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INDY (Video): Danica & Duno Cat Fight? Angler Thinks Not.

24-Jul-08

Ya’ know? Don’t much care what the media’s goin’ on and on about, grin … just doesn’t look much like a catfight to me. Looks more like Danica Patrick is attempting to talk to Milka Duno in a reasonable way, no matter how po’d she may have been at the time - meanwhile, looks like Duno is simply behaving in a very Chavez-esque, falsely superior and otherwise generally disrespectful manner - and that ain’t impressin’ me one damned bit (as if her driving and sponsor ever have anyway, but I obviously and gleefully digress, lol …)

Seriously - I’m thinkin’ that Danica would’ve gladly bitch-slapped Briscoe a few times already this season, of course. Yet, her behavior with Duno, judging from this very short vid alone, could very well have turned toward a more mentoring and generally amicable relationship (at some point, especially if she’d already tried to talk to Duno three times that weekend and was apparently similarly dismissed as if she had nothing valid to offer Duno during those times as well - especially as an “evil American imperialist”, lol - and yet she still didn’t hop right over that wall and outrightly deck Duno, as I’m pretty sure I would’ve done if that woman had thrown that towel at me ONCE, let alone more than once, lol) - IF Duno wasn’t, well … let’s see - under-qualified, under-experienced, over-funded, and otherwise WAY OVER-CONFIDENT. (Oh - did I mention that she pretty much sucks out there, alllllllllllllll the time, yet still feels justified in being out there at all? Or, in fact, that Duno actually believes that she’s not a danger to those other drivers? Amazing ego on this chick, man. Whew … sounds like someone ELSE from her country I “know”, grin …)

(Not to mention … uh, or did I already mention this again, too - Duno’s sponsored by CITGO/CHAVEZ, and still a citizen of one hell of an anti-American country … country’s “leader”, in fact, who recently DARED us (the U.S.) to put Venezuela on the “terrorist watch list”??? HMMMMMMMMMMM … yeah … I’m pretty much thinkin’ that I may have mentioned some of this stuff at some point here … and I’m also pretty much thinkin’ that the faster she’s outa’ Indy and the U.S., the better & SAFER for all.)

What do YOU think, Grump? (And, of course anyone else interested in more than what two beautiful babes drivin’ fast cars arguing about seems to bring out in some men, especially, lol - hey, feel free to jump right in here with your comments - the water’s great, if just a tad shark-infested on angler’s side of THIS ride-pool, of course, grin …)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUd6n1Vti8

Filed in Cart, Champ, FAST, Fans, GRIN, General, Huh?, I Feel the Need, IRL, Indy, Jackass, Video, angler's attitude | | Comments (1) »

Smoke Will Announce #14 as his New Look

22-Jul-08

Tony Stewart will use Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the stage to introduce his new car number and sponsors. Activity on behalf of Haas-CNC Racing to trademark the number 14 suggests that Smoke will adopt the number made most famous by the legendary A.J. Foyt.  Foyt has always been the drivers driver and greatly admired by Tony.

On the sponsor scene, it looks like a split between Office Depot who currently sponsors the #99 Roush-Sox Ford driven by Carl Edwards, and long time Stewart sponsor, Old Spice. The concept of splitting sponsorships in order to fund a cup team is becoming the regular thing to do. The soaring costs of funding a top tier racing effort seems to have eclipsed even the most lucrative sponsors.

Tony Stewart is the defending Brickyard 400 winner. He considers the sacred ground of Indianopolis Motor Speedway to be his home track. No doubt he would love to back up this announcement with a win for his #20 home Depot Team. Smoke has performed well this season, but has failed to see victory lane in the cup series to this point.

There are no plans to announce who might be the other driver or sponsor at this time. The most highly speculated deal is for Ryan Newman to join his buddy, Smoke. Newman has announced that he will not return to his #12 Penske Dodge in ‘09.

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INDYCAR: Penske Pit Strategy Pays Off

21-Jul-08

Roger Penske left Ryan Briscoe on the track while the rest of the field pitted to switch from the grooved rain tires to slicks. Then, had Briscoe stop at lap 6 for the switch. It seemed like a bad move at the time. Instead, Briscoe’s pit sequence was off from the rest of the field.

The race was at the Mid-Ohio sportscar course in Lexington. with the NA$CAR cup series taking a day off, the IndyCar series was in the spotlight.

“Roger, with his experience, he always finds a way to pit at the right time and get you back up to the front,” said Briscoe, who drove sports cars for Penske last year before moving to the IndyCar team this season. “Today was a perfect case of that. Once we got back up there, we had the pace to run fast and pull away. It was just perfect.”

“Team Penske was just awesome,” Briscoe said. “That was all Roger; that was his strategy.”

The finish was a 1-2 Penske sweep with Helio Castroneves second, Scott Dixon on the podium as 3rd.

“There was one point where we fell back in the pack, staying out a bit too long on the wets,” the 26-year-old Australian driver said. “I was thinking to myself … ‘I know it can be done. I know with Roger calling my strategy, we’ll get up to the front. But if we get to win this, it’s going to be awesome.’ I actually thought that to myself, and here we are.”

“I think that was the only chance we had,” Penske said. “What a great drive for Briscoe. I think he’s validated himself now as one of the top drivers in the Indy Racing League. And, to finish 1-2, I couldn’t believe when I saw what happened here a few minutes ago.”

“We took a gamble of pitting a bit early for that second stop to try to gain track position in case a yellow came out, because you don’t lose a lap on a road course pitting on the green,” said Briscoe, who won earlier this season on the oval at Milwaukee. “That was the key stop for us, because sooner or later a yellow did come and we’d already done our stop and everybody else had to stop on the yellow. We cycled to the front. That was really the turning point for us in the race. From there, it was all about speed.”

His teammate agreed.

“Ryan got lucky on his strategy and drove a great race, opening up an 11-second lead,” said Castroneves, still winless this season. “That’s it. There was nothing we could do. Second’s a good place. Another one. I’m not going to worry about winning, I’m just going to be happy with second for now.”

**********

Grumpy saw a great video of Danica talkin smack with Milka Duno following a practice session on Saturday. Perhaps we can get that up later today.

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NHRA: Kalitta Funny Car will Return

19-Jul-08

by Brad Littlefield, National DRAGSTER
7/17/2008

 

The loss of Funny Car driver and two-time Top Fuel world champion Scott Kalitta as the result of an accident at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park June 21 left a void in the pits that has been felt by racers and fans alike. Though that void can never be filled completely, the DHL-sponsored Funny Car team will hit the racetrack again this season and perhaps fulfill Kalitta’s vision by completing his and father Connie’s quest to field a winner in the Funny Car ranks, which they had worked tirelessly toward since their return to the class in 2006.

The Kalitta Motorsports team is still searching for answers regarding Kalitta’s accident along with exploring driver possibilities but is geared toward a return to the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour this season.

“We will bring the Funny Car back out this year; we just don’t know when,” said Jim Oberhofer, team manager of Kalitta Motorsports and crew chief for Hillary Will. “It could be Brainerd, it could be Indy, or it could be later. Connie is bound and determined to get it back out there.”

The challenge of racing in the Funny Car class for the first time since 1989 proved to be just that. Connie, who shares tuning duties on the DHL Toyota Solara with crew chief Glenn Mikres, wanted to master the shorter-wheelbase counterparts to his more familiar Top Fuel drivers, and Scott felt he had unfinished business in the category. He had only one flopper win to his credit (at Houston Raceway Park in 1989), and he thought he did all he could in the Top Fuel ranks after world championships in 1994 and 1995, 17 wins, and national record performances.

The team struggled initially, winning only seven eliminations rounds in 2006 and four in 2007. The team showed promise at times but was unable to find the consistency needed to score on  race day. The group appeared to be on the upswing this season, though. Scott made his first final-round appearance since his Funny Car return at the Chicago event, filling the team with confidence prior to Englishtown.

“When Connie first talked about putting a Funny Car on the track for 2006, he wanted to do it for the challenge of taking something different and making it competitive and maybe win races with it,” explained Oberhofer. “They struggled for the first two years, but the car was finally showing signs of life. I think that runner-up in Chicago was a turn in the right direction, and Connie Kalitta doesn’t quit on nothin’.”

A lack of parts and pieces isn’t an issue for the DHL team, which has a brand-new chassis sitting in its shop waiting to be put together. However, the search for answers regarding the accident is ongoing, and no driver has been slated to wheel the 7,000-horsepower flopper at this time.

“It’s hard to get motivated about looking for a driver because you can never replace Scott,” said Oberhofer. “We’ve talked to people like Del Worsham and Tim Wilkerson to get their insight. Our choices are pretty limited since we can’t test and therefore can’t license anybody. We’ll have something within the next couple weeks as far as a driver and a timeline of when we can get back out there.

“Obviously, we are first and foremost trying to figure out what happened and what we can do to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Oberhofer continued. “Scott’s accident may have been a one-in-a-million deal, but we’re going to do what we can to minimize those odds even further. That’s a promise we made to Scott’s wife. Maybe Scott can save a life.”

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GM cost cuts will Impact Auto Racing

17-Jul-08

The wilting economy has impact on just about every facet of our lives. Fans of auto racing will not be excluded in this. General Motors, struggling to remain number one as the worlds auto producer has been looking at ways to stop the bleeding. Money spent in auto racing is on the table for scrutiny.

“Like all areas of the business, these areas have not gone without a certain level of scrutiny, and there will be modifications and changes in our promotional footprint in all of those areas,” Troy Clarke, president of GM North America, said Tuesday. “We’re not going to talk about the details today, and specifically NASCAR, but all those areas have been reviewed and will continue to be as we work these action plans through.”

Scott Cooper, vice president of communications for SMI, said nobody is panicking.

“We’ve seen bad times with the economy before, and we’ll likely see them again,” Cooper said Wednesday. “At the end of the day, we’ve still got a sport that pairs up well with the American car manufacturers. We believe the sport will continue to have tight relations with those manufacturers.”

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said GM’s news was not surprising.

“Obviously, we’re going to continue to speak to all the manufacturers on a regular basis,” Poston said. “But NASCAR has served them well, and they are getting a good return on their investment. And they know NASCAR has a huge audience and loyal fan base eager to buy their products.”

Sponsorships of specific race events and tracks are sure to be gone. How these cuts will impact teams is yet to be seen. Grumpy has read where GM’s Chevrolet division puts about $30 million per season into Hendrick Motorsports. Other Chevy teams like, RCR, DEI are sure to also be on the take from the General.

This development is not limited to teams and tracks tied to GM. Ford, Chrysler and even Toyota are suffering from slumping sales. Skyrocketing gas prices have dropped the bottom out of the lucrative truck and SUV sales. Buyers are moving to more thrifty compact cars and hybrids. The manufacturers cannot just make that kind of change overnight. Grumpy thinks they should have seen it coming when gas prices shot passed the $3.00 level.

For the fans, we are seeing with our own eyes the impact of the economy. TV cameras pan over the grandstands during race coverage. The empty seats are everywhere. People cannot or will not suffer the high fuel cost along with high ticket prices, extortion rates for track consessions and hotel rates that climb for the event weeks. The fans are speaking with their wallets. The NA$CAR circus comes to town with a license to print money. Perhaps those times are over. At least for now.

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Barrett-Jackson in Vegas and You are invited

17-Jul-08

Scottsdale, Ariz. - July 14, 2008 - Collector car aficionados from around the world will descend on Las Vegas Oct. 15-18, 2008, when the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company brings their acclaimed auction and lifestyle event to the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino for the first time. Hundreds of desirable collector vehicles will be sold at No Reserve during the auction at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, while SPEED cameras capture live, high-definition coverage.

“Now that we’ve completed two successful auctions in Scottsdale and Palm Beach this year, we’re looking forward to bringing the Barrett-Jackson brand of high octane excitement to Las Vegas,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We’ve always believed that adding a Las Vegas event was a natural step in the evolution of the company and have received an overwhelming response from consigners and bidders who want to participate in our Vegas auction. As with all Barrett-Jackson auctions, every vehicle in Las Vegas will be offered at No Reserve, which will ensure an accurate, honest marketplace for our customers.”

“When consignors want maximum value for their collector cars, they bring them to Barrett-Jackson,” added Steve Davis, President of Barrett-Jackson. “And bidders know that our selection is second to none and that every vehicle is sold when it crosses the auction block. We’ll continue that tradition in Las Vegas with a lineup that appeals to seasoned collectors, as well as first-time buyers. We encourage people to consign their vehicles as early as possible in order to take advantage of our world-class marketing that attracts the hobby’s top collectors.”

The 2008 Las Vegas event will kick off Wednesday, Oct. 15, with a festive party on the famed Mandalay Bay Beach, featuring live entertainment, libations, and a significant charity component benefiting the Lili Claire Foundation. Lili Claire was established to enhance the lives of children living with Williams Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Autism and other neurogenetic disorders, while providing hope and resources for the families who love them. The foundation will also be showcased during the auction when a 2008 Barrett-Jackson Edition Ford Shelby GT Mustang crosses the block along with appearances from Lili Claire’s celebrity supporters. Only 100 of these high performance muscle cars were built and all proceeds from the sale of the car will be donated to the charity.

Barrett-Jackson represents the gold standard in classic car auctions by providing an exhilarating mix of vintage vehicles, high-energy crowds and thrilling bidding action made possible by their No Reserve policy,” said Mandalay Bay President and COO Bill Hornbuckle. “The energy and excitement of Mandalay Bay and Las Vegas will provide the perfect complement to this highly anticipated event.”

***** The anglerred group will be staying at Excalibur, just 1 block away from the action at Mandalay Bay.

For all our readers that love to see the classic and share the excitement, we welcome anyone who wishes to join us for this event.

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More Classics from the 4th

15-Jul-08

The photo at right is a 1930’s era Duessenburg. What a work of art. By far the best of show picked by Grumpy. We love all things about classic cars. The coachwork on this car was breath taking. At idle, the engine is so smooth that you barely know it is running. The craftsmanship of this car is  flawless.

Bob called the other night. He conceded that I was correct about the identity of the deck lid used in the polish booth. If that statement makes no sense, read my post on the 4th of July. The fact that I got one over on Bob is pretty cool. It is not an easy thing to do. Because of Bob, www.anglerred.com has a few new readers up in the northwest part of Missouri. So, welcome to all who know Bob. You have no idea how good it is to know Bob. For all the angler readers, if you are near Maryville, Mo. stop in a say Hi to Bob. You can find him at Boyles Motors. They are the GM dealer in that town and Bob is the service manager.

Bob and I, along with our poor, but faithful wives will be in Las Vegas October 15-19 for the Barrett-Jackson Classic car auction. While Mrs Grump and Gayle go off to see the Liberace museum, Bob and I will be at Mandalay Bay catching all the excitement and color of one of the world’s best classic car auctions.

If the boss at anglerred would just teach me how to do it, I will post a few more pics of the cars we saw on the 4th.

Speaking of Bob, he asked me to look into a little rumor he heard. It seems that on the final lap of the cup light race in Daytona, We all saw what looked like Steven Wallace hit his uncle Mike Wallace. The contact caused the Geico Toyota to hit the inside wall. The post race interview with a very upset Mike Wallace may not have told the whole story. NA$CAR officials are quietly investigating allegations that Warren Wallace may have been driving the RWR entry. Steven Wallace was found in the front lounge of his hauler wearing only his nomex underwear and tied up with duct tape over his mouth.  

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Penske South: Newman will Leave

14-Jul-08

What a difference you can have in just 48 hours. Penske South has announced that Ryan Newman will indeed leave at the end of the ‘08 season.

The Captain himself had this to say;

“We want to thank Ryan for his hard work and contributions to Penske Racing over the past nine years,” said Roger Penske, owner of Penske Racing. “We wish Ryan all the best for the future and we’ll continue to focus our efforts on making the Chase with Ryan and the Alltel Dodge team this season.”

The Daytona 500  winner had nice things to say about Roger and the Penske team.

“I appreciate Penske Racing and all they have done for me, but more importantly, I appreciate their friendship and what they have done for my career,” said Newman, 30. “I would also like to thank all of the sponsors, especially Alltel, who have supported me.”

So there you have it. We won’t have to wait until the Brickyard 400 to learn this one. Now, all that is left is to announce that the Rocketman will join Smoke at Stewart-Haas.

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Chicagoland: Yeah, I know, He won again

13-Jul-08

The guy is having a dream season. The one most people love to hate. he won the Cup Light race on Friday night. He started from the pole for the cup race because qualifying was cancelled by weather.

For most of the night, he was in his own zip code. Grumpy might tell you more, but did not see much of the race because of the coma induced sleep caused by yet another wide, 1.5 mile boulevard track.

There was a late race duel where Jimmie Johnson took the lead. Then a caution occured with just a few laps to go. The JGR Toyota was right on the #48’s bumper as they came to the green. The #18 then powered by and never was challenged as he took the checkers.

“He timed it just right and rolled up on me,” Johnson said. “When I heard the spotter say. ‘Looking!’ I knew I was in trouble.

“I didn’t make the best decision there on the restart. I should have given him the inside. I really wasn’t thinking defense, we had such a good car. Looking back if I had to do it all over again I would have played defense more.

“The bright side is we showed we could beat that 18 car. We were pulling away until that caution.”

If I have the count right, that makes the 7th victory in the cup series. Wins in the Cup Light and NCTS series bring his trophy total to 14 for the ‘08 season so far.

This is a dream season, man,” Busch said. “I just cannot believe this.”

Well stated Kyle, there are many who say the same thing.

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Ryan Newman in the Spotlight

13-Jul-08

Now that Tony Stewart has made his announcement concerning his deal to move to the Haas-CNC team, all eyes are on his presumptive teammate in the venture. Daytona 500 winner, Ryan Newman continues his quiet demeaner. When asked if he is going with Smoke, he replies that ‘no such deal is in place’.

“No, I haven’t agreed,” Newman said. “I told you point blank – I’ve never lied to you and I won’t lie to you. I haven’t agreed. I don’t know my answer.”

“Driving for Tony’s team is an option,” Newman said. “He’s got an open seat. Obviously you guys marked me as a lead candidate to get in there, so it is an option. …I’ve had a lot of discussion with a lot of people.”

The most important thing to me is performance, winning a championship and achieving the goals outside of what I’ve done – a lot of poles, wins and winning the Daytona 500,” Newman said. “There are still a lot of things out there for me to achieve.

“I see potential to win a championship where I’m at. It’s just that potential hasn’t proven to be as high as other organizations. That’s just a statistical fact. I’m just doing what I have to do to put myself in the best position to move forward.

“It’s probably one of the hardest decisions that I’ll have to make as a driver and maybe as a person, who knows. …It’s not an easy answer that comes to you.”

On the potential sponsor front, Jack Daniels was rumored to leave RCR to join the Stweart-Haas venture. That rumor has been hotly denied by Childress, who states that Jack is staying on his #07 at least through the ‘09 season. Another sponsor in this twisted drama is UPS. It seems certain that MWR will lose UPS at the conclusion of the ‘08 season. Maybe they will be part of this story. We could learn the answers to all this as early as two weeks from now as the NA$CAR circus train makes its annual visit to Speedway, Indiana (Tony’s home track). The NCTS and Cup Light series both run at the legendary short track known as O’Reilly Raceway Park, while the Cup series will run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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