Tag: Motorsports

Leclerc Set for 10 Place Grid Penalty in Saudi Arabia

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is set for a 10-place grid penalty in Saudi Arabia this weekend for exceeding his allocation of power unit control electronics, team boss Fred Vasseur said on Wednesday. The Monegasque retired from the season-opening race in Bahrain on March 5 with a loss of power, a failure blamed on the control electronics…


NASCAR Issues Largest Team Fine in History Against Hendrick

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—NASCAR levied the largest combined fine on one team in series history Wednesday, hammering Hendrick Motorsports for modifying air-deflecting pieces last weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Hendrick was issued a combined $400,000 in fines—$100,000 to each of its four crew chiefs, along with four-race suspensions for the quartet—and docked the drivers 100 regular-season points and…


Hamilton Says Mercedes Did Not Listen to Him

LONDON—Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton has said his Mercedes team did not listen to him in developing their 2023 Formula One car. The Briton told reporters last week that Mercedes were on the wrong track before he finished fifth in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix opener. “Last year, there were things I told them. I…


Chase Elliott out of NASCAR Indefinitely After Tibia Surgery

LAS VEGAS—Chase Elliott is out indefinitely after undergoing a successful three-hour surgery to repair a fractured tibia, Hendrick Motorsports general manager Jeff Andrews said Saturday. Andrews said there was no timeline on when the star NASCAR driver would return. Elliott injured his left leg Friday while snowboarding in Colorado. Josh Berry will drive the No….


Alonso Says His Aston Martin Is ‘Too Good to Be True’

MANAMA—Fernando Alonso hailed the performance of his Aston Martin as “too good to be true” after qualifying fifth for his first race with the team at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. The double Formula One world champion and veteran of 355 races was also fastest in second practice on Friday and Saturday’s final session. The…


Farewell, Fontana: NASCAR’s Last Weekend at a Racing Gem

FONTANA, Calif.—Most of NASCAR’s Cup Series drivers feel like they’re saying their final goodbye to a dear old friend this weekend. Auto Club Speedway’s racetrack seems to be adored by every professional driver on the continent. Those two miles of gloriously weathered asphalt allow racers to be their best selves, providing the ideal combination of…


Da Costa Wins Depleted Formula E Cape Town EPrix

Antonio Felix da Costa won Formula E’s inaugural Cape Town ePrix with some bold overtaking on Saturday while Porsche team mate and championship leader Pascal Wehrlein drew a blank after a first-lap collision. The victory in the fifth of 16 races this season was Da Costa’s first of the campaign and lifted the 2019–2020 champion,…


Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Wins Longest Daytona 500 in History

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the Daytona 500 in double overtime and under caution Sunday night in the longest running of “The Great American Race.” The two overtimes pushed the 65th running of the race to a record 212 laps—a dozen laps beyond the scheduled distance and a whopping 530 miles. Stenhouse’s win in…


Johnson Provides Early Daytona Thrills in NASCAR Comeback

Daytona Beach, Fla.—“New leader … 84.” Jimmie Johnson sent a jolt through the track when he shot to the top of the leaderboard in practice for the Daytona 500. Ol’ seven-time has returned to NASCAR after a humbling two years in IndyCar as part owner and sometimes driver at what’s called Legacy Motor Club. Legacy…


Red Bull and Alfa Romeo Get Their 2023 Cars on Track

LONDON—Formula One champions Red Bull and Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo took their 2023 cars out on track on Friday for limited mileage pre-season filming. Red Bull published a tantalising teaser on Twitter of their RB19 lapping at Silverstone while Alfa Romeo said their C43 completed a successful debut at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Red Bull held…