Grand Prix Rejects

I have been following the GT Viper and its not bad so far, but I worry Fiat wont give it time to develop (hope I'm wrong about that).

On the plus side, Dodge is leading the points in the NHRA's Pro Stock class (where they run 1,200bhp veraions of the ORIGINAL Hemi) which they haven't done since the mid-90s. So thats a plus.

Maybe FIAT will relocate the NASCAR funds to IndyCar. After all, Fiat tries to make it big in the USA, plus they made recently headlines with their two-cylinder turbos. Although I'm not sure, if IndyCar will allow FIAT to compete with the engine of a 500 Abarth.

Ferrarist wrote:Maybe FIAT will relocate the NASCAR funds to IndyCar. After all, Fiat tries to make it big in the USA, plus they made recently headlines with their two-cylinder turbos. Although I'm not sure, if IndyCar will allow FIAT to compete with the engine of a 500 Abarth.

FIAT would be better offgoing to IndyCar, if they can make a half decent engine, that is. FIAT would not fit in in NASCAR

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Ferrarist wrote:Maybe FIAT will relocate the NASCAR funds to IndyCar. After all, Fiat tries to make it big in the USA, plus they made recently headlines with their two-cylinder turbos. Although I'm not sure, if IndyCar will allow FIAT to compete with the engine of a 500 Abarth.

FIAT would be better offgoing to IndyCar, if they can make a half decent engine, that is. FIAT would not fit in in NASCAR

How about Lancia then

kostas22 wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Ferrarist wrote:Maybe FIAT will relocate the NASCAR funds to IndyCar. After all, Fiat tries to make it big in the USA, plus they made recently headlines with their two-cylinder turbos. Although I'm not sure, if IndyCar will allow FIAT to compete with the engine of a 500 Abarth.

FIAT would be better offgoing to IndyCar, if they can make a half decent engine, that is. FIAT would not fit in in NASCAR

How about Lancia then

Put it this way: if you're thinking of entering NASCAR - don't. Although a Lancia Sprint Cup team would be epic, although whether they would be rejectful or not remains to be seen

If Lancia or Fiat entered Sprint Cup teams, based on their reputation, there would be caution flags for debris every few laps as various
bits and pieces fell off the cars ...

madmark1974 wrote:If Lancia or Fiat entered Sprint Cup teams, based on their reputation, there would be caution flags for debris every few laps as various
bits and pieces fell off the cars ...

I don't think so. If anything it plays to Lancia's strengths and avoids their weakness.

NASCAR doesn't race when it's raining. Which will be a huge relief for Lancia as the chassis are water soluble.

kostas22 wrote:

madmark1974 wrote:If Lancia or Fiat entered Sprint Cup teams, based on their reputation, there would be caution flags for debris every few laps as various
bits and pieces fell off the cars ...

I don't think so. If anything it plays to Lancia's strengths and avoids their weakness.

NASCAR doesn't race when it's raining. Which will be a huge relief for Lancia as the chassis are water soluble.

Electrical troubles will be a concern though, even on bone dry weather...

i think Fiat should give Dodge a boost of money so they can re-enter. if they can't, GM should use the extra slot and bring back Buick. those were some good times.

Phoenix wrote:

kostas22 wrote:

madmark1974 wrote:If Lancia or Fiat entered Sprint Cup teams, based on their reputation, there would be caution flags for debris every few laps as various
bits and pieces fell off the cars ...

I don't think so. If anything it plays to Lancia's strengths and avoids their weakness.

NASCAR doesn't race when it's raining. Which will be a huge relief for Lancia as the chassis are water soluble.

Electrical troubles will be a concern though, even on bone dry weather...

The car might short out on the bonnet

pasta_maldonado wrote:The car might short out on the bonnet

Only if you forget your piece of cardboard.......

Wallio wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:The car might short out on the bonnet

Only if you forget your piece of cardboard.......

The Americans will be stunned when the Lancias have their doors and windows stripped to save weight

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Wallio wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:The car might short out on the bonnet

Only if you forget your piece of cardboard.......

The Americans will be stunned when the Lancias have their doors and windows stripped to save weight

They'll have a bathplug of a time finding American mechanics to work on the canted over engine!

Wallio wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:The car might short out on the bonnet

Only if you forget your piece of cardboard.......

Well, one has to be careful said piece of cardboard doesn't catch on fire

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-rain-delays-nascar-sprint-cup-series-watkins-glen-practice/

So it's raining in Watkins Glen, and yet NASCAR STILL can't take the hint of bolting rain tires on the Sprint Cup cars. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? The Nationwide Series has used rain tires since 2008. I should know, I was at that historic race in Montreal. TAKE A BATHPLUGGING HINT NASCAR!!!! Is NASCAR afraid of having someone from another series (Boris Said, Patrick Long) other than their ingenue (Jimmie Johnson) win the event.

This is something you wouldn't see in F1 or in any other series: The Motorsports Group (that's the name...) is reject-worthy to say the least. The 42, 46, AND 47 cars Start and Park (start the race and park the cars after a few laps) to fund the 40 car. You don't see HRT or Marussia do that to get a paycheck.

golic_2004 wrote:

This is something you wouldn't see in F1 or in any other series: The Motorsports Group (that's the name...) is reject-worthy to say the least. The 42, 46, AND 47 cars Start and Park (start the race and park the cars after a few laps) to fund the 40 car. You don't see HRT or Marussia do that to get a paycheck.

What funds do they get by starting and parking? Do NASCAR hand out breifcases full of $10 notes to any retirees?

pasta_maldonado wrote:

golic_2004 wrote:

This is something you wouldn't see in F1 or in any other series: The Motorsports Group (that's the name...) is reject-worthy to say the least. The 42, 46, AND 47 cars Start and Park (start the race and park the cars after a few laps) to fund the 40 car. You don't see HRT or Marussia do that to get a paycheck.

What funds do they get by starting and parking? Do NASCAR hand out briefcases full of $10 notes to any retirees?

Not really, but it saves money spent on fuel, damages to the car, pit crews (since they won't have any chance to pit), engines, gearboxes, etc. It also gives more sponsorship to the "team" and basically forks it over to the preferred car, in this case the #40. It also eats up grid spots so that A) the potential competitors to the #40 has less people to overtake and B) More points and C) Less chances of another competitor crashing into the #40.

It's a good idea, but it's also an insane one and it also begs the point that someone shouldn't intentionally pull into the garage after a few laps.

That finish was the best finish to a NASCAR race I've ever seen. It took some oil on the track, but that made for some epic car control from Ambrose and Keselowski.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptLBVCU9hGw

RealRacingRoots wrote:That finish was the best finish to a NASCAR race I've ever seen. It took some oil on the track, but that made for some epic car control from Ambrose and Keselowski.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptLBVCU9hGw

That was an epic finish. BK didn't need to dump Rowdy there, but the marketing people will love it. A new rivalry for the chase whoo-boy. Good on Marcus too, more wins than Montoya now, no? Impressive.

RealRacingRoots wrote:That finish was the best finish to a NASCAR race I've ever seen. It took some oil on the track, but that made for some epic car control from Ambrose and Keselowski.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptLBVCU9hGw

I can't believe how much the drivers were disrespecting the track limits and getting away with it - or was that purely due to the spilt oil? But in any case, they would not have got away with it at Brands Hatch!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101839 it was only a matter of time but Nelson Piquet Jr finally got his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at Michigan, stretching out the fuel in doing so.

Regarding start and parks, it is funny how there is every time some reason given when driver retires. Here's John Wise's list for this year. He didn't take part in Daytona 500, failed to qualify in Dover and finished in Sonoma.

Phoenix: Vibration
Las Vegas: Brakes
Bristol: Spindle
Fontana: Vibration
Martinsville: Brakes
Texas: Vibration
Kansas: Rear gear
Richmond: Accident (!)
Talladega: Rear gear
Darlington: Vibration
Charlotte: Vibration
Pocono: Brakes
Michigan: Engine
Kentucky: Vibration
Daytona: Transmission
New Hampshire: Brakes
Indianapolis: Brakes
Pocono: Brakes
Watkins Glen: Electrical

I really like how Piquet takes the bottom-up approach in learning how to compete in NASCAR. Hopefully he'll get a competetive cup ride in a couple of years.

Ferrarist wrote:I really like how Piquet takes the bottom-up approach in learning how to compete in NASCAR. Hopefully he'll get a competetive cup ride in a couple of years.

Nelson Piquet Jr, Sprint Cup Champion?

Has an odd ring in it.

JeremyMcClean wrote:

Ferrarist wrote:I really like how Piquet takes the bottom-up approach in learning how to compete in NASCAR. Hopefully he'll get a competetive cup ride in a couple of years.

Nelson Piquet Jr, Sprint Cup Champion?

Has an odd ring in it.

Yeah, that'll cause the rednecks to commit collective seppuku.

Hendick's engines were horrid this weekend, and until the end, it seemed like Golden Boy Gordon was getting the worst of it again. At one point HMS hax cars running 1,2,4, and dead last. Then The Johnson's lump craps out with 5 to go and him leading, ouchies. Someone back at the shop is getting a call into Rick's office today.

Piquet's looked good lately, and it was only a matter of time before he broke through. He would have at Pocono if Bodine didn't take himself out in front of Nelson.

Bleu wrote:Regarding start and parks, it is funny how there is every time some reason given when driver retires. Here's John Wise's list for this year. He didn't take part in Daytona 500, failed to qualify in Dover and finished in Sonoma.

Phoenix: Vibration
Las Vegas: Brakes
Bristol: Spindle
Fontana: Vibration
Martinsville: Brakes
Texas: Vibration
Kansas: Rear gear
Richmond: Accident (!)
Talladega: Rear gear
Darlington: Vibration
Charlotte: Vibration
Pocono: Brakes
Michigan: Engine
Kentucky: Vibration
Daytona: Transmission
New Hampshire: Brakes
Indianapolis: Brakes
Pocono: Brakes
Watkins Glen: Electrical

He sure seems to enjoy his vibrations...

For anyone keeping track...

Drivers with the most points in the last five races:
#2-Brad Keselowski, 203
#5-Kasey Kahne, 194
#16-Greg Biffle, 191
#15-Clint Bowyer, 185
#56-Martin Truex Jr., 179

Source: Jayski.com

Bleu wrote:Regarding start and parks, it is funny how there is every time some reason given when driver retires. Here's John Wise's list for this year. He didn't take part in Daytona 500, failed to qualify in Dover and finished in Sonoma.

Phoenix: Vibration
Las Vegas: Brakes
Bristol: Spindle
Fontana: Vibration
Martinsville: Brakes
Texas: Vibration
Kansas: Rear gear
Richmond: Accident (!)
Talladega: Rear gear
Darlington: Vibration
Charlotte: Vibration
Pocono: Brakes
Michigan: Engine
Kentucky: Vibration
Daytona: Transmission
New Hampshire: Brakes
Indianapolis: Brakes
Pocono: Brakes
Watkins Glen: Electrical

Start and park teams have to make up those excuses because NASCAR doesn't want to say they didn't have enough money to run the entire distance. Morgan Shepherd would run until the first round of pit stops and then park because he didn't have enough tires, and would thus say "Handling" took him out.

Also, that truck race was an awesome show by Timothy Peters. It's VERY rare that someone leads wire to wire on an oval.

Cynon wrote:For anyone keeping track...

Drivers with the most points in the last five races:
#2-Brad Keselowski, 203
#5-Kasey Kahne, 194
#16-Greg Biffle, 191
#15-Clint Bowyer, 185
#56-Martin Truex Jr., 179

That's pretty damn impressive for MWR. I wonder if they'll be able to keep it up after this year...

It was Bristol, it was night, some people smashed and banged, some people races clean, drivers got angry, and Danica got dumped. The masses should have enjoyed that, if not Bruton may just blow the place up and start over. Personally, I found it fairly entertaining. Not the best race of the year, but better than the spring round at Bristol. Now if you'll excuse me, I must buy all the Regan Smith merch I can get my hands on......

I saw Danica walk away from her car and was like,



It was a ok race. The high lane looked to be the lane of choice, which I don't think was what they intended with the changes..

RealRacingRoots wrote:I saw Danica walk away from her car and was like,



It was a ok race. The high lane looked to be the lane of choice, which I don't think was what they intended with the changes..

The exact opposite actually, but the demo derby crowd was amused, so I think Bruton will take it. I have a feeling spring 2013 tickets are moving as we speak..m.

I will be at this weekend's Chicagoland race, and I'll be sure to keep an eye on the antics of TJ Bell (especially), Regan Smith, and the other minnows that don't get much TV time.

Right in the heart of Danicamania (home race) and Kensethmania (home race).

Cynon wrote:I will be at this weekend's Chicagoland race, and I'll be sure to keep an eye on the antics of TJ Bell (especially), Regan Smith, and the other minnows that don't get much TV time.

Right in the heart of Danicamania (home race) and Kensethmania (home race).

Is it really that bad? Personally I don't think she's that talented, and she has this awful attitude about her that's she's the best just because she's a woman in a male-orientated world

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Cynon wrote:I will be at this weekend's Chicagoland race, and I'll be sure to keep an eye on the antics of TJ Bell (especially), Regan Smith, and the other minnows that don't get much TV time.

Right in the heart of Danicamania (home race) and Kensethmania (home race).

Is it really that bad? Personally I don't think she's that talented, and she has this awful attitude about her that's she's the best just because she's a woman in a male-orientated world

I get the vibe that she just loves attention, period.

The last time I went to a NASCAR race at Chicagoland, literally 75% of the stands had Kenseth gear on, and Danica wasn't in Cup. Regardless, I won't be at all surprised if there isn't more Danica gear on this time.

Cynon wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Cynon wrote:I will be at this weekend's Chicagoland race, and I'll be sure to keep an eye on the antics of TJ Bell (especially), Regan Smith, and the other minnows that don't get much TV time.

Right in the heart of Danicamania (home race) and Kensethmania (home race).

Is it really that bad? Personally I don't think she's that talented, and she has this awful attitude about her that's she's the best just because she's a woman in a male-orientated world

I get the vibe that she just loves attention, period.

The last time I went to a NASCAR race at Chicagoland, literally 75% of the stands had Kenseth gear on, and Danica wasn't in Cup. Regardless, I won't be at all surprised if there isn't more Danica gear on this time.

What's sad is how they fail to mention any of the other female drivers in the sport. My hometown racer Johnna Long harldy gets any attention whatsoever in the race coverage.

DOSBoot wrote:

Cynon wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:Right in the heart of Danicamania (home race) and Kensethmania (home race).

Is it really that bad? Personally I don't think she's that talented, and she has this awful attitude about her that's she's the best just because she's a woman in a male-orientated world

I get the vibe that she just loves attention, period.

The last time I went to a NASCAR race at Chicagoland, literally 75% of the stands had Kenseth gear on, and Danica wasn't in Cup. Regardless, I won't be at all surprised if there isn't more Danica gear on this time.

Danica's a bitch to boot as well

Danica got stuck behind Scott Speed until Speed parked. That should say enough.

That being said, it was a pretty good day to be there. Decent racing in the midfield, lots of shenanigans with the BK Racing cars (bumpdrafting under pacing...), Inception Motorsports and the Joe Falk #33 car having lots of problems...

... and Keselowski won, so I'm happy.

Oh yeah, this car was in Salem for the ARCA race: ... driven by Englishman Jack Clarke.

this is amazing.