Going to try and do some regular updates during the race today. Have Mr. No-Fly-List coming to watch the race with me but I am also taking care of our our new foster puppy (Cora, named for Ralf Schumacher's wife who also drives the occasional race car) that we just picked up from Animal Control and that is taking a bit of my attention away from the race.
PRE-RACE UPDATE: It's wet and wetter in Daytona. Rain coming down hard and there are likely to be lots of puddles in the infield. Should make for some exciting opening hours. I think Scott Pruett said it right by stating that they teams need to survive the opening hours if they are to have any chance at a win. Pruett also said that the rain is only supposed to last a few hours and the weather channel backs this up
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Rolex 24 Pre-Race Video Fun
I may have mentioned that the Rolex 24 starts today. I also may have mentioned that I am excited about this. Ride along with Ozz Negri in his Riley-Ford DP car in the video to get ready for today's action. I'll try and post updates during the race today and tomorrow, but that may be slightly impacted by the fact that I have a bunch of work to accomplish this weekend for a Monday presentation. Enjoy!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Racing on TV 1/30-2/1
SPEED thankfully will be covering the Rolex 24 Live:
Saturday: 2pm-9pm CST
Sunday: 6am-3pm CST
Also, DTM and BTCC start at 11am CST on Saturday also on SPEED.
For those of you still in college or in the Navy or something, next Monday you can relive the 2009 German GP on SPEED at noon CST.
Saturday: 2pm-9pm CST
Sunday: 6am-3pm CST
Also, DTM and BTCC start at 11am CST on Saturday also on SPEED.
For those of you still in college or in the Navy or something, next Monday you can relive the 2009 German GP on SPEED at noon CST.
Daytona - Live Video and Updates
Well, it's finally here! The first day of the 2010 racing season. Today we have the Continental Sports Car Challenge Fresh from Florida 200 from Daytona International Speedway and thanks to Turner we can watch some live streaming video. Also cruise over to grandam.com to catch the live scoring. The race starts at 12:45CT.
Fall-Line motorsports beat out a stable of Mustangs to take pole in GS for the 200 in their E92 M3 with Andy Pilgrim at the wheel. Talk about a ringer! Andy was apparently going to Brazil for vacation but that fell through and he ended up getting a call from Fall-Line. Turner's E92 M3 will start in 10th. In ST, Bimmerworld managed to put the car 3rd on the grid and look to have a real chance in their Conti debut. Another BMW to watch is the #18 RRT car which is starting 26th.
UPDATE: Turner cars ran 8th and 16th in the morning practice for the FF200. Espenlaub in one of the other Fall Line M3s ran second to the Jack Roush Jr. car that set the pace in the session. Pole-sitter Pilgrim only ran the 24th best time. Race starts at 12:45CT so make sure to tune-in to the Turner feed and check live timing at grandam.com.
UPDATE - Lap 30: The #96 E92 M3 from Turner is out with an engine issue, but Andy Pilgrim and Fall Line were leading before their first pit-stop. Still a few cars left to stop. Have already had 3 yellows. Follow along on twitter at http://twitter.com/CT_Challenge.
UPDATE - Lap 35: Apparently Any Pilgrim in the #46 M3 pulled in to the wrong pit box during the pitstop and has fallen to 11th in ST - Mark Boden now driving. The #48 Fall Line M3 driven by Charles Espenlaub is running second behind the Reagan Mustang. In ST, RRTs 330 has moved up to fourth after running as high as second, although there is some thought they made need another stop for fuel. James Clay is now in the #80 Bimmerworld car and is running 6th.
UPDATE - F**k SPEED: SPEED is showing a NASCAR race replay instead of broadcasting this race live BTW.
SPOILER ALERT: BMWs had a good showing today. And since I dont want to spoil it too much, let's just say that a BMW M3 won GS and there was also a BMW on the podium in ST. Sounds like it was a great race and wish I did not have to wait two weeks to see it (see, F**k SPEED) although I guess at least we get to see it at all (See IndyCar, DirecTV subscribers with no Versus).
Online video chat by Ustream
Unfortunately, the race is not being broadcast on SPEED (aka the NASCAR talk show channel)until Feb. 13 at 6pm CT. Enjoy the broadcast today and make sure to root for Fall-Line, Turner, Bimmerworld and the other BMW teams. At least the Rolex 24 will be broadcast live. Happy Friday and Happy Start of the 2010 Race Season!
Fall-Line motorsports beat out a stable of Mustangs to take pole in GS for the 200 in their E92 M3 with Andy Pilgrim at the wheel. Talk about a ringer! Andy was apparently going to Brazil for vacation but that fell through and he ended up getting a call from Fall-Line. Turner's E92 M3 will start in 10th. In ST, Bimmerworld managed to put the car 3rd on the grid and look to have a real chance in their Conti debut. Another BMW to watch is the #18 RRT car which is starting 26th.
UPDATE: Turner cars ran 8th and 16th in the morning practice for the FF200. Espenlaub in one of the other Fall Line M3s ran second to the Jack Roush Jr. car that set the pace in the session. Pole-sitter Pilgrim only ran the 24th best time. Race starts at 12:45CT so make sure to tune-in to the Turner feed and check live timing at grandam.com.
UPDATE - Lap 30: The #96 E92 M3 from Turner is out with an engine issue, but Andy Pilgrim and Fall Line were leading before their first pit-stop. Still a few cars left to stop. Have already had 3 yellows. Follow along on twitter at http://twitter.com/CT_Challenge.
UPDATE - Lap 35: Apparently Any Pilgrim in the #46 M3 pulled in to the wrong pit box during the pitstop and has fallen to 11th in ST - Mark Boden now driving. The #48 Fall Line M3 driven by Charles Espenlaub is running second behind the Reagan Mustang. In ST, RRTs 330 has moved up to fourth after running as high as second, although there is some thought they made need another stop for fuel. James Clay is now in the #80 Bimmerworld car and is running 6th.
UPDATE - F**k SPEED: SPEED is showing a NASCAR race replay instead of broadcasting this race live BTW.
SPOILER ALERT: BMWs had a good showing today. And since I dont want to spoil it too much, let's just say that a BMW M3 won GS and there was also a BMW on the podium in ST. Sounds like it was a great race and wish I did not have to wait two weeks to see it (see, F**k SPEED) although I guess at least we get to see it at all (See IndyCar, DirecTV subscribers with no Versus).
Online video chat by Ustream
Unfortunately, the race is not being broadcast on SPEED (aka the NASCAR talk show channel)until Feb. 13 at 6pm CT. Enjoy the broadcast today and make sure to root for Fall-Line, Turner, Bimmerworld and the other BMW teams. At least the Rolex 24 will be broadcast live. Happy Friday and Happy Start of the 2010 Race Season!
MP4-25
McLaren has now introduced its 2010 title contender the MP4-25. Anybody know what the over-under for the number of races before Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton start feuding and Button starts whining like a little girl? I put it right around Monaco.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I Spy with my little eye...a 2010 Williams F1 Car
Williams has also (though inadvertently) unveiled its 2010 car. This photo was captured during a shakedown run at Silverstone by Autosport.
It's heeeeere...
Well, the first of the 2010 cars has finally arrived (the Mercedes launch was still the 2009 car). This, boy and girls, is the 2010 Ferrari F10. Kind of a weird designation as last year's car was the F60 and the year before that the car was the F2008. Whatever. I am also struck by the fact that the Italian national team now enjoys backing from a Spanish banking giant and an Abu Dhabi business conglomerate. The car was launched from Ferrari's HQ in Maranello as is its custom. Expectations are high for this machine as the Scuderia started work on it midway through last season...only a few more days til it hits the track for the first time.
Check this out for some great side-by-side comparison photos of the new f10 and the F60.
McLaren is next to drop the cover on their new MP4-25, which is apparently displayed in the above spy shot (source: autoevloution).
Monday, January 25, 2010
F1 Launches and News
Big week! Not only does the racing season begin down in Florida, but we will also see many of the 2010 cars for the first time this week including the new Ferrari. Mercedes F1 (formerly Brawn GP) unveiled its livery for 2010 on one of last year's cars already. Mercedes also announced that they signed Nick Heidfeld to be their test/reserve driver.
Ferrari has also (though not officially) unveiled its 2010 livery. The Ferrari is...wait for it...yep, that's right, it is RED. The new Santander livery is not too garish though.
The 2010 Ferrari will be unveiled on Thursday (Jan. 28), the McLaren on Friday (Jan. 29) and both Sauber and Renault will launch their 2010 cars on Sunday (Jan. 31). Williams, Torro Rosso and Mercedes will all launch their cars next Monday (Feb. 1). The first day of official testing is also next Monday in Valencia.
Current launch line-up at a glance (from f1.com):
January 28 - Ferrari, Maranello, Italy
January 29 - McLaren, Newbury, UK
January 31 - BMW Sauber/Renault, Valencia, Spain
February 1 - Mercedes GP/Williams/Toro Rosso, Valencia, Spain
February 10 - Red Bull/Force India, Jerez, Spain
Early February - US, Barber Motorsport Park, Alabama, USA
February 12 - Lotus
USF1 is scheduled to hold a press conference today to announce the signing of its first driver, Argentine Jose Maria Lopez. It apparently is only going to cost JMP a cool $8 million to drive the first USF1 toaster.
In other f1 news, the teams have agreed to a further tweaking of the F1 points system. The old points system scored the top 8 finishers at: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1, respectively. A new system was to be implemented this year would have awarded the top 10 finishers the following points 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1. However, a revision to that system has been made that will provide a larger reward for victories 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1.
Friday, January 22, 2010
BMW Billboards FTW
BMW may have lost its way a bit with some of its recent product decisions, but thier Ad guys certainly are good...
A Very Expensive Tent Problem
There have been very bad storms moving through Arizona the last few days (headed for the great Midwest eventually) and unfortunately, both Russo and Steele and Barret-Jackson are holding large collector car auctions in Scottsdale this weekend. The became a significant problem for Russo & Steele last night....ouch!
Rolex 24 and Conti Sports Car Series
As those of you (all 3 of you at last tally) that follow this blog know I have a bit of a thing for sportscar racing. We are only a week away from the start of the racing season when the Continental (formerly Koni) Sports Car Series kicks-off at Daytona followed by the Grand Am Series Rolex 24 at Daytona (Jan. 30-31).
There is plenty to be excited about this year if you are a BMW fan in both series.
GRAND AM: In the Grand Am Series, Dinan-BMW engines will power several new Daytona Prototype (DP) teams including multiple-time series and Daytona 24 champion Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Ganassi will sport an impressive driver lineup that includes 3 Indy 500 champions (Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and JP Montoya) all in the same car! There is also a BMW presence in the GT category as Turner racing will be running a Riley developed tube-frame M6 (see video below). The action starts next Saturday at 2pm CT live on SPEED but you can catch a special behind the scenes show "GRAND-AM: 24 Hours at Dayton" tonight at 11pm CT (that's midnight for you Hardflip so set the DVR).
There is plenty to be excited about this year if you are a BMW fan in both series.
GRAND AM: In the Grand Am Series, Dinan-BMW engines will power several new Daytona Prototype (DP) teams including multiple-time series and Daytona 24 champion Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Ganassi will sport an impressive driver lineup that includes 3 Indy 500 champions (Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and JP Montoya) all in the same car! There is also a BMW presence in the GT category as Turner racing will be running a Riley developed tube-frame M6 (see video below). The action starts next Saturday at 2pm CT live on SPEED but you can catch a special behind the scenes show "GRAND-AM: 24 Hours at Dayton" tonight at 11pm CT (that's midnight for you Hardflip so set the DVR).