2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300

Dario Franchitti looks to win the 2010 IndyCar title tonight in Miami. Image Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300

So it comes down to this ... ChampCar transition player Will Power is only 12 points ahead of two-time IndyCar Series Champion Dario Franchitti going into this last of 17 races in the 2010 season. If Will Power is able to finish just behind or better Dario at the end of the race, he will be crowned Champion of this 2010 season. However, if Dario wins the race and gets the points for most laps led ... it doesn't matter where Will Power finishes.

All during practice at the Homestead/Miami oval track, Power was able to run the fastest laps but when it came down to qualifying Dario Franchitti was able to put together two laps that placed him at the top of the grid in P1, teammate Scott Dixon in P2, and Will Power tucked in nose-to-tail right behind Franchitti in P3.

Here is how the 27 car field will line up (** denotes CCWS Transition Player Team or Driver):

Pos - Driver - Team - Speed
1. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 213.187mph
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi 212.908mph
3. Will Power** Penske 212.580mph
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske 212.158mph
5. Dan Wheldon Panther 211.933mph
6. Justin Wilson** Dreyer & Reinbold 211.630mph
7. Ed Carpenter Panther/Vision 211.444mph
8. Tony Kanaan Andretti 211.392mph
9. Takuma Sato KV** 211.355mph
10. Helio Castroneves Penske 211.240mph
11. Danica Patrick Andretti 211.013mph
12. EJ Viso** KV** 210.928mph
13. Mario Moraes** KV** 210.741mph
14. Bertrand Baguette Conquest** 210.738mph
15. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 210.715mph
16. Marco Andretti Andretti 210.698mph
17. Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher 210.671mph
18. Graham Rahal** Newman/Haas** 210.629mph
19. Alex Tagliani** FAZZT 210.520mph
20. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 210.030mph
21. Vitor Meira Foyt 210.017mph
22. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne** 209.433mph
23. Raphael Matos** De Ferran Dragon 209.311mph
24. Sebastian Saavedra Conquest** 209.308mph
25. Simona de Silvestro** HVM** 208.986mph
26. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas** 208.579mph
27. Milka Duno Dale Coyne** 207.961mph
(ht: autosport.com)

The IZOD IndyCar Series will take the green flag one last time at the Homestead-Miami Speedway tonight for the Cafés do Brasil Indy 300. Besides being the final race of the IndyCar season, it will be the final race of the near future at Homestead, after the longtime open-wheel hosts and the sanctioning body could not come to an agreement for a 2011 event.

As such, expect tonight to be a show of great magnitude, with both sides looking to go out with a bang.

Here begins the last play-by-play via Tweet-By-Tweet of an IZOD IndyCar Series race of the season ... so let the TWEETING begin!

FollowAndretti Tom Vossman of #Inland presenting @RacingForCancer the $10k check! http://plixi.com/p/48416770

MyNameIsIRL This intro has been one giant Penske/Ganassi lovefest.

TheEDJE @MyNameIsIRL If it were not for the fact that Will Power is a Transition Player - it would be BOREING! #indyCar #IZOD

RaceDrive Ok tweeps - have a great racing night - we are right there with you - in turn 1 #Indycar

factbytefactbox "We're ten minutes away from the command to start your engines." #izodindycar #irl

IndyCarNation Join us for the IZOD IndyCar Series Season Finale for the Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 from Homestead-Miami Speedway... http://fb.me/L4Sgzh1Q

kvracing National anthem been sung, drivers in their cars, just waiting for the command

VersusIndyCar Hey #IndyCar fans come join the chat with us and @kevingraham1280 while we watch the last race of the season! http://ow.ly/2Nvcr

PCaporali Getting ready for the start of the #IndyCar race. What the hell is my heart doing in my throat?!

Engines Fire Up! - Drivers start your engines!

Fieldof33 @99forever I did too read it. I still argue that Dario's year on twisties has been much stronger than WP's on ovals & there4 a better year.

GREEN!, GREEN!, GREEN! - 2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 begins!

openpaddock Powder Keg is going off baby GREEN GREEN GREEN!!!

IndyCarNation Marco Andretti #26 started 16th and is already up to 7th place on lap 4

openpaddock wow...look at the sparks!!!

Newman_Haas God Speed to all drivers but especially Hideki and @GrahamRahal. Green!

curtcavin Can't imagine Dixon passing Dario for the lead at all tonight. #indycar

IndyCarNation Green flag with Franchitti and Dixon leading Power and Briscoe around as the sparks fly

99forever Okay, so if Dario leads the most laps but Will wins, Will gets the title on race wins, right?

TheEDJE @99forever EXACTLY - Dario needs to lead with most laps and win to make it that it doesn't matter where Will is!

indy44 RT @JPIndycar: Dario Going to have two wingmen - Dixon AND TK...

IndyCarNation Under green conditions the estimated pit window is 46-50 laps

IndyCarNation Mario Moraes #32 on pit lane from 8th spot, car is reported as way too loose

16AndGeorgetown LAP 25 - The Championship is completely in Dario's hands, if he continues to lead most laps, and win, he'll be your 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Champ

MyNameIsIRL Geez. Two commercial breaks in the first 24 laps. VERSUS must have some extra bills to pay.

MikeM_PR Lap 30 @justinwilson22 holding P16. Will make adjustments on his first stop

YELLOW Flag - LAP 36, Mario Moraes is stalled on the track

IndyCarNation Mario Moraes #32 team reports they will fix the wishbone issue to get back out as soon as possible

curtcavin When are we going to see the first graphic that says: "If the race ended now ..." Well, let me spoil: Dario wins cuz WP is 8th.

Everyone into the Pits!

GREEN!, GREEN!, GREEN! - 2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 Restarts LAP 42!

kvracing Back to green flag racing, Franchitti, Briscoe, Dixon

YELLOW Flag - LAP 46, Ana Beatriz hits the wall by herself

IndyCarNation Lap 46/200: Under yellow; Franchitti, Briscoe, Kanaan, Dixon, Castroneves, Power, Andretti, Viso, Wheldon, Patrick are top 10

MyNameIsIRL Arute to Conor Daly: "What's the best advice your dad (Derek) told you?" Conor: "Well, he told me not to talk to you." *rimshot*

CrashGladys Just why r the TV guys talking 2 Conor Daly when we know he doesn't want 2go IndyCar racing? F1 is his future & he's made that very clear.

curtcavin Man, Conor Daly looks more like Derek on TV more than he does in person. Kid is going places. #indycar

DRRIndyCar She was on her way back to the pits after slowing on the course

GREEN!, GREEN!, GREEN! - 2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 Restarts LAP 52!

Dixon slow off of the first corner!

kvracing Back to green flag racing. Viso (#8car) is 8th, Sato (#5) is 16th

Three Wide - Franchitti, Briscoe, and on top Kanaan!

curtcavin I know Dario wants to lead every lap until lap 100, but he needs to be careful, he's already led 53 laps. #indycar

IndyCarNation Ryan Briscoe takes the lead to attempt to keep Dario Franchitti from leading the most laps tonight

MarcoZone TK needs to tuck in and push Dario.

Briscoe and Kanaan get past Franchitti LAP 60

IndyCarNation Lap 60: Franchitti falls back to 4th after losing momentum

Newman_Haas Graham up to 9th from 13th. Hideki in 22.

IndyCarNation Lap 65/200: Dixon, Kanaan, Briscoe, Franchitti, Castroneves, Viso, Wheldon, Power, Patrick, Hunter-Reay are top 10

shagers Now we see how Dario runs in traffic. #indycar

deferrandragon Dario 4th, Power 6 --- Dario now 2 points behind

kvracing After 65 laps, Viso is 6th and Sato has moved to 12th

IndyCarNation Lap 70: Kanaan, Dixon, Franchitti, Briscoe, Castroneves, Power, Wheldon, Viso, Hunter-Reay, Patrick are top 10

shagers Power getting better as the stint goes on here. Unlike last stint. #indycar

MyNameIsIRL LAP 73 - Oh look Dario's leading again. That giant sucking sound is the drama slowly leaving the building. Come on, anybody else!

shagers Penske has nothing here to stop Dario getting the most laps led. Now Power has to beat Dario.

Dario is out to a 1/2 second lead on LAP 84 - has a 9 point lead on Power

MikeM_PR Lap 84 @justinwilson22 down 1 lap

curtcavin Remember, Power is defenseless if Dario completes this one. #indycar

BeccyGordon Wondering if @TonyKanaan is laying back a bit to let his bestfriend, Dario, lead the most laps.... I think I'm on to something!

VisionRacing 10 Laps til next stop, additional front wing adjustment, tires, and fuel.

indy44 Too bad TK doesn't have an in-car I would have loved to be listening to his throttle for this race.

IndyCarNation Ryan Briscoe #6 on pit lane for a routine stop - TK and Franchitti in and out as well

indy44 @BeccyGordon Sure looks that way doesn't it?

PCaporali I have not seen the @VisionRacing @Pantherracing No.20 car on TV tonight. NOT once. Not good for sponsors...

MyNameIsIRL He's [Carpenter] only in 7th. RT @PCaporali: I have not seen the @VisionRacing @Pantherracing No.20 car on TV tonight. NOT once. Not good for sponsors.

IndyCarNation Lap 100/200: Tagliani (off sequence), Franchitti, Kanaan, Dixon, Power, Mutoh, Briscoe, Castroneves, Patrick, Wheldon

Alex Tagliani leads this race for the first time - Pitstop cycles - LAP 101 - Race is over halfway!

FollowAndretti Lap 102... TK 2nd, Danica 7th, Marco 9th, Ryan 10th

Fieldof33 Dario saved fuel last year and made it 50 laps per fuel stint. I don't think he can finish this race on 1 more stop if it stays green.

MyNameIsIRL @EJViso had the end of the fuel hose stuck in his car. When you weren't looking he leaned back, chewed it off and spit it into the infield.

IndyCarNation Lap 114: Franchitti and Kanaan running 1-2 with Dixon, Power, Briscoe spread out a bit behind them

TheEDJE LAP 117 to 118 - Dario Franchitti passes the Start/Finish line to capture 2 points for leading the most laps

TheEDJE Will Power needs to lead Franchitti over the line at the end

BeccyGordon RHR's sports are consistently around 204.3 leaders are at 206.8. Mika is running faster. Ryan says there's an issue

shagers Dario got told he got most laps led about 5 laps after we did. #indycar

IndyCarNation Lap 125/200: Franchitti, Kanaan, Dixon, Power, Briscoe, Castroneves, Patrick, Wheldon, Andretti, Meira are top 10

MyNameIsIRL I'm sorry I had my head down typing, but was that another Peak hair care product commercial?

TheEDJE YELLOW Flag LAP 135 - Will Power brushes the wall for about 1/4 mile - Turn Out The Lights, Party's Over - maybe

IndyCarNation Possible right rear suspension damage to Will Power #12 car

16AndGeorgetown If the damage drops WP back to 18th or worse, all DF needs to do is finish 9th or better

MyNameIsIRL Looks like some right rear suspension damage for Power. Fat lady clearing her throat.

Newman_Haas RT @IndyCarNation: Will Power #12 car has been shut down on pit road after sliding in to the pit stall. Headed behind the pit wall...

CrashGladys So Power is out?? Ugh!

MarcoZone Look at Will wringing his hands....poor guy!

indy44 Versus saying it's not over, in other word DON'T CHANGE THE CHANNEL!

TheEDJE @MyNameIsIRL LA, LA LA LA, LA, LA, LA (sung in scale notes)

Will Power back out on the track to take the GREEN Flag with the rest of the field.

PCaporali RT @IndyCarNation: Will Power #12 has rejoined the race on lap 143 and is now currently 5 laps down

IndyCarNation Team Penske did a rear wishbone change in 5 minutes 6 seconds to allow Power #12 to rejoin the field

A group of cars pull into the pits for a LAST fuel stop strategy!

PCaporali Teams REALLY need to tweet more then! Good lessons to learn. RT @SueBrudvig: [snip] But it's NOYB. Welcome to our world. :% #IndyCar

IndyCarNation Will Power is out of the #12 car behind the pit wall - left front now giving problems

PCaporali Yellow was long enough that some cars may NOT have to make another stop. Could make for a more interesting finish. Maybe . #IndyCar

GREEN!, GREEN!, GREEN! - 2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 Restarts LAP 151!

Marco Andretti has a terrific start.

MarcoZone GO @ANDRETTI26 GO!

99forever By my count, that's exactly the second incident this year that's been Will's fault. Not at all the time for it, though.

Will Power can finish no worse than 25th - Franchitti has to finish 10th or better.

IndyRacingNut @MarcoZone Yeah, they can hear the giant sucking sound of fans changing the channel over to Nickelodeon to watch iCarly....LOL

TheEDJE @IndyRacingNut - You must have kids, grandkids, or are ... very creepy!

YELLOW Flag - LAP 187

FollowAndretti RT @IndyCarNation Yellow for debris in turn 2, pits are closed

Newman_Haas Graham said yellow is from Viso and Briscoe making contact

shagers See that NASCAR, when Indycar have yellow for Debris, they actually SHOW you the debris.

TheEDJE Fuel strategy is all over the map - but Dario is still rolling along at 8th position and only 5 points ahead of Will Power

GREEN!, GREEN!, GREEN! - 2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 Restarts LAP 172!

Castroneves takes the lead - three wide with Dixon ans Kanaan

MyNameIsIRL Who needs more yellows when you can't conduct a simple restart? *facepalm*

TheEDJE YELLOW Flag - Milka Duno looking for sponsorship time - Fuel Strategy back on track

PCaporali Hmm... well didn't see that coming.... Dario saw his race flash before his eyes!

99forever Milka. That's the capper, right there. Hands up, everyone who's glad we're not finishing here next year.

Fieldof33 @99forever You're not enjoying this race?

99forever @Fieldof33 I am, but there's a lot that's bizarre and annoying. A lot isn't the track's fault, but I just think Homestead has a yucky vibe.

GREEN!, GREEN!, GREEN! - 2010 IndyCar Series Final At Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 Restarts LAP 180, 20 to go!

IndyCarNation Lap 180/200: #9, #11, #7, #3, #4, #14, #26, #6, #10, #02, #77, #20, #37, #34, #5, #36, #2, #19, #8, #22 are top 20

SBPopOffValve Security Chief Charles keeps Ashley from heading to infield care center to dance angrily at Milka for nearly taking Dario out. #couldhappen

MyNameIsIRL Umm, Franchitti is in 9th. He needs to finish 10th or better. DRAMA!!!!

kvracing Sato moved to P13 on restart

Newman_Haas RT @FirestoneRacing: #indycar @HomesteadMiami: Franchitti is last car on lead lap in 9th place. He only needs to (cont) http://tl.gd/6abn7n

MarcoZone just me or was Danistar doing a little "wiggle" to keep Helio behind her?

kvracing 10 laps remain, Sato is 14th, Viso 19th. Dixon leads Kanaan then Patrick. Franchitti 8th

MarcoZone WHY OH WHY can't TK & Danica just work together so SOMEONE beats a red car?!?!?

SBPopOffValve Danica: "That's it! I'm going to NASCAR where they don't race you as hard!" #couldhappen

MyNameIsIRL Kanaan is throwing a mondo block party on his, err, teammate Danica. Not feeling the love.

WHITE Flag - Dixon, TK, Patrick, with Franchitti tagging along in 8th

Dario Takes The Checkered Flag - 5 points ahead of Will Power - Marino, Dario's brother won his championship in the ALMS at the Le Petit Grand Prix

indy44 Dario Champion P1 Dixon P2 Danica P3 TK P4 Briscoe P5 Helio P6 Vitor P7 Marco P8 Dario P9 Wheldon P10 Rahal P11 RHR P12 Lloyd P13 Ed

MyNameIsIRL Dixon wins the race and Dario does the donuts

MarcoZone TK looks PISSED!

CrashGladys Uh oh... Helio is yelling at Danica! Eek!! #indycar

MyNameIsIRL Hold the phone - Helio is coming over to do a little finger pointing at Danica. No grabbing of the clothing or throwing of equipment though.

IndyCarNation Dario Franchitti is your 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Overall and Oval Champion! Congrats to Dario and Target Chip Ganassi Racing!

racintoday Franchitti, Ganassi Win IndyCar Championship http://bit.ly/9rmHTi #indycar

... notes from The EDJE

It's Put-Up Or Shut-Up Time For Will Power At Twin Ring Motegi

Twin Ring Motegi (ツインリンクもてぎ, Tsuin Rinku Motegi?) is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the fact that there are two race tracks at the facility: a 2.493-kilometer (1.549 mi) oval and a 4.8-kilometer (2.98 mi) road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel racing. The oval course is the only one of its kind in Japan, and currently is only used once a year for racing. It is a low-banked, 1.549-mile-long egg-shaped course, with turns 3 and 4 being much tighter than turns 1 and 2. On March 28, 1998, CART held the inaugural race at Twin Ring Motegi Speedway. The race was won by Mexican driver Adrian Fernandez. CART continued racing at Twin Ring Motegi Speedway from 1998-2002. In 2003, Honda entered the Indy Racing League and the race became a part of the IRL schedule. In addition to IndyCar Racing, the track has also hosted a single NASCAR exhibition race in 1998. Honda, which had built the oval for the express purpose of developing its oval-racing program for Indycar Racing, did not win a race at the track for its first six years of operation. In 2004, Dan Wheldon took the first win for Honda on the oval. In 2008, the Motegi oval gained additional publicity when Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race there. Caption & Image Credit: Wikipedia

It's Put-Up Or Shut-Up Time For Will Power At Twin Ring Motegi

Qualifications for the IZOD IndyCar Series penultimate 2010 season race Japan 300 being held at Twin Ring Motegi, Tochigi, Japan finds the season points leader Will Power of Verizon Penske Racing in P3 along side Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi in P4, who at just 17 points behind, is looking to close the gap before the final race.

Tonight is time for Will Power to put-up or shut-up if he wishes to capture his first ever open-wheel championship in the IZOD IndyCar Series ... where as Dario Franchitti seeks his third championship in four years and is in his element on an oval track.

The reason it is time for Will Power to take command is that he will not find a better chance over these last two races on oval tracks to put distance between himself and Dario Franchitti because of two main factors:

1) Twin Ring Motegi is not a symmetrical track. The track is designed with a large corner at one end and a very tight corner at the other end which gives an edge to the driver that has the greater attention to detail - advantage Power ... the IZOD IndyCar Series inaugural 2010 Mario Andretti Road Course Trophy winner.

2) The front row is filled with Penske Racing teammates Helio Castroneves in P1 and Ryan Briscoe in P2. With a little creative team management during the course of the race aired on Versus 11:00 PM ET tonight.

Dario's challenge will be made a little more difficult in that he will start the race with three Andretti Autosport cars directly behind, all wanting a piece of this Japanese pie. Andretti Autosport's Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay are behind Franchitti, and E.J. Viso of KV Racing Technology recorded his best start on an oval this season in eighth. Panther Racing's Dan Wheldon will start ninth.

Scott Dixon, Dario's Target Chip Ganassi teammate will be starting nine positions behind at P11 and qualified over one-half a second behind at -.5320 of a second. It will be difficult for Dario to find any partners to run with whereas Will has a chance to be shepherded to a high finishing position before the final race to be held at the symmetrical style oval Homestead-Miami Raceway on October 2, 2010.

How they line up at Twin Ring Motegi:

Pos Driver Team Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 201.992mph
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 201.594mph
3. Will Power Penske 201.463mph
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 200.964mph
5. Marco Andretti Andretti 200.187mph
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti 200.011mph
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 199.623mph
8. EJ Viso KV 199.487mph
9. Dan Wheldon Panther 199.225mph
10. Takuma Sato KV 199.191mph
11. Scott Dixon Ganassi 199.020mph
12. Danica Patrick Andretti 198.935mph
13. Bertrand Baguette Conquest 198.794mph
14. Vitor Meira Foyt 197.950mph
15. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 197.556mph
16. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas 197.402mph
17. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas 197.361mph
18. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 196.850mph
19. Raphael Matos De Ferran Dragon 193.813mph
20. Mario Moraes KV 196.460mph
21. Roger Yasukawa Conquest 196.296mph
22. Paul Tracy Dreyer & Reinbold 195.709mph
23. Alex Tagliani FAZZT 195.483mph
24. Simona de Silvestro HVM 193.561mph
25. Milka Duno Dale Coyne 192.527mph

... notes from The EDJE

Hershel McGriff Takes On Chuckwalla Valley Raceway For A Shakedown Run

The Money Shot - "Wheel Up" - This image was captured on July 11, 2010 while Hershel McGriff was taking his first runs in his new 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series campaign car during its first Shakedown Trial held at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR). Turns #8, #9, and #10 are a series of curves designed to mimic the challenges posed in the famed "Corkscrew" at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Turn # 9 is an off-camber right, left-hand turn that drops off into the strong right-hand turn #10. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Hershel McGriff Takes On Chuckwalla Valley Raceway For A Shakedown Run

A funny thing happened on the way to perform a photo shoot of the West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame induction ceremony for the class of 2010, held on July 2, 2010 at the AZUSA Greens Golf Club ... I met Hershel McGriff.

Oh sure, Parnelli Jones was sitting at the same table with other presenters, WCSCHOF members, inductees and Master of Ceremony - Vice President/General Manager Iowa Speedway, Craig Armstrong. They were all there to usher in and honor the 7th class of 12 inductees (many posthumously), and the two hour ceremony was truly an honor to just witness ... but I met Hershel McGriff.

We were talking after dinner, before the ceremony and the subject came up about race tracks in the southwest. I told him that I had attended a track opening last April and that this track was very well designed. The track is located between Blythe and Indio off of California Interstate 10, and is called the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR). The funny thing was that Herschel then asked me if the track would allow him to make his first shakedown runs in the new car he had put together to compete in the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series campaign. He mentioned that he was running short on time and it would be of great service to be able to check out the car before he hit the track in Portland to race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, Bi-Mart Salute To The Troops "125" event held the weekend of July 17-18, 2010.

Well, I had talked with the President of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Micky Grana, back in April. I had also met his wife Aimee and so I figured, why not? Just give it a go!

Micky was gracious enough to have a conversation with Hershel and they put together a time this last Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 7:00 am PT.

When I rolled into the paddock area around 7:15 a.m., the McGriff family was already there with the car rolled out of the trailer transporter, Hershel was suited up in the cockpit, the car was cranking up to start, and it caught the spark and roared to life. Ahhhh the sound of a race engine in a Busch, ahh, er, Nationwide, err, NASCAR K&N Pro Series car (once known as a Winston West Series car).

Hershel took to the track and came back quickly. When he rolled up, he was greeted by the one person who has almost always set up his cars to run over the decades, Hershel McGriff Jr., a credible driver in his own right.

The "Hershels" discuss vibration and possible solutions before the car is put up on jacks. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

McGriff, the senior, complained that there was a front wheel vibration right off the bat as he entered the track so they pulled the car next to the transporter, placed it up on jack stands and went to work on identifying the problem. Herschel Jr., with the assistance of his cart-racing daughter, Mariah, found that at cold, or low tire pressures, the front sway bar's outside bolts stuck out and rubbed the inside wall of the tire.

Shakedown pit captain, Hershel McGriff Jr. and his daughter, Mariah diagnose the problem with the front sway bar. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

After about 30 minutes, the car was ready to resume its Shakedown Trial which it passed with flying colors.

Shakedown pit captain, Hershel McGriff Jr. as he re-shims the front sway bar. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Inside the McGriff Coach, after the Shakedown, Hershel commented on how he is familiar with the area around Desert Center, California and the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. He has had a longtime association with Park Corporation which also sponsors his cars. Park Corporation has as part of its business mission the purchase and operation of mining businesses throughout the country.

Hershel talked about the anticipation of being at the Portland event this year. He observed that in 2009 the media crush was very intense due to multiple factors. It was the first NASCAR sanctioned race held at Portland International Raceway since 1986, McGriff had won this last race in 1986 and thus was the defending champion, and at 81 he became the oldest driver ever to race in a sanctioned NASCAR event. ESPN, Associated Press, FOX Sports, and all of the media attention that NASCAR could bring was in the mix ... it is amazing that Hershel had enough time to prepare and finish the race at P13. Some people would say, "Geeeez, from Champion to 13th?, What is that about?" Try asking this of the drivers who had been driving the whole season, every season since 1986 and were only able to finish in 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and so on through the field of 27 cars who all came to compete and win.

About the track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway? Hershel liked the layout and especially liked the dropping "S" turn combination of #11 and #12 after the slow rising straight that follows the mini "Corkscrew". He said that it reminded him a series of turns that he will encounter at Portland next weekend.

Looking back across the track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway from turn #14 to the long, banked, 180 degree right-hand turn #13 at the southern end of the facility. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Further, he wished he had more time and less self-imposed restrictions based upon the shakedown trial task at hand because he really wanted to figure out where the best place would be to place the car in the long, banked, 180 degree right-hand turn #13 reminiscent of the long, banked sweeper at the former Riverside International Raceway which he raced on many times throughout his career.

The McGriff family - Hershel, wife Sherrie, Sherrie's daughter-in-law Sharon (Shakedown pit captain, Hershel Junior's wife), granddaughter and future racer Mariah were getting ready to continue on to Portland, Oregon where the next scheduled stop of those riding in the Coach Sunday night was Bakersfield.

Hershel McGriff at the end of a successful Shakedown Trial in his coach parked at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Herschel McGriff at 82, still has the drive and the grace to express a disappointment on not being able to carry enough speed to have his front wheel rise up off of the pavement for a great action photograph of his 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series campaign car during the Shakedown Trial at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR). As one can easily tell, he was even able to deliver on this internal wish (photo evidence at top of posting), in that, he never communicated this desire of his to be able to create a circumstance that would produce such a shot.

Never count Hershel McGriff out once he gets his mind around any goal ... once one meets him and gets to know him on any level, one comes away with the feeling that Hershel may be just the person that could actually deliver on the goal.

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: 2010, 50th Anniversary, BI-MART, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Corkscrew. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, CVR, Hershel McGriff, Impala SS, K and N Pro Series, NASCAR, Park Corporation, Portland, The EDJE

West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame honors its seventh class on Friday

8,500 Oakland fans watched as Woody Brown flipped his Mercury stock car during the ARA 300-lap race on 7/27/52. Unhurt, Brown did some hurried repairs and returned to finish 10th, that's Fred Steinbroner in the #16. John Soares won the event. Caption & Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame honors its seventh class, July 2nd

The people who will be inducted into the 2010 West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame, by tradition, come from two main categories - Historic Era (achievements that came prior to 1970), and Modern Era. This year will also see the addition of a new category - Career Contributor (for members of the media and public relations professionals of any era).

The West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame was founded in 2001 to memorialize significant contributions to the sport’s development and history. Inductees are drawn from people who have served in its many disciplines including designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, and most recently, publicists and members of the motorsports media.

Yakima Speedway - Yakima, Washington in June, 1961 Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

The twelve motorsports figures from historic and modern eras that will be recognized Friday (July 2, 2010) when the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame inducts its seventh class at Azusa Greens Country Club in Azusa, Calif are as follows:

Historic Era (6 inductees) - Driver Bob Caswell of Walnut Creek, Calif., Car Owners Bill “Tiny” Clinton of Los Angeles/Joe Mangini Jr. of Walnut Creek, Calif., Crew Chief Herb Nab, Tire Provider/Specialist Duane Edwards of Southgate, Calif. and Starter/Race Chief Steward Mel Fernandes of San Leandro, Calif.

All of the above awards will be honored posthumously.

Modern Era (4 inductees) - Driver Mike Chase of Redding, Calif., Car Owner Allen Beebe of Modesto, Calif., Car Owner Rod Osterlund of Plumas County in Northeast California, and James “Jimmy” Smith of Newport Beach, Calif

Career Contributor (2 inductees) - The late Gordon Martin, long-standing motorsports writer and columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and Mel Larson, longtime spokesman for the sport of stock car racing.

Turn #11 (?), Laguna Seca Raceway (now, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) near Monterey, California. Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

The ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. (PDT) and this seventh class will bring the total number of inductees in the West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame to 93.

... notes from The EDJE

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 2010 American Le Mans Series Test

The American Le Mans Series has named G-OIL from Green Earth Technologies as the official motor oil of the series and the sanctioning body, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). Unlike conventional petroleum-derived motor oils, G-OIL is made from saturated animal fats which have been processed through dehydrogenation. While the stuff may not be good for people to ingest in any significant quantities, the saturated fats apparently make a good lubricant and G-OIL has similar properties to petroleum oils. G-OIL is claimed to be biodegradable and Green Earth sells all its products in fully recyclable containers. The car pictured is the G-OIL ORECA-Courage FLM09 racing car for the newly formed Green Earth Team Gunnar (GETG), driven by Gunner Jeannette whose effort had him finish 14th overall and third in LMPC class. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 2010 American Le Mans Series Test

The Monterey hills were greeted with a wondrous, but a little chilly, spring day for the third test of the nine race 2010 American Le Mans Series season. The wind blew at times and the day's temperature never hit 70 degrees causing tire adhesion problems for some of the contenders throughout the day. One car even spun as it entered the front straight ready to take a restart, and another overshot the corner entirely and caused a wreck from which it never fully recovered ... from one of many Yellow Flag Caution periods throughout the race.

All in all, the race was hotly contested throughout the six hours until the checkered flag flew and the fireworks from the Mazda bridge, located just past the Start/Finish line, lit up the sky.

This excerpted and edited from American Le Mans Series PDF report -

At 8:18 pm (5h 48m running), Checkered Flag.

Marino Franchitti (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) crosses the line to take the overall victory.

Christophe Bouchut (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) wins in class by 7.105 seconds over Tom Sutherland (#36-LMPC Oreca FLM09).

Joey Hand, who drives the #90 BMW E92 M3 for Rahal Letterman Racing's BMW team, just before the race. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Patrick Long (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) wins the closet battle just 0.365 seconds ahead of Joey Hand (#90-GT BMW E92 M3) and 2.766 seconds ahead of Oliver Gavin (#4-GT Chevrolet Corvette ZR1).

Jeroen Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) lead flag to flag beating Andy Lally (#63-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) by move than one lap.

Marino Franchitti (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) records his 3rd ALMS win.
Simon Pagenaud (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) records his 7th ALMS win.
David Brabham (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) records his 21st ALMS win.

Christophe Bouchut (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) earns his second ALMS victory.
Mark Wilkins (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) earns his first ALMS victory.
Scott Tucker (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) earns his second ALMS victory.

Joerg Bergmeister (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) now has 31 ALMS wins.
Patrick Long (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) with 17 ALMS wins.

Jeroen Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) earns his second ALMS victory.
Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) earns his second ALMS victory ... and first in the United States.
Tim Pappas (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) earns his second ALMS victory.

American Le Mans Series Monterey Presented By Patrón – Race Quotes:

Marino Franchitti (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) “Procedurally this was a great performance for the team. Simon's drive was just a pleasure to watch. David got in and backed us up and got is a bit more of a lead. I knew the Dyson car was a bit of a terrier and I knew I didn't want to let them go. The guys made a great call not to put on new tires right there at the end. I was definitely hanging on for life, it was a bit like drifting or rally driving. It was great to have no damage and keep it together cause the car leaves Friday for Le Mans. So this is great heading to France.” (about the last stop) “Perry, our Michelin guy looked at our tires and said we were good.
Either way I was going to be happy. I knew I'd still have great tires and new tires were still really good. It was a perfect call because I could drive like I wanted to. Michelin was a big part of the win today.”

Simon Pagenaud in the HPD ARX-01c (lower left, black and green) as he brings the car forward through traffic from a start at the back of the pack. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Simon Pagenaud (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) “Thank you to the Highcroft Racing team, they did a fantastic job. The whole crew in the pits did a great job. The opening laps were pretty exciting. Starting at the back you have to find motivation and that was getting to the front. The ending of my stint was really good, the Michelin tires were working really, really good. We went through the traffic very quickly. We got ahead a lot from the first yellow the went out. It is a great team to be part of the operation like HR. Its great to go off to Le Mans where we're looking for the win.”

David Brabham (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) “The last couple of races here have been pretty good. Last year we won the championship here. I cant say enough about the team, today was an absolutely flawless demonstration of endurance racing. Everything happened out there and we made no mistakes in the pits. My teammates performed perfectly. This is the way to head off to Le Mans with this momentum.”

Joerg Bergmeister (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) “It was definitely a bit more relaxing this year. Especially last year being chased down by Jan. I knew Patrick would do a good job because he has been good all week long. There were some who thought it wouldn't work out because the BMW was charging but I knew that Patrick would work it out and pull away. The car was working well all day long. It was a good race.”

Patrick Long (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) ”Laguna Seca has been special. It was always the race we finished up. And of course last year we finished with a literal and figurative bang. This year not quite as exciting but still exciting none-the-less. We had a call if we were going to play for points or go for the win. On the restart Joey left a bit of an open door and I took it 3 wide through 11. Then it was all about running because I knew Joey wouldn't be happy. We came from P8 and worked our way through a very competitive field. We know Risi had a hard day so unfortunately they were in the mix with everyone else in the end because they were so
tough this weekend. I cant say enough about the competitiveness in all the classes in this Series. So many cars on the lead laps at the end and its just tough.”

Scott Tucker (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) “I don't know if there is a secret. I have great co-drivers and a great team. Our manager has a great mind and these guys make it easy for me. They do a great job behind the scenes. “

Mark Wilkins (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) “We had to push really hard to keep up front. Christophe drove a great stint, so did Scott to keep the car up there. Level 5 gave us a great car at Sebring and they did here. We knew if we could run to the end we'd be right there.”

Christophe Bouchut (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) “Its a nice feeling to win again here. It was a great race, this time we had to fight really hard until the end. The car was working really well. We had no problems at all. I just pushed the car to the maximum to keep our positions.”

Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) “It feels great. Joroen said, we came here to win. We have a race Monday morning and we fly back home. This track is really sandy, it is the most difficult of the track. There was a car who went off at turn 4. An LMP went off and you couldn't see the track. But every driver knows this course so it's fun to drive when everyone is so familiar.”

Tim Pappas (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) “This is pretty cool. We came out for Long Beach without much preparation. We had a difficult, frustrating race. We went home and worked hard and practice. All the guys at Black Swan are great. The Bleekemolen brothers come over and it was a great race. We didn't put a tire off and made zero mistakes in the pits so that turned out to a race win.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) “I know the guys are great. We had a great start in Long Beach but some things went wrong, today it went really right. Its great to get the win and hopefully move up in the championships.”

Falling back into Spring, this race will rest for at least another year. It was good to be back so soon, now on to Le Mans, then the second have of the North American Tour begins.

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: American Le Mans Series, ALMS, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 2010, Patrón, The EDJE

Bobby Rahal ... a multiple team owner with a couple of problems at ALMS

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)


Bobby Rahal ... a multiple team owner with a couple of problems at ALMS

Bobby Rahal, glad to hear his son, Graham Rahal made the nine car Shoot-Out to get into the IRL field for one of the set 33 positions in the field at the 2010 Indianapolis 500 yesterday, flew in to the Monterey area from Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama to oversee the activities of his Rahal Letterman BMW M3 GT ALMS team. What greeted him was the following bit of damage to the #90 driven by Dirk Mueller ... at the time of this posting, it is unknown if the car will make the field.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

This excerpted and edited from an ALMS track report PDF -

At 10:31 am, Dirk Mueller (#90-GT BMW E92 M3) into the pits with damage to the right front, right rear, and rear end of the car. Apparently the car spun with contact but was able to drive back to the pits. This will be a big repair for the car before the race. There are left-over BMW parts near the tire barrier coming out of turn 6, it looks like this is where the incident occurred.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

... and the curtain is drawn.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)



UPDATE: It's just like ... it never happened!


Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Work completed and it is time to grid the cars! To see a YouTube of the exciting last minutes of the six hour test, CTRL-CLICK photo above to launch video. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

This excerpted and edited from BMW News & Reviews -

The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team fought to its third consecutive podium (four total for the season) with a second place finish by the No. 90 M3 GT of Joey Hand and Dirk Müller in today’s six-hour American Le Mans Series race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

After leading the bulk of laps going into the closing stage of the race, Hand was passed on the final restart to finish second, a bittersweet ending to a day that began with a crash in morning warm-up and an immediate rebuild of the No. 90 machine by the BMW-RLR crew. Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner finished eighth after a late-race punt dropped the No. 92 M3 down the order. The duo led the GT class twice during the day.

The six-hour race dealt competitors a total 10 caution periods and the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team played every opportunity to its benefit. Splitting strategies on the third yellow flag near the two-hour point, the team pitted the No. 90 M3 GT for fuel with rest of the class and elected to keep the No. 92 M3 on track and gain position. It paid off with the GT lead for Milner, who had replaced starting driver Auberlen just past the one hour mark.

When Milner was hit by a competitor and forced to the pits, Hand took over the lead from his teammate. The race gave fans a roller coaster ride through four more caution periods before the four hour mark as the M3 GTs ebbed and flowed at the front of the GT field based on the differing fuel and tire strategies.

In the fifth hour, the No. 90 M3 GT took the lead with some thirty minutes remaining, but in the final caution period of the race, Hand’s safe lead evaporated and the team was eventually forced to settle for second place.
Reference Here>>

... notes from The EDJE