JUPITER, Fla. (April 1, 2019) – Ever since I was about 14 years old, becoming a professional racing driver has been the absolute dream. Back then I thought it was all about talent and driver ability, and that if I could win every regional and national kart race I entered, the car manufacturers and IndyCar scouts would come knocking on my door. If you know racing, then you’re probably laughing right now because you know how far that is from reality. A McLaren or Red Bull contract at 14 years old would have been sweet, but after looking back at the path I’ve taken to get to the point I’m at today and the people I’ve met along the way, I wouldn’t change a single thing.
NASCAR Truck driver indefinitely suspended for substance abuse
Austin Wayne Self
Austin Wayne Self has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR.
According to the NASCAR penalty report released Monday, Self was found in violation of Sections 12.1 & 19 in the NASCAR Rule Book. He will have to go through the “Road To Recovery” program.
Self currently participates in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series as the driver of the No. 22 AM Racing Chevrolet. Self has been out of the No. 22 truck since Martinsville Speedway. Darrell Wallace Jr. was the driver for the organization at Martinsville and Texas.
HMSA readies vintage cars to race Grand Prix of Long Beach
Vintage Trans-Am cars
When Long Beach throws a motorsports party, it really does go all out. The best part? Everyone is invited! When the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach takes over the streets for racing, it won’t be just for the highly modern and new NTT IndyCar Series cars.
Long Beach celebrates history and the incredible vintage cars of the past as well.
2019 Corvette Grand Sport To Pace 103rd Indianapolis 500
2019 Corvette Grand Sport
The 2019 Corvette Grand Sport will serve as the Official Pace Car for the 2019 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, leading 33 drivers to the green flag on May 26 for the 103rd running of the legendary race.
It marks the 16th time a Corvette has served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978, and the 30th time a Chevrolet has led the field dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible paced the race. No other brand or vehicle has served as the 500 Pace Car more than Chevrolet and the Corvette, respectively.
It has been announced that George Russell will test for Mercedes at this weeks post-Bahrain test. The Williams driver has retained a close relationship with Mercedes despite being signed to Williams for 'multiple years.' Russell was part of Mercedes junior set up and is set to drive on Wednesday after Lewis Hamilton drives the car on Tuesday.
By choosing Russell to drive on Wednesday it means that Mercedes will have completed one of its mandatory 'rookie days' as the Brit has only raced in two Formula 1 races. Two of each team's four test days need to be done by a driver who has not started more than two F1 races.
Peter Delorenzo of Autoextremist opines on a topic we could not agree more on: The first INDYCAR win by eighteen-year-old Colton Herta (see more in "The Line" -WG) was fun to watch for racing enthusiasts of all stripes. Though he benefited from a fortuitous caution period, there's no question that the young, mature-beyond-his-years, and talented Herta will be a force to be reckoned with in America's premier open-wheel series for years to come.
But that was just part of the story from the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. The bigger picture story from Texas was the kind of racing on display. We saw the talented field in INDYCAR actually having to drive the cars around the circuit. More than that, they were forced to grab the cars by the scruffs of the neck and slide them in order to hustle them around the fast, 20-turn, 3.41-mile natural-terrain road course. And it was simply spectacular to watch.
Video: Race Recap - Hamlin overcomes mistakes to win at Texas
Relive all the action in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway as Denny Hamlin overcame pit-road mistakes for his second win of the season.
Video: Pierre Gasly On Racing With Red Bull Teammate Max Verstappen In 2019
So far poor Pierre Gasly has been overwhelmed by Verstappen
F1's Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen may be new teammates for 2019, but the pair have known each other long before joining up with Red Bull Racing, having previously raced together in the junior categories of motorsport.
Now very much on the same team, Pierre Gasly spoke to Mobil 1 The Grid to share his thoughts on his teammate, and why his graduation to the Red Bull senior team won’t mean a change in approach for the Frenchman this F1 season.
Video: The Wave-Makers - Colton Herta Leads The IndyCar Rookie Class
Colton Herta
18-year-old Colton Herta made headlines at COTA with a fairy-tale win at the inaugural IndyCar Classic, a victory which would see the Harding Steinbrenner Racing driver become IndyCar's youngest-ever race winner. But Herta is not the only Rookie looking to make his mark in the series this year, with Felix Rosenqvist, Santino Ferrucci and former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson among the names also in the mix.
Mobil 1 The Grid spoke to all there drivers, along with NTT IndyCar Series season mainstays James Hinchliffe, Tony Kanaan and Alexander Rossi, to find out more.
Ferrari advantage could be even bigger in China - Bottas
Charles Leclerc - the Ferrari was fast, but at what cost? Leclerc lost a cylinder
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton may have won in Bahrain, but he says Mercedes has serious work to do ahead of round three in China in a fortnight.
Immediately after winning on Sunday, the reigning world champion got out of his car to commiserate with Charles Leclerc, who should have won from pole.
"He's got a beautiful, bright future ahead of him, so this will only make him stronger," Hamilton said.
(GMM) This week's test will be a key moment for Williams.
That is the view of Robert Kubica, who is really struggling with the British team on his return to F1 after an eight year injury layoff.
"From the beginning I have been struggling to keep the car on the track rather than actually race," the Pole told Eleven Sports after the race in Bahrain.
No regrets after quitting improving McLaren - Alonso
Fernando Alonso
(GMM) Fernando Alonso has denied regretting his decision to quit McLaren and F1.
While some expected the once-great British team to again struggle in 2019, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz in fact look likely to fight for Q3 places all year.
"We spent the second half of last year trying to understand the problems with the car and things are now starting to be worth it," Sainz said in Bahrain.
Mercedes F1 strengthens for the future with strategic organizational change
Paul Ripke and Toto Wolff
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport today announced a strategic appointment as part of the team's long-term plan for continuous performance growth both on and off the track.
With immediate effect, the team has nominated Paul Ripke (38) as Special Advisor - a newly created position that will report directly to Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO.
Loshak Beats Rain And Competition In Intense Trans Am Race
Lawrence Loshak battles his teammate
Tire selection, turns of fortune, traffic and treacherous weather all shaped the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Round 2 into a plot-twisting tale of two races in the TA and SuperGT (SGT) class event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Sunday.
The 40-lap race ran under green flag conditions from start to finish, with the race featuring variable track conditions, three TA class lead changes, and four different SGT class leaders, including one who established a 30-second margin on the field early in the going as Road Atlanta played host to another dramatic chapter of Trans Am competition.
Loshak, Goikhberg, And Pierce Lead Trans Am Qualifying
Lawrence Loshak
The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli classes delivered three tight qualifying sessions at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Saturday afternoon. More than 40 cars took to the scenic 2.54, 12-turn road course in preparation for Sunday’s two Trans Am 100 feature races at Road Atlanta.
Lawrence Loshak claimed the Trans Am class pole position to net his second of the season, with Misha Goikhberg in TA2 powered by AEM and Aaron Pierce in Super GT seizing the same honors.
Acura LB Schedule again chock full of non-stop action
All that Toyota signage gets replaced with Acura
The 45th edition of the Grand Prix will again bring tens of thousands of IndyCar race fans to Downtown Long Beach in mid-April.
Among the biggest changes to the race this year is its new title sponsor--Acura--which replaced Toyota Motors, the race’s sponsor for more than four decades.
Fans, however, may not notice much about the change aside from new colors (and new name) on promotional materials.
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not committing to F1 beyond 2020.
The Ferrari driver says there is too much uncertainty about what the regulations will look like under the new Concorde Agreement.
"I'm certain I really want to drive this year and next year, then I don't know what happens to the regulations," Vettel, a quadruple world champion, told the Sunday Times.
Red Bull can fix car in 'two or three races' - Verstappen
Adrian Newey now must copy Ferrari
(GMM) Red Bull has work to do on its 2019 chassis.
That is the view in Bahrain of Max Verstappen, who only narrowly stayed ahead of Haas' Kevin Magnussen in qualifying rather than challenge the top teams Ferrari and Mercedes.
"We are actually better than best of the rest here," Dane Magnussen said.
Gunther Steiner loves kicking Renault's (a factory team) butt with his minnow Haas team
(GMM) Gunther Steiner has aimed fire at Renault, as so-called 'B teams' come under assault.
With Ferrari allying with Haas and Alfa Romeo, and Red Bull with Toro Rosso, teams like Renault and McLaren think the rules should be changed to make strategic alliances more difficult.
And no wonder. In Bahrain, while Haas split the Red Bulls, Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg were just eleventh and seventeenth.
Schumacher needs 'time' to speed up in F2 - Rosberg
Mick Schumacher
(GMM) Mick Schumacher needs more time to adjust to life in Formula 2.
That is the view of Nico Rosberg, the retired 2016 world champion.
In Bahrain, just days ahead of his maiden F1 tests for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, 20-year-old Schumacher qualified tenth and finished his first F2 race eighth.
Grosjean Handed Grid Penalty for Blocking Lando Norris
Romain Grosjean
Romain Grosjean will start the Bahrain Grand Prix from eleventh on the grid on Sunday after the stewards handed the Frenchman a three-place grid penalty for blocking Lando Norris during the opening phase of Qualifying on Saturday.
The Haas F1 Team racer initially set the eighth quickest time at the Sakhir International Circuit but was handed the grid penalty – and one penalty point on his Superlicence – for impeding McLaren F1 Team racer Norris at the final turn as the Briton was completing his first quick lap during the session.
Kyle Busch surges late to claim Xfinity Series victory
Kyle Busch - two down one to go
Kyle Busch surged to victory in an eventful NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday, keeping his hopes of a tripleheader weekend sweep alive at Texas Motor Speedway.
Busch guided the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota to lead 33 of the 200 laps to prevail in the My Bariatric Solutions 300. His third Xfinity victory of the season was his ninth at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth track and the 95th of his career in the Xfinity Series. Busch also prevailed in Friday night’s Gander Outdoors Truck Series event.
Nicholas Latifi claimed the first win of the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship season with a storming drive in this afternoon’s Race 1 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, making a strong start and overcoming a slow pitstop for victory ahead of Luca Ghiotto and DAMS teammate Sergio Sette Camara.
Leclerc and Vettel again run 1-2 in final Bahrain GP practice
Charles Leclerc - fastest in the desert heat
Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel picked up where they left off Friday by dominating the final Bahrain GP practice session ahead of qualifying.
However, this session, like session 1 on Friday was run in the heat of the day, so no one is really giving it their best given the cooler conditions of the night for qualifying are what really count.
Daniel Ricciardo was left puzzled after his first day of running in Bahrain, Renault's new recruit finding himself "a long way off" from teammate Nico Hulkenberg after Friday's FP2
Ricciardo concluded the evening session a massive two seconds adrift from the fastest lap and 1.179s behind Hulkenberg. Beyond the size of the gap, the Aussie had no real clue as to why he was so far off the pace.
Bottas (L) wasn't saying how much Mercedes was sandbagging on Friday
(GMM) After a disappointing showing in Australia, Ferrari is back on song in Bahrain.
The Italian team spent the two weeks between the opening grands prix of 2019 getting to the bottom of the sudden slump in form after a strong winter.
"In Melbourne we had to explain why Ferrari was so slow. Two weeks later, the question is how Ferrari is so fast," said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt.
Patrick Head 'exactly what Williams needs' - Russell
Patrick Head
(GMM) Crisis-struck Williams is once again working with Sir Patrick Head.
After a dire winter period and season opener in Australia, the once-great British team's troubles have deepened in Bahrain amid a shortage of spare parts.
And Robert Kubica is off the pace of his rookie teammate George Russell.
Surname 'only positive' for Schumacher - Verstappen
Mick Schumacher
(GMM) Max Verstappen thinks a famous surname will only benefit Mick Schumacher's quest for a F1 cockpit.
Earlier, Carlos Sainz - whose father was a rallying legend - and Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, said the Schumacher name is a burden for the 20-year-old son of the F1 legend.
Kyle Busch wins fourth consecutive Gander Trucks race at Texas
Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 Cessna Toyota, poses with the trophy after winning the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Vankor 350
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Kyle Busch continued his winning ways out west.
Busch held off Stewart Friesen by 1.269-seconds for his fourth-consecutive NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory of the season and his fourth-career win at Texas Motor Speedway.
Busch led a race-high 97 laps in the Vankor 350 en route to his 55th career series win and his 202nd among NASCAR’s top three national series.
Vettel and Leclerc run 1-2 in 2nd Bahrain practice
Sebastian Vettel
Despite a spin in Turn 2 Sebastian Vettel turned the tables on his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc as Ferrari again ran 1-2 in the evening 2nd practice for Sunday's Bahrain GP.
Vettel's lap of 1m28.846s was just 0.035s faster than Leclerc as the teammates ran almost identical times.
Luca Ghiotto has claimed the first points of the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship season with a storming lap in the closing stages of this afternoon’s qualifying session at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, holding his nerve while his rivals pushed early to claim pole by almost four tenths from of Louis Deletraz and Nyck de Vries.
The Italian held tight to his plan despite a mid-session red flag messing up everyone’s timings: Ghiotto waited until late in the session before posting a 1:40.504 flyer with just 2 minutes remaining, and his rivals had no rubber left with which to compete.
In announcing a joint race meeting, DTM and Japan’s SUPER GT Series turn over a new page in motor racing history.
DTM umbrella organisation ITR and SUPER GT promoters GTA agreed upon holding the joint event of the two series on November 23/24 at Fuji, Japan. But the first clash of DTM and SUPER GT cars will take place several weeks earlier in Germany. On October 4-6, three SUPER GT racers will make guest appearances in the DTM season finale.
Leclerc and Vettel 1-2 in opening Bahrain practice
Charles Leclerc
Are Mercedes sandbagging or did Ferrari find its speed it lost between preseason testing and the opening F1 race in Australia?
Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel ran 1-2 in opening practice for the Bahrain GP but the margin to the third quickest, Valtteri Bottas' Mercedes, was almost a full second leaving many to assume that Mercedes has a lot more in hand. That plus the fact this session was run in the heat of the day and the night session (practice 2) is where the track temps will be more indicative of qualifying and race conditions.
Sergio Sette Camara has claimed the first bragging rights of the 2019 season by topping this morning’s FIA Formula 2 Championship free practice session with a laptime of 1:43.618 at the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir, leading a DAMS 1-2 by 0.3 seconds from teammate Nicholas Latifi and Ralph Boschung.
The session opened to the usual hot and sunny conditions, with most of the drivers heading straight out on track to make sure that their cars were ready for the weekend ahead. The opening 15 minutes was mostly about car set-up, with Jordan King, Anthoine Hubert and Nyck de Vries all taking a turn on the top of the timesheets.
China is slashing subsidies for electric vehicles, which will test the resilience of a fast-growing EV market that government support helped create.
Under a Finance Ministry plan released this week, the maximum central-government subsidy for an electric car is being more than halved, cut to 27,500 yuan from 66,000 yuan (roughly $4,100 from $9,830) starting in June. Subsidies from local governments, which have been as much as 50% larger than the national ones, are being eliminated.
Bottas determined to not have Hamilton destroy his again this year
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he has not seen a big change in Valtteri Bottas in 2019.
"For me it's the same Valtteri as before, except that now he has a beard," the Mercedes driver smiled.
However, after a full winter of being criticized for his poor performances in 2018, amid speculation he will be replaced by Esteban Ocon for 2020, Finn Bottas won in Melbourne and issued a "f**k you" to his critics on the radio.
(GMM) Sean Bratches has warned Zandvoort that the venue needs to secure its place on the 2020 calendar.
Earlier this week, Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers said a widely reported March 31 deadline is actually more of a "guideline".
But Bratches, Liberty Media's commercial boss, told the Dutch publication Formule 1: "Let me put it this way. If the place is gone, it will be gone for five or ten years."
(GMM) F1 can cope with the aftermath of Charlie Whiting's sudden death.
That is the view of Max Verstappen, as the governing FIA scrambles to put in place an emergency succession plan for the late race director and starter, who died suddenly in Melbourne.
We already reported that, as in Australia, Michael Masi will again be the substitute race director this weekend.
(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr. says he feels for Mick Schumacher as the F1 media hype goes into overdrive in Bahrain.
A big gathering of press swarmed around the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher in Bahrain, where he will make his Formula 2 debut before testing the Ferrari and Alfa Romeo cars next week.
Schumacher, 20, and his manager Sabine Kehm, disappointed the reporters by saying the young German only wanted to talk about F2.
(GMM) Robert Kubica says he will stay off the curbs this weekend in Bahrain because Williams does not have enough spare parts.
"We cannot afford to break anything," said the Pole.
Kubica has had a tough return to F1 after eight years, with the highly uncompetitive Williams car, a mistake-strewn season opener in Australia, and Jacques Villeneuve saying disabled people do not belong on the grid.
Drivers in the back could not see start lights with higher wings in front of them
(GMM) Changes are being made to help drivers at the back of the grid to see the starting lights in Bahrain.
In Australia, as an unforeseen consequence of the taller rear wings for 2019, drivers including Robert Kubica, Pierre Gasly and George Russell said they could not see the five lights on the Melbourne grid.
Russell, who drives for Williams, said he watched the red lights go out by looking at the reflection in the pit building.
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