Can I start by saying how great it feels to have F1 back on the BBC, and in HD glory?
I loved the tweets telling me about all the F1 parties going on around the UK and, even though many of you had to do some serious coffee drinking to cope with early morning action, #bbcf1 was trending on Twitter the whole weekend, which was awesome.
Mind you, it's funny how life can conspire against you sometimes isn't it? Having waited all winter, and an extra couple of weeks, I wanted to have the perfect preparation ahead of the opening race weekend of the 2011 F1 season. But it didn't quite work out like that.
Now, I'm an eight-hours-a-night man at the best of times, so having spent the day grabbing the latest info in the paddock and then grabbing a late dinner, I was already worried about finally getting to bed at midnight ahead of Saturday's first qualifying session of the year.
However, an hour or so later and my night was set to get worse. A lot worse.

You know those horrible, startled wake-up calls that you get sometimes when you spend the first 20 seconds just trying to remember where you are? That was me, staring into the darkness trying to work out what the sound of rushing water was in my hotel room at 2am. Moments later I was flying across the room in panic as out of the ceiling, on to the laptop, all over the desk... a water leak!
Thankfully, I managed to rescue the computer and, after moving rooms, eventually got my head down - welcome to the new season, Jake!
It felt really strange starting the season off in Australia again, actually.
The last time I welcomed you guys to the BBC's coverage of the opening race there, it was 2009 and I was in a serious state of panic. I'll never forget standing in the pit lane in Melbourne and hearing 'The Chain' for the first time. I'd never stood under the winner's podium, interviewed a driver, or even done live TV with Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard before. It's amazing how quickly you can get used to something isn't it?
Mind you, after a break of a few months it always feel a little bit like it's the first time you're popping in your earpieces and hearing the seconds count down until we're on air.
Like anything that involves a group of people working together, you get a great flow going when you do something regularly, and equally after a big break you can feel pretty rusty. I'll certainly admit to feeling like a badly oiled bike this weekend.
Before each show we always get together in the production office to discuss what's on the programme and watch the taped elements of the show. I also talk with Steve Aldous the assistant editor about where we want to be. We try to inform the teams so we don't surprise them by suddenly appearing inside their garage live on air and then we take to the pit lane - all seven of us!
With Steve, a sound man, monitor man, a couple of cameras, me, and two pundits we can be quite a big group to negotiate what is at times a really rather claustrophobic pit lane.
Australia was particularly busy, with my random moment of the weekend being former Westlife member Brian McFadden having a beer with Beppe Di Marco from EastEnders while Leo Sayer and Danny Cipriani wandered past...That's F1 for you!
One element I really did enjoy was the F1 Forum and if you're in the UK and you've yet to see it I'd suggest you take a look on the iPlayer. We had the Sauber drivers, Paul di Resta, Sebastian Vettel, and DC getting cake in his face - so pretty much something for everyone.
So, what did you make of the first race of the year?
I feel really sorry for the Sauber pair of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez after their cars were ruled illegal. Perez in particular did an awesome job, just one pit stop, great speed and points on his debut that have now been taken away from him.
If you check out the F1 Forum it's interesting to see the surprise on Kobayashi's face when talking about Perez. If there is one thing an F1 driver likes less than a slow car it's a fast team-mate!
We'd actually made it away from the track when the Sauber news broke and we were heading out for dinner. A quick U-turn in the car, though, and it was back to the track for a late-night piece to camera. It happens every season!
One rookie was certainly not left frustrated. It was great to speak to Di Resta live ahead of qualifying. We always ask for drivers to join us live before the action gets going on a Saturday and they frustratingly rarely say yes.
But Paul was happy to chat and I think he did a great job. He was pretty candid in saying that he thought his car could struggle to make it into the top 17 in qualifying, so to finish with points after the stewards had punished Sauber was great news for him. He did, however, let his team-mate through twice so we'll have to watch that situation carefully.
Despite all that was going on, it was all about one performance this weekend, wasn't it? Vettel's dominance was incredible. No Kers power-boost system but the best start on the grid, masses of speed over a team-mate who he really does have the beating of currently. And most pleasing of all? He's still such a normal guy!
There are a few drivers in F1 that I have interviewed numerous times now yet they still wouldn't give me the time of day. They'd walk past me in the paddock, probably not even know my name. They're so intense that whatever you do you just can't get close to them.
Vettel definitely doesn't fit into the category.
He took the time out to congratulate DC on his 40th birthday having just started his title defence in style, not scurrying off for a massage and avoiding the media at all costs. Relaxed, approachable, honest and stunningly fast, I think it tells us so much about him that he can put in such amazing performances and enjoy it at the same time. He will go on to be an even bigger star if he can marry up such personality with such speed for seasons to come.
So, we head to Malaysia with Red Bull looking like they're around a second quicker than the rest with a super-confident driver very much playing a game of 'catch us if you can'.
The best news of all, though, is you'll only need an 0800 alarm to enjoy the action on race day, so I hope I'll see you then.
Jake
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2011/03/can_i_start_by_saying.html
For the largest selection of Nascar Merchandise along with up to the minute News, NASCARsupershop offers this and more. We carry everything NASCAR including NASCAR Helmets and NASCAR Hats s all at the best prices everyday! I'm not only the owner of NASCARsupershop.com I'm also the senior editor, website developer and a HUGE fan of NASCAR!
Article Source: NASCAR Tracks the Atlanta Motor Speedway
Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/103318/nascar-tracks-the-atlanta-motor-speedway
Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch
At Sepang, Malaysia
There was only ever going to be one way for Mark Webber to prove he is capable of renewing his fascinating rivalry with his Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel in 2011 and that is on the track.
After a lacklustre weekend in Melbourne - where Webber qualified 0.8 seconds behind the German world champion and finished fifth in a race Vettel won easily - the Australian showed the first signs of a return to form by setting the pace on Friday in Malaysia.
Webber had arrived in Kuala Lumpur in an unusually monosyllabic mood, especially when he was asked for a post mortem of just what went wrong at the first race.
"I'm not going to make a meal of what happened in Melbourne, let's just talk about Malaysia," he warned the media throng.
The message from the no-nonsense Webber - who uses the alias Aussie Grit on social networking website Twitter - is that he was not looking for excuses for his damp squib of a start to the season.
As it happens, the Australian had a pretty good excuse. It emerged in Malaysia that he hauled his Red Bull around Albert Park with a broken rear suspension.
"There were some issues post-race with the car and the guys found a few things they weren't happy with," Webber told the BBC in an exclusive interview which will be aired during Sunday's race show on BBC One.
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.
"Seb and I have been covered by a fag packet here and there over the course of past sessions so I'm hoping - and looking to make sure - that Australia was my worse performance of the year. It just has to be. We cannot continue like that, being that far off."
Webber may have topped both practice sessions around Sepang's demanding curves and long straights but it is still too early to know whether he can make his advantage count on the circuit's unforgiving asphalt and under Malaysia's unpredictable skies.
Last season, Webber grabbed his first of five poles in Malaysia, only to hand Vettel victory at the first corner when, erroneously thinking he was clear of the field, he left the door open and his team-mate slipped into the lead.
Vettel is again breathing down his neck in Sepang, ending Friday just 0.214 seconds behind him, with McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton separating him from Webber.
Intriguingly, F1 insiders say the Red Bull rivals are protective about showing each other their true pace on Fridays, much to the chagrin of team boss Christian Horner, and only reveal which of them has the upper hand during qualifying.
Nonetheless, Webber will take a psychological boost from beating his team-mate on paper. Like last year, Red Bull once again have the fastest car and, if they can convert that pace into spoils on Sunday, the two team-mates could make it a private fight for the drivers' crown.
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.
There were times last season when the pendulum swung in Webber's favour. He won four races and led the championship three times, only to finish third as Vettel conjured a breathtaking finish to take the title at the final race.
As Webber prepares to rejoin battle, the 34-year-old is drawing inspiration from last season's battle scars.
"It can only help only having a year that I went through," said Webber. "A lot of positives happen but of course it was very, very disappointing not to win the championship. A mountaineer could have a similar experience, to get so close to the top but not to look over the top.
"It takes time and reflection to get over that [but] if it doesn't make you stronger I'd be surprised."
The full interview with Mark Webber will be shown during BBC One's race programme on Sunday which begins at 0800 BST
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sarahholt/2011/04/webber.html
Welcome to the first edition of BBC Sport's classic Formula 1 series for 2011.
The feature has been running for two years but after showing highlights of more than 200 grands prix since 2009, we have decided to change the format for this season.
Rather than us choose the races, the Formula 1 drivers themselves will do it.
So we have asked every driver on the 2011 grid to tell us their five favourite all-time grands prix. In the week before each race of this season, we will reveal the choices of one of the drivers and - where we have been given them - the reasons why they have selected them.
We will then broadcast the highlights from one of those races - including, where the BBC covered the race in the first place, the full 'Grand Prix' programme shown on the evening of the race.
As before, the highlights will be available both on this website and via the red button on interactive television.
Some of the drivers have chosen only races from their careers, while some have delved into their memories and come up with a selection of grands prix that have made an impression on them as well as races in which they have competed.
And who better to start us off than the reigning world champion himself, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel?
These are the 23-year-old German's selections in his own words:
"1) The 2008 Italian Grand Prix - because you never forget your first win in F1 and it was great to see from the podium the happy faces of the people cheering.
"2) Abu Dhabi 2010, where I won the championship for the first time.
"3) Japan 2009 - from the beginning to the end a very good race.
"4) Japan 2010 - from the beginning to the end a very good race and it's special to win somewhere two years in a row, especially a great track like Suzuka.
"5) France 2008. I only finished 12th and didn't get points for Toro Rosso, but I was very happy with the result because we made a big step forward as a team that weekend."
Vettel's first choice is the one we have selected and highlights of Monza 2008 are embedded below.
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.
His talent had been obvious to those watching closely from the first time he stepped into a Formula 1 car as BMW's Friday test driver in 2007, but this was the race in which he really announced himself to the wider public.
It was Vettel's first season, and he had started it relatively quietly. But as the second half of the year progressed, he became increasingly impressive and he peaked with this quite brilliant victory.
Unusually at Monza, it rained for both qualifying and the race, and Vettel superbly overcame a car disadvantage to claim pole position before driving away from the field in the grand prix.
The victory meant Vettel took the honour of being the youngest winner in F1 history away from Fernando Alonso.
After the race, Vettel's team boss, the former Ferrari and McLaren driver Gerhard Berger, predicted the rising young star would go on to win multiple world championship titles.
Two years later, he has already won the first - becoming F1's youngest champion, this time replacing Lewis Hamilton - and Berger's words look more prescient by the day.
UPDATE, 1100 GMT Wednesday:
Oops, a comment below (number 35) has reminded me that we also intended to re-broadcast short and extended highlights of last year's races as part of this feature. Sorry about that. Here they are:
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
UPDATE 1130 GMT Wednesday:
We have been finalising the details of when this feature will be available on the red button on digital television in the UK and we now have them.
On satellite and cable, the 2008 Italian Grand Prix and the long highlights of last year's Australian Grand Prix will be available from 1400 on Wednesday until 0800 on Thursday, and again from 2200 on Thursday until the end of F1 first practice at 0300 on Friday.
Unfortunately, because of a lack of bandwidth, they will not be available on Freeview.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/03/welcome_to_the_first_edition.html
Kevin Harvick Brad Keselowski Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards
Welcome to the first edition of BBC Sport's classic Formula 1 series for 2011.
The feature has been running for two years but after showing highlights of more than 200 grands prix since 2009, we have decided to change the format for this season.
Rather than us choose the races, the Formula 1 drivers themselves will do it.
So we have asked every driver on the 2011 grid to tell us their five favourite all-time grands prix. In the week before each race of this season, we will reveal the choices of one of the drivers and - where we have been given them - the reasons why they have selected them.
We will then broadcast the highlights from one of those races - including, where the BBC covered the race in the first place, the full 'Grand Prix' programme shown on the evening of the race.
As before, the highlights will be available both on this website and via the red button on interactive television.
Some of the drivers have chosen only races from their careers, while some have delved into their memories and come up with a selection of grands prix that have made an impression on them as well as races in which they have competed.
And who better to start us off than the reigning world champion himself, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel?
These are the 23-year-old German's selections in his own words:
"1) The 2008 Italian Grand Prix - because you never forget your first win in F1 and it was great to see from the podium the happy faces of the people cheering.
"2) Abu Dhabi 2010, where I won the championship for the first time.
"3) Japan 2009 - from the beginning to the end a very good race.
"4) Japan 2010 - from the beginning to the end a very good race and it's special to win somewhere two years in a row, especially a great track like Suzuka.
"5) France 2008. I only finished 12th and didn't get points for Toro Rosso, but I was very happy with the result because we made a big step forward as a team that weekend."
Vettel's first choice is the one we have selected and highlights of Monza 2008 are embedded below.
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.
His talent had been obvious to those watching closely from the first time he stepped into a Formula 1 car as BMW's Friday test driver in 2007, but this was the race in which he really announced himself to the wider public.
It was Vettel's first season, and he had started it relatively quietly. But as the second half of the year progressed, he became increasingly impressive and he peaked with this quite brilliant victory.
Unusually at Monza, it rained for both qualifying and the race, and Vettel superbly overcame a car disadvantage to claim pole position before driving away from the field in the grand prix.
The victory meant Vettel took the honour of being the youngest winner in F1 history away from Fernando Alonso.
After the race, Vettel's team boss, the former Ferrari and McLaren driver Gerhard Berger, predicted the rising young star would go on to win multiple world championship titles.
Two years later, he has already won the first - becoming F1's youngest champion, this time replacing Lewis Hamilton - and Berger's words look more prescient by the day.
UPDATE, 1100 GMT Wednesday:
Oops, a comment below (number 35) has reminded me that we also intended to re-broadcast short and extended highlights of last year's races as part of this feature. Sorry about that. Here they are:
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2010 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
UPDATE 1130 GMT Wednesday:
We have been finalising the details of when this feature will be available on the red button on digital television in the UK and we now have them.
On satellite and cable, the 2008 Italian Grand Prix and the long highlights of last year's Australian Grand Prix will be available from 1400 on Wednesday until 0800 on Thursday, and again from 2200 on Thursday until the end of F1 first practice at 0300 on Friday.
Unfortunately, because of a lack of bandwidth, they will not be available on Freeview.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/03/welcome_to_the_first_edition.html
Miguel Ángel Guerra Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin Dan Gurney
This article is sponsored by StubHub.com and was written by Brent Warnken. StubHub is a leader in the business of selling NASCAR tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and special events tickets.
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