F1 2011 : Technical Regulations

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The FIA's publication of the details of the 2011 technical regulations points out to the effective ban of double diffusers, F-ducts and slotted rear wings. Newly introduced are the adjustable rear wings, tyres and mandated weight distribution.

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F1 2011: Tyres, adjustable rear wings, 640 kg and...


Craig Scarborough of scarbsf1 gives us the detailed explanation of the F1 2011 Technical regulations with amazing illustrations.


Ban on connected shark fins

Another route to banning F-ducts, as well as a move to limit the ever expanding rear fin, the rule prevents any bodywork reaching the rear wing.


?3.9.1 No bodywork situated between 50mm and 330mm forward of the rear wheel centre line may be more than 730mm above the reference plane.?

Ban on slots in the rear wing

As with the beam wing, the upper rear wing is prevented from having slots extending beyond the central 15cm. This prevent F-ducts or other blown slots, the latter which have been exploited for several years.

?3.10.2 Other than the bodywork defined in Article 3.10.9, any bodywork behind a point lying 50mm forward of the rear wheel centre line which is more than 730mm above the reference plane, and less than 355mm from the car centre line, must lie in an area when viewed from the side of the car that is situated between the rear wheel centre line and a point 350mm behind it.
With the exception of minimal parts solely associated with adjustment of the section in accordance with Article 3.18 :
  • when viewed from the side of the car, no longitudinal cross section may have more than two sections in this area, each of which must be closed.
  • no part of these longitudinal cross sections in contact with the external air stream may have a local concave radius of curvature smaller than 100mm.
Once the rearmost and uppermost section is defined, ?gurney? type trim tabs may be fitted to the trailing edge. When measured in any longitudinal cross section no dimension of any such trim tab may exceed 20mm.
The chord of the rearmost and uppermost closed section must always be smaller than the chord of the lowermost section at the same lateral station.?

Clarification of the starter motor hole


After some teams were exploiting oversized starter motor holes in the diffuser to create a slotted effect, the FIA clamped down with a clarification. This has now been written into the rule book.


?3.12.7 No bodywork which is visible from beneath the car and which lies between the rear wheel centre line and a point 350mm rearward of it may be more than 125mm above the reference plane. With the exception of the aperture described below, any intersection of the surfaces in this area with a lateral or longitudinal vertical plane should form one continuous line which is visible from beneath the car.
An aperture for the purpose of allowing access for the device referred to in Article 5.16 is permitted in this surface. However, no such aperture may have an area greater than 3500mm2 when projected onto the surface itself and no point on the aperture may be more than 100mm from any other point on the aperture.?

Ban on Double Diffusers (DDD) and Open Exhaust Blown Diffusers (EBD)


Due to a previous weakness in the rules defining the underfloor, teams were able to exploit this to create the double diffuser. Double diffusers were only possible as an opening could be created in the gap been the reference plane, step plane and the diffuser. Now the rules close this avenue off.

Additionally this opening allowed teams to open up the front of the diffuser to blow the exhaust through for an even greater blown diffuser effect. This rule also prevents this opening in all but the outer 50mm of the split between the diffuser and the floor.
One additional clarification is that the suspension must not form any of the measured point for the under floor. Previously the minimum height was exploited by some teams placing wishbones or Toe-Control arms across the top an opening in the diffuser.

?3.12.9 In an area lying 450mm or less from the car centre line, and from 450mm forward of the rear face of the cockpit entry template to 350mm rearward of the rear wheel centre line, any intersection of any bodywork visible from beneath the car with a lateral or longitudinal vertical plane should form one continuous line which is visible from beneath the car. When assessing the compliance of bodywork surfaces in this area the aperture referred to in Article 3.12.7 need not be considered.

3.12.10 In an area lying 650mm or less from the car centre line, and from 450mm forward of the rear face of the cockpit entry template to 350mm forward of the rear wheel centre line, any intersection of any bodywork visible from beneath the car with a lateral or longitudinal vertical plane should form one continuous line which is visible from beneath the car.

3.12.11 Compliance with Article 3.12 must be demonstrated with the panels referred to in Articles 15.4.7 and 15.4.8 and all unsprung parts of the car removed.?

Driver operated F-duct


Even though the loop holes in the rear wing regulations have been closed, this additional new regulation prevents the driver influencing aerodynamics. So that other driver controlled F-duct type devices cannot be exploited other areas, such as: front wings, sidepods or diffuser.


?3.15 With the exception of the parts necessary for the adjustment described in Article 3.18, any car system, device or procedure which uses, or is suspected of using, driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited.?

Driver adjustable rear wing


The driver adjustable front wing is now deleted from the rules and instead the rear wing is now driver adjustable. This is because the expected benefit of greater front wing angle never provided the driver with more grip when following another car. The front flap adjustment was much more a solution to tune the cars handling in between pitstops. The TWG found that the loss of drag from the rear wing was a more effective solution to allow the following to overtake. Now the rear wing flap can pivot near its rear most point and open the slot gap from 10-15mm to up to 50mm. Opening this gap unloads the flap and reduced both downforce and drag.

This being controlled by the timing gap to the car ahead and managed by the FIA. So there?s two ways the driver can use the system. Firstly in free practice and qualifying the rear wing is solely at the control of the driver. They can adjust the wing at any point on the track and any number of times per lap. So for the ideal lap time, as soon as the car is no longer downforce dependant (straights and fast curves) the driver can operate the wing, just as they did with the F-duct. Although a small complication to the driving process, at least their hands remain on the wheel and not on a duct to the side of the cockpit.

Then in the race the wing cannot be adjusted for two laps, then race control will send signals to the driver via the steering wheel, such that when they?re 1s or less behind another car at a designated point on the circuit, the rear wing can be trimmed out. The wing returns to the original setting as soon as the brakes are touched.

?Furthermore, the distance between adjacent sections at any longitudinal plane must lie between 10mm and 15mm at their closest position, except, in accordance with Article 3.18, when this distance must lie between 10mm and 50mm.?

3.18.1 The incidence of the rearmost and uppermost closed section described in Article 3.10.2 may be varied whilst the car is in motion provided :
- It comprises only one component that must be symmetrically arranged about the car centre line with a minimum width of 708mm.
- With the exception of minimal parts solely associated with adjustment of the section, no parts of the section in contact with the external airstream may be located any more than 355mm from of the car centre line.
- With the exception of any minimal parts solely associated with adjustment of the rearmost and uppermost section, two closed sections are used in the area described in Article 3.10.2.
- Any such variation of incidence maintains compliance with all of the bodywork regulations.
- When viewed from the side of the car at any longitudinal vertical cross section, the physical point of rotation of the rearmost and uppermost closed section must be fixed and located no more than 20mm below the upper extremity and no more than 20mm forward of the rear extremity of the area described in Article 3.10.2 at all times.
- The design is such that failure of the system will result in the uppermost closed section returning to the normal high incidence position.
- Any alteration of the incidence of the uppermost closed section may only be commanded by direct driver input and controlled using the control electronics specified in Article 8.2.
3.18.2 The adjustable bodywork may be activated by the driver at any time prior to the start of the race and, for the sole purpose of improving overtaking opportunities during the race, after the driver has completed a minimum of two laps after the race start or following a safety car period.
The driver may only activate the adjustable bodywork in the race when he has been notified via the control electronics (see Article 8.2) that it is enabled. It will only be enabled if the driver is less than one second behind another at any of the pre-determined positions around each circuit. The system will be disabled by the control electronics the first time the driver uses the brakes after he has activated the system.
The FIA may, after consulting all competitors, adjust the above time proximity in order to ensure the stated purpose of the adjustable bodywork is met.?

Mandated weight distribution


Along with the supply of Pirelli control tyres they will be matched to a mandatory weight distribution. Now the cars minimum weight is 640Kg, the specified minimum axle weights, equate to a weight distribution ranging between 45.5-46.7% on the front axle. This is a few percent behind the typical 2010 loadings.

?4.2 Weight distribution :
For 2011 only, the weight applied on the front and rear wheels must not be less than 291kg and 342kg respectively at all times during the qualifying practice session.
If, when required for checking, a car is not already fitted with dry-weather tyres, it will be weighed on a set of dry-weather tyres selected by the FIA technical delegate.?

Double wheel tethers


For safety a doubling of the wheel tethers has been regulated. Each tether needs to pass through a different suspension member and have its own mounting points on the upright and the chassis. There?s not expected to be any performance impact with this. But the tethers are somewhat heavier, so they and the side intrusion panel are part of the reason for the greater minimum weight limit.

?10.3.6 In order to help prevent a wheel becoming separated in the event of all suspension members connecting it to the car failing provision must be made to accommodate flexible tethers, each with a cross sectional area greater than 110mm². The sole purpose of the tethers is to prevent a wheel becoming separated from the car, they should perform no other function.
The tethers and their attachments must also be designed in order to help prevent a wheel making contact with the driver?s head during an accident.
Each wheel must be fitted with two tethers each of which exceed the requirements of 3.1.1 of Test Procedure 03/07.
Each tether must have its own separate attachments at both ends which :
- are able to withstand a tensile force of 70kN in any direction within a cone of 45° (included angle) measured from the load line of the relevant suspension member ;
- on the survival cell or gearbox are separated by at least 100mm measured between the centres of the two attachment points ;
- on each wheel/upright assembly are located on opposite sides of the vertical and horizontal wheel centre lines and are separated by at least 100mm measured between the centres of the two attachment points ;
- are able to accommodate tether end fittings with a minimum inside diameter of 15mm.
Furthermore, no suspension member may contain more than one tether.
Each tether must exceed 450mm in length and must utilise end fittings which result in a tether bend radius greater than 7.5mm.?

No more shaped wheel spokes


After the static front wheel fairings that abounded in 2009, were banned and the wheel design homologated, there must have been some surprise that Ferrari managed to create an aerodynamic wheel shape in 2010. This is partly limited now by the restriction on surface area for spokes and shaping. The limited only allows 13% of the wheel centre to be spoked, meaning that a ten spoke wheel has to have spokes just 16mm wide.

?12.4.6 When viewed perpendicular to the plane formed by the outer face of the wheel and between the diameters of 120mm and 270mm the wheel may have an area of no greater than 24,000mm2.?

Clarification of mirror positions


Again when the FIA clarify a rule or make a change for safety reasons, we don?t get to see the detail of this change until its put into the regulations. The removal of outboard mirrors was brought in early last year and now the mirrors can effectively be no more than 27.5cm from the cockpit opening


?14.3.3 All parts of the rear view mirrors, including their housings and mountings, must be situated between 250mm and 500mm from the car centre line and between 550mm and 750mm from the rear edge of the cockpit entry template.?

Ban on blade roll structures


Mercedes surprised many with their blade-like roll structure, reducing the obstruction to the rear wing and allowing for a much shorter inlet tract for the engine, the solution was likely to be copied. A minimum cross section forced teams to have a wider section above the drivers head, negating the fundamental benefit of the solution


?15.2.4 The principal roll structure must have a minimum enclosed structural cross section of 10000mm², in vertical projection, across a horizontal plane 50mm below its highest point. The area thus established must not exceed 200mm in length or width and may not be less than 10000mm2 below this point.?

Dash roll structure point maximum height


With the cockpit opening fixed at 550mm, teams have often raised the front of the chassis around the dash bulkhead to create a raised nose. In the first of several limits for both 2011 and 2013, with even more stringent plans for 2013, the height of the front of the chassis is now being controlled. The limit for this point is now 670mm, still some 120mm above the cockpit opening.


?15.2.3 The highest point of the second structure may not be more than 670mm above the reference plane and must pass a static load test details of which may be found in Article 17.3.?

Limit on front chassis height


As already explained teams raise the position of the front (AA) and dash (BB) bulkheads to create space under the nose for airflow to pass in between the front wheels and reach the rear of the car. The trend for ?V? sections noses, introduced on the Red Bull RB5 in 2009, makes the front of the chassis even higher, often being visible above the height of the front tyres (~660mm). Now both these bulkheads need to be at 625mm, some 75mm above the cockpit opening.

?15.4.4 The maximum height of the survival cell between the lines A-A and B-B is 625mm above the reference plane.?

Limit on shaped Rear Impact Structures


Since the 2009 aero rules, teams have been shaping the rear impact structures into ever more curved shapes to lift it clear of the diffuser and pass it underneath the beam wing. The tail of this structure must be centred at 300mm high, to prevent extreme banana shaped structures, this rule forces the structure to vary by no more 275mm.

?Furthermore, when viewed from the side, the lowest and highest points of the impact absorbing structure between its rear face and 50mm aft of the rear wheel centre line may not be separated vertically by more than 275 mm.?


Craig Scarborough is a journalist/illustrator who focuses solely on the technology of F1. His technical illustrations have appeared in AtlasF1, Autosport and print magazines.

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What Does Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bring To Nascar Besides Racing?

There is no question that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the top racers in Nascar. He has built up a reputable image through fine racing and countless wins. However, racing is not the only thing this incredible person brings to the sport.

As many are well aware of, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a third generation driver in a family that has been connected to the sport of stock car racing for years. He has a flare of charisma, originality, and character that have propelled him to become one of the most popular figures in sports today. Five times Nascar fans have selected him as the winner of the most popular driver award. Thousands of fans line up at every track at his merchandise trailer just to get something with his name on it. It is hard to see where he has time to meet with so many of his fans but he does. That is what makes him so popular.

His appeal certainly branches outside of just Nascar fans though. He has appeared many times on Harris Interactive’s annual polling for America’s Top 10 favorite athletes. This has put him in the company of such athletes as Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, and Tiger Woods. In 2002, Dale was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors.

Outside of racing, he has become a role model for young ones with his business savvy as well. He has pursued the role of team owner and businessman while ascending in this too. In 2002 JR Motor sports consisted of just six employees and a street-stocked camaro was the only race car. Today, the company encompasses over 100 employees and a plethora of different vehicles that compete in the Nascar Racing Nationwide series.

If that were not enough, he has appeared on over 150 magazine covers and has been featured in high profiled publications such as Rolling Stones, GQ, Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated and People Magazine. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also made guest appearances on 60 minutes, the Late Show with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live and many more talk shows. He has also appeared in numerous commercials for his sponsors.

But that was just not enough for this Nascar racing star either. He has played cameo roles in Talladega Nights and Cars, and was the subject of an episode of MTV’s Diary. To further add to his resume, in 2001 he became a best-selling author with Driver 8. This is a documentation of his rookie season in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has done tremendous things for the sport of Nascar. Through his countless victories and ambitious personality, he has become a true role model for people all over the world. He has shown that there is life outside of sports with cameos and his documentary book and has given kids a reason to strive for their goals. There really is no question why he is one of America’s Top 10 favorite athletes.

Come read more Nascar related articles at http://nascarracing4you.com. You can check out the Nascar schedule, standings, and results. Also, there is a wide selection of Nascar merchandise and memorabilia at the Nascar Store.

Article Source: What Does Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bring To Nascar Besides Racing?

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NASCAR Tickets - Hylton Yearns for One More Start

74-year-old racing legend James Hylton is NASCAR's Energizer Bunny, and as the 2009 racing season gets well underway, Hylton still just keeps going and going. James Hylton is the owner of the Hylton Motorsports race shop in South Carolina and has been for 45 years, but he just can't get racing out of his blood, as this famed driver has recently expressed interest in competing in one last NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race before relinquishing his driving powers to the next generation of NASCR contenders.

Last summer, Hylton became the oldest driver ever to start a Nationwide Series, qualifying Johnny Davis' No. 01 Chevrolet and completing 82 of 105 laps while coming in at 36th place. This racing icon also holds the record as the oldest driver to ever qualify for an ARCA race, and now he's going for records across the boards as he has recently expressed interest in snagging the Cup Series record for oldest driver, which currently belongs to Jim Fitzgerald and Hershel McGriff (who were each 65 when they made their respective final races). While hardships with sponsorship and finances keep Hylton off the track for now, the racing legend still thinks it's feasible to make a Sprint Cup start in the near future, saying, "One more Cup race. I want that record. I've put my whole life into this thing, and I feel like I'm still capable of doing it. If I thought I was endangering any of the competitors or I was in the way or I was somebody out there to cause a wreck... I ain't going to cause anybody no wreck. That's not saying I won't wreck, I've wrecked several times, had bad crashes. But the worst crash I've been in wasn't my fault."

James Hylton grew up in the backwoods of Virginia as one of 13 kids in his family, immersed into stock car racing culture at a young age. Hylton started out in the racing realm working as a mechanic for Rex White, but he eventually got into the driver's seat himself, capturing loads of fans when he made his strong NASCAR debut in 1966, popularizing the No. 48 car before Jimmie Johnson could get to it and winning the league's Rookie of the Year Award the same racing season. The next decade was an absolute racing frenzy for the great James Hylton, who finished the NASCAR championship in second place three times and finished a season in 11th place or better for 10 consecutive seasons.

Hylton retired from the full racing circuit in 1982 but has since gone on to set a number of records, now feasting his eyes upon one last Sprint Cup Series race. Hylton attempted a Daytona 500 race two years ago when Richard Childress supplied him with a bright orange car for the event, yet engine trouble kept him from starting the race, ultimately failing to capture the Sprint Cup record. The big question mark in NASCAR today still stands as whether or not James Hylton will ever accomplish his dream of starting one more Sprint Cup race, and if he does, which one it will be. In case Hylton does get to start one final Cup race soon, get NASCAR tickets online and cheer on this racing sensation, as you won't want to miss this record-setting event!

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On pole but not smiling. Troubles still weigh on Hamilton

In Yeongam

It has been a while since Formula 1 has seen Lewis Hamilton smile, so it was a surprise that even after taking a significant pole position for McLaren in Korea his trademark, happy grin was still missing.

The 26-year-old stared into the middle distance as he stood alongside Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, who has been beaten just four times in qualifying this year, and his own team-mate Jenson Button.

For the record books Hamilton's pole position represented an end to Red Bull's dominance over one lap this season. For the 2008 world champion, it meant a glimmer of redemption.

When asked directly why he wasn't smiling, Hamilton answered: "I don't feel I deserve it.

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"I've had some tough races in the second half of the season but tomorrow and the rest of the races are what count, avoiding penalties and all those different things.

"[The pole] is one of the first positives. I've had some difficult races in the past and we'll try to redeem ourselves tomorrow."

Hamilton also revealed why he did not respond on McLaren's pit-to-car radio when the team congratulated him on his pole position.

"I wasn't on the radio," he said. "I hadn't heard that in a long time so it was good to hear. It was just a comforting feeling. It was satisfying to hear the guys in the background cheering so that makes me happy."

A traumatic season has seen Hamilton mix errors on track, including nearly taking out his team-mate in Canada, with off-track spats, most controversially his criticism of the stewards in Monaco.

The run of bad results have been in contrast to Button, who has soared in the second half of the season, winning two of the last five races to climb to second in the championship.

Hamilton's troubles have been played out under intense scrutiny and there have been suggestions that he lacks support as he deals with a new management company, in place of his Dad Anthony, and the stresses of a long-distance relationship with pop-star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.

There was no escape from further scrutiny in Korea.

When he sat alongside Vettel in the first media conference of the weekend, Hamilton was asked more questions than the man who had become the sport's youngest world champion just four days earlier.

As he spoke to the media, Hamilton admitted that it would take a long time to recover.

A solitary pole may not be enough to complete the process but it could the catalyst for the start of a personal comeback, as well as proving he is back in the groove behind the wheel.

"This is just a very small step but in the right direction," Hamilton reflected. "It was important we got [pole] today and it made a significant difference."

It had been 16 months since Hamilton has been on pole and on race days he has not been on the podium since winning the German Grand Prix in July.

"Hamilton has been flying this weekend," said BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle. "Every time he's sat in the car he's look good.

"He's got the thing alive and we haven't seen that for a while from Lewis Hamilton."

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Hamilton's most immediate challenge is to convert pole into a third victory of the season at Yeongam.

McLaren have had the pace all weekend and Hamilton finished a strong second here in last year's rain-delayed race.

His chances of scoring a pole-to-flag victory could hang on tyre wear and Red Bull have opted for an opposite strategy to rivals McLaren by saving three new sets of the more durable 'soft' tyres for the race.

While Button managed his tyres to win the last race in Japan, Hamilton had to pit early when his tyres degraded badly after just eight laps and he finished a distant fifth.

But he is more optimistic that a change to his car's set-up, which he described as stiff in Suzuka, will help him nurse his tyres through the Korean race.

"The set-up that I have will definitely be easier on the tyres," Hamilton added. "The one I went to in Japan wasn't good for consecutive laps.

"I've come in a different direction which hopefully will be more beneficial in the race."

Whether Hamilton wins or not on Sunday, the embattled 26-year-old has to take this pole position as not only an opportunity to put his rivals behind him, but his troubles too.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sarahholt/2011/10/post_3.html

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NASCAR Tickets - Gordon Makes it Rain at Texas Motor Speedway

After a 47-race drought that left Jeff Gordon thirsty as ever for a Sprint Cup victory, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports stock car driver finally picked up his first win of the season in yesterday's Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, breaking his lengthy winless streak and securing his spot in first place in the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings. Gordon's big win at Texas was his very first at the racetrack, and it gives this 37-year-old National Guard driver something to brag about in the current racing season.

Gordon took the tricky Texas racetrack by storm in yesterday's race and beat out Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards, respectively, giving him a 162-point lead over Jimmie Johnson in the Sprint Cup series. This year's Samsung 500 gave Gordon his first win in 47 tries, but it also granted the NASCAR hero his first-ever win at Texas Motor Speedway. Gordon made a statement after winning the race yesterday, saying, "How ironic is this that when we go into this streak and we end it here in Texas, a place that's just eluded us for so long. Incredible team effort. This whole year has been amazing. What a great car. I've never had a car like this at Texas. We finally had one and put it in position."

Now that he's won a race at Texas, Gordon has but one racetrack in the Sprint Cup circuit that he has yet to emerge victorious from, and that's the Homestead Miami Speedway. In his long and incredibly successful NASCAR career so far, Gordon has won at both Darlington and Martinsville seven times, Daytona and Talladega six times, Bristol, Charlotte and Sonoma five times, Atlanta, Dover, Indianapolis, Pocono and West Glen four times, Fontana and New Hampshire three times, Kansas, Michigan and Richmond twice and Chicago, Las Vegas, Phoenix and (now) Texas once.

Jeff Gordon grew up in Northern California and was very familiar with the nearby Vallejo Speedway, which inspired the youngster to take up racecar driving at a young age. Gordon received a Quarter Midget racecar when he was five years old, winning his first race at age eight. In 1986, Gordon and his family moved to Indianapolis, where he started racing open wheel cars and quickly turned heads in the racing business. Jeff Gordon started racing in the NASCAR circuit when he jumped aboard Hendrick Motorsports in 1992, taking 14th place in series standings in 1993 and not looking back since.

Gordon has been a consistent top finisher at Sprint Cup races over the last two decades, and 2009 has been nothing but successful so far for No. 24. He was already the season points leader coming into yesterday's race, as his four top-five finishes so far in the series' first six races put him atop the Sprint Cup Series standings even before the Texas race. Jeff Gordon now focuses his energies toward Phoenix and Talladega, where he will finish out the month of April trying to repeat yesterday's 82nd career win. To cheer on Jeff Gordon to Victory Lane in the upcoming weeks and months, get NASCAR tickets online and make your way down to the nearest racetrack!

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Ferrari launch their new 2011 car, F150 ( Launch Pictures)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dCclIT9q8/TUQuogHbGEI/AAAAAAAAGtc/KQXHMuWI7qc/s1600/Ferrari%2BF150%2Bcar%2Bis%2Blaunched%2Bon%2BJanuary%2B28.jpg

Ferrari launched their 2011 spec challenger during a media event that took place at Maranello yesterday (28th Jan'11) ahead of a track debut at nearby Fiorano. The wraps came off the F150 ? a tribute to Italian unification and featuring an Italian flag on the rearward-facing rear wing. The team?s new Scuderia Ferrari logo features prominently on the engine cover. The F150 is the first F1 car of 2011 to be revealed.

?As far as the looks are concerned the rules keep them quite unaltered. The cars look like the ones from last year, but from a technical point of view they will be really different,? said technical director Aldo Costa.

?The car?s evolution has been planned with two big stages: one during the winter tests, where we will mainly develop the area of the mechanics, which means that the car?s structure, the chassis, the gearbox and the suspension will remain the same for the first couple of races. The aerodynamics is simplified and temporary for the first tests, waiting for the real aerodynamic development for the first race,?
further explained Costa.

Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo also attended the media event, and wanted to congratulate Fernando Alonso publicly for his wonderful campaign with the Prancing Horse last year. As far as Felipe Massa is concerned, di Montezemolo called him "our little child" and insisted that it was his brother who drove a Ferrari in these past couple of years, only now the true Massa is back.

Chassis Specification

  • Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
  • Ferrari longitudinal gearbox
  • Limited-slip differential
  • Semiautomatic sequential electronically controlled gearbox ? quick shift
  • Number of gears: 7 +Reverse
  • Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes
  • Independent suspension, push-rod activated torsion springs front and rear
  • Weight with water, lubricant and driver: 640 kg
  • BBS Wheels (front and rear): 13?

Engine Specification
  • Type: 056
  • Number of cylinders: 8
  • Cylinder block in sand cast aluminium V 90°
  • Number of valves: 32
  • Pneumatic distribution
  • Total displacement: 2398 cm3
  • Piston bore: 98 mm
  • Weight > 95 kg
  • Electronic injection and ignition
  • Fuel: Shell V-Power
  • Lubricant: Shell Helix Ultra

Link

Ferrari F150 ? Launch detail & Analysis (Scarbsf1's Blog)

"Firstly the front wing is last years; it even has the driver adjustable mechanism which is no longer allowed in 2011. However the nose cone will be fairly definitive, as it needs to match the front of the chassis and being a homologated part, cannot be structurally changed during the season. This front wing may be on the car for the opening test runs, but we will soon see an interim 2011 wing before a final version appears for Bahrain."

Ferrari F150 Launch Pictures



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5 hour Energy Toyota Brendan Gaughan Loan Max Toyota Tony Raines

2011 Formula One Calendar

2011 FIA Formula 1 World Championship Race Calendar (Provisional)


Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
*
Bahrain BIC March 11-13 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dCclIT9q8/S5kc4Eay8OI/AAAAAAAAFbI/yPbhnQgAlzE/s400/2010+FORMULA+1+GULF+AIR+BAHRAIN+GRAND+PRIX.jpg
1
Australian Albert Park March 25-27 [australia_waving_flag_256.gif]
2
Malaysian Sepang April 8-10 [malaysia_waving_flag_256.gif]
3
Chinese Shanghai April 15-17 [china_waving_flag_256.gif]
4
Turkish Istanbul May 6-8 [turkey_waving_flag_256.gif]
5
Spanish Catalunya May 20-22 [spain_waving_flag_256.gif]
6
Monaco Monaco May 26-29 [monaco_waving_flag_256.gif]
7
Canadian Gilles Villeneuve June 10-12 [canada_waving_flag_256.gif]
8
European Spain June 24-26 [european_union_waving_flag_256.gif]
19 British Silverstone July 8-10 [united_kingdom_waving_flag_256.gif]
10 German Nürburgring July 22-24 [germany_waving_flag_256.gif]
11 Hungarian Hungaroring July 29-31 [hungary_waving_flag_256.gif]
12 Belgian Spa August 26-28 [belgium_waving_flag_256.gif]
13 Italian Monza September 9-11 [italy_waving_flag_256.gif]
14 Singapore Singapore September 23-25 [singapore_waving_flag_256.gif]
15 Japanese Suzuka October 7-9 [japan_waving_flag_256.gif]
16 Korean KIC October 14-16 [korea_south_waving_flag_256.gif]
17 Indian Noida October 28-30 http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f2dCclIT9q8/TTvUnNQO1uI/AAAAAAAAGkc/1Qtn_gtX60I/s1600/india_waving_flag_256.jpg
18 Abu Dhabi Yas Marina November 11-13 [united_arab_emirates_waving_flag_256.gif]
19
Brazilian Interlagos November 25-27 [brazil_waving_flag_256.gif]

* Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix postponed ? future date to be confirmed

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/y2nC_JY9eoY/2011-formula-one-calendar.html

Home Depot Toyota Paul Menard Brad Keselowski Dale Earnhardt Jr

Nascar Makes Finding Online Discounts Easy

Many Nascar fans would pay anything to gain an edge on any type of Nascar information. The information they get online might be about their favorite driver or it could be an interesting tidbit about the next racing season. Some racing fans are so keen on the motor sport that they will do some amazing things to be privy to something about Nascar that their friends do not know.

If the fans learned about a new raceway online that would be built near their hometown, then they are liable to get a jumpstart on reserving certain seats for their entire family to sit in and enjoy Nascar action at its finest. Nascar makes it easy to purchase tickets online, and will generally take reservations for tracks that are about to be finished.

A Nascar fan might even consider buying extra seats through the online ticket outlets so that they can turn around and offer those premium seats to their buddies at a premium price. The competitive nature of Nascar is not limited to the race track area only and some people enjoy the competitive sale of tickets to latecomers at the raceway for a regularly scheduled race.

Some people might not know how to go about purchasing Nascar tickets online. Nascar makes it very easy for fans to buy the number of seats that they want at any raceway that is listed on the racing schedule. Fans can review the racing schedule online and see which races that they want Nascar tickets for that will cover the entire year. The discounts for Nascar tickets could be found through other ticket retailers online because some people have extra tickets that they can not use.

There are many Nascar discounts available online that will allow fans to go to the track dressed in style. Every Nascar driver has a sponsor and a large assortment of gear that is fashioned after the drivers colors. Fans can find coolers, ball caps and plenty of tee shirts through online retailers and the discounts placed through the online outlets are sometimes lower than what is offered at the Nascar track.

There are inexpensive memorabilia for Nascar that is perfect for all age groups. Some people have large collections of Nascar gear that they purchased at a discount through a retailer that has set up their business on the internet framework. Many fans love showing their guests just how devoted they are to their driver and will create marvelous wall displays that are adorned with posters that were autographed at the track where the fans went to enjoy a race.

James Brown writes about http://www.teamlogoandgear.com

Article Source: Nascar Makes Finding Online Discounts Easy

Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/13630/nascar-makes-finding-online-discounts-easy

Joe Nemechek Gator com Chevrolet Erik Darnell Reed Sorenson

My Japanese Grand Prix preview

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel looks set to clinch his second successive title and become F1's youngest-ever double world champion. Watch my preview to this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix to see why I think there's still plenty to look forward to this season.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.


If you are outside the UK, you can watch the video here.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2011/10/my_japanese_grand_prix_preview_1.html

BigSpot com Toyota Carl Long Willie Allen Cash America Chevrolet

Why is Safety in NASCAR Still Lagging?

NASCAR racing is all about speed, adrenaline, checkered flags, and, unfortunatley, accidents and injuries. Its in the news almost on a daily basis nowadays. "Dale Earnhardt Jr. briefly lost consciousness and he hid a significant head injury from his team and NASCAR last year", "Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau, critically injured during a crash during practice at Richmond International Raceway", etc... We will discuss what causes these crashes and injuries and what is currently being done to prevent them and why more needs to be done.

The worst injuries result in death and lately their have been numerous basal skull fractures received by drivers like Dale Earnhardt and Adam Petty. Doctors have determined that a helmet harness is a good protective measure to stop some of these injuries. A basal skull fracture can result fro a severe whipping forward motion and/or a sudden abrupt stop - as in Dale Earnhardt's case. A basal skull fracture almost always results in immediate death. Another highly effective measure is shock or crash absorbing walls instead of steel reinforced concrete walls that have zero give - These could have spared Jerry Nadeau from his severe injuries or at least limited them. These walls are now being introduced and installed at several tracks.

NASCAR is over 50 years old. Why does it take a famous death or several to begin safety measures or to take them more seriously? Why is it that our own automobiles have air bags, side airbags, crumple zones, etc... Can't these same devices be reconfigured for NASCAR specs. Air bags have been proven in tests to be highly effective at speeds well over 100 mph. NASCAR drivers deserve more protection than we are currently giving them. The problem is that more attention has been given to advertising, advertisers, and speed. Placement of advertisers stickers on the car were and still are more important than the driver. More money is spent to make sure the different advertisers have their brands clearly displayed on the driver and car than on any safety measures. Some safety measures are thought of as increasing too much weight and are therefor discarded (thicker firewalls, absorbant

Take any other sport - Football, Baseball, basketball - the athletes don't have stickers, or patches with 50 different sponsors all over them. They are actually more concerned about athlete safety over advertising revenue in these sports, not in NASCAR, though. Yes, NASCAR is experiencing a huge winfall in earnings lately, but that cannot bring back the great legends like Dale Earnhardt. There is no problem with sport profits, but lets focus a little more on safety of our athletes. With all the money NASCAR has they should already be installing safety walls at all tracks, not just a few. Lets focus on safety rather than just on advertising dollars. That way we won't be left praying for our drivers outcome after a crash anymore.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com and at http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Article Source: Why is Safety in NASCAR Still Lagging?

Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/44000/why-is-safety-in-nascar-still-lagging

Braun Racing Toyota Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford Mike Bliss