Interview - Tyler Tadevic - President, Team Manager TruSpeed AutoSport

Slone Urry navigates his #20 TruSpeed Porsche 911 GT3 in Turn 12 during the St. Petersburg Firestone Grand Prix Round #2 of the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge. Image Credit: TruSpeed AutoSport (2016)

Interview - Tyler Tadevic - President, Team Manager TruSpeed AutoSport

Interview Script:

As a former ChampCar, IndyCar open wheel, IMSA sports car team owner, and long time professional sports car team manager experiences in his background, Tyler Tadevic brings a wealth of motorsport experience from the very highest levels of competitive pursuit. He even fielded an effort that competed in the INDY 500.

Winning is not a foreign result to whatever type of racing series Tyler is involved in. From capturing a series championship title with Jon Fogarty in ChampCar to the most recent results at Circuit Of The Americas and St. Petersburg in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup class in the Pirelli World Challenge with Slone Urry, the proven understanding of process in the logistics, preparation, team coordination, and racing series political environment deliver consistent color at the bottom of the pan.

As Husband, Father, Friend, Teacher, Team Manager, and President of TruSpeed AutoSport, Tyler Tadevic expects top level results with everything he applies his attention to.

Welcome Tyler Tadevic:

TruSpeed AutoSport's team and driver, Slone Urry, are coming off of a string of three straight wins in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup class in the Pirelli World Challenge, one at Circuit Of The Americas and back-to-back wins during the second race weekend of eleven planned.

1) Before we discuss this season, when did you become involved in the Costa Mesa based TruSpeed operation, what was achieved working with the Rob Morgan and the Morgan family operation, and what led to your purchase of the TruSpeed AutoSport?

2) 2015 was a pretty big year for TruSpeed AutoSport, with a working partnership being worked out with Kelly Moss Porsche and driver Colin Thompson - the team had a hand in securing the Pirelli World Challenge's 911 GT3 Cup class championship and runner-up with Slone Urry. What were the keys to success in this break-out season?

3) On TruSpeed AutoSport's Facebook page it mentions that TruSpeed has drivers in both Diamond and Platinum classes competing this year in the Pirelli World Challenge and that you are fielding challenges in other series as well. Please tell us more about where TruSpeed AutoSport is racing and supporting.

4) As mentioned before, TruSpeed AutoSport's team and driver, Slone Urry, are coming off of a string of three straight wins in four races. Where, What venues do you see Sloan Urry, given his driving style, may have an advantage and which venues pose the biggest challenge?

5) Earlier in your career, you showed success in open wheel racing. This year Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be holding the 100th INDY 500, would you consider fielding an effort to contest the INDY 500 sometime in the future ... is this still a dream?

With the great season start, we look forward to following TruSpeed and Sloan Urry the balance of this 20 race Pirelli World Challenge season.

Thank You - Tyler Tadevic - President, Team Manager TruSpeed AutoSport
ENDS

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: TruSpeed AutoSport, Porsche 911, GT3 Cup, Pirelli World Challenge, Slone Urry, Porsche, Pirelli, SecurityNational Mortgage Company, Zoro, Mothers Polish, Justice Brothers, Ironclad Performance Wear, Sterling Collision Center LLC, Fuel Safe, XRP Inc., PMG Awareness Organization, avasis.com, 5.11 Tactical, The EDJE

BUBBA BURGER® Named Entitlement Sponsor Of IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship At Long Beach

"I’d like to thank BUBBA burger for coming on as my primary partner this season," said Shea Holbrook, who returns to Pirelli World Challenge action, this time in the TC class and she brings Jason Fichter along for the ride.  Shea Racing is running two beautiful Honda Accords in 2016, see what Shea and Jason have to say about the upcoming season. Image Credit: Shea Racing (2016)

BUBBA BURGER® Named Entitlement Sponsor Of IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship At Long Beach

Bubba Burger increases it's commitment to increasing brand awareness through motorsports sponsorships. From team money (as noted above) for Pirelli World Challenge's Shea Racing, to now, this banner sponsorship awareness campaign through a different sportscar racing series held at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach ... all power to the patty!

LONG BEACH, Calif. (March 17, 2016) – The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach announced today that BUBBA burger® has become the new entitlement sponsor of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race on Saturday, April 16 as part of the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The race will be called the “BUBBA burger® Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach.”

As an official partner of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, BUBBA burger® will be featured prominently in signage around the Grand Prix circuit including a pedestrian bridge over Turn 2. BUBBA burgers will also be available for purchase throughout the race weekend at their vending location at the circuit.

“BUBBA® burger is looking forward to the partnership with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach this year,” said BUBBA Foods CEO Billy Morris. “The new partnership will allow the BUBBA® burger brand to reach the sports car race fans that attend the event in Long Beach and to reach the national television audience viewing the event during the weekend. BUBBA is a growing brand nationally, and is now expanding rapidly in the Southern California market, so the sponsorship is a good fit. BUBBA® burger combined with great racing makes for a winning combination.”

“We are delighted to welcome BUBBA burger® to the Toyota Grand Prix sponsor family,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “They will be entitling one of our most exciting races and I’m sure our fans will find their product spectacular as well.”

BUBBA burger® products are sold throughout the United States. They are available in over 11 different burger varieties, including an expanded line of BUBBA Turkey and Veggie burgers.  In addition to its event sponsorship of Long Beach, BUBBA burger® also has been named “Official Burger of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.”

The 2016 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will run April 15-17. Ticket prices range from $30 for a Friday General Admission ticket, which grants access to all the day’s race events, to $142 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, Verizon IndyCar Series Paddock access passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages.

Fans can select and pay for their 2016 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 827-7333.  A printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information can be obtained by calling the hotline.

For more information, visit gplb.com or follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB, Twitter @ToyotaGPLB, Instagram at ToyotaGPLB and Snapchat at ToyotaGPLB.
[ht: gplb.com]

Kinda' makes one's mouth water ... doesn't it?

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: BUBBA BURGER®, IMSA, WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, TGPLB, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, The EDJE

Interview - Dave Allen President Of Auto Club Speedway Before Auto Club 400

Interview - Dave Allen President Of Auto Club Speedway Before Auto Club 400

Dave Allen serves as President of Auto Club Speedway.

Allen, 41, a 17-year veteran in the sports marketing industry, is responsible for all operations of Auto Club Speedway and Auto Club Dragway.

He was named president of the Speedway in December, 2014. Allen has served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Speedway since 2006. As Vice President, Allen oversaw the marketing, sales and ticketing departments.

From his early childhood karting days at Laguna Seca to Crew Chief of a World of Outlaws Sprint car team to his rise as the President of Auto Club Speedway, Dave Allen has grown up in the motorsports world and is a race fan at heart. Coming from a racing family, Allen has seen the sport grow from both the competition side and the business side and has applied his knowledge and know-how to move up motorsports’ executive ladder.

Welcome, DAVE ALLEN, President Auto Club Speedway ...

We find ourselves at the beginning of a NASCAR season that has seen some changes in the aerodynamics to a lower downforce set up in the hopes of increasing the competition on the track.

1)
Auto Club Speedway is one of the fastest tracks on the NASCAR circuit - over the most recent years, the racing, especially NASCAR Racing, has improved in a steady progression ... How do you see a race play out with this lower downforce set up?

2)
Today, we are presently experiencing a second round of El Nino weather activity - what are the weather forecasts telling you as to what to expect for the Auto Club 400 activities between March 17th when the transporter roll in and set up, to the race itself on March 20th?

3)
What kind of questions are you hearing from NASCAR on FOX and what do you think they are expecting from the races at Auto Club Speedway?

4)
Starting with St. Patrick's day, March 17th and working through the event weekend, what should fans look for?

The NASCAR Auto Club 400 is scheduled for Sunday, March 20, 2016 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Weekend Schedule:

Thursday, March 17: St. Paddy’s Day FanFest presented by Bubba Burger and NASCAR Sprint Cup Hauler Parade

Friday, March 18: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying: 4:30 p.m. PT.

Saturday, March 19: NASCAR Xfinity Race: 1 p.m. PT  on FS1.

Sunday, March 20: NASCAR Sprint Cup Auto Club 400: 12:30 PT on FOX.

----

Tickets for the Auto Club 400 start at $41.

After March 11– tickets start at $46.

To purchase call 800-944-RACE or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com

The Auto Club 400 race is NASCAR’S only stop in Southern California and is a part of the NASCAR Goes West campaign.

Fans attending the Auto Club 400 weekend can park free of charge, making race weekend an incredible value full of fun and entertainment.

5)
I am aware that winning IndyCar drivers get to have their hand and footprints placed in cement - are you going to have this ceremony for these NASCAR drivers?
ENDS

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Auto Club Speedway, ACS,  NASCAR, Xfinity, Sprint Cup, St. Paddy’s Day FanFest, Bubba Burger, NASCAR Sprint Cup Hauler Parade, FOX Sports, The EDJE

Reflections From The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, After 195 Days Of ?

Reflections From The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, After 195 Days Of ?
(Championship Racing Radio Post Race Review With Josh Farmer & Edmund Jenks )

It's been 195 days since the Verizon IndyCar Dallaras have taken to a racing surface in anger as the drivers, teams, and cars took to the temporary street course track at Saint Petersburg for the first race of this 2016 season - The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 13, 2016

So many story lines - Will Power, Oriol Servia, Rookies (Conor Daly, Spencer Pigot, Alexander Rossi, & Max Chilton), Simon Pagenaud - how'd they do?, Marco Andretti and Andretti Autosport's Carlos Munoz effect on the race and final order at finish (RHR Podium) ... WOW, great race for the first one of the year after a long dry spell since the Verizon IndyCar Dallaras have taken to a racing surface in anger.

This race, including rookies, may have the best crop of drivers to start a competitive racing season in the history of IndyCar. Easily one of the most competent based upon accomplishment and resume.

The rookie field alone has a series champion - Pigot, one with Indy 500 plus four other 2015 season races under his racing royalty belt - Daly, and two that are coming in with Formula 1 experience - Rossi & Chilton.

Race start of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Image Credit: VICS

The race started cleanly with two exceptions. Takuma Sato got a flat tire and James Hinchcliffe went off the course ... also with a flat tire. It was revealed in the post race interviews that Josef Newgarden had plenty to do with the Mayor's problems as well as his own which had him, Newgarden, finish 47 laps off of the race total.

The biggest movers at the start were Josef Newgarden (with the punt of Hinchcliffe) and Marco Andretti.

Simon Pagenaud took the lead from pole position followed by teammates Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya.

By Lap 10, Helio's front tires began to lose grip giving an opening for JPM to pass at the beginning of the lap at the end of the front straight.

About Helio's early first pit-stop:
Edmund Jenks retweeted
Timothy Burke @bubbaprog
typical Florida driver pic.twitter.com/SjM6ImKi8E

<<< VIDEO >>>

Lap 22 - RHR chops across Luca Flillippe and causes carbon fiber damage on Luca's Dallara.

Lap 33 - JPM gains to 1.5 seconds behind after first pitstops.

Lap 46 - Marco Andretti tries to follow RHR at the end of the front straight in a pass of Luca --- spins with contact to rear ... stalls and creates a FCY.

Lap 48 the field pits when the pits become open --- Pagenaud slides to a stop in the pit box but remains within limits ... beats JPM back out on track.

TrendNode @trendnodecom
‪#‎IndyCar‬ is now trending in 5 countries. Read more at trendnode.com/%23IndyCar pic.twitter.com/WOLoeuB2Tn

#‎IndyCar‬ is now trending in 5 countries. Image Credit: TrendNode

Aaron Bearden @AaronBearden93
. @ConorDaly22 is sitting pretty after this yellow. He had just pitted laps earlier and inherits the lead. #IndyCar #FirestoneGP

Trend Topics USA @TrendTopicsUSA
San Jose
1 #DaylightSavingTime
2 #WeNeedMusicBecause
3 #Ankara
4 #IndyCar
5 #SelectionSunday
6 Ivory Coast

Image Credit: Trend Topics

Restart Lap 57 - Big stoppage at Turn 4 when Rahal got booted by Carlos Munoz stacking up 9 cars - Front Wings between Rahal and Servia touch with many rear end collisions behind

Nathan Evans on Twitter
“Calamity corner. #indycar https://t.co/SG3k8gjdl8”

<<< VIDEO >>>

Edmund Jenks retweeted
Eric Smith @Eric_RaceReview
Officially 9 cars listed in that Turn 4 crash on Lap 56: 98, 15, 16, 83, 41, 5, 15, 11, 12 ‪#‎IndyCar‬ #‎FirestoneGP‬

Cars/Drivers as follows; 98 - Alexander Rossi, 15 - Graham Rahal, 16 - Spencer Pigot, 83 - Charlie Kimball, 41 - Jack Hawksworth, 5 - James Hinchcliffe, 15 - Luca Filippi, 11 - Josef Newgarden, & 12 - Oriol Servia.

Daly loses lead on restart Lap 63 to JPM - Lap 65 end of straight, Helio passes Dixon at end of straight.

Munoz gets penalty for avoidable contact in large accident.

RHR passes Helio for Podium on Lap 107

If JPM wins, it will be the first back-to-back wins at St. Pete since Helio did it in 2006-2007

Juan Pablo Montoya starts the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season the same way he started the 2015 VICS season ... with a win on the streets of St. Petersburg. Image Credit: VICS

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Race Results (Highlights Video Here)

Click HERE to view and download the official results from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Results Sunday of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Verizon IndyCar Series event on the 1.8-mile St. Petersburg street circuit, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):

1.  (3) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 110, Running
2.  (1) Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 110, Running
3.  (5) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Honda, 110, Running
4.  (2) Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet, 110, Running
5.  (17) Mikhail Aleshin, Honda, 110, Running
6.  (10) Takuma Sato, Honda, 110, Running
7.  (4) Scott Dixon, Chevrolet, 110, Running
8.  (12) Carlos Munoz, Honda, 110, Running
9.  (19) Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 110, Running
10.  (13) Charlie Kimball, Chevrolet, 109, Contact
11.  (9) Jack Hawksworth, Honda, 109, Running
12.  (18) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 109, Running
13.  (20) Conor Daly, Honda, 109, Running
14.  (21) Spencer Pigot, Honda, 109, Running
15.  (14) Marco Andretti, Honda, 109, Running
16.  (6) Graham Rahal, Honda, 109, Running
17.  (16) Max Chilton, Chevrolet, 109, Running
18.  (22) Oriol Servia, Chevrolet, 109, Running
19.  (8) James Hinchcliffe, Honda, 109, Running
20.  (15) Luca Filippi, Honda, 108, Running
21.  (7) Sebastien Bourdais, Chevrolet, 87, Contact
22.  (11) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 47, Electrical                             

Race Statistics
Winner's average speed:   89.006 mph
Time of Race: 02:13:28.4650
Margin of victory: 2.3306 seconds
Cautions:  2 for 16 laps
Lead changes: 4 among 4 drivers

Lap Leaders:
Pagenaud 1 - 48
Daly 49 - 63
Montoya 64 - 81
Hunter-Reay 82-84
Montoya 85 - 110

Verizon IndyCar Series Point Standings: Montoya 51, Pagenaud 43, Hunter-Reay 36, Castroneves 32, Aleshin 30, Sato 28, Dixon 26, Munoz 24, Kanaan 22, Kimball 20.
[ht: Verizon IndyCar Series]

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, St. Pete, The EDJE, Josh Farmer, Championship Racing Radio, Verizon IndyCar Series, VICS, #indycar, Motorsports Journal

Jay Penske's Dragon Racing Wins Big Down In O'le Mexico On Performance & Rulings

Abt Schaeffler's Lucas di Grassi (left) and Dragon Racing's Jerome D’Ambrosio (right) celebrate with the crowd on walkway in front of the ePrix podium at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Image Credit: Zak Mauger via FIA

Jay Penske's Dragon Racing Wins Big Down In O'le Mexico On Performance & Rulings

When does keeping all four wheels under your car and not allowing the muscle tactics of those around you, while playing by all of the rules, pay off?

When you are Dragon Racing's Jerome D’Ambrosio, who was able to qualify on the pole and run a clean race while personally maintaining rule on the course to win Round 5 of the FIA Formula E series race in Mexico City.

During the race, Jerome D’Ambrosio "fixed" the errant pass through a cutting of a chicane by a cutting of a chicane!

After the race, the FIA Formula E series Race Control "fixed" the winner of the race when it was found out in post-race technical, that the driver that crossed the finish line first did not win the race due to meeting the minimum race car weight as provided for by the rules.

In the beginning, the whole of the Formula E event infrastructure was flown in to Mexico City and set up at the unique layout of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez - part traditional race track, part street circuit. When the Formula E visits a venue, the FIA organization brings in everything they need to be self-supporting and self-contained all of the way down to providing all of the requirements for electric power (special Aquafuel, zero emission, glycerine (glycerol) generators) for the FIA event management center, paddocks, and race cars throughout the entire time of the event.

Mexico City ePrix race start. Image Credit: Adam Warner via FIA

This excerpted and edited from FIA Formula E - 

Stunning pole for D’Ambrosio

Mexico City|12 Mar 16 - Dragon Racing’s Jerome D’Ambrosio produced a stunning qualifying effort to take his second pole position of the season in qualifying for the Mexico City ePrix.

The Belgian recorded a great time of 1:03.705s in the Julius Baer Super Pole to put his rivals under pressure. Lucas di Grassi and Nico Prost both fell three-tenths short, leaving championship leader Sebastien Buemi as the only man who could take the top spot.

But the Renault e.dams star made a mistake at Turn 4 and ran wide, leaving him the slowest of the five Super Pole runners and D’Ambrosio on pole.

“It’s unexpected, we knew we could try to be top five,” said D’Ambrosio. “I told the team I was going to go full on and take the risks and take the fight to these guys and I just went for it and it worked out. It’s another couple of points and I feel great for the team.”

Prost beat di Grassi by just one tenth to ensure there will be a Renault e.dams car on the front row, while di Grassi will have Abt Schaeffler team-mate Daniel Abt next to him after the German made Super Pole for the first time this season.

In the group stages there was a long red flag period in Q3 after defending champion Nelson Piquet Jr had a huge lock-up into T1 and slammed his NEXTEV car into the TechPros barrier.

“I’m fine,” said Piquet as he walked back towards the garage. “I was pushing to find the limits of the car and I think I found it!”

The was significant damage to the front of the car and with just three hours between qualifying and the race, the NEXTEV TCR mechanics face a race against time to repair the car.

Also starting at the back of the grid is Bruno Senna, who also had an incident at Turn 1, when he lost the rear of his Mahindra Racing car and spun lightly into the wall, causing a small amount of damage.

Jean-Eric Vergne narrowly missed out on Super Pole for DS Virgin Racing and lines up sixth, while Antonio Felix da Costa did a great job to put his Team Aguri car in seventh. Loic Duval was eighth fastest in the second Dragon car, while Nick Heidfeld (Mahindra) and Stephane Sarrazin (Venturi) rounded out the top 10.

However, da Costa will start back in 17th due to a 10-place gearbox penalty, promoting Sam Bird in the second DS Virgin car into the top 10. Simona de Silvestro got the better of Andretti team-mate Robin Frijns for the first time in qualifying to set the 12th fastest time.

Mexico City ePrix first chicane corner ... clean start. Image Credit: Andrew Ferraro via FIA

The following is a blended excerpted and edited version of Mexico City ePrix details from FIA -

Fans power di Grassi to marvelous Mexico victory (Di Grassi stripped of Mexico win - post race)

Lucas di Grassi used fan power to take an emotional win in front of a large and passionate crowd that was treated to a fabulous inaugural Mexico City ePrix.

The unique layout of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez - part traditional race track, part street circuit - made overtaking tricky, but not impossible. But with an additional 100kJ of energy that di Grassi received through FanBoost, he was able to slipstream Jerome D’Ambrosio and take the lead into the tight first corner.

For three laps di Grassi threw energy consumption to the wind and concentrated on building up a lead instead, which he did with aplomb at almost a second per lap. With D’Ambrosio having his mirrors full of Renault e.dams’ Sebastien Buemi, di Grassi was able to establish a comfortable advantage that he converted to not only his second win of the season, but the lead in the drivers’ championship.

“FanBoost really helped my race,” said di Grassi. “This track is difficult to overtake as you could see. I managed to overtake Nico (Prost) from third to second and then with the help of FanBoost I managed to overtake Jerome (D’Ambrosio) which was not so easy. It was really on the limit for braking for the chicane and the first laps we don’t have regen so the car was all over the place.”

[Di Grassi’s Abt Schaeffler car that he used for the first part of the race, was found to weigh 886.2kg, 1.8kg under the 888kg minimum. Abt has decided not to appeal the decision.]

The battle for second [actually ... the lead] was fierce. Erstwhile points leader Buemi was recovering from a mistake in qualifying, which left him fifth on the grid rather than the pole position his pace in practice had suggested. He passed di Grassi’s Abt Schaeffler team-mate Daniel Abt early on, and made up a further place in the pitstops when he leap-frogged his Renault e.dams team-mate Nico Prost.

On a number of occasions Buemi was able to get in the slipstream of the Dragon Racing car, but each time D’Ambrosio defended robustly. On one occasion there was even contact as Buemi tagged the back of the Belgian at 200kph as they disputed position. Finally, he did manage to get ahead, but had to cut the first chicane in the process.

Image Credit: Zak Mauger via FIA

As Buemi backed off to allow D’Ambrosio to re-pass, it allowed Prost, Abt and the second Dragon of Loic Duval to get into the fight. Eventually, the previous order was restored, but by now di Grassi was almost 10 seconds up the road. The fight for second went all the way to the flag and a photo-finish, with D’Ambrosio crossing the line just ahead!

D’Ambrosio said: “It was really a close call with Seb. We just spoke about it on the podium but I need to see a replay to see what really happened there. One moment we had contact in the first corner and everything went fine. Then he overtook me but cut the first chicane. When he let me by he always lifted in a place I was not going to try to overtake him. Therefore, it created a big mess all around. I think in the end everything played out correctly.”

D’Ambrosio joined di Grassi in performing some fantastic donuts in front of the 33,319-strong crowd, who then cheered their heroes on some more as they collected their trophy on the stage The Rolling Stones will be playing on in two days’ time.

Stadium section of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez race track. Image Credit: Zak Mauger via FIA

“I think today we weren’t quick enough to be honest,” said Buemi. “It’s a very strange track here. The altitude, the asphalt was very warm and we didn’t have much grip. Looking forward to going back to a normal type of circuit. Clearly what happened in qualifying is a bit annoying because it is hard to understand what happened, I kind of didn’t really understand. So at the moment we won’t try to analyse it because the car is good enough but in the race it was not really there.”
----
FIA President Jean Todt, who was in Mexico to sign an agreement with Jose Abed, Vice President for Sport and President of OMDAI and the Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Angel Mancera implementing safety training courses for public transportation vehicle operators, was on hand to witness the successful first foray of all-electric racing to Mexico.

“Formula E - a young competition attracting fresh audiences - provides us with a platform to raise awareness on road safety to the thousands of spectators attending, altogether with our partners from the GRSP and the Red Cross,” he said. “Making significant progress to reduce the number of road crashes’ victims can only be achieved by bringing all stakeholders to take action together, and this weekend we will demonstrate that this is possible.”

What the weekend also demonstrated is that Formula E can produce unpredictable, exciting action that gets the crowd on its feet and shows that sustainable motorsport is the motor racing not just of the future but of the here and now.
----

Abt Schaeffler's Lucas di Grassi celebrates with the crowd after coming in first across the finish line at the Mexico City ePrix - in this pose, he looks more as if he had just heard that his win was stripped and awarded to Dragon Racing's Jerome D’Ambrosio. Image Credit: Zak Mauger via FIA

Lucas di Grassi has been excluded from the result of the Mexico City ePrix, handing victory to Jerome D’Ambrosio.

The decision means di Grassi is now 22 points behind Sebastien Buemi, who is promoted to second place. Nico Prost moves up to third, and the Renault e.dams driver also gains two more points for setting the Visa Fastest Lap after D’Ambrosio’s best effort was removed for being set while cutting a chicane.

Loic Duval remains classified fourth but was handed a 15-second penalty for repeatedly cutting the chicane and then ignoring the black and white flag he was shown for this offence.

Robin Frijns is promoted to fifth, Sam Bird to sixth, Daniel Abt to seventh, Nick Heidfeld to eighth, Stephane Sarrazin to ninth, while Bruno Senna now collects the final point in 10th.

Post Round 5 Team Standings - Jay Penske's American team, Dragon Racing sits at P2

Adjusted -  2016 Mexico City ePrix (Rd 5) - Race results

1.     Jerome D’Ambrosio, Dragon Racing, +5.416s (25)
2.     Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams, +5.522s (23)
3.     Loic Duval, Dragon Racing, +16.774s (15)
4.     Nico Prost, Renault e.dams, +30.953s (12)
5.     Robin Frijns, Andretti Formula E, +33.893s (10)
6.     Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing, +34.344s (8)
7.     Daniel Abt, Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport, +35.467s (6)
8.     Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra Racing, +41.789s (4)
9.     Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi, +42.707s (2)
10.     Bruno Senna, Mahindra Racing, +43.019s (1)
11.     Oliver Turvey, NEXTEV TCR, +44.014s
12.     Mike Conway, Venturi, +44.206s
13.     Nelson Piquet Jr, NEXTEV TCR, +47.767s
14.     Simona de Silvestro, Andretti Formula E, +49.387s
15.     Salvador Duran, Team Aguri, +1:08.498s
16.     Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Virgin Racing, +1 lap
17.     Antonio Felix da Costa, Team Aguri, DNF

Lucas di Grassi, Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport - Stripped Of All Points
[ht: fiaformulae.com]

The next race - Formula E Long Beach ePrix - happens April 2, 2016 for Round 6 of the 2015-2016 season through the streets of Long Beach ... for a second time.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: FIA, Formula E series, ePrix, Mexico City, Dragon Racing, Jay Penske, Jerome D’Ambrosio,under weight, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, The EDJE

NHRA 2016 Winternationals, Pomona, CA.

Robert Hight 2016 NHRA Winternationals. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

John Force 2016 NHRA Winternationals. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Ron Capps 2016 NHRA Winternationals TF/FC Champion. (Photo by Dicken Wear) 

Ron Capps NAPA TF/FC 2016 NHRA Winternationals winner. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

John Force at 2016 NHRA Winternationals. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

56^th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals

1^st of 24 races in the NHRA Mello Yello Series

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona

Pomona, Calif.
February 14, 2015

Final round results from Sunday’s 56^th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first race in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

FUNNY CAR –Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Napa Dodge Charger, 3.981, 324.28 mph, def. Del Worsham, Villa Park, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry, 3.962, 324.36 mph

TOP FUEL – Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Tex., CAPCO dragster, 3.735, 326.48 mph, vs. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich.,  Mac Tools Toyota dragster, 3.753, 324.36 mph.

PRO STOCK – Greg Anderson, Mooresville, NC, Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro, 6.617, 207.85 mph def. Jason Line, Mooresville, NC, Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro , 6.609, 209.82 mph.

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J. FORCE, HIGHT RACE TO SEMIS AT WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, CA ---- The 2016 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season started with some success for John Force Racing even though none of the drivers raced into the winner’s circle at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Led by strong performances from seven-time Winternationals winner John Force and three-time winner Robert Hight who each raced to semi-final finishes John Force Racing will leave California as No. 3 and No. 4 in Funny Cars and with quarter-finalist Courtney Force in the No. 6 position.

For the eleventh straight year JFR advanced at least one Funny Car to the semi-finals at the historic Circle K NHRA Winternationals. No. 3 qualifier Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car defeated Tommy Johnson Jr in the first round and took out teammate Courtney Force in a close second round battle.

The semi-final race against eventual winner Ron Capps was an even closer race pitting two of the 2016 championship contenders against each other. It was a rematch of last year’s semi-final race with Capps once again getting the win against Hight. The race saw Hight’s 3.949 second run at 313.44 mph just miss getting around Capps’ 3.938 seconds at 321.35 mph. At about 700 feet Hight lost a blower belt and his Auto Club Chevy Camaro went silent as Capps zoomed past the 2009 Funny Car champion at the finish line.

“This Auto Club Camaro is running really good whether it is cool or hot. This car is right there at the top. I am bummed this race car quit quit a bit before the finish line. We lost a blower belt. I think we let one get away there. Those guys are a tough team to race and they definitely threw on at it today. We are going on to Phoenix with some confidence and momentum,” said Hight, who won twice in 2015.

On the other side of the Funny Car ladder 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy Camaro SS started from the No. 9 qualified position for just the third time at the Winternationals. In 1984 Force raced to the semi-finals from the No. 9 spot but today he was not able to get to his first final from the bottom half of the field.

In the opening round Force had to outrun veteran Tim Wilkerson and then in the second round Force won a monster match-up against Jack Beckman. Last season Beckman had JFR’s number winning every match-up against team JFR. Today it was Force and his Jon Schaffer tuned Funny Car coming out on top 4.01 seconds to 4.131 seconds.

In the semi-finals Force had to race the defending NHRA Funny Car champion Del Worsham and it was a great race but the results were not what Force was looking for. Force had a starting line advantage but at the finish line Worsham tripped the finish line scoring system with a 3.978 to Force’s 4.033 seconds.

“I feel all the work that we did as a team to get these cars into the 3.8s and to be able to run 3.90s in the heat. We have accomplished a lot. Now we have to polish it. We have a lot of work to do but as a team I think we will be fine,” said Force. “We have Alan Johnson and Brian Husen over on that Monster Energy dragster and I think the alliance with CAPCO is going to be great. I think we have put the team together right. Let Mike Neff focus on the Funny Cars with Danny Hood, Ronnie Thompson and Jon Schaffer. We are going to get a lot better.”

Courtney Force and the Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS team showed the competition this weekend that they’re here to make an impact on the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello series season. Force qualified with a stout 3.945 second pass at 322.88 mph on Friday and showed consistency throughout qualifying. After three impressive passes, Force found herself in the No. 6 position going into race day. She was set to have lane choice over veteran driver Gary Densham in the opening round. Unfortunately, Densham couldn’t make the call Sunday morning and Force had a bye run.

The Traxxas team took advantage of the opportunity to push the car in round one and see how the Traxxas Chevy would respond, knowing they were set to make an appearance in the second round of eliminations. The Traxxas machine lived up to The Fastest Name in Radio Control when Force posted her career-best ET and speed on the single run. Her 3.925 ET at 329.34 mph was low ET and quickest of race day.

“For this Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro team, the Fastest Name in Radio Control, it was awesome to get this car down the track here at Pomona for the Winternationals; my home track. It’s unfortunate Gary Densham wasn’t able to match up against me. Winning a race like that – no one wants to win a race like that. I just want to say I’m glad he’s okay after that crazy crash he had yesterday when he went into the sand,” said Force.

The round win bought her a tough match-up alongside teammate and John Force Racing President Robert Hight in the second round. Hight was 9-5 against Force in prior events going into second round, but Force had a 5-3 edge in previous second round matchups.

The 27-year-old had lane choice by .003 of a second and took the right lane. Both Camaros launched hard together, Force’s .068 light to Hight’s .067. Both were on good runs until Force’s Traxxas machine got loose and Hight sailed across the finish line, 3.955 ET at 324.67 mph to Force’s 4.101 ET at 258.62 mph.

“In the second round my Traxxas Chevy dropped a hole down track. I stayed in it. I tried to drive that thing all the way to the finish line, hoping for a win, but at that point being down a cylinder, we just lacked the power we needed to get past Robert,” said Force.

“We had a good car all weekend so that has me excited for the season and the upcoming race at Phoenix. I’m really happy with how Dan Hood and Ronnie Thompson have been tuning this race car and it’s making me feel more confident as a driver every time I get in it,” said Force.

The Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster and Brittany Force made a solid run in the first round but did not advance. Force was edged off the starting line by J.R. Todd and her quicker elapsed time of 3.756 seconds, which was third quickest of the session, was bested by the combination of Todd’s reaction time and his 3.766 second pass for a margin of defeat of .019 seconds.

Over the course of the weekend the Monster Top Fuel dragster was one of the most consistent dragsters on the property posting times of 3.794, 3.753, 3.800, and 3.744 in qualifying. Her average elapsed time of 3.769 seconds easily puts her near the top of the category for the weekend.

“Even though we went out in the first round I still feel confident leaving the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Every run our Monster Energy dragster went down the track. We ran great numbers all weekend. We came out this morning and ran 3.75 and you can’t be down on that kind of performance,” said Force, a six-time Top Fuel finalist. “I am always proud of my whole team. They have been working their butts off all off-season. We made a lot of changes and a lot of them had to do with getting me comfortable in the dragster. I know we are going to have a good year and we are just getting started. This is the first race and we will let it go and move on to Phoenix.”

(Reprinted from Elon Werner: JFR Public Relations).

NHRA TF Test at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ.

Brittany Force Crew at WHPMP 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Tim Wilkerson Test at WHPMP 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Robert Hight Test at WHPMP 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Courtney Force Burnout at WHPMP NHRA Test 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

John Force and Fox TV Crew at WHPMP Test 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Ron Capps and Fox TV Crew at WHPMP Test 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Fast Jack, Jimmy Prock and Fox TV Crew at WHPMP Test 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Brittany Force Test at WHPMP 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

Robert Hight Burnout at WHPMP Test 2-2016. (Photo by Dicken Wear)

JOHN FORCE RACING WRAPS UP SUCCESSFUL TEST SESSION IN PHOENIX

PHOENIX (February 6, 2016) ---- The quartet of John Force Racing race cars wrapped up a successful four days of NHRA pre-season testing at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park today. John Force Racing cars claimed seven of the 10 quickest runs of the day. Brittany Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team led all Top Fuel dragsters today with a 3.721 second pass at 319.07 mph.

“I am definitely glad we are here in Phoenix testing. We were here for four days and I needed every single run that we made to make me feel more comfortable. Teaming up with Alan Johnson and Brian Husen as my crew chief has been great,” said Force, who finished the 2015 season in 7^th place. “They have made a lot of changes to this Monster Energy dragster. They run a whole different system that what we used to run. It takes some time to adjust to that and I am learning the car. It is starting to feel like home. We ran a couple of 3.72s and I am ready to get to Pomona.”

Force posted the 5^th and 6^th quickest runs of the four day test session.

The John Force Racing Funny Cars started slowly but finished the pre-season test session with strong runs led by Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team.

“We had a ton of things to come in here to test and it took us seven runs to get the application right to go down the track. We didn’t get to test everything that we wanted to but once it went it was fast. We figured out some of the good things that we wanted to test but not everything,” said Hight. “I also believe with how we finished the end of the year at Pomona what we learned here is going to make us so much better when we get back to Pomona. I am so excited to get to the Winternationals. We made career best runs here and we are in the ballgame.”

Hight posted a career best 3.885 second run at 329.34 mph on Saturday which was good enough for third quickest of the spring training event. Over the course of the test session Hight also ran the 9^th quickest run of the weekend 3.913 second.

Right behind Hight was teammate Courtney Force driving the Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car who ran her career best ET 3.890 at 323.89 mph. The first two days of testing were uneventful for Force who struggled to get her Funny Car down the track. The team began to hit their stride on Friday.

 “We struggled a little the first couple of passes but then we got it figured out. That is why you go to testing. I am really excited to be working with Ronnie Thompson and Danny Hood as my crew chiefs. This whole Traxxas Chevrolet Funny Car team did a great job here in Phoenix. We made my quickest run ever and I feel really comfortable heading to Pomona,” said Courtney Force.

The most consistent Funny Car on Saturday was John Force’s PEAK Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro SS which ran three quick runs including a stellar 3.914 second run. His other passes of the day 3.927 seconds and 3.930 seconds easily had him near the top of the field.

“We got done what we needed to here in Phoenix. I am really proud of these young kids led by Jon Schaffer. We got after it every day and we got some good runs out of this PEAK hot rod. We are running right up at the top with all the other Funny Cars and that Monster dragster ran really well too. We have had a lot of change over the past couple of years but now I am focused on winning and getting the most out of all these race teams,” said John Force.

(Reprinted from Elon Werner: JFR Public Relations).