Posts Tagged ‘Toyota’
Thursday, June 16th, 2011
Déjà vu all over again
“American Le Mans is the global benchmark of professional sports car racing.” –Scott Atherton to the Austin Statesman, June 9, 2011–
Professional Sports Car Racing (PSCR), Andy Evans’ renaming of IMSA, was – according to management – more descriptive of the content of the product. When Don Panoz bought PCSR, his American Le Mans Series adopted as its motto “For the Fans,” arguably an improvement in that it directly addressed the constituency that would sustain it – or not. Later, that was not good enough (and perhaps not so descriptive anymore, either) to describe its “aspirational” content, (and after spending a few hundred thousand on a consultant) the American Le Mans Series decided it was “World Class.” After a run of a few years, in which “World Class” attracted nothing but a parade of watch makers and a few pearls (and another consultant for another few hundred grand), and yielded more stagnating fields and fading visibility, Scott unveiled a new motto, Global Leader Green Racing. Fields dropped further, Ethanol sponsorship came and went, fans tuned out. If Global Benchmark Professional Sports Car Racing is indeed upon us, we’re nearly back to where we started, aren’t we? (more…)
Tags: Audi, Chris Dyson, Corvette, Delta Wing, Elan Composites, Elan Power Products, Elan Precision Products, Elan Technologies, Humaid al Masaood, IMSA American Le Mans Series, JJ Lehto, Mosport, Panoz Auto Development, Panoz Motorsports Group, Peugeot, Portland International Raceway, Sebring, Toyota, Van Diemen, Yancy's Fancy
Posted in Paddock Poop | 73 Comments »
Thursday, May 19th, 2011
There’s not much action out there, racing or otherwise, but there’s still much being decided behind the scenes. Here’s Murphy’s synthesis of rumor, fact, and speculation about North America’s two principal sports car road racing series. (more…)
Tags: Acura, ALMS Grand Am, AMR One, Aston Martin, Audi, Autocon, Bill Auberlen, Dyson, F1, Ferrari, Ford, Ganassi, Generic Racing Team, Highcroft, Honda, ILMC, Intersport, J R R Tolkien, Jim France, John Evenson, Le Mans, Mazda, McDreamy, Miss 12 Hours of Sebring, News Corp, Nissan, Oklahoma, Peugeot, Porsche, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Shinden Mooncraft, Toyota, Wankel
Posted in Paddock Poop | 30 Comments »
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Scorched Earth
What do the Montreal Canadiens, Liverpool Football Club, and Richard Petty Motorsports have in common? George Gillett, a scourge to all of them, or so most fans believe, and who was recently forced out of Liverpool by John Henry, also owner of the Red Sox and Fenway/Roush Racing. RPM owes $3 million Roush-Yates, and since Gillett has way more red numbers than black in his ledger, King Richard is scrambling to stay in the game. It’s tough on the King, with wife Lynda fighting a brain tumor diagnosed in February. The King will likely get through it, perhaps even field a Dodge team in the Continental Tire series and one Cup car. George’s empire might be out of options. (more…)
Tags: ARES, Autocon, Brumos, Bruno Famin, Chip Ganassi, CORE, Cytosport, Dick Barbour, Drayson, Dyson, Flying Lizard, Ford, Genoa, George Gillett, Highcroft, Honda, HVM, Ian Dawson, Intersport, JT Hayes, Katherine Legge, Level 5, LFA, Libra, Mathiasen, Milka Duno, NASCAR, Nissan, NSX, Penske, Performance Tech, Peugeot, Richard Petty, Signature, Terri O'Connell, Toyota
Posted in Paddock Poop | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Incompetence: Anderson out the back door as USF1 closes the front.
USF1 closed the doors without paying its employees at noon today. Ken Anderson slunk out the back door without a word to those headed for North Carolina’s unemployment office…but that could be problematical. (more…)
Tags: Alberto Solaroli, Audi, Campos F1, Chad Hurley, Charlie Whiting, Citibank, Dirk Werner, FIA, Frank Williams, Greg Loles, Ken Anderson, Patron, Peugeot, Porsche Club of America, Porsche Motorsport North America, Pratt & Miller, Scott Atherton, Sebring, Stefan F1, T-Mobile, Toyota, USF1, VICI
Posted in Paddock Poop | 14 Comments »
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Rolex Recap
The top two at the Rolex once again came from Murphy’s top 5. After putting both Ganassi cars on the list (a bit of a no-brainer, even if your head is stuffed like a mattress), plus Brumos and two-time Grand Am Champion GAINSCO, the Bear mused in Paddock Poop 152 about the fifth, finally settling on the No. 9 Action Express because it fit all three Bear rools. Including the one about established teams, since in crew, staff, and owner, it was largely the “other” Brumos entry, the one vacated by the accused Daytona Beach druggie.
(more…)
Tags: Action Express, Alex Gurney, Alex Job Racing, Audi Sport, Bernie Ecclestone, BMW M6, Bruno Senna, Carl Haas, Chad Hurley, Chip Ganassi, Don Panoz, Ferrari, GAINSCO, IRL, Jim France, Joest Racing, Kelly Collins, Level 5 Racing, Lou Gigliotti, Lucas Luhr, Mike Lanigan, Paul Newman, Saab, Scott Atherton, Spyker, Tony Dowe, Toyota, USF1, Youtube
Posted in Paddock Poop | 14 Comments »
