Grand Prix Association of Toronto Bought By Andretti

Not only has driver Michael Andretti won the Toronto Grand Prix seven times, he now owns the Grand Prix Association of Toronto too. Andretti became the new corporate face of the race on Thursday, 15 May 2008. As spokesman for Andretti Green Racing, Andretti announced that the business fully intended to bring the popular race back to Toronto in the near future. However, despite being optimistic about the likelihood of such an event taking place in the future, the Indy Racing League has not confirmed anything yet.

John Griffin, acting in his capacity as vice-president of public relations for the renowned Indy Racing League, noted that Andretti had a good understanding of the League’s expectations. He further went on to suggest that the go-ahead would be issued within the next 45 days if certain details, such as an event date and the race route, could be worked out and confirmed within that time frame. In the past it was the Exhibition Grounds situated along Lake Shore Boulevard that played host to the race. Whether or not the Toronto Grand Prix stays here or moves to a new route, remains to be seen. However, all involved seem to indicate a positive outlook on the future of the race, and cars should be seen tearing around the streets of Toronto as part of the IndyCar schedule in the 2009 season if everything goes according to plan.

During the course of the press release, Andretti noted that he had always had a soft spot for the race. When racing, it was one of his favorite races of the season, and he will likely carry this enthusiasm over into his promotion of the auto racing event. This year will be the first time in 22 years that a race has not been held in Toronto. The race usually generates about $50 million for the local economy each year, so many consider it vital to see that the race is returned to the schedule. The Toronto Grand Prix was dropped earlier this year when the Indy Racing League merged with the Champ Car World Series. However, getting the legendary race back on the IRL schedule is important to the league and it shouldn’t be long before this happens.

Pacific F2000 Championship at Infineon Raceway

The Infineon Raceway has long been a favorite amongst drivers, and the track has hosted the Pacific F2000 every year since it was started in 2004. However the track’s popularity has a downside and it seemed as if the Pacific F2000 faced too much competition for the venue this year. Fortunately fans of the race and the track have come together and the Pacific F2000 Championship will be returning to Infineon Raceway later this year.

Originally the plan for this year’s Pacific F2000 was to have the cars race with the Champ Cars at Portland in early July. This would have been the sixth venue of the series. But things changed when the IRL and Champ Cars series were unified earlier this year and so the race coordinators have had to make other plans. The immediate response was to schedule a race at the very popular Infineon Raceway, but the track’s race calendar was already fully booked and the chances of slipping the race in last minute, when one of the clubs already booked decided not to race, were slim. Yet alternate choices were not very attractive since they were either too far away, too small or duplicates of tracks that were already being raced this season. The Infineon Raceway was the perfect choice and all the stops were put out to secure the venue.

The massive problem of securing one of the most popular and demanding venues on the West Coast was solved when the Shelby Club agreed to share the venue with the contestants of the Pacific F2000. Teams, drivers and organizers are all excited about the change in venue as the Infineon Raceway is seen as being a world class venue – the perfect place to end the racing series. With the final race date and venue finally secured, it seems that the 2008 Pacific F2000 Championship race schedule is looking really good. Some of the other venues that will be used during the championship include the Auto Club Speedway, the Buttonwillow Raceway Park, the Willow Springs International Raceway, the Miller Motorsports Park and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The championship, which is presented by Hankook Tires, will end in Vegas, where drivers and fans can end the spectacle in one massive party. The race at the Infineon Raceway is set to take place on July 5 to 6.

Turkish Grand Prix Review

The 2008 Turkish Grand Prix turned out to be just the fast-paced, action-packed event that fans and spectators were hoping for. Punctured tires, scary accidents and some brilliant driving kept pulses racing as Felipe Massa struggled to defend his position at the front of the pack. In the end Massa managed to take the winner’s trophy for the Turkish Grand Prix for the third time in a row.

As the cars lined up on the starting grid that day, massive clouds gathered above threatening rain. There was no telling what would happen. The drivers spent ages waiting for the lights to be switched on and there was an air of tension all around. When the lights finally signaled the start of the race, the scene erupted into chaos. But in seconds the main contenders for the trophy erupted from the mess: Brazilian Felipe Massa made a clean break from the rest of the pack while Hamilton managed to slot into second place. In his efforts to gain ground, Raikkonen’s front wing nudged Kovalainen’s rear tire, puncturing it and causing a major setback for him.

At the back it was a confusion as Fisichella drove into the back of Kazuki Nakajima’s Williams, causing both to end their race before it really started. Vettel and Sutil suffered sufficient damage from the collision to have to be sent to the pits for repair work, giving them little hope of ever reclaiming the ground lost. Meanwhile Raikkonen lost his position at third place to Fernando Alonso and Robert Kubica due to heavy braking, but he was determined to reclaim his spot and immediately put into practice the perfect strategy. By closely tailing Alonso, Raikkonen was able to slipstream his opponent, allowing him to pull out and overtake. The two struggled neck in neck for a nail-biting second before the Ferrari suddenly disappeared into the distance.

Things continued to prove interesting after driver Hamilton shot out of the pit stops into first place ahead of Massa. Massa seemed to yield to the position and didn’t fight it. The majority of drivers seemed to settle where they were and the race proceeded without much excitement for a while.

By the end of the race it seemed clear that Massa was back in the lead and no one would be challenging his position. However the battle for second and third was a tight one fought by Hamilton and Raikkonen. In the final round of stops Hamilton managed to change his tires and get back out on the track extremely fast, leaving him in second place with Raikkonen pushing to reclaim his position. Raikkonen continued to hassle Hamilton for the remaining 16 laps until at last he decided to settle for third instead of risking an accident. So in the end it was Massa who took first place, followed by Hamilton in second and Raikkonen in third. The three drivers were clearly driving much better than the rest of the field and deserved their prizes.

World Championship Rally d’Italia Sardegna 2008

The annual Rally d’Italia Sardegna often attracts a lot of attention as it winds its way along the narrow, twisted mountain roads that surround the town of Porto Cervo. These sandy, bumpy roads provide the perfect track for rally races as they mercilessly challenge the driver’s skill and talent. In fact the Rally d’Italia Sardegna is so tough that is has earned a place in the World Rally Championship schedule.

The Rally d’Italia Sardegna replaced the asphalt roads of the Rallye Sanremo in the World Rally Championship schedule from 2004 and has proved to be a successful leg of the race ever since. The World Rally Championship takes place in 25 different countries each year, and the Rally d’Italia Sardegna forms a very important part of this massive global race which also features countries such as France, Spain, Finland, Great Britain, Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Luxemburg, Romania, Turkey and Japan. There are 59 crews listed on the entry list for this year’s race and Italy is the sixth race in the championship schedule. The 2008 Rally d’Italia Sardegna will be taking place from the 15th to the 18th of May on the Liscia Ruja and will be broadcast live for racing fans around the world to view. The various drivers will be represented by a total of seven manufacturers, and racing fans can expect to see Citroen, Ford, Subaru, Suzuki, Renault, Mitsubishi and Rover.

Test racing for this great leg of the World Rally Championship is already underway and the results show that the main event should be a good one. Mikko Hirvonen is currently the World Rally Championship leader, and he and team-mate Jani Matti Latvala have already finished testing their Ford Focus vehicles for the race. Hirvonen is confident that they are well-prepared for the race and is looking forward to the Rally d’ Italia Sardegna. He noted that the Italian circuit is one of his favorite rallies and he’d like to finish first after claiming second place last year. Hirvonen is one of the most likely winners of this year’s Rally d’ Italia Sardegna. To find out who takes the trophy, however, you will just have to make sure that you either attend the race or stay glued to your television for a live-broadcast of the race.

Jim Clark Memorial Award 2008

After decades of largely low-key but utterly important work in the motor racing industry, Rab MacDonald has finally been awarded for his commitment to the sport. Upon being presented with the Jim Clark Memorial Award for 2008, MacDonald was hailed as one of the unsung heroes of motor racing for his complete commitment to the sport.

Rab’s career has spanned a period of more than forty years. During that time he has acted as the MSA Scrutineer and FIA Technical Delegate, two roles that have taken him around the globe. His career was launched in 1961 when he gained his Scrutineer’s apprentice ticket. Over time Rab worked hard at his new career, steadily earning himself the recognition of being one of the UK’s top technical officials. The recognition was hard-earned and well deserved and it came as little surprise when Rab eventually became the first Scotsman to be made an FIA Technical Delegate. His new role for the Federation International de l’ Automobile meant that he was now working for the world governing body of motor sport – a prestigious and weighty responsibility that he shouldered with dignity. His job with the FIA means that he may have to officiate at events as far away from his home town of Lasswade, which is near Edinburgh, as Jordan and Japan. He may also be asked to travel to other countries at short notice if his services are needed at a particular event. Thus Rab MacDonald was an obvious choice for the Jim Clark Memorial Award which serves to recognize the time and energy that various Scottish recipients have put into the industry.

Though Rab has enjoyed a long and excellent career in his chosen field, one should keep in mind that it has not necessarily been an easy ride to the top. Volunteer officials and scrutineers are not the most liked individuals at a racetrack since they have the power to scrap a car from a race or pass it. Likely many drivers even resent them, since many of them do not race but rather focus on using their technical expertise to make an informed decision. Nevertheless, Rab has proven himself during the course of his career and this award is certainly fitting recognition of that fact. Rab accepted the award with his wife Sheila at his side. He was presented with the trophy during a ceremony held in Benalup, Spain, on Saturday night. On receiving the trophy Rab remarked that it was a ‘true honor’ to receive the award and that he accepted it on behalf of all those amateur officials who work tirelessly and unpaid at ensuring that the motor racing sport continued to be safe and well-organized.

Thunder Valley Nationals

Few tracks are as explosive and exciting as the Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee. Home to the nail-biting O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the track is one that has a well-deserved reputation. Fans are already gearing up for the Thunder Valley Nationals as they book their tickets and get ready to enter the gates on 16-18 May 2008.

The Bristol Dragway was constructed in 1960 as a NASCAR short track. From the start the track was extremely popular and from 1965 to 1967 it was used to hose the NHRA’s Springnationals as well as several other non-NHRA events. It was later closed for massive renovations in 1996 and remained closed for several years. Eventually the all-new Bristol Dragway was unveiled in 1999 when it hosted the NHRA’s all-star event of the year. In 2001 the Bristol Dragway hosted its first national event in 34 years. Today this great racetrack is home to the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The name ‘Thunder Valley’ was largely derived from the fact that the racetrack cuts a path between mountains. However, it has also become a popular reference to the fact that the track regularly sees incredible racing performances.

This year’s O’ Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals promises to be better than ever, with the Bristol Dragway having been recently repaved for better racing performance. The race will be presented by Q and will take place at the Bristol Dragway on 151 Speedway Boulevard. The track is situated at an exhilarating 1475 feet above sea level and is easily accessed from Highway 394. Those planning to attend will find tickets range between $30 and $35 for adults during the Friday performances while prices rise to between $45 and $55 for the races taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Junior tickets are much lower, ranging between $5 and $25 during the course of the event. Tickets are on sale now and you can also purchase combo tickets for adults and juniors to take you and your family through the entire weekend. So auto racing fans, make sure that you don’t miss out on this year’s Thunder Valley Nationals and book your ticket today!

Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington

The 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 will take place this Saturday night at the Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The track is well noted for providing one of the biggest challenges on the Sprint Cup schedule and drivers are geared up and looking ready to race.

The Dodge Challenger 500 has been providing auto racing fans with plenty of excitement since its inception in 1957 as a 300 mile race known as the Rebel 300. Though the length and name of the race has changed repeatedly over the years, it would seem it is now firmly set as the ‘Dodge Challenger 500′ with a set length of 500 miles. The main reason for this is that the race plays an important role in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. The race takes place every year during the Confederate Memorial Day weekend and so fans can really splash out and make a day of it.

At present the Darlington race track is a 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval. The track is known for being tricky since its racing surface is narrow and the groove is situated right up against the wall. This means that just a slight miscalculation on the part of the driver could leave the car with some dents and scrapes. This year the action is bound to be even more exciting than before with the Darlington track having been recently repaved. The procedure has given drivers a firmer footing that has brought about a number of record speeds during the test rounds. The improvement in the surface of the track means that drivers can reach speeds of almost 200 mph as they head down the straights. With speeds increasing so rapidly, drivers are faced with even more challenges than usual and fans are sure to see plenty of nail-biting action during the actual races on race day.

The current top twelve for the race are: Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne. The change in surface and the difficulty of the track makes it virtually impossible to try and predict the outcome of this year’s race. If you want to be the first in line to know who wins, you should get your tickets at the speedway ticket office or online from TicketsNow.

Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program a Success

When thirteen young drivers showed up to take part in the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program on Sunday, officials noted that this was the biggest turn out since 1997. However only a few could make the cut and it remained to be seen just how many drivers would manage to complete all four phases of the program.

The Orientation Program took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on 4 May 2008, where the 500-mile race has been held regularly for the past 91 years. During the course of the program the rookies are given the opportunity to practice on the 2.5-mile oval track for two days before the track is opened to all drivers. Of all the rookies that took part, Will Power proved to be the fastest. Power’s fastest lap time was 40.7804 seconds.

The grueling two-day orientation program certainly isn’t a picnic. During the course of the two days, the rookies need to pass all four phases of the orientation program. During each phase the drivers are required to demonstrate consistent car control for 10 laps. At the start of each phase there is an increase in the level of speed required and drivers will not only have to navigate their way between other drivers, but they will also have to ensure that they are performing at a satisfactory level at a satisfactory speed.

This year’s competitors really proved that they are ready to join the ranks of more mature racers when ten of them passed all four of the phases. These drivers were: Jaime Camara, Jay Howard, Alex Lloyd, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Hideki Mutoh, Oriol Servia, Justin Wilson, Graham Rahal, E.J. Viso and, of course, Will Power. Enrique Bernoldi managed to complete three of the four phases and may still complete the fourth phases during the course of the month. The remaining two drivers will have to complete the first three phases of the orientation program if they wish to remain eligible to compete in the Indianapolis 500 later this year.

The legendary Indianapolis 500 is set to start on May 25 later this year. Both rookies and veterans are looking forward to yet another year of great racing during the course of this spectacular racing event.

Thunder Road’s 49th Season

The 49th season of racing at Thunder Road International Speedbowl got underway yesterday as cars revved their engines and fans streamed through the doors to witness this great event. According to Ken Squirer, the co-owner of Thunder Road, auto racing is still the “largest spectator sport” in this particular state. Short track racing plays a key role in this and the quarter-mile oval track Thunder Road is the perfect place to get the season underway.

Races kicked off yesterday with a burst of speed as rubber was shredded on this short track for the first time this year. The main event of the day was the Merchants Bank 150. This race marks the third event in the 12-race schedule of the American-Canadian Late Model Tour. Other divisions that raced included the Junkyard Warrior, Street Stock and Tiger Sportsman divisions. From the start the race looked poised to unleash some exhilarating action as teen Joey Polewarczyk Jr. got ready to start from first place with the 165 points he’d gathered during the season opener earlier at Lee USA Speedway. He faced stiff competition from drivers Cris Michaud, Patrick Laperle, John Donahue and Brent Dragon. These drivers are followed up by legendary greats Scott Payea and Jean Paul-Cyr. Payea, who took off from seventh place, is the defending champion of the Merchants Bank 150. Jean Paul-Cyr, at eighth place, is also no blow-over with six ACT championships under his belt.

Three-time champion of the Thunder Road track Cris Michaud, noted that the new racing schedule that has been set up makes it very tempting for drivers such as himself to run fulltime on the ACT during the summer months ahead. However, he noted that Thunder Road was his first priority and he certainly seemed ready for action at the track yesterday.

Clearly this year’s racing season is off to a good start, but it will not be ending here. The four different divisions of racing will continue to take place regularly at Thunder Road throughout the summer. The wildly popular Thursday night races will start on June 12 and end on September 28 with the massive Milk Bowl race. With the excellent start to the season that took place last night, it certainly looks as if fans can expect to enjoy an excellent racing season this year.

Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races Celebrates 35th Anniversary

The Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races will be celebrating its 35th anniversary later this year when it is held at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The event will be presented by Toyota and will be highlighting some of the more memorable events to take place during the course of the race’s history.

Apart from a weekend of highly competitive races, this noteworthy event will be commemorated by saluting a variety of featured marques from the last 34 races. Included in the list will be the Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Mille Miglia, which was the first marquee to be featured at the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Race in 1975. A genuinely impressive antique car, the automobile will be paired up with legendary driver Mario Andretti, who will be the official guest of honor for the weekend. Many see Andretti as a living legend. He won the World Championships in 1978 and went on to become one of the most accomplished drivers in the history of motor sports. He remains the only driver to ever win the Indianapolis, Daytona 500 and F1 World Championship even today. Andretti will not just serve as a historic presence at the races – he will be getting behind the wheel at a number of events during the course of the weekend. This is something that fans can surely look forward to seeing.

According to Steve Earle, the president of General Racing Ltd, who founded and organized the event, the anniversary celebrations will showcase cars such as the 1908 Grand Prix Mercedes and a variety of historic Trans-Am cars. Other features of the event to look forward to include the presentation of past Monterey Cup winners, the Ferrari Historic Challenge and the Toyota “Race of Legends”. Autograph sessions and an improved consumer expo round up the event and ensure that racing fans are able to make the most of their time spent here.

The 35th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Race will take place on 15 to17 August 2008. Why not get your ticket now to make sure that you don’t miss out? The event is sure to be legendary!

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