

With a comfortable 68-point championship lead under his belt, Lorenzo said he was not too concerned with his position, but was uneasy about the pace gap between himself and Pedrosa.

“We are still third so it’s not too bad but we have some time to make up if we are to match Pedrosa,” said the Spaniard. “I have great confidence that my team will find the right way to improve and I hope we will be in better shape tomorrow.”

Lorenzo’s team manager Wilco Zeelenberg conceded that major steps were needed before qualifying.

“There was a small problem at most corners, either the front was too deep or we didn’t have enough rear grip, so we need to make a big improvement tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve got some good ideas to find the right solutions but of course we need to take care at the same time not to create problems in other areas by making too many changes.

“Anyway, it’s only the first day and we will work hard now to give Jorge the right package tomorrow.”

Valentino Rossi was slightly slower than Lorenzo in fourth on the second Yamaha, but much happier with the bike.

“I’m quite happy because we did a good job during today’s practice, especially towards the end when we made a big improvement to the setting of the bike and I was able to make some faster lap times,” said the Italian.

“We have some more things to try, some electronics and some tyre settings, but I already feel confident so this has been a good way to start. We’re quite far from Pedrosa, who was very impressive today, but we’re close to [Andrea] Dovizioso and Lorenzo.”

The world champion was also pleased with how his still-healing injuries were coping with the Misano track, a week after his lack of fitness had hampered him at Indianapolis.

“My physical condition is okay, I don’t have too much pain but this track has two or three hard braking sections to the right and I suffer a bit with my shoulder at those points,” Rossi said.

Saving the best for last, Josh Berry stole the show with the last race of the week on Monday afternoon. The former NiCCS champion had to battle an extremely stout field of sim racers including fellow NASCAR iRacing Series World Championship drivers Thomas Hazard and Daniel Pope II. Also in the field of 18 trucks were Brad Wright, Jeremy Allen, Michael Main and Kenneth O’Keefe. When all was said and done the lead changed hands 12 times with eight drivers taking turns at the front, making it one of the more competitive races of the week.

The week's finale saw eight iRacers swap the lead before Josh Berry secured the win. Here Berry (1) mixes things up with Brad Wright (3), Kenneth O'Keefe (8), Austin Hartenfels (9), Daniel Pope II (4), Michael Main (7) and Del Mears (6).

O’Keefe started on pole with Berry, Hazard and Pope starting fourteenth through sixteenth as none of the three had a posted qualifying time. No matter though, as the trio quickly worked their way through the field. By halfway the three were all among the top five runners with Berry taking the lead, but no one expected the best truck on the long run to belong to the polesitter O’Keefe. The Canadian passed the “big three” to recapture the lead.

The race appeared to be heading toward a long green run to the finish, favoring O’Keefe until Bill Bledsoe lost it and brought out the third and final yellow flag of the afternoon. The wreck brought the leaders to pit road, and 20 laps were remaining to decide it. Berry quickly motored by O’Keefe to grab the top spot and went unchallenged the rest of the way, beating Hazard to the line by just over six tenths of a second. Pope was third, O’Keefe slipped to fourth and Main ended up with a solid top five run in fifth.

The win also gave Berry top points honors, with a very strong 257 points. The Strength of Field was so strong that Hazard ended up with second most points on the week with 241 for his runner up effort.  Also performing well were Dylan Slepian with 235, right ahead of a three way tie at 229 points including Tyler Hudson, Brandon Buchberger, and the before mentioned Allen.

Not much changed in the overall standings after Chicagoland. Hudson still leads the points with 916 with Joshua Laughton hanging tough in second with 875 points. Kevin King sits third with 804 while Jonathan Ross and Tim Axton are fighting over fourth and fifth with 729 and 725 respectively.

Week Five takes the trucks to Charlotte Motor Speedway, another one and a half mile circuit. The distance may be the same, but that went fast in Chicago likely will not at Charlotte so once again, adaptation is key. Can Hudson keep riding the wave of momentum, or will Berry and company swoop in and steal the show yet again?

Wall, N.J. — Wall Stadium, the 60-year-old speedway only recently saved from permanent closure, has suspended racing operations pending further notice.

Rumors of the abrupt end to the 2010 racing season began to sweep through the racing community last week and were confirmed when the track posted a notice on its Route 34 marquee reading “Racing Cancelled Till Further Notice” and placed a photograph of that sign on the speedway’s website.

Wall Stadium was opened in 1950 and raced continually through 2007, but in 2008 the current owners decided against opening for the year and put the property on the market.

In late 2008 Jim Morton, a longtime fan, leased the track for the season-ending Turkey Derby and then struck a deal to operate the track regularly in 2009. Morton continued promoting the track in 2010 until the recent action.

Jenson Button is bullish about McLaren’s prospects for the Italian Grand Prix following the team’s strong showing at Spa.

Although Button was forced to retire from the race after his crash with Sebastian Vettel, the Briton reckons the team is in great shape ahead of the Monza event.

“Obviously, my non-finish in Spa wasn’t ideal for my championship aspirations, so I head to Monza next weekend determined to put myself back in the hunt for the title,” said Button in a team preview.

“Our pace over the whole weekend in Belgium was extremely encouraging - we’re developing the car at a very rapid rate, and we’re learning more about it all the time, so I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to maintain that form in Italy next weekend.

“We still have some work to do to make sure the package we bring to Italy is perfectly suited to the track, but I’m confident that our engineers have made some good steps forward with their understanding of our car, so we should be in good shape.”

Team-mate Lewis Hamilton, winner of the Belgian race last Sunday, admitted he is eager to win at Monza to complete the set of victories at historic tracks.

“I’ve made no secret of my wish to win this race. Monza is an incredible circuit – full of history and stories from the past. It has a special feeling in the air that you don’t find anywhere else in the world,” he said.

“It’s a circuit that inspires you to race at your limit, and I’ll be pushing hard all weekend.

“Finally, I’m looking forward to meeting the Italian fans this weekend. I pretty much grew up racing karts in Italy, so I’ve always appreciated and understood the passion and support of the fans for Formula 1, and motorsport in general,”

Audi insists that it is not out of the running for the DTM title, despite suffering a torrid season in comparison to Mercedes so far in 2010.

The Ingolstadt-based manufacturer, which became the first to win three straight DTM titles last season, has only taken one victory in the first six races this year. That has left Mattias Ekstrom as its highest-placed driver in the standings, but the Swede sits fourth in the championship, 16 points behind leader Bruno Spengler.

Spengler’s closest pursuers are his HWA-Mercedes team-mates Gary Paffett and Paul di Resta, and Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich hopes that the battle between the three will create an opportunity for their rivals.

“When three drivers battle it out with one another, a fourth one could take the prize,” said Ullrich. “This fourth one is currently Mattias Ekstrom, and his championship chances are still alive.

“A win at Brands Hatch [this weekend] and the situation could look far more promising. At the same time, you shouldn’t write off Timo Scheider [21 points behind Spengler]. I think one of these five drivers will win the title this year.”

Ullrich added that Audi had been more competitive than its results suggested. But he also highlighted that this year’s new control tyre compound from Dunlop continues to cause his teams problems.

“We could have won more races - we should have done so,” he said. “Our car has demonstrated its competitiveness again and again. But motor racing is all about results.

“We just made too many minor mistakes and at the end of the day, these have prevented us from making the most of our chances.

“The new tyre spec has also been a factor. [The tyres] have raised a lot of questions in our camp, and were the reasons for many hours of overtime.”

Formula 1 teams are closing in on finalising all-new regulations for 2013 that will likely see a return of ground effect cars and turbo engines - as the sport witnessed in the early 1980’s.

Several think-tank Working Groups have been set up to get consensus on moves to improve the spectacle of F1 and ensure it becomes more environmentally friendly.

On the engine side, draft regulations were circulated among teams a few weeks ago and the latest plan is for 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engines to become standard.

The power units will be bolstered by numerous energy recovery systems, and should produce around 650bhp. Plans are also being considered to limit engines to just five per driver per season.

In a bid to further increase F1’s green credentials, teams are also keen for there to be a fuel flow rate limit - which will ensure the engines are economical.

Williams technical director Sam Michael said: “Rather than dump as much fuel in as we can at the moment, there will be a fuel flow metre - so you won’t be able to blow more than a certain amount of fuel. It is a good chunk less than we had at the moment.”

On the chassis front, Williams co-owner Patrick Head and former Ferrari designer Rory Byrne are working with the FIA to head up concepts for new car rules.

Teams are keen for the cars to be better for overtaking than the current generation of machines - with ground effect being actively considered.

“They are talking about putting a greater proportion of down force to the diffuser, a ground effect car - like the early 1980’s,” added Michael. “They have been looking at that, as well as increasing crash protection at the front of the car by moving the sidepods further forwards.”

For more on the 2013 regulation changes, see this week’s Grapevine column.

HAMPTON, Ga. — With only two races left to make it into NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup, Clint Bowyer needs a good showing this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway to inch closer to securing his spot.

Bowyer, driver of the No. 33 General Mills Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, has one top-five and seven top-10 finishes at the 1.54-mile oval and hopes he can put some distance between himself and 13th place Jamie McMurray in the standings heading into Richmond (Va.) Int’l Raceway next weekend.

“Most of the time you’re really loose as the back end of the car is trying to come out from underneath you,” Bowyer said about racing at Atlanta. “It happens about every corner on every lap. It doesn’t matter what line you’re in either. You could be on the white line or all the way up at the wall. Either way, you’re loose all the way around the track.”

The Kansas native is hoping to erase some bad memories from the 2010 season with a strong run Sunday night.

“There is a reason for every bad finish we’ve had this season,” Bowyer said. “I know everyone has a reason for a bad finish, but I think every bad finish we’ve had, except for one race, something bogus happened around us. That’s the frustrating thing about our season this year. Things have been good this year, but we haven’t been able to get the finishes that we deserve in a lot of places.”

Meanwhile McMurray, driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, has earned three top fives and four top 10s in the last six races to close to within 100 points of Bowyer for the last Chase spot.

“We’ve put together some nice runs in our 1.5-mile program this season, with some really good results and some not so good results,” McMurray said. “The bad results haven’t necessarily been because we didn’t have a fast car, rather we’ve just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’d love to say that we’ll go to Atlanta and put together the type of run that we did at Charlotte for the Coke 600, but we’ll just hope to continue building on some of the momentum that we’ve built up over the last six weeks, hopefully adding another top-five or top-10 finish.”

Not to be counted out is Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, who finished second in the standings last season and is only 101 points out of the final spot in the Chase.

“Anything can happen. Where we are now, it would be a surprise to make up that kind of ground in two races,” Martin said. “It would come at Clint’s (Bowyer) expense for sure. But, it’s important to us to continue to work on trying to get our cars faster and get stronger and better as a team. That’s the most important thing on our agenda. If we were able to go out and win Atlanta then we might think going into Richmond that we could get back in the Chase.”

With two races left before the Chase field is set, each driver has a legitimate shot at making the Chase. Anything can, and likely will, happen.

THE STATS

Race: Emory Healthcare 500
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54-mile asphalt oval in Hampton, Ga.
Laps/Distance: 325 laps/500.5 miles
Defending Race Winner: Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
Defending Pole Winner: Martin Truex, Jr. (No. 1 Guitar Hero 5 Chevrolet)
Race Record: Dale Earnhardt, 163.633 miles per hour (November 1995)
Track Qualifying Record: Geoffrey Bodine, 197.478 miles per hour (November 1997)
Most Victories: Dale Earnhardt (nine)
Most Top Fives: Dale Earnhardt (26)
Most Top 10s: Richard Petty (33)
Most Poles: Buddy Baker & Ryan Newman (seven)
Most Wins By Manufacturer: Chevrolet (35)

Dani Pedrosa dominated the opening free practice session at Misano, ending the afternoon six tenths of a second clear of the field.

The Honda rider, fresh from his third win of the year at Indianapolis last weekend, was at the front for the majority of the session.

Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) nosed ahead by 0.076s for a spell, but Pedrosa soon reasserted his authority. Although Lorenzo improved his pace several times after that, it was only ever by a few fractions of a second - and in any case Pedrosa moved well out of reach with two minutes to go when he set a 1m34.772s lap.

Then as the chequered flag fell, his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso came through to take second from Lorenzo by 0.06s and complete a Honda one-two.

Yamaha filled the next four places - Lorenzo leading his factory team-mate Valentino Rossi and Tech 3 pair Colin Edwards and Ben Spies.

It was a tough session for Ducati. Nicky Hayden was outside the top 10 for most of the hour, jumped up to fourth briefly, and ended up seventh, while his team-mate Casey Stoner struggled with the bike and was only eighth.

Gresini Honda’s Marco Melandri and Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi filled the final top 10 positions, with Hector Barbera in the top five for Aspar Ducati early on but pushed back to 11th in the end.

Pos  Rider             Team               Time      Gap

 1.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda              1:34.772

 2.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda              1:35.384  + 0.612s

 3.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha             1:35.444  + 0.672s

 4.  Valentino Rossi   Yamaha             1:35.539  + 0.767s

 5.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha      1:35.834  + 1.062s

 6.  Ben Spies         Tech 3 Yamaha      1:35.892  + 1.120s

 7.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati             1:36.028  + 1.256s

 8.  Casey Stoner      Ducati             1:36.072  + 1.300s

 9.  Marco Melandri    Gresini Honda      1:36.126  + 1.354s

10.  Loris Capirossi   Suzuki             1:36.277  + 1.505s

11.  Hector Barbera    Aspar Ducati       1:36.293  + 1.521s

12.  Randy de Puniet   LCR Honda          1:36.454  + 1.682s

13.  Marco Simoncelli  Gresini Honda      1:36.533  + 1.761s

14.  Aleix Espargaro   Pramac Ducati      1:36.716  + 1.944s

15.  Hiroshi Aoyama    Interwetten Honda  1:37.001  + 2.229s

16.  Mika Kallio       Pramac Ducati      1:37.697  + 2.925s

17.  Alvaro Bautista   Suzuki             1:37.900  + 3.128s

Williams is now focusing its main efforts on next year’s car, with its final major upgrade package for 2010 having been given the sign-off in its wind tunnel.

After a disappointing start to the year, Williams has made good progress with its FW32 and, with its major update planned for the Singapore Grand Prix, it has high hopes of keeping that momentum up.

Technical director Sam Michael said that the new Singapore parts were now out of the wind tunnel and being readied, which means the Grove-based outfit’s aero team were now focusing entirely on the 2011 challenger.

“We have one more upgrade for Singapore, and that is finished in the wind tunnel,” said Michael. “All the bits are aerodynamically designed, but they have not finished going through the mechanical design and production yet.

“In terms of the design priority though, from an aero point of view we are focused on next year now.”

With major rule changes for 2011 - including the banning of double diffusers and F-ducts, and the arrival of Pirelli as tyre supplier - Michael said there would be little carry over from this year’s design.

“It is a completely different car - it will be a clean sheet for everybody,” he said.

Williams plans to run KERS next year too, and Michael said the team was keeping its options open regarding whether it races with a battery or a flywheel system.

“We’ve got both options, but to be honest our priority will be a battery system,” he said. “We do have capability to run a flywheel as well. “

Kelvin Snoeks went fastest in Friday’s second Formula 2 free practice at Oschersleben.

The 20-year-old Dutchman is one of several drivers with prior circuit knowledge - having had the best weekend of his 2009 Formula Master season at this track - but he beat them all to the top of chart in the 30-minute session.

His best time was a tenth quicker than fellow Formula Master graduate Sergei Afanasiev set to top the day’s earlier running.

Jack Clarke was second fastest from fellow second-year F2 racer Kazim Vasiliauskas and former GP2 exponent Ricardo Teixeira.

Afanasiev was fifth this afternoon with championship leader Jolyon Palmer sixth.

Benjamin Bailly and Armaan Ebrahim were next up, with series newcomer Johannes Theobald ninth. Will Bratt completed the top 10 with title protagonist Dean Stoneman just 11th.

Expected front runners Nicola de Marco and Philipp Eng continued to struggle in 14th and 15th places.

Pos  Driver                 Time                Laps

 1.  Kelvin Snoeks          1m21.796s            19

 2.  Jack Clarke            1m22.013s  + 0.217   18

 3.  K.Vasiliauskas         1m22.040s  + 0.244   18

 4.  Ricardo Teixeira       1m22.171s  + 0.375   18

 5.  Sergei Afanasiev       1m22.176s  + 0.380   17

 6.  Jolyon Palmer          1m22.242s  + 0.446   19

 7.  Benjamin Bailly        1m22.490s  + 0.694   18

 8.  Armaan Ebrahim         1m22.500s  + 0.704   15

 9.  J.Theobald             1m22.651s  + 0.855   17

10.  Will Bratt             1m22.662s  + 0.866   17

11.  Dean Stoneman          1m22.783s  + 0.987   12

12.  Mihai Marinescu        1m22.817s  + 1.021   19

13.  Nicola de Marco        1m22.878s  + 1.082   17

14.  Philipp Eng            1m22.908s  + 1.112   14

15.  Julian Theobald        1m23.074s  + 1.278   18

16.  Benjamin Lariche       1m23.305s  + 1.509   18

17.  Ivan Samarin           1m23.415s  + 1.619   13

18.  Plamen Kralev          1m24.345s  + 2.549   15

Championship outsider Esteban Guerrieri set the pace in Friday’s opening free practice on the Formula Renault 3.5 Series’ maiden visit to Hockenheim.

It was the perfect comeback for his ISR team following a two-month summer break. Worn chassis had forced the outfit to withdraw its entry from the previous round in Hungary, and return both cars to constructor Dallara for repairs.

Guerrieri’s time of 1m28.337s edged out Red Bull Formula 1 reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo by three tenths of a second.

“I had to pay Euro 7000 to Dallara for work on both cars,” said a grinning team boss Igor Salaquarda. “But I think the chassis stiffness is the same as it was before. We are back in P1 again, so everyone can see that there was nothing else untoward going on.”

Guerrieri was equally upbeat over the performance: “I had my only podium in Formula 3000 here back in ‘04, and this morning everything went well. The car felt really good and we were quick on the second lap. All of the problems we had in Hungary are in the past, if anything I think the car has come back from Dallara even faster.”

Ricciardo led much of the session, only to be demoted by Guerrieri from top spot with less than five minutes of the hour and fifteen-minute session remaining. Ricciardo is joined at Tech 1 Racing this weekend by new team-mate, recently crowned British Formula 3 champion, Jean-Eric Vergne.

“I haven’t really been out in any cars over the summer, although I did do a straight line aero test for Red Bull in Spain,” said Ricciardo. “Most of the time I have been doing simulator work, not for Hockenheim, but for the F1 team for Spa and Monza. Both Jean-Eric and I seem to be feeling pretty much the same thing this morning, which is good.”

Stefano Coletti finished third for Comtec, 0.06s faster than KMP Racing’s Anton Nebylitskiy. Fortec’s Jon Lancaster eneded the morning in fifth, ahead of series debutant Vergne.

“I think the balance was not quite where I wanted,” said the Frenchman, “but we are just working through things and I think overall things are going quite well.”

Championship leader Mikhail Aleshin completed the session in ninth, a late red flag interrupted the Russian Carlin driver’s run on new tyres.

“It is amazing that I still remember how to drive,” said Aleshin in reference to the long lay-off.

Pos  Driver             Team             Time       Gap

 1.  Esteban Guerrieri  ISR              1m28.337s

 2.  Daniel Ricciardo   Tech 1           1m28.677s  + 0.340s

 3.  Stefano Coletti    Comtec           1m28.810s  + 0.473s

 4.  Anton Nebylitskiy  KMP              1m28.816s  + 0.479s

 5.  Jon Lancaster      Fortec           1m28.859s  + 0.522s

 6.  Jean Eric Vergne   Tech 1           1m29.012s  + 0.675s

 7.  Filip Salaquarda   ISR              1m29.090s  + 0.753s

 8.  Albert Costa       Epsilon Euskadi  1m29.227s  + 0.890s

 9.  Mikhail Aleshin    Carlin           1m29.293s  + 0.956s

10.  Federico Leo       Pons             1m29.477s  + 1.140s

11.  Victor Garcia      KMP              1m29.574s  + 1.237s

12.  Julian Leal        Draco            1m29.747s  + 1.410s

13.  Walter Grubmuller  P1               1m29.781s  + 1.444s

14.  Nathanael Berthon  Draco            1m29.788s  + 1.451s

15.  Daniel Zampieri    Pons             1m29.812s  + 1.475s

16.  Greg Mansell       Comtec           1m29.871s  + 1.534s

17.  Keisuke Kunimoto   Epsilon Euskadi  1m29.933s  + 1.596s

18.  Jan Charouz        P1               1m30.022s  + 1.685s

19.  Sten Pentus        Fortec           1m30.060s  + 1.723s

20.  Nelson Panciatici  Junior Lotus     1m30.200s  + 1.863s

21.  Jake Rosenzweig    Carlin           1m30.492s  + 2.155s

22.  Daniil Move        Junior Lotus     1m30.593s  + 2.256s

23.  Sergio Canamasas   FHV Interwetten  1m30.798s  + 2.461s

24.  Bruno Mendez       FHV Interwetten  1m31.240s  + 2.903s

Alvaro Parente will stay on at Coloni for the GP2 races at Monza next weekend.

The 25-year-old Portuguese took Alberto Valerio’s seat at the team for the round at Spa last weekend and finished on the podium in both races.

Following the strong showing, where he was the highest-scoring driver across both races, the team has decided to keep him in the car in Italy.

“This is a championship that I would like to do since the beginning of the season, but this year it wasn’t possible to do it, so racing again with Coloni is fantastic,” said Parente.

“I’ll go to Monza with the same spirit that I showed at Spa-Francorchamps, confident the team will give me a car as quick as the one I had in Spa, which was one of the best I’ve ever driven.

“I’ll try to fight for good results. The GP2 field is very competitive, so I can’t promise podiums or wins, but I can guarantee that I’ll give my best every time I’ll be on track.”

Parente is racing this weekend in Superleague Formula at Adria, for the FC Porto team.

Sebastian Vettel is convinced that he will bounce back as a better driver from the recent mistakes that have dented his title charge - after saying the criticisms that have come his way are no surprise.

The German was on the receiving end of condemnation from a number of his rivals after he lost control of his car in a battle with Jenson Button for second place.

On the back of a mistake in Hungary behind the safety car that cost him victory, Vettel’s error in Belgium has opened up questions about whether the German has the temperament to claim the crown this year.

Speaking to German publication Auto Bild Motorsport, Vettel said the criticisms launched at him were standard procedure in F1 - but says he knows himself that he can come out of his current difficulties an improved racer.

“Formula 1 is a great show,” said Vettel. “If everything goes well, you are the greatest. If you make an error, and some people simply do not understand exactly the reasons why, then you very fast become the idiot. The most important thing, therefore, is that I know the truth myself.

“In Hungary I was asleep during the safety car period and made an error. And in Spa, when I lost the car while overtaking Jenson Button I make a mistake too. But I am open and honest enough to admit that.

“I’m not proud of it, but you cannot change anything other than try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. In the end, the mistakes make you a better driver.”

Although Vettel’s Hungarian and Belgian errors have cost him valuable ground in the world championship, Vettel still thinks he and Red Bull Racing can recover to claim the crown.

“We are a team,” he said. “Although we had big problems, we have still scored many points. And not because we were so lucky, but because our package is extremely strong. I do not worry about myself. I know how good we are and I will this year take the title.

“During the first 13 races not everything went smoothly. Nevertheless I am only 31 points behind. They are [his title rivals] - assuming that we maintain our speed - quickly caught up.”

Pedro de la Rosa: “The last time I raced in Monza was in 2006. This track is a classic, it has a lot of personality and is different to any other we race on. This is what I like a lot about Monza, because with all the modern circuits nowadays it is exceptional to find one that is unique. You also have to drive it differently to any other race track. Obviously the speeds are very high, you run low downforce, have very hard braking and need to cut the chicanes. This all together makes it very demanding, especially for the engines, brakes and suspension. It is definitely not going to be an easy weekend for us, as it is not somewhere that should suit our car too well. But we have proven, for example in Budapest, that we can also do well at places which theoretically should be difficult for us. I always like going to Italy and I’m looking forward to the race.”

Kamui Kobayashi: “I have very good memories of Monza because it was there where I won the championship in the Formula Renault Eurocup back in 2005, and I also raced there in GP2. It is a very high speed circuit with a lot of hard braking. I quite like it, although I think it will be difficult for our car. We will have to find the best solutions and make sure we get everything right over the weekend, make no mistakes and so optimise our chances. Without doubt my goal is to score some more points before we go to Asia.”

Technical Director James Key: “Monza is one of the special tracks of the year with a wonderful atmosphere and all the support from the tifosi the teams receive there. It is unique, as it’s the only very high speed circuit of the season. All the teams run the minimum drag levels, because the very long straights and few corners make it beneficial to run far less drag. We will run an aero package on our car which is designed specifically for there. It consists of different rear wing options, as well as front wing versions to match them. The important part of the set-up of the car will be to tune the downforce levels correctly to find a good compromise for some of the more tricky areas like the Lesmo corners, the Ascari chicane and the Parabolica, but at the same time also giving high braking stability, which has significant influence on the lap time. Also important is the performance over the kerbs, particularly in the first two chicanes with probably the biggest kerbs of the year. You can find a good lap time there if the car is working well. For us it’s difficult to pin expectations because it’s such a unique event. It’s possibly not a circuit best suited to our car, so we will work hard to make sure we can do the best possible job.”

Michael Schumacher says he is expecting his Mercedes team to endure a challenging weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.

Although the German squad enjoyed a promising race in Belgium last weekend, with Schumacher finishing in seventh behind team-mate Nico Rosberg, the seven-time champion believes the nature of the Monza circuit is unlikely to help his squad.

But he is still determined to push hard for another points finish.

“Spa was quite an entertaining race weekend which I like to look back on as we achieved a reasonable result considering the circumstances,” said Schumacher in a team preview.

“The next race in Monza might well be entertaining in a very different way as I expect it to be a real challenge for our team.

“We have seen already several times this year that circuits with characteristics like those of Monza do not really play in our hands. Of course, we will go there prepared to try hard to achieve the maximum we can from our package and we will see to what extent we can achieve that and fight our way through.

“On a personal level, I am very much looking forward to returning to Monza where I have been supported so warmly over so many years.”

Rosberg, meanwhile, is eyeing another strong outing at Monza despite the different track layout.

“We made a good recovery from a difficult start to the weekend in Spa and it was nice to come away with some points,” he said.

“Monza is a completely different type of track but we will hope for an equally good weekend there.”

The FIA is to wait until September 21 to give the Korean Grand Prix track its final inspection.

Amid ongoing speculation that the new venue will not be ready in time for October’s inaugural event, the FIA has confirmed that it will wait until a month before the scheduled date to give the venue its sign off.

Although FIA regulations state that inspections are supposed to be not later than 90 days before grands prix, the wording of the rule only states that this cut off point ’should’ happen rather than is mandatory.

More news about the state of readiness of the Korean venue will be forthcoming this weekend, when Karun Chandhok is scheduled to demonstrate a Red Bull Racing car on the new track.

F1 track architect Hermann Tilke told AUTOSPORT last weekend that he had no doubts that Korea would be ready in time - even though he admitted the timetable was tight.

“The track is not finished yet, but it will be,” Tilke said. “It will be ready.

“Of course it is tight. But every circuit is tight. With every F1 circuit, the problem is always that the race date is there - and if there is bad weather or other circumstances then we cannot delay.

“With a normal building, they can say that it will be finished now one week or two weeks later. We cannot do that with an F1 track. We cannot have it one week later.”

Nico Rosberg: “Monza is absolutely one of the top race tracks in the world. Not only for the speed and the challenge but also for the passion and enthusiasm of the Italian fans who really love their racing. There is always a special feeling about the Monza weekend and I love racing there. We made a good recovery from a difficult start to the weekend in Spa and it was nice to come away with some points. Monza is a completely different type of track but we will hope for an equally good weekend there.”

Michael Schumacher: “Spa was quite an entertaining race weekend which I like to look back on as we achieved a reasonable result considering the circumstances. The next race in Monza might well be entertaining in a very different way as I expect it to be a real challenge for our team. We have seen already several times this year that circuits with characteristics like those of Monza do not really play in our hands. Of course, we will go there prepared to try hard to achieve the maximum we can from our package and we will see to what extent we can achieve that and fight our way through. On a personal level, I am very much looking forward to returning to Monza where I have been supported so warmly over so many years.”

Ross Brawn: “The double points finish in Spa was a boost for the team and it would be rewarding to repeat the achievement at the final European race of the season in Monza next weekend. Monza is simply a fantastic racing venue and one of the highlights of the calendar. The grandstands are always packed and the fans create a wonderful atmosphere over the weekend. From an engineering perspective, aerodynamic efficiency with a low downforce package is fundamental to minimise drag, along with good brakes and traction plus a powerful engine to achieve the necessary high top speeds on the long straights. We are all looking forward to the weekend.”

Norbert Haug: “Monza is definitely a ‘one of a kind’ circuit on the calendar. The unique high-speed nature of this classic track differentiates Monza from any other circuit and of course it is very special as the home race for our highly valued competitors Ferrari who have competed in the World Championship for longer than any other team. As always, we will run with a special aerodynamic configuration in Monza to suit the requirements of this high-speed circuit and hope to achieve a respectable result next weekend in Italy.”

Sergei Afanasiev set the fastest time in the opening practice session of this weekend’s Formula 2 round at Oschersleben.

The 22-year-old Russian finished second and fourth in the two Formula Master races at the German circuit last season, and used his track knowledge to set the quickest time this morning.

Oschersleben first-timer Dean Stoneman was second - the only other driver to break into the 1m21s - with Kelvin Snoeks (another driver to race here last year in Formula Master) third.

Both Stoneman and championship leader Jolyon Palmer, who finished fourth, are now quickly up to speed for the penultimate weekend of season. They are separated by just four points at the top.

Kazim Vasiliauskas finished on the podium in F2 at Oschersleben last year and was fifth this morning, ahead of Jack Clarke who scored his second best result of 2009 at Oschersleben.

Expected front runners Will Bratt, Philipp Eng and Benjamin Bailly were only 14th, 16th and 17th.

F2 newcomer Johannes Theobald was 11th fastest, while series regular Natalia Kowalska is not racing this weekend.

Times to follow

The South African qualified 17th but retired in an accident after just five laps last Saturday night, but will continue at the team, in place of Francesco Dracone, for at least one more race.

“I’m looking forward to Kentucky,” said Scheckter. “It will be great to drive for Conquest again and to continue what we started last week.

“We had a good first weekend together at Chicagoland, despite the early retirement from the race, and I really enjoyed working with everyone on the team.”

Conquest boss Eric Bachelart added: “We’re very happy to have Tomas back with us at Kentucky. Sadly, his race was short-lived at Chicagoland, but in the little time he had in the car over the weekend he did an excellent job. His experience on ovals was of great help to the team.”

Mix COTs, trucks and Late Models at Charlotte and there's bound to be plenty of action.

Intensity filled the air as drivers prepared their race cars in practice. With a wide selection of mixed class vehicles to chose from, drivers could elect to use the Car of Tomorrow (Chevrolet Impala SS Class A), the Chevy Silverado or Chevy Monte Carlo Late Model.  With one final race left, five drivers all had a mathematical possibility of being crowned champion at the end of the race. Almost all eyes were on Stephen Moore, who has won three out of his last five races to move within striking distance from points leader Matt Bussa.  Other eyes were on Thomas Warnick, who took the effort to repainting his car and proclaimed himself “The Moore-a-nator.”

Unphased, Moore duly won the pole and figured to be the favorite to overtake Bussa’s points lead.  But not before a first lap crash in Turn One saw four cars hurtle out of control, including those of Matt Campbell, Anita Frederiksen, Stephen Duke and Mike King.  On the restart, Warnick consistently provided trouble for Moore.  Although Moore was able to lead the first seven laps of the 50 lap event, he crashed his Impala and Bussa in his Silverado  inherited the lead on Lap Eight. Series rival Justin Crider, going into the race second in points, provided Bussa with a lot of pressure. King was able to sweep in for the assist and block Bussa’s racing line, sending Bussa careening into the inside wall by Turn Three. Jeremy Doll, another in the top five in points, gained the lead on Lap Nine. Shortly thereafter, Doll’s engine blew, forcing him to take his car back to the pits for repairs.

The momentum of the race started to shift, as a recovering Moore worked his way back into the top five and the lead shuffled between all five of the points contenders:  Bussa, Crider, Moore, Nathan Lyon, and Doll over the next 30 laps.  With 10 laps remaning, Lyon could see the the championship and the checkered flag were within reach.  At that point in time Lyon had an undamaged car and was able to get through trouble very easily. However, as Lyon entered Turn One he was clipped by Matt Campbell and spun into the retaining wall. If that wasn’t enough, as his crippled car slid down the track, Chris Cable and Nick Hulslander connected and sent themselves into Lyon, forcing him to head for the pits.

At least one Late Model "flew" at Charlotte!

With five laps to go, the five points contenders remained at the head of the field with Bussa first followed by Crider, Moore, a rejuvenated Lyon and Doll.  Although his car had sustained heavy damage, Bussa was able to keep the lead for the next three laps, until Campbell wanted some payback from an earlier altercation. Bussa and Campbell got together existing Turn Four, with both drivers winding up in the grass as a result. Bussa lost valuable time and was forced to get a tow-in as Doll regained the lead.

Although he was leaking fluid as the result of earlier contact with Ricky Clodfelter and Billy “Blitz” Litz, Doll was able to cross the line on Lap 50 for the win.  Bussa, Crider, Lyon, and Clodfelter rounded out the top five ahead of Moore.  Other notables in the field were Kevin Swindell (K&N and Nationwide driver) and JC Thompson (Volkswagen TDI Cup Driver) who finished seventeenth and twentieth respectively.

While Doll won the show, Moore’s bonus points enabled him to come out on top in the championship despite Bussa’s impressive performance. Moore had the edge going into the race because he had yet to have utilized any drop weeks, making his finish in this race much more valuable.

Season one for the Virtual Racing Series was a complete success. Drivers raved about how much fun Enduro racing can be in a controlled environment.  While there was chaos, there were great battles, countless lead changes, and wrecks of colossal proportions that will always be remembered.  All of the series’ regular drivers are expected to be in full swing next season in November for the second installment of the series: The Virtual Racing Series Turkey Bowl.

The FIA has launched an investigation into why Felipe Massa was able to start the Belgian Grand Prix slightly ahead of his grid slot without the error getting picked up at the time.

Amateur video footage that appeared on the Internet in the days after the race showed that Massa came to a stop on the grid slightly in front of where he should have been.

Massa’s wrong positioning was in theory a breach of the regulations, but FIA race director Charlie Whiting received no information from the marshals at the track that the Brazilian had stopped in the wrong place - and the electronic systems in place on the grid did not detect it either - in time for a jump start penalty to be imposed.

With rival teams unaware of Massa’s error, so not complaining to the FIA, the matter was not looked at in any more detail before the Belgian GP results were made official on Sunday night - which means no further action on the incident could be taken.

However, although Massa escaped punishment for what happened, the FIA has promised to look into why the wrong positioning was not picked up at the time.

“The problem was not brought to the attention of the FIA race director by either the marshals nor the automatic jump start system in time to be able to apply the appropriate penalty for jump starts,” said an FIA spokeswoman.

“As no further information or complaints were received before the publication of the official result on Sunday night, the classification of the Belgian Grand Prix will now remain unchanged.

“The FIA are investigating the causes of the apparent failures in communication with race control in order to ensure a repetition is not possible.”

Colin Kolles has confirmed that Sakon Yamamoto is to remain at HRT for the foreseeable future.

Yamamoto was originally drafted in as a one-off at the British Grand Prix as replacement for Bruno Senna, but since then he has filled in for Karun Chandhok in the other seat.

And after suggestions in Belgium that Yamamoto will now see out the season, team principal Kolles has said that he sees no reason to replace the Japanese.

“I think that both drivers are doing a good job,” explained Kolles. “We had the best qualifying result in Spa so far and Sakon’s lap times were at the same level as Kovalainen’s and Glock’s in the race. I think there is no reason to make any changes so far.”

Kolles said he was encouraged by the sponsor interest his team was gaining, and he is upbeat about its future.

“With more sponsors on board the situation is improving,” he said. “As I mentioned before, in F1 you need a lot of support and this is what we are trying to achieve.
“Obviously this is a positive sign but we have to work hard to get as much sponsorship as possible for 2011.”

Casey Stoner says he has no concerns about finishing the 2010 with no wins, as he feels he is riding as well as ever.

The Ducati rider, the 2007 world champion, has finished on the podium five times this year, but has been unable to climb on the top step so far.

Despite the lack of results, however, Stoner says he has been very happy with his performances.

“Not at all, to be honest,” Stoner said when asked if he was concerned about finishing the season with no wins. “I’m happy with my riding. When I get really angry is when there’s something definitely wrong or with myself, because I don’t think I’ve been performing for some reason.

“But this year to be honest I’m really happy with the way I’m riding, training, everything, I’m very happy. I can’t be disappointed with that.

“Of course I’m disappointed with my results and that’s why I’m taking a few more risks with set-up. But nothing to be worked up about. I just have to forget about this year at the end of it.

“We still have some more races to do and we are trying to get a little bit more speed. But it’s been a difficult season. I can’t seem to get more out of myself or the bike.”

He added: “I’m not getting desperate. Like I said I would be if I wasn’t happy with my performances or I’d be really angry if things were constantly going wrong. They aren’t constantly going wrong.

“We just don’t have enough speed. I’m happy with the way I’m riding, my attitude… We are trying to get some solutions to improve the results, but that’s it.”

The Australian, who will ride for Honda next year, believes last weekend’s race at Indianapolis would have been his best chance to fight for victory had he not crashed out.

And Stoner admits he is unlikely to be able to have a better chance in the remaining races of the year.

“The best opportunity I had to win was in Indianapolis and even there I think Dani was just a little bit faster and I might have been able to finish second quite confidently. We definitely had the speed for that. There’s no circuits coming up. We’ve got to find some genius thing which if I haven’t found by now I don’t think we are going to.

“Normally at the start of the season we are struggling and slowly get the bike better. But we got the bike working pretty well at the beginning of the season and we haven’t been able to improve it, so I don’t think there’s anything more to come.”

Valentino Rossi is hopeful of making a step forward in performance in this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix - even though he concedes that the physical demands of Misano are not ideal for him.

The Italian is still getting himself back to full fitness after breaking his leg in a crash at Mugello earlier this year – and he has endured mixed fortunes since he returned to action at the Sachsenring.

And on the back of a fairly difficult time in Indianapolis – where he slipped down to fourth in the race following three crashes over the weekend – Rossi is not predicting anything being rapidly different this time out.

“This track is quite difficult for us, for me, all my team,” he said in Misano on Thursday. “We came back after the accident and especially the Sachsenring was a good race. Laguna was okay and I took a podium – but the most negative was Brno, it was crazy, one of the worst of the last years for me.

“But we have changed a lot on the bike and I ride quite well.. and here in Misano I have for sure a better atmosphere.

“Indy was a difficult race track with a lot of bumps, but here will be tough for the body, as this track is difficult with a lot of hard braking. So we hope to have less temperature than Indy, a bit more cold, and we have to try and make a better result.”

Rossi said that the tweaks made to his bike were to try and improve the feel from the front end.

“Because of my physical condition we tried to set the bike for easier riding, to have a lighter bike that is easier for the change of direction,” he explained.

“But unfortunately we lose a lot of feeling from the front and, for me, we come back to our normal style - that the bike is a bit more tough to ride but seems to be a better feeling and understanding of what happens on the front.”

Jenson Button is adamant he can still retain his world championship crown this year - despite the setback caused by his crash with Sebastian Vettel in Belgium last weekend.

The McLaren driver slipped to 35 points behind his team-mate Lewis Hamilton after the Spa event, when Vettel smashed him out of the race after making an error during their battle for second place.

And although that means Button now needs a dose of good luck to get himself back in the title hunt, he said on Thursday that he still believed he could come out on top at the end of the season.

When asked, during an interview with talkSPORT radio, whether he felt his title chances were now over, Button said: “Definitely not. I was very dejected after the race and was very down, but in reality 35 points is not that much.

“If you look in the old money of last year’s points system, it equates to 14 points - which is not a lot of points. It is a win and a fifth place, so it is all still to play for and, as it heats up in the last six races, there is going to be a lot more action.

“It will be about staying out of trouble and every race I go to I have to be fighting for victory.”

Button said he had no doubts that McLaren would maintain equal support for both its drivers - as he ruled out the scenario of the team throwing all its weight behind Hamilton.

“No, we won’t,” he said about the idea of McLaren imposing a number one. “It’s a very fair team; we’ve seen that in the past. And that’s why I wanted to join this team.

“I’ve got a great team-mate in Lewis, we’ve both won world championships in the past, and the great thing is we are given equal equipment. It is exactly what it should be and that is the way you want to win a championship.”

He added: “I’m still fighting for the title and to keep the world championship trophy in my living room”

Button has also revealed that Vettel phoned him on Sunday night in Belgium to apologise for the crash that dented both their title challenges.

“Seb called me after the race in the evening to apologise for the accident he caused, which was good, but it doesn’t give me my points back,” he said. “He didn’t do it on purpose. It was definitely a mistake, but I was the person who paid the price. That is the pity for me. But we’ve got to put that behind us and look forward now.”

In a separate interview published on his own website on Thursday, Button dismissed suggestions from Red Bull Racing that he had contributed to the accident by braking earlier than expected.

“After the race, I actually checked the data with my race engineer, and it shows that I braked at exactly the same point on the lap before the collision,” said Button.

“We even looked at the braking profile, and that also showed that, at the point of impact - about 1.5s after I’d started applying the brakes – I’d travelled exactly the same distance on both laps. So to suggest I’d braked earlier wouldn’t be accurate.”

A rare sight at the Brickyard: Rhawn Black in second behind John Paquin.

Yang Ou (Scandinavia) scored the highest points for the week at 163, collected for winning a high Strength of Field race against the likes of Black, Matteo Bortolotti (Italy), Henrik Müller (DE-AT-CH) and Paul Luck (Australia). Ryan Field also had a good week, scoring 155 points for a second place finish to Black.  Mark Muckey (Pennsylvania) and Marty Sponsler (Midwest) completed the Top 5 in points for the week at 140 and 136 points. Championship frontrunner Klaus Kivekäs (Scandinavia) scored 135 points for the sixth highest total of the week, with Ian Lake (Australia) just five points behind at 130. Other contenders Stephane Schodduyn (Benelux) and Aleksi Elomaa (Scandinavia) scored 124 and 111 points respectively.

Racing on the edge and sometimes beyond – heartbreak after the iAmIndy car spun into the wall in Turn One.

In the overall standings Kivekäs still leads with 611 points after four weeks of racing. Field closed the gap slightly and now lies 46 points behind in second. Lake in third has 529 points to his name. Schodduyn in fourth is a further 14 points behind in fourth with Elomaa in fifth just another eight points behind. PJ Stergios (New England), Luck, Ken Leach (New York), James Allard (New York) and Martin Blais (Eastern Canada) complete the Top 10.

On the Time Trialing side of the competition it is Richard Walker (England) leading by a big margin of 33 points in front of John Paquin (Indiana) and another 17 points in front of Leach.

Plains still hold their lead in the Regional Standings with now 1228 points. Celtic just barely keep second with 1065, only eight points ahead of DE-AT-CH. Indiana moved into fourth with 828 points, ahead of International at 769 and England at 748 points. In a tight midfield battle, Benelux at 720, Midwest at 703 and Atlantic at 700 points trail by just a few points.

After one of the most famous track in motorsports the IZOD IndyCar Series now moves to Australia where races will be held at the Phillip Island Circuit.

———
Fastest Qualifying lap of the week:
John Paquin – 39.467

Fastest Time Trial of the week:
John Paquin –39.624 (ten laps)

Heikki Kovalainen: “After Spa I’m feeling really good physically and mentally. Before we got to Belgium, I had a proper rest for a week, and then got back into training for the second couple of weeks of the summer break to prepare myself for the end of the season. It paid off because I felt great all weekend in Spa and now I’m looking forward to Monza and then the remaining races. Monza is one of the real highlights of the year and it’ll be good to be back in Italy. It’s a very different type of circuit and it has a great atmosphere. Obviously Ferrari have huge support out in the stands, but so do the other teams as the fans just love F1. I think it’ll be a pretty cool weekend - for us drivers it’s a high speed track and with the low downforce configuration it makes it very interesting to race there. For the fans it’s cool as well as the cars are pushed to the limit, and they look and sound pretty awesome on track.”

Jarno Trulli: “Monza is a very special Grand Prix. We Italian drivers have fantastic support out there, and the fans are really fired up for the race. It’s such a warm atmosphere, you can’t help but enjoy it. The track is challenging, but it’s not as technical as some of them. You obviously need good top speed, low downforce, good traction good braking stability. Everyone talks about the low downforce, but the brakes play a really crucial role. You need to have the confidence to brake as late as possible and as hard as possible at the chicanes, and then you need to have really good traction to get yourself out of them as quickly as possible. I think we saw in Spa that our car is pretty good at the quicker tracks, so I think we’ll be able to repeat our performance in Belgium - as long as we come out ahead of our nearest rivals we’ll be happy, and then we’ll be back in the air for the remaining races of 2010.”

Mike Gascoyne, Lotus Racing Chief Technical Officer: “Looking back to last weekend, Spa was in many ways one of our best performance of the year so far. We have had better positions at the end of a number of races, but in terms of reliability, Spa was our strongest performance to date. Now we go to Monza and that’s always a special place to race – the Tifosi create an incredible atmosphere, and while it’s obviously focused on Ferrari, I think seeing Jarno and Heikki in our green and yellow cars will be pretty special for some of the most passionate motorsport fans in the world.

“Monza will also be very special for me, Tony, Din, Nasa, Riad and the whole team on a personal level. Race day is the 12th September, which is exactly one year to the day since we heard that our entry into the 2010 Formula One World Championship had been accepted. It’s hard to put into words just what that means to all of us, but it’s already been an incredible 365 days, and we have many more exciting times to come. I’ve been asked a number of times if I really thought we’d be able to do what looked to many like an impossible task – creating a team from literally just words on a piece of paper to now sitting 10th in the Championship, best of the new teams and with a very bright future ahead of us.

“Onto the track itself: Monza is unique as it’s now the lowest downforce circuit on the modern Formula One calendar. For the race weekend, we’ll have a revised low downforce package with new front and rear wings, plus a few other smaller modifications to the cars.”

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: “I’ve had to watch the last few races on TV as other commitments have kept me away from the races, so it’ll be good to be back on track in Italy. The last couple of weeks have been very exciting for the whole team – we’ve seen Nabil Jeffri, a Malaysian superstar in the making, become the youngest ever driver to test an F! car at the aero test we ran on Wednesday, and it was a very proud moment for me to see him put in a great day’s work for us in what must have been a pretty stressful environment for such a young guy. He proves what I’ve always believed – work hard to achieve your dreams and they will come true. That’s the same for everyone in Lotus Racing – exactly one year ago on September 12th our Formula One dream came true, and now we’ll be competing at one of the world’s great race tracks, bringing the green and yellow cars back to where they belong, and I can’t wait to see the reaction of the crowds when we take to the track. Mike has already said what it means to him to see our cars racing hard just 12 months since we started work on this amazing team, and I echo his thoughts entirely. It has been an amzing journey already, but after Monza we’ll be heading back to Asia, and it’s going to keep getting more exciting with every step we take.”

Japanese driver Yukinori Taniguchi will replace Harry Vaulkhard at the Bamboo Engineering team in the next three rounds of the WTCC.

Vaulkhard has been sidelined from the team after losing one of his sponsors.

“While it’s sad to see Harry go it’s a great opportunity for us to work with Yukinori, his experience at the Okayama circuit will no doubt help us as a team when we get there,” said team boss Richard Coleman.

Vaulkhard said: “I’m gutted, but my goal is to be back in WTCC for 2011 and I’m also working on other things for the remainder of the current season.”

Taniguchi will race at Oschersleben, Valencia and Okayama.

“I have been looking to drive in WTCC since 2008 and now I have this opportunity in a great team and car. Bamboo showed they are one of the fastest independent teams this season and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel,” Taniguchi said.

Taniguchi, who raced in the WTCC Monza and Okayama in 2008, will drive a Chevrolet Lacetti alongside Darryl O’Young.

AKWESASNE, N.Y. — Josh Richards collected what might be the biggest victory of his career Wednesday by capturing the rescheduled World of Outlaws Late Model Series Battle At Eastern Door 100-lap feature at Mohawk Int’l Raceway.

The victory broke Richards out of a summer slump, brought him a career-high payoff of $20,775, pushed him back into the series points lead and, most notably, gave him his first 100-lap feature victory.

“It feels great to finally win one of these 100 lappers,” said Richards. “This isn’t a crown-jewel event, but it’s a 100 lapper and that’s all that matters. We finally got one under our belt after seven years of trying and hopefully we can win some more now.”

Richards recovered from a slow start to steer his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket from the 10th at the start to pass Tim McCreadie for the lead on lap 79.

The defending series champion dominated the remainder of the distance, crossing the finish line more than three seconds ahead of McCreadie, who led 53 laps, at the four-tenths-mile clay oval.

Austin Hubbard finished third after starting eighth. Rick Eckert was fourth and Darrell Lanigan, who entered the event as the point leader, finished fifth.

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. — Danny Lasoski ended a 77-race winless streak with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Wednesday night at Cottage Grove Speedway.

Lasoski posted his fourth victory at the quarter-mile oval after taking the lead from Craig Dollansky on lap 23 and leading the remainder of the 40-lap contest for the 87th WoO triumph of his career but first since July of 2009.

“This feels great,” said Lasoski. “Lonnie Parsons (Car Owner) deserves a lot more of these. We’ve had a terrible year and want to thank him and Don Lamberti and all the people at Casey’s General Stores and everyone that is involved in this team and makes it strong. This show that we never gave up. Every time you win is great and it definitely builds momentum.”

Lasoski had a big lead coming to the white flag, but the red flag when Lucas Wolfe flipped, set up a two-lap shootout with Joey Saldana lining up alongside Lasoski for the double-file restart.

“I was going down the backstretch and thinking we might win us one and the red came out, so I did cringe a little bit,” stated Lasoski. “Our car was good and we could go on the top and the bottom. That’s a testament to my crew and how hard they work and what a good car they gave me tonight.”

Lasoski held on for the final two laps while Donny Schatz charged from the back of the field after getting caught up in a lap-five incident to finish second aboard the Armor All/STP J&J.

“I just put myself in a beehive there, I don’t know what happened,” said Schatz. “We’ve had to do that here before and it’s a fun little place to race. When you come from the back like that you hope for 50 laps and its fun when it gets like this. My team did a great job and Danny (Lasoski) did a great job tonight. If we keep getting those seconds and thirds, we’ll get the wins.”

Point-leader Saldana finished third after starting eighth, extending his point lead to 26 over Steve Kinser, who finished eighth.

Sammy Swindell and Jason Sides completed the top five.

Renault chairman Gerard Lopez has admitted that Formula 1 is proving more expensive than he had anticipated, amid speculation that he could sell back some of the team to its parent company.

The Luxembourg-based businessman, whose Genii Capital company brought a majority shareholding in Renault before the start of this season, says that his involvement in F1 has hit all its targets so far - apart from the amount of investment he has had to make.

His comments come after suggestions at the Belgian Grand Prix that the Renault car company is evaluating buying back some or all of its stake in the team that it sold to Lopez, on the back of its better-than-expected form in 2010.

Reflecting on his first year in charge of the team, Lopez confessed that the one area where he had not hit targets was in keeping a lid on the finances needed to fund a front-running F1 team.

“On the commercial side we are doing okay,” Lopez told AUTOSPORT. “But we have committed to a higher investment plan than the one that was initially foreseen.

“It is probably not far off what the biggest teams do, because we kept 500 people, and hired people.

“So commercially speaking we are probably within what we wanted to do. But, in terms of spend, we are probably above. But that was our choice. I would say green lights everywhere except we didn’t plan on increasing the spend.”

Lopez’s comments come on the back of the cash flow issue that the outfit encountered earlier this season - when it wanted a television rights money advance off Bernie Ecclestone to help fund development of its 2011 car before it could get its hands on new sponsorship money.

The money advance did not receive the support it needed from rival outfits, and prompted speculation about Renault’s financial situation - as well as fuelling rumours that Lopez could be looking for a way out of his F1 involvement.

The team denied any talk that it was facing financial struggles, however, and managed to overcome the problem internally.

Since then, Renault has announced sponsorship deals with banking groups EFG International and SNORAS for the remainder of the 2010 campaign.

Despite his issues with spending, Lopez says his outfit has hit its ambitions in terms of performance on track – following another podium finish for Robert Kubica in last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

“As far as we are concerned, we are essentially where we wanted to be,” said Lopez. “We know the car was born slow, and we committed in terms of investment to a different plan to the one that was foreseen initially.

“We committed to having a development for pretty much every race, with big developments like the blown floor and the F-duct.

“Actually, I think we are the only team that developed two F-ducts – we developed one we didn’t use and scrapped that one and we developed this one. I think that is what we wanted to do.

“Now that we have done a couple of podiums hoping to have a victory would be good but a little bit aggressive for this season. We are within what we expected.”

Lopez said he was also excited about the plans for the 2011 car.

“I think we are quite excited about next year’s car, it is always difficult on paper and computer – but as a benchmark of the current car given new regulations it seems a well born car,” he said.

Nissan has admitted that it is in discussions that could take it into the DTM, this week’s AUTOSPORT magazine reveals.

Company vice-president Carlos Tavares, whose remit includes motorsport, revealed that Nissan had “some interesting ideas for the future” and that it had entered into a dialogue with DTM organiser the ITR.

His comments suggest that Nissan could be the Japanese manufacturer touted to join the series by the ITR when new rules come on stream in 2012.

“We have had discussions with the ITR, but we have no made any decisions so far,” Tavares told AUTOSPORT. “The DTM is interesting for many reasons, one of which is its success in terms of spectator attendance.”

Tavares stated that Nissan’s short-term priorities remain its participation in the new-for-2010 FIA GT1 World Championship and the Japanese-based Super GT Series.

But he stressed that in the future it was important that the company could race one car in multiple markets. The ITR has been in talks with the Super GT and Grand-Am organisers regarding a move to common regulatons.

“Any scenario that brings regulations around the world together is appreciated, because it would allow us to do more racing for the same money,” Tavares said.

For the full story of Nissan’s potential DTM programme, read this week’s AUTOSPORT magazine, also available in digital form.

The German championship is set to become the first Formula 3 series to introduce a push-to-pass system, reports this week’s AUTOSPORT magazine.

Series boss Bertram Schafer wants the system in place for 2012. This will coincide with the championship’s adoption of the current generation of chassis (only cars prior to the end of 2007 are allowed at present) and a move to a one-make Spiess/Volkswagen engine.

“The problem with F3 is that there isn’t so much overtaking,” said Schafer. “There will definitely be more overtaking with this system.”

Details of the push-to-pass system have yet to be set in stone, but Schafer explained that the boost button would increase power from 215-220bhp to 245bhp for eight to 10 seconds.

Pirelli claims it is ahead of schedule with the preparations for its Formula 1 return following the latest test at Paul Ricard in France this week.

The team has been using a TF109 and feedback from test driver Nick Heidfeld to bring on its development programme.

And following an intensive two day’s work at Paul Ricard, using various layout configurations of the French track, Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery is pleased with the efforts.

“We’re very happy with the progress we’ve made so far, which actually puts us slightly ahead of where we expected to be at this point in time,” said Hembery.

“We worked through an initial development programme that has given us a useful insight into the performance of our prototype tyres under a wide range of conditions, corners and speeds.

“We’ve been hugely encouraged by what we’ve seen up to now, and that’s been helped by both Nick’s clear and precise feedback, as well as all the different possibilities afforded to us by the Paul Ricard circuit.”

Malaysia’s state oil company Petronas has signed a new five-year deal to title-sponsor the Asian country’s grand prix.

The new agreement will see Petronas sponsor the Sepang race until 2015.

The oil company has sponsored the event since it took place for the first time in 1999.

“Apart from the continuous benefits our businesses and brand receive through the Formula One exposure, our extension of the agreement to partner Formula One reflects our long-term commitment and continued dedication to support efforts to position Malaysia as a major motorsport hub and tourist destination,” said Mohd Medan Abdullah, senior general manager, corporate services division Petronas.

“The economic activities during the Grand Prix period have also benefited a growing number of local industries - particularly those in the tourism, food and beverage, transportation and related services sectors.

“More importantly, this also signals the growing importance of Formula One to Asia, particularly to the businesses related to this premier sporting event, including the automotive, oil and gas industries.”

Felipe Massa says the pressure will be on Ferrari to deliver a strong result on home ground in Italy next week - as it bids to get itself back in the hunt for the world championship.

On the back of a disappointing Belgian Grand Prix, where Ferrari was no match for Red Bull Racing and McLaren, the outfit lost big ground in the points standings when Alonso crashed out.

And with just six races to go, Ferrari needs to recover the lost ground quickly if it is going to keep its title hopes alive.

Speaking ahead of the countdown to Monza, Massa said: “That will be a great event, racing in front of our tifosi, but the reality is that it will be a very important race, because after the less that satisfactory performance in Belgium, the championship is not looking so easy for us.

“We need to keep pushing for the last six races, trying to be back in the fight for wins or at least as many podiums as possible. For sure it won’t be easy.”

Massa admitted that Ferrari had been expecting more from the Belgian Grand Prix – especially when its pace looked so good during Friday practice.

“Looking back a couple of days to the Belgian Grand Prix, I started sixth and finished fourth, so at a certain level, I could say that I had a good race. However, in terms of the result and in terms of the championship and the points total for Ferrari, it was not enough.

“Given the difficult conditions, with the weather changing several times during the race, this was a positive performance in difficult conditions. However it was not what I expected, or what the team had hoped for, given the fact that in Spa, the car was not as competitive as it had been in the two previous races in Hungary and Germany.

“This was probably another example of how, this year, the situation in terms of which teams are competitive, has been governed by the nature of the track.”

Massa will be returning to the Hungaroring this weekend for a special appearance at the Ferrari Racing Days event. He will also demonstrate a Ferrari 2008 car.

Jason Plato is the clear favourite to win the British Touring Car Championship this year, according to his title rival Matt Neal.

Honda driver Neal lies third in the standings, 23 points behind Plato and five adrift of Tom Onslow-Cole after amassing only two podium finishes from the six races at Snetterton and Silverstone.

He reckons that it will be difficult to overhaul the Chevrolet man over the remaining three rounds.

“Jason’s going to be very tough to beat for the rest of the season,” Neal told AUTOSPORT. “The main thing is that he has the advantage in the points, and you’d always take the points over the potential for scoring them.

“The Chevrolet is a good car and its run by a good team [RML] and it seems to handle well as well as being quite quick down the straights. Jason knows how to finish races, so it will be tough to catch him.”

Neal said that he and his Honda team-mate Gordon Shedden, who have won six races between them this year, will go all-out in the remaining races, starting at Knockhill this weekend, to close the gap to Plato.

“At least we’re going to some places that our car likes now with Knockhill and Donington, so we’ll just roll our sleeves up. We’ve got nothing to lose.”

Shedden, fourth in the championship, will be racing in front of his home crowd at Knockhill.

He knows that consistent podium finishes will be crucial to keep both drivers in the hunt for title honours.

“For us Honda, the last few circuits have been tough,” he said. “Silverstone and Snetterton really didn’t suit the characteristics of our car.

“However, now we’re moving onto three circuits with a lot more corners and braking points, and that’s where the Civic is particularly strong.

“We’ll be biting at their necks for sure. We need to make sure we’re in the mix enough that come finals day at brands hatch, we’re both in the fight for the championship.”

Pirelli has elected to turn its back on the World Rally Championship next year in a move that will see it concentrate its efforts on Formula 1, AUTOSPORT has learned.

The Italian tyre company won the battle to secure the supply deal for F1 next year, and it has already begun testing its rubber on a Toyota TF109.

Despite its return to F1, Pirelli had been expected to remain in the World Rally Championship.

However, AUTOSPORT has learned that it did not submit an application to the FIA to supply tyres to the WRC in 2011 before last night’s deadline, citing the lack of rule stability in the series as the reason for its withdrawal.

Pirelli has supplied the WRC with a control tyre for the last three years in an €11.5m investment with the sport’s governing body, the FIA.

For next season, however, Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery says the firm will focus its attentions on Formula 1.

“The first point to make here is the way the rules have been changed,” Hembery told AUTOSPORT. “There have been three significant rule changes in the last nine months - and, possibly, an even more significant change coming in 2012.

“In December we tendered for another three-year deal to supply tyres for WRC. Once again, our tender was set out to provide finance for continued investment in the FIA, in the sport’s promoter and, of course in the Pirelli Star Driver scheme which we financed from its inception in 2008.

“That three-year tender was rejected and we were offered a one-year extension on the same terms as the current three-year deal, then a one-year deal on the new tender conditions - that was something we felt was unacceptable.

“And now we come to the current regulation, which we feel is neither a control tyre scenario or competition. And, based on the experiences we have had in GT racing, where regulations similar to those in the WRC were open to interpretation and were flexible if a [tyre] manufacturer was having some difficulties. We explained those issues [to the FIA] and we have had no significant response. These rules leave a lot to be desired and we have communicated these limitations to the FIA.

“Overall it just feels that we were not wanted in the sport despite delivering run-flat technology, a Tarmac-specification tyre [which is] fully EEC road homologated, an offer to bring self-sealing, puncture-resistance to the sport, aromatic oil-free tyres and, of course, a level puncture resistance that was unheard of before 2008. We leave the sport with our head held high, having supported the series through some of the most difficult economic conditions ever experienced.”

Hembery said Pirelli would continue to be involved in rallying, adding: “We have always been involved in the sport and we will continue to do so. We will remain in national championships and we will also look at the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, where we can have proper competition.

“We won the Monte Carlo Rally, the opening IRC round, this season with one car against a rival with many cars – so we know we can be competitive.”

Kris Meeke has signed to drive for Mini in the World Rally Championship next year, this week’s AUTOSPORT magazine reveals.

Reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Meeke denied any deal had been done with the Prodrive team that will run Mini’s WRC return, but AUTOSPORT understands that an agreement is in place.

A source close to Prodrive said: “The deal with Kris is done. [Prodrive chairman] David Richards has talked a great deal about having a British driver and he’s been as good as his word.”

Meeke said: “My focus remains on this year and winning rallies with Peugeot.”

Peugeot UK is known to have contacted drivers about replacing Meeke in its IRC programme for next season.

AUTOSPORT has learned that double WRC champion Marcus Gronholm will test the new Mini Countryman WRC for the first time in Portugal next week, after which he is set to decide whether he will sign for the team.

Former Junior champion and Suzuki WRC driver P-G Andersson also has an offer from Mini for 2011.

For more details about Mini’s 2011 WRC plans, read this week’s AUTOSPORT magazine, also available in digital form.

Paul Tracy is optimistic that he can get Dreyer & Reinbold into the top six when he returns to the team for this weekend’s IndyCar Series race at Kentucky.

The 2003 Champ Car champion will contest the next two events for DRR while the injured Mike Conway continues his recovery.

Tracy said he had been highly encouraged by his DRR team-mate Justin Wilson’s run from 23rd to seventh at Chicagoland this weekend, and is aiming for a similar performance.

“It’s encouraging when you see teams like D&R, a much smaller operation than a Penske or Ganassi, come from the back and race their way to the front,” he said. “It’s the type of racing that can be done if you get the car right.

“They have some things they learned from the final practice and the race that they think are going to help the car in qualifying trim. Hopefully we can have Justin and I have good starting positions and race well together and both get solid top-10 finishes.

“If it’s like Chicagoland, for sure the first third of the race, because I haven’t done that style of racing in a while, it’s going to take me a little bit to get my feet back under me and get used to whatever situation you have to get into. But as the race progresses, hopefully we’ll be running towards the front.

“Are we going to come there and win the race? It’s a pretty lofty goal. But I think a realistic expectation is to finish in the top 10. If things go really well, have a good, solid finish like Justin had [at Chicagoland], maybe even a top five or six.”

Tracy’s deal is currently for Kentucky and Motegi only, but the Canadian - who also had an outing with Dreyer & Reinbold at Watkins Glen - said he would be open to stepping in again at Homestead if Conway was not fit enough to return for the season finale.

“There’s a possibility that he could be ready to run. It’s his car,” Tracy said. “From that standpoint, if he comes back, that’s great for him. But if he doesn’t, then I hope that we can have a good couple races and hopefully the natural decision will be for me to continue.”

The Canadian added that he is working hard to ensure he has at least one more full season in IndyCar before retiring.

He has not had a full-time drive since the 2007 Champ Car season, and even that was interrupted by injury. This year has seen him contest a handful of rounds for KV Racing alongside his Dreyer & Reinbold appearances.

“I would hazard a guess that I will be running next year in some capacity, whether it’s one or five [races] or maybe the whole season, I don’t know yet,” he said.

“But my focus right now is to try to put together a full-season programme. I’d like to run another year or two and have some type of a farewell tour for myself to finish my career off after putting 20 years into the sport.

“So that’s what I’m focusing on. If that happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, then we just pick and choose the races that we can put the programmes together for.”

Virgin Formula 1 driver Lucas di Grassi has become a part-owner in the Addax team’s GP3 operation.

The Brazilian drove the squad’s GP2 arm in 2008, taking third in the championship despite missing the first six rounds of the series. He has now taken a minority shareholding in the Addax GP3 team.

Team boss Alejandro Agag said the deal was a natural continuation of the good relationship di Grassi formed with Addax - then running under the Campos title - in GP2.

“We are delighted to welcome Lucas aboard, although since his days as driver for the team in GP2 he has always been in close contact with us, which has made it all the easier for him to form part of this project, which has its sights set for a bright future,” said Agag.

“He is a young driver already consolidated among the world’s elite in this sport and this is why we are convinced that, with his experience and his serious and tremendously professional way of working, he will make an important contribution to the success we hope to achieve in the short term. More than a shareholder he is a valuable addition to the team.”

Di Grassi added: “I would like to thank Alejandro Agag for this opportunity to form part of this team that I already know so well, which makes it easier to back this project.

“I was very happy here and I achieved important objectives with them in 2008. Now I’m back to offer my services especially in the sports area. I’m looking forward to working on a project which is a genuine platform for young drivers and I will try to help them with technical and tactical preparation, give them information concerning the circuits, race strategy etc.

“The idea is to help these young talents make progress, as they are the future of motor racing. I believe GP3 is the future of Junior formula as it precedes GP2 and it should get stronger each year.”

Addax currently runs former A1GP driver Felipe Guimaraes, and Ferrari junior drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Pablo Sanchez Lopez in GP3. Guimaraes has been the most successful of the trio so far, taking third place in race one at Istanbul and holding 15th in the championship.

Andy Meyrick is to race the factory Aston Martin LMP1 car in the final round of the Le Mans Series, the AUTOSPORT 1000kms at Silverstone later this month.

Aston Martin Racing will be the third major prototype team that Meyrick has driven for this season. He contested the Le Mans 24 Hours with ORECA, and is also part of Dyson Racing’s American Le Mans Series line-up this year, joining the squad for endurance events including the season-ending Petit Le Mans next month.

Meyrick, who will share the #007 AMR entry with Adrian Fernandez and Harold Primat, has already tested the car at Donington Park.

“I’m really excited to be driving for Aston Martin Racing,” he said. “It will be the first time I’ve driven for a British team since Carlin in F3 and, at [Monday's] test, I found that I fitted in pretty quickly.

“We did about 40 laps at Donington Park just so I could get comfortable in the car and check out the different systems in the Lola Aston Martin. This will be the third different prototype I’ve driven this year so I’ve been learning a lot of new steering wheel layouts.

“It’s also the first time this season that I’ll be running on Michelin tyres but it didn’t take long to get a feel for it again and I enjoyed the day a lot.”

Lewis Hamilton feels victory in next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza would complete a ‘full set’ of wins at Formula 1’s most famous venues.

The McLaren driver said that having now added a Spa win to his Monte Carlo and Silverstone triumphs of 2008, Monza was the last of the historic racetracks where he had yet to mount the top step of the podium.

“I’ve always looked at those four circuits on the calendar as being a little more special than the others,” said Hamilton in an interview for his personal website.

“A couple of years ago, I remember David Coulthard saying he was proud to win those four grands prix for McLaren because they somehow connected him to the history of the sport, and I know exactly what he means. It’s because those venues are unique - they’re very special; you can feel the history at those races more than anywhere else.

“That’s why I was so pleased and proud to have finally won at Spa - because it’s a giant of the sport, and it means something to every driver who’s ever raced there.

“So I’m going to Monza looking to take another win and keep pushing forward in the championship. Our car should be strong there too, but, as with every race in this championship, you can never take anything for granted.”

Hamilton had crossed the line first at Spa two years ago, but had the victory controversially taken away by a post-race penalty for an incident with Kimi Raikkonen. His wins in Monte Carlo and at Silverstone were both dominant wet-weather performances acknowledged as two of the finest drives of his career.

BALTIMORE — Officials with the Baltimore Grand Prix announced today that the American Le Mans Series has been added to the inaugural event scheduled for Sept. 2-4, 2011.

Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, along with Baltimore Racing Development (BRD) President Jay Davidson and American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton, officially announced that ALMS will join the IZOD IndyCar Series during the inaugural Festival of Speed.

“From the beginning we wanted to create an entire weekend racing experience and the addition of American Le Mans Series does just that,” said Davidson “We’ve been talking with the Series team for a while now and have always wanted them to join the IZOD IndyCar Series to enhance our event. This is a great addition to the weekend and we believe fans will be eager to see these amazing cars in action.”

This announcement fills one of two holes on the 2011 American Le Mans Series schedule, which was released in August. The other open date was expected to go to a proposed event in Oklahoma City, Okla., but that event is unlikely to happen after city officials voted down the proposed race earlier this week.

The Baltimore Grand Prix will be a combination of racing and festivities that will begin Friday morning (Sept. 2) and culminate Sunday (Sept. 4) with the IZOD IndyCar Series race.

“By adding the American Le Mans Series, one of world’s leading sports car championships, we are greatly enhancing what is being offered to fans during the Baltimore Grand Prix weekend,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “The American Le Mans Series will attract more racing fans to Baltimore, and will make the Grand Prix and even greater success for the City.”

“The combination of two premier race series in one location on the same weekend is a rare opportunity for race fans,” said Atherton. “We have had outstanding doubleheader successes on street courses such as Long Beach, Houston and St. Petersburg, and I’m confident that the Baltimore Grand Prix will provide more of the same with a stellar backdrop for some of the best road racing on the planet. It will be the place to be next Labor Day weekend.”

Officials estimate that the Baltimore Grand Prix will attract more than 100,000 people to the area and have an estimated economic impact of $70 million, based on visitor spending on hotel nights, meals, tickets and other purchases.

The race track will be a two-mile temporary circuit constructed around the streets of downtown Baltimore, including sections by Oriole Park at Camden Yards, West Pratt Street and along the Inner Harbor on Light Street.

Lotus today made 16-year-old Nabil Jeffri the youngest ever driver of a Formula 1 car, in a straight-line test at Duxford airfield.

The Malaysian teenager, who is currently fifth in this season’s Formula BMW Pacific series completed aero testing and pitstop practice for the British team, with drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Fairuz Fauzy on hand to help out.

“I have had an incredible day, one of the best days of my life,” he said. “I have to admit that the first time I went out it was pretty scary - everyone told me the acceleration would be unbelievable.

“It took a while to get used to that, but Heikki and Fairuz gave me some advice on how to settle in to it, and after a while I was more comfortable and was able to get through the day’s plan.

“It’s such an honour to have had this opportunity and it’ll be a long time before the excitement wears off. I’ll keep working hard to one day join Heikki, Fairuz, Jarno [Trulli] and the rest of the F1 grid.”

Team boss Tony Fernandes added: “When I first offered Nabil the chance to drive our car, he couldn’t tell if I was joking or not, but I was very serious about giving a young Malaysian the chance to step up to the big time.

“He’s repaid my faith in him and has performed incredibly well, and that’s a source of real pride for me. I suspect Nabil will head back to Malaysia with his head spinning from everything that’s happened to him today. But now he can say he’s driven an F1 car, and that will set his sights at the very top.”

MILAN, Ill. — Two points made the difference for Ray Guss, Jr., who earned his first IMCA Late Model national championship this season over runner-up Terry Neal.

The division leader with 19 victories, Guss also became the first IMCA driver to win three local late-model track titles in a single season. He’ll get a $5,500 share of the $21,300 point fund to be paid this fall to top 20 finishers in the standings.

Neal, a runner-up in the IMCA Late Model division four of the last six years, won 17 features and a single track title. Both drivers got 20 bonus points, Guss for his Davenport (Iowa) Speedway crown, Neal for his Dubuque (Iowa) Fairgrounds Speedway title, making the two point totals at the top of the standings 819-817.

Rounding out the top five are a pair of former national champions — Darrel DeFrance and Todd Cooney — and Dennis Woodworth. Rookie of the year Andy Eckrich was sixth.

Third in both the 2008 and 2009 national campaigns, Guss also paced points at Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa, and Quad City Speedway in East Moline, Ill., as well as the Allstar Performance Illinois State standings.

He currently leads the Deery Brothers Summer Series late-model standings and is in position to become just the fourth driver to win national and series championships in the same season.

Neal, the Iowa state king, had finished a single point behind Kevin Blum last year and was second to DeFrance in 2007 and to Rob Toland in 2005. Both those titles were determined by the tie-breaking number of feature wins.

Cooney won his division-best 15th career track championship at the Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa. DeFrance topped standings at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, and Mark Burgtorf reigned at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, as both drivers won their 12th career track crowns. Neal’s title was the 11th of his career.

Gary Russell ruled at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, for the fourth time in his career. First-time track kings were Tyler Bruening at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway, Eckrich at West Liberty (Iowa) Raceway, Charlie McKenna at Farley (Iowa) Speedway, Jay Stewart at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, and Woodworth at Quincy (Ill.) Raceways.

LOUDON, N.H. — Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon took part in the first day of a two-day Firestone tire test at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Tuesday, and both drivers put down some impressive lap times.

The goal of the test for Firestone was to determine the appropriate tire combination for the return of the series to the 1.058-mile asphalt oval. The series last raced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 1998.

“The track is very suitable for these cars,” said Dixon, who was more than 1.5 seconds faster than 1998 IZOD IndyCar Series pole speed and six seconds faster than the NASCAR Sprint Cup track qualifying record. “The key points are picking the tire and an aero package that is going to be good for the racing and the fans.”

Firestone brought nearly 400 tires of 20 different compounds to the track. Among them was the same tire compound the series used when it visited The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis., last season, which Firestone Racing Senior Project Manager Dale Harrigle said served as a control tire.

“When the IRL announced this race in Loudon, obviously we had a history here from ’96 through ’98, but the closest track we ran at most recently was Milwaukee,” said Harrigle. “Our baseline tire is the 2009 Milwaukee tire. We took that construction, put some current compounds on it and brought it here as our control tire. We also have some compounds that are a little softer and a little harder to give us a good range.

“We completed our runs on the control tires to get the guys comfortable, give both teams time to work on their car setup and then we’ll go through our range of compounds to see where we are. On (Wednesday), we’ll evaluate where we are with the appropriate level of grip, hardness and durability for a fuel stint,” Harrigle said.

IZOD IndyCar Series Technical Director Kevin Blanch said the aero package used at The Milwaukee Mile was a perfect place for the teams to start.

“Out of the box we were very close,” said Blanch. “In qualifying, with the package we have now, the drivers can probably get flat if the car is really good. In the race, there will be no way you’re going to get flat. They’ll have to constantly work the throttle, which is what you want. The track is going to lend itself to really good racing when we get the numbers right on the downforce.”

For Dixon, the test was really a tease for the race, which is scheduled for Aug. 14 next year.

“I’m excited to be back on another short track,” said Dixon. “I can’t wait to get back here for the real thing.”

AUSTIN, Texas — Officials with the proposed Formula One track in Austin, Texas, have revealed the layout for the track that is expected to host the return of the United States Grand Prix beginning in 2012.

With a complete length of 3.4 miles, the track will combine modern features with details reminiscent of traditional races from the 1960s. The surrounding landscape will allow for a maximum elevation change of 133 feet and feature more than 20 turns.

“In the modern era of grand prix racing, I think this track layout and topography will be very special,” said Tavo Hellmund, chairman of Formula One United States Grand Prix. “It will have many of the elements of previous classic circuits combined with the benefits of FIA-mandated safety for the competitors and spectators alike. Add in the amenities fans have come to expect, like rare, multiple-turn viewing opportunities for added value, and you have an ideal, world-class venue.”

Formula One officials made the unexpected announcement that Formula One would be returning to the United States in late May. Red McCombs, the former owner of the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs in the NBA and the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, is the major financial backer for the project.

“For the competitors, we’ll have all the ingredients necessary,” Hellmund said. “You’ll see fast turns that require commitment from the drivers and technical turns that will test the engineers from a set-up point of view. We have a good deal of elevation to make it not only scenic but challenging also, and the view of downtown Austin is wonderful as well.”

The team behind the new United States Grand Prix venue in Austin, Texas have revealed the track layout for the circuit that will host the race.

Designed by F1 track architect Hermann Tilke, the 3.4-mile course features over 20 corners and substantial elevation changes. A statement from the US GP organisers said the circuit “combines modern features with details reminiscent of traditional races from the 1960s.”

US GP boss Tavo Hellmund said the intention was to create a track that was both state of the art and inspired by classic F1 venues of the past. In addition to the gradients, the Austin track will feature several sweeping corners as well as the long straights into tight bends that have become synonymous with Tilke’s designs.

“In the modern era of grand prix racing, I think this track layout and topography will be very special,” said Hellmund.

“It will have many of the elements of previous ‘classic’ circuits combined with the benefits of FIA-mandated safety for the competitors and spectators alike. Add in the amenities fans have come to expect, like rare, multiple-turn viewing opportunities for added value, and you have an ideal, world-class venue.”

Hellmund is confident that the circuit will prove popular with drivers.

“For the competitors, we’ll have all the ingredients necessary,” he said. “You’ll see fast turns that require commitment from the drivers and technical turns that will test the engineers from a set-up point of view.

“We have a good deal of elevation to make it not only scenic but challenging also, and the view of downtown Austin is wonderful as well.”

Austin has secured a 10-year contract to host the US GP from 2012, in a deal that will end Formula 1’s five-year absence from America since parting company with previous US venue Indianapolis. Construction work on the Austin site has yet to begin.

Former World Touring Car champion Yvan Muller is to contest the Rally of France in a Citroen Xsara WRC.

The Frenchman has been given permission to drive the ex-Petter Solberg car by his WTCC employer Chevrolet. The Automeca team will run the Xsara on the event.

“While circuit racing has become my specialism, I think it’s important to embrace new experiences. It’s a definite plus,” said Muller.

“Rallying at a high level has always been something I wanted to do and today I am very happy to see this project come to fruition for the Rally of France.

“It’s also a great opportunity to explore the roads of my home region.”

Though best known as a touring car racer, Muller has plenty of experience away from circuit racing, having won the Andros Trophy ice racing championship 10 times and also contested the Dakar Rally.

The Rally of France, round 11 of the 2010 World Rally Championship, takes place on 1-3 October.

Red Bull Formula 1 driver Mark Webber will take part in the karting event to raise funds for the injured Chris van der Drift next week.

Van der Drift suffered two broken fingers, a double break to his right ankle, and a dislocated and cracked shoulder in a horrifying Superleague Formula crash at Brands Hatch last month.

To help raise funds to cover the cost of van der Drift’s treatment, fellow racers are coming together for a charity kart race at Daytona Karting in Milton Keynes on 7 September.

Webber is the latest to commit to the event, joining British Formula 3 champion Jean-Eric Vergne, Red Bull F1 test driver Daniel Ricciardo, former Red Bull junior Brendon Hartley, F3 race-winners Alexander Sims and Oli Webb, and Formula Renault frontrunner Tom Blomqvist.

“It’s really humbling to see so many good friends from within the industry support me through this difficult period,” said van der Drift. “I am really looking forward to the kart fundraiser. I am sure it will be a fantastic event and I really cannot thank everyone enough for their efforts.”

Graham Rahal is to rejoin Sarah Fisher Racing for a one-off race at this weekend’s Kentucky Speedway IndyCar Series round.

The two parties worked together earlier this year, when the then drive-less Rahal joined SFR for the St Petersburg, Barber Motorsports Park, and Long Beach races - giving the team its best-ever result when he took ninth on his first outing.

After a one-off appearance with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing at Iowa, Rahal subsequently returned to former team Newman/Haas for most of the rest of the 2010 season. But his deal with the squad was only a part-time one, and did not include Kentucky. With Fisher’s second car availalable this weekend as the race is not on Jay Howard’s schedule, Rahal has agreed to another outing for SFR.

It was an easy fit for us to come together and make it happen,” Rahal told USA Today. “When she mentioned it, I knew we could make it work.

“We’ve got an uphill battle, but that’s alright. I’m certainly looking forward to being in the car.”

Fernando Alonso has denied that the Italian Grand Prix is a ‘make or break’ race for Ferrari’s title ambitions, but admitted that the championship would be a pretty remote prospect if he had another bad result at Monza.

After a disastrous Belgian Grand Prix - which saw Alonso qualify only 10th, get pushed into a spin by Rubens Barrichello on the first lap, make an incorrect tyre choice in the changing weather, and then crash out in the late rain shower - the Spaniard is now 41 points adrift of championship leader Lewis Hamilton with only six races to go.

With the team’s home race at Monza next on the calendar, Alonso conceded that the Italian event would be crucial in both points and morale terms.

“There is no denying that the Monza race will be very important,” he wrote in his blog for the Ferrari website.

“At our home circuit we will have to do everything to avoid losing any more points: a good result here would be a great boost. If things go badly, it won’t be over but it would be a hard knock for team morale.”

He is adamant that all is not yet lost for Ferrari this season and that a change of luck could make a massive difference.

“I have always said - and I repeat it now – that in the course of the season, good luck and bad luck tend to balance one another out, so let’s hope that from now on it’s payback time,” said Alonso.

“The first ‘final’ went badly, but there are still six to go. Going into these seven races, I had said that whoever did the best job in them would take the title: clearly, there are now three of us who need to make up for ground lost in Spa.

“With this points system and the way races swing one way or another, I am convinced we still have a significant chance. There are 150 points up for grabs, enough to turn the situation around. We must remain calm and concentrate, to try and make up the difference as soon as possible.”

Michelin has revealed to AUTOSPORT that it is looking to return to the World Rally Championship next year after a six-season absence, with the FIA’s decision to allow open tyre competition in the series again giving the French firm a new opportunity.

The French firm’s competition director Nick Shorrock explained Michelin’s plans to AUTOSPORT.

Q. Presumably you have spoken to Citroen, Ford and Prodrive, how has your potential return been received?

Nick Shorrock: We have spoken to all three and they have expressed different concerns. One of those is about the treatment of partners. If we have more than one partner next season, both would be treated absolutely fairly. That’s the modus operandi of Michelin. It’s absolutely vital that we do this, nobody will get special treatment.

Q. There’s an assumption that an association with Citroen is a given. Is that a fair assumption?

NS: The link between the supplier to a competition department and the supplier of original equipment is more of a social link these days. The days of it being as given that, if you supply road car tyres you’re going to be putting the tyres on the competition cars are over. It’s about compatibility on both sides [for Michelin and Citroen].

Q. We hear you have been testing this week?

NS: We have been testing rally tyres, but not specifically for the World Rally Championship. We have a very strong connection with rally as a whole, through the IRC [Intercontinental Rally Challenge] and through national and regional championships and we’re always looking to develop those products.

Q. Can you understand the fears about the potential for rising costs if we get back into a tyre war in the WRC?

NS: We hope to encourage people more in the direction of open competition. We can maintain managed costs and that comes through the way the rules are set up and the way the rules are allowed to develop.

The competition side is very important for Michelin to demonstrate its technical prowess. The tyre competition is a strong point of the IRC and we haven’t seen a cost explosion in that series; the [car] manufacturers and we like open competition in rally. As a company we are always looking for ways to develop our competence in competition.

Q. A return to the WRC would mean a return to the global stage for Michelin. How important is it to be back at the front line of world competition?

NS: Any competition we are involved in, we look to be successful in our supply of product to partners.

Michelin’s competitions director Nick Shorrock has revealed to AUTOSPORT that the French firm is bidding to return to the World Rally Championship for the first time since 2005.

Michelin departed the WRC at the end of that year, rebranding its headline rally involvement as BF Goodrich for the following two seasons, before Pirelli was awarded a sole-supplier contract from 2008 until the end of this season.

After weeks of speculation, Shorrock confirmed Michelin has contacted the FIA to make the governing body aware of its desire to supply tyres to the WRC. The deadline for tyre companies letting the FIA know they are interested in supplying the teams is today.

Shorrock said: “There’s a process involved with the FIA and the first part of that process is to inform the FIA that we want to supply tyres. We have done that and I can confirm it is Michelin [not BF Goodrich] which we hope will be competing in the WRC.

“Now we have to wait until September 13, when the FIA will let us know the tyre companies which are to be permitted to supply tyres. And then we have to find out if anybody wants to run with our tyres.”

Peugeot Sport driver Stephane Sarrazin was reported to be testing Michelin’s WRC tyres in the South of France earlier this week, using a Peugeot 307 WRC as a test car. AUTOSPORT contacted Sarrazin, who confirmed he was at the test, but was unable to discuss anything else.

Michelin has maintained a rally presence since departing the WRC, running with the BF Goodrich brand in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge since 2007.

Current WRC tyre supplier Pirelli has not yet made clear whether it will seek to retain a position in the series it has served exclusively for the past three years. A spokesman from Pirelli said: “Pirelli is still considering its options. We will let you know our decision as soon as possible.”

One senior team principal said: “It’s great news that Michelin wants to be involved again, but you have to ask if this is the right time for open competition again - and, frankly, it’s not.

“Pirelli made a perfect offer to the FIA last year and it should have been accepted. It was common sense to take Pirelli for another three years - that would have seen us through the remainder of the storm and then bring competition back, when the sport’s back to its best again.”

Red Bull Racing has hit back at claims from its rivals that the FIA’s flexi-wing clampdown is the real reason why it was not so fast in Belgium last weekend.

Formula 1’s governing body introduced tougher flexible bodywork tests in Spa, and has revised the floor regulations for the next race in Monza, in a bid to ensure that teams are not gaining a performance advantage through flexing front wings.

Although both Red Bull Racing and Ferrari said their wings were unchanged for the Spa event, those claims were disputed by rival teams, who reckoned that changes had taken place. They based this view on the fact that the front wings on both cars appeared to be running further from the ground than they had in recent races.

World champion Jenson Button also told the Daily Telegraph that he reckoned the new wing tests had made a difference.

“I think the circuit characteristics suited us in Spa and that Red Bull’s pace was affected by the new tests,” Button said.

“I hope the new, even more stringent tests for Monza will have even more of an effect. They [Red Bull] say they won’t have to change anything but they said that here. Watching the car here on the track it was not flexing as much.”

Red Bull Racing’s team principal Christian Horner has responded to those views by insisting that his outfit made no changes to its wings - and he hinted that it was McLaren’s wing that was now flexing more.

“I can categorically tell you that they are the same wings that ran in Hungary a month ago,” he said when asked about the comments from his rivals that his team’s wings appeared to be running higher than before. “Whether that is the same for our competitors I can’t say but I would be very interested to know - and you might find it was a silver wing that was most flexible this weekend.”

The tougher floor tests and regulations to be introduced at Monza will force almost every team on the grid to make changes to their cars. But the strictness of the new floor deflection tests, allied to new skid block regulations, look set to bring an end to the flexi controversy.

And with McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh and Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn saying they hoped a line could be drawn under the controversy, Horner too was optimistic that the issue would soon be at an end.

“On the basis that nothing has changed on our car, I cannot see why they should not be happy,” explained Horner. “I would be interested to know who had the most flexible front wing this weekend, because I can guarantee it wasn’t us.”

Martin Johnson and Lea Wood will both miss this weekend’s British Touring Car Championship rounds at Knockhill.

Johnson’s Boulevard Vauxhall outfit is remaining at its Lincolnshire base for budgetary reasons.

“I could pick up a few points at Knockhill, or I could blow an engine that I can’t afford to have repaired,” said the team owner/driver.

“It’s all about looking at the numbers at the moment, although I definitely do the Donington and Brands Hatch rounds.”

The Wood Racing squad, by contrast, has been left with no time to prepare its Honda Integra-R. Not only is the team still without a gearbox following a failure at Silverstone, but team principal Greg Wood - Lea’s brother - is on his honeymoon as well.

The Indianapolis skyline overlooks as iRacing's pros tackle the Brickyard's road course.

“This was another race where I had to keep until the end the highest concentration,” Masier shared post race. “I managed to stay in first position after the pit stop with Klaus Kivekäs very close to me. In the second stint my pace was pretty good and this allowed me to maintain the lead of the race ahead of Klaus; congratulations to him for his good race.”

The second place finish behind Masier gave Kivekäs the third highest total of the week, which made up for losing-out on an assured podium in his second race due to technical problems. “It was undoubtedly the most amazing race I’ve ever had except for the fact that I got disconnected from the server with two laps to go and ended up with I don’t even know or care what position,” said the frustrated Scandinavian after his opening race of the week. “It was extremely important for me to get a score this week because I’m starting at a university next week and undoubtedly it will get much more difficult for me to find time to make these races.”

After taking his second race win on the bounce in the iPSRR, Matthias Egger was shaded from the highest score in the V8 Ford Falcon championship by just 13 points. The Italian sim-racer followed in his countryman’s footsteps to take a pole-to-flag victory in his forty-lap race.

Heitkotter (2) and Rietveld (1) enjoyed a lengthy battle on Saturday.

“From the first laps in Indianapolis I realized that this track, will become my love,” enthused Egger. “I start from the pole and this was another big victory, my first pole position in this unbelievable season. At the start I shut down all the panels and start to drive as hard as I can. Behind me the fight let me create a nice 10 seconds gap over Jeffrey [Rietveld] and Klaus. After the pit-stop I remain with a good seven seconds gap and started to drive hard again. The battle between Klaus and Jeffrey let me to drive calm and relaxed so I bring home this awesome second victory in a row with also the best lap of the race.”

Cashing-in on Kivekäs’ technical woes, Bryan Heitkotter collected 256 points for Round Nine, after grabbing a second place finish in the final laps of the race. “Lots of good battles in that race. The fight for the podium behind Matthias was raging all race long,” the Californian club member told inRacingNews. “I only earned third but Klaus’ disconnect gifted me one spot at the end. I have to say sorry to Vincent Staal for slamming the door in Turn Two. At the time I thought I was clear, now I can see I wasn’t. Good fight though, a bit rough to start out with but we cleaned up pretty quick.”

Claiming his first podium in the iPSRR, Blake Townend made a late charge to catch and pass Jeffrey Rietveld on the final lap of his race. “Jeffrey had pitted early so I had the advantaged with a set of fresh tyres but he had a massive gap over me so I had to be as consistent as possible and make sure I don’t over drive the car,” the Englishman explained. “I had something like 14 laps to go and the gap was 10.9 seconds. I thought to myself ‘If I can catch him it will be on the last lap and I would have to give it my all to get past.’

“Eventually the gap came down and on the last lap I was up on his bumper.  While he was being really aggressive and fighting the car, he out- braked himself into the hairpin and got the car a bit sideways which allowed me to get through on the inside of the corner. I just had to stay ahead with a few corners left and done just that.”

Staal gets well out of shape as Heikotter slams the door.

Round Ten of the iPSRR heads to Brands Hatch Indy circuit with Masier holding a 406 point advantage over Kivekäs, who has registered eight rounds of results and 2057 marks.   Egger and Jesse Nieminen occupy third and fourth in the standings table from their seven weeks of results, holding 1821 and 1787 points respectively; putting them just ahead of Hugo Luis and Rietveld.

Screen shots: Bryan Heitkotter

Casey Stoner wants a strong result at this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix in order to banish the memories of a dismal race at Indianapolis.

The Ducati rider crashed out of sixth place at Indy after losing the front end of his GP10 machine over a bump on the infield.

But he believes that a return to Europe - and a Misano track at which he won on his way to the 2007 world title – can help improve his fortunes.

“Indy was obviously a big disappointment for us but we’re looking ahead,” said the Australian. “I am happy to be going to one of Ducati’s home circuits and a place where we have gone fast in the past. It is the third of the races I missed in 2009 [for health reasons] so we’ll see what we can do this weekend.”

Stoner lies fourth in the championship, 132 points behind leader Jorge Lorenzo, and has not won a race since Sepang last year.

He believes that improving the front suspension set-up on his Ducati will be crucial to making his bike more competitive over the next few races.

“We’ll have to work hard on the front again because we don’t want to take a backward step on the progress we’ve made recently,” he added.

“The whole team is working really hard, the guys are giving everything like always so hopefully we can have a good result to celebrate on Sunday.”

Paul Tracy will return to the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team for the next two rounds of the IndyCar Series at Kentucky and Motegi, standing in for the injured Mike Conway.

Tracy raced for DRR at Watkins Glen earlier in the season and is one several drivers, including Tomas Scheckter and most recently Ana Beatriz to have occupied the seat since Conway’s accident at Indianapolis.

“It’s great to be back with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing again this year. I’m excited to have the opportunity to run some ovals with the team,” said Tracy.

“It’s been a while since I’ve raced on an oval but I’m ready for the challenge with the next two races plus I have some experience in Japan. Many thanks to Robbie & Dennis again for welcoming me to their team. I’m also looking forward to working with Justin (Wilson) again.”

Valentino Rossi says it will take time before he is back to his ‘maximum’ after fading away to a distant fourth and crashing three times over the Indianapolis MotoGP weekend.

The Italian, who broke his leg in a Mugello in May, and dislocated his shoulder in a training accident prior to that, returned at the Sachsenring but until last weekend had been using his Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo’s set up.

But while Rossi’s physical condition prevented him from competing for the win, he was delighted to have rediscovered his speed having switched back to his own settings.

“For me it was positive race because at one point I was making the same lap times as Lorenzo and [Ben] Spies,” he said. “So it was a good weekend because we worked very well on the bike and we came back to our style with the bike.

“The balance and electronics started to work our way. For this I am so happy because I never was as fast as the other Yamaha guy in Brno and Laguna Seca, but now I just need more [physical] power and preparation because I don’t have the 28 laps. I suffered a lot. I need time to come back at my maximum.”

He added: “Let’s not forget that according to initial predictions I wasn’t supposed to come back before Misano. I’m very happy with having sped up the recovery, but these difficulties are absolutely normal. During these months I haven’t been able to train as usual, because I had to do specific exercises to make the leg and shoulder recover, so I don’t have the adequate preparation: I need to regain stamina.”

Rossi said that he expected to face similar fitness issues at Misano this weekend.

“For me it is worse than Indianpolis physically, but it is better for our bike because Yamaha is struggling a bit. In Misano we were very fast in the last two years. Unfortunately I don’t have to improve my physical condition.

“But Misano is another atmosphere, I like the track and I am very happy with the direction of the bike.

“I’m capable of riding and my team is capable of working, and the upcoming tracks have always been good to me. The next seven races will

Former BTCC racer Ferrier continued the Chad Ferrari’s charge to the finish, until a safety-car bunched the field back together, after Matt Griffin in the MTech F430S collected a puncture and left debris strewn across the Revett Straight. Undeterred, Ferrier broke away from the pack on the restart to collect the chequered flag with a ten second buffer.

Dan Brown and Tom Ferrier scored a dominant victory in their Chad Racing Ferrari.

Making it a Ferrari one-two, Allan Simonsen brought home the Rosso Verde car with body parts flapping in the Norfolk breeze after making contact with the Rollcentre Mosler now piloted by Gregor Fiskin with just a handful of laps remaining; an action that subsequently earned the Scandinavian a £500 fine and 3 penalty points on his racing license. When Hector Lester handed the F430 Scuderia to Simonsen he had worked his way to eighth position, and the Le Mans driver carved a path up to third by the time the safety-car was deployed. With a couple of laps remaining, the Rosso Verde team were given a free pass, after Adam Wilcox in the Predator CCTV Ferrari dived into the pits from second place with a broken drive-shaft.

The demise of the Wilcox and Phil Burton’s ‘Scud’ prevented the podium from being a Ferrari clean sweep, with the Alex Mortimer and Philip Walker Team RPM Ford GT taking third spot ahead of the Rollcentre Mosler, which ground to a halt 50 yards short of the finish line with a suspected gearbox issue. Thankfully, the Fiskin and Short car was a lap ahead of the championship-leading Trackspeed Porsche when the chequered flag was waved, so they retained fourth spot.

In the second British GT race of the weekend, Matt Griffin and Duncan Cameron dominated from start to finish, to collect an unchallenged victory. Griffin, who started in the MTech Ferrari, got the jump on the rolling start to snatch the lead from Adam Wilcox by the first corner. With a clear track ahead of him, Griffin had built a lead of seven seconds by the time he handed the F430 Scuderia to Cameron, who continued the run to the chequered flag unabated.

Only a flesh-wound . . . the MTech team repaired the damage suffered in Race One, enabling Matt Griffin and Duncan Cameron to score a resounding victory in Race Two.

Whilst Cameron and Griffin’s journey to the finish was a serene one, young Dan Brown in the Chad Ferrari had to fight his way to the podium for most of his stint. When his co-driver Tom Ferrier handed over the F430 to him, Brown was in seventh position.  The 18-year-old was soon marching through the field, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process, and passing the Jones Ascari, Burton Ferrari and Lester F430 on his way to second spot.

Bouncing back from an engine problem and subsequent retirement in the first race, the Preci-Spark Ascari of Godfrey and David Jones claimed the final podium spot with just a handful of laps of the one-hour event remaining. Despite the best efforts of Rosso Verde’s Hector Lester, and Predator’s Phil Burton, the KZ1R was unstoppable on its charge to third position. Hanging onto the coat-tails of the Ascari, Martin Short’s Rollcentre Racing Mosler MT900 followed the Jones car through the Ferraris to claim fourth position ahead of Burton.

After carrying maximum success ballast and a 5mm ride height penalty, the Trackspeed Porsche struggled around the high-speed Snetterton circuit, but with a top five finish in the first race, David Ashburn continues to lead the standings table by twenty points. Buoyed by a dominant victory, Matt Griffin and Duncan Cameron head to Rounds 11 and twelve of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Brands Hatch knowing they need a pair of top finishes to keep their title hopes alive.

Avon Tyres British GT Championship
Provisional championship standings

GT3 & Overall
1 David Ashburn 77 points;
2= Griffin & Cameron 57;
4 Glynn Geddie 51;
5 Lester 45;
6 Simonsen 43

G4 Class
1= Dick & Stanley 49.5;
3= Rory Butcher & Benjamin Harvey 38;
5= Simon Mason & Chris Bialan 32.5

Niki Lauda has moved to clarify his stance on team orders in Formula 1 following a recent high-profile clash with Ferrari over what it did at the German Grand Prix.

The former world champion told the official Formula 1 website that he expected Ferrari to get a ‘pasting’ by the FIA because of the way it had insulted the intelligence of fans by ordering Felipe Massa to sacrifice the lead of the Hockenheim race to Fernando Alonso

Lauda’s comments prompted a furious response from Ferrari, which said the Austrian had missed an opportunity to keep quiet.

In the wake of that public war of words, Lauda has moved to clarify his views on the matter - and denied having made his original comments.

“I’ve never said that stuff,” Lauda was quoted as saying by Corriere della Sera. “On television I only said that team orders are not good for F1 and for the spectacle, and that a team like Red Bull, by leaving Webber and Vettel free to fight, is doing the right thing. Please write that I didn’t do any interview.

“I’d authorize [team orders], but only from the moment that one of the two drivers is out of the title race.”

Ferrari welcomed Lauda’s comments with its official website, through the ‘Horse Whisperer’ columnist, stating: “I am very pleased Niki has denied making these statements: it shows that fresh air is really good for you!”

INDIANAPOLIS — Paul Tracy will return to the IZOD IndyCar Series behind the wheel of the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dallara Honda for the races at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Ky., Sept. 4 and Twin Ring Motegi in Japan Sept. 19.

Wheel manufacturer Motegi Racing Wheels will join the team and Tracy for the two events as primary sponsor of the No. 24.

“It’s great to be back with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing again this year,” said Tracy, who drove the No. 24 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l earlier this season. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to run some ovals with the team. It’s been a while since I’ve raced on an oval, but I’m ready for the challenge with the next two races plus I have some experience in Japan.”

Tracy, now in his 20th season, is among the top 10 in almost every Champ Car career statistical category, including wins (31, tied for seventh all-time), poles (25, ninth all-time) and laps led (4,238, sixth all-time).

“We are very happy to have Paul back with us for the next two events,” said team co-owner Robbie Buhl. “He’s a great driver and big personality and we are thrilled to have him driving for us in Kentucky and Japan. Paul did a great job for us in Watkins Glen and we can’t wait to get him on an oval with us.”

Tracy replaces Mike Conway, who was injured in a crash during the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. Tracy is one of several drivers who have driven the No. 24 since Conway was injured, including Ana Beatriz, Tomas Scheckter, Graham Rahal and J.R. Hildebrand.

The DTM will run on a shortened Hockenheim lay-out when the series visits the German Grand Prix venue for the second time this season, on October 16/17.

In a bid to increase the number of laps the cars complete during the race, the DTM’s organisers - the ITR - have agreed with the track owners to cap the hairpin and instead introduce two right-hands turns that will take the cars into the stadium section some 400-metres earlier.

Work on the track, which requires approval from the German motorsport authority DMSB, will mean the length of the lap decreases by 20%.

The move is not unusual for the DTM, which also uses the Brands Hatch Indy circuit and a shortened version of the Nurburgring so that fans are guaranteed to see the cars more often.

FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — It happened a while ago, but it was only at Spa that Timo Glock confirmed to National Speed Sport News an amusing tale. During the winter some hooligans were pelting Glock’s house with snowballs, so he telephoned the police.

“Hello,” said the policeman who answered the phone, “This is Michael Schumacher.”

Obviously it was not the seven-time world champion but a policeman with a sense of humor, when Glock said, “Hello, this is Timo Glock and I would like to report…” and he went on to tell the policeman what was going on.

The policeman thought the caller, upon hearing the name Schumacher, was kidding by identifying himself as the F-1 driver Timo Glock.

After going back and forth, the duo finally established that the policeman’s name really was Michael Schumacher, and that Glock really was the F-1 driver for Virgin Racing.

- Reigning world champion Mercedes Brawn has shifted its focus onto the 2011 season. “I think our priorities are clearly with next season,” Ross Brawn said. “We have not had as good a year as we want. We don’t realistically have any chance of competing for the championship this year, so we are pretty strongly focused on next season to make sure we can get into a more competitive position for next year.”

- Mark Webber celebrated his 34th birthday Friday at Spa. His teammate Sebastian Vettel was asked the day before what gift he had for the old man. “I didn’t know that this was his birthday,” Vettel replied. “I have brought nothing with me. I don’t know. I need to find something. I think they have these free shampoos and this kind of stuff in the hotel, a last-minute present. But don’t tell him, of course!”

- American Alexander Rossi charged from 13th to second in Sunday’s GP3 race that was won by Adrien Tambay, son of former F-1 driver Patrick Tambay.

- Spa is a magnificent circuit, but the thuggish behavior of the police and security goons is unforgivable. Spectator accounts to NSSN tell of callous and mean treatment to the fans, and what the guards lack in sensitivity is made up with viciousness. In the past, police have swung batons to move FIA-accredited photographers out of areas where the snappers were legitimately allowed to stand.

- A delegation from China was in the paddock at Spa trying to sort out a contract for that country’s grand prix next year. China wants Bernie Ecclestone to give it a reduction in its annual rights fee, which is more than $50 million. There is a profusion of Asian races these days, or at least proposed ones, but from a marketing point of view, China is still very important to the teams and their sponsors.

- The FIA’s Charlie Whiting will go to Korea after the Italian Grand Prix to inspect the progress on building the new track. Doubts that the track will be ready in time for the Oct. 24th race continue to circulate through the F-1 paddock. Team personnel who visited the track recently told NSSN that things look to be way behind schedule for the entire facility.

- Renault raced with its new F-duct for the first time at Spa, and the rear wing stalling device notably improved the top speed of the car. Robert Kubica admitted that it took time to adapt his driving routine to remember to cover the hole that redirects the airflow to the rear wing when the car is on a straight.

- Sebastian Vettel missed a shot at the pole by messing up in the final qualifying session. “My first try in Q3 wasn’t good enough, simple as that,” he said. “The beginning of the first sector I made a couple of mistakes and lost momentum. Then in the last lap I had it in my hands. In the first corner already I lost six tenths, from then I had very good recovery, was even quicker than my first try. But I got a little bit sideways at turn 14, and that was it.”

Renault team principal Eric Boullier thinks that Vitaly Petrov’s qualifying error in Belgium could ultimately serve as a blessing in disguise for the young Russian.

Petrov blew his chances of a decent qualifying slot in Spa last weekend when he failed to set a time after spinning off in Q1 when he drove across a wet kerb.

Although he recovered in the race to finish ninth, the event showed that Petrov still has to improve if he is to reach the consistent level that his team wants to see before it re-signs him for next year.

Boullier praised the job that Petrov did in the race, but admitted that the error from qualifying was something that the F1 rookie had to learn from.

“It is sometimes hard to forgive a mistake like that he made, but this is F1 and it is not easy,” Boullier told AUTOSPORT. “He did a very good race. He avoided all the traps from the rain and I have to say that he did a very good performance.

“It was good to put the car back in the points starting from where he was on the grid so he just needs to avoid this kind of mistake. But perhaps some good has come out of the bad, because it has maybe reminded him that he needs to stay concentrated and it is not because he had a good result in Budapest that it will be like this every weekend.”

Although Petrov’s ultimate speed has not been in doubt this season, Renault has been eager for him to be more consistent throughout a whole weekend - something he achieved in Budapest.

When asked if Petrov still had to make more progress judging by his error in Belgium, Boullier said: “I would say yes, especially after the mistake [in qualifying]. Yes he brought some points home, but we need to have a solid second driver.”

But was it drooping as close to the ground at Spa as it was at the last race? Mercedes chief Ross Brawn didn’t think so, nor did McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh, who said that the wing endplates looked to be much higher off the ground at Spa than Hungary.

At the upcoming Italian Grand Prix the cars will undergo more testing, this time centered on the car’s floor, which must be one piece (instead of three pieces as run by Ferrari and Red Bull). Plus the lead edge “bib” of the floor will not be allowed to bend beyond a certain point.

“The (FIA) requirements for Monza really will end what has been a misnomer: the bodywork is intended to be attached rigidly with no degrees of freedom,” Whitmarsh said. “And when you look at bib stays that hinge, buckle, slide and have dampers, it seems a bit bizarre to me. So I think it should end that particular trend and that is the mission really. That will be good.”

Red Bull’s Christian Horner is confident that his cars will pass the stringent tests at Monza as well.

JOLIET, Ill. — Just one week after landing upside-down heading to the green flag to start last Sunday’s race at Infineon Raceway, Dan Wheldon nearly landed right side-up in victory lane at Chicagoland Speedway.

The Panther Racing driver finished second to Dario Franchitti by just .0423 second — the sixth-closest IZOD IndyCar Series finish at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway. Wheldon’s second-place finish equaled his season high. He also finished second to Franchitti in the May 30 Indianapolis 500.

Wheldon thought the return to oval racing was a “blast.”

“It’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s the way racing should be,” Wheldon said of a race that featured a season-high 25 lead changes among 11 drivers. “I really enjoyed the road courses this year, but it’s good to be back on the ovals. It’s very difficult at times. You have to race around guys that you trust because there is a lot of moving around. In the front of the field, it was fine, but it was hairy if you were back in ninth or 10th.

“The car was good in traffic and that made all the difference. As the stint went on I was able to move forward. I’ve always been confident in my abilities and we never continued to give up. We kept working hard and it worked out well. I thought the team did a very good job.”

- Ed Carpenter returned to the IZOD IndyCar Series for the second time this season in a joint effort between Vision Racing and Panther Racing and ran as high as the top three before a series of events doomed him to a 20th-place finish. First, he ran out of fuel and had to head down pit road. After that stop, he was assessed a “drive-through penalty” for exceeding the pit road speed limit.

“Just kick a guy in the nuts when he is down,” Carpenter said. “I’m not a factor any more. I understand they have to hold up the rules, but they must be bored in race control. That is stupid. I’m not points racing. I’m here to race for wins and try to get myself a ride for next year. It didn’t affect the outcome at all after I ran out of fuel. When the car cut off, the pit-speed limiter went off on pit road and then they gave me a drive-through. We’ll just have to go to Kentucky and try to get a win there.”

- Marco Andretti of Andretti Autosport started fifth and found his way to the front of the field when he passed polesitter Ryan Briscoe on lap 29. Andretti led three times for three laps before finishing third — making the No. 3 Andretti’s number for the night in the No. 26 IndyCar.

“I had a really good car, and I really just worked on the race setup all weekend, and I was pretty optimistic coming into the race,” Andretti said. “We just lost track position, and if a Penske or Ganassi is flat-out on the white line and you have to run longer distance, you’re not going to pass him. But it was great to get back on the ovals. It’s been a trying past few weekends on the road courses. As a team we really know what we need to work on in the off-season, so it feels good to be back on the ovals, and back in contention where we can kind of taste it again is a good feeling.”

Andretti was aggressive from the very start of the race taking the high-line around the track.

Second-place finisher and former teammate Dan Wheldon even gave Andretti a new nickname.

“They call him ‘Rim Rider Marco,’” Wheldon quipped.

- Ryan Hunter-Reay knew he was in for a dogfight with a return to the ovals and the Team IZOD driver was able to put the No. 37 Andretti Autosport car into fourth place.

“That was nuts,” Hunter-Reay said. “It was crazy as any race I’ve ever been in. It was non-stop the whole time. You never had time to hold your breath. I’m sure everybody will be ticked off with each other, but it was so exciting. The last few laps I got a run on the outside and got around a few guys and was able to finish fourth. The guys did an awesome job on the last couple of stops.”

JOLIET, Ill. — There are many traditions in IndyCar racing, including the fact that team owners are often at odds with the series sanctioning body over such things as rules, cars, tracks, schedules and other issues.

It has led to divisive splits, including 1978 when CART was formed and broke away from USAC and in 1996 when the Indy Racing League went into competition and practically every team in CART held its ground and refused to participate in the Indianapolis 500 until Chip Ganassi was the first “big team” to return in 2000.

When Champ Car ceased operation in 2008 and its teams joined the IndyCar Series, there was a brief time of harmony and single-minded purpose. But there has been dissatisfaction from a group of team owners regarding the new Dallara IndyCar that is scheduled to be the new car in 2012.

Team owners who have cried out to replace the current Dallara that has been used in the series since 2003 are now saying they don’t want to buy the new car; that the financial burden of new equipment is not a wise move in a bad economy. Others may simply be upset that the car they supported — including the radical DeltaWing — was not chosen.

Team owners have held meetings independent of the Indy Racing League officials to voice those concerns, so IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard held an owners meeting Saturday to unify the troops.

“We believe that we need to be one, and whenever we hear of things start to break out there, we need to come together as one and work to build things,” Bernard said. “And that’s exactly what took place today, and that’s the way it should happen. We’re never always going to be agreeable on everything. That’s going to be — but what we can do is come together and create the best solution to make everybody working together and happy and taking the league in the correct direction.”

Team owner Dennis Reinbold of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing appeared with Bernard to show solidarity from the owners’ side.

“Our main concern is we wanted to dispel any rumors or talk out there that we are not working in lockstep together because that’s not factual,” Reinbold said. “We are working very closely together. We met with Randy as well as Tony Cotman today to discuss a variety of issues and a manner in which we can go forward. So I’m only here not as myself but just representing the team owners that were there together in this meeting. And we are very much in lockstep, as I said, and we’re going to work very closely with Tony Cotman on the future development of the future chassis for 2012, and I guess that’s our main announcement.”

Two weeks ago, Bernard installed Cotman as the man to be in charge of the new car program, including costs, development and implementation.

Team owners believe a big concern is how much the changeover from the old car to the new car will cost. Many team owners want to have parts that work on the current car be used on the new car to help reduce the financial burden. Other owners are concerned that the rules for the new car have yet to be issued — that they don’t have anything in writing to let them know what is involved with the 2012 Dallara.

Family Honors Kenny Irwin, Jr. By Helping Others

“He was one of the best I ever ran against,” stated Tony Stewart emphatically about his friend, competitor and sometimes antagonist Kenny Irwin, Jr. prior to this year’s Brickyard 400. “If Kenny would’ve lived he would’ve at least won a championship, if not several. Unfortunately we lost him a few years back.”

Kenny Irwin, Jr. died just more than 10 years ago — July 7, 2000, during NASCAR Cup practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Stewart won the New England 300 that weekend and dedicated his victory to his fallen buddy.

If Irwin’s performance in every racing discipline he applied his exceptional talent to is any indicator, Stewart’s assessment of Irwin’s should-have-been accomplishments are spot on.

Irwin was the USAC National Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year in 1993. The following year he took rookie honors in the Silver Crown division and in 1995 became the USAC National Midget Series champion.

Irwin entered NASCAR competition through the Craftsman Truck Series, winning two races and rookie of the year in 1997. In 1998, he was named to drive Robert Yates’s famed No. 28, replacing Ernie Irvan. He performed well enough to claim rookie of the year honors in the Cup division.

He spent another season with Yates before switching to the No. 42 of Team Sabco, now the No. 42 car of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

In his short NASCAR Cup career Irwin won three poles and managed 12 top-10 finishes. But, all too soon, he was gone, revealing only a glimpse of his full potential.

It’s tragic. But, more important than what he could have been, or what he accomplished on the track, are those things Kenny Irwin, Jr. did off the track, acts of charity that came to light only after his death and will resonate with people long after the memory of his on-track accomplishments wanes.

Of the thousands who were at Irwin’s funeral and visitation, many told his parents, Kenny, Sr. and Reva, stories of surprise hospital visits, hospital bills paid and money given for those in financial need.

They learned from a representative of the Boy Scouts that when he had called Irwin, Sr.’s place of business, Kenny happened to be there and took the call.

When the gentleman finished his pitch about the benefits of camping for kids and queried about a donation to help finance a camper, Kenny volunteered to send a dozen kids.

“We knew nothing about any of this,” insists his father, “until after Kenny’s accident. We began to hear these stories at his funeral and then through cards, letters, phone calls and e-mails in the weeks afterward.

“Kenny always felt very privileged to have the resources and the popularity he did,” explains Irwin, Sr. “He thought it was more than he deserved and he was quietly trying to use that for others.

“You always try to teach your kids about life. What’s amazing is when they teach you about life. Kenny was teaching me.

“That made me begin to think,” muses Irwin, Sr. “And I realized I really hadn’t done anything worthwhile with my life. So, to help make something good come out of this tragedy, and to continue the work that Kenny was doing, in 2000 I created the Kenny Irwin, Jr. Foundation.”

The foundation wasn’t but a year old when Kenny’s parents felt it should specifically help underprivileged kids participate in an activity that was dear to their son’s heart, camping.

They built the Dare to Dream camp on 30 acres near New Castle, Ind. Its mission is to teach at-risk, abused and neglected kids that, in the words of Irwin, Sr., “…nothing is impossible if you can dream it first.”

“A lot of these kids have never known what it is to have a dream that they thought could become real. Kenny had his and got it. We want others to have that same opportunity.”

The camp holds eight, one-week sessions throughout the summer, with each session hosting 60-100 kids. This is an expensive undertaking, costing in excess of $250,000 a year.

Funding for this endeavor has come through corporate and private donations, and fund-raising events. Most recently, for example, the 1934 Ford Coupe that Kenny started building before his death, and his father later finished, was sold at the Indianapolis Mecum Auction for $50,000.

As the time since Kenny’s death continues to steal quickly by, it’s becoming more difficult to raise the necessary funds.

“It’s been 10 years since Kenny’s death,” relates Irwin, Sr., “and sad as it is to say, people forget. There’s a new generation of fans who never saw Kenny race. It’s natural that after awhile people begin to lose interest.”

Compounding the financial issues is the fact that Kenny’s mother has been very ill.

“Reva is the one who does all the planning for and the coordinating of the camp activities,” relates Irwin, Sr. “She just hasn’t been able to do that so far this year. What happens this year, the next, will determine whether we’ll be able to keep the camp running or not.”

Although the camp might be in jeopardy, the foundation is not. If the Irwins can’t keep the camp operating, it will be sold, with the money going back into the foundation.

The passing of time and the dimming of memories might alter the foundation’s focus, but its mission will not be compromised. As it has for 10 years, the foundation will continue to help those Kenny had such a passion for — the underprivileged.

It can also carry on Kenny’s love of involving kids in camping, by sponsoring them at other camps, like the Petty’s Victory Junction Gang or one that Tony Stewart is rumored to be building in southern Indiana.

The Kenny Irwin, Jr. Foundation was created not only to memorialize what he accomplished on the race track, but, more importantly, to celebrate the man he was off the track.

For information, visit www.kennyirwinjrfoundation.org.

Volkswagen motorsport director Kris Nissen says any decision by the German manufacturer to contest the World Rally Championship, will be made soon to avoid allowing other manufacturers to steal the march under the new rules.

A decision on whether VW will come to the WRC is anticipated later this year, with Nissen saying the latest the announcement would be made is after next year’s Dakar in January.

The German manufacturer is still completing its evaluation of the benefit of the sport. Nissen was full of praise for the new WRC regulations, however.

He said: “They [the new rules] are very good and the people in the sport have done a fantastic job. Looking into being able to be competitive and part of the game, we need to make a decision as soon as possible because we need two years to be there and we don’t want to give the other [manufacturers] too much possibility to learn too much about the new car.”

Nissen added that rule stability did mean coming to the sport later would still be possible.

“Even if we take the decision later it still would be the right thing to do, but it would be a little bit more difficult to be the top team and fighting for the win,” he added.

The Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) will wait until the end of this year to decide who will replace Martin Whitmarsh as its chairman.

Although there was speculation last week that Whitmarsh was to step down with immediate effect, sources have denied that there is any change to the original plan of sorting the matter out later this year.

FOTA’s chairmanship runs on a rotational basis each season, with Whitmarsh taking over for a 12-moth period from Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo at the end of last year.

It is understood that FOTA is keen for an independent team chief to replace Whitmarsh - with Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner, Williams’s Adam Parr and Mercedes GP’s Ross Brawn, who has experience of running of his own team, believed to be the leading contenders.

Whitmarsh said that the matter was on course to be discussed once the season had finished.

“It is due to come to an end later this year - that is as far as I know,” he explained. “At the end of the year it will be good to take stock of how much time everyone spends on it and where we focus our efforts.”

When asked if somebody had already been lined up for the position, Whitmarsh said: “Not yet, no. It will be voted probably November/December time.”

Mercedes GP has admitted it will need to make further modifications to its blown diffuser in time for the Italian Grand Prix, after encountering further problems with it overheating in Belgium last weekend.

The second iteration of its floor, which blows exhaust gases both into and over the diffuser, returned to the MGP W01 chassis for the Spa event following heatproof modifications that were needed after it was introduced for the first time in Germany.

However, the team still encountered more overheating in Belgium and team principal Ross Brawn has said that further efforts will be made to get it in a better shape for the next race in Italy.

“It is not completely solved,” said Brawn about the diffuser overheating issues. “We are a bit frustrated that we have not found a solution yet.

“There are different materials that you can use on the floor and the area that is suffering, and we didn’t anticipate it getting as hot as it does. Obviously the way the exhaust gas moves around the floor it is sometimes difficult to predict. It is not perfect and there will be a revision for Monza.”

Formula 1 teams have agreed to maintain this year’s limit of 15-days of pre-season testing ahead of the 2011 campaign - with efforts being made to have a final test in Bahrain.

As part of the cost-cutting drive introduced into the sport, the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) agreed to severely limit pre-season running for teams ahead of this season. Before the 2010 campaign there were just four tests running over a total of 15 days.

Following discussions at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, teams have decided to keep that limit in place for next year too - splitting the 15 days into four tests. One three day test will start proceedings, and then there will be three four-day tests.

Discussions are also at an advanced stage for the final pre-season test to take place in Bahrain in the week before the opening grand prix of 2011 - so cars, equipment and team personnel can stay there.

The four pre-season tests in 2011 will follow two tests that take place at the end of this year in Abu Dhabi - a two-day test for young drivers and then two days to evaluate the new Pirelli tyres.

FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh said he was happy with the total of six tests over the winter, but was keen for teams to agree on opening up in-season testing more for 2011.

“I personally would like to see more testing but I am respectful of the fact that there are teams that are still hurting,” he said.

“We are going to do four tests before the beginning of the season, so we now have at least six tests in the winter, so that is a step further forward. But what we haven’t got at the moment is agreement for testing in the season.”

Whitmarsh said the Bahrain plans were dependent on teams sorting out a financial package so that smaller outfits could afford the trip.

“A majority of teams want to go to Bahrain and we’ve just got to sort out a few things,” he said. “Probably the last test will be in Bahrain but it hasn’t been agreed yet. We have to make sure it is cost-effective for all the small teams.”

Harry Vaulkhard has called time on his World Touring Car Championship campaign after the Bamboo Engineering driver’s funds dried up.

The 24-year-old Briton lies fifth in the Independents’ Trophy after winning his class at Monza and taking three other podiums this year.

But the withdrawal of a personal sponsor has left the former BTCC racer with no option but to step down from driving duties.

“I’m disappointed, of course,” Vaulkhard told AUTOSPORT. “But I’ve just run out of budget because one of my personal sponsors has had to pull out.

“I’d been on a race-by-race deal for the last few events, but there’s no more money so I’ve got to take a back seat.

“I can’t fault the team at all. They’ve been absolutely excellent and this year was really the first year since [the SEAT Cupra Cup in] 2007 when everything was really working for me. It’s a shame.”

Vaulkhard will continue to attend WTCC events with the squad and is hopeful of finding the backing to return to the seat of one of the team’s Chevrolet Lacettis for the final two rounds at Okayama and Macau.

“That’s one angle we’re looking at. Interest is pretty good in the championship in Asia, so hopefully we can put something together,” he added. “The main aim is race for the team again in the WTCC in 2011.”

Bamboo team principal Richard Coleman said that he was disappointed that Vaulkhard could not complete the season alongside Darryl O’Young.

“Harry has showed some tremendous pace and raced well this season,” he said. “It’s a real shame to lose him at a point where he is really coming on strong and in with a genuine shot at finishing in the top three independents at the end of the season.”

Red Bull Racing has admitted it will head to the next race in Italy in ‘damage limitation’ mode, before expecting a return to form for the final flyaway races of the year.

After seeing main rivals McLaren get back onto the top step of the podium with Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Belgium last weekend, Red Bull Racing does not expect to swift recovery of fortunes for the high-speed Monza venue.

With Red Bull conceding that its RB6 is not good on long straights, McLaren and Ferrari are expected to lead the way for the next event.

But Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner still thinks that his outfit can do enough at Monza to not lose too much ground in the title chase.

“Hungary was a circuit that played to the strengths of our car - no straights and lots of corners,” said Horner. “At Spa there were not many corners and very long straight sectors

“Singapore should be good for us, Japan should be good for us, Korea should be okay for us. We know Spa and Monza will be McLaren territory, and we just have to limit the damage as we did with Mark in Belgium. To come away with a second place was a very big result for us.”

Although not expecting the kind of dominant form that Red Bull has delivered on occasion this year - like in Spain, Monaco and Hungary - Horner thinks that his outfit can still mix it in the fight for a podium.

“Monza, for sure, will be a tough weekend for us. But we performed better than expected in Montreal and Valencia this year. And, if you compare the tracks where McLaren have performed badly at – like Hungary – where Mark lapped Jenson, at a track like Spa that doesn’t suit us we still managed to get second place out of it. I am very encouraged by what we have managed to achieve.

“I think Monza will be our weakest circuit of the year arguably. A bit of rain there might be nice and then we go back to circuits that will much more suit our car.”

Despite Red Bull Racing’s pessimism about its prospects for Monza, its rivals are not taking anything for granted about its form.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said in Belgium: “I think the performance here has been encouraging since the start of the weekend, and hopefully we can carry that forward into Monza. But it is a tough championship. There are a range of circuits that we are going to.

“I don’t think we can sit back from our performance here and believe we are as strong as we need to be. We need to keep working hard which is exactly what we are going to do. Overall though, everyone has been working hard over the last week at the factory to be here, to bring performance improvements and it is a good sign. But be assured we will be working hard for Monza and the races after that.”

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said about Horner believing Monza would be the weakest track for them: “The weakest track for them? I would love to be in their position! You can tell Christian that.

“I would love to have the weakest situation for Monza, but I don’t think so. I think they have a very good car. The numbers speak for themselves; let’s see if it was just tactics or if it is true.”

Ferrari is planning a straightline test at Vairano in the next few days to evaluate its low downforce package for Monza.

A familiar sight: Les Turner taking the checkered flag.

Turner’s impressive season began with a dominating victory at Zandvoort.  He started on the pole and led every lap while managing to avoid any penalty incidents on the challenging course.  The race was not as easy for the champion as the stats would suggest however, as last year’s runner-up Ed Sutcliff, and newcomer Michael Baley, both served notice they would be giving Turner a run for his money. Both drivers were able to keep Turner in their sights throughout the race, but were not able to overtake him.  Sutcliff (second) and Baley (third) joined Les on the podium.  Turner left the race with a 15 point lead in the championship.

RSR league members thought their luck might change when they arrived at Watkins Glen for Race Two.  The always dangerous Darren Kersey earned the pole, while Turner was forced to start in fifth place after a poor qualifying effort.  Although Kersey’s night ended early, Barry Blocker quickly moved into the top spot and looked to have things in hand.  His luck didn’t last however, and Turner inherited a lead he would not relinquish.  Les led the remaining 20 laps en route to his second victory of the season.  Sutcliff tried to keep pace in the points as he once again finished in second place.  Kevin Kyle finished third to join the point leader’s on the podium.  Turner’s effort extended his overall lead to 20 points in the championship race.

Hadden snatched the pole at Milwaukee but was unable to maintain his advantage in the race.

Week Three saw the league returning to The Milwaukee Mile for the first of two oval races on the schedule.  Bill Hadden grabbed the pole, but gave up the lead when Turner passed him on Lap 10.  Terry McCuin did his best to pressure Turner into a mistake, but the seasoned driver maintained his composure on each of the restarts to maintain the lead.  Turner’s lead in the championship increased to 44 points with the victory.  McCuin finished the race in second place.  He was joined on the podium by third place finisher, Jeff Thomas.

Turner’s third win of Season Two was also his sixth in a row on the RSR 2010 calendar as he had concluded Season One with three straight wins.  While most drivers would not admit it in public, pit road sources reported that several were beginning to question their ability to keep pace with Turner on the track.

Their fears were heightened after Turner won his fourth race of the season (and seventh in a row) at the tricky Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Les regained his early season qualifying form as he earned the pole with a lap time of 1:22.855.  Only second place qualifier Robinson Shields was able to join Tuner in breaking the 1:23 barrier.  Demonstrating how quick they were on the track, the third place qualifier (Chad Tracy) posted a qualification lap time of 1:24.217.  Turner was never seriously challenged as he went on to lead all 44 laps of the event.  Robinson Shields and Chad Tracy earned their first podiums of the season with second and third place finishes.  Sutcliff lost second place in the overall points to Jeff Thomas after he missed the Laguna race.  Turner’s lead in the overall standings increased to 148 points after the event.

Darren Kersey was the first driver to penetrate Turner’s “Superman” suit when he took the checkered flag in Race Five.  Kersey started on the pole and led all 28 laps at Road America as he became the first driver not named Turner to drive his car to victory lane in Season Two.  Turner did not give up his spot on the podium easily.  He began the race in second place and hounded Kersey for the entire race.  Scott Husted earned his first podium of the season with a third place finish.  Turner’s lead in the championship race increased to 172 points after the event, while Sutcliff leapfrogged Thomas to regain second place.

Kersey made it two in a row at Silverstone.

Kersey repeated his winning performance when the league traveled to Silverstone for Race Six.  His victory was not easy though, as Turner looked to have a shot at regaining his winning form after earning the pole position with a blistering lap time of 1:45.728.  Turner led the first eight laps of the race.  Kersey took the lead after electrical problems forced Turner to pit out of the lead and retire from the event.  Darren put on a great show for the fans as he checked out on the field en route to a 33 second margin of victory over Jeff Thomas.  New RSR driver Barry Blocker earned his first podium of the season with a third place finish.  Turner’s early retirement saw his lead in the championship cut to 109 points.

Turner’s team recovered from their electrical issues with a resounding victory at Barber Motorsports Park in the seventh race of the season.  Once again starting from the pole position, Turner dominated the race and led all 40 laps of the event on his way to an 11 second margin of victory.  Jim Albertson was the only driver able to keep Turner in sight, but he suffered a late race spin and eventually finished in fifth place.  Barry Blocker and Ed Sutcliff finished in second and third places respectively.  Despite the podium finish, Sutcliff lost ground as Turner’s lead in the championship race increased to 127 points.

Turner continued to build his championship lead over Sutcliff when the league visited Phillip Island for Race Eight.  Showing off the lightning quick setups which have earned him eight poles in his short RSR career, Turner once again started the race on the pole.  He was the only driver to break the 1:28 barrier in qualifying.  Turner put on a driving clinic for the fans while leading all 35 laps and crossing the line a full 10 seconds ahead of  Bill Hadden.  He was the only driver to break the 1:29 barrier during the race.  Ed Sutcliff netted his fourth podium finish by crossing the line in third place, just ahead of the hard charging Wilbur Gildersleeve Jr.  Turner’s dominating performance earned him enough points to increase his lead over second place by 140 points in the championship.

Turner may have dominated the championship, but there was no lack of competition in the Red Sox Racing League.

Ed Sutcliff was the next driver to earn a victory in Season Two when he found his way to victory lane in RSR’s first ever event under the lights.  Held at the Richmond International Raceway, the night race was exciting for both the fans and drivers.  Michael Baley started on the pole and led the field on a blistering pace for the first 45 laps.  Turner began the race in third place, but his plan to overtake Baley by saving tires and forgoing pits stops was thwarted when his car was heavily damaged in a mid-race incident with Husted.  Sutcliff was hungry for a victory and a chance to cut into Turner’s point lead, so he opted to drive a very aggressive race.  His effort paid off when he was able to pass Baley on a restart.  Sutcliff managed to lead the remaining 105 laps as he nursed his fading tires around the track.  Eric Porterfield charged through the field on fresh tires to take second place, and was joined on the podium by third place finisher Jeff Thomas.  Sutcliff’s victory, combined with Turner’s early exit from the event, saw the championship points close up for the first time in weeks.  Turner was leading by 58 points leaving Richmond.

Duplicating Kersey’s earlier repeat performance, Sutcliff won back-to-back races when he took the checkers at Mosport in Week Ten.  Turner earned the pole position with a qualifying time of 1:15.042, but his night ended before the green flag flew when electrical problems forced him to miss the starting grid.  His team tried hard to get the point leader back in the race, but their efforts did not pay off.  Kersey inherited the pole position for the start of the race, and then saw his lead evaporate after a spin on Lap Two.  Sutcliff jumped on the opportunity to take the lead, but he and everyone else believed Kersey would quickly recover from his mistake.  Their fears were almost realized as Kersey slowly climbed his way back towards the front before suffering a race-ending accident.  Robinson Shields finished the race in second place, while Jim Albertson earned his first podium of the season with a third place finish.  The championship battle between Sutcliff and Turner grew more exciting as Turner left Mosport with a slim 27 point lead.

Sutcliff completed a double of his own at Mosport.

Turner’s electrical problems appeared to be fixed by the time RSR drivers took to the track for Race Eleven at Brands Hatch.  Kersey was the fastest in qualifying as he and Turner were the only drivers to break the 1:23 mark.  Kersey led all 40 laps of the race and won by remaining calm as the rest of the field was involved in several incidents.  Turner set the tone for the excitement when he spun at Dingle Dell Corner on Lap One.  Like a cat with nine lives, Turner somehow managed to do a 360 without hitting anything and kept touch with the lead pack.  He remained in good position until a gearbox issue later in the race forced him to pit out of second for repairs.  Scott Husted took advantage and crossed the line in second place, followed by third place finisher Jim Albertson.  Albertson gained the spot after a late race incident with Wilbur Gildersleeve Jr., so despite his back-to-back podium finishes, “Gentleman” Albertson decided to park the POW/MIA Mazda for the last race of the season at Lime Rock Park.  Turner’s lead in the championship grew to 40 points after his performance at Brands.

Season Two of the RSR 2010 schedule wrapped up with a 55 lap test of endurance at Lime Rock Park.  After watching three different drivers post back-to-back victories in the first 10 events, nobody was surprised when Kersey duplicated the feat to earn his fourth win of the season.

Kersey set the tone at Lime Rock by laying down a qualifying lap time of 46.767.  Turner wasn’t far off pace, but had to settle for fourth on the grid after missing the last 15 minutes of qualifying.  Electrical problems reared their ugly head again though, and the point leader was forced to pit for 10 laps while the crew replaced his car’s onboard computer.  Sutcliff tried hard to catch Turner in the points, but his third place finish in the race was not enough.  Turner returned to the track and finished in tenth place to ensure he would capture his second consecutive RSR championship.  Turner’s final total of 841 points (scored in 8 races), led Sutcliff’s by a mere 38 points.

“I was pushed hard this season,” said Turner.  “Darren, Ed, Jeff, David, Jim, Wilbur, Andy, Michael, Chad; there was always someone giving me fits every week.  I’ve got to thank the folks at TeamDraft for all of their support over these past two championship seasons.  Without their help, I’d be watching you guys interviewing someone else right now.

This season is dedicated to my best friend and spotter Koffee, who passed away shortly after the race at Barber Motorsports Park. We had a lot of good times together over the last 10 years and she was right beside me for most of my races.  I am going to miss her a lot.”

To the victor go the spoils . . .

Asked about his future plans, the talented driver wasn’t sure what type of racing he would venture into next.

“RSR has a couple of weeks off,” he offered, “so I might test my skills in a few of the other cars iRacing has to offer.  I prefer road course racing, but we also proved this season we can get to Victory Lane on the ovals as well, so we will see where things shake out”.

This was Sutcliff’s second consecutive season as the bridesmaid in the RSR championship.  He and Turner entered the league at the same time, so he is just happy to have participated with such a talented group of drivers.

“I’m really proud of my finishes this season,” he said.  “We averaged over 100 points a race to total 803 this season.  That would have won it last season.

Les simply raised the bar to another level, so we’ll have to double our effort next season.  Congratulations to Les on his championship.”

Jeff Thomas finished third in the final standings.  His final total of 725 points would also have been enough to win the Season One championship.

“TeamDraft did a lot of work to prepare for this season,” he said.  “We had a good car at every track, and we were in position to sweep the podium at most any event.  I’m very happy to finish the season scoring eight top-10, and six top-five finishes.”

Thomas was also quick to acknowledge his temmate’s dominating season.

“Les was unstoppable this season,” he said.  “He practiced hard every week, came to the track as prepared as anyone could have been, and stayed out of trouble to ensure he would finish well.  I’d hate to have seen how many points he would have scored without the ongoing electrical problems in the second half of the season!”

Richard Towler took some time off the serious business of both NASCAR iRacing Series World Championship and iRacing World Championship Road Racing series to join in some fun.  Starting from the back of the grid, he worked his way all the way up to second, less than ten seconds behind Miles at the flag.  A solid run from Fabio Martins completed the podium with another consistent runner, Tony Rickard in fourth. Andy Kirschetorte had shown some early pace but a midrace spin dropped him back to fifth.

On to Zandvoort with Skip Barber F2000 cars where championship holder Blake Townend returned and took the win. Ten seconds down the road Sam Appleton, Adam Miles and Steven Jones were separated by less than two seconds.

“I got a decent start and managed to carry enough speed around the outside of Tarzan to get past Philip (Widdowson),” said Jones.  “That put me on the tail of the lead trio. Sam and Adam had a little battle which I managed to take advantage of and slip inside Adam into Tarzan.

“Unfortunately, two corners later, I hit the kerb in the infield hairpin which spun the inside rear tyre up and (I) lost all my momentum.  Adam wasted no time in getting back through. And there lay the story of my race - I threw away my first opportunity and I never got another one.”

Towler had a tougher job starting from 26th and managed to work his way up to fifth place ahead of Widdowson who had another strong run.  Among Towler’s victims was Stephen Grier who had the misfortune of spinning out of seventh spot in the final turn on the last lap after a mistake free run!

The top ten after four rounds:

1 Adam Miles - 81
2 Steven Jones - 74
3 Blake Townend - 58
4 Fabio Martins - 44
5 Tony Rickard - 42
6 Richard Towler - 34
7 Philip Widdowson - 30
8 Sam Appleton - 20
9 Darren Turner - 20
10 Barry West - 19

The Club set off to Watkins Glen in the Mustangs for round five.

Driving the #22 Juncos Racing / INDECK / The College Network / Merchant Services Ltd. Mazda to a record-breaking streak of nine poles and seven wins, the Indianapolis native had such a points lead that he technically became the series champion the moment the race started.  Rather than play it safe and cruise to the checkered, however, Daly clinched the championship in style, leading every lap to cross the finish line 0.764 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Venezuelan Jorge Goncalvez who started from the outside of the front row in the #9 Team Apex/Wabash Capital Investments Mazda.

Conor Daly en route to the 2010 Star Mazda title.

“Even though I wasn’t worried about the championship I still wanted to win for the Juncos Racing team, and it was still a fairly tough race with Jorge right behind me for the first ten laps and I knew it was going to be tough to pull any kind of a gap,” said Daly, who graduated from high school earlier this season. “And with the yellow flag right at the end leaving us with a green/white/checkered situation I knew I had to be careful because the track was really slick by that point and I kind of tiptoed through the first turn and got a run while the guys behind me slid wide and that gave me a little bit of breathing room to bring it home.

“The Juncos team has put forward a tremendously professional effort all season and I can’t thank them enough. I’ll be going into the last race at Road Atlanta with the same attitude I’ve had all season; put it on the pole and win the race, but I will be thinking about how I can help my teammates get on the podium so we can wind up the season in style.”

Rounding out the top-three after moving up from his sixth-place qualifying position, was California racer Connor De Phillippe. This was De Phillippe’s second podium in a row driving the #11 JDC Motorsports / MAZASPEED Motorsports / Skip Barber Mazda. He also turned the quickest lap of the race, 1:17.055 on Lap 11. De Phillippi, the 2009 Skip Barber Pro Series champion, is racing in the Star Mazda Championship this season with backing from the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder. As a side note, Conor Daly was the 2008 Skip Barber champion and competed in his rookie Star Mazda season in 2009 as the MAZDASPEED Ladder driver.  And, like De Phillippe, Daly is an alumnus of the Team USA Scholarship program.

Conor Daly with his father, former F1 and Indy car driver, Derek.

Frenchman Tristan Vautier, winner of two races this year and starting from third on the grid brought his #38 Andersen Racing / Moulin TP / Cecibon / Circuit du Laquais / Fontanel Mazda home in fourth.  Norwegian Anders ‘The Viking’ Krohn, the only driver who, before the start of the 45-minute race, still had a mathematical chance – however slim – of denying Daly the championship, qualified and finished 5th in #47 Andersen Racing / Norse Cutting & Abandonment / Trallfa / Colosseum Mazda.

Like Daly, Krohn built his season on consistency, finishing every race in the top-five; Daly, however, finished every race but one on the podium, and in that one ‘off’ race he finished fourth. Looking at the points, Daly has 502, Krohn is still second with 420, Goncalvez is third with 381, Connor De Phillippe is fourth with 372 and Grenier is tied for fifth with Vautier at 366.

Robert Kubica’s podium finish at the Belgian Grand Prix brought him to the fringes of the Castrol Rankings top 10.

The Renault driver ran a strong second in the race, but dropped to third when he missed his marker entering the pits for intermediate tyres and cost himself a handful of seconds. His third spot moved the Polish driver ahead of Rubens Barrichello, Ryan Briscoe and Jeff Gordon and into 13th place in the Castrol Rankings.

Lewis Hamilton’s victory at Spa-Francorchamps in challenging weather conditions kept him fourth overall, just behind runner-up Webber (3).

Sebastian Vettel retained the top spot in the Castrol Rankings for a 23rd consecutive week, despite taking out Jenson Button, receiving a drive-through penalty and later on suffering a puncture after contact with another car.

There were non-moves for world champions Button and Fernando Alonso as well. Button’s elimination at the hands of Vettel (below) kept him seventh while Alonso’s crash during the worst of the rain ensured that he stayed eighth.

Both were helped by a disaster for IndyCar driver Will Power the previous night. The Penske driver had to make a late stop at Chicagoland after his car was underfuelled earlier on. He finished 16th, a result that kept him ninth in the Castrol Rankings. Had he finished second, as looked likely, he would have moved into the top six at the expense of the former world champions.

Chicagoland winner Dario Franchitti (6) was also a non-mover, while runner-up Dan Wheldon gained five spots to move into 70th in his Panther Dallara.

The biggest faller in the top 50 was Rubens Barrichello, who marked his 300th grand prix start by crashing into Alonso on the opening lap and taking himself out of the race. He dropped six places to 19th, leaving him just ahead of rally star Mikko Hirvonen.

Moving the other way was Felipe Massa, who finished fourth in his Ferrari and gained seven places to move up to 34th. His former team-mate Michael Schumacher finished seventh and gained 16 places to move to 64th.

Klaus Graf (129) made up 38 places after sharing the American Le Mans Series win at Mosport with Timo Bernhard (203). BMW driver Dirk Muller (326) though, was eliminated after hitting a Doran Ford and slid 24 places.

Pastor Maldonado (77) closed in on the GP2 crown with another feature race win at Spa-Francorchamps and gained six places. The Rapax driver’s title rival, Sergio Perez (73), won race two and made up five spots.

In GP3 the wins went to Robert Wickens (117) and Adrien Tambay (230), both gaining over 20 places, while yet another Grand-Am victory elevated Ganassi duo Scott Dixon and Memo Rojas to equal 68th.

To see the full Castrol Rankings, log on to www.castroldriverrankings.com.

Adriano Buzaid claimed his second British Formula 3 win of the season by dominating the 40-minute ‘feature’ race at Snetterton this afternoon.

The Brazilian started from pole and led from lights to flag to add to his success in the reversed grid race during the previous round at Silverstone.

His recently-crowned champion Carlin team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne threatened briefly on the run to the first corner at the start, but Buzaid resisted and thereafter sped on to an unchallenged 7.5-second victory.

Vergne fell away gradually during the course of 38 laps of processional racing, while Racing Steps Foundation driver James Calado completed a Carlin 1-2-3 on the podium.

Calado looked a threat for second in the closing stages and got within three tenths of his French team-mate, but couldn’t mount a proper challenge.

Raikkonen Robertson Racing’s Daisuke Nakajima finished a distant fourth, over six seconds adrift of the top trio and 1sec clear of his Brazilian team-mate Felipe Nasr.

Carlin’s Jazeman Jaafar jumped into the top six when Fortec’s Oli Webb slid off the road at Riches on lap four and stayed there to the flag, while Raikkonen Robertson’s Carlos Huertas led home Hitech team-mates Gabriel Dias and Will Buller in seventh.

Carlin’s Rupert Svendsen-Cook rounded out the top 10, a whopping 15.8secs adrift of Buller, while T-Sport’s Menasheh Idafar stormed from the back of the grid to 16th on the first lap and eventually took National Class honours comfortably in 14th place overall.

Results to follow

MONTREAL — Andrew Ranger took one bump and gave another en route to winning Sunday’s NAPA AutoPro 100 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series late-model race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

After losing the lead briefly to Jason Bowles following contact on the white-flag lap, Ranger muscled past on the final turn of the 2.709-mile road course. It was Ranger’s second victory in three year’s at Montreal.

It was also Ranger’s third victory of the season in the series, with all coming on a road course.

Don Thomson, Jr. finished second, followed by Robin Buck, Scott Steckly and Jason Hathaway as Bowles spun into a tire barrier after the contact from Ranger in the final turn.

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — Bryan Clauson continued his winning ways capturing Sunday night’s 30-lap USAC Mopar National Midget Series feature at Angell Park Speedway. The victory gave Clauson a sweep of both National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Classic features and his third midget triumph in as many nights.

Jerry Coons, Jr. jumped into the lead at the start while Clauson moved forward from fifth. Clauson closed to Coons’ bumper on lap nine when the caution flag was displayed for Scott Hatton’s spin. Hatton’s car restarted, but less than one lap later suffered a mechanical failure under the caution and flipped.

Coons and Clauson continued their battle for the lead after the restart. At the midway point, Brad Kuhn closed to the tail of the pair making it a three-way battle for the top position. A caution for a spun car on lap 20 set up a 10-lap battle to the finish.

Clauson took the top position one lap later and Kuhn followed Clauson into second. A great fight for second among Kuhn, Coons, Ray and Tracy Hines highlighted the remainder of the event, as Clauson pulled away from the field.

Driving Corey Tucker’s Spike-Esslinger No. 39, Clauson finished nearly two seconds ahead of Coons, Kuhn. Ray and Hines.

Eric Boullier believes the success of the Renault team’s F-duct was responsible for the performance gain that allowed Robert Kubica to finish on the podium at Spa on Sunday.

Kubica ran second to Lewis Hamilton after Sebastian Vettel had taken out Jenson Button, but slipped to third in the end after Mark Webber got by when he overshot the Renault box during his pitstop.

But Renault team boss Boullier was still delighted with the result and the pace of the car, which was able to stay with the front runners throughout.

“I am pretty sure than half the performance gain we made today was down to the F-duct,” he told AUTOSPORT. “I have to pay tribute to the team because everybody was impressed that we fitted the cars with the F-duct and it worked straightaway - and was matching the simulation figures. It is clearly a good step forward.

“The blown floor was clearly very challenging to make it work properly and it takes a couple of races to do it, and that is why it looks like we didn’t improve much. The F-duct clearly was a bit step forward and now we have the same tools as everyone else on the grid it is pleasant to see our car is matching the pace of everyone else on the grid.”

Boullier reckons Renault can now overhaul Mercedes for fourth place in the constructors’ championship.

“I would be very pleased to have more podiums of course,” he added. “It is definitely realistic when I see our performance level, and clearly now we set our expectations a little higher and we definitely need to take this fourth place.”