SPORTS CARS: Weaver retires
MONTEREY, CA October 21, 2006 – James Weaver, one of the best sports car racers of all time, announced his retirement today at the conclusion of today’s season ending American Le Mans race at Laguna Seca.
He closed out his unparalleled career on top, winning second place honors in the 2006 American La Mans series championship. Weaver has driven for Dyson Racing for twenty years. He has 100 career victories – achieving that milestone at Mosport in 2005. He is one of the world’s finest sports car racers: he has claimed sixty seven poles, seventy fastest laps, thirty six lap records, and over 200 podium finishes.
“James is phenomenal,” said team owner Rob Dyson. “He has been one of the primary factors in our success these past twenty years. James was always willing to put in more hours than any other driver to get the car right, and that is what separated him from everyone else.” James won thirty-three races and three championships for Dyson Racing. (From Dyson Racing).
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F1: Massa wins the race, Alonso takes title, Schumi retires
Alonso won his second straight title with a runner-up finish to Felipe Massa at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. He entered the race needing to finish eighth or better for the crown. Last year, the 25-year-old Spaniard became F1's youngest champion by finishing third.
''The important thing today was to become champion again for the second time and we did it,'' Alonso said. ''Yes, it has been a fantastic weekend.''
Schumacher, a seven-time Formula One champ, needed to win his farewell race to keep alive his remote chance of another title. But the German punctured a tire less than 10 laps into the race, dropped out of contention early and finished fourth.
''Today my racing career comes to an end,'' he said. ''Obviously, it is a special moment for me, and I am proud to have lived my career with some fantastic people, namely everyone who is part of the Ferrari family.''
He retires after 16 years in Formula One with most of the driver records, including 91 victories and 68 pole positions. The 37-year-old driver, racing in his 250th Grand Prix, had a final word for his legions of fans.
... more at the link above...
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NASCAR: Johnson wins at Martinsville
From NASCAR.com: MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Trouble for the points leader and good runs for many of his closest pursuers left the Chase wide open on Sunday, setting up what is likely to be a wild four-race battle for the title.
Jimmie Johnson took the lead from Bobby Labonte with 55 laps to go and held it through several restarts to win the crash-filled Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway, while 2003 champion Matt Kenseth replaced Jeff Burton atop the standings.
Johnson moved from seventh to third in the standings with four races left, and appears to be the driver with the most momentum heading into the final month.
"I'm just happy to finish where we should have," said Johnson, who was denied at least a second-place finish at Talladega when he was spun out on the last lap two weeks ago, then finished second last week at Charlotte. "We've been running up front the last three of four races and haven't been able to close the deal. [Sunday] we did."
Kenseth assumed the points lead when Burton pulled his car into the garage after just 217 laps because of engine trouble, and most everyone took advantage.
... more at the link above...
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CHAMP CAR: Philippe wins as Bourdais 'three-peats' as champ
SURFERS PARADISE, Australia (October 22, 2006) - On a day when the history-making championship drama of the Lexmark Indy 300 ended after just 18 laps, Nelson Philippe (#4 CTE Racing - HVM Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) made some history of his own in winning his first Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford event.
Philippe became the youngest driver in the 98-year history of the series to win a Champ Car race, holding off a stern charge from Mario Dominguez (#8 Pemex Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) to score the win in front of a crowd of 101,066. The win was the first for Philippe and the first for CTE Racing - HVM since 2004, and also clinches the Nation's Cup for France for the second consecutive season.
But Philippe was not the only Frenchman celebrating a great milestone today at Surfers Paradise, Australia as while the 20-year-old was cheered for his race win, his fellow Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais (#1 McDonald's Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) was celebrating his own history-making day, after winning his third consecutive Champ Car title.
Bourdais sealed the title on Lap 19 when A.J. Allmendinger (#7 Indeck Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) ended his day - and his title hunt - in the Turn Three wall, eliminating Allmendinger from title contention and ensuring that Bourdais would join Ted Horn as the only drivers ever to win three consecutive Champ Car titles.
... more at the link above...
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