Tag: [spoilers]

2010 Korean Grand Prix: Yeongam begins its Rain of Terror [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, South Korea

2010 Korean Grand Prix

2010 Korean Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery

The cars aren’t the only thing that move fast in Formula One; everything’s on an accelerated scale, even the calendar. It seems every new season in the modern era of F1 demands a new race. In 2004, Bahrain and Shanghai were added. Turkey joined the calendar in 2005. Things went backward in 2006 and 2007 with the elimination of Belgium (temporarily) followed by San Marino and Hockenheim, respectively. Singapore was added in 2008, followed by Abu Dhabi in 2009. India is set to join next year, the United States the year after and Russia by 2014. This year, however, the new slot belonged to Korea.

Ambitious plans were laid down by ubiquitous track architect Hermann Tilke, who’s firm is responsible for every one of the aforementioned new circuits and then some. But as recently as a couple of weeks ago, there were serious doubts over whether the site would be ready for this weekend’s inaugural grand prix. Fortunately, the hosts managed to get it all together in the end, putting on a race that would enter the books as one of the most exciting christenings in motor sport history. Follow the jump to see how it went down.

Gallery: 2010 Korean Grand Prix

[Images: Mark Thompson, Paul Gilham, Clive Mason/Getty | Andy Wong, Mark Baker, Greg Baker/AP]

Continue reading 2010 Korean Grand Prix: Yeongam begins its Rain of Terror [Spoilers]

2010 Korean Grand Prix: Yeongam begins its Rain of Terror [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “2010 Korean Grand Prix: Yeongam begins its Rain of Terror [Spoilers]”

MotoGP 2010 Phillip Island: Sometimes it’s lonely at the top [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Australia, Motorcycle, Racing

Proving that the power of hometown heroics should never be underestimated, Casey Stoner not only put on a great show for his fellow countrymen but once again proved to be dominant at the Australian GP. The starting grid at Phillip Island was the last time Stoner would be seen by competitors, as he converted pole-position to victory with a gap of nearly nine seconds. But was this really a fair fight?

With the championship already decided and little left to prove, we wondered if Jorge Lorenzo would merely cruise through the remainder of the season uninspired, leaving the risk to those who were still applying for a job for next season. In reality, the new champ didn’t just sit back. Lorenzo rode rode well in Australia, claiming a lonely second place position almost ten seconds ahead of his teammate Valentino Rossi, who closed out the podium in style.

Nicky Hayden surely thought he had sewn up the final podium position when he made the move for third stick late in the race, but he did not count on the Rossi Factor, and his future teammate returned the favor on the last lap taking third by a very slim .038-second margin. If the rumors are true, we may even see the Doctor aboard a red bike before the end of the season, as it seems Ducati just can’t wait for this whole “perfect Italian thing” to happen. Ben Spies rounded out the top five, marking the eighth time this season the young American has finished fifth or better, which secured him the Rookie of the Year title for 2010.

Click the jump for the top ten, and don’t forget to check out the final two rounds, as the best things usually happen when we least expect it!

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010 Phillip Island: Sometimes it’s lonely at the top [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010 Phillip Island: Sometimes it’s lonely at the top [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “MotoGP 2010 Phillip Island: Sometimes it’s lonely at the top [Spoilers]”

MotoGP 2010 Sepang: A tale of two champions [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Celebrities

MotoGP Sepang Turn 1

Starting from pole position certainly has its advantages in GP racing, especially if you take to the track with the goal of potentially clinching your first World Championship and playing it safe is the name of the game. Just the opposite would be true when staring from the second row, entering turn one in the middle of the pack and racing like you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Such was the case with two very divergent Yamaha riders.

For Jorge Lorenzo, the goal of winning his first ever premier-class World Championship was on the line at Sepang. The Spaniard and his crew came to the race with a plan to run safe and clinch the title. As Lorenzo put it, “There was a possibility of injuring myself. So we had to make the race, make 20 laps, and finish it.” He would admit that the fall from pole position to eventually finishing in third was not his best performance, however nerves and conflict avoidance both played a part in his uninspiring ride. In any case, as the checkers waved, Jorge Lorenzo became the 2010 MotoGP World Champion at the age of 23.

The day started off differently for The Doctor, as he came to Sepang with a completely different aim than teammate Lorenzo. Valentino Rossi was out for nothing short of victory, which would mark his 46th career win. If you must ask why this is so significant to the legendary Italian, well, just start by looking at he front of his motorcycle. As he was entering the first turn in 11th position, Valentino certainly had his work cut out for him! With the precision of a surgeon, The Doctor sliced through the pack with a very inspiring ride that he would later call “one of the best of my career” and landing himself square at the top of the podium. Rossi never ceases to amaze.

So goes the tale of MotoGP Champions past and present. And yes, there were other riders in Malaysia, like Ben Spies and Andrea Dovizioso, who both finished in the top five. You can make the jump for the complete list of top-ten finishers. Now lets see if anyone other than Casey Stoner shows up in Australia.

[Image: AP Photo/Ching Kien Huo]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010 Sepang: A tale of two champions [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010 Sepang: A tale of two champions [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “MotoGP 2010 Sepang: A tale of two champions [Spoilers]”

2010 Japanese Grand Prix: The sun finally shines in the Land of the Rising Sun [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan

2010 Japanese Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Japanese Grand Prix has long held a special place in the Formula One World Championship. Traditionally one of, if not the very last race of the season, Japan has crowned many a champion: in fact the title has been decided there 12 out of the 24 times the Pacific island nation has hosted a grand prix. And of the drivers who’ve won there the past ten years running, all but Kimi Raikkonen lined up there again this weekend, Suzuka taking back the hosting duties from Fuji once more.

Would this year’s race see a new winner atop the podium? Or would Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher or even Rubens Barrichello add the trophy alongside their previous wins in the Land of the Rising Sun? Follow the jump to find out.

Gallery: 2010 Japanese Grand Prix

[Images: Greg Baker, Mark Baker / AP | Mark Thompson, Shuji Kajiyama / Getty | Toshifumi Kitamura, Jung Yeon-Je, Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP/Getty]

Continue reading 2010 Japanese Grand Prix: The sun finally shines in the Land of the Rising Sun [Spoilers]

2010 Japanese Grand Prix: The sun finally shines in the Land of the Rising Sun [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “2010 Japanese Grand Prix: The sun finally shines in the Land of the Rising Sun [Spoilers]”

IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS]

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

Indy 300
2010 Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Heading into the final race of the 2010 IRL IZOD IndyCar Series Championship, early championship leader Will Power clung to a 12-point lead over the fast-closing Dario Franchitti. The two drivers had each been strong on ovals or road courses, but not both. Franchitti was crowned the oval champ, earning the A.J. Foyt trophy, while Power had won the road race crown, picking up the Mario Andretti trophy. Power had shown a level of dominance through the mid-season road and street races that made his title lead look insurmountable. But Franchitti racked up more points in the latest oval races as Power struggled to get good results.

That brought the title fight down to the last race of the season at the Miami-Homestead oval: The Cafes do Brasil Indy 300. Follow the jump to see who took the 2010 IndyCar Championship and how it came to be.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Cafes do Brasil Indy 300

[Images: Chris Graythen, Nick Laham/Getty | Alan Diaz, Terry Renna/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS]”

2010 Singapore Grand Prix lights up title fight [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports

2010 Singapore Grand Prix

2010 Singapore Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery

The naysayers will tell you that every grand prix – especially those held on newer-generation tracks – comes out looking the same. Different scenery, same story, they’ll say. But even the haters were silenced a few years back when the Singapore Grand Prix re-joined the calendar as the first night race in the history of Formula One. The spectacle of the most advanced machinery this side of a fighter jet zipping around a seaside circuit under the lights put a fresh spin on F1, and has now become a regular fixture of the racing season.

Now in its third running, the circus rolled in to Singapore’s Marina Bay against the backdrop of one of the most hotly contested championships in recent memory. Would this year’s night race crown a champion, or defer the suspense for another couple of weeks? Follow the jump to find out.

Gallery: 2010 Singapore Grand Prix

Continue reading 2010 Singapore Grand Prix lights up title fight [Spoilers]

2010 Singapore Grand Prix lights up title fight [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “2010 Singapore Grand Prix lights up title fight [Spoilers]”

MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS]

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

Dani Pedrosa MotoGP

With racing action returning to Spain and the top two contenders being Spanish natives, MotoGP Aragon certainly became a highly competitive forum not only for the championship race, but also for bragging rights at stake in front of the home-country fans. For Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, added pressure came in the form of also being caught in a late season battle for the overall championship points lead. However, as the checkered flag waved, neither of the Spanish shoe-ins would emerge victorious.

Coming from pole position for the first time this season, Ducati-mounted Casey Stoner, rode quickly and consistently as he maintained control of the lead from start to finish, earning his first victory this season. The win also neatly advanced him into third place in the overall points standing. Giving chase, Dani Pedrosa struggled from the outset to find good grip, eventually making his way just behind Stoner. Unable to match his pace, Pedrosa would have to settle for second, which is exactly where things got interesting.

Click on the jump to see who was able to knock Lorenzo off the podium for the first time this year, in the process adding fuel to Pedrosa and Repsol Honda’s comeback fire.

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: Mirco Lazzari/Getty]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS]

MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS]”

IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS]

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

2010 Indy Japan 300
2010 Indy Japan 300 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Heading into Saturday, only two races remained in the 2010 Izod IndyCar Series season, and the championship is coming down to the wire. Team Penske’s Will Power raced to an early lead in the standings, his dominating performances on the road and street courses earning him the inaugural Mario Andretti award as the road course champ.

Team Target Chip Ganassi teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon headed to Japan in second and third respectively and first and second in the oval championship standings. Power’s lead before the green flag waved at Twin Ring Motegi was 17 points over Dario, the same lead Franchitti has over Dixon in the race for the A.J. Foyt oval champ award. This weekend’s Indy Japan 300 was crucial, with the potential to end with both championships decided even though the season’s final race at Homestead is still two weeks away.

Follow the jump to see how it played out.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300

[Images: Jonathan Ferrey, Chris Graythen/Jiji Press/AFP/Getty, Shizuo Kambayashi, Greg Baker/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS]”

Titans clash at the 2010 Italian Grand Prix [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

2010 Italian Grand Prix

2010 Italian Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery

“When all is said and done,” wrote the English poet Margaret Sackville, “monotony may after all be the best condition for creation.” That may be, but it sure doesn’t bode well for motorsport, where the domination of a single team can (and often does) lead to boring racing.

Enthusiasts tuning in for Saturday qualifying have been met with just such monotony, as Red Bull Racing has taken the pole in all but two races so far. The exceptions came when Lewis Hamilton took pole (and rode it all the way to the checkered flag) in Montreal, and this weekend, where the final starting grid could hardly have given the local fans more hope if Silvio Berlusconi, Leonardo da Vinci or Luciano Pavarotti had taken it himself. Follow the jump to find out how it went down.

Gallery: 2010 Italian Grand Prix

Continue reading Titans clash at the 2010 Italian Grand Prix [Spoilers]

Titans clash at the 2010 Italian Grand Prix [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Titans clash at the 2010 Italian Grand Prix [Spoilers]”

IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS]

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing


2010 Kentucky Indy 300 from Kentucky Speedway – Click above for high-res image gallery

For the IRL IndyCar Series, the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 was all about the number “200.” It was the 200th race in IRL history. The drivers would be running 200 laps around the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway. And the speeds would be well above 200 mph as the field of 27 cars ran inches away from each other under the lights of Kentucky. Among those 27 drivers was last year’s runner-up, Ed Carpenter, who still hasn’t scored a full-time ride, and Paul Tracy, the fan favorite who seems to never get rusty. Maybe we’ll have to start calling him Platinum Paul.

Last week’s winner Dario Franchitti was making things interesting in the race for the championship by closing the gap to points leader Will Power who hasn’t done as well as some of the others – including Franchitti – on ovals. Kentucky is an oval, of course, and so are Motegi and Miami, the final two races of the season. Would Power be able to get that monkey off his back? Would Franchitti take the win and close the gap even further? Would the talented and hard luck Ed Carpenter finally head to Victory Lane? Follow the jump to see how the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 went down.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300

[Images: Chris Graythen, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images | Ed Reinke, James Crisp/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS]”