Updates from the Rest of the Racing World
Atlas F1 Magazine Writers
Advice: The points tables for most series covered by Elsewhere In Racing are available here. Individual series are linked to their corresponding points table after each report.
Ryan Rules In Texas
After some disappointing runs recently, including last week at Bristol, Ryan Newman's magnificent rookie season magic seemed to have worn off. But Texas showed that Newman is more that a one-season wonder, as he ran strongly all day to take his second Winston Cup win in front of a duelling Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon. Newman's win was also the first win for Dodge in 2003, as well as Penske's first win with Dodge, having switched marques at the start of 2003. Matt Kenseth still has a big lead in the title chase, leading teammate Kurt Busch by 155 points, Dale Earnhardt Jr just 11 points further back.
As the laps wound on the top three moved further away, with Gordon closing onto Sadler's tail. Steve Park brought out the next caution on lap 43 when he got loose off turn four and spun through the tri-oval, with some cars going across the grass or through pit lane in avoidance, Sterling Marlin kissing the wall. This time just about the whole field pitted, the top three unchanged. The race restarted on lap 47 but it was straight back to yellow on lap 48 as the engine in leader Elliott's Dodge came to a smoky demise just metres after taking the restart. Sadler now led from Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman and Jerry Nadeau, with Matt Kenseth up to sixth after starting 17th. Newman moved into third down the backstretch after the restart on lap 51 before taking Gordon for second as they began lap 53 and set off after Sadler.
Lap 58 saw Kenseth move into fourth past Wallace as Nadeau began to fade. Meanwhile by lap 75 Gordon had reeled Newman back in and began to push for second, Gordon taking the place back just a couple of laps later. Lap 80 saw teammate Jimmie Johnson finally pass Wallace for fifth after over 20 laps of trying, after having started near the back of the field due to an engine change. Despite the long green run, the top three were close together, Gordon closing on Sadler before taking the lead around lap 90. Soon after Newman dropped off a little and began to come under attack from Matt Kenseth, Kenseth taking third on lap 98, as Sadler hung onto Gordon. As the race reached lap 100 cars began to make stops under green. Soon the stops were completed, Newman the biggest loser on pit road, dropping to seventh, while Sadler retook the lead from Gordon soon after the stops and drew away. Busch was now a lap down in 25th place.
Coming back to the line to take the caution flag, Matt Kenseth eased off to allow a few cars, including his teammate Kurt Busch and Roush engine user Ricky Rudd, to get back on the lead lap. Jeff Gordon, running second, didn't want this to happen and so overtook Kenseth approaching the line, keeping the Roush-powered cars a lap down, as only a gentleman's agreement exists to prevent overtaking - there is no rule against racing back to the caution, though NASCAR regularly advises that the leader is responsible for keeping lapped cars a lap down (or not). In the end, in an apparently unprecedented move by NASCAR, Gordon's pass on Kenseth was voided, and Busch and Rudd got their lap back. Meanwhile some cars pitted, though those right at the front in general stayed out. Of those that did pit, Ward Burton spun in pit lane after trying to pull in across the front of Dale Jarrett and Joe Nemechek, Burton ironically escaping relatively unscathed while the other two suffered damage to the nose of their cars.
Lap 179 and it was back to racing, Kenseth leading Gordon and Newman, as one lap later Newman took second from Gordon as they headed into turn three. Around lap 190 Biffle was forced to pit again after the repairs to his car undid itself. The top three were once again running away, as Gordon closed right in on Newman around lap 200, taking him about ten laps later as he then set off after Kenseth, taking the lead on lap 221, as the pit stops began once again thanks to the long green run. As these stops were taking place Jimmy Spencer ran wide off turn four, Spencer bumping off the side of Tony Stewart and spinning down the frontstretch, bringing out the caution on lap 227. Ricky Rudd also spun as cars avoided Spencer's stationary car, Rudd then causing an incident as when he got going again he left Jeremy Mayfield such a small gap that Mayfield spun as he weaved through, Mayfield kissing the outside wall.
The race restarted on lap 233, but the caution was out only three laps later when
Steve Park got loose off turn two, Mike Skinner clipping Park's spinning car before spinning hard into the inside wall. This allowed several cars back onto the lead lap, including those mentioned above. The race restarted on lap 241 but was once again under caution two laps later when Christian Fittipaldi spun, and then tapped Dale Jarrett into a spin in turn three and four, Jarrett getting away almost unscathed while Fittipaldi's car was heavily damaged. A few of the cars towards the end of the lead lap made stops. Lap 250 and it was green but once again it was caution time two laps later when Bobby Labonte spun coming off turn two, hitting the inside wall.
Lap 255 and it was back to racing, hopefully for more than a couple of laps this time, Newman leading McMurray and Earnhardt Jr, Earnhardt Jr passing McMurray for second with 78 laps to go in the 334 lap event as Gordon moved up to sixth as he began to move back to the front. 57 to go Gordon took Benson for fifth, with Benson's teammate Nadeau next on Gordon's list. The caution came out soon after on lap 284 when Joe Nemechek hit the turn three and four wall hard when he apparently suffered a front right tyre failure. With 50 laps remaining it was a perfect time for everyone to make their last stop for the day. Everyone came in, Newman leading Earnhardt Jr, Gordon, Nadeau and Johnson off pit lane, with everyone taking fuel and four tyres except Newman who took fuel and only two tyres.
Up front Newman continued to harass Earnhardt Jr as Jimmie Johnson's engine began to go sour with just 13 laps remaining. As they came out of turn four to complete lap 323 Newman got his nose inside Earnhardt Jr's car, running up alongside through the tri-oval, completing the pass as they exited turn two, Newman showing his speed as he edged away from Earnhardt Jr. Gordon knew he couldn't catch Newman but there was still some hope to catch Junior, and with 6 to go he was there and looking for a way through. Coming up to four to go Gordon got alongside Earnhardt Jr through turn four but he couldn't complete the pass.
Two laps later Gordon repeated the move through turns three and four, managing to stay alongside down the frontstretch, the duo heading into turn one side by side, and so they stayed through turns one and two, down the backstretch, into turn three, the two edging back and forwards in front of each other but neither able to claim the place. They remained side by side off turn four, and as they ran down the frontstretch to the finish, they even banged off each other, Earnhardt Jr holding on by a fraction of a second as Newman took the win. Jerry Nadeau finally had a good finish, while Kenseth continued his strong runs to finish sixth. Finally, after getting back on the lead lap around half distance, Kurt Busch cracked the top ten, finishing ninth.
Since the race's completion, NASCAR president Mike Helton has admitted that the mid-race decision to give Busch and Rudd their laps back was a mistake, Gordon having criticised the call after the race. This came after 2002 Winston Cup champ Tony Stewart's original #20 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was taken away by NASCAR officials before the weekend even started after it failed to pass inspection due to it failing to comply with measurements on the rear decklid, forcing Stewart into racing his back-up car, which passed inspection with no problems, as did teammate Bobby Labonte's #18 car. NASCAR will inspect the car to determine if the error was accidental or was an attempt to improve the car's performance.
Result of NASCAR Winston Cup, Round 7 of 36, Samsung/Radio Shack 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Texas, United States
Standings: Matt Kenseth 1090, Kurt Busch 935, Dale Earnhardt Jr 924, Michael Waltrip 898, Jimmie Johnson 885, Jeff Gordon 864, Tony Stewart 849, Ryan Newman 848, Ricky Craven 840, Kevin Harvick 802 etc.
Hodgson's (Near) Perfect PI
After a one-two performance in Valencia, the factory Ducatis were at it again at Phillip Island, as Neil Hodgson won his fourth race in a row as Ruben Xaus followed him home in both races at the Island. Xaus did this despite crashing in Superpole, his third crash for the weekend. Despite this dominance there were some good performances by other riders, including Pierfrancesco Chili on his privateer Ducati, Gregorio Lavilla on the 1000cc Suzuka and Troy Corser scoring the best result yet for the Foggy team with a fifth place in race one.
A windy Superpole session saw Neil Hodgson on pole by over a second while teammate Ruben Xaus was eighth after crashing on his flier. At the start of race one it was a familiar sight as Hodgson led the field away at the start, ahead of Pierfrancesco Chili, Chris Walker and Gregorio Lavilla, before Chili grabbed the lead at Honda hairpin on lap one. As they completed lap one Hodgson wound up the 999 and blasted by into the lead, as the top four broke away from the rest of the field, with Hodgson starting to move away after three laps had been completed. As they completed lap four Lavilla passed Walker for third, just seconds before Chili's engine blew up exiting Southern Loop.
After 6 laps Ruben Xaus was up to fourth, while James Toseland was forced to retire after losing the left and right fairings on his bike, with the remaining bodywork dragging along the ground. As the laps wound on Hodgson edged further away while Lavilla and Walker diced, passing each other back and forth, while Hodgson's teammate Xaus steadily closed in. By lap 13 Xaus made it a trio of riders battling for second, before blasting past both of them as they began lap 14 down the front straight. Lavilla wasn't willing to give in though, hanging with Xaus and then passing Xaus into the kink after Southern Loop on lap 15, Xaus taking a breather for a few laps before passing him back down the pit straight again at the start of lap 18, as Walker began to drop right off.
As they began lap 19 Lavilla tried to pass Xaus down pit straight, getting alongside, the duo running through Doohan Corner side by side before Xaus edged ahead, but Lavilla wasn't done, taking second back as they entered the kink after getting a better exit out of Southern Loop. As they completed lap 19 Xaus got alongside down pit straight, ran side by side through Doohan again before retaking second place and pulling away. It was too late to catch Hodgson, who took an easy win from his teammate Xaus, Lavilla having a good showing on the Suzuki, while Walker's late race fade dropped him back to seventh, while Troy Corser scored Foggy's best result with fifth place.
Race two saw Hodgson lead at the start again, but this time Hodgson held onto the lead ahead of Chili, Walker, Regis Laconi, David Garcia, Lavilla and Xaus. Chili looked for a way past as they completed lap one but Hodgson was too quick in a straight line. Lavilla soon moved up to fifth and joined the leading pack to make it a five way battle, continuing his move up to be in third as they began lap four, then second into Doohan corner on lap five. Unlike race one Hodgson was not running away, only opening a small gap, which was good news for everyone else including Xaus, who had now moved up into fifth place, and joined Lavilla, Walker and Chili in the dice for second place. Each rider took turns at the front depending which lap it was and where they were on the circuit.
Eventually though Xaus took second on lap seven through Doohan Corner, though he couldn't break away, Lavilla giving him a hard time, while the pack gained two more riders in the shape of Laconi and Toseland as positions continued to shuffle. By lap 8 Xaus began to reel in Hodgson's lead tenth by tenth, lap by lap, while further back Laconi made his way up to fourth, leader of the dicing pack. Lap 12 saw Xaus finally break Lavilla while Laconi, Walker and Chili swapped fourth place amongst themselves as Toseland joined the battle. By lap 15 Lavilla had fallen into the clutches of the pack behind him, making it a five way battle for third.
As Hodgson began lap 16 he had Xaus right on his tail, Xaus slipstreaming Hodgson but unable to pass. Next lap, same result into Doohan Corner, but into Honda Hairpin Xaus took the lead. Down pit straight Hodgson flew past Xaus, retaking the lead as Xaus remained on Hodgson's tail but unable or unwilling to make a pass. Further back the pack had split up, with Laconi and Chili fighting for third while Lavilla fought with teammates Walker and Toseland for fifth place. As they headed into the final lap Hodgson was still just in front of Xaus, but as hard as he tried he couldn't find a way past, Hodgson just holding onto win, with Chili edging out Laconi by a tenth of a second for third, while a three wide finish for fifth saw Toseland edge out Walker by seven thousandths of a second with Lavilla seventeen thousandths further back.
Result of World Superbike Championship, Round 2 of 12, Phillip Island, Australia:
Standings: Neil Hodgson 100, Ruben Xaus 80, Chris Walker 48, Gregorio Lavilla 44, Steve Martin 41, James Toseland 40, Regis Laconi 34, Troy Corser 28, Marco Borciani 26, Lucio Pedercini 23 etc.
Superbikes points distribution
To Be Franck
Franck Montagny got his title challenge off to the best possible start with a pair of wins in trying circumstances at Jarama. In a good day for Gabord Competicion, Montagny now leads the points race from teammate Heikki Kovalainen with Ander Vilarino in third.
Bernoldi tried and failed to hold back Vilarino who seemed to be thriving in the wet. Renault development driver Heikki Kovalainen was a distant fourth ahead of Bruno Besson and Bruce Jouanny.
In the second race Montagny just raced clear of the field, doing his best Ricardo Zonta impersonation on the drying track. Marc Gene recovered from an assisted spin in race one to cruise home in second, leading Bas Leinders for most of the race. Near the end of the race Leinders was deprived of third by an inspired Kovalainen who stormed home from the back of the grid on a day when Gabord proved they knew how to set up a wet racecar. Behind Leinders was the again dramatic Karthikeyan ahead of American Red Bull driver Paul Edwards.
Montagny holds a 22 point lead over his Finnish teammate, who in turn is six points ahead of Vilarino. Behind Vilarino it gets tight between Gene, Bernoldi, Besson and Leinders. The next round will be held at Zolder, Belgium in a month's time.
Result of Superfund World Series by Nissan, Round 1 of 9, Jarama, Spain:
Standings: Franck Montagny 44, Heikki Kovalainen 22, Ander Vilarino 16, Marc Gene 15, Enrique Bernoldi 14, Bruno Besson 12, Bas Leinders 10, Narain Karthikeyan 8, Bruce Jouanny and Paul Edwards 6 etc.
Chasing Rossi
Last year Valentino Rossi swept all before him as he spent more than half the season with a measurable mechanical advantage over the field as the Honda RC211V was the only fully race ready four-stroke bike at the start of the season. By season's end the Yamaha YZR-M1 had closed the gap, bringing Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa into contention, as well as proliferation of RC211Vs to riders like Alex Barros and Daijiro Kato meant that wins for Rossi were harder to come by. He still won anyway.
Honda though look as strong as ever. Valentino Rossi enters the new season as the first rider to win World Championships across four different bike regulations and a reputation of the best rider in the world that only Max Biaggi would attempt to deny. Nicky Hayden hits the big time, taking up the number two Honda seat. Also with factory supported RC211Vs are the Sito Pons outfit. The former dual 250cc champion has two new riders for his team. Former Repsol Honda rider Tohru Ukawa will be joined by the man who left Honda in a huff after being unable to compete with Mick Doohan in 1998, Max Biaggi. Biaggi finds himself back in the role he held in 1998, leader of a semi-factory Honda team when all attention is on the star reigning champ. It will be a test of his personality to see if he can fulfil the role again. Movistar also has the support of Honda and its RC211Vs will be ridden by Daijiro Kato and Sete Gibernau.
Suzuki step into the new season with Kenny Roberts Jr and John Hopkins as last season ended. The blue GSVRs still look that little bit off the pace. It could be another year of struggle for Suzuki that will test their resolve for racing, especially if the new influx starts to leave them behind. In the same basket is Proton. While they have the ambition, Kenny Roberts Snr's team doesn't have the machinery of the bigger manufacturers. Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki will continue to fight for points.
And what of the new influx? Aprilia are serious about MotoGP for the first time, signing 2000 and 2002 World Superbike Champion Colin Edwards to join Japanese firebrand Noriyuki Haga. Testing times for the Aprilia Cube have been mixed. A development year is ahead, but come 2004 things could be big. Another big name to arrive in MotoGP this year is Kawasaki. But the Green Machine is struggling with their Kawasaki Ninjas. Garry McCoy's signature sideways style has only served to cover up the handling problems the team is experiencing. Andrew Pitt will be alongside McCoy in an all-Australian line-up. The learning curve will be steep.
But a long crimson shadow has hung over the series since the start of winter testing. The influx of manufacturers the new four stroke rules promised has arrived, and already a pair of red bikes look more than merely threatening to Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki. If veteran Loris Capirossi and 2001 World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss have their way, the Japanese bikes will be chasing the Ducati Desmosedecis well before mid season. The pace the two have shown in testing has been frightening and has left people wondering just how junior a series Superbikes were to the old 500cc category.
Variety is something MotoGP has been short of in the past. This year they're bursting at the seams. And it looks certain that Rossi will not have the season all his own way.
The Next Step
Each year in the British Formula 3 championship there is a changing of the guard. While this series as much as any junior formulae series has been a path towards greatness, to stay here too long is death to your career. Last year's runner-up James Courtney was facing a third year in the grade after Formula 3000 plans did not come together, and has instead plumped for Japan, hoping to take the route blazed by Eddie Irvine and Ralph Firman. Series champion Robbie Kerr too has moved on, although not anywhere specific as yet. Heikki Kovalainen and Bruce Jouanny have found places in other series though.
Sweeney Racing is taking the big gamble of the series. They have signed Michael Keohane to lead the team with Scholarship class champion Adam Carroll, all safe looking decisions so far, but the risk is developing the F106, a new Formula 3 chassis joint venture between Lola Cars and Japanese open wheeler manufacturer Dome. Dallara have had such a mortgage on Formula 3 in recent years that even a team using a Ralt was seen as a concession for survival. The risk of the enterprise is such that Keohane will drive for Promatecme in the opening races of the season so as not to harm championship aspirations with an under-developed car.
Other names who could figure in the series include British Formula Renault Champion Danny Watts and Eurocup Formula Renault Champion Eric Salignon, both with Hi-Tech Motorsport, Scholarship class Champion Adam Carroll moving up to the main game, British Formula Ford champion Robert Dahlgren, top ten placegetter from 2002 Rob Austin and the sensation of the Australian open wheel season Will Power who somehow found time to win the Formula Holden Championship and still finish second in the Formula 3 Championship with a partial season and a six year old car.
The most formidable of all names in the series though belongs to someone else. Nelsinho Piquet arrives in Britain having destroyed all opposition in the South American Formula 3 Championship. The name carries with it a father who knows something about racing. Triple Formula One World Champion, Nelson has started Piquet Sports for his progeny.
Tin Tops Begin
The first of the major touring car series to begin in Europe this season is the ETCC. It has been an interesting off season. The Volvo-backed Prodrive operation has left the series, but been replaced with factory teams from both SEAT and Skoda.
The legendary name of Autodelta, long the name of Alfa Romeo's factory motorsport arm returns this season. The three 156 GTA cars will be driven by touring car veterans and champions Nicola Larini and Gabriele Tarquini along with last year's third driver Roberto Colciago. Bigazzi returns for a second year with Alfa Romeo and drivers Eric Cayrolle and Alessandro Balzan. Paolo Ruberti and Fabio Francia will be at the wheel of privateer 156s of the Clever Cats Team.
Volvo is still about though, with two team centring around Volvo's two Swedish stars. ART Engineering will run two cars for the world fastest florist Rickard Rydell and Sandro Sardelli, and Flash Engineering will have a pair of S60s for Magnus Krokstrom as well as 'Flash' himself, Jan Nilsson.
Skoda have brought two relatively unknown Czech drivers in Petr Kolar and Ondrej Navratil to drive the new Skoda Superb touring car. Taking a more conventional route, veteran Jordi Gene will lead the SEAT Toledo team with offsider Frank Diefenbacher.
The series takes in ten stops, criss crossing Europe, starting at Barcelona this weekend and finishing at Monza in October. If the action is as good as last year there will be much to look forward to.
GT Good To Go
On the same program as the ETCC, the sleek speedsters of the FIA GT Championship also are set to go in their championship opener. Some teams have been out racing already, with Graham Nash Motorsport, JMB Racing and Freisinger Motorsport having run in the ALMS opener at Sebring.
Reiging champion Christophe Bouchut will lead the Labre Competition team and has been succesfully testing updates to the Chrysler Vipers for the 2003 season. The arrival of the Saleen S7R, while not a new car, has breathed fresh air into the series. Until now the Saleen rocketships have not been eligible. Graham Nash Motorsport ran Ni Amorim and Pedro Chaves, Thomas Erdos and Mike Newton in testing although the pair-ups have yet to be announced. Fabrizio Gollin and Luca Capellari will line up with BMS Scuderia Italia and have been getting used to driving a Ferrari instead of a Viper.
With Lister now concentrating on its prototype car, the development of the Storms in GT racing has been moved to a new team, Creation Autosportif. Bobby Verdon-Roe has remained with the Storms and will be joined by historic racer Peter Snowdon. Wieth Racing have also been about with their 550 Maranello in testing.
As Le Mans approaches more teams should arrive, looking for a final hit out before going racing.
Barron Replaces de Ferran For Indy Japan 300
"Gil suffered a minor fracture of the neck and lower back, and a slight concussion," Dr Henry Bock, the Indy Racing League's director of medical services, said in a statement. "These injuries will require a minimum of four weeks to heal, relegating Gil to the sidelines for Motegi."
The team said De Ferran was expected to make a full recovery in time for the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25.
Barron has a record of one victory in the Indy Racing League and was named co-Rookie of the Year for his fourth-place finish at Indianapolis last year. He drove for Penske Racing in the rival CART series in 1999.
"I look forward to representing Marlboro Team Penske again, though these are certainly difficult circumstances," said Barron. "I wish Gil all the best for a speedy recovery."
Report provided by Reuters
NASCAR
Polesitter Bobby Labonte took it easy at the start, Elliott Sadler passing him before turn one and Bill Elliott moving into second off turn two, Kevin Harvick to third into turn three all on lap one. As they began lap 4 there was a change in the lead as Bill Elliott passed Elliott Sadler. The first caution of the day came out on lap 14 when Jimmy Spencer's car began to smoke heavily, Spencer's crew able to fix the car during the caution period. Into the pits headed Harvick, followed further back by the second half of field, as the leaders stayed on track. Lap 18 and it was back to green, Jeff Gordon soon moving past Labonte into third, the top four spread apart but moving clear of the rest of the pack. Meanwhile recent frontrunner Kurt Busch was running outside the top 25 as he suffered from handling problems.
Gordon then began to draw Sadler back in as Newman also began to move forward, taking fifth from Earnhardt Jr before 140 laps were completed. Lap 157 saw the next yellow after part of the bodywork on Greg Biffle's car began to detach itself from the rest of the car. This was a perfect time for another pit stop, the leaders taking advantage of the opportunity, with Kenseth, Sadler and Gordon winning the race off pit road ahead of Newman and Johnson. It was back to green on lap 161 but immediately after the restart Sadler faded, before spinning off turn two and slamming the inside wall hard, bringing out the caution on lap 169. Sadler's crash then led to one of the strangest calls by NASCAR.
For the second week in a row, Kenseth, Gordon and Johnson lost a lap or more due to the timing of a yellow while running at the front. This left Newman, Jamie McMurray, Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Green, Johnny Benson, Jerry Nadeau, Ward Burton and Dale Jarrett as the only lead lap runners. With the caution out, they took their stops without losing a lap, unlike those who pitted under green. By taking their stops, it allowed some of the cars that were a lap down, including Gordon, Kenseth and Johnson to move onto the tail end of the lead lap, restarting in front of Newman and hoping for a yellow sooner rather than later.
With everyone set to go to the finish, the race restarted on lap 289, with Earnhardt Jr immediately pushing Newman for the lead, taking the lead as they completed the first lap after the restart, as later that lap Nadeau took third from Gordon going into turn three, the leading duo moving away. Two laps after Nadeau passed Gordon, Nadeau waved Gordon by into turn three back into third. 41 to go and Tony Stewart pulled into the pits with smoke trailing from his car. Up front Earnhardt Jr held a small gap over Newman, with Gordon slowly closing in lap by lap. 30 laps to go and Newman was back on Earnhardt's bumper, as Benson's car began to smoke and slowly lose power. With less than 25 laps to go Gordon got within a second of the leading duo and continued to close, though not able to get up with the leading duo.
Pos Driver Car
1. Ryan Newman Dodge Intrepid
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet Monte Carlo
3. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Monte Carlo
4. Jerry Nadeau Pontiac Grand Prix
5. Mark Martin Ford Taurus
6. Matt Kenseth Ford Taurus
7. Jeff Green Chevrolet Monte Carlo
8. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Monte Carlo
9. Kurt Busch Ford Taurus
10. Jamie McMurray Dodge Intrepid
Superbikes
Race One
Pos Rider Motorcycle
1. Neil Hodgson Ducati 999F03
2. Ruben Xaus Ducati 999F03
3. Gregorio Lavilla Suzuki GSX 1000R
4. Steve Martin Ducati 998RS
5. Troy Corser Foggy FP1
6. Regis Laconi Ducati 998RS
7. Chris Walker Ducati 998F02
8. David Garcia Ducati 998RS
9. Marco Borciani Ducati 998RS
10. Lucio Pedercini Ducati 998RS
Race Two
Pos Rider Motorcycle
1. Neil Hodgson Ducati 999F03
2. Ruben Xaus Ducati 999F03
3. Pierfrancesco Chili Ducati 998RS
4. Regis Laconi Ducati 998RS
5. James Toseland Ducati 998F02
6. Chris Walker Ducati 998F02
7. Gregorio Lavilla Suzuki GSX 1000R
8. Troy Corser Foggy FP1
9. Steve Martin Ducati 998RS
10. Marco Borciani Ducati 998RS
Formula Nissan
Heavy rain washed the Spanish circuit, badly affecting the first race. Montagny was able to pull clear from pole position. Fellow front row occupant Enrique Bernoldi was swamped by the fast starting Narain Karthikeyan. The Indian driver set out after Montagny but spun off, triggering a safety car period. Montagny bolted away from Bernoldi at the restart and ran away to win.
Race One
Pos Driver Team
1. Franck Montagny Gabord Competicion
2. Ander Vilarino Epsilon Euskadu
3. Enrique Bernoldi RC Motorsport
4. Heikki Kovalainen Gabord Competicion
5. Bruno Besson Saulnier Racing
6. Bruce Jouanny Carlin Motorsport
7. Stephane Sarrazin Racing Engineering
8. Ricardo Gonzalez Vergani Racing
9. Polo Villaamil RC Motorsport
10. Angel Burgueno Vergani Racing
Race Two
Pos Driver Team
1. Franck Montagny Gabord Competicion
2. Marc Gene Adrian Campos Motorsport
3. Heikki Kovalainen Gabord Competicion
4. Bas Leinders Racing Engineering
5. Narain Karthikeyan Carlin Motorsport
6. Paul Edwards Keerbergs Transport Racing
7. Bruno Besson Saulnier Racing
8. Angel Burgueno Vergani Racing
9. Enrique Bernoldi RC Motorsport
10. Ander Vilarino Epsilon Euskadu
MotoGP
With a year to sort things out, Yamaha should start the season level pegging with Honda, or close enough that Carlos Checa and new teammate 250cc World Champion Marco Melandri won't be fighting over the scraps Rossi leaves behind. The semi-factory Yamaha squad of Alex Barros and Olivier Jacque should come up the order now as well, having acquired YZR-M1s to replace their YZR500s. At the most recent test session at Catalunya, Barros ended the test second fastest with Melandri and Checa inside the top ten. Jacque was just outside, along with Yamaha privateer Shinya Nakano.
Formula 3
The teams too have moved on. Richard Antinucci, Ronnie Bremer and Alan van der Merwe all line up for another go 'round in BF3 with front-running team Carlin Motorsport. They will be joined British Formula Renault runner-up Jamie Green. Alan Docking Racing also has a changed line-up, with British Formula Renault front runner Will Davison joining Red Bull Star Search winner Scott Speed and BF3 Scholarship Class racer Billy Asaro.
ETCC
Reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi has left the all-conquering Alfa Romeo team and joined arch rivals BMW where his number 1 plate will adorn BMW Team Italy-Spain along with Formula Nissan graduate Antonio Garcia. The other major players representing Munich is the German BMW team of the unrelated Muller 'brothers', Dirk and Jorg, while former Honda BTCC star Andy Priaulx has a car run through BMW Team GB.
FIA GT
The series will again pit Chrysler Vipers against Ferrari Maranellos, Lister Storms and Saleens S-7Rs with also the new Pagani Zonda expected to make an appearance as well with the Carsport operation, while Porsche does battle with Ferrari in N-GT.
IRL
Penske Racing will bring in American Alex Barron as a substitute for injured Brazilian Gil de Ferran at the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi on April 13, the team announced on Wednesday. De Ferran, the double CART champion who now drives full-time in the Indy Racing League, will not compete due to injuries sustained at the Phoenix 200 last Sunday week.
Upcoming Events Calendar
Please Contact Us for permission to republish this or any other material from Atlas F1.
 Email to Friend
Volume 9, Issue 14
Atlas F1 Exclusive
The French Connection: OPT Uncovered
Pizzonia: From Jungle to Jungle
Giancarlo Fisichella: Through the Visor
Articles
Karl Kling: An Appreciation
2003 Brazilian GP Preview
2003 Brazilian GP Preview
Between the Lakes
Brazilian GP Facts & Stats
Columns
The 700th GP Trivia Quiz
Bookworm Critique
On the Road
Elsewhere in Racing
The Weekly Grapevine
> Homepage |
