Franchitti glad he tried NASCAR
Sep 6, 2008 IndyCar
Dario Franchitti insists he has no regrets about his brief fling with NASCAR, despite the injury and sponsorship struggles that interrupted his 2008 season, and says he wouldn’t have changed his decision to try it
Hamilton storms to Spa-Francorchamps pole
Sep 6, 2008 Formula One
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton snatched back pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix from Ferrari’s Felipe Massa on their final runs of the third qualifying session. The Englishman had been fastest after the first runs, saw Massa beat his time, but then finished his own lap three tenths quicker to settle the issue.
Hamilton lapped his MP4-23 in 1m 47.338s, Massa his F2008 in 1m 47.678s. And behind them, their team mates fought it out, Heikki Kovalainen bettering Kimi Raikkonen’s best to take third, with 1m 47.815s versus 1m 47.992s.
Behind them, Nick Heidfeld continued his rehabilitation with fifth place for BMW Sauber in 1m 48.315s to lead Renault’s Fernando Alonso (1m 48.504s), Red Bull’s Mark Webber (1m 48.736s), BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica (1m 48.763s), and Toro Rosso team mates Sebastien Bourdais (1m 48.951s) and Sebastian Vettel (1m 50.319s).
Bourdais had earlier been the sensation of Q1 when he set the fastest time in the dying moments, with 1m 46.777s, ahead of Kovalainen, Massa and Hamilton. Vettel had some problems in Q3 and was not able to produce his best form.
Neither of the Toyotas made it through Q2, Jarno Trulli taking his round in 1m 46.949s for 11th place and Timo Glock’s 1m 46.995s leaving him 13th. Between them was Renault’s Nelson Piquet (1m 46.965s), and behind them Red Bull’s David Coulthard (1m 47.018s) and Nico Rosberg in the Williams (1m 47.429s).
Q1 weeded out the Hondas, with Rubens Barrichello heading Jenson Button (1m 48.153s to 1m 48.211s) in 16th and 17th places, then came Adrian Sutil for Force €ndia (1m 48.226s), Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima (1m 48.268s) and Force €ndia’s Giancarlo Fisichella (1m 48.447s).
Tags: Adrian Sutil, Belgian Grand Prix, BMW Sauber, David Coulthard, F2008, Felipe Massa, Ferrari, Force india, Formula 1, Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki Kovalainen, Honda, Jenson Button, Kazuki Nakajima, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, MP4-23, Nelson Piquet, Nick Heidfeld, Nico Rosberg, Red Bull, Renault, Robert Kubica, Rubens Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel, Sebastien Bourdais, Timo Glock, Toro Rosso, Toyota, Williams
NASCAR postpones Richmond races
Sep 6, 2008 NASCAR
Threatening weather has forced NASCAR officials to cancel all on-track activities at Richmond International Raceway until Sunday.
Stewart signs Hendrick engineer
Sep 6, 2008 NASCAR
Tony Stewart has signed Hendrick Motorsports engineer Darian Grubb on a multi-year contract to make him his crew chief for next season.
NASCAR postpones Richmond races
Sep 6, 2008 Renault World
Threatening weather has forced NASCAR officials to cancel all on-track activities at Richmond International Raceway until Sunday.
Castroneves not losing hope of title
Sep 6, 2008 IndyCar
While 30 points might seem like a large margin to erase in one race, Helio Castroneves is convinced that it can be done.
Donington reveals redevelopment plan
Sep 6, 2008 Formula One
Donington Park has revealed its plan for redeveloping the circuit and facilities ready to host the 2010 British Grand Prix
Suzuki retain Capirossi, Vermeulen for ‘09
Sep 6, 2008 MotoGP
The Rizla Suzuki team will retain both Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen for the 2009 season, the Japanese squad confirmed on Friday.
(3.5 out of 5)