Week Of: May 19, 2013

_____________________________________________________________________________

IZOD IndyCar Series:

Next Race: Sunday May  26^th, the 97^th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Last year’s winner: Dario Franchitti, his 3^rd Indy 500 win!

Pole: The series only owner/driver and the little team that could! Ed Carpenter wins the pole with a 4 lap average of  228.762 mph. Rookie Carlos Munoz 2^nd, Marco Andretti 3^rd make up the front row.

Canadians: James Hinchcliffe starts 9^th, outside of row 3. Alex Tagliani 11^th, the middle of row 4.

Last Race: Sunday May 5^th: Sao Paulo Brazil: After back-to-back DNF’s, Toronto’s James
Hinchcliffe wins his 2^nd of the season!  Montreal’s Alex Tagliani: 12^th.

Points into Indianapolis: Takuma Sato leads Marco Andretti by 13. Hinchcliffe is back up to 4^th.

Honda Indy Toronto double header: July 13^th and 14^th.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Next Race: Sunday May 26^th: Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo. Last year`s winner: Mark Webber.

Last Race: Sunday May 12^th.  Spanish GP, Catalunya: Spanish native son Fernando Alonso made his home countrymen and Ferrari fans a happy lot, winning his 2^nd GP of the season, and 2 of the last 3.

F-1 Points into Monaco: Vettel still leads drivers, but by only 4 now over Raikkonen. Red Bull-Renault leads Ferrari by 14 in Constructors.

_____________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Next Points Race: Sunday May 26^th at Charlotte. Last year’s winner: Kasey Kahne.

Preliminary All-Star Non-Points races at Charlotte: Jimmie Johnson wins his 4^th all star race!

Last Points Race: Saturday May 11^th: Darlington SC: Matt Kenseth is the hottest driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup! His 3^rd win of  the season!

Cup Points into Charlotte: Jimmie Johnson leads Carl Edwards by 44.  Kenseth is 59
back of Johnson.

_______________________________________________________

American LeMans Series: Last Race: May 11^th- Monterey CA: Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr won the race-long duel with Nick Heidfeld and Neel Jani for their 2^nd straight win. Canada`s
Kyle Marcelli scored 4^th in PC.

Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru:

Next Rally: June 30^th, Rallye Baie Des Chaluers, New Richmond PQ. 2013 season opener: Feb. 2-3, Rallye Perce Neige PQ won by Pat Richard in his Subaru WRX STi.

North American Rally Championship: Last Rally: May 5^th, Oregon Trail, Portland OR: David Higgins wins in his Subaru WRX STi.

Next Rally: June 1^st: Susquehannock Trail, Westboro PA.

World Rally Championship: Last Rally: May 5^th: Rally Argentina: Sebastien Loeb wins!

Next Rally: June 2^nd: Acropolis Rally/Greece.

_________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

May 20th, 7 PM: Our Indy 500 preview special with Canada`s ALEX TAGLIANI, former 500 pole sitter! Local and regional tracks can suffer up against big races on TV, but not Ransomville NY`s Ransomville Speedway! PR Director TANA ROBINSON tells us why the Big R`s seats
are full… and our Tissot-Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

May 27th: Our Indy 500 wrap up the ESPN’s Canadian colour-man and former Indy 500 dramatist SCOTT GOODYEAR… a preview of the next IndyCar round in Detroit with Grand Prix GM BUD DENKER… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

Ed is Tony George’s stepson. George is the son of Mary Hulman George.

His four-lap average of 228.762 mph topped the so-called big-name guys!
Sharing the front row for next Sunday’s classic: rookie

Carlos Munoz and  Marco Andretti.  Toronto’s James Hinchcliffe  goes off 9^th where he started last year, Montreal’s Alex Tagliani 11^th.

The remaining 9 positions will be fought for Sunday, bump day. Once all 33 slots have been filled, non-qualified drivers can start bumping their way into the field.

There is a Canadian connection: Carpenter recently hired Toronto’s Lee Bentham as his driving coach!

ET

The feedback was interesting, if not somewhat predictable.

Before the infamous IndyCar split, I couldn’t find too many callers or e-mailers that didn’t think the Indy 500 was “TGSIR!”

Hope you don’t mind the silly short-form for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. We seem to live in a short-form, initials-driven twitter-twisted world these days!

In the early 90’s, IndyCar, CART, ChampCar, whatever badge you put to it was the king of the racing castle, and the Indianapolis 500 with its un-matched pageantry, speed, drama, and yes danger, was the biggest race, not only in IndyCar, but in the sport period!

Then Speedway boss Tony George decided to divide open wheel in half with his own league, his own rules and his own Indy 500 with manipulated qualifying.

That’s when perception of the Indy 500 started to change.

And it wasn’t a good change.

The spit allowed NASCAR to take over P-1 in the sport, and the division in IndyCar racing with two series trying to operate at the same time chopped away big chunks of IndyCar’s popularity, and it affected the 500.

I personally know of several fans who attended every Indy 500 going back to the 70’s, but stopped going when George tried to tell them the all the best drivers and teams in the sport were not welcome to challenge the Brickyard for “his”  500.

That’s a small cross-section of the fan base, but it was a sample of the general feeling of the masses.

You started to see empty seats on pole day, and for the race.

I started getting calls from listeners declaring the Indianapolis 500 was not “TGSIR!”

But even during the split, I refused to waver.

To me, the 500 was still the biggest race in the sport.

They were still getting over 200 thousand people on race day at the corner of 16^th and Georgetown Road in Speedway Indiana, about a $20 dollar cab ride from downtown Indianapolis.

The North American TV and Radio audience, plus Armed Forces and even Short Wave radio coverage feeding a global audience was keeping the status alive, even if it was badly wounded.

The good thing?

Since the repair of the split, with IndyCar racing one series again with the Indy 500 in the middle of it, the pull of the classic is back on the rise again!

People are starting to come back at the Speedway, and to watch on TV and listen on Radio.

Even some of the biggest IndyCar haters what communicate with Raceline Radio are starting to show a change of heart.

They’ve bought tickets and are going back for their first 500 since the split.

Should that tempt you to go so you can draw your own conclusion as to whether or not this event is “TGSIR”?

Yes.

If you have never been to an Indianapolis 500, by all means go.

I have covered three. I want to go back badly and I will soon.

It’s fine on TV, but nothing beats being their live.

The history, the enormity of the Speedway, the speeds, the sounds, the huge crowd that lines BOTH sides of the main straight, Jim Nabors singing “Back Home Again in Indiana”, the “Gentlemen start your engines!”, from Mary Hulman George, the field moving off…

I get chills sitting here typing this.

Then, the pace car heads up the pit lane and here come 33 cars, 11 rows of 3 full bore, the crowd screaming almost as loud as the engines!

The cars fly past you so fast you cannot tell what colour they are let alone who’s who!

The first time I experienced this, is sucked the breath right out of me!

Then you look up to the wall of fans on the outside of turn one.

It looks like a 90 degree turn and they are going so fast, in excess of 220 MPH, you cannot believe they can all make that turn!

But they do!

Now down the back stretch, the balloons are released and the fireworks thunder!

You think the booms might be crashes, but you realize, with your heart pounding, it’s just some gunpowder!

And that’s just the first lap!

There are 199 more to make 500 miles on this 2.5 mile rectangle called the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

First round of pit stops, and you chant “Go- Go- Go”  with the other fans sitting right
behind the crews servicing the cars in lightening fast precision stops.

You watch for your favourite drivers. Is he or she moving up or falling behind…

You moan or shout alarm when there’s a crash…

The strategy, the drama and the fun of it all, and the winner’s sip of cold milk in victory lane at the end of an exhausting afternoon can only mean one thing…

The Indianapolis 500 IS the Greatest Spectacle in Racing!

Go.

Just once.

You’ll see what I mean.

ET

Week Of: May 12, 2013
_____________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Last Race: Sunday May 12^th.
Spanish GP, Catalunya: Spanish native son Fernando Alonso made his home countrymen and Ferrari fans a happy lot, winning his 2^nd GP of the season, and 2 of the last 3 using lots of
hard-charging offence, while most others were trying to save tires.  Kimi Raikkonen’s
Lotus remains stout again for 2^nd, with Felipe Massa arriving 3^rd in the other Ferrari, recovering from a penalty that put him 9^th on the grid to start. Sebastian Vettel just off the podium.

F-1 Points into Monaco : Vettel still leads drivers, but by only 4 now over Raikkonen. Red Bull-Renault leads Ferrari by 14 in Constructors.

Next Race: Sunday May 26^th: Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo. Last year`s winner: Mark Webber.

_____________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Saturday May 11^th: Darlington SC: Matt Kenseth is the hottest driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup! He overhauled his Gibbs Racing team mate and race dominator Kyle
Busch with 13 laps to go to win the Southern 500! He let Kyle lead 265 of 367 laps, slowed when he cut a right rear tire down, and Matt`s adjustments started to really improve his Toyota at just the right time. Even team owner Joe Gibbs is shocked at how fast Kenseth has adapted to the new team and car!  Denny Hamlin a very strong 2^nd, returning of that back injury. Jeff Gordon 3^rd.

Cup Points into Non Points All-Star race at Charlotte: Jimmie Johnson leads Carl Edwards by 44.  Kenseth is 59 back of Johnson.

Next Points Race: Sunday May 26^th at Charlotte. Last year’s winner: Kasey Kahne.

____________________________________________________________________________

IZOD IndyCar Series:

Next  Race: Sunday May 26^th, the 97^th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Last year’s winner: Dario Franchitti, his 3^rd Indy 500 win! Honda Indy Toronto double header: July 13^th and 14^th.Last Race: Sunday May 5^th: Sao Paulo Brazil: After back-to-back DNF’s, Toronto’s James
Hinchcliffe needed a huge recovery in Brazil and he got it, winning Sao Paulo!  Montreal’s Alex Tagliani:12^th.

Points into Indianapolis: Takuma Sato leads Marco Andretti ( 3rd  ) by 13. Hinchcliffe is back up to 4^th.

____________________________________________________________________________

Next Rally: June 30^th, Rallye Baie Des Chaluers, New Richmond PQ. 2013 season opener: Feb. 2-3, Rallye Perce Neige PQ won by Pat Richard in his Subaru WRX STi.

North American Rally Championship: Last Rally: May 5^th, Oregon Trail, Portland OR: David Higgins wins in his Subaru WRX STi.

Next Rally: June 1^st: Susquehannock Trail, Westboro PA.

World Rally Championship: Last Rally: May 5^th: Rally Argentina: Sebastien Loeb wins!

Next Rally: June 2^nd: Acropolis Rally/Greece.

_________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on  Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

Monday May 13th, Late after NHL playoffs: NASCAR’s MATT KENSETH on his season and rule enforcement… NASCAR Truck Series defending points champion James Buescher ( Busher ) on the road race challenge later this summer at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park/Mosport… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

May 20th: Our Indy 500 preview special with Canada`s Alex Tagliani, former 500 pole sitter! Local and regional tracks can suffer up against big races in TV, but not Ransomville NY`s
Ransomville Speedway! PR Director Tana Robinson tells us why the Big R`s seats
are full!… and our Tissot-Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

Week Of: May 5, 2013

_____________________________________________________________________________

IZOD IndyCar Series:

Last Race: Sunday May 5^th: Sao Paulo Brazil: After back-to-back DNF’s, Toronto’s James
Hinchcliffe needed a huge recovery in Brazil and he got it! Qualified well, stayed near the front all race long!  It appeared Takuma Sato might win his 2^nd race in a row, but he was a
sitting duck in the lead on over-worn red option tires! It allowed Toronto’s Hinchcliffe to first out-fight Josef Newgarden on the last lap, then chase down Sato for the win within yards of the finish line!  Hinchcliffe’s 2^nd win of the season! Montreal’s Alex Tagliani:12^th.

Points into Indianapolis: Sato leads Marco Andretti ( 3rd  ) by 13. Hinchcliffe is back up to
4^th.

Next Race: Sunday May 26^th, the 97^th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Last year’s winner: Dario Franchitti, his 3^rd Indy 500 win!

Honda Indy Toronto double header: July 13^th and 14^th.

_____________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Sunday May 5^th: Talladega Alabama. David Regan pulled off a sweeping last-lap pass in overtime to pull a huge upset.  He got a push from teammate David Gilliland to slide past Carl Edwards past to the front and he and Gilliland held on for a 1-2 finish for Front Row Motorsports the first CUP win for the team!  It came at the end of a race that took 7 hours to complete after rain stopped it for 3 1/2 hours. Contact between Ricky Stenhouse and JJ Yelley triggered a frightening crash that sent Kurt Busch’s car airborne, landing on top of Ryan Newman’s car!  Even with darkness encroaching, NASCAR sent the race into overtime for one attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, and the two Front Row Team drivers teamed up to steal the win!

Cup Points into Darlington: Jimmie Johnson ( 5^th )  leads Carl Edwards (3^rd ) by 41.

Next Race: Saturday May 11^th:  Darlington SC.  Last year’s winner: Jimmie Johnson.

____________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Next Race: Sunday May 12^th.  Spanish GP, Catalunya. Last year’s winner: Pastor Moldanado.

Last Race: Sunday April 21st, Bahrain Grand Prix: Even with all the tension and political strife and protests, Sebastien Vettel put the team order mess behind him, storming off at the start in his Red Bull, leaving all the jostling behind him to his 2^nd of the season. The two Lotus’ keeping pace with Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Gorsjean completing the podium, 2^nd
and 3rd.

F-1 Points into Spain: Vettel leads Kimi by 10 in drivers. Red Bull tops Lotus by 16 in Constructors!

Rallying:

Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru:

Next Rally: June 30^th, Rallye Baie Des Chaluers, New Richmond PQ. 2013 season opener: Feb. 2-3, Rallye Perce Neige PQ won by Pat Richard in his Subaru WRX STi.

North American Rally Championship: Last Rally:
May 5^th, Oregon Trail, Portland OR:

Next Rally: June 1^st: Susquehannock Trail, Westboro
PA.

World Rally Championship: Last Rally: May 5^th: Rally Argentina: Sebastien Loeb wins!

Next Rally: June 2^nd: Acropolis Rally/Greece.

_________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 THE FAN:

Monday May 6th, Late after Leafs: IndyCar/Brazil winner JAMES HINCHCLIFFE from Sao Paulo…. 5-time Canadian and North American Rally Champ ANTOINE L’ESTAGE on using WRC equipment for the balance of the NARC schedule… and our world famous Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

May 13th: NASCAR’s MATT KENSETH on his season and rule enforcement… NASCAR Truck Series defending points champion James Buescher ( Busher ) on the road race challenge later this summer at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park/Mosport… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

Week Of: April 21, 2013

_____________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Last Race: Sunday April 21st, Bahrain Grand Prix: Even with all the tension and political strife and protests, Sebastien Vettel put the team order mess behind him, storming off at the start in his Red Bull, leaving all the jostling behind him to his 2^nd of the season. The two Lotus’ keeping pace with Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Gorsjean completing the podium, 2^nd
and 3rd.

F-1 Points into Spain: Vettel leads Kimi by 10 in drivers. Red Bull tops Lotus by 16 in Constructors!

Next Race: Sunday May 12^th. Spanish GP, Catalunya. Last year’s winner: Pastor Moldanado.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Sunday April 21^st, Kansas Speedway: 3^rd week in a row the pole sitter wins the race! Matt Kenseth got a quick 2-tire stop with 47 laps to go to win the charge out of the pits and into the lead. He then held back a bobbing and weaving Kasey Kahne for the win. Kahne 2^nd, Jimmie Johnson 3^rd.

Cup Points into Richmond: Johnson by 37 over Kahne.

Next Race: Saturday night April 27^th: Richmond VA. Last year’s winner: Kyle Busch.

_____________________________________________________________________________

IZOD IndyCar Series:

Last Race: Sunday April 21: Grand Prix of Long Beach CA: Long Beach California. With huge leads at times in the 2^nd half of the race, Takuma Sato, driving for legend AJ Foyt pulled down his first IndyCar win, the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race! First win for team owner Foyt since 2002!

Canadians: Another bad one! Alex Tagliani got taken out by Charlie Kimball, 19^th.. Worse
for James Hinchcliffe, a mistake forced barrier contact, his second DNF in a
row! 

Points into Brazil: Helio Castroneves, 9^th at LB, leads Scott Dixon, 11^th by 11.

Next Race: Sunday May 5^th: Sao Paulo Brazil. Last year’s winner: Will Power. Honda Indy Toronto double header: July 13^th and 14^th.

_______________________________________________________________

Rallying:

Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru:

Next Rally: June 30^th, Rallye Baie Des Chaluers, New Richmond PQ. 2013 season opener: Feb. 2-3, Rallye Perce Neige PQ won by Pat Richard in his Subaru WRX STi.

North American Rally Championship: Next Rally: May 5^th, Oregon Trail, Portland OR.

World Rally Championship: April 14, Rally Portugal: VW’s Sebastien Ogier wins his 3^rd straight!

Next WRC Rally: May 5^th: Rally Argentina.

_________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

Monday April 22nd, 11 PM after Jays: ALEX NAGY is the new National Director of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. He looks ahead to the tasks at hand… BRUCE BUCHANAN, marketing exec., WD 40 Canada on their 60^th anniversary celebrations…and the Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

April 29th: Our version of the DALY SHOW! The Dad: former F-1/IndyCar pilot and TV blab DEREK DALY on his book “Race to Win!”… The Son: CONOR DALY on his Indy 500 ride with Brickyard legend AJ FOYT… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

I thought, and still do, that it was unfair of NASCAR to target Hamlin, when plenty of other drivers were just as critical about the Gen-6, but got a free pass!

You either enforce your rules to the fullest extent, or you have chaos.

Well, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing has done it again!

While swift and sure to penalize Penske Racing for trying to run un-approved rear end parts on the cars of defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and team mate Joey Logano at Texas, they went completely the other way with Keselowski and his F-Bomb-laced tirade against NASCAR’s technical inspection crew at Texas.

Brad dropped the bombs in a media interview, accusing NASCAR of being grossly unfair in how they handled the Penske team when they seized “funny” parts off their cars.

For the bogus parts, that help the rear end of the cars “steer” around corners, Keselowski lost 25 driver points that drops him from second to fourth in the tally.

Fines galore, owner points docked, and crew chiefs suspended for 6 races.

The hammer of NASCAR justice falling hard as usual when tech rules are played with.

But I do NOT understand their enforcement of the rules governing driver behaviour.

I was certain NASCAR would slap Keselowski down for his criticism of the sanction and for swearing in the interview!

Nope!

NASCAR brushed it off as being “spirited comments by an upset driver.”

Really?

They nail Hamlin 25 grand for negative comments about the Gen-6, and Denny simply stated his opinion as other drivers had, with no cuss words for punctuation!

They have also penalized Dale Earnhardt Junior, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch thousands of dollars for public displays of temper and bad language.

Keselowski does exactly the same thing while questioning NASCAR integrity and fairness and they don’t even slap his wrist!

NASCAR will deny it, but it gives the impression there are rules for some drivers and not others.

I can’t explain it and I don’t know anyone who can, or wants to, but it seems damn unfair to me!

I used the word “damn”. Oops!

I might be in trouble myself!

ET

Week Of: April 14, 2013

_____________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Last Race: Sunday April 14^th, Grand Prix of China, Shanghai: Fernando Alonso
gave Ferrari its first victory of the season, gambling on the softer and faster option tire for the start of the race that carried through the balance of the dash! Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton used the same tire strategy to fill the rest of the podium. Sebastian Vettel was a somewhat distant 4^th.

Driver points into Bahrain: Vettel leads Raikkonen by 3 in drivers. Constructors: Red Bull tops Ferrari by 5.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

Last Race: Saturday night April 13^th: Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth: He owned the first half of the race from the pole, but it was another infamous “NASCAR Yellow” for debris with 21 laps to go that set up Kyle Busch for his 26^th career Cup win, and for the 2^nd time this season, and a record 7^th time in his career, a sweep of a race weekend! Busch also won the Nationwide race! Busch’s crew got him out of the pits before Martin Truex Junior on that late re-start for the win of a CUP race that dripped with controversy!  “Debris huh????” Truex tweeted about the caution that cost him the win!

The NASCAR police took some “questionable parts” from the rear suspension and axle
housing on the Penske Fords of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, and Brad, who
finished 9^th, was NOT happy, dropping F-Bombs to reporters, accusing NASCAR of picking on the Penske’s!

NASCAR will rule on the funny parts later in the week. Could mean docked points, fines and suspensions. NASCAR should slap Keselowski for criticizing the enforcement and for swearing in an interview!  NASCAR also tech’d Truex’s car was too low in the front after the race. There could be penalties and fines there too!

Cup Points into Kansas: Jimmie Johnson, ( 6^th ) leads a 9^th place finishing Keselowski by 9.

Next Race: Sunday April 21^st, Kansas Speedway. Last year’s winner: Hamlin. Will he be back from his back injury to defend?

_____________________________________________________________________________

IZOD IndyCar Series:

Next Race: Sunday April 21: Grand Prix of Long Beach CA. Last year’s winner: Will Power.

Last Race: Sunday April 7^th, Barber Alabama: Disaster in round 2 at Barber! Toronto’s James Hinchcliffe got collected in a first lap crash with Oriol Servia and Graham Rahal
and broke a rear wheel. After waiting for a caution and a tow back to the pits that never came, Hinch had to park it permanently, a DNF that pulls him out of the points lead!

His Andretti team mate Ryan Hunter-Reay wins. Montreal’s Alex Tagliani was 11^th.

Points into Long Beach: Castroneves leads Dixon by 9.

Honda Indy Toronto double header: July 13^th and 14^th.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Next Rally: June 30^th, Rallye Baie Des Chaluers, New
Richmond PQ. 2013 season opener: Feb. 2-3, Rallye Perce Neige PQ won by
Pat Richard in his Subaru WRX STi.

North American Rally Championship: Next Rally: May 5^th, Oregon Trail, Portland OR.

World Rally Championship: April 14, Rally Portugal: VW’s Sebastien Ogier wins his 3^rd straight!  Next WRC Rally: May 5^th: Rally Argentina.

_________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

Monday April 15th, Late after Leafs: DALE EARNHARDT Junior returns, as he battles for the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead…. IndyCar’s SCOTT DIXON on how The Ganassi Squad will get back to the top again… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

Monday April 22nd: WD-40′s Bruce Buchanan looks back and ahead on the 60th anniversary of brodcast partner WD-40…. CONOR DALY, son of noted former F-1, IndyCar driver and TV commentator Derek Daly tells us about his Indy 500 ride with legend AJ Foyt, and the Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.

Week Of: April 7, 2013

_____________________________________________________________________________

IZOD IndyCar Series:

Last Race: Sunday April 7^th, Barber Alabama: King of the Hill after his first IndyCar win to open the season at St.Pete, and top of the points, to a disaster in round 2 at
Barber! Toronto’s James Hinchcliffe got collected in a first lap crash with Oriol Servia and Graham Rahal and broke a rear wheel. After waiting for a caution and a tow back to the pits that never came, Hinch had to park it permanently, a DNF that pulls him out of the points lead!

His Andretti team mate Ryan Hunter-Reay used his soft and fast option red tires to out run first Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon for the win to break Penske’s winning streak at Barber. Montreal’s Alex Tagliani was 11^th. AJ Allmendingers return to IndyCars looked good until a stall in the pits forced a 19^th place conclusion. Chalk that
up to rust!

Points into Long Beach: Castroneves leads Dixon by 9.

Next Race: Sunday April 21: Grand Prix of Long Beach CA. Last year’s winner: Will Power. Honda Indy Toronto double header: July 13^th and 14^th.  _____________________________________________________________________________

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:

The win also vaults Johnson in to the Sprint Cup points lead. Dale Earnhardt Junior struggled and lost the points lead. Little E- 24^th. Danica Patrick, her best CUP finish since Daytona: 12^th at Martinsville.

Cup Points into Texas: Johnson leads Keselowski ( 6^th ) by 6.

Next Race: Saturday April 13^th, 7:30 PM Eastern. Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth TX. Last year’s winner: Greg Biffle.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Formula One World Driving Championship:

Next Race: Sunday April 14^th, Grand Prix of China, Shanghai. Last year’s winner: Nico Rosberg.

Last Race: Sunday March 24^th: Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang: Defying team orders to “hold station” behind team mate Mark Webber, Vettel overhauled Webber over the closing laps to take the win to kick himself into the driver points lead.

Driver points into China: Vettel by 9 over Raikkonen. Constructors: Red Bull-Renault by 26 over Lotus-Renault.

_______________________________________________________

Rallying:
Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru:

Next Rally: June 30^th, Rallye Baie Des Chaluers, New
Richmond PQ. 2013 season opener: Feb. 2-3, Rallye Perce Neige PQ won by
Pat Richard in his Subaru WRX STi.

North American Rally Championship: Next Rally:
May 5^th, Oregon Trail, Portland OR.

World Rally Championship: Next Rally: April 14, Rally Portugal.

_________________________________________________________________________

COMING UP ON RACELINE RADIO on Sportsnet 590 The FAN:

Monday April 8th , Late after Leafs: Not racing anymore, but still helping people! Former NASCAR star KYLE PETTY talks up his annual motorcycle ride across America for charity… We welcome back TONY KANAAN and SIMONA DeSILVESTRO, now IndyCar team mates at KV Racing… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail
Bag contest!

Monday April 15th: DALE EARNHARDT Junior returns, as he battles for the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead…. IndyCar’s SCOTT DIXON on how The Ganassi Squad will get back to the top again… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest!

-Guest scheduling is subject to change.