“In a difficult year where everything was manipulated by Mosley, that’s the only good news.”
–Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, when asked how he felt about the return of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher
Photo of Jeremy Mayfield by Valli_Hilaire.
NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was allowed to drive following a positive drug test, which was not for steroids. NASCAR will not reveal what banned sustance he tested positive for; however, they have said that it was not a performance-enhancing substance and it was not alcohol related, which means that he likely tested positive for the abuse of a prescription drug, narcotics, or controlled substances.
Mayfield appealed the initial positive result, which allowed him to practice on Friday at Darlington. He was not suspended until his backup sample also tested positive. He said that he tested positive due to a mixture of over-the-counter drugs, but NASCAR has refuted that explanation by saying that “A combination of an over-the-counter drug taken with a prescription drug could not cause the positive that we took action on.”
Mayfield has been suspended indefinitely.
It’s a little old, but still crazy!
The nominations for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards are out!! Here are the nominees:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year:
Usian Bolt (Jamaica)-first man to win 100m, 200m & 4x100m Olympic gold medals in world record times
Lewis Hamilton (UK)-youngest Formula One World Champion in history (23 years and 300 days)
Rafael Nadal (Spain)-won French Open, Wimbledon & Olympic gold medal en route to capturing the number one ranking
Michael Phelps (US)-won eight gold medals in a single Olympic games to overtake Mark Spitz’s record
Christiano Ronaldo (Portugal)-beat Giacomo Agostini’s record 68 500cc wins, and won 6th senior world title
Valentino Rossi (Italy)-beat Giacomo Agostini’s record 68 500cc wins, and won 6th senior world title
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year:
Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)–became first woman to win 5,000m & 10,000m at same Olympics
Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia)–created her 24th world record in Beijing to win the pole vault gold medal
Lorena Ochoa (Mexico)–won seven tournaments in 2008, was almost $1m ahead on money list
Stephanie Rice (Australia)–won three swimming gold medals in Beijing; set 5 world records in 2008
Lindsey Vonn (US)–won Alpine World Cup title, also World Cup discipline leader in downhill
Venus Williams (US)–won her 5th Wimbledon title in 2008, also won Olympic doubles gold medal
World Breakthrough of the Year:
Rebecca Adlington (UK)-19, unknown at the start of the year, won Olympic 400m & 800m freestyle
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)–21, won his first Grand Slam tennis title at the Australian Open and rose to number 3 in the world rankings
Ana Ivanovic (Serbia)–20, won first Grand Slam at French Open, was tennis World No.1 for 9 weeks
Anthony Kim (US)-23,won two PGA Tour events and was a member of the winning US Ryder Cup team
Sebastian Vettel (Germany)–youngest ever F1 Grand Prix winner (21 yrs, 73 days)
Zou Kai (China)-won three gymnastic gold medals in Beijing on his Olympic debut
Who do you think should/will win?
More info at Great Tennis Photos
Photo by bradjward.
“It’s been a long seven weeks. I’m a foreign person and I’ve been judged in a foreign country. I’m very thankful to have received a fair trial. I do love this country.”
-IndyCar driver and “Dancing with the Stars Champion” Helio Castroneves, after being cleared of tax evasion charges on Friday.
Here are highlights of the wet and wild Formula 1 Malaysian GP:
Jenson Button had to hear the skeptics for two years who thought that he was overrated and overpaid. Well, he has shut them up now.
Jenson Button was spectacular en route to what was an easy win. He dominated for the entire race and the day became sweeter for Button, as well as his teammate Rubens Barrichello, when Sebastien Vettel and Robert Kubica, who were running in second and third respectively, ran each other off of the track with three laps to go. Barrichello, consequently, finished in second and Jarno Trulli crossed the finish line in third. Trulli, however, was given a 25 second penalty after the race for overtaking Lewis Hamilton during the safety car period, which left Trulli out of the points.
Trulli’s penalty meant that reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finished in third. Hamilton had performed poorly in qualifying and he also had a gearbox failure, which left him to start the race in 18th, but he drove like a champion as he threaded through the field en route to a third place finish.
Current Drivers Standings:
1. Jenson Button–10
2. Rubens Barrichello–8
3. Lewis Hamilton–6
4. Timo Glock–5
5. Fernando Alonso–4
6. Nico Rosberg–3
7. Sebastien Buemi–2
8. Sebastien Bourdais–1
————————————————————–(have 0 points)
9. Adrian Sutil
10. Nick Heidfeld
11. Giancarlo Fisichella
12. Jarno Trulli
13. Mark Webber
14. Sebastian Vettel
15. Robert Kubica
16. Kimi Raikkonen
17. Felipe Massa
18. Nelsinho Piquet
19. Kazuki Nakajima
20. Heikki Kovalainen
Highlights of the Race:
(Photo by Big Bonifacio)
As if starting 15th wasn’t bad enough, defending World Champion Lewis Hamilton will now start dead last, from the 18th position, after his team decided to replace the entire gearbox as a precautionary measure following qualifying. This change typically results in a 5 spot pentalty, but the cancellation of Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli’s qualifying times means that Hamilton will only fall to 18th.
The Toyota cars, which are driven by Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli, will have to go to the back of the grid because they were found to have “extreme flexibility” in the rear wings. Their qualifying times were, consequently, cancelled. Glock, who had qualified in 6th, will now start 19th and his teammate Trulli, who had qualified in 8th, will now start from 20th, which is the last starting position on the grid.
Provisional Grid and Starting Weights of Cars:
1. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 664.5kg
2. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 666.5
3. Sebastien Vettel, Red Bull, 657
4. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 650
5. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 657
6. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 654
7. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 655.5
8. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 662
9. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 691.5
10. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 680.7
11. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 690.6
12. Nelson Piquet, Renault, 694.1
13. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 689
14. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 612.5
15. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 675.5
16. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 684.5
17. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 662.5
18. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 655
19. Timo Glock, Toyota, 670
20. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 660
(Photo of Lewis Hamilton by Andrew Barron)
Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello were excited about their prospects in the season-opening Australian GP and that was for good reason, because the Brawn-Mercedes teammates will be starting 1-2. Button secured the pole with a fastest lap of 1:26.202 in the third qualifying round; Barrichello’s fastest lap was 1:26.505.
What was more shocking than Brawn’s dominance, however, was the fall of the McLaren-Mercedes team. Lewis Hamilton had stated that he had some reservations going into the season and it appears that the reigning World Champion is set to struggle in the first race of the season. Hamilton’s fastest lap in the first round of qualifying was 1:26.454, which was more than one second off of the fastest times of the round. Hamilton and his teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start 15th and 14th, respectively.
The fuel strategies will be interesting come race time, because the presence of Sebastien Vettel and Timo Glock ahead of Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen on the gris suggests that they may be starting the race with a light fuel load. Therefore, there may be multiple teams that are planning on three-stop strategies, instead of the customary two stops.
Qualifying Order:
1. Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
2. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes)
3. Sebastien Vettel (RBR-Renault)
4. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
5. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)
6. Timo Glock (Toyota)
7. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
8. Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
10. Mark Webber (RBR-Renault)
11. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)
12. Fernando Alonso (Renault)
13. Kazuki Nakajimi (Williams-Toyota)
14. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes)
15. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
16. Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
17. Nelsinho Piquet (Renault)
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India-Mercedes)
19. Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)
20. Sebastien Bourdais (STR-Ferrari)
(Photo of Reubens Barichello by Jose MaIzquierdo Galiot)
IndyCar driver and “Dancing with the Stars” winner Helio Castroneves owes more than $2.3 million in taxes according to the IRS. According to IRS agent Joann Levitt, the total amount that he owes comes from unreported income and improper deductions between the years of 1999-2004.
Castroneves denies commiting tax evasion and conspiracy because he relied on professionals, who handled his financial matters.
The trial is expected to take about two more weeks before his fate is in the hands of the jury. Castroneves, conquently, will likely not be driving in the IndyCar Series season opener on April 5 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Will Power is currently his substitute driver.
(Photo by Adam Jakubiak)
