Formula 1 Moto Gp

Monday, December 5, 2011

Kurt Busch looking for a New Ride, Fired by Penske Racing

Kurt Busch will be looking for a new ride (Getty)

For the second time in his Sprint Cup Series career, an off-track issue has cost Kurt Busch his job.

Penske Racing announced this morning that the team and Busch had reached a "mutual agreement" to end their relationship, effective immediately. The team said it will evaluate its options for the No. 22 car.

The split was first reported by the Observer on Sunday.

Just over a week ago NASCAR fined Busch $50,000 for the use of an obscene gesture and a profanity-laced tirade directed toward a media member during the Cup series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The incident with ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch, which took place in the garage after Busch's car broke its transmission, was caught on video and posted on YouTube.

At the time, Penske Racing officials issued a statement saying they were reviewing the matter internally.

Asked if he could confirm Busch as the driver of the No. 22 team in 2012, Penske spokesman Jonathan Gibson last night referred to its previous statement and said the organization would have no further comment at that time.

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2012 Team Chart from jayski.com

Friday's NASCAR Award Ceremonies at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas

Tony Stewart at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas talking to the banquet crowd about his 2011 championship season (Getty)

Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards shake hands at the award cermonies Friday night at the Wynn in Las Vegas (Getty)

The Jersey Boys performed at the NASCAR awards Friday at the Wynn. They have the best show in Las Vegas (Getty)

Button defends Hamilton's season

Jenson Button has defended Lewis Hamilton's season, saying that he improved throughout the year rather than Hamilton underperforming.

Hamilton endured a difficult campaign, finishing fifth in the championship standings with three retirements as he was beaten by a team-mate across a whole season for the first time in his Formula One career. Button, however, said that Hamilton had shown with his victory in Abu Dhabi that he was still able to produce his best performances, but that he himself had raised his own standard throughout the season.

"For me personally I felt more and more comfortable and confident in the team with finding the right direction for the car," Button said at the Race of Champions. "I feel that I was driving better, and I obviously can't speak for Lewis. He had some pretty tough races but he also had some great races. In Abu Dhabi he was untouchable. He's still got the speed."

Having signed a new three-year deal with McLaren towards the end of the season, Button said that he was happy that the team wanted to tie him down long-term having previously been happy to work off short-term contracts.

"It's something that McLaren wanted; I'm not blowing smoke up my arse, but a team wants continuity. For me, I wouldn't mind taking it year on year and every year renewing the contract. I think it's a nice position to be in, and it's exciting that way. But it's also good to have a long-term contract in terms of knowing that the team is going to support you and help you build as a driver and you need to work together to build a car around you."

Button also said he had been able to have more input in the development of the MP4-26 this year, and likewise has more heavily influenced the 2012 car.

"There are two guys in a team, and obviously this team has always been Lewis's team, understandably, he's a world champion, he's achieved so much for McLaren and everyone loves that, but this year I feel I had more involvement in the car than the previous car, and that's really important to me. We've both had a lot of involvement in the car and we've really moved it forward."

ESPNF1

AUTOSPORT Awards British Competition Driver: Jenson Button

Jenson Button has won the 2011 British Competition Driver of the Year Award at the AUTOSPORT Awards in London.

Button finished runner-up in the Formula 1 World Championship with three wins for the McLaren team, becoming the first of Lewis Hamilton's team-mates to outscore him in a grand prix season.

He beat fellow F1 racer Paul di Resta, IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti, World Touring Car Championship runner-up Rob Huff, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany title-winner Nick Tandy and the late Dan Wheldon, the winner of this year's Indianapolis 500, to win the award.

Button, who previously won the accolade in 2003 and 2009, received his award from Tour de France green jersey winner and world road race champion cyclist Mark Cavendish.

"The 2010 season was a new experience for me with a new team, and I feel I really improved the team in 2011 as we worked well together," Button said.

"I've enjoyed myself, and after winning the title in 2009, I always said that would be the most important thing. It was a good year, but not perfect. One guy, Seb [Vettel] did an amazing job and we weren't able to beat him. The aim is to beat him next year."

Button's 2011 season did not start as well as he might have liked with just a single podium finish coming his way from the opening four races.

The year began to turn in his favour, however, with a sensational drive to victory at the wet Canadian Grand Prix, during which he came from last place after a front wing change, to overtake Vettel's Red Bull on the final lap.

He then won at the Hungaroring - again in the wet - and at a much drier Suzuka, and secured a total of 12 podium finishes during the year.

Autosport

Vettel retains International Driver title

Sebastian Vettel was named the International Driver of the Year at the Autosport Awards for the second time in succession.

Sunday night's awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel saw Vettel retain the title after securing back-to-back world championships to become the youngest ever double world champion. Vettel is well known for his interest in Formula One history and said that being recognised by past and present drivers was a proud moment.

"I don't know where to start to be honest," Vettel said. "Last year was my first time picking up one of these trophies, and it means a lot. I felt very honoured when I walked down the stairs and everyone, including lots of past and present racing drivers, were clapping, giving me appreciation and respect for what I have achieved. It made me feel very special."

It was a successful evening for Red Bull, with the RB7 also named Racing Car of the Year. Jenson Button won the British Competition Driver of the Year award while Paul di Resta was voted Rookie of the Year.

Damon Hill picked up a Gregor Grant Award for lifetime achievement, as did Dan Wheldon who was posthumously recognised after being killed in an IndyCar accident earlier this year. Wheldon's father Clive accepted the award on behalf of the two-time Indy 500 winner, and gave his thanks for the support his family has received.

"From my heart I'd like to say a special thank you to our friends, family and to everyone for what they have done for our family in the last two weeks," Wheldon said. "My memories of Dan in his early days, when we travelled round the country and I was chef, mechanic, are ones I will treasure for the rest of my life."

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Vettel and Schumacher triumph again in Nations Cup

Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher followed up their 2010 win for Germany to make it five consecutive Nations Cup victories as a pairing in the Race of Champions.

The German pair had to come through a tough semi-final against Great Britain - their opponents in the final last year - before beating Team Nordic 2-0 in the final in Dusseldorf. With Great Britain having beaten Germany in the group stages, the best-of-three semi-final came down to a decider between Vettel and Jenson Button, with Button spinning out to see the Germans through. Nordic - comprised of Tom Kristensen and Juho Hanninen - defeated French pair Romain Grosjean and Sebastien Ogier 2-0 in the other semi.

The Race of Champions sees drivers pitted in head-to-head races around a stadium circuit, with this year's race remaining at the ESPRIT Arena in Germany. Of those eliminated in the group stages, the second German team of Timo Glock and Timo Scheider was unlucky to miss out by just one point, while Vitaly Petrov secured a fine win over Michael Schumacher in his first race of the night for Team Slavic.

The main individual Race of Champions takes place on Sunday, with a current Formula One driver yet to win the title after Sebastian Vettel was knocked out by eventual winner Filipe Albuquerque in the semi-final last year.

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