Motor Racing | Journal Gazette

Biffle helps Ford to milestone victory

NOAH TRISTER — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Greg Biffle gave Ford a milestone victory - right down the road from company headquarters.

Michigan race good to Earnhardt

Noah Trister — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

A year ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally snapped his long losing streak. He left Michigan International Speedway with hopes of more victories to come - maybe even a Sprint Cup championship. He hasn't won since.

Andretti team still rules Milwaukee

Jenna Fryer — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Ryan Hunter-Reay continued Andretti Autosport's domination at the Milwaukee Mile, winning the IndyCar event Saturday for the second year in a row.

Death puts focus on safety

Noah Trister — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Tony Stewart opened his remarks with a few words about his relationship with Jason Leffler. Moments later, he offered a brief plea amid growing safety questions about Leffler's death at a dirt-track race this week.

Fast times at Michigan: 13 drivers hit 200 mph

Noah Trister — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Brad Keselowski was asked to pick one word to describe a lap at Michigan International Speedway. "Fast," the defending Sprint Cup champion said. "This is, to me, the fastest track we have - and it might be in speed, but it definitely is in feel."

Andretti team brewing a win

Jenna Fryer — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

As the Andretti Autosport teams clogged the qualifying leader board, it sure looked as if the fix was in at the Milwaukee Mile.

Edwards tops Cup qualifying at Michigan

Noah Trister — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:13:43 EST

BROOKLYN, Mich. - Brad Keselowski was asked to pick one word to describe a lap at Michigan International Speedway.

Marco Andretti wins pole as Andretti cars dominate

Jenna Fryer — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - As the Andretti Autosport teams clogged the qualifying leaderboard, it sure looked as if the fix was in at the Milwaukee Mile.

Johnson dominates to win at Pocono

Dan Gelston — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Jimmie Johnson walked into the media center holding his daughter's hand, his pregnant wife right behind them. Their second child is due in September, right around the time of the final race before the Chase field is set.

Bane wins Nationwide

Luke Meredith — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Trevor Bayne spent the first weekend of his marriage stuck in a rain-soaked racetrack in the middle of Iowa. The 22-year-old newlywed made the most of his unorthodox honeymoon, taking his bride to Victory Lane for the first time.

Castroneves nails setup

Stephen Hawkins — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Helio Castroneves' fourth IndyCar victory at Texas was much different from his other ones.

Jimmie Johnson wins at Pocono

Associated Press — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 16:48:57 EST

LONG POND, Pa. - Jimmie Johnson absolutely dominated Sunday at Pocono Raceway for his third victory of the season.

Stewart looks for No. 2

Dan Gelston — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Tony Stewart ducked through a tarp-covered tent in the garage and was off to the No. 14. "Make it two in a row, Tony!" a fan yelled as Stewart hustled through the Pocono Raceway garage. With a second practice session on tap, Stewart had little time Saturday to dissect why his car is suddenly one of the ones to beat.

Castroneves wins in Texas

Stephen Hawkins — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Helio Castroneves raced to his first IndyCar victory of the season, leading the final 132 laps Saturday night for his fourth career victory at Texas Motor Speedway. Castroneves also won at the 1 1/2 -mile, high-banked track in 2004, 2006 and 2009.

Castroneves gets 1st IndyCar win of year at Texas

Stephen Hawkins — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 23:13:55 EST

FORT WORTH, Texas - Helio Castroneves raced to his first IndyCar victory of the season, leading the final 132 laps Saturday night for his fourth career victory at Texas Motor Speedway.Castroneves also won at the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked track in 2004, 2006 and 2009.

Power on pole for Texas race

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Team Penske driver Will Power, winless since three victories in a row early last year, is on the pole after a four-lap qualifying average of 219.298 mph on Friday at at Texas Motor Speedway. Tonight will be the 25th IndyCar race at Texas, where the open-wheel series has now been 17 consecutive years.

Keselowski unfazed by latest NASCAR points penalty

GARY GRAVES — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:54:45 EST

SPARTA, Ky. (AP) Brad Keselowski's standing in the chase for his second consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship is an encouraging sign of where his team is headed.

Stewart celebrates 1st win of the year

Dan Gelston — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

With one big move, Tony Stewart put Juan Pablo Montoya and a sluggish season well behind him. After a mundane start, Stewart is back in Victory Lane - and in the thick of Chase contention.

Frenchman wins crash-filled race

Larry Lage — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Simon Pagenaud took advantage of a series of restarts, making moves each time to thrive in a crash-filled Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday for his first IndyCar victory. The Frenchman finished 5.6 seconds in front of James Jakes in the second of two races on Belle Isle.

Tony Stewart wins at Dover

Associated Press — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 17:00:04 EST

DOVER, Del. - Tony Stewart made a late out outside pass on Juan Pablo Montoya and held on Sunday at Dover International Speedway to snap a 30-race winless streak.

Hamlin needs win in Chase pursuit

Dan Gelston — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Denny Hamlin has tried to learn to love Dover. He just can't. Not yet, at least. Maybe Hamlin has to learn to win at Dover before he can truly embrace the mile concrete oval.

Baer Field cancels tonight's races

Journal Gazette — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:06:40 EST

Baer Field canceled tonight's races because of on-site flooding from Friday night's ran and the potential for more inclement weather tonight.

IRL ready to race in revamped Detroit

Associated Press — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

Roger Penske is looking forward to showing the world what Detroit has to offer this weekend. The famed motorsports owner has put his time and money into making the Detroit Grand Prix a world-class event.

Atlanta Open director to lead Indy 500 Festival

Associated Press — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:29:08 EST

INDIANAPOLIS - The director of the Atlanta Open tennis tournament has been picked as the new president of the 500 Festival in Indianapolis.

Baer Field helps band, lets fans race on track

Journal Gazette — Wed, 29 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Baer Field will give fans a chance to take a spin around the track, lend a helping hand to the Norwell High School marching band and give away $500 Saturday night.

Fox uncertain why rope broke at race

Pete Iacobelli — Tue, 28 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Fox Sports said Monday it still had not determined why an overhead TV camera cable snapped during the Coca-Cola 600.

Altering finish rules tricky to do at Indy

Jenna Fryer — Tue, 28 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan is conflicted over green-white-checkered flag finishes.

Luck turns Kanaan's way

Jenna Fryer — Mon, 27 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

The hard-luck loser no more, Tony Kanaan finally won the Indianapolis 500 Sunday - with a bit of luck, at that.

Wish for win finally answered

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 27 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

The request from Andrea Braun was clear last week. The native of Decatur wanted Tony Kanaan to win the Indianapolis 500.

Yellow flag undercuts Hunter-Reay's tactics

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 27 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Ryan Hunter-Reay sure wasn't pleased to see the yellow flag come out with six laps remaining in the Indy 500 on Sunday, even if he was leading. "That was bad luck," he said. "I knew I was a sitting duck."

Gearing up for a thriller

Jenna Fryer — Sun, 26 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

They raced 1-2-3 in line, trading the lead a whopping 15 times over the final, frantic 75 laps. All three drivers had a last-lap plan in mind when they zipped past the white flag, and it was Takuma Sato who acted first with a bold move for the win.

Harvick pulls away to win Coca-Cola 600

Associated Press — Sun, 26 May 2013 23:46:33 EST

CONCORD, N.C. - Kevin Harvick pulled away from Kasey Kahne on a restart with 11 laps left to win the Coca-Cola 600 for the second time in three seasons, a race stopped for nearly 30 minutes Sunday night when a TV camera support rope snapped.

Johnson in conversation as greatest

Pete Iacobelli — Sun, 26 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Jimmie Johnson is focused on chasing victory at the Coca-Cola 600. He says he's not thinking about his championship legacy.

Rookie has 1 goal: Win Indy 500

Dave Skretta — Sun, 26 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Carlos Munoz remembers spilling into the streets of his native Bogota the minute Juan Pablo Montoya crossed the finish line to win the Indianapolis 500.

Kyle Busch cruises at Charlotte

Steve Reed — Sun, 26 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Kyle Busch has shown repeatedly he can win at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the Nationwide and Truck series. The question remains whether he can capture that elusive first Sprint Cup victory.

Two race for 4th win

Ben Smith — Sat, 25 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Of course you can get the man's jaw to drop. Just show him that graven image.

Sato's close call wins respect of the fans

Ben Smith — Sat, 25 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

He knew he'd won them over the moment he walked back through Gasoline Alley, a year ago this weekend. Hundreds of fans, calling his name. Hundreds of (mostly) Americans cheering for a Japanese driver whom, five will get you 10, they barely knew three hours before.

Learning without Dad

Ben Smith — Sat, 25 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

So here he is again, the not-quite-prodigal son.

Andretti pushed by Hondas on Carb Day

Associated Press — Sat, 25 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Ryan Hunter-Reay slid into a seat next to Simon Pagenaud and E.J. Viso after the final practice for the Indianapolis 500 and then started to rattle off what he had learned. "The Hondas turned up their power," Hunter-Reay said, "which we were expecting."

Champ trying to build on title

Pete Iacobelli — Sat, 25 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Defending series champion Brad Keselowski believes he's still the fastest in Sprint Cup, even if his results three months into the season don't bear that out.

Quick facts

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

What: The 97th Indianapolis 500 Start: Noon Sunday from a flying start, following warm-up, parade and pace laps TV: ABC Distance: 500 miles; 200 laps around the asphalt-on-brick Indianapolis Motor Speedway track, a 2 1/2 -mile rectangular oval Race cars: Open-cockpit, open-wheel and single-seat, with 2.2-

Story lines to sell Indianapolis 500

Dave Skretta — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:39:09 EST

Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti will be trying to become four-time Indianapolis 500 champions, four women will roll off the starting grid, a local boy is on the pole and a group of dynamic rookies that includes A.J. Allmendinger is there to add intrigue.

Andretti drivers playing hot hand

Ben Smith — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

So now prosperity comes knocking, and the world turns upside down. Two cars on the front row for the Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Autosport.

Jim Harbaugh to drive Indianapolis 500 pace car

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:05:59 EST

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will return to Indianapolis on Sunday to drive the Indianapolis 500 pace car.

Indy rookies take diverse paths

Michael Marot — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Carlos Munoz's initiation to Indianapolis went relatively smoothly. Conor Daly's first week on the 2.5-mile oval was a little rougher.

Ganassi foursome endures trying day

Gary Graves — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Once again, Chip Ganassi Racing will start the Indianapolis 500 packed close together.

Americans lead 9 2nd-day qualifiers

Michael Marot — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Bump Day at Indianapolis followed the script.

Johnson keeps winning and shrugging off haters

Jenna Fryer — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

It's only fitting that Jimmie Johnson's latest romp through the record books was shrouded in post-race controversy.

Carpenter's pole win has family feel

Michael Marot — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Ed Carpenter turned Pole Day into a family celebration. The stepson of IndyCar founder Tony George became the first member of the Hulman family to win the biggest pre-race event in the series - the Indianapolis 500 pole.

Charlotte special for Earnhardt Jr.

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

At the height of his father's success at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would sit in the Turn 1 condos overlooking the track.

Will Power grabs early lead in race for Indy pole

GARY GRAVES — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:18:40 EST

INDIANAPOLIS Ed Carpenter knew he was capable of another fast run, and it earned him the pole for the Indianapolis 500.