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LONG BEACH, California — Two rear-wheel-drive Scion tCs will compete at the 2009 Formula Drift season opener on the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach street course this weekend.
Ken Gushi will return with his refreshed Toyota-four-cylinder-powered rear-drive RS*R Scion tC. The big news, however, is the Rockstar Energy Drink/Scion Drift Team tC driven by 2007 and 2008 series champion Tanner Foust.
Fitted between the tC’s front shock towers is a 358-cubic-inch V8 from a former Busch Series NASCAR entry built by TRD and Ed Pink Racing Engines. The engine, rated at 650 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, routes power through a four-speed G-force dog-engagement gearbox and Toyota Supra rear differential and rear suspension.
Former Formula D competitor and import drag racer Stephan Papadakis is responsible for shoehorning the mega motor under the tC’s windshield …Â Details
Seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong said on Friday the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) could prevent him from riding in this year’s race.
“There is a very high likelihood they will prohibit me from riding on the Tour,†the 37-year-old American said in a video aired on his fight-against-cancer foundation’s website (www.livestrong.com).
The AFLD said on Thursday Armstrong could face disciplinary action because he “did not respect the obligation to stay under (the) direct and permanent observation†of a drugs tester who came to his southern France residence last month.
Armstrong said he went to shower while Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel was checking the tester’s credentials with the International Cycling Union (UCI).
“He (the tester) was odd, he was alone. He seemed suspicious,†said Armstrong… Details
Who would want to sit on the Ericsson 4 substitutes’ bench?
The team lists are in and once again Torben Grael’s crew is unchanged, meaning they have now kept the same 11 men onboard for the entire race.
‘Why would we want to change?’ the Brazilian asked. ‘It is always good to have as few changes as possible. We tried to do the same with Brasil 1 in the last race, but we knew we would change for Knut (Frostad, the current race CEO) for the Southern Ocean legs because we had no experience there. We also changed the navigator for technical reasons…Â DetailsÂ
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‘The Valencian Government has just issued a press statement to the effect that it now considers itself free of any contractual obligations with America’s Cup Management (ACM) in the light of the New Your Appeal Court finding.
‘The statement adds that the contract that was signed between the Town Hall, the Valencian Government and ACM envisages this possibility and therefore with this contract we have guaranteed that in the case of a finding that went against Alinghi, the interests of the Valencian Community would be protected.
‘However Major Project coordinator Jose Luis Villanueva stated that whilst the Valencian government had protected the interests of the Community, it was still hoped that the pre-regattas would be staged in Valencia.’ …Â Details