Jimmie Johnson can be a bit of a klutz outside his race car, but the three-time defending NASCAR champion is typically flawless when he’s in it.
So it was a bit bizarre to see a series of errors derail his run in Las Vegas on Sunday. Although he led a race-high 92 laps, he nearly crashed into Bobby Labonte on pit road and also overshot his stall, forcing his team to push him back into the box for his service call. Coupled with an ill-timed caution, Johnson fell down a lap and had to drive his wheels off to get back into contention.
Once there, he drifted too high onto the track into an area of dirty asphalt and crashed hard …. ….Details
Honda is close to a deal to sell off its formula one team, Japan’s biggest circulation newspaper said today, without identifying the buyer.
The team are expected to test a new car this week, powered by a Mercedes engine, in a clear sign that they will continue racing after the Japanese manufacturer announced its withdrawal from the sport in December. “We expect to be able to make an announcement from the company and the team in the near future,” …Â Details
…The recent announcement of a U.S. Formula One team had many experts guessing who the two American drivers would be.
Naturally, Kyle Busch’s name was mentioned…
….how might he do in F1? Juan Pablo Montoya, who won seven F1 races, says he wouldn’t expect a whole lot….. Details
A late-race crash ruined his day but three races into the NASCAR Sprint Cup season Michael Waltrip is still in the top 12 in points and teammate David Reutimann is fifth. For an organization that struggled to make races two years ago, it’s quite a turnaround.
“I think our team has grown a tremendous amount in the last few months,” Waltrip said, noting the addition of Steve Hallam, a former engineer and manager in Formula One, as director of competition last fall…. Details