**** OFFICIAL 2014 NASCAR THREAD ****

[GloryDayz]

In honor of JJ's win (), I thought I'd start this now. Here comes #7!!!

February 15th 2014 is right around the corner folks, get ready now!!!

[Dylan]

Top three stayed out during the yellow - moved Scott up to second behind Tagliani

Read that Penske hired Tagliani for both road courses races this season... He also won the pole on Friday

[Dylan]

Caution changes the entire race!

Wow what a heartbreak for Tagliani

[Dylan]

Chase will be running second when they go green!

Get dad back on the radio so he can tell him exactly when to break & guide him through the turns to get him to the lead

[Dylan]

OMG Chase did it - He's in the lead!!

[Dylan]

Guaghan has off road experience- Wins Road America

Wow Tagliani came back from nowhere to place 2nd

Lally 3rd

Chase finishes 4th -

Nice finish

[Dylan]

Formula 1: Austrian Grand Prix, Sunday 8:00 a.m. ET, ABC

Felipe Massa wins Formula 1 pole

I am so happy for Massa - Massa was in a freak accident in 2009 as the result of a life-threatening injury received during qualifying - He was airlifted to a hospital unconscious when a car piece had detached from another driver's car and struck him in the head. His condition at the time was very critical and required emergency surgery. Doctors were not sure the driver would be able to race again. This is the first winning pole since his accident.

Williams cars are equipped with Mercedes engines.



Starting Grid in Austria

1. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Williams, 1 minute, 08.759 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Williams, 1:08.846.
3. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Mercedes, 1:08.944.
4. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Ferrari, 1:09.285.
5. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Red Bull, 1:09.466.
6. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, McLaren, 1:09.515.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Toro Rosso, 1:09.619.
8. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Ferrari, 1:10.795.
Eliminated after second session
9. *Lewis Hamilton, England, Mercedes, 1:09.092.
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Germany, Force India, 1:09.624.
11. Jenson Button, England, McLaren, 1:09.780.
12. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull, 1:09.801.
13. Pastor Maldonado, Venezuela, Lotus, 1:09.939.
14. Jean-Eric Vergne, France, Toro Rosso, 1:10.073.
15. Romain Grosjean, France, Lotus, 1:10.642.
16. Sergio Perez, Mexico, Force India, 1:09.754.
Eliminated after first session
17. Adrian Sutil, Germany, Sauber, 1:10.825.
18. Esteban Gutierrez, Mexico, Sauber, 1:11.349.
19. Jules Bianchi, France, Marussia, 1:11.412.
20. Kamui Kobayashi, Japan, Caterham, 1:11.673.
21. Marcus Ericsson, Sweden, Caterham, 1:12.673.
22. Max Chilton, England, Marussia, 1:11.775.

*Hamilton had one time scratched while he spun at his final attempt to beat Massa. British media online must be extremely heartbroken.

[Dylan]

Formula 1 terminology can be confusing for those not familiar with the motorsport. Helpful website links:

Formula 1 glossary:
http://f1-grandprix.com/?page_id=7524

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/glossary.html#E

Example of some of the terms and acronyms you will hear during the race:
DRS, ERS, ECU, KERS, P1, Kerbs, Marshal, Q1, Q2, Q3, retire, apex, sectors, chicane, etc.

F1 terminology for a crash is called a shunt.

Understanding F1 racing:
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/un...ing_f1_racing/

Why Mercedes is Faster

Mercedes team have utterly dominated the start of the 2014 Formula 1 season, taking three pole positions and three wins. The car is about a second a lap quicker than rest of the grid. Question since the beginning of the season has been why?

The big part of the answer is a clever, innovative thinking on the power unit arrangement. A unique design feature of the Mercedes V6 PU106A Hybrid power unit allows it to have specific car design features, the combination of which means it produces more power, more efficiently than the rival engines from Ferrari and Renault.

Renault Energy F1-2014 power-unit turbine and compressor are located next to each other (upper image). Mercedes (middle image) have split them so the compressor is at the front of the PU and the turbine at the rear.

Ferrari with his Tipo 059/3 power unit (lover image) had the same idea as Mercedes, and their compressor is also detached from the turbine. But the Italian team did not go as far as Mercedes in concept. Their compressor is only about a third of the way or so across the 'v' of the engine from the turbine, rather than on the other side. Why Mercedes concept is a better idea? Mercedes way has several benefits. One of the fundamental requirements of a turbocharged engine is to reduce the temperature of the charge air. Remember, cooler the inlet air = more power.

F1 fans are all like automotive technology engineers - It is crazy. I am happy with an easy short explanation. This way, you can understand what is happening during the race and while reading F1 news articles.

[chefsos]

Originally Posted by Dylan

I am so happy for Massa - Massa was in a freak accident in 2009 as the result of a life-threatening injury received during qualifying - He was airlifted to a hospital unconscious when a car piece had detached from another driver's car and struck him in the head. His condition at the time was very critical and required emergency surgery. Doctors were not sure the driver would be able to race again. This is the first winning pole since his accident.

I thought that name sounded familiar! I saw the Youtube clip a few years ago; a bolt or something went right through his face shield and hit him around the eye. It was pretty brutal.

EDIT: It was a spring.

[Dylan]

@ chefsos: so sad, right? Horrible freak accident...surprised the helmet held up so well.

Massa Kept In Coma After 170mph F1 Accident (29 July 2009)

Massa was airlifted to a military hospital after the crash

http://news.sky.com/story/711446/mas...ph-f1-accident

where are you?

Austrian Grand Prix is on NBCSN not on ABC

Running Order
Nico Rosberg
Bottas (Massa's teammate)
Lewis Hamilton
Felipe Massa (closing in on Hamilton)

Edit: Sebastian Vettel had to retire.

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

Go Mercedes.

Dinny

[Dylan]

Oh for cryin'outloud! Hamilton is ahead of Bottas!

Poor pit stop strategy for Bottas.

Rosberg
Hamilton
Bottas
Massa

Pit stops are 3 seconds and less LOL

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by Dinny Blues

Go Mercedes.

Dinny

Hey, Dinny!!!

15 Laps to go!

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

Is Rosberg German? My family tree is filled with people that died before they got over being madder than hell at the Germans.

Dinny

[Dylan]

I have a feeling Mercedes is going to sign Fernando Alonso next season and drop Hamilton.

I find it strange that Mercedes has not picked up Hamilton's contract by now...Unless he wins the championship...However, towards the end of the season, and if the championship is between Rosberg & Hamilton, Mercedes can prevent Hamilton's from winning the championship.

One of Hamilton's problems throughout his career - He is very hard on his brakes

[Pasta Little Brioni]

How's the race Dylan?

(Formerly pgm)