NASCAR Gets Greener: G-Oil Joins With Tayler Malsam, TriStar for 2012 Nationwide Series
The NASCAR world got a bit greener today. G-Oil, America’s first and only API and USDA certified bio-based full synthetic motor oil, announced that it will sponsor driver Tayler Malsam and the TriStar Motorsports Toyota Camry team for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series.
“G-Oil wants to demonstrate to consumers that our American-made green racing oil can stand up to the rigors of NASCAR competition,” said Jeffrey Loch, President and CMO of Green Earth Technologies, Inc. “Remember, ‘G-Oil’ is not just on the car– it is IN the car,” said Loch.
Seattle area native Tayler Malsam, 22, got his first laps aboard the #19 G-Oil Toyota during a day-long recent test at the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando. “There is already an energy and excitement building around the G-Oil TriStar Toyota team,” said Malsam.
“We want to prove that G-Oil works on the track and help tell the story to race fans and non-race fans alike,” said Malsam. Read more
Indianapolis 500 to Air Live on SiriusXM
On the 100th Anniversary of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” listeners nationwide get live race broadcast plus extensive pre- and post-race coverage
Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves guest DJ on SiriusXM music channels throughout the weekend
Sirius XM Radio, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, announced that it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the world-renowned Indianapolis 500 with comprehensive coverage of the race and the events leading up to it.
SiriusXM listeners will have access to the live call of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” from Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday, May 29, on channel 94 on XM and channel 212 on Sirius Premier (formerly known as “The Best of XM”). Motorsports fans will hear pre-race programming, including expert commentary and analysis, interviews with drivers and live coverage of driver introductions. When the green flag drops at 12:00 pm ET, SiriusXM listeners will hear the race live in its entirety, followed by a post-race recap and interviews. Read more
Chevrolet to Compete in 2012 IndyCar Series with New V-6 Engine
Returns to Open-Wheel Competition as Engine Maker in Partnership with Team Penske
Chevrolet will compete in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series with a new twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 racing engine powered by renewable E85 ethanol fuel. The new purpose-built Chevy IndyCar engine will be developed jointly by General Motors and Ilmor Engineering.
Team Penske is the first IndyCar team to commit to Chevrolet power in 2012. The Chevrolet IndyCar engine will be available to all entrants in accordance with the series’ regulations.
“Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been a proving ground for manufacturers since Louis Chevrolet, our co-founder, first raced here in 1909,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “Our return to IndyCar as Chevrolet enters its centennial year is natural. At the same time this engine program will be a showcase for the efficient and powerful engine technologies that parallel new Chevrolet vehicles like the Camaro, all-new Cruze compact and Equinox crossover.” Read more
JD Mobley Wins 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup With Back-to-Back Wins in Mexico
Wyatt Gooden Wins Rookie of the Year Honors
It was JD Mobley’s weekend, as the 19-year old led every lap run in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Series’ debut at Autodromo Internacional Miguel E. Abed in Amozoc, Mexico. With his second wire-to-wire victory this afternoon, Mobley also clinches the 2010 Jetta TDI Cup title, on the strength of two wins, two poles and seven top-five appearances this season.
“What a fantastic weekend,” said Mobley after the race. ”I came to Mexico in fifth place in the Championship, so I knew I had my work cut out for myself. Everything seemed to fall into place and things just went perfectly. On the restart this afternoon, I made sure to stay calm and patient and make sure I drove with a level head. I did just that and it worked out for me, as I was able to keep the lead and go on to win the race. It’s a great feeling to be the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Champion and after this weekend, it just goes to show – it’s never over until the final lap.”
Series rookie, Wyatt Gooden finished the race in second and in doing so, earned Rookie of the Year honors for the 2010 season. Puebla native, Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle finished third, marking his second podium result of the weekend at his home track. Orizaba, Mexico native Juan Pablo Delgado was right behind Sierra Lendle in fourth place and rookie Kevin Gleason rounds out the top-five. Read more
Nissan GT-R victorious in opening round of Super GT
The HIS Advan Kondo GT-R team with Joao Paolo de Oliveira and Hironobu Yasuda behind the wheel avoided all the spins and collisions created by heavy rainstorms at the beginning of the race to claim victory at the opening round of the Super GT series. This marks the second year in a row where the HIS Advan Kondo GT-R team has posted an opening round win in the Super GT series.
After a long off-season wait, some 31,000 race fans were on hand for the opening round of the Super GT season despite dark clouds overhead and occasional heavy rain. Spinning cars and contact were common at the beginning of the race in the heavy rain but Oliveira avoided all the carnage in his #24 GT-R and moved from 10th to 4th position by lap 2 in a car that had taken all night to rebuild after a crash in qualifying the previous day. After a brief Safety Car session Oliveira engaged in a fierce battle with the #6 and #1 SC430s as the difficult conditions continued with more rain falling. As the bulk of the cars made their pit stops Oliveira took over the lead and was able to extend it until he pitted several laps later to switch drivers. The team decided to keep the same tires so a quick pit stop saw Yasuda take over driving and he never let anyone get close until he took the checker flag at the end of 52 laps.
Despite qualifying higher up the grid the other Nissan GT-Rs in the race ran into troubles. The #23 Motul Autech GT-R of Satoshi Motoyama and Benoit Treluyer spun off the track in the first turn in the heaviest rain and required an early pit stop but finished 8th to accrue valuable championship points. The #12 Calsonic Impul GT-R of Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli also spun off the track at the first turn and was able to return to the race but retired on the 10th lap with mechanical issues.
GT-R driver Joao Paolo de Oliveira’s comments:
“After crashing and breaking the car yesterday, I was really eager to somehow make a recovery. In addition, because we chose to run on hard compound tires, it was difficult to generate heat in the early stages, which really restricted us. Being able to come away from here with a win is excellent. I’d like to extend a special thanks to the mechanics for working all night to fix the car.”
GT-R driver Hironobu Yasuda’s comments:
“Because the tires worked so well in the morning’s free practice session, team director Kondo determined that we would be able to run without changing tires in the race. It worked perfectly. In the first half, it was difficult to gain position, but I have to tip my hat to J.P. (de Oliveira) for taking care of the tires throughout his stint. As for my laps in the car, of course the tires, the chassis and engine all worked well. To win the opening round makes me incredibly happy.”
The next round of the Super GT series takes place Apr. 3 – 4 at the Okayama International Circuit.