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Duno Mulls Switching to Champ Car, then Re-Entering IRL

IndyCar Driver Milka Duno is reportedly considering switching to Champ Car, then re-entering the Indy Racing League as part of the merger, according to sources within the league.

Duno, who debuted in the IndyCar Series at Kansas in 2007, was widely scorned for being 5 to 10 miles per hour off the pace on her first ovals. Her lack of pace even caused racing expert Ashley Judd to brand Milka a racing menace at one point.

Notes Taken During the 2008 IndyCar Race, Homestead-Miami

Notes taken during the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway broadcast on ESPN2 Saturday, March 29, 2008.

Welcome to Miami (¡Bienvenidos a Miami!). It's a Festival of High Definition on ESPN2 HD that rocks my face off! Plan now to upgrade to the HD. You'll pee yourself.

Marty Reid intones the historic intro. Pretty sure the ABC/ESPN writers have been working overtime, so I'm ready to hear it. Marty: 12 years ago the split happened. Now everyone is side by side. Unified. World best open-wheel drivers light up the night AS ONE. (Insert dramatic music here.)

Wheldon Denies Crashing on Purpose During Homstead Qualifying

IndyCar star Dan Wheldon Saturday hotly denied that he crashed on purpose during qualifying in an attempt to "add drama" to the Saturday night race.

"Don't be daft," said a Wheldon spokesperson. "Of course Dan didn't crash on purpose. By crashing, he only makes the odds longer that he and Scott Dixon will lap the field. Coming from the back, it's now only a 74% chance that he'll lap the field. If he starts from the pole, it was an 89% chance."

Two Days Until The 2008 Season

We are go for throttle up.

As the Ferrari Turns ...

In case you thought there was even a molecule of loyalty in the upper tier of F1, this just in: former champion Fernando Alonso, who moved to the Renault team for this year, is rumored to be looking to jump ship just two races into the season.

Apparently, the Renault was just to pig-like for 'Nando in the first two races. Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes are the hot cars in F1. Rumor has it that 'Nando is now hot for the Ferrari currently driven by Felipe Massa.

Massa failed to finish in the first race in Australia ('cause his car blew up) and spun on his own and got stuck in the sand in the second race at Malaysia when he had second place locked up. So that's zero points in two races. In F1, you get about half a chance and then you're GONE, because the line to replace you is out the door. Get the full story from espn.com via AP here.

Da Matta Poised for Comeback

Cristiano Da Matta, who was nearly killed during a August 2006 test session at Elkhart Lake when his car ran into a DEER, is poised to return to the track.

A deer? WTF? I still can't get over it.

Steve Ballard of the Indy Star has more.

Rick Benjamin Turns up in the Blogosphere

Who knew? Ragin' Rick Benjamin, former Champ Car announcer, has a blog. http://blog.rickbenjamin.tv. Looks like Rick is gearing up for some racing action. Check the blog for his latest.

Derek Daly Does Q&A with the Fans

Former F1 and CART driver Derek Daly is out with a new book, "Race to Win." Check out my take on it here, and get your copy here!

Thanks hugely to everyone who submitted a question for Derek. The names of all the submitters were put into my Sarah Fisher autographed AAMCO hat. Big congrats to Brad from Indianapolis who won a signed copy of Double D's book! Brad's name was picked at random by Mrs. pressdog.

All Double D's answers are below!

Danica is Against the Robbie Gordon Rule

Story in USA Today wherein Daniker (British pronunciation) doesn't see the reason for the impending IndyCar rule that will include driver's weight in overall car minimum weight requirements. Current rules don't include driver weight.

Danica laments that "in so many other sports, athletes don't get penalized for being too strong, or too tall or too fast."

Except, you know, sports like horse racing and stock-car racing where driver weight impacts speed. Robbie Gordon, who isn't exactly tiny, first made headlines by decrying Danica's weight advantage.

The laws of physics say weighing 50 to 60 pounds less than other drivers reduces the total weight of the car which, all other things being equal, allows the car to go faster.

Perhaps a rule that requires Danica to  carry her beaver with her in the car at all times would equalize the situation.

Read the USA Today story here.

Notes Taken During the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix

Notes taken during the SPEED broadcast of the F1 race at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on 23 March 2008.

Welcome to Malaysia where it's hot-hot-hot. Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Machette are in the booth. Are they AT Malaysia or in the booth in America? Wondering. Probably the latter. (This just in: they're in a booth in Charlotte, NC.) Peter Windsor is stalking around the GRID and pit lane.

pressdog beer of the race is Warsteiner Dunkel. Eine Königin unter den bieren!