Full Throttle

You are browsing the archives of 2007 January.

Lee Spencer of Fox Sports confirmed on Sunday what was assumed all along.
This years Chase will have 12 drivers eligible and a win will be worth an extra 10 points. What isn’t clear is if the 10 additional points be for the full season or just the Chase.
If just for the Chase, and looking at [...]

You’ll forgive me if I don’t shed a tear over this story. A few laughs maybe, but the tear ducts will remain dry as the Sahara.
The hoi polloi of the F1 Circus have long used Switzerland as a residence of convenience. Convenient because it’s a tax haven, taxes are only paid on money earned within [...]

In what was billed as a battle between Series leading Team Germany and home favorite Team New Zealand turned out to be more of a parade than battle at the top of the starting grid.
As the green flew the top three on the grid, Germany, France and New Zealand cleared the first turn and steadily [...]

Wonder if stating the obvious is a talent acquired while working at CBS Sports or one that’s part of the hiring criteria? Whatever the case their headline writer is a master at it:
“Teresa Earnhardt wants Junior to remain at DEI.”
Gee…ya think?
Nothing like a potential loss of a meal ticket to cause an environment ripe for [...]

Australian meteorologists have called the prolonged drought affecting the country the worst in a century. Various governmental agencies have stepped in to provide assistance to farmers and corporate giants like Woolworths have donated money in an effort to offset the farmers loss after 5 years of parched farmland.

With the Australian Grand Prix a short [...]

In the States it would be called going cuckoo for Coco Puffs. Whatever it’s called in New Zealand, they’re doing it.
Reportedly hotels in the tourist area where Taupo is located, are all booked to capacity for this weekends event and private homes were being rented out for between $250 a night and $1500 a night.

One [...]

To be honest I have serious doubts whether an Italian Ariete main battle tank would conform to the rules set forth by the FIA.
Or for that matter, whether a tank would be aerodynamically efficient enough to battle the likes of Renault and the Mercs. But one former former Mercedes-McLaren engine expert thinks Ferrari’s F2007 won’t [...]

During last years Daytona Speedweeks Jeff Burton sat on the pole for the 500 with a speed of 189.151 mph (that’s 304.343 kph for the new on the scene Juan Pablo fans).
As testing has wound down speeds this year have generally hovered around the 184-186 mph mark with the fastest so far being Paul Menard [...]

Many are of the opinion NASCAR and some of its corporate officials go about business in a mechanized robotic fashion, at times devoid of critical thinking. Or any thinking at all.
At other times, some claim, NASCAR bullheadedly go about business slamming themselves into mental Safer Barriers as they attempt to go from point A to [...]

As race fans and the NASCAR family mourn the death of former champion and broadcaster Benny Parsons, Kenny Wallace

With the sad passing of NASCAR driver and broadcaster Benny Parsons luminaries from in and outside NASCAR have given their respects and offered their sympathies for his family and friends. Below are a few selected quotes that I have located to this point.
NASCAR’S Chairman and CEO Brian France
“Benny Parsons was a true champion

Benny Parsons passed away today at the Intensive Care Unit of the Carolinas Medial Center in Charlotte, NC. Parsons entered the hospital Dec. 26 as the result of complications stemming from his battle with lung cancer.
The cancer was diagnosed earlier this year and was recently reported to be in full remission.
Benny Parson’s passing comes closer [...]

Think again.
During the long and acrimonious strike at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. speculation was NASCAR may have to resort to the use of Hoosier tires for part, if not all of the 2007 season.
That near “crisis” passed a few weeks ago when Goodyear and the Steel Workers Union settled their contract dispute.

But that isn’t [...]

NASCAR for various reasons provides plenty of ammunition to be given the comicbook treatment.
Whether it be the stand up comedy of Jim “Bobblehead” Hunter acting the part of NASCAR’s spokesman or CEO Brian “Wacky Races” France attempting to negotiate a parking lot in his home state the guffaws come with regularity and loudly.
At one point [...]

As the NASCAR season gets closer the Toyota haters, xenophobes if you prefer, are starting to show themselves with more frequency.
I hate to think what will happen next week when the annual NASCAR media roadshow gets under way Monday. The rush of xenophobes may resemble that of an old west cattle stampede.
You have to marvel [...]

Or just a fantasy by financial heavyweights? I bloviate, you decide. The following is courtesy Channel News Asia who quotes Today Magazine.
Note Fernando Alonzo has already won the 2007 F1 World Championship. All righty then, no reason to waste a few hundred million, if not a billion, on the ‘06 season. Do no not pass [...]

The genesis behind NASCAR trivia day - actually a question vice a day but you get the idea - was a Atlanta Journal Constitution article by Rick Minter.
It’s a piece on Daytona testing and how the Toyota Camry’s were “blending in” around the garage and on the track. Blending to the point of “Chevrolets look[ing] [...]

Many non-auto racing fans attribute racings popularity to the macabre idea fans wait with baited breath while operating in a state of anxious suspense waiting for the next horrendous crash.
I don’t discount the possibility. But will say the number of fans that may take this attitude is a decimal fraction of that 1% of the [...]

Those familiar with MB2 Motorsports (now Ginn Motorsports after the teams purchase by Bobby Ginn) and their history in Cup should also be very aware of their checkered history in NASCAR’s top level.
Over the last ten years of competition the team has had only 2 victories. One by Johnny Benson Jr. in 2002, the second [...]

Renault chief Flavio Briatore is reportedly engaged to marry the 26-year-old ‘Wonderbra’ model Elisabetta Gregoraci. At least according to the Italian gossip media he is.
The 56 year old Briatore was first photographed with the Italian beauty as they strolled topless on a beach last April. They have since been spotted publicly together on a number [...]