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[NEWS] Yesterday in motorsport #4
by 321Ignition Magazine
Yesterday in motorsport
6 February, 2010
Danica’s awesome debut
Danica Patrick’s NASCAR debut came just moments ago at the Daytona Superspeedway as she competed in the ARCA RE/MAX series, the fourth-tier category of NASCAR, the diminutive JR Motorsports (Dale Earnhardt Jnr) GoDaddy.com driver excelling in her opening event, to claim sixth, crossing the line side by side with former MX/SX star Ricky Carmichael.
Patrick started 12th for the event, and was running strongly in the top eight before contact with Nelson Piquet Jnr mid-race in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 forced her onto the front straight grass and into a spin. The caution allowed the Indycar star to head to the pits where the JR Motorsports team under the direction of Earnhardt’s cousin and former crew-chief Tony Eury Jnr repaired the car and had Patrick back on track.
Her charge from 24th back onto the tail of the lead pack saw her battling at the top and the bottom of the racetrack, and bump-drafting to get herself back with the leaders. Unfortunately, a lack of support in the closing laps whilst she was on the high-line saw her unable to challenge for the win, but the experience she gained and the ability she showed behind the wheel won her instant respect from her team and the strong Daytona crowd.
For the record, the event was won by former winner Bobby Gerhart.
Martin pole, but Jnr second!!
Whilst his new recruit Danica Patrick was tearing up the ARCA field at Daytona, team owner Dale Earnhardt Jnr was finding the form that he, his team and his legion of fans so desperately want him to have. It was a bearded and cautious Earnhardt that came out and quietly achieved just what his boss Rick Hendrick had worked all off-season to achieve, the National Guard/AMP Energy Chevy holding the Bud pole all the way to the final moments of the session where he was pipped by team-mate Mark Martin. Interestingly, after a dismal 2009, part of Hendrick’s solution to Jnr’s form was to merge the #5 [Martin] and #88 [Earnhardt] teams to extract the best from Jnr, and also have Martin ‘re’ mentor him back to the front of the field; so far the plan seems to be working...
The Bud shootout begins later today...
Daytona 500 qualifying
1. Mark Martin, Chevrolet - 47.074
2. Dale Earnhardt Jnr, Chevrolet - 47.142
3. Ryan Newman, Chevrolet - 47.225
4. Bill Elliott, Ford - 47.226
5. Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet - 47.267
6. Kurt Busch, Dodge - 47.279
7. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet - 47.279
8. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet - 47.339
9. Kyle Busch, Toyota - 47.355
10. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet - 47.356
11. Matt Kenseth, Ford - 47.356
12. Sam Hornish Jnr, Dodge - 47.356
13. Scott Speed, Toyota - 47.379
14. Marcos Ambrose, Toyota - 47.429
15. Brad Keselowski, Dodge - 47.434
Rossi stays on top after day two at Sepang
1. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha - 2:00.925
2. Casey Stoner, Ducati - 2:01.320
3. Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha - 2:01.680
4. Dani Pedrosa, Honda - 2:01.822
5. Ben Spies, Tech 3 Yamaha - 2:02.266
6. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda - 2:02.272
7. Colin Edwards, Tech 3 Yamaha - 2:02.479
8. Nicky Hayden, Ducati - 2:02.493
9. Aleix Espargaro, Pramac Ducati - 2:02.647
10. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki - 2:02.763
11. Marco Melandri, Gresini Honda - 2:03.810
12. Hector Barbera, Aspar Ducati - 2:03.032
13. Randy de Puniet, LCR Honda - 2:03.043
14. Hiroshi Aoyama, Interwetten Honda - 2:03.195
15. Marco Simoncelli, Gresini Honda - 2:03.245
16. Alvaro Bautista, Suzuki - 2:03.274
17. Mika Kallio, Pramac Ducati - 2:03.359
D’Alberto unveils 2010 livery
Former Fujitsu Series champion Tony D’Alberto has unveiled a sharp new look for his new #3 Centaur Commodore. Having purchased his own licence at the end of 2009 [from TASMAN Motorsport], the affable Victorian was forced to look for a new title sponsor after the Rod Nash Racing licence together with sponsor Bottle-O moved to FPR with Paul Dumbrell for the 2010 season.
The new car looks sensational and sports long time D’Alberto supporters Centaur, Belmont and D’Alberto Holden and retains technical support from Walkinshaw Racing.
As with many of the southern based Supercar teams, D’Alberto will hit the track for the first time on Monday for the first official test of the season at Winton Motor Raceway.
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