Full Throttle

How could you forget, but for those that spent last year on an Outer Mongolia sabbatical here’s a refresher.

During contract talks with her then current IndyCar Series team the press ran 6 weeks worth of rumors (pumped up by hot air provided by her father) she was considering a jump to NASCAR. The rumor cycle ended when she was quoted as saying the 36 week NASCAR schedule and its physical demands weren’t to her liking, followed shortly thereafter by a new IndyCar contract signing.

Keep those complaints of NASCAR’s “physical demands” in mind as you read these Danica quotes describing why she won’t be driving in the 12 Hours of Sebring sports car race March 12^th:

“What it came down to was a safety thing,” Patrick told host Dave Despain on SPEED’s “Wind Tunnel” show.

“I have to make sure I am in shape to go into Homestead, the first race of the year (March 24), for the series I am driving in. And just with the size of me and everything, it (car) didn’t fit properly, so maybe somewhere down the road. And Le Mans . . . I haven’t worked on that one yet.”

Huh!

12 days between events and she’s concerned about her physical condition? After an event she would at most drive for a maximum of 4 hours and possibly as low as 3 in a four man, er driver team?

Excuse me!

And speaking of “somewhere down the road,” I think we have been down the “size of me” road before. If mammary, er…ah, memory serves she’s had complaints about 6 point shoulder harnesses and being in a “constant state of excruciating pain and discomfort” previously.

Or I could be wrong. Or she could be.

Or maybe I’m the one in a “constant state of excruciating pain and discomfort”

But, all is not lost. Danca and her look alike still look good. For what it’s worth.

NASCAR, IndyCar, Danica Patrick, Sports, 12 Hours of Sebring, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Investors are making the rounds of towns and cities in Arkansas with the possibility that a NASCAR track could be built in the area.

Investors said they have approached officials in Bentonville, asking about the number of hotels and restaurants in northwest Arkansas.

“I think they felt like this area was growing to a point where they needed to take a look at that kind of amenity,” said Bentonville Chamber of Commerce spokesman Ed Clifford.

(Ah huh, and have they looked at the NASCAR schedule that has zero “amenities” for the foreseeable future - ed)

NASCAR already has a presence in Bentonville a possible location of a new facility. They work closely with Wal-Mart to supply the retailer with NASCAR-licensed products. Many welcome the idea of a race track, even if it’s paved right across the border.

(Oh yea, that’s a “good” selling point, NASCAR-licensed products at Wal-Mart. If that’s the criteria why not try Jiaxing? Bet they have a few Robbie Gordon bobblehead dolls in stock and probably manufactured just down the street.)

Investors said they are not interested in building a track in Benton County because it is a dry county.

Well now, that seals the deal. Jiaxing it is.

NOTE, to my dear readers: Frankly I don’t have the heart to do it, but if one of you can send these “investers” (and porcine lovers) a CLUE I’d much appreciate it. And if you could, let’em know I have a basketball autographed by “Geese” Ausbie I could part with for the right price. (and after the ink dries)

UPDATE: These same investors have crossed the border into Missouri looking for sites in the Show Me State. Investors have contacted some landowners and plan to perform core drills to see if land parcels they’ve identified would be suitable for a track. Test results will not be ready for at least two months, Anderson, MO., Mayor Corcoran said.

“Every night I get down and say a little prayer that I hope this happens,” he said.

One of my favorite TV shows of years past (I ain’t sayin’ how past) was Connections.

It was a serial documentary produced by the BBC, aired by PBS and was based on a book of the same name authored by James Burke.

Connections was focused primarily on series of “serendipitous” events that led scientific discoverers or inventors to the development of major ideas or machines that have had a great impact on modern life.

The best example I can give is via this short video where Burke makes a direct scientific connection between ancient Arab square sailed ships and the detonation of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima in 1945. Also, see if you can answer this question as posed in the sidebar of that page: How was Napoleon important to the development of the modern computer? (And no, Waterloo and Microsoft isn’t the correct answer. But I bet many thought so.)

Puzzled yet?

If not, try these connections of my own making on for size as they relate to auto racing and leads to a current news event. Note these aren’t in chronological order but by similarity of subject matter.

Lee Petty & Juan Manuel Fangio. Ayrton Senna & Dale Earnhardt. Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) & Stock Car Racing. Bernie Ecclestone & Big Bill France. FIA & NASCAR. And finally, the world-wide 10,000lb gorilla called Formula One & the American 10,000lb gorilla called NASCAR.

Give up yet? As Burke’s connections do, they all seem to be

Would it be safe to say the “honeymoon” between Jack Roush and new partner and investor John W. Henry will be of short duration?

As background, Henry is THE major domo behind the Boston Red Sox and his new partnership with Roush has not only infused some major cash into the racing operation but a new name as well, Roush Fenway Racing.

David Ortiz, Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman can’t become a free agent until 2011 and has watched a number of his teammates rake in millions in new contract extensions.

Henry looking to soothe the ego of his star gave Ortiz a new pick-up truck when reporting for spring training. Not just any truck, but a brand new Toyota Tundra pick-up truck.

Oops! Someone better keep Jack busy and burn all the newspapers within 500 yards.

Babe Ruth (originally a Red Sox) was once quoted as saying, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

Mr. Henry… methinks you have your first strike.

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Roush Fenway Racing, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

I didn’t see Matt Kenseth’s crew chief or Jack Roush brandishing any NHL-like brooms after he crossed under the checkered flag at Fontana, but it would have been a fitting symbol of Kenseth’s clean sweep of the weekends events.

In a weekend that features the Academy Awards Hendrick Motorsports screened a Hollywood type sequel of their own, like Saturday’s Busch Series event, the #17 was chased to the finish line by a Hendrick’s driver, this time pole winner Jeff Gordon.

Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick looked to be in position for a sweep of the first two Cup points events but it wasn’t to be. As the field was readying for the final restart, he suffered a flat left front tire, dropping from second to a 17^th place finish.

And then their are the dustpans.

A week after Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a few disparaging remarks about his engine shop and lack of horsepower at Daytona DEI teammate failed to make the 15 lap mark after detonating his engine. Junior also had engine problems that eventually became fatal well before the halfway mark.

“I know the guys at the shop that build the motors are really upset right now. I just want them to keep their heads up, and we will figure it out,” said Earnhardt Jr., who now has two consecutive DNF

Scott Speed will again race for Scuderia Toro Rosso in Formula One this year, the team have confirmed.

The future of the 24 year-old American had been under threat with team co-owner Gerhard Berger insisting he needs to find some more speed from somewhere.

But, following the final day of this week’s testing at Sakhir in Bahrain, the team confirmed that the Red Bull-contracted driver would indeed stay with the team for a second season.

A brief statement said: