Morning Lap: Racing News Links
Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (left) and Danica Patrick (right) attend game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. The Blackhawks beat the Wild 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to another edition of the Morning Lap, a daily feature here at Beyond the Flag. Along with The Hub we want to bring you not only our original content but a collection of all the best racing news.
NASCAR rejected an appeal Wednesday by Penske Racing of sanctions imposed against the teams of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano after the NRA 500 on April 13 at Texas Motor Speedway.
The National Car Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel upheld the penalties after approximately five hours of arguments and deliberations.
Team owner Roger Penske plans to appeal the decision to National Stock Car Racing chief appellate officer John Middlebrook, USA Today reported. Penske’s final appeal will be heard on Tuesday.
From sports.yahoo.com
Thirty days, six figures and one goal — achieved with intense commitment to an unprecedented call-to-action across all NASCAR stakeholders.
NASCAR Race to Green?, a month-long initiative that galvanized teams, tracks, drivers, official NASCAR partners and most importantly fans, resulted in more than 150,000 trees being planted across the country, including in areas affected by natural disasters.
From sports.yahoo.com
IZOD IndyCar Series leader Helio Castroneves returns to his hometown of Sao Paulo as he aims to extend his series lead against Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who ranks second after a win at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Three-time defending Sao Paulo champion Will Power drives for a fourth straight win in Brazil, while 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series champion and Andretti Autosport driver Ryan Hunter-Reay looks to get back in the winner’s circle.
From motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com
Racing at home won’t be as much fun for Tony Kanaan.
The Brazilian arrives at the Sao Paulo 300 with an injured right hand that he knows will bother him. He just doesn’t know how much. He said his hand is “still a mystery.”
Kanaan doesn’t think it will keep him from driving in his 200th consecutive race Sunday, but he isn’t sure if he will be able to get through the entire IndyCar event on a demanding street track.
From www.foxnews.com
Paul di Resta can become a Formula 1 world champion given the right car, according to ex-F1 driver Allan McNish.
Scotland’s Di Resta produced one of the best drives of his career to finish fourth in his Force India in Bahrain, just missing out on a maiden podium.
From www.bbc.co.uk
The four flyaway rounds to start the 2013 Formula One season have produced three different polesitters and three different race winners. Only one polesitter, Sebastian Vettel, has gone on to win the race – and controversially so in Malaysia.
While Mercedes seems to excel on one-lap speed but has consistently dropped back in the races, other teams are tending to opt to set their cars up for the race rather than qualifying. Overtaking has certainly been made easier of late thanks to the 2013 tire compounds and DRS.
So does qualifying still matter nearly as much as it once did? Not so, according to Mark Webber, who was one of several drivers to admit their thoughts to Autosport.
From motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com
Feld Motor Sports® announced today that TwoTwo Motorsports’ fundraising team is the recipient of MX for Children’s inaugural Jackpot Challenge Team Award for the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season.
The widely popular TwoTwo Motorsports team, which is owned by two-time 450SX Class Champion Chad Reed, raised nearly $12,000 for children’s hospitals in 2013. Koen McLeod, of Canada, was the highest fundraiser on the TwoTwo Motorsports team, and, as a result of his charitable efforts, he was awarded a trip to Las Vegas for the highly anticipated Monster Energy Supercross season finale at Sam Boyd Stadium.