Yardbarker: Formula One

Spanish La Liga Roundup, Nov. 7

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:30:55 -0500

Pedro Rodriguez helped Barcelona rediscover its scoring touch Saturday as his two goals led the defending champions to a 4-2 win over Mallorca in the Spanish league. Pedro curled a shot around Dudu Aouate to give Barcelona the lead in the 11th minute and then responded to Jose Nunes' 20th-minute equalizer by pouncing on a rebound just before halftime, after three straight saves by the Mallorca goalkeeper.

Taillights fade: Looking back on Scott Speed's 2009

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:53:38 -0500

We're getting within sight of the end of the season, and so it's time to begin our look back. In a feature shamelessly ripped from Puck Daddy's Death Watch and Big League Stew's Walk Toward The Light, we'll be counting down each and every car that fell short of the Sprint Cup this year. And yes, I know there aren't taillights on Sprint cars. It's a metaphor. Roll with it.Driver: Scott SpeedRecord: 32 races (at this writing), one top-5 finishSeason summary: It's...

Lewis Hamilton's girlfriend did a sexy photo shoot

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0500

Here's one more reason to be completely and totally envious of Lewis Hamilton. Not only is he a stud race car driver, handsome and has a hot girlfriend in Nicole Scherzinger. His hot girlfriend also poses for pictures like this in magazines like Giant (whatever that is)... Man, my life sucks... View this post in its entirety at EpicCarnival.com.

Keselowski to make first start in 12 car at Texas

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:38:00 -0500

Penske announced Sept. 1 that Keselowski will drive the No. 12 Dodge full time in the Sprint Cup Series next year, and the team has opted to get an early start on the transition.

"Penske Racing wants to give Brad an opportunity to work with the team and get to know the racecar as we prepare for the 2010 season," owner Roger Penske said Monday. "These three races will provide a good base for both Brad and the team as we head into next year."

Keselowski, 25, has been driving part time in the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports and James Finch's Phoenix Racing while competing full time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. Keselowski is third in the Nationwide standings with four victories, the most recent coming Oct. 24 at Memphis Motorsports Park.

"I am very excited to begin working with the Penske Racing team, and I look forward to competing in the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the final three Cup Series races of the year," Keselowski said. "We all have high expectations for next season and beyond and being able to race with the team this year will only help us as we look toward 2010."

Keselowski finished eighth at Talladega Superspeedway in his last ride in Finch's No. 09 Chevrolet. Keselowski has four top-10s in 12 Cup starts in 2009 and scored his only win in the series at Talladega in April driving for Finch.

Stremme, 32, is winless in 108 Cup starts and does not have a top-10 finish in 33 starts this season. He is 31st in the points standings. This was his first year in the Cup Series with Penske Racing after breaking in with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005.

The Brad Keselowski era starts early at Penske

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:28:09 -0500

Brad Keselowski is one of the most talented drivers to come along in some time, so you can see why Roger Penske gave him a battlefield promotion, bringing him up to the bigs for the final three races of the season. Brad Keselowski also caused the big wrecks at Talladega in the spring and fall, so you can see why some of the other drivers may not be totally thrilled with having to deal with him already.Keselowski was one of the more intriguing stories for much of the 2009 season, much more so ...

Williams confirms 2010 drivers

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:50:00 -0500

As promised, Williams named its 2010 lineup Monday, with Rubens Barrichello joining from Brawn GP and test driver Nico Hulkenberg making the step up from GP2, where he is the reigning champion.The duo replace Nico Rosberg, likely to take Barrichello's slot at Brawn, and Kazumi Nakajima, destination unknown.Rosberg made it known before the finale he was departing, Nakajima's departure seemed certain after Williams announced it was dropping Toyota power for Cosworth. Nakajima has a clos...

Vettel triumphant as sun sets on 2009 season

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:11:00 -0500

Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday ahead of teammate Mark Webber, nailing down second place in the drivers championship in the final race of the 2009 season.Getting by a dominating Lewis Hamilton in the first round of stops, Vettel cruised to victory as twilight turned to night at the Yas Marina Circuit.Hamilton had led from the start, but after losing the lead to Vettel, he was forced to retire with a brake problem, an oddly fitting end to a disappointing season for the Bri...

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix fastest lap analysis

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:47:47 -0500

Drivers’ fastest laps Rank Driver Fastest lap Deficit to fastest lap Laps within 1% of personal best 1 Sebastian Vettel 100.279 0 21 2 Sebastien Buemi 100.326 0.047 14 3 Lewis Hamilton 100.367 0.088 10 4 Rubens Barrichello 100.449 0.17 21 5 Mark Webber 100.571 0.292 26 6 Jenson Button 100.642 0.363 29 7 Nick Heidfeld 100.672 0.393 29 8 Jarno Trulli 100.723 0.444 21 9 Kazuki Nakajima 100.754 0.475 8 10 Fernando Alonso 100.757 0.478 6 11 Kamui Kobayashi 100.779 0.5...

Vettel, Webber deliver Red Bull 1-2 finish in F1

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:29:43 -0500

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, and Mark Webber hung on for second to give Red Bull a one-two finish in the final Formula One race of the season.

Formula One: Sebastian Vettel wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; Lewis Hamilton quits early

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:04:04 -0500

Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, and Mark Webber hung on for second to give Red Bull a one-two finish.

Vettel wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:49:53 -0500

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, and Mark Webber hung on for second to give Red Bull a one-two finish.

Bruno Senna signs F1 deal with team Campos

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:52:56 -0500

Bruno Senna, nephew of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna, will drive next year for Formula One newcomer Campos, the team announced Saturday.

Hamilton on pole in Abu Dhabi

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:06:00 -0500

Outgoing world champion Lewis Hamilton took pole for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, holding off the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber at the Yas Marina Circuit.Rubens Barrichello starts fourth and Jenson Button fifth in the Brawns. The BMW Saubers ended up at respectable seventh and eight in BMW's final race in F1, just behind the Toyota of Jarno Trulli in what is likely his last race for the Japanese manufacturer.Among other drivers on the move, Kimi Raikkonen missed out...

Kovalainen Friday's fastest in Abu Dhabi

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:49:00 -0500

Heikki Kovalainen set Friday's fastest time at the brand new Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, edging teammate Lewis Hamilton with a 1:41.307 in the second session.Jenson Button was third on a day of domination for Mercedes power.Hamilton had led the morning practice, the outgoing world champion topping the newly crowned one. Sebastian Vettel was third in the Red Bull.Young Kamui Kobayashi continued to impress, fifth fastest on the day while subbing for Timo Glock.A quiet morning session g...

Rosberg's last race with Williams

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:35:00 -0500

Nico Rosberg confirmed he is leaving Williams at the end of the season, the BBC reporting he is expected to swap seats with Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello."It is my last race for Williams so it's a bit strange," Rosberg is quoted. "I've been with the team for five years… There's no reason why they (Williams) can't be as good as this year (next year). But I'm not sure they can win races at the moment, and I would like to win races."Long thought to be ...

Webber wins; Button, Brawn lock up titles in Brazil

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:25:00 -0500

Throughout the second half of this Formula One season, many were asking for Jenson Button to drive like a champion. In Brazil, that’s exactly what he did, coming from 14th on the grid to finish fifth and take the 2009 drivers championship.Fifth and eighth from Rubens Barrichello were enough to clinch the constructors title for Brawn, as well, capping off a storybook season for a team left for dead last December when Honda announced it was leaving the sport.Not to be lost in the shuffle, Mark ...

Barrichello takes home pole in wild session

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:22:00 -0500

Could this be the year Rubens Barrichello finally takes home his home grand prix, and could he ride that wave of success to the championship?The Brazilian certainly took a step in the right direction Saturday, claiming pole in a chaotic, thunderstorm-soaked session that will go down in the books as the longest qualifying in the history of the sport.It took two hours and 41 minutes to shake out, and championship leader Jenson Button was left starting 14th.It was much worse for Red Bull’s Sebas...

Alonso tops Brazil practice

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:59:00 -0500

Fernando Alonso was top dog in free practice at Interlagos Friday, turning a time of 1:12.314 in the Renault.The Spaniard led the second session ahead of the Toro Rosso of Sebastien Buemi. Rubens Barrichello was third in the Brawn.Mark Webber set the best time in the morning session, with Barrichello splitting the Australian from his teammate, Sebastian Vettel.Championship leader Jenson Button was seventh in the first session, fifth in the second.Kamui Kobayashi subbed for the injured Timo Gl...

Barrichello confirms Williams talks

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:35:00 -0500

Multiple sources are reporting Rubens Barrichello has admitted to open talks with Williams on a drive for 2010, as well as his current employer."I haven't signed with anybody yet, but it's true that I'm talking with Williams and Brawn," the BBC quotes the Brazilian.Meanwhile, Williams confirms it will split with Toyota at the end of the season."At a time of great difficulty for us as a team, Toyota stepped forward and agreed to supply us with engines for 2007 throug...

Massa tests

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:16:00 -0500

Felipe Massa was back behind the wheel of a Ferrari Monday for the first time since his accident in July.After limited running in the morning due to rain, Massa put in almost 100 km in a 2007-spec car with GP2 tires at Fiorano.“The moment I got into the car it was exactly like before the accident, as if nothing had happened,” Massa is quoted on the Ferrari Web site. “It was important to demonstrate to the people who work with me, that nothing has changed, that I can be competitive and that I ...

Renault confirms Kubica

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:40:00 -0500

Robert Kubica's move to Renault for 2010 has been confirmed."We are very excited to have signed Robert with the Renault F1 Team starting next season," team principal Bob Bell said in a statement on the Renault F1 Web site. "… Renault has high ambitions and hopes for the future of the team and we feel that Robert can play a big role in fulfilling them."Kubica, who had declared himself available after BMW announced it was pulling the plug on F1, replaces the departing Fe...

Piquet Jr. to test for NASCAR after F1 scandal

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:40:53 -0500

Nelson Piquet Jr. is getting back on the track for the first time since his involvement in the Formula One crash scandal, test driving for NASCAR's pickup truck series next week. The Brazilian driver, who was cleared of any wrongdoing in a Renault plot that saw the Brazilian crash his car to help teammate Fernando Alonso win a race last year, will take part in the one-day test for Red Horse Racing at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina on Monday.

Nothing decided as Vettel dominates in Japan

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:25:00 -0500

Sebastian Vettel kept his title hopes alive in Japan, keeping Lewis Hamilton’s KERS equipped McLaren and a surprising Jarno Trulli behind him both at the start and after a safety car to deliver his third win of the season.Trulli finished second after jumping Hamilton in the pits, the world champion finishing third.The champaign remains on ice in the Brawn garage, as while the constructor’s title is almost assured, seventh for Rubens Barrichello and eighth for Jenson Button was not enough to s...

Hamilton on pole in Singapore after Rubens red flag

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:14:00 -0500

Lewis Hamilton may owe a favor or two to Rubens Barrichello, as the Briton can thank a red flag caused by the Brawn driver for assuring him pole for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix.With 26 seconds left in the session, the Brazilian crashed in turn five. On final runs at the time? Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Hamilton, Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, Timo Glock, Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen. They would all have to settle for their first run times.That puts Vettel second ...

Vettel is Friday’s fastest in Singapore

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:14:00 -0500

Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheets Friday in the second practice session in preparation for Sunday’s race under the lights on the streets of Singapore.The German picked up where teammate Mark Webber had left off after the Australian clouted the wall. Prior to bringing out the red flag, Webber had been setting the pace. It was the second stoppage of the day, with Renault’s Romain Grosjean the culprit in the first session.Fernando Alonso was second in the Renault and Heikki Kovalainen third...

Sutil's turn: Force India tops Monza practice

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:41:00 -0500

Even without Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India was once again at the top of the sheets as Adrian Sutil edged Lewis Hamilton's morning mark in the second session Friday at Monza.Hamilton and teammate Heikki Kovalainen put together a McLaren 1-2 in the morning, while Sutil was third.The afternoon saw Sutil lead home the Renaults of Romain Grosjean and Fernando Alonso.Trying to determine what this means for qualifying, however, is a bit of a crapshoot.Jenson Button had a decent morning, but ...

Merc investments, Tonio Liuzzi, KERS and Badoer: F1 roundup 10/7/09

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:39:00 -0500

Contrary to what many of its competitors are doing, Mercedes may be looking to increase its investment in F1. The auto giant is reportedly in talks to take an interest in Brawn GP.A statement from Mercedes says there will be no impact upon its current relationship with McLaren.The BBC reports McLaren is “supportive.” Brawn refused comment.Liuzzi in for Force IndiaForce India have named reserve driver Vitantonio Liuzzi to replace the departing Giancarlo Fisichella for the remainder of the seas...

Force India, Luca and Fisi, Jenson Button and race fixing: It’s the post-Belgium F1 roundup

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:30:00 -0500

Force India is warning it’s Spa performance was no one-off, and with Monza being another low-downforce track, another good performance could be in the cards.“Why not?” AUTOSPORT quotes team owner Vijay Mallya. “We know that the car is quick, blindingly quick I would say. The sector times show it and I think the Monza track will suit us.”It’s beginning to look like Mallya’s hands-on approach is paying off. But don’t think it will alter his approach to the rest of the season.“It's just too ...