2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - Play By Play | Tweet By Tweet

Infineon Raceway "Tweet Up" just after Knockout Qualifications at the "Wine Country Winner's Circle" in Sonoma. Discussions included Reds? or Blacks? ... from the looks of things in pit lane, 15 of 16 Dallaras have Reds to start the race. Only EJ Viso is on Blacks. Image Credit: FollowAndretti via TweetPhoto

2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - Play By Play | Tweet By Tweet

Qualifications for this last Road/Street circuit of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season had one surprise and the Knockout qualifying structure netted its desired results.

With the top 16 positions having lap times within one-second of each other, the best road drivers in the best equipment ended up at the top ... with ChampCar World Series transition driver standout Will Power setting an IZOD IndyCar Series record of capturing eight poles in one season. Defending Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma champion Dario Franchitti, Power's nearest title rival and last year's ICS season champion, was nearly half a second behind in third.

Will Power as he is presented with the Mario Andretti Road Championship Trophy by Mario Andretti with Jack Arute of Versus officiating. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

The rest of the Firestone Fast Six in the Knockout qualifying session which is usually dominated by Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi was broken up by a new team with a longtime CCWS transition driver/owner Alex Tagliani of FAZZT Racing qualifying at P4 ... .6786 seconds off of Will Powers' pace which was the fastest lap set by any driver all weekend.

Will Power as he is presented with the Mario Andretti Road Championship Trophy winnings ($50,000) by Mario Andretti with Jack Arute of Versus officiating. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

How the field qualified (** denotes a driver or team that transitioned from the ChampCar World Series)

Pos Driver Team Time Session
1. Will Power** Penske 1m16.5282s Fast six
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m16.5652s Fast six
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m16.9437s Fast six
4. Alex Tagliani** Fazzt 1m17.2068s Fast six
5. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m17.2108s Fast six
6. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m17.3469s Fast six
----
7. Justin Wilson** Dreyer & Reinbold 1m16.9447s Round 2
8. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 1m17.1317s Round 2
9. Tony Kanaan Andretti 1m17.3181s Round 2
10. Raphael Matos** De Ferran Dragon 1m17.3710s Round 2
11. Simona de Silvestro** HVM** 1m17.7429s Round 2
12. Dan Wheldon Panther 1m17.8280s Round 2
----
13. Bertrand Baguette Conquest** 1m17.5238s Group 1
14. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas** 1m17.5186s Group 2
15. EJ Viso** KV** 1m17.6825s Group 1
16. Graham Rahal** Newman/Haas** 1m17.5284s Group 2
17. Takuma Sato KV** 1m17.7112s Group 1
18. Marco Andretti Andretti 1m17.6216s Group 2
19. JR Hildebrand Dreyer & Reinbold 1m17.7659s Group 1
20. Mario Moraes** KV** 1m17.7532s Group 2
21. Vitor Meira Foyt 1m17.9149s Group 1
22. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne** 1m18.0422s Group 2
23. Danica Patrick Andretti 1m18.3995s Group 1
24. Milka Duno Dale Coyne** 1m22.2980s Group 2
25. Francesco Dracone Conquest** 1m21.2262s Group 1
(ht: autosport.com)

The track at Sonoma ... Infineon Raceway in the morning. Image Credit: FollowAndretti via TweetPhoto

The following are Twitter entries (140 characters or less) excerpted and possibly edited submitted by people who are following the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. A play by play via "Tweet" by "Tweet"!

IndyCarNation Mario Andretti leads the field in the IndyCar two-seater with Stan, the Honda Sweepstakes winner.

TheEDJE Reds? or Blacks? ... from the looks of things in pit lane, 15 of 16 Dallaras have Reds to start the race #indycar

kvracing Moraes in car ready for the race http://flic.kr/p/8uwaf6

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma starts!

toomuchracing Green - immediate yellow, Wheldon is upside down

Fieldof33 What a ridiculously shitty start.

kvracing On start of race, Wheldon gets turned upside down before start finish line, he is out of car and walks to safety

99forever Thank God for roll bars

TheEDJE Danica Patrick dives into the pits to top off

pressdog Possibly the fugliest start to a race I have ever seen (link to story posting).

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - RESTART LAP 4!

TheEDJE Milka Duno shown the BLACK Flag LAP 5

kvracing On the restart Viso remain 12th, Sato moves to 15th and Moraes 18th. Viso pitting next lap for alternate (red) tires

TheEDJE EJ Viso in the pits to change from scuff Blacks to Reds ... wing adjustment - LAP 6

InfineonRaceway @DanWheldon is OK after accident to start race #indycar

SarahFisher67 Watching Sonoma. Hearing Power say qualifying was the toughest lap of his career reminds me how challenging/intense driving these cars are!

InfineonRaceway Working lap 10: Power, Helio, Franchitti, Tagliani, Briscoe. #indycar

IndyCarNation Hildebrand pits.

indy44 Single file hold your line.

TheEDJE EJ Viso ticks off quickest lap of the race after pitting off sequence

TheEDJE Marco Andretti pits off sequence - LAP 14

Andretti Autosport garage after Knockout qualifications. Image Credit: FollowAndretti via TweetPhoto

Newman_Haas Tough to pass here so people are trying to save fuel big time and hoping to go farther than others on their stints.

deferrandragon Jay: "how's the car?" Rafa: "good." Short and sweet

Several "Off Track" excursions shuffle the order - #77 of Alex Tagliani has flat tire possibly from contact with Ryan Hunter Raey

IndyCarNation Milka Duno #18 was black flagged (by request of the team) due to radio issues

indy44 LAP 20 - P1 12 P2 10 P3 3 P4 6 P5 9 P6 22 P7 37 P8 11 P9 2 P10 78

99forever IMS Radio says the reds are starting to go off for everyone.

paultracy3 Ohhh tag Ohhh tag

99forever LAP 22 - Wilson gets by Briscoe and puts a non Penske/Ganassi car in the top 5.

MikeM_PR @justinwilson22 nice pass for position on Briscoe for P5 now

kvracing Sato just pitted for fuel and black tires

TheEDJE Dixon and Wilson both place Helio Castroneves behind them - LAP 24

IndyCarNation Matos #2 has an on and off after contact with Simona de Silvestro #78, both continued

tomasscheckter @paultracy3 lol

99forever Justin apparently not at all concerned with the tires going off!

curtcavin Power is 10 seconds clear of Dario. #indycar

indy44 EJ and Simona make contact

InfineonRaceway Simona spins, Power in pits on lap 28 #indycar

99forever That spin as Will came in was almost interesting

curtcavin Will's lead was 17 seconds at the pit stop for both drivers (he and Dario)

InfineonRaceway Both Franchitti, Dixon in pits on lap 29 #indycar

FollowAndretti On lap 29... Marco P2, Ryan P9, Tony P11, Danica P18

deferrandragon Impressive to go that fast and save that kind of fuel

SPEED LAST LAP: ALMS Road America http://bit.ly/922f4g

YELLOW Flag - Duno off course on LAP 33 - Full Course CAUTION

IndyCarNation Full course caution for a spin and stall by Milka Duno #18 in turn 7

BeccyGordon Imagine that... #parkmilka spun!!!

deferrandragon That yellow helps us a bit.

IndyCarNation Pits are open with only Viso and Andretti making stops among the leaders

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - RESTART LAP 35!

IndyCarNation GREEN! Power, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Castroneves are top 5 after Viso and Andretti pit

AllenWedge RT: @deferrandragon: What that yellow did was allow the others to see what the back of power's car looks like again His lead was significant

pressdog @indy44 don't worry. It will be back.

YELLOW Flag - Hildebrand off course on LAP 38 - Full Course CAUTION

MikeM_PR Race is halfway @justinwilson22 P6 in fuel saving mode. Full course caution for Hildebrand

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - RESTART LAP 40!

pressdog Will Briscoe make himself wide to protect Power?

kvracing Back to green flag. Sato is 11th, Moraes is 16th. Viso had to pit again, he has problems with rear

deferrandragon Rafa 10th right where he started

toomuchracing Order LAP 43: Power, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Helio, Wilson, RHR, Rahal, Kanaan, Sato

indy44 Penske couldn't have planned it any better to have a teammate in 2nd behind Championship contender. Power leads Briscoe by 3,5 seconds

tomasscheckter Will power is probably txting and emailing people now wants to make the most of his weekend minutes. He is in a different world.

IndyCarNation Marco Andretti #26 made contact with J.R. Hildebrand #24 and Mario Moraes #32 in the last few laps.

99forever If we keep it up, we'll have six cars left. LOL RT @formula1blog For crying out loud! #parkMarco

IndyCarNation Lap 45: Power leads Briscoe by 3.2256 with Franchitti, Dixon, Castroneves, Wilson bunched together behind

FollowAndretti Lap 47 or 75... Ryan 7, Tony 9, Danica P1 Marco 18

IndyCarNation Not much separating P2-P7. Could get interesting

BeccyGordon Why did they let her back out??? #parkmilka spun AGAIN... Take a seat my friend. God I wish they'd let @OriolServia drive get car!

kvracing Moraes just pitted for fuel and tires. Rejoins 20th but field still to pit

Power leads the field by 5.1 seconds with 24 laps left

IndyCarNation Briscoe #6 pits from second place | Castroneves in as well

SpeedFreaks So let's be honest. Today's IndyCar race is about as boring as last night's NASCAR race. But why does it appear to be a bit more active?

RaceDrive So the new "stay out of gear until fuel is done" has gone "very" quiet - or did we miss something ? #Indycar

Newman_Haas GR in next time by - Reds out

indy44 Marco and Meira make contact in pit lane.

TheEDJE LAP 55 - All leaders have pitted except for Power and Dixon - RISKY

Newman_Haas Graham is P9 and Hideki is P19

TheEDJE Power in ... Dixon stays out for one more lap

IndyCarNation Power in the pits! http://ow.ly/i/3mpr

BeccyGordon She spins twice then they send her out in front of RHR on pitlane. WTH????? #parkmilka

TheEDJE Scott Dixon in - Scuff Reds laid out - Power back in the lead

IndyCarNation After pit stop exchange: Power #12 leads Franchitti by 5.9482 seconds with Dixon landing in third

Fieldof33 @99forever Unless Power is driving directly on the rims, I don't think the compound is going to make much difference for Power. :-)

indy44 Power +3.6153 - 15 Laps to go

IndyCarNation 15 left: Power, Franchitti, Dixon, Briscoe, Castroneves, Wilson, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, Rahal, Matos, Sato, Baguette, Patrick, Lloyd, Andretti

toomuchracing Dixon is chasing Dario closely - and he makes the pass! What's he doing? Dario's their only chance in the title fight

TheEDJE Dixon passes teammate Franchitti causing the #2 in IndyCar Season points to loose position

Newman_Haas To Graham: Helio and Briscoe are on blacks up ahead and are backing people up.

YELLOW Flag - Conquest's Bagette damaged as Viso and Sato are involved on LAP 66 - Full Course CAUTION

paultracy3 Ohh viso ohh viso , why do u do him that way

VersusIndyCar Join the IndyCar Sonoma Race Chat with @kevingraham1280 and @royhobbson right now! http://ow.ly/2t85G #indycar

IndyCarNation This late yellow flag could make for an interesting end to the race.

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Restarts on LAP 69 - 6 LAPS remain

TheEDJE Dixon challenges Power on the restart - pull away from the field

SpeedFreaks Wow, Dixon is giving it all he has for Will Power... this might happen.

TheEDJE Mutoh spins sets up a local YELLOW ... may go Full Course - safety truck on track

tomasscheckter Go dixon go dixon go dixon.

99forever Not the end-of-race battle I was expecting but dang! That's some serious racing we're seeing right there..

AllenWedge wow, commercial with 5 laps to go, thats an epic fail of ESPN type proportions there Versus

TheEDJE Sato takes out Danica Patrick

TheEDJE WHITE Flag - Power out in front of Dixon by six carlengths - Sato holds up Dixon

indy44 Versus camera crew head to Danica's area immediately

MikeM_PR Checkered flag @justinwilson22 takes it home in P6

TheEDJE Penske's Will Power wins fifth race of the 2010 season - Leads 73 of 75 laps

Will Power as he pulls into the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Team Penske team members greet the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma race winner, Will Power in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

FollowAndretti Checkered flag @InfineonRaceway... Tony 7th, Ryan 8th, Marco 12th, Danica 16th. #IZODIndyCar

indy44 Fact RT @paultracy3: The kv team has hit everything but the helicopter today

IndyCarNation Will Power #12 wins the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, Dixon, Franchitti, Briscoe, Castroneves are top 5

IndyCarNation 6-15: Wilson, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, Rahal, Lloyd, Moraes, Andretti, de Silvestro, Tagliani, Meira

IndyCarNation 16-22: Patrick, Mutoh, Sato, Viso, Dracone, Matos, Duno

Will Power being interviewed while the IZOD IndyCar Chick and the Firestone Firehawk mascot look on at the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Will Power being interviewed in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Will Power's winning Penske Racing Verizon Dallara and helmet in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

A proud Roger Penske (right) greets his driver Will Power (left) after winning the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Mario Andretti shares a congratulatory moment with Will Power in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Will Power being congratulated by his crew chief, Tim Cindric, in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Penske Racing Team as it celebrates Will Power's win at Infineon Raceway. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

toomuchracing Congrats to Will Power for a dominant win!

Fieldof33 Awwww, Hell Naw!!!! The IZOD Trophy Chick [Cameron Haven Playboy photo expose] just stood right in front of @speedfreakbash. Kick 'er ass, Bash!!!! :-)

IZOD Trophy Chick with the Firestone Firehawk in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

JSummerton Had a great day! Been fun! Great @IndyCarnation race. Congrats to Will Power. Hopefully will be in there fighting for the wins next year;)

IndyCarNation Power's Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma win is his third win from the pole this season.

IndyCarNation This is Will Power’s fifth victory of the 2010 season. He previously won at Sao Paulo, St. Petersburg, Watkins Glen and Toronto.

IndyCarNation Power is the sixth different winner of an IZOD IndyCar Series race @InfineonRaceway, have been no repeat series winners at @InfineonRaceway

indy44 Good finish, nice fight at the end between Power and Dixon. Will Power is definitely the King of the Road. Now bring on the ovals!

SFRacing Bring on the ovals @IndyCarNation! We'll see all of you @ChicagolndSpdwy next weekend!

... notes from The EDJE

Flower Of Scotland Streamliner Wilts At Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week

The Flower of Scotland is a 1 litre blown fuel streamliner. The streamliner is built to run in the I/BFS class of the So-Cal Timing associations Land Speed Racing at Bonneville on the Salt Flats. Image Credit: RickP, EVO Forum

Flower Of Scotland Streamliner Wilts At Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week

In one of the more publicized world land speed record attempts to be launched by a team from the British Isles, the Flower Of Scotland streamliner had a design and a plan that looked to have a real shot at the I/BFS record (I = sub 1-litre/ BFS = Blown, Fuel, Streamliner).

Stripped of its bodywork, this streamliner has the look of a rail-dragster ready for an attempt at a speed in the quarter mile. Aluminium front wheels mean the streamliner can only run on Salt which limits other competitive outings, but the Flower Of Scotland was built to do over 300mph in order to break the I/BFS record at 313mph. Image Credit: RickP, EVO Forum

The last, and most publicized attempt at a WLSR by a team from the British Isles was the British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC) effort last year at this time. On Tuesday, August 25, 2009, the BSCC established two world land speed records that had not been officially broken (reset) in over 100 years.

The official world land speed record (WLSR) for a steam-powered vehicle was originally set by the folks that created the Stanley Steamer (127.659 mph), with a specialized racer in 1906, where it sat on a shelf, only to be challenged once, unofficially in the mid-eighties at Bonneville with an adapted public transportation Lear steam engine (145.607 mph), until last summer.

The British Steam Car - Inspiration - on its first record-breaking run with Charles Burnett III on Rogers Dry Lake bed. The first photo shows the Steam Car at full speed on the first pass as it goes by a U.S. Air Force jet taxiing on an adjacent runway. The middle photo has the car through the middle of the second pass where it reached a speed of over 151mph. The last photo shows the British Steam Car as it completes its challenge to break the World Land Speed Record for the measured mile. [ctrl-click photo to launch BBC Video of record breaking run!] Images Credit: BSCC via BBC Video

The British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC) broke the WLSR for a steam-powered vehicle with a custom multiple (12) boiler engine settled into a British Racing Green Bonneville style racer, and after over five years of testing and development, attained two World Land Speed Records and one unofficial fastest top speed were established by the British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC), in the Rogers Dry Lake Bed (Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave, California). 139.843 mph by Charles Burnett III for the measured mile, 148.308 mph by Don Wales for the measured kilometer, and an unofficial fastest top speed ever set for a human-driven steam-powered vehicle of over 155mph set by Don Wales.

The Speed Scotland team and the Flower Of Scotland streamliner as it readies itself for the 2010 Bonneville Speed Week ahead. Image Credit: RickP, EVO Forum

This year, a Scottish team expressed its determination to beat the one-liter engine displacement world land speed record, when it showed up to compete in the Salt Flats of Utah at Bonneville Speed Week held from Friday to Friday on August 13-20, 2010.

The team named 'Flower of Scotland' was driven by 23-year-old Derek Palmer and 35-year-old Rick Pearson and managed by Palmer's father, Derek Sr., participated in the one-liter supercharged category in the streamliner car.

This team has been competing for sometime and won various British and European championships, including the last FIA European Michelin Supertouring Championship in 2001.

Rick Palmer as he sits in the cockpit of the Flower Of Scotland for the first time on the salt flats of Bonneville, Utah. Image Credit: RickP, EVO Forum

The car, which is described as an 'extremely tight fit', involves the driver having to lie flat and slide up the seat to jam his head into a roll cage. The controls consist of only a steering wheel with a CO2 power shift button, two parachute levers, three fire extinguisher levers, accelerator, clutch, and brake.

Speaking to the BBC about the Speed Scotland team, Team Manager Derek Palmer Sr. said 'Flower of Scotland' was packed with advanced technology.

"It is a wheel driven car which drives as a conventional car through the axles, not with a jet engine, and it is 1,000cc. The technology is all in getting the thing to push as little air to the side as possible and for there to be little rolling resistance," The BBC quoted Derek Palmer Sr..

"It is absolutely tiny - the car is only 22in wide and its less than 3ft high so it is the height of someone lying on their back.

It is as small as it possibly can be to make as little a hole in the air as possible," Derek Sr. added.

The Flower Of Scotland as it just about ready for a push and its first run on the salt at Bonneville, Utah. Image Credit: RickP, EVO Forum

This excerpted and edited from postings placed by RickP at the EVO Forum (all times reflected are times posted in Scotland) -

EVO heading for 300mph!
August 14, 2010 12:36 PM | Posted By: RickP

Well its 5am Saturday morning and today we head to the Salt for Rookie orientation and the drivers briefing.....

Tech inspection went well, we were in line around 11.30 and got finished just after 3pm which I'm told isn't too bad as things go...

my responsibilities were just to demonstrate to the safety crews that I knew the exact procedure to walk thru in an emergency, so fire chute 1 (high speed), then chute 2 (low speed), fire bottle 1, fire bottle 2, pop the belts, lift the canopy, wriggle free then fire the final fire bottle as I bailed over the side.

They are mostly looking for a lack of panic and to be honest, after the traditional Promotorsport pit stop which involves me being thrown half way across the pit lane, it was pretty tame!

So today we run... not that nervous... speeds won't be too high today and the car seems user friendly, hoping to complete 2 Rookie passes (150-175 ish and 175-200 ish) but the queue to run has been known to reach 8 hours long!

EVO DONE FOR SPEEDING AT BONNEVILLE
August 15, 2010 6:31 AM | Posted By: RickP

When was the last time you got into a car which you'd never driven, never even put into gear or turned the wheel away from the dead ahead, and fired it from 0 to 170mph in the space of 1 mile?

Throw in a track surface you not only don't know, but also don't really understand, and wheel technology that eliminates the need for tyres???

Then add in a cabin pressure issue that meant fumes were entering the cockpit and making your eyes water, and vibrations so bad that for 80% of the run you were basically only seeing blurs?

That pretty much sums up our first run down the Salt today and as you can imagine it was a full-on sensory overload!!!

The mission for today was to complete 2 licence passes, the first between 125mph and 150mph, the second in the 150mph to 175mph band, however due to the fact I basically couldn't read the tacho nor the gear selection indicator due to the fumes and the vibration, I actually made my first pass at 170mph! This DID NOT go down well with the Rookie supervisors here at Bonneville and I was given a dressing down and sent back to do it again.

Fortunately after making some changes we eliminated all these problems, ran a shake-down at 105mph to check the mods and then a pass at 127mph to be awarded our first 2 licences!

Tomorrow, a pass in the 175mph-200mph band and then we're free to run as fast as we like and start building towards the 313mph record we're chasing...

DAY 3 BLUES AT BONNEVILLE
August 16, 2010 6:14 AM | Posted By: RickP

Well they say Land Speed Racing is a tough sport and today wasn't much fun...

after the 3 passes yesterday we stripped the car down first thing to prep for today's activities and found some nasties in the front suspension. With safety paramount of course we set very high standards and so we took most of the morning out to get the set-up absolutely right....

then a couple of big (260mph) accidents on the long course pushed the queues for a run back a way (both drivers walked away) and it was 4pm as we came to the line...

the long course looked superb, 3 miles of salt visible before the mirage appeared to show water beyond, the mountain at the end of the track "floating"...

a good push start and instantly the improvement in the handling was obvious.. but as I fired the shifter for 2nd gear a loud rattle signified all wasn't well and I punched the chute and turned off the course...

A dog tooth broken off first gear had jammed the 'box and split the casing wide open... so as g/box is integral to the engine, this means a full engine swap before we run again tomorrow...

Such is racing....

200MPH TICKED OFF AT BONNEVILLE
August 17, 2010 5:24 AM | Posted By: RickP

A long day on the Salt in the heat waiting for the engine change to be completed... scalding hot as well with one of the panels of the car left in the sun hitting around 80 deg C... yup easy egg frying territory!

Finally hit the startline around 5pm and with permission to run between 175 and 200mph I put down a second mile at 200.213 and had to pull the chutes before the 3 mile mark as the car was racing on towards 250 and I didn't fancy another interview with the race director!!!

But all seems good with the new engine and we prepped the car for the next run but just ran out of time before the Salt shut for the night at 7... so first thing tomorrow we get to run the 200-250mph bracket and then hopefully we'll get a crack at the 250-300mph pass so we can start thinking about that 313mph record!

Fingers crossed we don't hit a technical hitch as we've got her running straight and true and I'm really comfortable both in, and with, the car now so feeling pretty good!

Fingers crossed, we're getting closer!

DISASTROUS DAY AT BONNEVILLE
August 18, 2010 12:49 AM | Posted By: RickP

Disaster struck the Flower of Scotland, as the first pass saw a chain thrown, then a second run saw the gearbox explode.
Those of you who are following us closely will know that this is the second gearbox and our last spare motor (gearbox is integral to the motor).

So it's all over.

The dream dies here for 2010.

Or does it? We've got transmission parts in Houston and we're desperately trying to get UPS to ship them out tonight, and we've got a guy in LA who is machining new transmission cases for us as we speak...

so I"m off back to Salt Lake, flight to John Wayne airport at 9.45pm, then back the other way at 6.45am hopefully with the parts we need to see the "Flower" fly again before the Salt closes Friday lunchtime...

Fingers crossed crew....
----
In a grotty hotel on the West Coast waiting for my flight back, but I've a newly machined engine casing in my "hand" luggage which is what we need... gearbox internals are on the UPS o/n so fingers crossed we could be running again Thursday... but if we do, it'll be with the wick turned right up... Never surrender!
----
Just landed back in Salt Lake with half a motorbike in my hand luggage!!! We're not done yet by a long way ...

THE FIGHT GOES ON AT BONNEVILLE
August 19, 2010 3:04 AM | Posted By: RickP

Well folks, you can imagine how fresh I feel after less than 3 hours sleep in at Santa Ana hotel last night and while I returned with all the parts we thought we needed, stripping down the remains of the original 2 engines showed that actually the damage was much more severe than we thought.

The crankshaft's and bearings on both engines had been destroyed in the brief seconds after the cases exploded in the gearboxes and the oil pressure dropped. SO we simply don't have enough parts to build one good engine.

However, the Speed racing community have rallied around us, and legendary Salt Bike racer, Joe Amo has offered to get on a plane from his South Dakota workshop and fly up tonight with what we need...

So the Speed Scotland team have decamped from the Salt (where you aren't allowed to work beyond 8pm) to the car park of a Casino in nearby Wendover and we've prepped the car and engine parts we have to pull an "all-nighter" once Joe gets here at midnight to be back out on the Salt early tomorrow!

The fight goes on....
----
It's 7am Thursday, and we HAVE AN ENGINE... although not in the car yet... these things don't always run smoothly and it's been a long a tough build night so far for the boys... but we'll get back out there... only problem, it's raining slightly so we're a little fearful for the Salt... going to need some luck!

ANOTHER TOUGH DAY AT BONNEVILLE
August 20, 2010 4:14 AM | Posted By: RickP

The Salt can be a tough mistress, but to be honest she’s virtually killing us here.

Another tough day. We had the engine back together for 7.30am after working all night once Joe Amo (fastest guy ever on a sit-on motorbike at 272mph!) arrived with the parts we were missing. One shift of mechanics went to bed, and another woke to put the engine in the car. This was completed around 11.30 and we were confident of being on the Salt for early afternoon. However on firing the engine up, we realized she was running badly and needed some pretty major open heart surgery. Including more parts we didn’t have!

Once again it looked like it was all over, and once again the Salt community managed to source us what we needed and the engine was finished by 5pm.

Panels back on and we whipped the car down to the Salt from the Casino car park HQ we’ve been using. Unfortunately the wind was pretty marginal for safety but we decided to make a pass anyway in a lull.

The Flower of Scotland went off the line well, but lost power within the first mile.

A quick investigation threw up another small failure in the transmission, clearly the destruction of the 2 engines so far this week had shaken stuff up more than we thought... but this time fortunately it was a quick fix... but not quickly enough to turn the car around for another run at the Salt tonight.

So we have one last chance in the morning: the car has been geared so that if it makes it the 5 miles down the Salt and I can keep my foot to the boards, we SHOULD run the record.

We’ll be on the Salt for sun up, and fingers crossed our luck will finally come good. It certainly feels like we’ve paid our dues...... the crew are pretty down, but we're not beaten yet.
----
The EDJE at 5:05 AM 20 August 2010

If The Flower Of Scotland is able to get the two run WLSR in and set the mark ... it will be a Hollywood ending to a study in perseverance ... otherwise it is a grand story of the camaraderie that exists when like-minded people come together with a common goal. Either way it is a story of deep human interest. God Speed and All The Best!
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RickP at 6:00 PM 20 August 2010

It's all over. The was to be no fairytale ending.

We turned up the boost and geared her for the record. Jeez, we even had our engine guy lead us in a swift prayer! The wind was up and conditions marginal but she went off the line well, but when the full force of the turbo kicked in the engine we built in the Casino car park cried enough.

Gutted right now. Had spent 3 days readying myself for the 300mph pass and now I'm crashing off the adrenaline.
----
With just 1 hour left in Speed Week our dream was over for this year and the crew are all shattered and pretty dejected, sitting here in the airport in silence.
----
FellRunner at 11:09 PM 20 August 2010

JOK is aware of what you've been doing this week, and as someone who has been fascinated by speed record breaking for years, it's been very exciting to follow the week's events.

Sorry the cumulative mechanical problems stopped you going for the record, but what you've done is bloody impressive!

Even thought you've clearly done a lot of racing, to step into (metaphorically!) a car for the first time and push it up to 170mph... well, I don't have a hat worthy of taking off to you!
[Reference Here]

The "Flower" may have wilted in the sun and the salt at Bonneville, Utah, but the competitive spirit of the "Salt community" and your team grew in the hearts and minds of all of those who tuned in to your team Speed Scotland effort through your posts.

'Till next year then, when you all will be back ... back to set a new mark in the pursuit of a one-liter engine displacement world land speed record at the 2011 Bonneville Speed Week - Monday, August 22, 2011 at 12:00am - Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 11:55pm!

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Bonneville Speed Week, Derek Palmer, Derek Palmer Sr., Flower Of Scotland, Rick Pearson, RickP, Salt Flats, The EDJE, WLSR, World Land Speed Record

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - 2010 - Infiniti IPL Launch

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - 2010 - Infiniti IPL Launch

Infiniti introduces their rumored specialty-performance vehicle collection, the Infiniti Performance Line. The first production vehicle from this group, the 348-horsepower 2011 Infiniti Performance Line G Coupe, debuts tomorrow evening at an exclusive event at the 60th annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It joins the Infiniti line of performance luxury vehicles at Infiniti retailers nationwide in December.

The Infiniti Performance Line, or IPL, offers a new level of premium performance for Infiniti vehicles, focusing not just on engine power and acceleration, but also on redefining total vehicle performance. IPL promises unique driving attributes with exclusive designs, different from other Infiniti models in each selected Infiniti line. The 2011 IPL G Coupe is the first of what is expected to be a range of IPL performance vehicles in the future.

Infiniti Performance Line vehicles are targeted at buyers seeking performance luxury vehicles that express a greater degree of individual style. The limited production IPL vehicles begin with Infiniti's legendary emotional design and Japanese craftsmanship -- and then heighten the luxury and performance levels through modifications to the exterior, interior, engine tuning and suspension.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

"IPL was conceived to create a new premium performance envelope, going beyond equipment upgrades to accelerate the very soul of Infiniti's Inspired Performance," said Infiniti Vice President Ben Poore. "IPL brings all the elements together, styling harmonized with performance, exhaust note with acceleration feel, ride comfort and confident handling. It's the perfect formula for unmatched driving exhilaration."
(ht: Infiniti)

... notes from The EDJE

Will Power's Trophy Run At Mid-Ohio ... Tweet By Tweet

IZOD Indy Car Honda 200 pre-race ceremonies under way on pit lane. Image Credit: 99forever

Will Power's Trophy Run At Mid-Ohio ... Tweet By Tweet

VersusIndyCar Job description has momentarily changed for part of the race, I am in charge of the "dump button" - wish me luck

IndyCarNation While they run through the starting line up, who do you think has the coolest driver name?

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - IZOD Indy Car Honda 200 is off and running!

IndyCarPR Lap 1: Pro Football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann waves the GREEN. #12 Power leads the field into Turn 4 to start the race.

Tony Kanaan off the course!

Takuma Sato passes Frnachitti for second place

IndyCarNation Franchitti is all over Sato right now.

openpaddock Dario overtakes Sato for P2 using an overtake assist...#IZODIndyCar

IndyCarNation de Silvestro is holding her own in 8th. Franchitti takes Sato for P2.

indy44 I'm willing to bet TK still finishes top ten after that bad start.

99forever Lap 4, Milka's just entering the carousel as Howard is exiting it.

sidepodcast sato drops back a place, now 3rd. watch and comment on today's izod indycar here: http://bit.ly/ba3ipC #indycar

RHR passes Castroneves for P5

IndyCarNation Power and Franchitti have pulled away from Sato. Dixon is considering a move for 3rd.

PantherRacing Looks like we're hanging tight in P13, our man @packdady says we're clear by 4 behind. #indycar

FollowMidOhio IZOD Indy Car Honda 200 Lap 6: Power, Franchitti, Sato, Dixon, Hunter-Reay

toomuchracing Apologies for the delay, I was detained at Mum's... now watching IndyCar

luvindycar Pre-Race News and Notes From Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio: Just a few quick bits of information before the IZOD Indy... http://bit.ly/b2eEmV

99forever So we have the field (including TK), a gap, Dracone and Howard, a gap... a gap... a gap... then Milka.

openpaddock Howard looking up the inside of Dracone

lookingspiffy How vague sounding is "Mid-Ohio"? It's like saying "Texas-ish." Or "Top Left of Wyoming". #IndyCar

openpaddock give Milka maybe 10 more laps

AllenWedge @toomuchracing having gone to track last year its perfectly appropriate; between cleveland and columbus in the middle of cornfields

IndyCarGarage @IndyCarNation @simdesilvestro looks good maybe a top five for her today ?

VersusIndyCar Top five right now are Power, Franchitti, Sato, dixon, and Hunter-Reay #IZODIndyCar #IndyCar

indy44 Pretty much all spread out now. Next position change will probably take place during pit stops.

99forever Milka leaving pits.

openpaddock Milka in and out...may have pulled her in to let the leaders go by

IndyCarGarage @openpaddock that's pretty generous. I would say she is lucky to make the twenty lap mark

toomuchracing RT @formula1blog: I'm confused. Why is the Versus guy talking about the "high side" of a corner? This is a road course #IZODIndycar

LAP 19 - Tony Kanaan comes into the pits - second one after Milka Duno

99forever Credit to Race Control for letting us know when people are being notified/warned. That's huge.

AllenWedge @toomuchracing you don't see track until the moment you arrive, its literally next to an Amish city/settlement

pressdog Milka doing 73 second laps compared to leader's 69. Somebody do the math.

IndyCarGarage @IndyCarNation agreed would love to see @RyanHunterReay win today. He was 4th last year driving for @AJFoytRacing

IndyCarNation Viso, Wilson and Andretti are in a good battle right now.

99forever The only one who hasn't lapped Milka twice is Dracone. Power's gaining on both of them. Tag into pits.

23 of 85 laps complete

indy44 Wilson into the dirt, killed the engine. EJ off course. Here comes the yellow time for pit stops.

IndyCarNation Now look for a ton of activity in pit lane. Teams are ready.

openpaddock That is the second time Viso has been involved in an iccident there this weekend

toomuchracing Replay: Wilson on the inside of Viso, EJ turns in without seeing him

IndyCarNation Pits are open. This is a big opportunity to gain positions.

FollowMidOhio L25, pits are open as the #8 car goes on the hook

RHR contacts Castroneves in the pits pushing Helio into Briscoe - ugly pit action!

IndyCarNation Hunter-Reay is limping back to the pits after contact with Castroneves on pit exit.

indy44 THREE WIDE! In the pits :(

99forever Not so much at the top end, apparently! RHR showing wing damage after contact with Helio on exit

indy44 RT @FirstTurnSpin: RHR radioed in "F*cking Helio.... we are done"

FAZZT77 @Tagliani pitted early & did not pit under yellow. He is the current leader #IndyCar @FollowMidOhio.

pressdog Welcome to your drinking phrase RT @KelsMinUSA: "The pits are tight" teehee

toomuchracing Sato lost out big time in the stops

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - Restart LAP 29

After 3 corners, Takuma Sato overshoots corner and is out of the race - FULL COURSE CAUTION!

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - Restart LAP 33

indy44 P1 Tagliani P2 TK P3 Dario P4 Power P5 Helio P6 Briscoe P7 Simona P8 Marco P9 Wheldon P10 Dixon

YELLOW Flag - third time in 10 laps

pressdog Vintage highlights were better than the present race

IndyCarNation Running Order: #77, #11, #10, #12, #3, #6, #78, #26, #4, #9, #32, #2, #36, #27, #02, #19, #06, #14, #7, #66, #24, #37, #34, #18, #5, #8, #22

adamcooperf1 ChampCar Champion Juan Pablo Montoya has finally scored his second career Sprint Cup win at Watkins Glen, 113 races after the first....

IndyCarNation Jay Howard #66 in the sand in turn 2, full course caution

99forever Alex getting some good air time. As silly as these yellows could get, he and TK are happy campers right now.

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - Restart LAP 37

FollowMidOhio Tags, TK, Dario, Power, Helio are the top five thru 38/85 laps

99forever Really? Did I miss the replay? He had been in twice before then.. RT @shagers JR hit Howard. Definitely.

toomuchracing Tags leads at the restart with TK on older tyres trying to hold off Dario and Power with new tyres..

prismsinc #JuanPabloMontoya #Montoya #JuanPabloMontoya #Montoya #JuanPabloMontoya #Montoya #JuanPabloMontoya #Montoya #JuanPabloMontoya #Montoya

openpaddock Dracone (SP) aka the new guy is throwing nasty hand gestures at Milka down the front straight #IZODIndyCar

IndyCarGarage @GrahamRahal up 11 spots from his starting spot. A top ten within reach

IndyCarNation Jay Howard #66 car is being pushed down pit lane by his crew

IndyCarNation Flags are crossed. We are halfway to the finish. LAP 43 of 85.

AllenWedge RT: @whatimthinking: AFS car is confusing the hell out of me Keep thinking "what the hell is a FIL car doing in the middle of the pack?"

99forever TK into the pits.

racintoday Montoya wins at The Glen. http://www.racintoday.com/archives/20179 #nascar

toomuchracing @IndyCarNation Not many would've predicted the current 1-2, let's see how the strategies play out

IndyCarNation Order after Kanaan pits: Tagliani #77, Franchitti #10, Power #12, Castroneves #3, Briscoe #6, de Silvestro #78, Andretti #26

toomuchracing For the record, Duno is only 2 laps down and 4sec/lap off the pace.

openpaddock well it is time for a Twitter commercial...aka smoke and restroom break

indy44 LAP 50 - P1 Tagliani P2 Dario P3 Power P4 Helio P5 Briscoe P6 Simona P7 Marco P8 Dixon P9 Baguette P10 Wheldon

IndyCarNation Can Tagliani pull out a surprise win? Pit in three laps with 10 car lengths on Franchitti.

FAZZT77 Nice job by Team Manager Rob Edwards on @VERSUSIndyCar interview... #77 car will have to lap 55 or 56. #indycar

IndyCarGarage Chip just said. "Nextel cup race"

openpaddock ok...back...Jay Howard is getting the helmet back on...should be out soon

IndyCarNation FAAZT tweeting the Tagliani #77 car will have to pit on lap 55 or 56

openpaddock Milka in and out...but at this point who cares?

toomuchracing Green flag pitstops are under way

openpaddock Moraes in and out clean.....huge burnout...damn

TAGS IN, LAP 56 - Clean and fazzzt pitstop!

openpaddock green flag stops happening fast and furious

Will Power clips Milka Duno - Castroneves pits in and out ... almost in front of TAGS!

indy44 Holy sheep shit. Power almost crashed into Milka. Helio bails into the pits.

Frnachitti and Power in the pits - Franchitti in front of Power and both are in front of Helio and TAGS!

openpaddock Rahal in the tires - backs out and continues.

IndyCarGarage looks like this will come down to Dario and Power....back luck for @grahamrahal

LAP 63 of 85

toomuchracing Yellow - Dracone is off course

FollowMidOhio lap 63, #FCY as Franchitti, Power, Castroneves lead

pressdog Oh shit. Reatart late with power P2 ring any bells?

99forever Graham just came in and put on a set of blacks.

IndyCarNation Lap 64 of 85: #10, #12, #3, #77, #6, #78, #9, #26, #36, #2, #32, #4, #37, #19, #27, #14, #24, #11, #7, #06, #02, #34, #18, #66, #5, #8, #22

IndyCarGarage Agreed best race of the season for @simdesilvestro ..RT @PippaMann: Someone please talk about @simdesilvestro! 6th place and ahead of Dixon!

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - Milka Duno spins and continues - LAP 66

@simdesilvestro looses a position on restart to Dixon.

YELLOW Flag - Dracone #34 spins and stalls on front straightaway.

openpaddock Drivers coming through the pits due to obstruction on track

PippaMann RT @MitchDoner: Let's go @TAGLIANI, @simdesilvestro, and @berbaguette!! #IZODIndyCar

IndyCarNation Dracone #34 restarted by the safety team and underway, pits are open

pressdog Power is an animal on restarts. HE WILL NOT BE GAPPED coming to the start.

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN - LAP 70

Power trails Franchitti by only .75 seconds

IndyCarNation Simona de Silvestro looking to better her best finish of 9th in Toronto by running in 6th place

openpaddock Helio sitting in third with the mission clear...win

IndyCarNation Top Ten after 71 of 85 laps: Franchitti, Power, Castroneves, Tagliani, Dixon, Briscoe, de Silvestro, Andretti, Matos, Baguette

pressdog I will be completely shocked if Power doesn't make a run at Dario before we're done.

IndyCarNation Matos past Marco.

openpaddock Dario starting to gap power a little...just a little

99forever Rafa just got Simona during commercial for P7.

IndyCarNation 10 laps to go. What are your predictions?

indy44 P1 Dario P2 Power P3 Helio P4 Tagliani P5 Dixon P6 Briscoe P7 Matos P8 Simona P9 Marco P10 Baguette

toomuchracing Matos is flying - He's passed 2 cars and halfway up to the next already

RHR back into the top 10 after having problems earlier in the race.

openpaddock RHR past Baguette...great drive for Baguette todaay...real low key solid run

pressdog RHR is a big fan of the no defending rule right now.

FollowMidOhio Franchitti leads Power by 1.25 with 7 laps to go

PippaMann Liking that @VersusIndyCar is explaining how the rule everyone hated in Edmonton is helping promote better racing here at Mid Ohio.

IndyCarNation 80 of 85 laps: #10, #12, #3, #77, #9, #6, #2, #78, #26, #37, #36, #32, #19, #4, #14, #24, #27, #11, #7, #06, #02, #18, #34, #66, #5, #8, #22

FAZZT77 5 laps to go in #IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio. @Tagliani is holding his own in P4.

Power pulls up on Dario Franchitti and may challenge for the lead over the last three laps

IndyCarNation RHR into the Top-10. Impressive considering they replaced a steering arm and stayed on the lead lap.

pressdog This is why I like Power. He wants to WIN. Settle for points is for the weak.

WHITE Flag!

Dario Franchitti leads Will Power by .5234 to the finish line!!!

CHECKERED Flag!

Dario gets his second race of the season ... Target Chip Ganassi Racing is on a roll by winning its NASCAR Race with Juan Pablo Montoya at Watkins Glen and the IndyCar race here by Dario Franchitti!

The race could have been cleaner but it was an interesting race to listen to and see through the words of Twitter!

pressdog T&S looks like @danicapatrick ran out of gas or went off course and got inhaled by 5 people on the last lap.

Dario is now 12th on the all time IRL win list and passes Gordon Johncock!

toomuchracing That means Ganassi wins 3 races this weekend: IndyCar, NASCAR Cup and GrandAm

VersusIndyCar P1-10 Dario, Power, Helio, Tagliani, Dixon, Briscoe, Matos, de Silvestro, Andretti, and Hunter-Reay #IZODIndyCar

VersusIndyCar P11-20 Baguette, Moraes, lloyd, Wheldon, Meira, Hildebrand, Kanaan, Mutoh, Carroll, and Rahal #IZODIndyCar

VersusIndyCar P21-27 Patrick, Dracone, Duno, Howard, Sato, Viso, and Wilson #IZODIndyCar #IndyCar

IndyCarNation Simona de Silvestro finished eighth, a career best IZOD IndyCar Series finish. Her previous best finish was ninth at Toronto.

IndyCarNation Danica Patrick has tied Scott Dixon’s record of 28 consecutive races running at the finishes.

toomuchracing Credit where due. RT @99forever: Also worth pointing out: Milka ran the entire race. She finished four laps down, but running at the end.

FAZZT77 Nice job @Tagliani ! Team started #Indycar race in 14th spot and takes the checkered in 4th! Awesome team work. #IZODIndyCar

IndyCarNation Congrats to Will Power for clinching the Mario Andretti Road/Street Course Trophy for the points championship today!

IndyCarNation Congratulations to Dario Franchitti winner of today's race at Mid Ohio. http://fb.me/FN7xKgVA

.... notes from The EDJE