Boston Herald - Boston Herald

AJ Allmendinger taking life 1 day at a time

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:42:38 -0400

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — AJ Allmendinger's parents attended their first Indianapolis 500 in 1979, when they camped in a grassy lot and watched Rick Mears win his first 500.

Their son was born two years later — Greg Allmendinger named him after A.J. Foyt, his favorite driver — and for a time it seemed like the Allmendingers would make it back to Indy with him. Allmendinger had risen through the open-wheel ranks to become one of the top drivers in the Champ Car Series with a five-win 2006 season.

Castroneves, Franchitti chase 4th Indy 500 win

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:19:17 -0400

NEW YORK — Helio Castroneves figures plenty of today's fans have never seen a driver win the Indianapolis 500 for a record-tying fourth time.

He can change that Sunday. So could Dario Franchitti.

It's been 22 years since Rick Mears became the third driver with four Indy 500 victories. He won No. 4 in 1991 to join A.J. Foyt and Al Unser in the exclusive club.

This will be the first time since 1987 that two three-time winners will start the Indy 500.

Jimmie Johnson wins again and shrugs off the haters

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:13:18 -0400

CONCORD, N.C. — It's only fitting that Jimmie Johnson's latest romp through the record books was shrouded in post-race controversy.

What's a Johnson win, after all, without a good conspiracy theory?

Johnny Gray races to 3rd victory of the season

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:12:12 -0400

TOPEKA, Kan. — Johnny Gray raced to his third victory of the season Sunday at the NHRA Kansas Nationals to regain the Funny Car points lead.

Gray beat Robert Hight in the final round at Heartland Park Topeka for his sixth career victory, finishing in 4.067 seconds at 314.90 mph in a Dodge Avenger. Hight lost traction in his Ford Mustang.

Ken Schrader oldest ARCA winner

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:06:43 -0400

TOLEDO, Ohio — Longtime NASCAR driver Ken Schrader became the oldest winner in ARCA Racing Series history Sunday, dominating the Menards 200 at Toledo Speedway.

The 57-year-old Schrader surpassed Iggy Katona as the oldest series winner. The Missouri driver won for the fifth time at Toledo and 16th time overall in the series.

"I love it," Schrader said. "That's five. We'll take it."

Schrader started second in his Chevrolet and led 163 laps

Mason Mingus was second.

Michel Jourdain Jr. fails to make Indy 500 field

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:01:03 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Michel Jourdain Jr. was the only driver who failed to make the Indianapolis 500 field during Bump Day qualifying Sunday.

The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver from Mexico tried to get into the field Saturday, the first day of qualifying, but fell short. The team switched engines and copied setups from teammates Graham Rahal and James Jakes to help figure out what was wrong. Nothing worked.

Young Americans waste no time qualifying for Indy

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:32:38 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Bump Day at Indianapolis followed the script.

No surprises, no drama and no drivers getting bumped.

On a day devoid of tension and rumors, all nine drivers who made attempts on the second and final day of Indianapolis 500 qualifications made it into the 33-car field, led by two young Americans — Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal — who easily had the two fastest cars on the track.

Indianapolis 500 fills 33-car starting grid

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:32:03 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — British driver Katherine Legge has become the 33rd driver to qualify for next week's Indianapolis 500, assuring race organizers of a full field.

Legge was the ninth driver to make an attempt Sunday, the second and final day of qualifications. She was hired Saturday to drive the No. 81 car for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

Ganassi foursome endures trying day at Indy

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:37:55 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Once again, Chip Ganassi Racing will start the Indianapolis 500 packed close together.

Unfortunately, for the foursome, that proximity is in the middle of the pack.

Hopes of cracking the top nine and claiming a front-row view were quashed Saturday during pole qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a gaggle of faster Chevrolets left Ganassi's Hondas behind as the first 24 slots were decided.

Jimmie Johnson races to record 4th All-Star win

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:47:06 -0400

CONCORD, N.C. — Cross another milestone off of Jimmie Johnson's list. He stands alone in All-Star history.

"Five-time" became the first four-time winner of NASCAR's annual All-Star race, breaking a tie with the late Dale Earnhardt and teammate Jeff Gordon on Saturday night.

"To beat Jeff and Earnhardt, two guys that I have looked up to my whole life, two massive icons of our sport, this means the world to me," Johnson said.

He also joined the late Davey Allison as only the second driver to win back-to-back All-Star races.

Fans vote Patrick into Sprint All-Star race

Associated Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:25:12 -0400

CONCORD, N.C. — Danica Patrick said she can't explain why she's popular among NASCAR fans.

She's just happy to have their support.

Patrick got a spot in the Sprint All-Star race Saturday night through fan voting.

I've said many times that I'm not sure what it is people like or see in me or why they cheer for me," Patrick said after thanking her fans for voting her into her first All-Star race.

Ed Carpenter earns Indy 500 pole

Associated Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:20:27 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Ed Carpenter turned Pole Day into a family celebration.

The stepson of IndyCar founder Tony George became the first member of the Hulman family to win the biggest pre-race event in the series — the Indianapolis 500 pole.

Carpenter produced a stunning finish to a day that was rife with suspense but lacked surprise. His four-lap average of 228.762 mph was quick enough to break up what appeared to be a Team Penske-Andretti Autosport lock on the front three rows in the nine-car shootout for the pole.

Indy 500 qualifying starts after rain delay

Associated Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:46:35 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis 500 qualifying has begun after a rain delay of more than two hours.

Series officials say they have pushed back the schedule. Originally, all cars were scheduled to qualify from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Now drivers will be allowed to make four-lap qualifying attempts until 6 p.m. The nine fastest cars will then get one attempt each in a shootout for the pole that will begin at 6:30 p.m. The 90-minute shootout was supposed to start at 4:30 p.m.

Steady showers soaked the track after Saturday morning's practice.

Earnhardt has a connection with Charlotte track

Associated Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:56:24 -0400

CONCORD, N.C. — At the height of his father's success at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would sit in the Turn 1 condos overlooking the track.

The Earnhardts are from Kannapolis, just one town away, and watching Dale Earnhardt at the speedway was a source of pride. Next week marks the 20th anniversary of the late Earnhardt sweeping both the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600, an event his son compared to the years his father dominated NASCAR.

Ex-NASCAR driver Dick Trickle dead at 71

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:54:55 -0400

CONCORD, N.C. — There is that lasting image of Dick Trickle in the Winston 500 lighting up a cigarette while driving his stock car with his knees during a caution lap.

He places the cigarette through a hole he carved in his helmet for a quick toke and exhales.

The green flag hits and out the window goes the cigarette butt and back to racing goes Trickle.

"Dick always had a cigarette lighter in his car," said fellow NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine.

Trickle was a unique driver with a unique name who found cult-like status before his death Thursday.

Rookie Carlos Munoz tops Indy 500 practice

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:57:31 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Rookie Carlos Munoz shot to the top of the speed chart in Indianapolis 500 practice Thursday with a lap at 225.163 mph, the fastest through the first six days of practice.

The Andretti Autosport driver turned the fast lap in the final 10 minutes of practice.

"I think everyone has been impressed with Carlos and his speeds so far," teammate E.J. Viso said.

Defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay was second in 225.006.

3-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti tops speed chart

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:06:20 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS — Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti topped the speed chart Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, turning a lap at an average of 224.236 mph in the fifth practice session for the May 26 race.

"It doesn't really count for much, but it's nice nonetheless," said Franchitti, the Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver who will be 40 on Sunday.

Cobb alleges Harmon stole her team transporter

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:52 -0400

SALISBURY, N.C. — NASCAR driver Mike Harmon has been accused of stealing a team transporter from Jennifer Jo Cobb.

Cobb reported the trailer was stolen early Saturday from the JJC racing shop. She is a driver and team owner in NASCAR's Truck Series.

Cobb told investigators the trailer was taken by Harmon and Sheila Rae Rice, and the Rowan County Sheriff's Office said it issued warrants for their arrest for felony larceny and breaking and entering.

Cobb estimated the value of the hauler and its contents at $279,000.

Honda to return to F1 as engine supplier

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:51 -0400

TOKYO — Japanese car manufacturer Honda is returning to Formula One in 2015 as an engine supplier to the automaker's former partner McLaren of Britain.

Honda president Takanobu Ito announced the decision at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday.

Honda was an entrant, constructor and engine supplier between 1964 and 2008, but pulled out of F1 after the global financial crises.

F1 drivers skeptical over penalty points proposals

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:07:50 -0400

Formula One is still in preliminary discussions over whether to implement a new penalty system that would in essence punish drivers for each infringement until they total too many points and get hit with a race ban.

Motor sport's governing body, FIA, has not presented an official format describing how the system would work. Drivers, however, already have some opinions on the issue.