http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/index.xml Motorsports News from ThatsRacin.com en-us Copyright 2008 ThatsRacin.com Other Auto Racing 60 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:48 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive Workbench webmaster@thatsracin.com http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21290.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21290.html Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:45 EST Penske Racing might announce before Christmas whether it will replace two-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves on its IndyCar Series team for 2009.<p/>Castroneves, a two-time Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix winner, is embroiled in a serious legal fight. The Brazilian-born driver will go on trial March 2 in Miami on conspiracy and tax evasion charges involving about $5.5 million in income. Castroneves' sister and manager, Katiucia, and attorney, Alan R. Miller of Birmingham, also are charged in the case.<p/>With the IndyCar Series season set to start on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., on April 5, Penske Racing has been placed in an uneasy situation with testing to commence in February.<p/>This month, a federal judge rejected a request from lawyers for Castroneves and Penske to delay the trial until after the season in October. Under his contract, Castroneves must be available exclusively for all races.<p/>''We are still in the middle of considering the alternatives," said Penske Racing spokesman Bud Denker this week of Castroneves' status. "We're probably two-three weeks away from a decision. We've had drivers calling us on the phone -- it's been pretty lively, as you could expect. There are lots of drivers looking for work."<p/>Castroneves joined Penske in 2000. This year, he teamed with Australian Ryan Briscoe. He finished second to Scott Dixon in the championship.<p/>Castroneves, 33, has been a rock at Penske since his arrival, winning the Indianapolis 500 for team owner and Birmingham businessman Roger Penske in 2001 and 2002. He began his trademark fence climbing celebrations after winning at Belle Isle in 2000, and became a national celebrity by capturing the title on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in 2007.<p/>''We hoped this (case) could be resolved," Denker said. "But we certainly haven't pulled the trigger on (replacing) him as yet."<p/><b>VOTE OF CONFIDENCE:</b> Former Penske open-wheel driver Sam Hornish Jr. has the team's full support in his second full season of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing next year.<p/>Hornish, a three-time IndyCar Series champion and winner of the 2006 Indy 500, struggled this season in the No. 77 Dodge Charger in his rookie Cup year, finishing 35th in points and failing to qualify for the final race at Homestead. It was rumored he might even return to IndyCar.<p/>But Denker said Hornish, who will have Mobil 1 and AAA sponsorship on his Dodge in 2009, would play a pivotal part in the Cup campaign with fellow Penske drivers Kurt Busch and David Stremme, who replaces Ryan Newman.<p/>''We're absolutely committed to Sam," Denker said. "We're behind him and are blessed to have sponsorship from Mobil and AAA. We are very committed to Sam and expect him to do well."<p/><em>To see more of the Detroit Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to <a href="http://www.freep.com" target="_blank">http://www.freep.com</a></em> <p/><em>&copy; 2008, Detroit Free Press</em> <p/><em>Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.</em> http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21272.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21272.html Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:05 EST LONDON - Bernie Ecclestone is unhappy with the way the Formula One drivers' title was settled, and he says awarding gold medals to race winners is a way to create more drama.<p/>The suggestion by the Formula One boss comes after Lewis Hamilton clinched this year's title by finishing fifth at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix. Ecclestone said Wednesday he does not like the idea that "someone can win the world championship without trying to win the race."<p/>Under the proposed system, which Ecclestone said should be approved by the sport's governing body next month, the driver with the most gold medals during a season would win the title. In that format, Felipe Massa would have won the title this year because he beat Hamilton 6-5 in race wins.<p/>"It's going to happen," Ecclestone said. "All the teams are happy. The reason this happens is that I get fed up with people talking about no overtaking."<p/>In the current system, the winner of each Grand Prix race earns 10 points in the championship standings, with second place worth eight points and third place worth six. Each of the top eight drivers in every race earns points.<p/>Ecclestone was asked if it didn't seem unfair under his system that someone could finish second in every race during the season and lose the title to a rival who got lucky and won a single GP.<p/>"You'll have to try harder next year," he said.<p/>Although the new system is designed to generate excitement, Hamilton's title win featured one of the most riveting finishes to a season.<p/>Hamilton, of McLaren, lost the fifth place he needed for the title when he was passed by Sebastien Vettel with two laps to go, but he managed to overtake Timo Glock on the last corner of the last lap to become F1's youngest world champion. The 23-year-old Briton beat race winner Massa of Ferrari by a single point in the overall standings.<p/>If the new scoring system was applied retroactively, there would be as many as 12 different winners in the 58-year history of the championship. Keke Rosberg, for instance, would not have won his 1982 title because he finished first in only a single race.<p/>The medal system will be discussed at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Monaco on Dec. 12.<p/>Former Jordan team boss Eddie Jordan said he did not believe the teams were in favor of the change, contending it would harm smaller outfits and favor the likes of Ferrari and McLaren.<p/>"The points are necessary," Jordan told BBC Radio Five Live. "One point to a team down there is as important as a win is to the likes of McLaren and Ferrari, and we must never forget that. Having been in that position, two points against no points is a huge difference.<p/>"Drivers like Massa, who started at the very bottom and worked his way up, know how important those points are at the back of the field." http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21199.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21199.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:23 EST BARCELONA, Spain - Sebastien Vettel started his Red Bull career by leading Tuesday's Formula One testing, while Pedro de la Rossa's hopes of a move to Force India got off to a poor start.<p/>Vettel, who is jumping to Red Bull from sister team Toro Rosso, clocked a best lap of 1 minute, 19.751 seconds around the Circuit de Catalunya track on the outskirts of Barcelona.<p/>Takuma Sato continued his bid to return to F1 after finishing less than three-tenths of a second behind Vettel for Toro Rosso. The Japanese driver topped Monday's first day of testing after spending most of 2008 on the sidelines after the Super Aguri team folded.<p/>Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais, who needs to impress team officials still undecided about next season's lineup, was third fastest.<p/>De la Rossa, the McLaren test driver aiming for a spot with Force India, finished last in the 17-car field with a best lap of 1:23.499.<p/>"It's a different car to the McLaren," said De la Rossa, who will also test for the Indian team on Wednesday. "They're only giving me a test so we have to stick to that."<p/>The 37-year-old Spaniard's test comes after last week's announcement from Force India that it had ditched Ferrari to sign a five-year technical partnership with McLaren and Mercedes for 2009.<p/>De la Rossa drove for Arrows and Jaguar before joining McLaren in 2005 and has 72 career races, but his last grand prix was in Brazil two years ago.<p/>Several of the teams tested on slick tires and the KERS energy recovery system that all teams will need to use next year.<p/>The design of BMW Sauber's new car was an eclectic mix of 2009 modifications dumped on a 2008 car.<p/>"To me, for the moment, it's the worst (looking) Formula One car I have ever seen," BMW Sauber tester Christian Klien told autosport.com. "It just doesn't fit together. But we will get used to it. There will be a lot of modifications until the first race in March." http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21261.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21261.html Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:51 EST HOBART, Australia - Formula One driver Mark Webber had surgery on his broken leg after being hit by a car during his charity multisports race Saturday.<p/>"The surgery is complete, a pin inserted and the recovery begins," Geoff Donohue, event director for the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.<p/>"He'll be in hospital for at least three days, for sure under a week," Donohue said. "I was speaking to him before the operation, and he was already thinking about his rehabilitation."<p/>Webber, who drives for F1's Red Bull team, was riding a bicycle along a road near historic Port Arthur in the southeast of the island state of Tasmania when he collided with a four-wheel drive vehicle, Tasmania Police Sgt. Jon Ford said.<p/>"As a result of the collision, the rider, Mark Webber, suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries," Ford said. "He was attended at the scene by paramedics attached to the event before being airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital."<p/>Donohue said Webber had a pin inserted into the leg, and that the Australian driver had no other serious injuries.<p/>"The broken leg is the injury, and beyond that, he's in really good shape," Donohue said. "He has a little bit of a graze on his left forearm, but he has had full scans and everything else is clear."<p/>Webber was later transferred to Hobart Private Hospital.<p/>Donohue said the broken leg would set back Webber and Red Bull's preparation for the 2009 F1 season beginning in March. The fracture could leave him on the sidelines for at least six weeks.<p/>Red Bull has already begun testing for 2009. Testing in Barcelona involved Sebastian Vettel, who joined Red Bull from Toro Rosso, and five-time World Rally Championship winner Sebastien Loeb while Webber was in Australia. The team's next scheduled testing session is in Jerez in southern Spain from Dec. 9.<p/>"That date obviously will be an issue," Donohue said. "But I suspect that as soon as Mark is able to fly, they will be keen to get him back to Europe. They will have people working out his rehab program now with a view to getting him up and going as soon as possible."<p/>Donohue said Webber was like many elite athletes who set goals for their recovery immediately after an injury.<p/>"He has a positive attitude and a lot of determination," Donohue said.<p/>The accident happened while Webber was competing at his charity event, a 175-mile challenge using mountain bikes, kayaks and trekking, when the accident happened.<p/>Ford said the bike portion used open public roads and it was not known whether the stage, including the accident scene, was cordoned off for the racers.<p/>The challenge, first staged in 2003, is scheduled to end Sunday in Hobart. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21196.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21196.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:25 EST Most drivers in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series are looking forward to getting some rest now that the 2008 season is over. Robby Gordon isn't among them.<p/>After finishing 26th in the Cup season-finale Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Gordon headed straight for Ensenada, Mexico, to compete in the 41st annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 that begins on Friday.<p/>Gordon has three victories in the off-road classic. He will drive the No. 77 Chevrolet CK 1500 trophy truck in this year's race.<p/>The Baja 1000 is the world's longest nonstop desert race. This year its route across the northern Baja California Peninsula will cover 631.34 miles through rocky desert and mountain terrain, beginning and ending in Ensenada.<p/>"This year's course is very technical, very rough and very fast, which plays right into our team's strengths," said Gordon, who has also won races in Cup and open-wheel racing. "The team has done a good job building up the reliability in our truck."<p/>Gordon, whose one-car team ran the entire 36-race Cup schedule and finished 33rd in the points, took time during the past few weeks to fly out to Baja to "prerun" the course several times.<p/>"Having covered the course twice, I feel very confident of our chances," Gordon said. "With the assistance of both our off-road and NASCAR team personnel, we have a really good support staff in place. Everyone is well informed on our race strategy and goals for this week. If all goes according to plan, we should bring home our fourth overall Baja 1000 victory." http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21214.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21214.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:32 EST GREENFIELD, Ind. - U.S. Auto Club driver Cameron Dodson has been critically injured in a crash along a rural Hancock County road.<p/>The 20-year-old Dodson drives for NASCAR driver Carl Edwards' team and was the USAC Silver Crown series rookie of the year in 2007. He won one race in four starts this year.<p/>Methodist Hospital spokesman Gene Ford said Dodson was in critical condition Wednesday evening but did not disclose the nature of the injuries.<p/>The Daily Reporter in Greenfield reported that authorities said Dodson was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from his car when it went off a county road into a ditch about 20 miles east of Indianapolis early Wednesday. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21195.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21195.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:50 EST IndyCar Series star Tony Kanaan teamed with Formula One's Rubens Barrichello and three other drivers last Saturday to win the Granja Viana 500, A 500-mile kart race in Sao Paulo, Brazil.<p/>It is the eighth time in 12 years that Kanaan, a native of Brazil, has been part of the winning team.<p/>Others on this year's winning team included former IndyCar driver Felipe Giaffone, Renato Russian and Luciano Burti.<p/>The event, held at the Giaffone family's venue, featured 65 karts. IndyCar Series drivers Vitor Meira, Mario Moraes and Raphael Matos also competed. A second Kanaan kart included co-drivers Cristiano da Matta and Antonio Pizzonia.<p/>"Each time I win, I feel a different emotion," said Kanaan, who finished third in the 2008 IndyCar Series driving for Andretti Green Racing. "It was a really tough race physically in the beginning, when I was driving for three straight hours in the sun." http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21150.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21150.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:33 EST POMONA, Calif. - Cruz Pedregon won his second NHRA Funny Car season championship, and first in 16 years, with a victory Sunday in the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Southern California.<p/>Eddie Krawiec won his first POWERade Series crown in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and did so without winning a race during the season. He joined Rob Bruins, the 1979 Top Fuel champ, as the only drivers in NHRA history to win a season title without earning an individual race victory.<p/>After Pedregon won his first-round meeting against Jerry Toliver, he secured the title when his two closest challengers lost in the first round. Season-long leader Tim Wilkerson fouled against John Force, and Robert Hight lost to Pedregon's brother, Tony.<p/>Pedregon then drove his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to his third straight event victory to close out the six-race Countdown to 1, NHRA's Playoffs. He beat Ron Capps in the final round for his 26th career win and second at his home track.<p/>"I'm stunned," Pedregon said moments after his brother eliminated the last racer within reach. "It's awesome Tony got that win right there because I'm standing here thinking of my dad (Frank) and that I hope he's proud of his sons. I was 18 when he died and Tony was 16 and now we each have two world championships. We've come a long way for a couple of Hispanic kids from Chino."<p/>Krawiec entered the Countdown to 1 in seventh place and finished second in four of the six races in the championship playoffs, securing his first title and the fourth for his Harley-Davidson team and the seventh for Vance & Hines Racing.<p/>"Consistency pays off," Krawiec said. "It shows you that you just need to go rounds at the end. We made the Countdown in seventh place and have been in four of the last five finals. I haven't had a chance to get my first (event) Wally yet, but I've got a big gold Wally (for winning the championship). I do have a $75,000 check here though, so if someone wants to sell a Wally, I could buy one."<p/>Larry Dixon, Greg Anderson, and Chris Rivas also claimed race victories.<p/>Dixon raced to his second win of the season in Top Fuel, holding off Rod Fuller in the final round. Dixon, who moved to second in the point standings with the victory, covered the distance in 3.833 seconds at 300.93 mph for his 43rd career victory and first at the finals. It was his fourth win at Pomona.<p/>Anderson claimed his sixth Pro Stock victory of the season in a Pontiac GXP when Kurt Johnson fouled at the start in his Chevy Cobalt. It was Anderson's 57th career victory, his fourth win at the finals and seventh win at the historic Pomona track.<p/>Rivas continued his hot streak in Pro Stock Motorcycle by winning his third race in a row, defeating newly crowned season champ Krawiec in the final round.<p/>Rivas, who moved to second in the final point standings with the win, powered his Buell to a performance of 6.929 at 191.95 to drive away from Krawiec's Harley-Davidson, which trailed at 7.009 at 190.46. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21096.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21096.html Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:59 EST POMONA, Calif. - Jeg Coughlin raced to his second consecutive and fourth overall NHRA Pro Stock title Saturday by qualifying for the Auto Club NHRA Finals.<p/>Couglin joined Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) as a season champion, while the Countdown to 1 battles in Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be settled Sunday in the final eliminations at Auto Club Raceway.<p/>Four of the five Funny Car championship contenders - Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, Robert Hight and Tony Pedregon - will enter the eliminations on the same side of the bracket separated by 61 points. In first-round pairings, Tony Pedregon and Hight will meet, while Cruz Pedregon and Wilkerson could race in the second round. Wilkerson faces a tough first-round pairing against 14-time champ John Force.<p/>On the opposite side of the Funny Car bracket, Jack Beckman, who is fifth overall and trails the leader by 67, needs to win the race and have his four title opponents lose early to have a chance to win his first championship.<p/>In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending champ Matt Smith will battle Eddie Krawiec and Chris Rivas for the world championship. Smith earned his seventh No. 1 qualifying position of the season with a performance of 6.962 at 188.86 on a Buell, while Krawiec qualified second and Rivas was ninth.<p/>Schumacher, Mike Neff and Greg Anderson also claimed No. 1 qualifying positions at the final NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the year.<p/>Schumacher earned his ninth No. 1 of the season in Top Fuel, covering the distance in 3.827 at 315.93. If Schumacher wins, he will set NHRA season records for most wins and elimination round wins.<p/>In Funny Car, Neff earned his second top qualifying effort of the season with a 4.079 at 305.49 in a Ford Mustang. Anderson secured his seventh No. 1 of the season in Pro Stock in his Pontiac GXP with a run of 6.634 at 208.20. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20990.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20990.html Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:27 EST POMONA, Calif. - Melanie Troxel had a 4.105-second pass Friday in hot conditions to take the provisional Funny Car pole in the Auto Club NHRA Finals, the sixth and final race in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.<p/>J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also topped their divisions in the season finale. There will be two more rounds of qualifying Saturday before the 16-car fields are set for Sunday.<p/>With the air temperature in the mid-80s and track temperature exceeding 100 at Auto Club Raceway, Troxel's run in her Dodge Charger matched Mike Neff's time from Thursday, but she moved around Neff based on her speed of 304.25 mph to Neff's 299.13.<p/>"Some days you've got to be good and some days you've got to be lucky and today, getting it on speed, I think we were a little bit of both," Troxel said.<p/>The run was particularly impressive because of the soaring heat that kept every one of the five Funny Car title contenders from getting down the track under power.<p/>The most notable of the five was points leader Cruz Pedregon, who remained unqualified and will have just two more attempts on Saturday to get in the field and keep his championship hopes alive.<p/>Among the chasers in Funny Car, second-place Tim Wilkerson (trailing Cruz Pedregon by 12 points) slipped from the eighth to 10th qualifying position, third-place Robert Hight (39 points back) slipped from fourth to seventh, fourth-place Tony Pedregon from third to sixth, and fifth-place Jack Beckman (64 points back), like Cruz Pedregon, also remained unqualified.<p/>Todd's 3.851 at 308.14 mph from Thursday held up Friday and he remained the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel.<p/>In Pro Stock, Line assumed the provisional No. 1 from Thursday leader Dave Connolly with a 6.658 at 208.39 in a Chevy Cobalt. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Eddie Krawiec improved by 0.004 seconds on his No. 1 time from Thursday with a 7.013-second pass at 188.70 on a Harley-Davidson to maintain the top spot. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20982.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20982.html Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:02 EST MIAMI - A federal judge in Miami has rejected requests to delay the tax evasion trial of IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves.<p/>U.S. District Judge Donald Graham on Friday said the March 2 trial date will stand. Lawyers for Castroneves and Penske Racing Inc. sought a delay until November to ensure he could drive in the 2009 IndyCar Series that runs from April to October.<p/>Castroneves is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and was series runner-up this year. He's pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and tax evasion involving about $5.5 million (4.3 million euros) in income stashed in offshore accounts.<p/>His sister and business manager, along with his attorney, also are charged in the case. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20946.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20946.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:14 EST POMONA, Calif. - Rookie of the Year favorite Mike Neff took the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car on Thursday in the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway, the sixth and final race in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.<p/>J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their divisions. There will a round of qualifying Friday and two Saturday before the 16-car fields are set for the eliminations Sunday.<p/>Neff's 4.105-second pass at 299.13 mph put the Old Spice Ford on the provisional pole for what would be, if it holds up, his second career No. 1 qualifying position.<p/>Funny Car points leader Cruz Pedregon (4.478), seeking his second POWERade Series championship and first since 1992, still has to qualify.<p/>Todd raced down the track in 3.851 seconds at 308.14 mph to earn the provisional top spot in Top Fuel. Connolly ran a 6.660 at 207.75 in Pro Stock, and Krawiec, second in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, had a 7.017-second pass at 187.23. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20907.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20907.html Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:46 EST SAO PAULO, Brazil - Rubens Barrichello has dismissed a move to the Indy Racing League or any other series if he fails to find a ride in Formula One next season.<p/>"Either I stay in F1 or I won't race," Barrichello said late Tuesday.<p/>Barrichello, the driver with the most grands prix in F1 history (271), drove for Honda this season, but his contract has not been renewed and the team is testing other drivers.<p/>Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna, the nephew of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna, are scheduled to test for Honda next week.<p/>"If they are good they will keep the position," Barrichello said. "But if an empty seat is left, I'll take it."<p/>Hoping to race in his 17th season, the 36-year-old Brazilian also has chances of racing for Toro Rosso.<p/>Barrichello won nine F1 races during six seasons at Ferrari before leaving the Italian team in 2005. This year, his best finish was third place at the British Grand Prix. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21151.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/21151.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:25 EST National Hot Rod Association results and standings after Sunday's season-ending finals at Pomona:<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> RESULTS </span><p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Top Fuel </span><p/>1. Larry Dixon. 2. Rod Fuller. 3. Cory McClenathan. 4. Urs Erbacher. 5. Tony Schumacher. 6. Brandon Bernstein. 7. Doug Herbert. 8. Troy Buff. 9. Hillary Will. 10. Tim Boychuk. 11. Clay Millican. 12. Steve Torrence. 13. Morgan Lucas. 14. J.R. Todd. 15. Doug Kalitta. 16. David Grubnic.<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Funny Car </span><p/>1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara. 2. Ron Capps. 3. Jack Beckman. 4. Mike Neff. 5. Ashley Force. 6. Tony Pedregon. 7. Melanie Troxel. 8. John Force. 9. Tim Wilkerson. 10. Jeff Arend. 11. Gary Densham. 12. Robert Hight. 13. Bob Tasca III. 14. Gary Scelzi. 15. Jerry Toliver. 16. Jim Head.<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Pro Stock </span><p/>1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP. 2. Kurt Johnson. 3. Jason Line. 4. Mike Edwards. 5. Greg Stanfield. 6. Allen Johnson. 7. Warren Johnson. 8. Rickie Jones. 9. Jeg Coughlin. 10. Johnny Gray. 11. Richie Stevens. 12. Ron Krisher. 13. Dave Connolly. 14. V. Gaines. 15. Vinnie Deceglie. 16. Jim Yates.<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Pro Stock Motorcycle </span><p/>1. Chris Rivas. 2. Eddie Krawiec. 3. Craig Treble. 4. Andrew Hines. 5. Chip Ellis. 6. Michael Phillips. 7. Karen Stoffer. 8. Matt Smith. 9. Junior Pippin. 10. Shawn Gann. 11. Peggy Llewellyn. 12. Mike Berry. 13. Steve Johnson. 14. Angie McBride. 15. Hector Arana. 16. Angelle Sampey.<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> FINAL STANDINGS </span><p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Top Fuel </span><p/>1. Tony Schumacher, 2,703. 2. Larry Dixon, 2,445. 3. Cory McClenathan, 2,406. 4. Hillary Will, 2,405. 5. Antron Brown, 2,370. 6. Rod Fuller, 2,368. 7. Brandon Bernstein, 2,327. 8. Doug Herbert, 2,307. 9. Doug Kalitta, 2,209. 10. David Grubnic, 2,194.<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Funny Car </span><p/>1. Cruz Pedregon, 2,561. 2. Tim Wilkerson, 2,468. 3. Jack Beckman, 2,457. 4. Robert Hight, 2,442. 5. Tony Pedregon, 2,440. 6. Ashley Force, 2,385. 7. John Force, 2,303. 8. Ron Capps, 2,302. 9. Mike Neff, 2,284. 10. Gary Densham, 2,217.<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Pro Stock </span><p/>1. Jeg Coughlin, 2,523. 2. Greg Anderson, 2,487. 3. Kurt Johnson, 2,450. 4. Mike Edwards, 2,388. 5. Jason Line, 2,388. 6. Dave Connolly, 2,383. 7. Allen Johnson, 2,363. 8. Greg Stanfield, 2,329. 9. V. Gaines, 2,234. 10. Ron Krisher, 2,158.<p/><span style="font-size: 18px"> Pro Stock Motorcycle </span><p/>1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,471. 2. Chris Rivas, 2,466. 3. Matt Smith, 2,451. 4. Andrew Hines, 2,334. 5. Angelle Sampey, 2,310. 6. Chip Ellis, 2,284. 7. Steve Johnson, 2,283. 8. Craig Treble, 2,270. 9. Karen Stoffer, 2,167. 10. Matt Guidera, 2,156. http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20726.html http://www.thatsracin.com/other_series/story/20726.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:28 EST SAO PAULO, Brazil - Another Formula One season came down to the very last race of the year. This time to the very last turn.<p/>Lewis Hamilton's dramatic pass on the final turn of the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday allowed him to win his first world title - and give F1 a thrilling finish for the second year in a row.<p/>It was the second straight time the season was decided by a single point, and the third consecutive time it was decided in the final race of the year.<p/>Close racing and unpredictable finishes could be the rule next year, when the teams are expected to be on more level footing because of cost-cutting measures and new rules being implemented because of the economic crisis.<p/>After years of dominance by seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher led to meaningless races at the end of the calendar, F1 has put together a string of good finishes that are helping attract more fans.<p/>Sunday's wild finish, which drew record audiences around the world, certainly didn't hurt. It was so close that the drivers weren't sure who had won the title until moments after the checkered flag dropped.<p/>"I don't think it has hit home yet, I just had the most intense race of my life," Hamilton said.<p/>Ferrari's Felipe Massa had to finish first or second to have any chance of winning the championship, while Hamilton needed to finish fifth or better to clinch the title.<p/>Massa looked poised to win the race and the title when Hamilton nearly wasted a seven-point lead going into the decisive race for the second straight after he dropped to sixth place with only two laps to go.<p/>The crowd was already celebrating what seemed to be Brazil's first F1 champion since Ayrton Senna in 1991, but Hamilton was able to pass Toyota's Timo Glock on the final turn to secure fifth place. By doing so the Briton avoided repeating the collapse he had last year, when he took a seven-point lead to Brazil but lost the title by one point to Kimi Raikkonen.<p/>"My heart was about to explode," Hamilton said. "I don't know how I kept my cool and I was very fortunate, especially on the last lap."<p/>Glock was slower than the rest of the front-runners because he chose to stay on dry tires despite heavy rain that began falling late in the race at Interlagos.<p/>"I think we did everything we could," Massa said. "But that's how racing goes sometimes, you do everything right but things don't go your way. We'll try again next year."<p/>The finish capped another exciting season in Formula One. Last year, three drivers - Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Raikkonen - entered the final race with chances of winning the title in the tightest battle for the championship in more than 20 years.<p/>In 2008, seven different drivers and five different teams won races for the first time since 2003. Four different drivers led the championship, while six took pole positions and 15 led races.<p/>The one-point margin that decided the title this year and in 2007 hadn't happened since Schumacher's title victory over Damon Hill in 1994.<p/>Twice since 1994 the title margin has been two points: in 1999 when McLaren's Mika Hakkinen edged Ferrari's Eddie Irvine and in 2003 when Ferrari's Schumacher beat McLaren's Raikkonen.<p/>Another close finish could be in sight for next season with the modifications being implemented because of the global financial crisis.<p/>Among the changes that FIA said are intended to "improve racing" is the introduction of hybrid technology through KERS, an energy recovery system that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions without affecting performance. The Kinetic Energy Recovery System collects energy under braking to provide an extra boost that should allow for more overtaking.<p/>Aerodynamic changes will also be in place, and the slick tires will return to F1 for the first time since 1997.<p/>There have been discussions for a sole engine and transmission system provider, but that would only take place beginning in 2010. Teams at the Brazilian GP said cost reduction is a priority for next year and beyond.<p/>"We are in a very difficult position economically. Formula One is not immune from this panic," Renault managing director Flavio Briatore said. "We are working very hard together to achieve, as soon as possible, a solution."<p/>Super Aguri, which made its debut in 2006, folded after four races this season after being unable to find sponsorship to meet the high costs of maintaining an F1 team.<p/>This season marked the farewell season for Red Bull driver David Coulthard, who retired after a 15-year career. It could also have been the last season for Rubens Barrichello, the driver with the most grands prix in F1 history. He has not yet renewed his contract with Honda and could be left without a ride in 2009.<p/>He could be replaced by Senna's nephew, Bruno Senna, who will test with Honda later this month.<p/>Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso opted to stay with Renault, signing a two-year contract extension Wednesday that will keep him with the French Formula One team through 2010.<p/>Next year Formula One will likely be without a race in North America after the Canadian Grand Prix was dropped because of financial matters. The French Grand Prix also was in danger, but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was secured to make its debut as the final race of the year.