Dale Earnhardt Jr. Steps Out, And Steps Up!

After smoking the Shootout field, Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates in a suitable fashion at Daytona International Speedway. Image Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Steps Out, And Steps Up!
(UPDATED With YouTube Video)

In the very first professional stock car race of the season, the race that acts as the opening act to a gathering of racing enthusiast on the East coast of Florida, Daytona Speed Weeks 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins pulling away from rival Tony Stewart.

The race known as the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, does not count in the 2008 points championship, allows the top NASCAR teams to tune up for the infamous season opening Daytona 500 (50th year) to be staged this next weekend, February 17, 2008.

Even though the Budweiser Shootout does not award points, it carries a sizeable purse and bragging rights. The bragging rights for Dale Earnhardt Jr. become even greater given the fact that this is the first race he has competed in after leaving the team his late father and stepmother (Teresa Earnhardt) formed and the team where he had his greatest successes – Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI). Dale left when he could not secure an agreement with DEI to participate in the management of the future of the team to a greater level.

“Junior” won the race with the drafting help of teammate Jimmie Johnson … after the race's fourth and final caution, set up the green-and-white-checkered finish.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a new look in victory lane after winning the Budweiser Shootout all-star race on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Image Credit: The Kansas City Star/Production Affiliate

This excerpted from The Boston Globe –

Earnhardt wins with help from new friends
By Michael Vega - Globe Staff / February 10, 2008

Looking to make a favorable first impression with his new Hendrick Motorsports team, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won last night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, kicking off Speedweeks 2008 in rousing fashion by holding off runner-up Tony Stewart in a green-and-white-checkered finish.

"What a race. Good job, guys," Earnhardt hollered to his crew over the radio after he crossed the finish line to record his second Shootout triumph. "What a great racecar. This might be a [Daytona] 500 winner and you might not know it."

Car owner Rick Hendrick chimed in, "What a way to start the deal, baby."

Earnhardt made headlines in May when he announced his decision to defect from Dale Earnhardt Inc.,
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But he made an even bigger splash in June when he joined forces with the sport's most dominant team.

Last night, that union paid huge dividends for Earnhardt, who received timely drafting help from his Hendrick teammates, most notably Jimmie Johnson in the final three laps.

"I had a blast," said Earnhardt, who ended a 62-race drought that dated to his victory at Richmond two years ago. "The last few laps, I got some great help from my teammates, but I wouldn't have won the race without Jimmie pushing me. So thanks to him and [crew chief Chad Knaus] for working so hard to get [Johnson's] backup ready."
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Nine laps into the race, Earnhardt powered his way to the front with a bold inside move on the backstretch and went on to lead the remaining 11 laps before pitting for a scheduled 10-minute intermission before the resumption of racing in a final 50-lap segment.
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When racing resumed on Lap 28, Toyota driver Dave Blaney, who delivered his car manufacturer its first Cup pole victory last July at New Hampshire, went to the front. Blaney's lead was short-lived when Earnhardt moved back in front on Lap 35.

Earnhardt proceeded to joust with Stewart for the lead, but the driver of the No. 88 car got some timely help in building a commanding lead from Hendrick teammates Gordon and Mears. (Mears's car failed postrace inspection for being too low, the Associated Press reported, and NASCAR planned to look more closely at the car today.)
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Kurt Busch's brilliant save of his spinning car in Turn 3 brought out the race's fourth and final caution, setting up a green-and-white-checkered finish. After racing Stewart side-by-side, Earnhardt, with Johnson's draft support, took the lead on Lap 69.

"It's hard to beat Dale Jr.," Stewart said. "I mean, he's one of the best restrictor-plate drivers that's ever been, so he learned a lot from his dad. I'm not sure he's not better than his dad now, in all honesty. To run with him and the Hendrick guys, I thought we fought a good fight tonight."
Reference Here>>

2008 Budweiser Shootout - Finish Part 1

2008 Budweiser Shootout - Finish Part 2

... notes from The EDJE

Automated Pitstops Not So Far Off …

As seen through the rearview mirror - Robotic arm opens the fuel flap, unscrews cap, inserts nozzel, and fuels car ... all without the driver having to leave the car. Image Credit: Rotec Engineering BV

Automated Pitstops Not So Far Off …

Why not?

Why not automate the pitstops of major autoracing series such as the IRL, ChampCar, F1, A1 GP, NASCAR, or American Le Mans?

The Tankpitstop as it appears at a Shell station fueling island. Image Credit: Rotec Engineering BV

In order to gain a racing advantage edge or level the playing field, we have seen the introduction of traction control, rev limiters, run flat tires, carburetor restrictor plates, turbo pop-off valves, custom control steering wheels (with readouts, shifting paddles, adjustment switches, push-to-pass, and more), full on-track RFID to aid in car track position, and etc.

Fans and enthusiasts have long complained that the driver has been taken out of the racing equation.

Here is a technology that, if perfected, could begin the conversion of the work performed by the pit crew team to a robotic process. This technology would allow the autoracing team pitstop to become an automated process as well.

A trip to the gas station of the future may no longer require the driver to leave the car. Tankpitstop the Robot will do it all for you. Video Credit: Copyright 2008 KahawaFilm (www.kahawa.nl)

This excerpted from Reuters -

Dutch unveil robot to fill car gas tank
Reporting by Alexandra Hudson, editing by Ralph Boulton - Reuters (EMMELOORD, Netherlands) - Mon Feb 4, 2008 - 11:25am EST

Dutch inventors unveiled on Monday a 75,000 euro ($111,100) car-fuelling robot they say is the first of its kind, working by registering the car on arrival at the filling station and matching it to a database of fuel cap designs and fuel types.

The Tankpitstop robotic arm as it inserts the fueling nozzel for a fill up at a neighborhood Shell station. Image Credit: Rotec Engineering BV

A robotic arm fitted with multiple sensors extends from a regular gas pump, carefully opens the car's flap, unscrews the cap, picks up the fuel nozzle and directs it towards the tank opening, much as a human arm would, and as efficiently.

"I was on a farm and I saw a robotic arm milking a cow. If a robot can do that then why can't it fill a car tank, I thought," said developer and petrol station operator Nico van Staveren. "Drivers needn't get dirty hands or smell of petrol again."

He hopes to introduce the "Tankpitstop" robot in a handful of Dutch stations by the end of the year.
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Asked whether he would trust his car to a robotic garage attendant, Jelger De Kroon, filling his black Alfa Romeo at a nearby gas station, said:

"Why not? I guess I could keep my hands free and clean, but I'd hope they have good insurance."
Reference Here>>

Why not level the playing field and automate the work of the racing team pit crew in competitive racing situations?

With this approach, fan and team complaints could be spread out by taking the pit crew out of the equation and implement fully automated and equalized pitstops. Just kidding …

… notes from The EDJE.

It’s A Hollywood Debut For Pacific Coast Motorsports

Frankie Muniz (left) and Carl Skerlong make up the 2008 driver lineup for PCM's Atlantic program. Image Credit: PCM 2008/CCWS website

It’s A Hollywood Debut For Pacific Coast Motorsports

Being a member of the Champ Car Inner Circle fan club has it’s benefits. For example, the other day I receive in my email inbox an invitation to join an event that was being held up on Universal City Walk where a CCWS Atlantic racing series team was going to make it’s 2008 team debut campaign announcement.

The event was scheduled to start Wednesday, January 30, 2008 – 7:00 P.M. – about a half an hour after the Republican Presidential Primary Debate that was being broadcast from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, staged right in front of the reassembled Boing 747 that had served as President Reagan’s Air Force One while he was in office, was scheduled to end.

City Walk is easy to get to from where I reside here in Toluca Lake, it is just one mile away, and up on the hill near the amusement park.

Let’s go! … and go we did.

Universal City Walk at night. The blue neon outline of King Kong hanging off of the building ahead in left frame. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks/The EDJE

Drive to the MTA station parking lot at the bottom of the hill (nobody walks in LA!), grab the Universal Studios shuttle tram for the slow ride up the 20% or so grade to the top of the hill to be let off just around the corner of the signature spinning world fountain at the Universal Studios entrance. Walk the City Walk past Sparky’s, The Daily Grill, Bubba Gump’s, The NASCAR Racing Amusement Arcade, underneath King Kong hanging off the side of a building, on past a few more eateries forward to the large guitar standing in front of the Hard Rock Café, Hollywood (originally named Hard Rock Café, Universal City).

Two shrouded CCWS Atlantic cars bookended a gathering that included PCM team director Tyler Tadevic as announcer/interviewer, team drivers - Carl Skerlong and Frankie Muniz, race engineer’s Burke Harrison and Tim Lewis, and a host of Committee 300 Long Beach Grand Prix voenteers, fans (as EDJE was one), and a large contingent of entertainment and sports media.

President/Team Director, Tyler Tadevic rests his arms on the drivers who will campaign for Pacific Coast Motorsports in the CCWS Atlantic series 2008 season. The drivers are Frankie Muniz (on left) and Carl Skerlong (on right). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks/The EDJE

This excerpted from the CCWS website -

PCM ANNOUNCES CARL SKERLONG, FRANKIE MUNIZ AS DRIVERS FOR ATLANTIC TEAM
Hollywood, CA (Jan. 30, 2008)

Frankie Muniz (left) and Carl Skerlong - 2008 Pacific Coast Motorsports CCWS Atlantic drivers next to the car Frankie Muniz is expected to drive for the season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks/The EDJE

Pacific Coast Motorsports, a two-car team in the Champ Car World Series, announced tonight that they will expand their racing team with a two-car entry in the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. PCM also announced their all-American driver lineup, Carl Skerlong and Frankie Muniz.

Pacific Coast Motorsports Champ Car driver Alex Figge acquired the Bakersfield-based US RaceTronics Atlantic team. The team will be based at PCM's Oxnard, California, headquarters and will compete under the Pacific Coast Motorsports banner. Former US RaceTronics team owner, Shane Seneviratne will manage the Atlantic program.

PCM team director Tyler Tadevic made the announcement under the famous Hard Rock guitar at a media event at the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Studios tonight in Hollywood. Tadevic commented on the team's desire to return to their racing roots.

"We're really proud to be returning to the series where we won the 2004 championship, and we are looking forward to continuing our winning tradition," Tadevic said. "As a graduate of the series, Alex is a believer of the product; this is an important program to him. Shane has a history of running championship-winning teams and we saw this as a terrific opportunity to return to Atlantic competition.

"We feel we've got two exceptional young drivers on board. They're both quick and very professional. We've got an exciting season ahead of us."

Skerlong, 19, of Mukilteo, Washington, will drive the #28 King Taco/Mazda/Swift. Skerlong made an impressive debut in the Atlantic series in 2007 with two podium finishes and a top-10 finish in the series championship. Skerlong will be paired with two-time Atlantic championship-winning (2003, 2004) race engineer Burke Harrison,

"I am so excited about this opportunity," Skerlong said. "I am really happy to be able to continue my relationship with Shane, but grateful for the tools and resources racing for Pacific Coast Motorsports will offer. I have one goal this year, and that is to win the Atlantic series title and the $2 million prize in the #28 King Taco car."

Frankie Muniz rests helmet on the front right tire of his Atlantic series ride for 2008 between photography shots. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks/The EDJE

Muniz, 22, of Los Angeles, will drive the #29 PCM/Mazda/Swift in his sophomore season of Atlantic competition. Most people will recognize Frankie as an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actor, but 2008 will mark his third season as a professional racecar driver.

"Joining PCM is a huge step forward for me in my racing career," said Muniz. "In the three tests I have already completed, I have learned so much and really developed my skills as a racing driver. Tim Lewis, my race engineer, has a championship-winning record behind him and we have gelled really well. I just can't wait for the season to start in April at the Long Beach Grand Prix and I am thrilled to represent a professional racing team like Pacific Coast Motorsports."
Reference Here>>

After the ceremonies, the crowd milled around and fans, friends, and family of the event we able to enjoy a little conversation. The gathering outside adjourned to a private party hosted by Pacific Coast Motorsports up on the second level of the Hard Rock Café. Food and conversation were in plentiful supply and the building buzzed of the upcoming first of the season tests that are to be held in Sebring, Florida beginning this weekend. Team members were anxious to get the cars in the transport truck, drive them across the country and get this 2008 season started.

Great success to Team Pacific Coast Motorsports, may you all wage a campaign of epic scale … one worthy of a Hollywood debut!

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks/The EDJE

See you all the next time you are in the neighborhood at the 2008 running of the Long Beach Grand Prix. We will hop in the car and drive to the MTA station parking lot at the bottom of the hill ...

… notes from The EDJE.

All Hallow's Champ Car? - 2000 laps

One Racy Pumpkin! Image Credit: EDJE/Edmund Jenks

All Hallow's Champ Car? - 2000 Laps

For this activity we want to see your Champ Car pride integrated into one of the most fun holidays of the year, Halloween!

Carve a pumpkin with the “Champ Car” logo in it, disguise yourself as Count Champula (get it, like Dracula) or dress up a skeleton in CC swag. Take a picture of your creation and send it to us for all to see. Use your imagination and somehow combine the holiday of Halloween with the awesomeness of Champ Car.

Ended Nov 05, 2007

Awarded: 2000 Points ...


… notes from The EDJE.

Pivo 2 And You - A Biometric Car & Driver Team Proposition

Inside the Pivo 2 while traveling - both the driver and the Robotic Agent are looking forward during travel to destination. Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

Pivo 2 And You - A Biometric Car & Driver Team Proposition

At the upcoming 40th Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 11), Nissan plans to unveil its lithium-ion battery electric-powered Pivo 2 concept car. Designed for urban use, the Pivo 2 features a 360-degree revolving cabin, inherited from the first-generation Pivo (allowing the driver to always face forward while driving, even when parallel parking), and a front opening swing door similar to those first introduced in the sixties by Fiat (600 Series) and BMW.

The Robotic Agent - A traveling companion that looks after security, safety, and friendly interaction. Voice commands program the on-board trip computer for GPS and display on center console. Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

What makes this urban town-car really unique, beyond its maneuverability is the computer powered assistant known as the “Robotic Agent”. Nissan claims that this multifaceted sensor will be capable of voice command and biometric facial recognition.

Facial recognition sensors in the Robotic Agent adds an additional level security and safety. Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

Robotic Agent captures face for driver identification. Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

Robotic Agent captures and translate mood of driver. Uses this information to interact with driver through computer generated voice in the appropiate attitude. Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

Robotic Agent "sees" that the driver is nodding off. Warns driver that it is time to pull over and wake up! Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

In a video released in advance of the show, the Robotic Agent senses driver identification, driver mood, and driver state of awareness (sleepiness) in an effort to show the benefit of computer assisted interactive biometrics in a car.

This from a Nissan Press Release via Jolopnic -

THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC FOR NISSAN
- Pivo 2 concept turns heads and itself in Tokyo -
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - TOKYO (Oct. 5, 2007)

Today [Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.] unveiled the Pivo 2, an advanced electric concept car that will debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Pivo 2 builds on the popularity of the first Pivo, shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.

Pivo 2 - Front Angle View - Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

Powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and featuring a unique rotating cabin - meaning no reverse gear required - the first Pivo became a cult hit at shows from Beijing to Geneva.

Pivo 2 Concept Car

Reasons to love Pivo 2:

* Electric power from Nissan's advanced Lithium-ion batteries
* A robotic agent to share every trip
* 'Revolutionary' technology with 360 degree turning cabin and 90 degree turning wheels

Pivo 2 takes the idea of an environmentally friendly electric urban commuter vehicle and delivers fun, functionality and a unique relationship between the car and driver. Pivo 2 is powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and employs 'by-wire' technologies for braking and steering.

Where the first Pivo, with its fully rotating cabin design, made reversing obsolete, the Pivo 2 takes that easy mobility concept to a new level. Each of the four wheels are powered by Nissan's advanced electric In-wheel 3D Motor and can turn through 90 degrees to allow Pivo 2 to drive sideways as well as forward. After a conversation with the Pivo 2 Robotic Agent computer sensor device, a map of the calculated route shows up on the GPS image in the dash display on the center console. Image Credit: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (video)

Thanks to the highly innovative Robotic Agent, you are never alone in the Pivo 2. With conversations possible in Japanese and English, the Robotic Agent has been created to work with Pivo 2 to make every journey less stressful. It provides a unique interface through which to communicate with Pivo 2 on everything from basic vehicle functions through to the nearest available parking.

Pivo 2 will be on display at the Nissan Ginza Gallery in Tokyo, for an exclusive public sneak preview ahead of the Motor Show.
Reference Here>>

... notes from The EDJE.

(ht: Symblogogy)

Dario Franchitti Survives To Land A Championship

Scotland's Dario Franchitti during practice for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 08 Sept at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. Franchitti, locked in a battle for the IndyCar Series crown, earned pole position Saturday for the season-ending race. Today, he won the race and the championship on the last lap. Image Credit: AFP/Getty Images/Gavin Lawrence

Dario Franchitti Survives To Land A Championship

In what has to be one of the tightest races in a points championship battled out over 17 races, Dario Franchitti outlasts Scott Dixon on the final lap with enough fuel to scoot past for the outright win and the points championship at Chicagoland Speedway.

Starting the race with only a three point lead over Dixon, Franchitti had to be at least in front of Scott Dixon in order to grab the Indy Racing League championship for 2007 but that was not to be. The whole race Dario not only trailed Scott Dixon of the Target/Chip Ganassi Team, but Dixon's teammate Dan Weldon, along with Helio Castorneves, and Sam Hornish Jr. of Team Penske.

AGR teammates Dario Franchitti and Danica Patrick chat prior to driver introductions. - Image Credit: Chris Jones

In the final laps, Dario Franchitti's Andretti/Green Racing teammate, Danica Patrick entered the pit lane for a final splash of fuel and spun, stalling her car. This brought out a yellow caution flag and slowed the field down allowing the race cars to save fuel. Before the caution flag came out, both Dixon and Franchitti were probably going to have to come in for fuel as well but with the cars slowed ... they used alot less fuel setting up a shootout run to the end with two laps to go.

Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti battle for the lead at Chicagoland. - Image Credit: Jim Haines

Both Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti rolled the dice (by staying out on the track). The green flag drops and on the next to the last turn before the finish line, the checkered flag that would end the race and the season ... Dixon's car sputtered and ran out of fuel. Franchitti poped to the right to miss rear-ending Dixon's car and sped forward to the wave of the checkered flag.

In a season that that featured Dario's car going airborne and flipping in racing accidents with Dario going uninjured through two consecutive races, this year's Indy 500 winner, Dario Franchitti and Andretti/Green Racing proved to be the most deserving of champions for 2007 by earning the championship through the air and on the track.

What a great season and a great racing series.

Dario Franchitti 2007 Championship Photo with team oner Michael Andretti, and Dario's wife, Ashley Judd - Image Credit: Jim Haines

Final ten laps excerpted from the “Commentary” section of the Live Timing & Scoring at the Indy Racing League website –

Dario Franchitti wins the race and championship as Scott Dixon runs out of fuel!
2007-09-09 17:51:50
Lap 199: White flag. #9 Scott Dixon leads #27 Dario Franchitti by 0.0605 sec.
2007-09-09 17:51:17
Lap 198: Dario makes it two wide for the lead.
2007-09-09 17:50:52
Lap 198: A two lap shoot-out for the championship!
2007-09-09 17:50:29
Lap 197: One lap until back to green.
2007-09-09 17:48:49
Lap 196: Dan Wheldon may have lost his gearbox.
2007-09-09 17:48:37
Lap 195: Pits are open.
2007-09-09 17:47:58
Lap 194: Yellow for #7 Danica Patrick spun at pit-in.
2007-09-09 17:47:13
Lap 193: Wheldon is slow in T2. He may be out of fuel.
2007-09-09 17:46:40
Lap 193: #10 Dan Wheldon leads #9 Scott Dixon by 0.1337 sec.
2007-09-09 17:46:25
Lap 192: Marty Roth is slow on the backstretch.
2007-09-09 17:46:11
Lap 192: #10 Dan Wheldon leads #9 Scott Dixon by 0.1896 sec.
2007-09-09 17:46:00
Lap 190: Dan Wheldon takes back the lead.
2007-09-09 17:45:23
Lap 190: Top 5: #9 Dixon, #10 Wheldon, #27 Franchitti, #7 Patrick, #8 Sharp.
2007-09-09 17:45:12
Reference Here (Commentary is live only - direct reference may not be available)>>

Dario celebrating the Chicagoland victory and 2007 Indy Car Championship - Click cursor on photo to send Dario and AGR a message of congratulations! - Image and Link Credit: Indy Racing League

NOTES:

Dario Franchitti finishes the season with 637 points to Scott Dixon's 624 points to capture the title.

Dario's 637 total points this season is a record for the series. The previous high was 628 by Dan Wheldon in the 2007 season. This is Dario's first IndyCar Series Championship. He becomes the third consecutive Indianapolis 500 winner to go on to win the IndyCar Series Championship in the same season.

This is the third IndyCar Series Championship for Andretti Green Racing. The team won the title in 2004 with Tony Kanaan, 2005 with Dan Wheldon. Andretti Green Racing becomes the first team to win three IndyCar Series Championships.

Team Menard, A.J. Foyt Racing and Panther Racing have each won two championships.

The margin for the championship was 13 points. It's the seventh time in 12 seasons that the IndyCar Series Championship point margin has been 20 points or less ...


… notes from The EDJE.

(ht: MAXINE)

Dario Franchitti Survives to “Fly” Another Day

Andretti Green Racing driver #27 Dario Franchitti celebrates after taking the pole with a speed and time of 218.308 and 32.9810. Image Credit: ERIC SEALS/DFP

Dario Franchitti Survives to “Fly” Another Day

The IndyCar race at Michigan International Speedway was very exciting, close (to close), and virtually unwatched due to a rain delay that pushed the original start time and broadcast outlet off a good four hours (broadcast station from ESPN2 to ESPN Classic which not all standard cable providers carry).

There is no agreement between IndyCar and the MIS to stage another race there and this maybe just fine with Dario Franchitti.

In the late stages of the race, Dan Weldon managed to creep up the track and tangle his tires with Franchitti’s Canadian Club sponsored Andretti Green Racing machine sending him and the car on a wild airborne twisting flip that had the car land upside down. He walked away unscathed! Amazing!

This YouTube video starts at lap 141, moments later Dan Wheldon and Dario Franchitti interlock wheels and Dario goes airborne, bounces off the cars of Scott Dixon and AJ Foyt IV. Note how close Dario's sidepod gets to the helmet of Dixon and the tire marks on AJ IV's helmet.

This morning, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”, Dario wasn’t as lucky.

Contessa Brewer, while reading (and not understanding) the news, managed to mangle Dario’s last name during the full three hour telecast (again, virtually unwatched after the firing of Don Imus from this timeslot). She persisted in pronouncing Dario’s last name Fran-Chet-tea as opposed to Fran-Key-tea.

It is not as if Dario Franchitti’s name, and how it is pronounced, is not well known … he only won this year’s Indianapolis 500 race and he is part of a Hollywood “Power Couple” in that he is married to Ashley Judd and has been for a few years now.

This situation says more about the clueless-ness of the reporter than the fame of the race car driver.


We, at MAXINE, are happy - all that happened yesterday is that Dario Franchitti lost only one point in his series points lead over rival Scott Dixon … further, we can only hope that Contessa Brewer will soon be catapulted by MSNBC for her lack of attention to detail (trust us on this – it isn’t the first time she showed she could not read and understand) and NOT be around to fly another day.

Excerpts from Autoweek -

The Last IndyCar Race at Michigan Wasn’t Pretty
Tony Kanaan held off Marco Andretti for the win.
By CURT CAVIN - Autoweek - This article was last updated on: 08/06/07, 09:33 et

IndyCar said goodbye—at least for now—to Michigan International Speedway, and no one shed a tear.

Not the drivers who crashed out of the rain-delayed Firestone Indy 400, not the team owners who saw their cars damaged, not the Indy Racing League officials who held their breath through the carnage and not the promoter who hosted one of the smallest crowds of the season.

“I’m in no hurry to come back at this moment,” Dario Franchitti said.

Franchitti survived one of the nastiest accidents in recent memory when his car got turned sideways by Dan Wheldon on lap 144 and vaulted into the air, an estimated 20 feet at its peak.

The car, which won the Indianapolis 500, rotated twice before landing on top of that of fellow championship contender Scott Dixon, whose helmet got scuffed by a tire.

Franchitti, who realized immediately what kind of ride he was in for, said the landing was soft. He headed to Dixon to thank him.

“He really saved me,” he said.

The roll bar on Franchitti’s car was sheared off and parts and pieces scattered everywhere. Some of them struck the helmet and car of A.J. Foyt IV; others bounced off Wheldon’s machine.

The incident also collected Tomas Scheckter, Sam Hornish Jr. and Scott Sharp. The situation looked so grim at first that Hornish climbed from his car to assist with Franchitti’s rescue. As it turned out, Hornish was one of 10 people to help put the car back on its wheels.

Then Franchitti, who had led 101 laps, climbed out unharmed. Amazingly, no one else was injured.

“It’s unbelievable,” the Scot said. “The only other time I’ve been upside-down like that was in a DTM testing crash at Hockenheim.

“I certainly don’t want to do that again.”
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Kanaan held off Marco Andretti in the final laps to win by 0.059 second. It was his third win of the season and his 10th overall.
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A crowd estimated at 10,000 watched. For now, none of them will return to MIS for an IndyCar race.
Read All>>

UPDATE Aug. 12, 2007 -

Dario Flys Again ... You Just Can't Keep A Good Man Down

Dario Franchitti takes to the air for the second time in as many weeks!

Excerpted from IndyCar website with contribution from YouTube -

Kanaan wins, Dixon moves to eight points behind Franchitti
By Dave Lewandowski - indycar.com

SPARTA, Ky. – As Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon – locked in a championship duel -- battled for second place through the midsection of the Meijer Indy 300 presented by Coca-Cola and Edy's, Tony Kanaan's No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car was knifing through the twilight air at Kentucky Speedway less than a second ahead.

The lead transferred through pit stop cycles, but Kanaan was never out of the top five.
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But the excitement didn't end for the crowd of more than 56,000 and the ESPN audience. Taking the checkered flag, Franchitti's No. 27 Canadian Club car ran into/over the rear of the No. 55 Panasonic Panther Racing car driven by Kosuke Matsuura just past the finish line and flipped backward – again. Franchitti, who walked away from a frightening crash six days earlier at Michigan International Speedway in which his car flipped several times, also was unscathed in the post-race incident.

"That one was completely my fault; there's no excuse," Franchitti said. "I screwed up twice in the race. I screwed up once coming out of the pits and then after the checkered. I didn't realize it was the checkered. I got the 'Hey, it's a checkered' just as I was hitting him. I'm pretty disgusted right now for that -- for both my mistakes today."

Franchitti, who finished eighth mainly because of a pit lane mistake 20 laps earlier, saw his points lead over Dixon sliced to eight. Kanaan moved to 52 points behind.
Reference Here>>

… notes from The EDJE.

(ht: MAXINE)