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Richmond Says Crappy Product Led Them to Boot IndyCar

OK, I'm paraphrasing, but here's what the USA Today article said about the reason Richmond is not on the 2010 schedule.

Richmond drops IRL:

The IndyCar Series will not return to Richmond International Raceway, the track announced Thursday night. While the series? fees to host an event was among several financial factors cited in a review, consecutive lackluster races led to its decision according to a statement from the track.

"The series puts on good shows all over the world, but here at Richmond we just didn't have the racing that our fans have come to expect," the statement said. "Nonetheless, the IndyCar Series continues to run entertaining events at other venues and we wish them all the best for the future."

So, the cost of the race did not equal the benefit of the racing, in Richmond's eyes. That's the way it works.

Read the entire USA Today, which includes an update on Sarah Fisher, HERE.

Oh Fabulous, Detroit Wants Back In

Maybe Belle Isle figures "if Barber can get on the schedule, we can too." Panned by racers and watchers alike as a snorefest, the "Detroit GP PR" kicked out a release Friday saying it hopes to make it back on the schedule for 2011.

All I can say is if they have the right kind of benjamins and tell IndyCar officials how young and thin they look, they'll probably get back on the schedule. Hey, let's just go to all road/street courses. Oh wait, Champ Car tried that ...

Read the news release below.

Milwaukee Mile Gets a New Promoter

USA Today is reporting that the Milwaukee Mile management has selected one of three proposals to become the new promoter for the historic track.

The article does not identify the new promoter, however. Fire up your Google because an announcement of the new promoter is expected today.

The Wisconsin State Fair Board, which controls the track, voted last week to end its partnership with promoter Wisconsin Motorsports, which is believed to owe NASCAR and the IRL several million dollars — putting the future of the track's two major events in jeopardy.

The Indy Racing League has said it wants to save its race in Milwaukee and has left the Mile's traditional date -- weekend after the Indy 500 -- open in its schedule expected to be formally announced today.

Read the USA Today story HERE.

Raise Your Hand if You're Ready for Some %&$@# SPEED

Dude, I've been patient, even to the point of publicly admitting that Toronto was probably the best race of the season so far. A street race. The best one so far. INCLUDING THE INDY 500.

That may be a sign of the apocalypse, but we call 'em as we see 'em here.

But, having said that, and haven given the twisties their due, I just have to say .... f*ck third gear.

What do I see at 211 miles per hour? An OVAL. Apex this, chicane that, fuel strategy whatever. Let's saddle up, get the wings back and GO, 'kay? And while we're at it, f*ck the fuel knob too, sparky. Full rich and wiiiiiiide open. Who's with me? I have sky-high, incredibly unreasonable hopes for Kentucky, which may even be a make-or-break race, at least in terms of my enthusiasm for the season.

Here's hoping we get an oval-oval, not a street oval. "This is Maverick .... I'm supersonic ... I'll be there in 30 seconds."

Massa Walking, Talking; Schumacher Training; Renault Appealing

A quick round up of linky dinks on some simmering F1 stories ...

Felipe Massa is going to make a full recovery, according to doctors, and is currently walking around his hospital room and talking about racing in Spain. (Insert harsh, wrong-answer buzzer noise here). Here's an Associated Press story on it via espn.com.

Massa's fill-in driver, seven-time F1 champion and alleged driving deity Michael Schumacher is busy training for the European Grand Prix in Spain on Aug. 23. Again, an AP story via espn.com.

Finally, the International Court of Appeal will hear an appeal from Renault against its suspension from the European Grand Prix on Aug. 17. Read a racer.com story on it here.

Tidbits on Richmond, Milwaukee and Tony George Buying the IRL

This just in from Versus.com's Bruce Martin (which I think is pronounced "Mar-TEEN" ... kidding).

Bruce getsTerry Angstadt, President, Commercial Division of the IndyCar Series and several others on record re:

1) possible operators for the Milwaukee Mile 2) Angstadt saying Richmond refused to negotiate a new deal to keep the track on the schedule, 3) "the rumor that Tony George and John Menard were putting a group together to purchase the IndyCar Series away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation" and a few more.

Is it rumor "mongering" or rumor "investigation"? YOU be the judge. Read it (if you can, given it's white type on black background which makes my eyes bleed after one paragraph) HERE.

Props to reader Rick Webber for alerting me to Mr. Mar-teen's article.

Schumacher Returns, Insert Cheering and/or Booing Here

His Holiness had re-entered the building. Seven-time F1 champion Mike Schumacher is coming out of retirement to fill in for injured Felipe Massa, according to the Associated Press.

I'm new enough to watching F1 that I've never seen His Worship race live, so it'll be interesting. Let the cheering and/or gnashing of the teeth begin.

Ready the story HERE. Props to reader Tim from Independence, OH for alerting me.

Tracy Dishes on the Edmonton Spearing, Cooking Tires and News Choppers

If entertaining, authentic, no-bullshit blogging was a criteria for IndyCar participation, Paul Tracy would be P1.

The Thrilla is back on Racer.com with more straight-forward bloggage, including some very frank discussion of the fallout of his spearage of Mario Moraes (insert Jimmy Vasser using profanity here) and recount of his lonely race in Edmonton.

Then, at the end, a bonus Michael Jackson reference! Most excellent. Check it HERE.

BMW -- GONE

From the F1 Mothersite (Formula1.com):

"BMW will end their involvement in Formula One racing at the end of the current season, it was announced on Wednesday. The move is part of what the German car maker described as a ‘landmark’ decision to restructure its motorsport activities."

Read it all HERE.

My initial reaction was "It would be so fabulous to have a BMW driver win one now." But, sadly, I don't think pig (cars) have learned to fly yet.

Bob We Barely Knew Ye -- BMW May Bolt F1

Reports from every direction, kids, that BMW-Sauber will pull out of Formula One at the end of this year.

Autosport.com and others report that "An emergency press conference has been called at BMW's headquarters in Munich, where it is suggested that the car company may reveal that it has decided to end its involvement in F1."

That would me drivers Bob Kubica and Nick Heidfeld will be out of work as soon as, like, Wednesday night. Read the autosport.com story HERE.

Kubica hasn't much bothered to mask his pissiness over the season. The Staits Times Web site reported that Tuesday Kubica talked about maybe moving to road rally driving next season. The inscrutable Finn, 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen of Ferrari, has also expressed a love for rallying and will participate in the Rally of Finland Thursday.

Räikkönen has been the subject or rumors that he will leave Ferrari at the end of the year to drive rally cars full time and be replaced by Fernando Alonso. Insert many denials from all parties here.