IndyCar: On The 10th Day, 10th Month ... #10 Car Wins It All

Dario Franchitti on the stage with the 2009 IndyCar Series championship trophy. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IndyCar: On The 10th Day, 10th Month ... #10 Car Wins It All

After securing the pole position for the Firestone Indy 300, Dario Franchitti wins his second overall championship in the IndyCar Series (ICS) in the Indy Racing League's final race of the 2009 season at Homestead-Maimi Speedway.

In a race that turned out to be the first caution-free race in IndyCar Series history leading to the second-fastest in IndyCar history resulted into an oxymoron, of sorts ... a win result due to excellent fuel management by the Tatget Chip Ganassi team and it's driver Dario Franchitti who entered the race third in the points behind Ryan Briscoe (Team Penske) and Target teammate Scott Dixon.

Eventual 2009 ICS Rookie-Of-The-Year, Raphael Matos (Luzco Dragon Racing), sits on the wall before first practice session at Homestead-Maimi Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

This excerpted and edited from Autosport.com -

Franchitti surprised to win 2009 title
By Matt Beer - Autosport.com, Sunday, October 11th 2009, 11:23 GMT

Dario Franchitti said he never expected to come straight back in and win the 2009 championship when he agreed to return to the IndyCar Series this year.

The Scot had left the championship for NASCAR after winning the 2007 title, but when Ganassi had to close Franchitti's Sprint Cup operation due to a lack of finance, he accepted an invitation to switch to the team's IndyCar arm instead.

Last night at Homestead Franchitti clinched his second championship by winning a three-way fight with his team-mate Scott Dixon and Penske's Ryan Briscoe, who he beat to victory in the deciding race by stretching his fuel mileage to avoid a fourth stop while his rivals battled flat-out and had to pit again late on.

"I didn't think I'd win five races and a championship in my first year back," said Franchitti. "I knew driving for team Target [Ganassi], I'd have good equipment, just a question of could I get back into it and compete at a level that I had already.

"Scott is a better driver than he was in '07, and Ryan came in [at the front] every single week, as well as other people who made appearances and won races, but it just seemed that Scott and Ryan every week were tough competition.

"From winning in the second race at Long Beach, I knew we could get it done."

He said the second title was more satisfying than the first as there had still been separate Champ Car and IndyCar championships in 2007.

"In '07 there was a lot of satisfaction in getting that one done," said Franchitti. "I think what makes it sweeter [in '09] is we've got everybody together, and you've got a more balanced schedule, as well.
----
He added that he was now thoroughly settled in the IndyCar Series, but still thinks he gained from his abortive NASCAR move.
----
"I learned things as a driver. To drive in stock car, I got out of my comfort zone, and I learned a lot of new things, and there are things that I can apply to IndyCar. That's made me a better driver, I think.

"I'm absolutely where I should be. I should be in IndyCars. That is what I grew up to do, race in the IndyCar Series."
Reference Here>>

It is common knowledge that racing drivers are a superstitious lot, and heading into the Firestone Indy 300 one number was particularly convergent for the 2009 ICS contender Dario Franchitti: He would be racing his No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Dallara Honda on Oct. 10th in search of Target Chip Ganassi’s 10th win of the season.

And in Miami, he performed to a Perfect 10.

Graham Rahal: Top 2009 season placing Transition Player (former CCWS team and/or driver) in the Indy Racing League

Overall ICS 2009 Championship Standings (** denotes a CCWS Transition Player)

Pos - Driver - Points
1. Dario Franchitti 616
2. Scott Dixon 605
3. Ryan Briscoe 604
4. Helio Castroneves 433
5. Danica Patrick 393
6. Tony Kanaan 386
7. Graham Rahal 385**
8. Marco Andretti 380
9. Justin Wilson 354**
10. Dan Wheldon 354
11. Hideki Mutoh 353
12. Ed Carpenter 321
13. Raphael Matos 312
14. Mario Moraes 304**
15. Ryan Hunter-Reay 98
16. Robert Doornbos 283**
17. Mike Conway 261
18. E.J. Viso 248**
19. Will Power 215**
20. Tomas Scheckter 195
21. Oriol Servia 115**
22. Alex Tagliani 114**
23. Paul Tracy 113**
24. Milka Duno 113
25. Sarah Fisher 89
26. Jaques Lazier 77
27. Richard Antinucci 63
28. Vitor Meira 62
29. Stanton Barrett 62
30. Alex Lloyd 41
31. Darren Manning 38
32. Townsend Bell 32**
33. A.J. Foyt IV 26
34. Scott Sharp 16
35. Nelson Philippe 16**
36. Kosuke Matsuura 13
37. John Andretti 12
38. Franck Montagny 12**
39. Roger Yasukawa 12
40. Davey Hamilton 10
(ht: Motorsport.com)

... notes from The EDJE

That's MAZDA Raceway ... Laguna Seca!

From left to right: SCCA staffed track condition flagging stand, logo'd Start/Finishline bridge, front straightaway, turn #1, starters perch/stand, pits, and paddock area at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca featuring the green & white liveried, P2 Dyson Racing, biobutanol fuel, MAZDA MZR-R powered, BP sponsored, Lola B09 86 #16 coupe, driven by Guy Smith and Chris Dyson. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

That's MAZDA Raceway ... Laguna Seca!

This weekend, in the hills straddling the agricultural Salinas Valley and the tawny digs of the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Valley, and Pebble Beach, a motorsports marathon of contests will be held. The event is called the Monterey Sports Car Championships, presented by Patron and a total of seven races will be run, much to the delight to the sophisticated fans who will gather.

The headline of the contests is the American Le Mans Series which are prototype full-bodied alternative fuel cars that require a driver change during the running of the race. There is even one car that is a .... HYBRID - that's right, a hybrid that will reach speeds of about 185mph or even a little better.

This event is the last race of the championship series for the 2009 season and it will also be the last professional competitive race for the premier driver/owner of de Farran Motorsports, Gil de Farran.

Many people who come to the track here in the countryside just off of the Pacific Ocean and southwest of San Francisco refer to it as "just" Laguna Seca but that would be wrong. Without the MAZDA at the Raceway ... only one race would be held for all of the series of races to be contested are either supported directly by MAZDA, have engines supplied for the cars, or have a chief competitive team in the field. Further, MAZDA is the only Japanese automobile manufacturer to ever win the 24 hours of Le Mans ... the most famous endurance motorsports race in the world!

For the record, Gil de Ferran qualified his Chaparral-White liveried #66 XM Radio, Acura (in honor of the team owner, car designer Jim Hall ... the person responsible for bringing Gil to IndyCar and the United States at the beginning of his career) in P1 on a last lap heroic effort that ended up breaking something in the suspension of the car while Gil was cutting through the infamous Corkscrew turn (formally the Rainey Curve).

Ariel photograph of the layout at the MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca. The Start/Finish line is at the bottom with the highest elevation of the track is located toward the upper left corner just as the track turns a sharp left at the "Corkscrew" surrounded in California Oak trees. Image Credit of Photo hanging on wall: Edmund Jenks (2009)

If you have never been to MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca, the initial thing that impresses the first time attendee (especially if one was a fan and was familiar with the track due to watching races on TV) is the elevation changes throughout the course and that from certain vantage points around the track, one can see the competition for about 60% to 70% of the total course ... this is highly unusual for a dedicated road course that features many turns.

Follow Fernandez chasing de Ferran for one lap late in the timed four hour season ending event from a vantage point near the Red Bull Energy Center at MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca. Video Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Gil de Ferran rode into the sunset with a victory in his final race Saturday to "bookend" his American professional racing career, while Patrón Highcroft Racing had its own special ride as well at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to close the 2009 American Le Mans Series.

Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud won the Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Patrón after the retiring Brazilian legend's thrilling duel with Adrian Fernandez in the final 30 minutes of the four-hour classic.

The Patrón Highcroft Acura finished second in class and third overall, more than enough to secure the LMP1 driver championship for David Brabham and Scott Sharp, and the team title for Patrón Highcroft. The championships were the first for all.

... notes from The EDJE

BUB Seven Streamliner - Two-Wheels, No Wings - Flyin' To A New Record!

Denis Manning along side of the BUB Seven Streamliner on the Bonneville Salt Flats - The "Seven" challenges the motorcycle land speed record using advanced NDI technology, OPTOTRAK PROseries Portable CMM. The sharp engineering team at BUB Racing Inc. plans to recapture the title of World's Fastest Motorcycle. Previously owning this title after setting a record at 350.884 mph, Denis Manning and his team plan to push the envelope at 400 mph! Caption & Image Credit: NDI Technology

BUB Seven Streamliner - Two-Wheels, No Wings - Flyin' To A New Record!

This week, Thursday, September 24, 2009 to be correct, a new World Land Speed Record (WLSR) for motorcycles was recorded on the late summer white pan of the Bonneville Salt Flats. The average speed attained over the 12-mile course was 367 miles per hour. Chris Carr piloted the Grass Valley-based bike for the BUB Racing team and this attempt bested the previous motorcycle land speed record of 360 mph set September 26, 2008, by Grass Valley driver Rocky Robinson aboard the Top 1 Oil supported Ack Attack.

In the back and forth world of record holding competitions ... the one to hold the WLSR for two-wheeled craft, loosely called motorcycles, is probably the most heated. First off, both teams herald from a small California town of Grass Valley (about a little more than half way between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe off of I-80 and CA-49). The two teams have been pursuing and trading the record on and off since about 2006.

The main connection to this saga has to be Denis Manning. Manning is a world renowned land speed racer who has designed and built some of the world’s fastest motorcycles. Amongst all of this Denis has continued to expand his own company, BUB Enterprises, to become a manufacturer of high quality performance exhaust systems for cruisers, sport bikes and ATV’s.

The name of the company has its own history - Manning has worked in the motorcycle industry for over 40 years and in his early years, he worked in a shop owned by motorcycle racer Dutch Mueller, who was also known as ‘The Flying Dutchman’. Denis was soon nicknamed BUB (‘Big Ugly Bastard’) and thus became the name behind the legend.

Image Credit: BUB Enterprises

In 1968 he built his first streamliner. In 1970, at the tender age of 24, Denis built the world record breaking Harley-Davidson streamliner that was ridden by the late Cal Rayborn at 265MPH. His racing career expanded from there, to building streamliners for Harley, Triumph, and Norton to name a few. In his career so far, Denis has designed and owned 6 of the 11 fastest motorcycles in history.

Enter Top 1 Oil and its association with Mike Akatiff, President of ACK Technologies, a downtown San Jose, manufacturer of general aviation avionics and sub-contracting services.

Akatiff has always had his hand in the motorcycle industry. He began his racing career with some success racing for the American Motorcycle Association in the 1960s. In 1971 he founded Ack Products Inc., where he designed and manufactured racing and custom motorcycle parts.

The Top 1 Ack Attack Streamliner bested the world record by 10 mph with a 360.913 mph run, which took place during the first annual TOP 1 Oil World Land Speed Shootout at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. The event was witnessed by an FIM official, but the record still awaits official FIM ratification. /// Just like the World's Fastest Indian, the Ack Attack Streamliner is essentially a motorcycle encased in an aerodynamic shell, with retractable "landing gear" wheels that fold up when it's in motion. The carbon fiber shell and a roll cage hide a chrome-moly frame, within which rests two heavily modified Hayabusa engines, displacing a combined 2.6 liters. Seven inch thick front and nine inch thick rear Mickey Thompson automotive tires lay the power to the ground. Image Credit: Top 1 Oil

Akatiff used about $100,000 of his own money and two years in the design and construction of the bullet-shaped Ack Attack motorcycle. The goal, After a campfire discussion with Bonneville veteran Sam Wheeler regarding his, then, 14-year pursuit in breaking the world land speed record, was to best a record that had stood since 1991 that had been set by ... Denis Manning.

So, on September 26, 2008, after five days of pushing their motorcycle streamliner to new limits on the salt flats of Bonneville, the TOP 1 ACK Attack team achieved what it came to do. Mike Akatiff, with driver Rocky Robinson and crew toppled the existing absolute FIM motorcycle world land speed record with a blistering 360.913 mph run. "Mike's design expertise is second to none," said Frank Ryan, TOP 1 Oil.

During the WLSR BUB Seven Streamliner record run this last week, Eric Manning, the son of the team's owner, reported that "Seven" recorded an exit speed of 372 mph and an overall top speed of 380 mph.

There was no word whether the Ack Attack team would be taking to the Salt Flats next week in order to try and take back the title of "World's Fastest Man on Two Wheels," which is now owned by Chris Carr of the BUB Seven Streamliner team.
(article researched and written with the assistance of Wired, Top 1 Oil, and the internet)

BSCC "Vaporizes" Two World Land Speed Records

One important milestone was passed successfully when the British Steam Car was inspected by representatives from the Southern Timing Association and the FIA (the international governing body of motor sport) and declared eligible to attempt the world steam car record. The record runs commenced this morning at 6am PT. [ctrl-click to launch in car video of a test run on Rogers Dry Lake Bed] Image & Video Credit: Don Wales – Test Driver, BSCC

BSCC "Vaporizes" Two World Land Speed Records

Today, 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.

These new speed records were observed and documented on-site by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) and is awaiting official approvals. The FIA is the governing body for world motor sport, and recognizes a world land speed record as the average speed of two passes made across the same measured distance in opposing directions within 60 minutes of each other. The time of the two runs is then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed.

The BSCC is a mission formed to make something solid out of controlling, well ... vapor. The mission focuses on capturing new world land speed records (for both the measured mile and kilometer). Their most recent attempts to beat the longstanding 106-year-old land speed records have been ongoing since the end of June 2009, when the British Steam Car arrived by container ship at the Port of Los Angeles.

The steam car is fitted with 12 boilers, which work like a kettle on a stove. LPG in the vehicle’s tanks ignite in order to produce about three megawatts of heat, to boil 140 litres of distilled water which produces the requisite steam. The water’s then pumped into the boilers at 50 litres a minute to superheat steam to 400C, which is then transmitted to the supercar’s turbines at twice the speed of sound to gather enough momentum and thrust to push the car to mesmerizing speeds of over 200mph. [ctrl-click diagram to launch video of an engine test at Rogers Dry Lake base camp, Edwards AFB, Mojave, CA] Image Credit: BSCC

Prior to today's record-setting, the British Steam Car Challenge Team had successfully carried out 5 full test runs in excess of 100mph in their summer-long project conducted at Edwards.

Last week, after numerous setbacks, the team was rewarded with their preparations on Saturday having unofficially posted a mark greater than Fred Marriott record set in the Stanley Steam Racer - called the "Stanley Rocket". The BSCC team's own calibrated equipment measured the two-way average at 137.14mph, and a 48min 52 second turn-around.

Then, of course, there was the additional unofficial success of Monday's mark of 148mph. This was significant because the mark eclipses the fastest speed ever recorded by any human-driven, steam-powered vehicle, official or unofficial ... a mark set by Bob Barber in 1985 on the salt flats at Bonneville, Utah (unofficial) stood at 145.607mph.

British Steam Car Challenge Logo - Image Credit: BSCC

The BSCC team have acknowledged the achievements of the "Barber-Nichols Team" and their vehicle "Steamin' Demon". On 18th August 1985 The Barber-Nichols Team carried out three successful passes and achieved an American National Record at 145.607mph. There was no attempt, however, to establish an FIA record by the Barber-Nichols Team and it is the goal of the British Steam Car Challenge to recognize this speed, or better, as the target FIA record mark to set.

The principal driver of the BSCC is the nephew of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Charles Burnett III. Burnett was born in England in 1956 and educated in South Africa and America, and as a legitimate tri-national (his mother was Canadian and his father American) he inherited a love for travel and all things mechanical from his father, who raced hydroplanes and restored Hudson automobiles.

A long-time powerboat enthusiast, Charles set up Vulture Ventures, a UK-based offshore racing team, which soon became known as the world’s most successful team in the sport. During this time, Charles took a variety of world records using catamarans and monohulls powered by diesel, petrol and LPG. He was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999 for an offshore water speed record of 137mph.

The World Land Speed Record holding British Steam Car Challenge team, Rogers Dry Lake, Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave, California, United states of America [ctrl-click photo to launch BBC Video of record breaking run!]. Image Credit: BSCC (2009)

At 8.19am PT, Charles Burnett III successfully broke the land speed record for a steam-powered car achieving an average speed of 139.843mph on two runs over a measured mile.

Charles piloted the car for both runs reaching a peak speed of 136.103mph on the first run and 151.085 mph on the second. The new international record, which is subject to official confirmation by the FIA, breaks the previous official FIA record of 127mph set in 1906 by American, Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley steamer at Daytona Beach.

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

As he was congratulated by his jubilant crew, principal driver, Charles Burnett III said: "It was absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed every moment of it. We reached nearly 140mph on the first run before I applied the parachute. All systems worked perfectly, it was a really good run.

The second run went even better and we clocked a speed in excess of 150 mph. The car really did handle beautifully. The team has worked extremely hard over the last 10 years and overcome numerous problems. It is a privilege to be involved with such a talented crew, what we have achieved today is a true testament to British engineering, good teamwork and perseverance.”

A very happy and relieved Charles Burnett III, Primary Driver of the British Steam Car Challenge named Inspiration, after his FIA sanctioned measured mile run that broke a 106 year old World Land Speed Record for a human-driven steam-powered vehicle. Image Credit: BSCC via BBC Video

Project Manager Matt Candy said: "The first run took place at 7.27am when the air temperature was a cool 63 degrees Fahrenheit, the team turned around the car in 52minutes (with just 8 minutes spare) in preparation for its return run. The British Steam Car takes 2.5 miles to accelerate, and after the measured mile, a further 2.5 miles to decelerate – so each run was over 6.5 miles. The FIA requires that the return run takes place within 60 minutes. The times of the two runs are then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed. Compared to the testing we did in Britain, the British Steam Car ran 12 times the distance and twice the maximum speed ­– all within one hour. It’s been a huge challenge for all."

Primary Test Driver, Don Wales - Replacing Don Wales for the actual record attempt will be the project's brainchild and main financier, Charles Burnett III. "It's his project, so he gets to drive it on the day," Mr Wales added. "I just hope to break the world record during the test run - he can then break it after me. If I can help a British team get a world record, then I'm happy." Image Credit: Murry Sanders

Soon after Burnett's successful run, Don Wales, the primary test driver and the person who had logged the most runs in the machine, set the record for a measured kilometer – achieving an average speed of 148.308mph for the required two runs.

Wales climbed into the cockpit of the car for the attempt at the kilometer record and reached a peak speed over 155mph. Again, both new international records are subject to official confirmation by the FIA.

Don Wales said: "What a great feeling, the car felt better than ever today. We peaked over 150mph and the car was handling beautifully. The team has worked so hard over the last 10 years, especially over the last few weeks!”

Project Manager Matt Candy said: "It’s fantastic to set another record for the team and all that hard work has been worth it. After Charles broke the record for the measured mile, we decided to have one more run with the car and attempt the kilometer record.

We took some of the inhibitors from the boilers for this run and it helped get a bit more speed out of the car. The weather was perfect and the air temperature was just 62 degrees Fahrenheit, the team turned around the car in an amazing 30minutes which is their quickest ever! Don has worked so hard with the team, it’s fantastic that he should go home with a record too.”

Three cheers for three records (two official and one unofficial) for the British Steam Car Challenge, and the car they created, Inspiration!

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: 139.843mph, 145.607mph, 148mph, 155mph, Barber-Nichols Team, British Steam Car Challenge, BSCC, FIA, Rebecca Nicholls, Rogers Dry Lake Bed, Southern California, Southern Timing Association, The EDJE

Sears Point INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

Pit lane and the grid at the start of the INDY Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway, Sears Point. Image Credit: Vision Racing

Sears Point INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

The Indy Grand Prix Sonoma represents the last road/street course on the IndyCar Series schedule for the 2009 season, so if any of the Transition Players (drivers and/or teams merged into the IRL from the ChampCar World Series in 2008) wish to make a mark in their specialty ... this is the place.

Nelson Philippe as he sits stalled on the track in his Conquest Dallara before EJ Viso (HVM) and Will Power (Penske Racing) crest the hill. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Unfortunately, the biggest star who transitioned from the ChampCar World Series last year got seriously hurt in a crash yesterday with Nelson Philippe after Nelson's car had stalled in the middle of the track just over a blind rise. Philippe was first brushed by EJ Viso, then "T-Boned" by Power (all three drivers are Transition Players). Without the accident, Transition Players would have fielded their largest contingent of drivers in the grid this year (save the INDY 500 with 10) with a total of 9 of 24 total cars.

The initial 24-car field is now down to 22 entrants as both Will Power (Penske) and Nelson Philippe (Conquest) have been sidelined by the practice accident that left them with broken vertebrae and a fractured leg respectively.

Will Power's Penske on the hook with Will Power, himself, on a stretcher with injuries inside the ambulance after his collision with the Conquest Dallara of Nelson Philippe. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Starting Grid (** denotes Transition Player)

Pos  Driver             Team                 Time
1.  Dario Franchitti   Ganassi              1m16.7987s
2.  Ryan Briscoe       Penske               1m16.8485s
3.  Helio Castroneves  Penske               1m16.8702s
4.  Marco Andretti     Andretti Green       1m17.0524s
5.  Hideki Mutoh       Andretti Green       1m17.2055s
6.  Graham Rahal       Newman/Haas/Lanigan  1m17.3885s**
7.  Tony Kanaan        Andretti Green       1m16.9900s
8.  Franck Montagny    Andretti Green       1m17.0840s**
9.  Mike Conway        Dreyer & Reinbold    1m17.0895s
10.  Scott Dixon        Ganassi              1m17.2247s
11.  Danica Patrick     Andretti Green       1m17.6145s
12.  Dan Wheldon        Panther              1m17.6782s
13.  EJ Viso            HVM                  1m17.9180s**
14.  Mario Moraes       KV                   1m17.4730s**
15.  Robert Doornbos    HVM                  1m18.1095s**
16.  Ryan Hunter-Reay   Foyt                 1m17.6401s
17.  Oriol Servia       Newman/Haas/Lanigan  1m18.1409s**
18.  Raphael Matos      Luczo Dragon         1m17.6552s
19.  Justin Wilson      Coyne                1m18.3353s**
20.  Richard Antinucci  3G                   1m17.7500s
21.  Ed Carpenter       Vision               1m18.2413s
22.  Milka Duno         Dreyer & Reinbold    1m23.6185s

Infineon Raceway - Located just 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the 1,600-acre facility serves as the gateway to the beautiful Sonoma Wine Country. Photo Image Credit: Infineon Raceway (2005)

This excerpted and edited from Twitter, IndyCar Live Timing & Scoring, and various digital resources -

VisionRacingRT @VersusIndyCar: The six on boards cameras are going to be Helio, Servia, Franchitti, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, and Justin Wilson #indycar

VisionRacing#IndyCar drivers are doing a lap @InfineonRaceway in a trolley car. No joke. Not letting them actually drive it though. That's a good thing.

MyNameIsIRLAs a former resident of The City I have to inform Robbie Floyd that those are not "trolleys". Those are "cable cars". Google it if you must.

14:38:41 GMT-0700 Lap 0: Drivers to their cars.

IndyCarSeriesThe Silent Pagoda*: The Pagoda Society’s Live Colloquium: Aye aye, Lindy. We’re a go. .. http://bit.ly/19JpMi

kvracingRace is about to start in 15 mins. Watch all 75laps live on Versus.

pressdogJon keeps saying "passing zone" in connection to this track. Drug tests may be in order.

kvracinghttp://twitpic.com/f1f33 - Moraes talking to Jack Arute from Versus before the race

VisionRacingNew photos from the weekend up at www.facebook.com/visionracing.

pressdogLive timing and scoring. Recliner. HD wonder. Anchor Liberty Ale. Twitter stream. Maxoderm commercials. Let's light this candle.

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN!

kvracingGreen flag racing here at Sonoma. Dixon spun on turn 2 and caused all the cars behind to via off into dirt to avoid

Full Course YELLOW!

Major crash on turn #2 started with Graham Rahal ... everyone checks up and many cars collect each other. EJ Viso flys over Tony Kanaan.

kvracingMoraes had to avoid accident by running off into dirt but no damage to car

14:55:03 GMT-0700 Lap 1: Danica Patrick may have some suspension damage.

luczodragonCrazy crash at start, we move up 6 spots to 12, as it collected several cars. Could get more when they open pits

TeamIndyChatExciting beginning to the race. Looks like a demolition derby @InfineonRaceway #IndyCar

14:58:36 GMT-0700 Lap 3: Tony Kanaan is getting a new nose cone.

PlanetIrldotcomI blame @paultracy3 for that ;)

MyNameIsIRLAs messed up as that start was, there was some amazing driving buy Servia and Hunter-Reay. Just noting that in case we don't see them again.

Pat Caporali- Media & Public Relations Director, Tweeting - "Nice of them to put a big screen in view of our pit." Image Credit: Vision Racing (2009)

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN!

Franchitti takes the lead with a pair of Penske's behind him, Briscoe, Castroneves, Mutoh, Weldon, and Doornbos round out the top six.

MyNameIsIRL5 laps in and Milka is in 14th. Shoulda picked her int the TrackSide Online fantasy league.

luczodragonDixon was in middle of the opening lap wreck. Some big names impacteð

Justin Wilson ducks into the pits and employs an alternate strategy ... takes on REDS.

FuriousWedgeput a camera on Wilson please he's devouring the field!

VisionRacingCrAZY start to #Indycar race. Ed drove smart and is now P11!

15:05:49 GMT-0700 Lap 8: Dario Franchitti is maintaing a nice lead, but Briscoe isn't letting him get away yet.

Transition Players EJ Viso (HVM), Graham Rahal (NHLR), and Frank Montagny (AGR) are currently shown as being out of competition - AGR is working top place Frank's car back into the race.

VisionRacingNice of them to put a big screen in view of our pit. http://flic.kr/p/6SeK33

IndyCarNationSome specifics for everyone...The race is 75 laps/175 miles..,The overtake assist button may be used 15 times for a duration of 15 seconds

pressdoglock step in this race is like a glacier ... you cannot stop it from showing up.

IndyCarPRLap 10: #10 Franchitti leads #6 Briscoe by .6896 of a second.

15:12:14 GMT-0700 Lap 13: Mario Moraes got by Dan Wheldon for P5.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is tight on Bobby-D's #33 NHLR machine.

VisionRacing#indycar race is 75 laps/175 miles under beautiful blue skies. Overtake assist (push to pass) button will work 15x for 15 seconds each.

MyNameIsIRLRT @HVMracing: "13 car cannot be repaired in time to return to the race." Who else wants EJ to grab a snake and terrorize Arute some more?

indy44Why can't the others drive smart like Wheldon,too many Banzai moves lately

IndyCar101Looks like Briscoe is closing the gap on Franchitti.

15:15:22 GMT-0700 Lap 15: Dario Franchitti is looking good in the lead, but Briscoe is hanging close.

VisionRacingAlmost just like watching at home. http://flic.kr/p/6SeVq7

Of the eight cars that were involved in the first lap crash ... only Viso and Rahal are sidelined.

VisionRacingEd reports roll bar adjustment not making a difference. Team will try to help with tire pressure adjustments. Pitting in 5 laps.

Carpenter in the Vision pits on first stop - Stop complete...Go Ed, Go! Image Credit: Vision Racing (2009)

15:21:34 GMT-0700 Lap 20: Mario Moraes is looking strong as he slowly closes on Hideki Mutoh.

15:25:17 GMT-0700 Lap 22: Ryan Hunter-Reay is closing on Robert Doornbos.
END OF UPDATES

Normally, in this type of weblog posting activity, the entries from Twitter and other digital reference resources would continue to be read, reviewed for content, copied, then added to the Blogspot weblog account portal (... notes from The EDJE).

Unfortunately, this particular race was being written about, and information was being gathered, while traveling in a pristine, white '95 Ford F-250XLT, with a matching, form-fitting white shell, with passengers riding high above the traffic, from Coachella Valley to a conference on the economy and planning for the upcoming economic trend of Government induced inflation. The problem arose where the laptop (outfitted with a Verizon USB port cellphone technology internet access device) ran out of battery power and the realtime information gathering had to stop - "END OF UPDATES".

This weblog posting was a New Media experiment that was working beautifully until the power became depleted. Inside the extended cab of this Ford truck was a fully charged DieHard Portable Power 950 Jump-starter/DC and USB Power Source and that would have been useful, probably to the end of the race, and thus allowing the experiment to come to a successful completion ... IF we had a power inverter with a cigarette-lighter plug port for power, or had purchased the DieHard Portable Power 1150 instead.
DieHard Portable Power 1150 Jump-Starter/AC-DC Power Source - Emergency power at home or on the road! Portable Power's 1150 Peak Amps jump starts 12V vehicles and powers 12V DC lights, and other devices. Includes: Two 12 Volt DC power outlets to provide up to 50 hours of DC power for accessories and two, built-in lights. Inflate/deflate air mattresses, with the built-in air inflator/deflator. Pump up car tires and sports balls with built-in 150 PSI air compressor. Two AC outlets power up to 400 watts of household power for small electronic appliances/devices. With the use of the fast 1000mA wall charger, the internal circuitry recharges the internal 22Ah DieHard® AGM battery then switches to float-mode monitoring so full power is available when you need it! Includes battery cables, pressure gauge, hoses and adapters, male-to-male accessory plug, door for battery replacement. 5V USB port. Caption & Image Credit: SEARS

We, at The EDJE, are buying one of these bad puppies today! In the immortal words of Tim Allen, as he expressed his joy of power tools in the TV series, Home Improvement ... Arrr, Arrr, Arrrrrrrrrrrr!

This excerpted and edited from Motorsport.com -

Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) with Ryan Briscoe (Penske Racing) in tow at Infineon Raceway, Sears Point. Image Credit: autosport.com (2009)

Franchitti leads flag-to-flag for Sonoma win
By Tony DiZinno - Motorsport.com - Date: 2009-08-23

The points lead changed once again as Dario Franchitti led flag-to-flag from pole position en route to his fourth victory of the IndyCar Series season. The Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver avenged his prior struggles on the road courses and led home Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske in Sunday's race at Sonoma, Calif.'s Infineon Raceway.

"Track position was critical today," Franchitti said. "I did what I had to do to get out front. We stuck to our pit strategy. There were a couple hairy moments out there but this is critical and crucial for the championship."

Speaking of said championship chase between Franchitti, Briscoe, and Scott Dixon, Franchitti gained 13 points to within four markers of Briscoe for the series lead. If a coin had three sides it would be an appropriate description of this year's title chase, the championship lead changing hands for the 13th time in 14 races.

Briscoe, for his part, admitted frustration at his seventh runner-up finish of the season and said winning at least one of the final three races is crucial to capturing the crown.

"If we're going to win this championship, I'm going to have to win one of the last three," he said. "Dario got maximum points today, he's right there and Dixon stumbled. Coming in second gets old a little bit, but I know we're up there."

Dixon was a non-factor in today's race after a poor starting position and being involved in accidents at both the start and finish of the race. He was credited with a 13th-place finish.

From 12th on the grid Dixon was among those bottled up in a first lap fracas, and after recovering to eighth by the final lap he was punted by Marco Andretti and fell to 14th. He now drops 20 points behind Briscoe, third in the title chase. Andretti was penalized shortly after the checkered flag to behind Dixon for causing avoidable contact.

"We made a few passes on quite a few people, and he got into the back of me and spun me around," Dixon described the afternoon. "He came up after and apologized though, he said he didn't mean to do it. As far as our strategy, we tried to catch a yellow to vault up, but we ended up in the same position."
----
The chaos also vaulted a number of drivers with poor starting positions forward, chief among them the returning Mario Moraes of KV Racing, as well as Dan Wheldon, Mike Conway, Hideki Mutoh.
----
The British rookie restarted fifth but passed both the fading Mutoh and Moraes to get onto the podium. Conway eclipsed his personal best result of sixth set earlier this year at Watkins Glen to earn Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's first podium finish since Briscoe achieved the feat at "The Glen" in 2006.
----
For his part, Moraes was finally able to turn his blistering speed this season into a result. The best career finish for the 20-year-old Brazilian came after he missed Mid-Ohio because his father passed away. Moraes' previous best result was seventh at Watkins Glen last year, and his best this season was ninth at Milwaukee.
----
Mutoh completed the top five, tops in the Andretti Green Racing five-car camp. His fifth place was his second consecutive, as he also achieved the result last race at Mid-Ohio.

The rest of the top ten was Oriol Servia in his second start for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, Wilson, Kanaan, Matos and Robert Doornbos, in his second go this year for HVM Racing.

Wilson had an eventful race, starting 22nd and last in the field after a last-minute switch to start on Firestone's primary tire, the blacks. He had three sets of new alternates, the reds, available for use and worked them to his advantage. Passing cars on the notoriously difficult to pass circuit was Wilson's M.O. all day.

It almost didn't end as well as it did. Wilson dived down to Servia's inside at turn 11 only to lock up and spin out. He narrowly missed hitting Mutoh in the process, but he didn't stall and recovered as he lit up the tires.
----
Others of note -- Andretti came home 11th but was penalized for his role in the Dixon accident, Antinucci ran tantalizingly close to the top ten for the underfunded Curb/Agajanian Team 3G effort but finished 15th, and last car running was unsurprisingly Milka Duno in 17th, who added only to the race as a moving chicane, nothing more.

Montagny, making his IndyCar Series debut in the fifth AGR car, struggled despite an eighth place starting position. He collided with Antinucci at one point and that set him off the road with suspension damage.
----
Overall it was a landmark day for Franchitti. He ended a string of poor results, by his and the team's lofty standards, on permanent road courses. He hadn't finished better than third on such a circuit this season.

By leading all 75 laps, Franchitti accomplished the feat for the first time since his teammate Scott Dixon did in a rain-shortened, 206-lap race at Richmond in 2003. It is his 22nd win in his open-wheel (CART and IndyCar combined) career, tying him with Castroneves and Emerson Fittipaldi for 14th all-time.

Only the top four have a mathematical shot at the title but it is realistically three. There is no rest for the weary as the final stretch of ovals begins Saturday night at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. [September 19, 2009 at Motegi, Japan and the season finale on October 10, 2009 at Homestead, Florida]
Reference Here>>

Dario Franchitti capped a perfect weekend at Infineon Raceway on Sunday with a wire-to-wire victory in the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), who qualified on the pole, took the lead at the drop of the green flag and never looked back to post his first-ever win at Infineon Raceway. It was the first wire-to-wire win in the IndyCar® Series since Richmond in 2003. Image Credit: Infineon Raceway (2009)

How they fared (** denotes Transition Player)

Pos  Driver             Team                      Time/Gap
1.  Dario Franchitti   Ganassi              1h49m23.0073s
2.  Ryan Briscoe       Penske                  +  0.2488s
3.  Mike Conway        Dreyer & Reinbold       +  0.8293s
4.  Mario Moraes       KV                      +  3.6171s**
5.  Hideki Mutoh       Andretti Green          +  5.4536s
6.  Oriol Servia       Newman/Haas/Lanigan     +  6.3801s**
7.  Justin Wilson      Coyne                   +  6.6997s**
8.  Tony Kanaan        Andretti Green          +  7.1808s
9.  Raphael Matos      Luczo Dragon            +  8.5936s
10.  Robert Doornbos    HVM                     + 10.8175s**
11.  Ed Carpenter       Vision                  + 11.3688s
12.  Dan Wheldon        Panther                 + 12.4000s
13.  Scott Dixon        Ganassi                 + 13.8968s
14.  Marco Andretti     Andretti Green          + 14.8978s
15.  Richard Antinucci  3G                      + 19.0650s
16.  Danica Patrick     Andretti Green          +    1 lap
17.  Milka Duno         Dreyer & Reinbold       +   4 laps

Retirements:

Helio Castroneves  Penske                  66 laps
Ryan Hunter-Reay   Foyt                    65 laps
Franck Montagny    Andretti Green          57 laps**
Graham Rahal       Newman/Haas/Lanigan     30 laps**
Ernesto Viso       HVM                     0 laps**

NOTE: Transition Players Will Power driving for Penske Racing and Nelson Philippe driving for Conquest Racing were not able to fill the grid due to injuries from a crash during the warm-up session on Saturday.

Photo Album From Infineon Raceway at Sears Point>>

... notes from The EDJE

BSCC Sets Another Unofficial Land Speed Mark - 148mph

The FIA have just joined us, and will be setting up the course tomorrow (Tuesdat August 18, 2009). Attempts will commence on Wednesday. Ironically the date coincides with both the Barber Nicholls run and when Don Wales achieved his Electric record. No pressure! Caption & Image Credit: Rebecca Nicholls, BSCC - Press Officer and Kitchen-Hand

BSCC Sets Another Unofficial Land Speed Mark - 148mph

The British Steam Car Challenge (BSCC), on its way to set an officially recognized land speed record for a human driven vehicle on a course laid out on Rogers Dry Lake Bed, Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave, California, set an new unofficial mark at 148mph.

This is significant because this eclipses the fastest speed ever recorded by any human driven, steam powered vehicle, official or unofficial ... a mark set by Bob Barber in 1985 on the salt flats at Bonneville, Utah (unofficial) stands at 145.607mph.

The British Steam Car Challenge on a test run where the vehicle reached 94.9mph at Edwards Air Force Base. 

Video Credit BSCC

This excerpted and edited from a posting at the BSCC website -

British Steam Car News
Rebecca Nicholls, BSCC - Press Officer and Kitchen-hand - Monday 17th August - Edwards Airforce Base

We arrived at the base at 5.00am, the security check process went smoothly and drove the 12 miles to where we are stationed on the lakebed just as the sun rose. It was beautiful. It was a chilly start, but soon heated up to 104f and at first even the car was cold and the gas wouldn't fill up. Around 7am it was all systems go, Charles [Burnett] made his first run reaching 148mph. The crew turned her around in less than 50 minutes (they have it to a fine art).

During the second pass Charles had to stop as one of the 139 sensors had shut the system down as a safety precaution. The sensor turned out to be faulty and has since been replaced. No big issue. The team also replaced a flowmiser, as it was stuck open and throwing wet steam in to the dry steam affecting the cars speed and performance.
[Reference Here]

It can now be stated boldly and with clarity - At 148mph ... the British Steam Car (affectionately known by the crew as "The Fastest Kettle In The World") is the fastest measured (officially/unofficially), human driven, steam-powered vehicle ever, in the world!

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: 127mph, 131mph, 145.607mph, 148mph, Barber-Nichols Team, British Steam Car Challenge, BSCC, Rebecca Nicholls, Rogers Dry Lake Bed, Southern California, The EDJE

The Greatest Manufacturer Influence In Motorsports? MAZDA, Really ... MAZDA!

MAZDASPEED Motorsport Supported Series - Open Or Closed include; American Le Mans, Grand American Rolex GT, Grand American, Koni Challenge, SPEED World Challenge, Mazda MX-5 Cup, Spec Miata, Atlantic Championship, Star Mazda, Skip Barber, and Karting. Caption and Image Credit: MAZDASPEED Motorsports

The Greatest Manufacturer Influence In Motorsports? MAZDA, Really ... MAZDA!

To the casual motorsports observer, it is easy to overlook the influence and participation automobile manufacturers have in the pursuit of motorsports and to what extent they shape and form activities that capture our attention on TV or our local track.

Once one learns how to drive, the concept of motosports competition crosses ones mind and, to some, becomes an obsession. For most, just beating someone off of the line at a green light on an everyday street is as deep as this interest goes, but for others, this obsession grows ... first by watching a major race like the INDY 500 or an international broadcast of the Formula 1 race from the Principality of Monaco to actually taking a car out on a track for a spin ... at speed.

We may first think about the manufacturer of a particular car as it relates to motorsports when we begin to recognize what the nameplate on the car is of our favorite driver. NASCAR is famous for sporting a manufacturers name on the cars they race, even though the cars they drive have almost nothing to do with the actual car one would see on any city or country street ... anywhere.

The cars that NASCAR use for competition are built from the ground up with tubular metal framing for the chassis, a combination of sheet metal and composite fiber outer panels for the body skin and decals located for where the head and tail lights are supposed to be. The names of Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Dodge adorn the cars but very little in the way of actual production vehicles are really a part of the process.

In other, more sophisticated forms of motorsports found on the racing venues around the world, automobile manufacturers do, in fact, give direct support with engineering, engine development, and actual platform creation development, and support. However, no other automobile manufacturer participates directly in the creation and development of competitive racing series, driver development and training around the world more than ... MAZDA.

At the beginning of this summer's racing season, the largest gathering of MAZDA motorsports racing series drivers from all of the supported series (pictured here at New Jersey Motorsports Park, June 2009) - Mazda is the brand of choice for road-racers across North America. More than 9,000 grassroots racers compete in various classes with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). Racers who are years away from earning a driver's license can now begin their professional motorsports careers in the Mazda family. A driver can begin in karts and progress through the Skip Barber series, Club Racing Formula Mazda, professional Star Mazda and finally to Formula Atlantic, all with Mazda. No other car company has ever connected the dots this way. Caption and Image Credit: MAZDASPEED Motorsports

This excerpted and edited from the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development website -

On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA 3, MAZDA 6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the fastest growing road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA's Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America's racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.

Over the past decade, Mazda has developed an increasingly strong presence at road racing tracks around the nation. At the 2007 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring festivities, Mazda is represented in five of the eight races, and six of the thirteen different classes of cars, more than any other brand including Porsche, Ferrari, General Motors, Ford, Dodge, Toyota and Honda.

Mazda supports anyone who’s racing his or her Mazda in any sanctioned racing event in the U.S. or Canada. Mazda supports all types of racing, whether Road Racing, Rally, Drag, Off-Road or Autocross, as long as your event is sanctioned by a real racing organization and provides some kind of published racing results. You need to be a member of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Racing support program to purchase parts or receive support.

Mazda North American Operations provides racing support in North America through MAZDASPEED MOTORSPORTS DEVELOPMENT. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
----

MAZDASPEED Motorsports factory-engineered vehicles, performance parts and accessories, and motorsports programs are the ultimate expression of our "Always the Soul of a Sport Car" spirit. MAZDASPEED is the destination for driving enthusiasts who desire to experience Mazda at the highest, most exhilarating level. Video Credit: gorotary

MAZDA CONNECTS THE DOTS FOR NORTH AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS LADDER

Up-and-coming race drivers have two major challenges: winning on the track, and finding the resources to move up to the next level. Mazda in conjunction with series corporate partners is making the second task significantly easier for this year's champion drivers. Mazda will provide a next-level, fully-funded ride in a Mazda powered car to the 2007 champions of selected Mazda series.

“We are committed to developing the next generation of racers with a ladder system that provides drivers with Mazda and Mazda-powered open and closed-wheel cars throughout their careers,” said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality, and the man responsible for Mazda's North American motorsports operations under the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development banner. “Similar to our contingency program, these are performance-based rewards. Too often the cost of racing has meant that a promising career has stagnated due to a lack of budget. With this initiative, Mazda changes that.”
Reference Here>>


For more information on a specific series, visit:

www.atlantic-championship.com

www.scca.com

www.mx-5cup.com

www.starmazda.com

www.skipbarber.com

... notes from The EDJE