Iowa Speedway Uses First SAFER Barrier in New Construction

Iowa Speedway, which hosts the IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series this weekend for the first time, became the first track to be constructed using the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) Barrier developed by the Indy Racing League and the University of Nebraska.

The SAFER Barrier was first installed in all four turns at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2002. Subsequent installations of the system around the globe have been retro-fit to existing concrete walls of racetracks.

That changed with the design and construction of Iowa Speedway. At the suggestion of Indy Racing League senior technical director Phil Casey, the track became the first to install the new Alternative Backup Structure around the entire perimeter of the 0.875-mile racing surface. The new system incorporates anchored steel posts with bundles of closed-cell polystyrene foam between them and the (40-inch tall, 28-feet long) square structural steel tubing (8 inches each, stitch welded at seams every 12 inches) that comprises the “soft wall.”

“Racetracks that are already built have cement walls, so it was easy to put the SAFER Barrier and the foam against the cement walls,” Casey said. “If you have temporary circuits like road courses or building a new racetrack, you need a way to put up SAFER Barriers and it’s so expensive to put up cement walls (about $4 million on a mile racetrack). Consequently, the Alternative Backup Structure saves about a third of the cost.”

All 12 ovals on the IndyCar Series schedule contain the SAFER Barrier.

Impacts in early races at the speedway have supported data of development and testing by the University of Nebraska group.

“It’s very strong,” Casey said. “There was considerable testing. A few ARCA cars and Silver Crowns have hit it and it performed well.”

A similar structure – a steel post imbedded in a concrete barrier with the foam and steel tubing fronting it -- could soon be incorporated in sections of road/street courses (selected corners) and ovals (pit lane walls, inside racetrack).

“Any new facility or road course that needs it in high-speed corners, the recommendation would be to put the latest generation in,” Casey said.

The sanctioning body also is working with the University of Nebraska team on development of a pit lane attenuator system (nose of pit lane wall), which is entering the testing phase. Upon impact, the device compacts (slides on a center rail) to absorb the energy.

“There is always room for development,” Casey said.

source: IndyCar

Fernando Alonso Will Be World Champion - Flavio Briatore

Flavio Briatore, Renault Team Boss believes that Fernando Alonso is going the win the world championship.

The flamboyant Italian was the team boss of Renault when he scouted Alonso and he guided him to his first 2 world championships in 2005 and 2006.

Lewis Hamilton, Alonso’s nearest competitor has moved 10 points ahead in the standings after another win at the USGP.

“Fernando will win, I’m 100% sure,” Briatore said in a newspaper interview. “He knows what he needs to do. Last year there was a moment when it looked like he would lose the title. Everybody thought he was going to lose it. But pushing together we ended up winning."

“To win, he must do the same thing he did in the last four races last year. Focus on his work in the car, not let outside voices distract him.”

Briatore added: “I think Fernando, above all, is a champion. Like everybody, he is having difficulties to adapt to a new team. He has gone from using Michelin tires to using Bridgestone, while Hamilton already knows the tires from GP2.

“He has experience and, if the McLaren stays ahead of the Ferrari, he must remain calm, focus on himself, forget about the rest, and that way he will win the title.”

Emerson Fittipaldi wants Renault to give Nelson Piquet Jr. a chance.

Nelson Piquet Jr should be given a chance to resume his personal battle with former GP2 Series rival Lewis Hamilton, according to double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

The Brazilian veteran has told Reuters that he feels his younger countryman could surprise as much as Hamilton has done if given the chance to race this season, despite the fact that Piquet would be lining up with Renault. Hamilton won his second grand prix in as many weekends when he beat team-mate Fernando Alonso to the line at Indianapolis on Sunday, but most accept that his success has been accelerated by running with Mclaren, which has established itself as the form team in 2007.

Fittipaldi, however, has called on Renault boss Flavio Briatore to replace one of his current line-up with Piquet Jr, a decision that may have been easier until the end of last month as rookie Heikki Kovalainen struggled for form. However, the Finn has since recorded back-to-back points finishes in Canada and the USA, coming from last on the grid to take fourth in Montréal and out-qualifying veteran team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella at Indianapolis.

Piquet has been tipped to replace either driver since being signed as Renault's reserve this season, but is more likely to step up at the end of the year should Fisichella decide to hang up his helmet.

"Nelson and Lewis were the two hardest competitors in GP2 last year," Fittipaldi reasoned, "He's extremely talented and, if you ask me what is the next hope for Brazil, I think it's Nelson Piquet Jr. Talking about natural talent, I think Nelsinho could surprise as much as Hamilton has surprised."

The Brazilian A1GP team boss, who has first hand experience of working with Piquet in the World Cup of Motorsport, went to claim that his 'protege' had more potential for success than current Ferrari points leader Felipe Massa - in much the same way as Hamilton has raised British hopes over and above those previously carried by Jenson Button.

source: crash.net

John Andretti set to take Kyle Petty's ride for five Nextel Cup races

by Jason Tweed, GrandPrixChamp.com

John Andretti made a less than spectacular return to Indy in May. He finished 30th after an interlude with the wall.

Apparently, he's now returning to NASCAR, at least part time. According to the Allentown Morning Call, local paper to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where the Andretti's call home, Andretti is returning to Richard Petty's racing team for a few races this season. Kyle Petty is scheduled to do a few races from the broadcast booth, in what would appear to be a long overdue career transition.

Read the full story: John Andretti Set to Take Kyle Petty's Ride for Five Nextel Cup Races

Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008

We don't normally report on NASCAR in this forum, but some news impacts all of motor sports. The news that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has signed with Hendrick Motorsports is such a story.

If you haven't been following NASCAR this season, this is important because Dale Earnhardt Jr. failed to reach an agreement with his current team, founded by his late father. Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) is owned and operated solely by Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s widow Teresa. Many fans felt that Dale Earnhardt created the team as a legacy for his son, however Earnhardt Sr. made it very clear in his will, signed only a short time before his death, that 100% ownership of the team would pass to Teresa.

Earnhardt Jr. was renegotiating his contract in this, his last season with DEI. As part of this negotiation, he requested 51% ownership in Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. It was reported that he had come to an agreement with the company, then suddenly reported later that the agreement fell apart before the signing.

Today Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, announced the Dale Earnhardt Jr. would race with his team. Hendrick Motorsports has multiple NASCAR championship trophies, most notably last year's trophy with Jimmie Johnson and four championships with Jeff Gordon.

Check out this report and video of the press conference with Dale Earnhardt Jr. from ESPN.com.

Alex Lloyd could win $$$ for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation

Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Indy Pro Series points leader Alex Lloyd announced the "Racing for Recovery Challenge," a pledge drive to take place leading up to the Liberty Challenge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on June 16-17.

The team is offering an opportunity for companies and individuals to sponsor a race car with all proceeds going to the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. If Lloyd wins either race, those responsible for pledges will agree to donate $1,000 to the foundation. Should Lloyd win both races, the donation price tag will be raised to $3,000. If Lloyd does not win either event, donors that have made pledges will owe the foundation nothing.

Lloyd has won the first five races of the 2007 Indy Pro Series season, a series record. He will try to be the first driver to win on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and road course in the same year, as he won the Freedom 100 on May 25.

"As many races as Alex has been winning, we felt it'd be a great time to utilize his hot streak to help raise funds and awareness for our foundation," Schmidt said.

Read the full story: Schmidt Foundation Could Reap Bounty Of Lloyd's Victories At USGP

Robert Kubica Released from Hospital with Minor Injuries

Poland's Robert Kubica emerged from a Montreal hospital on Monday to say he had recovered from minor injuries sustained in a horrific crash in Sunday's Canadian Formula One Grand Prix and hoped to race next weekend in Indianapolis.

On Monday, Robert Kubica said he remembered "nearly everything" about Sunday's crash which shattered his car.

"As you see I'm quite in good shape and I'm hoping [to be] going to Indianapolis if the doctors will say OK for my driving," Kubica told reporters outside Montreal's Sacre-Coeur Hospital.

"I feel very good. I was very lucky -- big accident, but fortunately, nothing hurt," he added after walking gingerly down the steps of the hospital.

Kubica said he remembered "nearly everything" about the crash in which he suffered a slight concussion and sprained ankle.

The accident occurred when the 22-year-old BMW Sauber driver's car made contact with the rear wheels of Jarno Trulli's Toyota on the approach to the hairpin on lap 27 on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit and his car took off, flying through the air and slamming into a concrete wall before barrel-rolling across the track.

The crash shattered Kubica's car to the extent that his feet could be seen through the sheared off front end of the vehicle.

Source: Reuters via ESPN.com

Lewis Hamilton Predicted to Earn Beckham-like Money

Lewis Hamilton is on the cusp of superstardom, according to a famous British publicist.

Max Clifford, who has represented clients including the billionaire Harrods mogul Mohamed Al-Fayed, said the 22-year-old McLaren rookie is poised to become as big and as rich as David Beckham.

Football star Beckham recently signed a five year contract worth (US) $250m, and Clifford urged Hamilton to keep up his huge media profile if he wants to make the same sort of money.

He told The People: “Beckham has taken football into showbiz and it is important for Hamilton to be in the news because that will make him megabucks.

“(Lewis) has become a household name in five minutes and all aspects of his life are under a microscope,” Clifford added.

Hamilton, the reigning GP2 champion, has finished all of his five career grands prix so far on the podium, but he is yet to win a race.

Bill France Jr., NASCAR pioneer, Dies

Bill France Jr. died today, and NASCAR as well as the entire motorsports world has lost a pioneer. The France name became synonymous with NASCAR during the reign of Bill Jr. NASCAR, founded under his father, grew to maturity under France Jr.'s leadership.

The business of auto racing grew as well. The brand recognition of NASCAR, as well as the parity in competition, created marketing opportunities for businesses that never existed in motorsports.

Bill France Jr. lead NASCAR with an iron fist. His focused vision took NASCAR from a backwoods regional league of southern bootleggers to the national phenomenon that it is today, all without losing its values based in southern roots.

Whether you love NASCAR or hate it, you have to respect the job that Bill France Jr. did.

Check out the full obituary of Bill France Jr. on NASCAR.com.

Jan Heylen gets Champ Car ride for rest of 2007

Jan Heylen, who was recently announced as a driver in the inaugural Champ Car World Series event at Zolder, has now also been confirmed to a race seat with Conquest Racing in all remaining Champ Car races in 2007, beginning with next weekend's event in Portland. Conquest Racing is owned and managed by fellow Belgian Eric Bachelart.