Bob Barnard Track Engineering

So Michael Waltrip's team fixed the NASCAR race at Richmond with Bowyer spinning in response to a radio conversation? Shades of Renault F1 and Nelson Piquet Jr. There the driver had to leave F1 as did the team chief and chief engineer. What happens in NASCAR? 50 points deducted and a fine, a large fine, but that's all. Bowyer can still win the Championship. Helton says there was no conclusive proof, so how can you dock points and fine people? Either they did or they didn't. If they did why are they still racing? I know everyone pushes the envelope of the rules, but does this say cheating is just a part of NASCAR? This is stretching team orders a bit too far.

So the hot rumor is Kimi is going to Ferrari to join Alonso. That should be interesting, I doubt Kimi is going to move over when asked. Is Alonso staying? That is the next question. I am not surprised Kimi is going back, he did not want to leave and is smart enough to know to not cut off his nose to spite his face. So, Alonso to McLaren? No Lewis there now. 

This is getting serious. I did not write a blog yesterday as nothing much is going on, and today is not much different. I am not alone, Joe Saward has had time off since Bastille Day, the 14th, and today only mentioned the Michael Waltrip law suit against Mike Coughlan of "spygate" fame and the Williams team. Mike was working for Waltrip in NASCAR, presumably an old colleague from the McLaren team brought him in, but has since taken up the offer from Williams after Sam Michael gave notice. If that's all the excitement then we are in trouble.

What is serious is Rossi only being able to qualify in front of a stand in replacement for Capirrosi, 16 th out of 17. Missing Jeremy Burgess? Perhaps that is who is the real "doctor." After all Jeremy is the one constant in winning championships since Wayne Gardner's days. Best wishes go out to Jeremy and his wife, we hope her health issues get resolved happily. Meanwhile Stoner was happier with the tires today and put it on pole again. Good to see Pedrosa back in form, and the two Yamahas are not that far off the pace, so it should be a good race.

Both BMW and Audi have released photos of their 2012 DTM cars, and very slick they look too.