IndyStar.com: Motorsports
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Johnson about to quietly win his 4th straight NASCAR title
A.J. Foyt never did it. Neither did Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt or Don Prudhomme. In fact, a driver winning four consecutive major series championships — as Jimmie Johnson is poised to do this weekend in NASCAR’s...
Next Indy car may be lurking in a Pennsylvania tunnel
The next generation of Indy cars could come from an abandoned tunnel off the Pennsylvania Turnpike east of Pittsburgh. Ben Bowlby , head of engineering for Ganassi Racing and a former car designer at Lola, is close to knowing if IndyCar Series...
Power to stay with Penske
Will Power , who joined Team Penske this year as the substitute driver for Helio Castroneves during Castroneves’ tax evasion trial, landed a full-time ride with the IndyCar Series team. Power will join Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe in a...
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 results
At Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Ariz. Lap length: 1 miles (Start position in parentheses) 1. (3) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 312 laps, 149.6 rating, 195 points, $267,001. 2. (36) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 312, 101.7, 170, $204,006. 3. (5)...
Johnson's on cruise control
Win at Phoenix puts driver of No. 48 on brink of 4th straight title Jimmie Johnson rebounded from a rare bad race with a dominating victory in the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., that pushed...
IMS, IRL lay off more employees in effort to cut costs
Another 10 people in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway organization lost their jobs Thursday as the downsizing continued amid a stressed financial situation. The cuts were shared between the Indy Racing League and IMS Productions, raising the...
How the Chase is shaping up
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup moves to Week 9 (of 10) this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The race is at 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Here’s where the top drivers stand: 1. Jimmie Johnson (leader): After finishing 38th at Texas, does...
Green released by IMS
Ron Green , the director of public relations for Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was released from his position Tuesday as part of what is expected to be a significant staff reduction at the historic facility. Green, a Beech Grove native, spent 11 years...
Johnson crashes, lead dwindles
Busch brothers dominate as Johnson finishes 38th FORT WORTH, Texas — Jimmie Johnson’s drive to history took a hard hit against the wall and Kyle Busch ran out of gas trying to complete an unprecedented NASCAR trifecta. Kurt Busch won at...
Carl Edwards winless in '09
Frustrating season after 9 wins in 2008 has the Ford driver fired up to build momentum for 2010 Carl Edwards has found a way to try to mask the frustration of his winless NASCAR Sprint Cup season. “I’ve kind of tried to think of it...
IndyCar expects big boost from Izod
IRL counts on sponsor for more than money during 6-year agreement Forget 650-horsepower race engines. The IndyCar Series will be powered for at least the next six years by one of the nation’s best-known apparel brands. Officially, Izod began...
Izod, IRL announce six-year title sponsorship
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indy Racing League will have Izod as a title sponsor next season, an agreement the IRL hopes will expand its fan base and take the series to a “new level.” The six-year deal could be extended, Michael Kelly, executive vice...
Toyota pulls out of F1 to save cash
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. announced today it is pulling out of Formula One racing, citing a need to cut costs and focus on its core business. “Based on the current economic environment, we realize we have no choice but to withdraw from...
IndyCar lands title sponsor -- Izod
Deal, to be announced Thursday, taps new market, expert says The IndyCar Series’ choice for a title sponsor — Izod — was hailed Monday for what it’s not. It’s not an oil company. It’s not a fuel company. It’s...
IndyCar lands title sponsor -- Izod
Deal, to be announced Thursday, taps new market, expert says The IndyCar Series’ choice for a title sponsor — Izod — was hailed Monday for what it’s not. It’s not an oil company. It’s not a fuel company. It’s...
McMurray survives wild finish at Talladega
Johnson rallies to finish 6th for commanding lead in championship points race Jamie McMurray was the unlikely winner of an uncharacteristically dull race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where a ban on bump-drafting forced most competitors to treat...
Rain provides Johnson extra edge
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Jimmie Johnson last started from the pole at Talladega Superspeedway in 2002, as the points leader, lined up next to Mark Martin. He didn’t even make it to the first lap. In a bizarre prerace mishap as the drivers were...
Montoya not bothered by Griese's remark
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Juan Pablo Montoya was never upset by the “taco” remark that got ESPN announcer Bob Griese suspended. The network this week suspended Griese from broadcasting a college football game on Saturday for the remark he...
Greg Moore would have dominated, many say
With no disrespect to Helio Castroneves, it was Greg Moore who seemed destined to dance with the stars. He was the charming Canadian with oval-track mastery and the new contract to drive Roger Penske’s Indy car in 2000 alongside Gil de Ferran....
Moraes may be getting too good for KV Racing to afford
Mario Moraes made so much improvement as an IndyCar Series driver this season that his boss wants him reclassified. “The kid eventually needs to get paid like a professional,” Jimmy Vasser said. “He’s not a money (providing)...
NASCAR's Chase
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup moves to Week 7 this weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Here’s where the top contenders stand: 1. Jimmie Johnson (leader): In the 32 Chase races since Talladega in 2006, Johnson has 11 wins, 20...
Wheldon returning to Panther
Former Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon confirmed Monday that he will return to Panther Racing despite having the least-productive season of his IndyCar Series career. Wheldon’s second-place finish in the 500 was one of three top-three...
Wheldon to return to Panther for 2010
Former Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon confirmed Monday that he will return to Panther Racing despite having the least-productive season of his IndyCar Series career. Wheldon’s second-place finish in the 500 was one of only three top-three...
Hamlin triumphs, Johnson ups lead
Three-time defending champion has 118-point advantage in the Chase MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Denny Hamlin didn’t need to do anything funny to exact his revenge from Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville Speedway. He just drove right by him. And then...
Johnson's superiority is getting annoying
Jimmie Johnson hears the chatter in the garage and knows that some of his fellow drivers have grown weary of seeing him win races and championships. And why not? He has won 23 races in the past three seasons, and claimed the points championship each...
Johnson slips in qualifying
Newman, Gordon take front row at Martinsville MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Jimmie Johnson finally wasn’t flawless at Martinsville. The points leader and winner in five of the past six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on the smallest, tightest oval...
Only championship suspense left this season is in NHRA
With the Indy Racing League having completed its season, Jenson Button having wrapped up the drivers’ title in Formula One and Jimmie Johnson well on the way to his fourth championship in a row in NASCAR, the lone bit of suspense is in the...
Johnson appears to be in control
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup moves to Week 6 this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Here’s where the 12 drivers stand: 1. Jimmie Johnson (leader): How does he keeping winning championships? He has 11 wins and 21 top-five...
Johnson takes control of Chase
He is man to catch in Chase after coasting to 3rd win in 5 championship races Denny Hamlin was already at home when Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line for his third victory in five championship races. Juan Pablo Montoya didn’t have a great...
ESPN special on Danica Patrick
IndyCar driver Danica Patrick will be the subject of a 30-minute ESPN special, “The Fast, Fast World of Danica Patrick,” airing at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
