BMW rocked Formula One on Wednesday by announcing their exit as a team and engine supplier at the end of 2009.
The Munich carmaker’s abrupt decision, after a dismal season on the track and with the industry in crisis, leaves the glamour sport with just four manufacturers — Fiat-owned Ferrari, McLaren’s partners Mercedes, Renault and Toyota.
However, three new teams are due to enter next year with others on standby.
“The BMW Group will not continue its Formula One campaign after the end of the 2009 season…Â Details
In a meeting with NASCAR team owners Tuesday the sanctioning body announced that the newly redesigned Nationwide Series racecar would make its limited debut in 2010 with an eye towards becoming the full time racecar in 2011.
The 2010 schedule calls for 5-6 races for the car.
“We had a very productive meeting this morning (Tuesday, July 28) with the team owners from the NASCAR Nationwide Series about the rollout schedule for that series’ new race car,†said NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton. “In the days ahead, we will digest what was discussed today and make a final decision on the rollout for next season with full anticipation of integrating the new car for the entire 2011 schedule.”
While the exact make of the cars from Dodge, Chevrolet and Toyota haven’t been finalized… Details
NASCAR accused Jeremy Mayfield of lying to a federal court about the chronology of a second random drug test, offering to provide an audio tape of the conversation in which Mayfield was told to submit a sample. The driver says the telephone call went to voicemail.
The accusation came Monday in court filings that ask U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen to lift the July 1 injunction he granted Mayfield so he could return to racing.
NASCAR disputed the sworn testimony Mayfield provided to U.S. District Court last week, including the assertion that a July 6 request for a second drug test went to his voicemail at 1:18 p.m. He said he didn’t get the message until about 40 minutes later, making it difficult for him to meet the two-hour deadline to report for testing … Details
FORMER FORMULA ONE driver-turned motorcycle racer Michael Schumacher is not ruling out the possibility of turning his back on the IDM German Superbike series and instead standing in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, following the Brazilian’s horrendous accident at the weekend.
Schumacher, who retired from Formula 1 three years ago, told the BBC in that he was not interested in returning to F1, but following recent developments the five-time champion’s spokeswoman told the Beeb:  … Details