Full Throttle

DAKAR, Senegal (AP)

Well not really, it’s just my sick sense of humor raising it’s ugly head. Despite being 36 hours away from the launch of the new BAR Honda 007, BAR have released a sneak preview image of the new car, revealing an intriguing design nose. The rest of the car is remaining firmly under wraps until 10:00 on Sunday morning, but the nosecone image should whet your appetite…

Lucky Strike BAR Honda took part in the first test of 2005 this week at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain. The four-day test saw test drivers Anthony Davidson and Enrique Bernoldi driving for the first two days, joined by race driver Jenson Button for the final two days of the test.

All drivers were in the Concept cars for the final test before the launch of the new BAR Honda 007 this weekend. The week proved very successful with both the car and engine showing high levels of reliability through some tough endurance tests.

On the first morning of the test (Monday) Enrique ran through a chassis programme, completing 50 laps. In the afternoon session, he began a long tyre evaluation before a clutch problem brought an early end to his session, bringing his final lap tally for the day to 89 laps. Anthony spent most of his running on a series of tyre evaluations, completing a total of 76 laps.

Both drivers spent the second day (Tuesday) running through intensive tyre evaluations, completing long runs over full race distances. Enrique completed an impressive total of 131 laps for the day, with Anthony running for 96 laps.

Jenson joined the test on the third day (Wednesday) and spent the day running through aerodynamic and chassis work, alongside a tyre evaluation programme. He completed a total of 94 laps for the day, setting the fifth fastest time - a 01:17.56. Anthony also completed a tyre evaluation doing medium length runs and completing a total of 125 laps.

On the final day of the test (Thursday) Jenson completed 73 laps in the morning session evaluating the tyres over long runs. He continued the programme in the afternoon, alongside gearbox tuning and suspension set-up work to complete a further 62 laps. He also ran though a series of simulated race starts. Enrique spent the day running through a race simulation programme although his running was limited by a mechanical problem. He completed a total of 73 laps and will remain in Jerez to complete a wet test on Saturday

Jenson Button: “It was great to get back in the car following the break. We were able to put a lot of good mileage on the car. I completed 205 laps over the past two days which was very productive. We mostly concentrated on tyre work with Michelin and reliability checks. Everything ran smoothly and I am looking forward to driving the new 2005 car this weekend.”

Anthony Davidson: “It has been a good test in Jerez this week and it was nice to get back in the car after the winter break. I’ve been working hard on my fitness and this has paid off as I was able to do all the driving that team asked of me. I did an average of 98 laps over the three days which I was driving and we got some valuable data from this. The cars were reliable this week and I feel positive about the way the team is going about its testing programme this year. I think it will really benefit us in the long run and it has been a good start to 2005 for us.”

Enrique Bernoldi: “The test has been very good for the team in terms of evaluating our endurance and consistency. I spent most of the time doing long tyre evaluations over a full race distance to prepare for the new season and collect data. This has been useful and it also helps that the car has been mostly reliable. Overall it has been a good week and I’m pleased to be back in the car after a month away.”

Andrew Alsworth, Test Team Manager: “It’s been a very useful test this week here in Jerez in what has been near perfect weather conditions, although the early part of the mornings have been very cold. We’ve manage to complete over 3500 kms in the Concept cars alongside a comprehensive Michelin tyre programme evaluating the tyres over long runs. We have also run the latest specification Honda engines to their target mileage. The whole team is now looking forward to the launch of the new 007 car in Barcelona this weekend.”

Source: Sport Network

Charles Podowski, president/CEO of The Auto Club Group of AAA clubs, and Robin Johnson, vice president of the championship Roush Racing Team, will announce a new partnership in which The Auto Club Group will become a sponsor of a Roush Car.

They will unveil a full-size replica of the AAA car during an assembly of AAA employees Wednesday, January 19^th.

Source: The Auto Channel

When Willy T. Ribbs qualified for the Indy 500, race fans figured we had seen our Jackie Robinson moment, that the barriers were down and a parade of minority participants would follow close behind. It didn’t happen that way. It hasn’t happened that way for women, either, or for other minorities-Americans of Asian or Hispanic heritage are outnumbered in top-rung American racing by foreign-born Japanese or South American racers. The dearth of blacks at the top rungs of the sport, though, attracts the most attention.

That is the introductory blurb for an AutoWeek magazine article titled: “Where Did All The Progress Go?” Being unsure how long the link will remain valid and as a hedge against this informative piece disappearing into the digital neverland, I have reproduced it (click below the fold) in its entirety, (a long but interesting read) Your also encourged to visit the AutoWeek forum and comment on this subject.
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Defending champion Stephane Peterhansel hammered home his advantage in the Dakar Rally on Thursday when he clinched the 13th stage to extend his overall lead in the gruelling event over countryman Luc Alphand. The Frenchman came home in his Mitsubishi to win his fourth special of Dakar-2005 - a 370km run from Bamako en route to Kayes, Mali - in three hours, 30 minutes and seven seconds. He was 4:17 ahead of compatriot and team-mate Luc Alphand and 7:59 ahead of Giniel De Villiers, driving a Nissan.

In the overall standings, Peterhansel increased his lead to 27:33 over Alphand, and 1h 30:55 over Germany’s Jutta Kleinschmidt, driving a Volkswagen.

“It was a really fast stage today, especially at the beginning,” said Peterhansel.

“We started in second position this morning, and after 100km we overtook De Villiers. We put him under pressure and he lost control of his car, so it was easier to pass him.

“Then we controlled the gap because with the dust we knew it was very hard to overtake us. Still three days before the podium but the race isn’t over yet.”

Australia’s Andy Caldecott, riding a KTM, won the motorcycle section.

Caldecott completed the special in three hours, 51 minutes and 41 seconds, more than two minutes ahead of France’s David Fretigne on a Yamaha and 3:32 ahead of American Chris Blais, also riding a KTM.

“It was very hard, especially with all the dust,” admitted Caldecott.

“I just had a small problem when I hit something on the road, but as I wasn’t riding very fast at that moment, I didn’t lose any time.”

The Australian said that the event had been overshadowed by the deaths of fellow competitors Fabrizio Meoni and Jose Manuel Perez.

“Everybody drove slowly because nobody is racing for victory. We just want to make it to Dakar safely. Sometimes today, I was thinking of Fabrizio, but immediately I tried to refocus because too much thinking can be very dangerous for a biker when he’s riding.”

Frenchman Cyril Despres finished seventh, 8:18 off the pace, but remains at the top of the overall standings, 16 minutes ahead of Spain’s Marc Coma and 20:39 ahead of Alfie Cox of South Africa.

The 14th stage on Friday sees the competitors facing a 630km ride, including a 529km timed special, between Kayes and Tambacounda, Senegal.

Damon lives up to his reputation with these remarks concerning David Coulthard:

Referring to the erez “incident”, Hill believes that this is where it all went wrong for Coulthard, who having followed orders sent out the wrong signal to his employers, and effectively became support act to Hakkinen and then Raikkonen.

“If your really dissecting DC’s career, what he should have done is win in Jerez,” says the Englishman.
“When Ron got on the radio and said: ‘can you move over for my boy Mika,’ he should have said F**f you, you T**t.”

Read the rest @ PitPass.