Full Throttle

Mario Andretti on Saturday said he will get involved with the new Malaysian backed Formula One team Lotus. The Italian-American, in Bahrain for Saturday’s on-track display of F1’s 60 year history, won the world championship at the wheel of the famous black Lotus 79 in 1978.

Qualifying for the Sao Paulo 300 IndyCar Series race in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been postponed. Originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, it has been moved to Sunday morning at 8:30.

Looking around the racing newswires this Tuesday has been an exercise in, not futility or uselessness, more like “Ho-hum that all there is.” In that light here are a few headlines that did spark a bit of interest.

“You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon? … It’s the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.”

Italian race-car chassis constructor Dallara released images on Friday illustrating three interpretations of what could be the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series car, based on criteria the Indy Racing League revealed on Thursday.

In a massive coup for the Gold Coast, the biggest annual event in Queensland will be entirely re-branded and transformed into a massive ‘Gold Coast SuperCarnivale’ weekend.

So ok, Michael Andretti ended the year 2009 on what many considered an up note having jettisoned and financial partner or two and renamed the team Andretti Autosport.

Danica Patrick ended months of speculation when she announced on Tuesday a deal to race part-time in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. The only woman to win an IndyCar race will suit up for JR Motorsports, a team co-owned by Dale, Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt, as well as Rick Hendrick and Tony Eury, Jr.

Dario Franchitti’s return to IndyCar racing couldn’t have gone better. He’s the IRL champion once again. Franchitti successfully emerged from one of the closest points races in series history, winning the season ending Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the first caution-free IRL race ever.

Scott Dixon won the Indy Japan 300 on Saturday to take over the IndyCar series points lead with one race remaining.

It looks as if my prediction that Danica would stay with IndyCar may be a bit off kilter. Patrick has visited the shops of Stewart-Haas Racing for the second time this year with Tony being quoted that it’s more than likely she will make the jump.

Australian Ryan Briscoe grabbed the lead for good with two laps to go and edged rival Scott Dixon to win by 0.0077 seconds - the fourth-closest margin in Indy Racing League history - in a thrilling finish at Joliet’s Chicagland Speedway.

Being rather uninspired of late, uninspired meaning lazier than a Tom Cat after a 5 mouse meal, I decided to take the easy way out and post news and notes that have crossed newswires in the last few hours.

IndyCar Series drivers Will Power and Nelson Philippe were alert after being involved in a three-car incident during the morning practice session at Infineon Raceway, according to Indy Racing League medical director Dr. Michael Olinger.

Milka “Milkaluscious” Duno is taking some heat after last weekend’s event at Mid-Ohio when she failed to heed team instructions to pull over for the fast approaching leaders.

Australian racer Will Power, in a near letter-perfect performance, led almost the entire way Sunday to capture the Rexall Edmonton Indy in a race marred by a pit fire that burned driver Tony Kanaan in his hands and face.

Chip Ganassi has admitted to having held talks with Danica Patrick linking the IndyCar star to the current series champions amid speculation that has turned Rumorville into Loonyville.

Former Champ Car series’ champion Paul Tracy has had strong words against his old rival Sébastien Bourdais who’s been ousted from the Toro Rosso Formula 1 team.

Question, what is the most likely scenario to take place to bump the Mayfield and Johnson/K. Busch/Hamlin spat - Not mention all the driver drama in Toronto - off the sports news front pages?

Ryan Briscoe dominated qualifying for the Watkins Glen IndyCar race, taking pole with an 0.8s margin over underdog front row hero Justin Wilson.