Autoracing1.com - Rumors

UPDATE #2: Danica on 2012 Daytona 500 pole, Dale Jr. will win it

2012-02-04T14:28:00Z

NASCAR Sprint Cup[Speculation] UPDATE #2 A reader writes again, Dear AR1.com, Since I started this rumor back in August I thought I would send you an update. Now that Danica Patrick and NASCAR are taking the heat for her team buying her way into the Daytona 500, I expect that the NASCAR Timing and Scoring computers will put her on pole for the Daytona 500 so they can say, 'see she deserved it.' With no transponders in the cars what comes up on the NASCAR Timing & Scoring computer screens must be taken as gospel. Who can challenge them when all you have is a stop watch in your hand, which is not accurate enough?

Logano has 2-year old dead lobster in closet

2012-02-03T06:37:00Z

NASCAR Sprint Cup[Speculation] The lobster Logano won two years ago may be rotting in his closetThe gospel according to "Twitter" has often fascinated me. In addition to the fact that it's a quick and simple way of mass communication, it can also become a major source of entertainment. From "hey, that's funny" to "wow, you should have kept your finger off of the send button," there's seems to be no limits to this popular social network.

Two Ferrari movies in the works

2012-02-02T20:40:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] Following the roaring success of the documentary film Senna not just within motorsport circles but also among the wider general public, the 'Prancing Horse' of F1, Ferrari, looks set to also be given the Hollywood touch. Tom Cary, F1 correspondent for Britain's Telegraph newspaper, has reported within his blog not one but two Ferrari blockbusters appear to be in the pipeline, among other intriguing rumors. The films, said to be named Maranello, after the birthplace of the Prancing Horse, and Enzo, which needs no explaining, will be set in the 1920s and 1950s respectively.

Milwaukee could return to IndyCar calendar

2012-02-02T05:45:00Z

IndyCar[Strong]

Baltimore Grand Prix near 'point of no return'

2012-02-01T20:24:00Z

IndyCar, ALMS[Speculation]

Are the Lotus racing programs now in jeopardy?

2012-02-01T10:56:00Z

Automotive, Formula 1, IndyCar[Speculation]

UPDATE: Lotus to be sold?

2012-02-01T10:54:00Z

Automotive, Formula 1, IndyCar[Speculation] UPDATE This rumor is backed up by this statement today from Proton. 12/28/11 James Bond stopped using Lotus as his vehicle of choice to fight villains 30 years ago. Investors say Malaysia's Proton Holdings Bhd.

UPDATE: NASCAR media darling gets guaranteed starting spot

2012-01-31T16:42:00Z

NASCAR Sprint Cup[Fact] UPDATE Go ahead and pencil Danica Patrick into the Daytona 500 starting lineup. Stewart Haas Racing has finalized an alliance with Tommy Baldwin Racing that guarantees Patrick a starting spot in the Sprint Cup opener and keeps her #10 car on the track for the entire Cup schedule, team owner Tommy Baldwin said on Tuesday. Patrick will be locked into the Feb.

Is Chevrolet set to race the Malibu in NASCAR?

2012-01-31T16:38:00Z

NASCAR Sprint Cup[Speculation] No, we don't have a tacit admission from the party involved, Chevrolet, but we think you will find the circumstantial evidence rather compelling. It suggests that Chevy will race the Malibu instead of the Impala for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, up against the 2013 Fusion that Ford revealed last week during the NASCAR Media Tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Please consider the facts: -- NASCAR has capitulated to the manufacturers' desires to race vehicles that more closely resemble the cars they sell.

Will Sutil turn to IndyCars now?

2012-01-31T16:15:00Z

Formula 1, IndyCar[Speculation] Adrian Sutil has acknowledged that his Formula 1 career could be over, having been handed an 18-month suspended jail sentence and a fine of 200,000 euros (£165,000) on Tuesday. This follows a nightclub clash in April 2011 after which Eric Lux (CEO of Genii Capital, co-owner of the Lotus F1 team) required 24 stitches. “Maybe I will take some time out now,” Sutil told Reuters when leaving the court in Munich.

Abu Dhabi link could power Alguersuari to Mercedes

2012-01-30T23:22:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] Jaime Alguersuari(GMM) After his Toro Rosso ousting, Jaime Alguersuari could emerge with the Mercedes team in 2012. The Spanish sports daily AS reports that Ipic, Abu Dhabi's international petroleum investment company, is unhappy with Red Bull for ousting the young Spaniard from its driver program. IPIC owns the Spanish oil company Cepsa, which last year became a major Toro Rosso sponsor.

Reports hint at Ferrari test for Kubica in June

2012-01-30T23:20:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] Robert Kubica(GMM) Robert Kubica's comeback could be at the wheel of a turbocharged 2010 Ferrari, according to reports in the Italian media. It emerged this week that, despite the recent setback of a re-broken leg after an icy fall, the Pole could be only months away from attempting some laps in a F1 simulator. As for his track return, it is rumored Ferrari sees Kubica as a potential test driver, with a view to ultimately becoming Fernando Alonso's teammate.

P12 Successor to McLaren F1 rumored

2012-01-30T06:11:00Z

Automotive[Strong] The successor to the legendary McLaren F1 supercar is on its way and, according to a new report, could be revealed within the next 12 months. Known within McLaren as the P12, it’s said to have dramatic styling with a double-bubble roof, while one source has already said that the styling looks more like something that came out the film iRobot. It is expected to be powered by a 800 horsepower, a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, KERS energy storage and power boost, and F1-style pistol-grip steering wheel.

Sutil, Petrov line up for Ferrari reserve role

2012-01-30T06:05:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] Would Ferrari really pick a reserve driver who could end up in jail after this week's trial where he is charged with Sutil is charged with causing grievous bodily harm in an incident involving an F1 executive whereby Sutil sliced his neck with a broken glass bottle(GMM) Adrian Sutil and Vitaly Petrov have emerged as candidates to become Ferrari's official reserve driver in 2012 if rumors can be believed. With Jules Bianchi moving into Force India's Friday practice seat this year, it was reported that Italian GP2 driver Davide Rigon had succeeded him at Ferrari. In fact, the Maranello based team is believed to not consider the 25-year-old as ready to step in should Fernando Alonso or Felipe Massa need replacing during a grand prix weekend.

Barrichello switching to IndyCar

2012-01-30T05:42:00Z

IndyCar, Formula 1[Strong] Rubens BarrichelloUPDATE (GMM) Rubens Barrichello is not yet writing off his formula one career, but we here at AR1.com think a return is unlikely and have added him to our 2012 IndyCar Silly Season page. But the veteran Brazilian, who has lost his Williams race seat on the eve of his 20th consecutive season, has admitted he might emerge on the 2012 IndyCar grid. Regarding F1, he told Brazil's Jornal Nacional: "If it happens, it will be a great thing.

VW official to propose F1 foray - report

2012-01-29T08:17:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] (GMM) Volkswagen is contemplating a formula one foray, according to German reports. The carmaker giant's motor sport representative Wolfgang Durheimer told leading business magazine Wirtschaftswoche he has devised a preliminary plan for the future that includes F1. "Later this year I will put forward proposals to the executive group for (involvement in) not only the racing series that we do already," he said.

UPDATE: DTM has eyes on USA

2012-01-28T06:46:00Z

German DTM[Speculation] UPDATE While much hasn’t been said about the proposed American-based DTM championship, originally penciled in for a 2013 launch, BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt confirmed that talks are still alive and well to bring the high-spec touring cars to GRAND-AM race weekends in the future. “From BMW's side, I can say we're in full support of the idea to bring BMW and the DTM cars over to America and have a series over here,” Marquardt said. “At the same time, we're obviously concentrating in Europe with introducing a complete new set of regulations and completely new cars.

Tracy to Coyne or Shank

2012-01-28T05:41:00Z

IndyCar[Speculation] Paul Tracy is racing in today's Rolex 24UPDATE With the announcement of Coyne getting Honda engines, could that mean Pail Tracy is going to be their second driver? Paul sent out a tweet yesterday morning “signed, sealed, delivered.” It seems it’s either Coyne or Shank for Tracy, but Coyne has Honda power and Shank Lotus. Given Tracy's association with Honda maybe it is Coyne.

Heidfeld to race Lola-Toyota Le Mans car

2012-01-27T05:49:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] Heidfeld's Renault burns last year in BarcelonaF1 outcast Nick Heidfeld is rumored to race a Lola-Toyota in the legendary endurance races of Sebring, Spa and Le Mans, according to Speed. In 2011, the German was replaced at LRGP by Bruno Senna and consequently left on the sidelines. Drafted into Renault – now Lotus – in place of the injured Robert Kubica, Heidfeld scored a podium finish in Malaysia and was the team’s highest-placed driver at the time of his dismissal, after Hungary.

Yacaman to IndyCar or Lights

2012-01-27T05:43:00Z

IndyCar, Firestone Indy Lights[Strong] Gustavo YacamanGustavo Yacaman has options, which certainly beats the alternative for the 2012 racing season. Yacaman, who finished fourth in the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights championship with Team Moore Racing (one victory, nine top-five finishes in 14 races), said he’s “still talking to different teams in both series.” “Definitely we’ll be in the IZOD IndyCar Series or Indy Lights,” said Yacaman, who this weekend is co-driving the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian Daytona Prototype in the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Audi to bring R18 to Sebring

2012-01-26T19:31:00Z

ALMS[Strong] If there is a second home for Audi Sport, it may be Sebring, Fla. The successful German racing outfit routinely tests at Sebring International Raceway multiple times in a year, and Audi has missed Sebring’s 12-hour race – the opening round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n – just once since 1999. This year’s 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida is likely to see Audi bring its fifth different prototype to race in America’s greatest sports car race - the closed-top Audi R18 TDI.

UPDATE: Nurburgring's public days numbered?

2012-01-25T15:00:00Z

Automotive[Speculation] UPDATE AutoWeek has updated this article and now it sounds as though there is some hope the circuit will remain open to the paying public. 01/24/12 Are the pays-your-money, takes-your-life-in-your-hands days of the Nurburgring's touristenfahren (tourist drives) numbered? According to United Kingdom-based motoring site Pistonheads, there's real worry in the Eifel Mountains that that could be the case.

F1 return to Bahrain now unlikely

2012-01-25T12:01:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] Sutil laps Bahrain Circuit in 2010, the last time F1 raced in the Middle East countryUPDATE While the F1 authorities continue to say that there are no problems with the Grand Prix in Bahrain in April, there continue to be question marks about the event because of unrest in the country. Agence France Presse reported on Wednesday that Bahraini police dispersed anti-government protesters who blocked roads in several villages as tensions rise in the run-up to the first anniversary of the start of the anti-government protests. Public Security Chief Major General Tariq al-Hassan said that “vandals” had blocked the streets and had thrown petrol bombs during the clashes on Tuesday night.

UPDATE: 2012 Caterham photos leaked

2012-01-25T08:04:00Z

Formula 1[Strong] UPDATE (GMM) F1 fans on Wednesday got their first glimpse of a 2012-specification car. Caterham is launching its new CT01 in the pages of British magazine F1 Racing on Thursday. But some subscribers got their copy a day early, and so a side-angle photo was released by the team on Twitter.

UPDATE #2: September date set for 2013 French GP return

2012-01-25T01:05:00Z

Formula 1[Strong] UPDATE #2 (GMM) France is poised to return to the F1 calendar. French-language RMC Sports reports that prime minister Francois Fillon has finally "given the green light" to the race at Paul Ricard to alternate annually with Belgium's Spa Francorchamps, beginning in 2013. Spa-Francorchamps"The negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone can begin," read the report, adding that "informal meetings" with the F1 chief executive have already been held.

Toyota to announce Buemi for Le Mans soon - report

2012-01-25T00:58:00Z

Formula 1[Strong] Buemi(GMM) Toyota will shortly confirm Sebastien Buemi as the lead driver for the Japanese marque's second Le Mans entry for 2012. That is the claim of the Swiss website 20min.ch. Earlier, it emerged that the former Toro Rosso driver - who has been signed by Red Bull Racing as its official reserve driver for this season - wanted to add the fabled 24 hour Le Mans race to his 2012 program.

Chrysler to join V8 Supercars?

2012-01-24T15:43:00Z

V8 Supercars[Strong] UPDATE The Sydney Morning Herald’s Drive section has revealed that Chrysler is seriously thinking about entering the V8 Supercar Championship. With the new Car of the Future for 2013 making entry easier for new brands, the American giant is keen. The news was revealed by Drive’s Bruce Newton who quoted the President of SRT, the high performance arm of Chrysler as saying, “I am extremely interested (in V8Supercars).

New Dallara IndyCar a lemon

2012-01-24T13:18:00Z

IndyCar[Strong]

Could Kyle Busch wind up driving for his own Cup team?

2012-01-24T05:47:00Z

NASCAR Sprint Cup[Speculation] Kyle BuschUPDATE Kyle Busch will team with his brother Kurt at KBM this year in the Nationwide Series. "I was feeling pretty good about our ownership chances in Nationwide, that's going to be hard to beat," J.D. Gibbs said about the Busch brothers pairing." Joe Gibbs said he wasn't in the discussions of Kyle racing for his own team.

Mann to run IndyCar full time in 2012

2012-01-23T22:16:00Z

IndyCar[Strong] Pippa Mann tweets: Thanks for all the messages over the past 24hours or so!! I think we're getting pretty close now.....Indycar Full-time in 2012.

Some IndyCar teams to be left on the sidelines

2012-01-22T06:45:00Z

IndyCar[Speculation] This Speed.com article goes into to depth about the IndyCar engine lease situation and how the lesser teams who do not have an engine lease yet in place from Chevy, Honda or Lotus could end up not racing in 2012. The bottom line is that IndyCar did a deal with the manufacturers such that they lease every engine at a loss ($690K per year per car). Instead of setting the number higher but mandating that each manufacturer spend the extra money in marketing and promotion of a series in desperate need for more exposure, the manufacturers are spending what they would have spent on marketing to subsidize each car at a loss.

Late Indy Car driver rumors

2012-01-20T06:28:00Z

IndyCar[Speculation] Will Tracy land at Coyne or Shank?The race is on to land the last of the Izod IndyCar Series seats for the upcoming season. A field that could reach 30 competitors currently has 22 confirmed car-and-driver combinations, with another two believed to have been secured: Justin Wilson at Dale Coyne Racing and Takuma Sato at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The six remaining potential seats are the second cars at Coyne, Rahal and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, the third seat at KV Racing Technology and single seats at Conquest Racing and the new MSR Indy team owned by Michael Shank.

Milwaukee, Houston to get IndyCar race

2012-01-20T06:18:00Z

IndyCar[Strong] Houston will have an IndyCar street course race "very soon," IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said. The announcement of the 16th race for 2012, which likely will be Milwaukee, is expected Feb. 13 at IndyCar's "State of the Series" presentation at a yet-to-be- determined Indianapolis location.

IndyCar to add 1 or 2 races to 2012 schedule

2012-01-18T23:22:00Z

IndyCar[Strong] The Izod IndyCar Series will present its “State of the Sport” address on Feb. 13 in Indianapolis, but CEO Randy Bernard provided a peak at some of the topics facing the sport. They include: The addition of more races to the 2012 schedule: “I would expect one [more], and there's a possibility of two,” he said.

Oval risks holding IndyCar back

2012-01-18T02:11:00Z

IndyCar[Strong] Rubens Barrichello latest driver to turn back on IndyCar because of ovalsIndyCar could get more big name drivers with huge talent and big fan bases (read that higher TV ratings and race attendance) from Formula 1 and NASCAR if not for the fear of severe injury or even death racing on oval tracks in open wheel cars. A number of NASCAR drivers over the years have looked at IndyCar and rejected the idea. Ditto for F1 drivers, the latest being Rubens Barrichello.

Senna signs 1-year deal to complete Williams lineup

2012-01-18T01:52:00Z

Formula 1[Fact] Bruno SennaUPDATE #2 (GMM) Bruno Senna's new Williams contract is for just one season, the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo claims. "It will be a pivotal year for my future in formula one," the 28-year-old former HRT and Renault driver is quoted as saying. The reputation of the great Senna name is also at stake, amid reports the nephew of the late triple world champion Ayrton is effectively now a 'pay-driver'.

2nd HRT seat for sale for 6M Euro

2012-01-18T01:50:00Z

Formula 1[Strong] Giedo van der Garde(GMM) The eventual occupant of the second race seat at HRT - the final place on the 2012 grid - will bring "no less" than EUR 6 million to the table. That is the claim of the Spanish sports daily Marca, reporting that Dutchman Giedo van der Garde is apparently on pole position to be Pedro de la Rosa's teammate at the struggling Spanish team. The newspaper said Dutch GP2 driver van der Garde seems to have at least the requisite 6 million in sponsorship but acknowledged that "the list of candidates is long".

UPDATE: Servia to Dreyer & Reinbold

2012-01-17T10:31:00Z

IndyCar[Fact] UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' with today's announcement. 01/09/12 Oriol ServiaDreyer & Reinbold Racing was a melting pot of nationalities last year as England (Justin Wilson), Brazil (Ana Beatriz), France (Simon Pagenaud), Italy (Giorgio Pantano) and South Africa (Tomas Scheckter) were represented behind the wheel. And the Indianapolis-based team is about to add Spain to the list.

Petrov in talks for Caterham third driver role

2012-01-17T00:39:00Z

Formula 1[Speculation] Vitaly PetrovUPDATE (GMM) Vitaly Petrov is in talks about becoming Caterham's third and reserve driver in 2012. Finland's Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that the Russian's manager, Oksana Kosachenko, visited the former Team Lotus outfit's Hingham (UK) headquarters last week. 27-year-old Petrov has been dropped by Renault (now Lotus) after his first two seasons in the sport.