Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Home Blog Page 6

List of all-time NASCAR Cup Series driver victories

0

richard petty 1

Richard Petty holds the record for many wins in NASCAR Cup Series history with 200, and Kyle Busch leads energetic drivers with 63.

The 2024 season added a 205th different driver to that list and a 3rd member of the Burton family when Harrison Burton took the checkered flag on the Daytona summer race. This 12 months, the whole variety of victories increased by 16 other drivers.

Any driver currently competing full-time on the Cup level is highlighted in daring, with part-time drivers in italics.

All-time NASCAR wins list

*Last updated: October 3, 2024*

Classification Driver name Total wins
1 Richard Petty 200
2 David Pearson 105
3 Jeff Gordon 93
4 Darrell Waltrip 84
5 Bobby Allison 84
6 Jimmy Johnson 83
7 Cale Yarborough 83
8 Dale Earnhardt 76
9 Kyle Busch 63
10 Kevin Harvick 60
11 Rusty Wallace 55
12 Lee Petty 54
13 Denny Hamlin 54
14 Ned Jarrett 50
15 Junior Johnson 50
16 Tony Stewart 49
17 Coat of arms Tomasz 48
18 Buck Baker 46
19 Bill Elliott 44
20 Mark Martin 40
21 Tim Flock 39
22 Matt Kenseth 39
23 Bobby Isaac 37
24 Brad Keselowski 36
25 Kurt Busch 34
26 Joey Logano 34
27 Martin Truex Jr. 34
28 Roberts' fireball 33
29 Dale Jarrett 32
30 Carl Edwards 28
31 Kyle Larson 28
32 Rex White 28
33 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 26
33 Fred Lorenzen 26
34 Jim Paschal 25
35 Joe Weatherly 25
37 Ricky Rudd 23
38 Terry Labonte 22
39 Jeff Burton 21
40 Bobby Labonte 21
41 Benny Parsons 21
42 Jack Smith 21
43 Fast Thompson 20
44 Davey Allison 19
45 Buddy Baker 19
46 Greg Biffel 19
47 Chase Elliott 19
48 Flock fonts 19
49 Geoff Bodine 18
50 Neil Bonnett 18
51 Harry Gant 18
52 Ryan Newman 18
53 Kasia Kahne 18
54 Marcin Panch 17
55 Curtis Turner 17
56 Ernie Ivan 15
57 Dick Hutcherson 14
58 Lee Roy Yarbrough 14
59 Dick Rathmann 13
60 Tim Richmond 13
61 William Byron 13
62 Ryan Blaney 12
63 Donnie Allison 10
64 Clint Bowyer 10
65 Sterling Marlin 10
66 Christopher Bell 9
67 Paweł Goldsmith 9
68 Cotton Owens 9
69 Bob Welborn 9
70 Alex Bowman 8
71 Kyle Petty 8
72 Darel Dieringer 7
73 AJ Foyt 7
74 Jamie McMurray 7
75 Jim Reed 7
76 Tyler Reddick 7
77 Marshall Teague 7
78 Chris Buescher 6
79 Ward Burton 5
80 Ross Chastain 5
81 Austin Dillon 5
79 And Gurney 5
80 Alan Kulwicki 5
81 Tony Lund 5
82 Dave Marks 5
83 Jeremy Mayfield 5
84 Ralph Moody 5
86 X
4
87 Lloyd Dane 4
88 X 4
89 Bob Flock 4
90 Charlie Glotzbach 4
91 Eddie Gray 4
92 Bobby Hamilton 4
93 Pete Hamilton 4
94 Parnelli Jones 4
95 Hershel McGriff 4
96 Joe Nemechek 4
97 Eddie Pagan 4
98 Ken Schrader 4
99 Morgan's shepherd 4
100 Nelson Stacy 4
101 Billy Wade 4
102 Michael Waltrip 4
103 Glen Wood 4
104 AJ Allmendinger 3
105 Aric Almirola 3
106 Bill Blair 3
107 Robby Gordon 3
108 Erik Jones 3
109 Dick Linder 3
110 Frank Mundy 3
111 Elliott Sadler 3
112 White Staley 3
113 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 3
114 Brian Vickers 3
115 Marcos Ambrose 2
116 John Andretti 2
117 Johnny Beauchamp 2
118 Chase Briscoe 2
119 Red Byron 2
120 Austin Cindric 2
121 Derrike Cope 2
122 Ricky Craven 2
123 Ray Elder 2
124 James Hylton 2
125 Bobby Johns 2
126 Joe Lee Johnson 2
127 Al Keller 2
128 Elmo Langley 2
129 Danny Letner 2
130 Michael McDowell 2
131 Juan Pablo Montoya 2
132 Billy Myers 2
133 Jimmy Pardue 2
134 Steve Park 2
135 Tom Pistone 2
136 Marvin Porter 2
137 David Ragan 2
138 David Reutimann 2
139 Gobera Sosebee 2
140 Jimmy Spencer 2
141 Daniel Suarez 2
142 Bubba Wallace 2
143 Emanuel Zervakis 2
144 Johnny Allen 1
145 Bill Amik 1
146 Mario Andretti 1
147 Earl Balmer 1
148 Trevor Bayne 1
149 Johnny Benson 1
150 Brett Bodine 1
151 Ron Bouchard 1
152 Richard Brickhouse 1
153 Harrison Burton 1
154 Dick Brooks 1
155 Bob Burdick 1
156 Marvin Burke 1
157 Neil Cole 1
158 Jim Cook 1
159 Cole Custer 1
160 Mark Donohue 1
161 Joe Eubanks 1
162 Lou Figara 1
163 Jimmy Florian 1
164 Larry Frank 1
165 Danny Graves 1
166 Royce Hagerty 1
167 Bobby Hill 1
168 Justin Haley 1
169 Jim Hurtubise 1
170 John Keeper 1
171 Harold Kite 1
172 Paul Lewis 1
173 Johnny Mantz 1
174 Sam McQuagg 1
175 CaseyMears 1
176 Paweł Menard 1
177 Lloyd Moore 1
178 Jerry Nadeau 1
179 Norm Nelson 1
180 Bill Norton 1
181 Phil Parsons 1
182 Dick Passwater 1
183 Lennie Pond 1
184 Bill Rexford 1
185 Jody Ridley 1
186 Short Rollins 1
187 Jim Roper 1
188 Earl Ross 1
189 Jan Rostek 1
190 Johnny Rutherford 1
191 Greg Sacks 1
192 Leon on the market 1
193 Frankie Schneider 1
194 Wendell Scott 1
195 Buddy Shuman 1
196 Regan Smith 1
197 John Soares 1
198 Lake speed 1
199 Chuck Stevenson 1
200 Donald Tomasz 1
201 Tommy Thompson 1
202 Shane Van Gisbergen 1
203 Watts Art 1
204 Danny Weinberg 1
205 Jacek Biały 1

Why the lawsuit claims NASCAR executives are 'monopoly bullies'

0

“The France family and NASCAR are monopoly tyrants. And oppressors will continue to impose their will to harm others until their targets rise up and refuse to be victims. The moment has come.”

This expressive language appears in paragraph 24 of this antitrust lawsuit, which has – for now – completely overshadowed the 2024 playoffs. The case was filed Wednesday morning within the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, the one two teams that refused to sign a brand new charter agreement, are suing NASCAR and CEO Jim France, specializing in the sanctioning body's monopolization of the game. The France family has run NASCAR since its founding in 1948 and has never ceded control of it.

Both teams have retained attorney Jeffrey L. Kessler, a outstanding sports lawyer who has won several antitrust cases, most notably in “McNeil v. NFL,” through which he helped establish unrestricted free agency in sports. His credentials precede him and show how serious these teams are when taking NASCAR to court. Danielle T. Williams, Jeanifer Parsigian, Michael Toomey and Matthew DalSanto were also listed as defensemen. Winston & Strawn LLP is a law firm representing racing teams.

How did we get here?

NASCAR's charter system was introduced in 2016 and was later prolonged for one more 4 years in 2020. Now, with the prospect of a brand new deal looming, there have been extensive discussions between teams and the game's leadership. On Sept. 6, those negotiations got here to an abrupt end when NASCAR sent what the lawsuit calls a “take it or leave it” version of the 2025 contract, giving teams until midnight to sign it or face losing their charters. 13 of the 15 teams agreed, but as everyone knows, two didn’t.

After 23XI Racing Tyler Reddick won the regular season title at Darlington, NASCAR executives weren’t available to present the trophy. “You know, certainly, I'm very disappointed that no one from NASCAR presented Tyler with his trophy,” 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin said on the time. “It was a little disappointing.” They acknowledged Reddick's achievements the next weekend at a drivers' meeting in Atlanta.

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Upper Deck Toyota Camry wins 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship and poses with team owners Curtis Polk, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Upper Deck Toyota Camry wins 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship and poses with team owners Curtis Polk, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan

Photo: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Images

Allegations against NASCAR

The fundamental point of the 43-page filing centers around NASCAR's monopolization of the game and its aggressive tactics to keep up total control. The lawsuit alleges that the France family “runs NASCAR like a closed-door shop, selling their monopoly in smoky back rooms.”

It cites NASCAR's “anti-competitive restrictions” within the Charter Agreement that – amongst other things – prevent teams from competing elsewhere without permission from NASCAR. He discusses these practices at length, but this is maybe an important sentence: “Because the owners of the 2016 NASCAR charter agreements were independent contractors – and never members of a three way partnership operating a sports league – they were almost definitely doing so for the aim of creating a computational circuit for NASCAR. By prohibiting them from participating in another stock automobile races throughout the 2016 Charter Agreement, NASCAR further created a barrier to competitive entry, which preserved its monopoly position and helps it accomplish that to at the present time. That's why NASCAR holds all of the cards since the teams haven’t any other alternative.

Consolidation of power

The lawsuit details most of the methods by which NASCAR maintains complete control over the world of stock automobile racing. He even cites the game's origins and Bill France Sr.'s audacious union-busting tactics, but he also offers newer examples. He also mentions NASCAR's purchase of International Speedway Corp. for $2 billion. (ISC) and its 12 racetracks, in addition to its acquisition of ARCA, the one other national-level stock automobile racing league within the country. He further claims that NASCAR “enforces exclusive racetrack conditions as a condition of hosting a Cup Series race.”

He cites the introduction of the next-generation automobile as one other way that NASCAR maintains an iron grip over the game, calling it “an exclusionary requirement that further locks down the top stock car racing teams in NASCAR.” The bottom line is that the sanctioning body now has much more control because teams now not construct their very own cars, counting on standard parts and chassis supplied by NASCAR and choose suppliers.

During charter talks, he states that NASCAR has attempted to isolate owners through individual discussions and has resisted just about all efforts by race teams to barter higher terms. It goes on to say that the specter of completely eliminating charter cards was “terrifying to most race teams,” noting how economically devastating it will be to attempt to compete without them. And that only scratches the surface, as many of the lawsuit's pages are spent explaining why it considers NASCAR to be an illegal monopoly.

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports, CITGARD Ford Mustang, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Jordan Brand Toyota Camry and Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, Global Industrial Chevrolet Camaro

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports, CITGARD Ford Mustang, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Jordan Brand Toyota Camry and Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, Global Industrial Chevrolet Camaro

Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images

Legal basis of the case

Its fundamental argument relies on the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which essentially ensures the principle of free competition amongst entities engaged in commerce while prohibiting unfair monopolies.

The lawsuit alleges that NASCAR violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act regarding defendant's “agreement, combination, or conspiracy to unreasonably restrict competition.” She also accused NASCAR of violating Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which deals with monopolization.

What teams want

The lawsuit seeks to have the courts find NASCAR in violation of the aforementioned Sherman Act while also looking for a preliminary injunction against 23XI and FRM that may allow them to proceed to compete as chartered teams in 2025 while the lawsuit continues and “without being subject to a possible demand.” exemption from antitrust claims.” Essentially, they wish to proceed racing as chartered teams, without having to comply with all of the conditions set by the sanctioning body, arguing their legality. This must also be noted, but they may seek compensation from the sanctioning authority.

The lawsuit ends with a requirement for a jury trial. NASCAR has yet to publicly respond.

Thrustmaster reveals the “direct axle drive” wheelbase – premiere on October 11

0

image 25
Thrustmaster reveals the "direct axle drive" wheelbase - premiere on October 11 7

It looks like Thrustmaster will soon be expanding its direct drive wheel lineup to incorporate something a little bit different, because it's announcing a “direct axle drive” unit today.

Thrustmaster currently only produces the T818 PCs as a direct drive base, and there was talk of introducing latest products to resolve this problem for a while. However document made available today to newsletter subscribers goes into a little bit more detail about what we are able to expect – and when.

It is sort of a technologically complex treaty – even the title: “Direct axle drive: presenting the next generation of direct drive wheelbases“, this is just too wordy, however the effect is that Thrustmaster is working with a technology that’s radically different from some other direct drive wheels in the marketplace.

It principally comes all the way down to the orientation of the engine components. Each DD wheel uses a “radial flux” design wherein the shaft acts as a motor rotor and rotates inside a series of powerful magnets surrounding it that act as a stator.

Thrustmaster believes that this design has flaws, primarily through an effect called “gearing”. This occurs as a consequence of the force exerted perpendicular to the shaft through the magnetic flux because the rotor rotates, which ends up in the wheel tending to withstand or increase rotation little or no.

The “axial flux” design works in a different way by placing two sets of magnets on the shaft across the stator in order that the magnetic flux is parallel to the shaft and almost completely eliminates meshing. It also means the device will be much smaller, lighter and more efficient – although Thrustmaster admits that heat build-up might be an even bigger problem, but adds that it worked with an anonymous partner who created the answer.

This radial and axial design also has counterparts within the automotive industry, where most electric vehicles have radial flux motors. However, British company YASA creates specialized axial-jet engines to be used in high-performance hybrids akin to the Lamborghini Revuelto and Koenigsegg Regera, with twice the facility density of radial-jet units.

We don't know much else about what Thrustmaster has in store for the time being, apart from the incontrovertible fact that the wheel shall be unveiled globally on Friday, October 11. Watch this space for more!

FIA steward Herbert explains the penalty given to Verstappen for swearing

0

Johnny Herbert has explained why Max Verstappen was controversially punished for swearing.

Verstappen was ordered to do community service by F1's governing body for taking the oath during a live broadcast press conference.

The ruling comes after an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, by which he urged drivers to refrain from using foul language.

In the article, Ben Sulayem said: “We need to distinguish our sport – motorsports – from rap music. You know we're not rappers. Do they are saying the F word how repeatedly a minute? We don't cope with that. It's them and us [us]”

While Herbert – who was race steward on the Singapore Grand Prix where the Dutchman swore on the press conference and was penalized – insists the sanction was not a direct results of Ben Sulayem's desire to focus on foul language, he did offer insight into the choice: making.

“During a press conference in Singapore, Max used the F-word in reference to his car. Press conferences are broadcast around the world,” CasinoHawks said.

“There is more swearing than ever before. A press conference is not the place for such things. Some journalists claim that the sport is trying to turn drivers into robots. That's not true. You just ask them not to swear.” , which I feel is true. Most drivers don't swear.

“The incident was determined to be stewards-related. We had an excellent, open conversation with Max for about 20 minutes and a half hour about our difficult situation.

Johnny Herbert, a former FIA driver and steward, arrives at the track

Johnny Herbert, a former FIA driver and steward, arrives on the track

Photo: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“You could see on his face that he was really enthusiastic about it. But as he left, he seemed mollified by the method and its cause. He didn't blame us as stewards.

“As stewards, we now have a variety of tools to punish drivers. We are here to implement the regulations and make decisions together. We could have fined him, but we felt it could be more helpful to get him to do something socially responsible. What that shall be is dependent upon Max and the FIA.

“It all blew up later because he went to the press conference and gave one-word answers after which held his own impromptu press conference outside within the paddock.

“It showed Max's rebellious streak. I love this side of him, it's what makes Max Max his honest and sincere character. But there is a time and a place. Personally, I think there is too much swearing in it. I want my five-year-old grandson to hear such language.”

Herbert also admitted that Ben Sulayem's controversial interview with Motorsport.com “didn't go down well with the drivers” and claims they were “antagonized”.

He added: “There is an FIA code prohibiting the usage of foul language. Per week earlier, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem spoke about swearing and saying that F1 drivers shouldn’t swear because they are usually not “rappers”.

“The drivers didn't prefer it they usually were antagonized, especially Lewis [Hamilton] who thought it was a racist slur.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA

Photo: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images

“The drivers weren’t glad about this. Everyone joined forces with Max. I've noticed that the drivers are a much tighter group than I've seen in a few years. They have much stronger opinions on various topics.

“Swearing is something that Ben Sulayem desires to suppress. You can't do this in the warmth of the moment during a race.

“I hope common sense will prevail amongst F1 drivers who vow to maneuver forward – drivers and the FIA ​​must work together.

“You have to know that each side should cooperate. I do know the FIA ​​president is unhappy with the vulgar language.

“There is a belief amongst drivers that swearing at a press conference is inappropriate. “It's just something that has built up from the president's initial comment about 'rappers,' which some found offensive, to Max being dragged in front of the flight attendants in Singapore.”

Herbert also says that a gathering has since taken place with F1 drivers and that the precise details of Verstappen's community service sentence haven’t yet been agreed.

He said: “We then had a gathering with the drivers and no less than one, who I won't name, made it clear that he thought swearing was unacceptable.

“There are many young people around the globe who love this sport and idolize the drivers. Drivers need to know that they’re role models.

“We made a decision that there was a case that needed to be settled, if you will. Max and the FIA ​​must agree on what the sanction should be and what it will be. That part is out of our control.”

The 12 months that top NASCAR drivers boycotted the massive race

0

The recent news of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) filing an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR is an incredible step towards curbing the dynastic power of the France family. This can also be not the primary time that representatives of the game have opposed the ruling body.

It's an excellent thing that we go to Talladega Superspeedway immediately after filing a court filing, because this track was the positioning of some of the dramatic clashes between the game and its competitors within the history of NASCAR. The events at Talledega in 1969 were so iconic that they were even mentioned in a lawsuit filed by 23XI and FRM for instance of the French family's power over sports.

Welcome to NASCAR's largest oval

The 12 months was 1969, and the newly constructed 4.66-mile superspeedway was about to host its first-ever Cup race. It was then often called the Alabama International Motor Speedway. Its construction was Bill France Sr.'s own project and price $5 million. The track was accomplished barely on time and contained unfinished suites for the opening race weekend.

During testing just days before the event, drivers set unofficial closed-course records on the monster superspeedway. However, a rash of tire problems raised concerns across the paddock. There were also complaints about unevenness and possible holes. Firestone and Goodyear, which were engaged in a tire war in the game, tried to introduce harder compounds for the race but didn’t solve the issue. As a result, Firestone withdrew from the race while Goodyear remained involved.

NASCAR visionary Bill France Sr. was the first inductee announced as part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class. (Note: This track is not Talladega)

NASCAR visionary Bill France Sr. was the primary inductee announced as a part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class. (Note: This track shouldn’t be Talladega)

Photo: Getty Images

To prove to the drivers how protected the track is, France himself decided to drive around it. However, drivers weren't convinced since it never exceeded 160 miles per hour. France was advised to easily limit her running speed, but this was obviously unrealistic because someone was at all times exceeding that limit in an try to win the race, forcing others to dangerously follow suit.

PDA, blows and a full boycott

At the time, there was the Professional Drivers Association (PDA), headed by Richard Petty, who went on to turn out to be the winningest driver within the history of the NASCAR Cup Series. The PDA has approached the sanctioning authority with a proposal to postpone the inaugural event. France, which founded NASCAR in 1948, rejected their request. He wasn't a fan of PDA or anything resembling a relationship. He had already thwarted an try to form a union in 1961 by banning star drivers Curtis Turner and Tim Flock from racing. They ended up suing NASCAR and just a few years later each drivers were reinstated.

During the controversial PDA encounter, France accused Bobby Allison of being too afraid to race. Hearing this, LeeRoy Yarbrough advanced and reportedly punched France within the face, knocking him to the bottom. This ended the talks between each side. Almost all 36 PDA members immediately withdrew from the race. They include future Hall of Famers Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Wendell Scott and Buddy Baker.

Talladega Super Speedway

Talladega Super Speedway

Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images

The show goes on

The race was still held and PDA member Richard Brickhouse broke rank and didn’t withdraw from the event. Adding to all this drama was the proven fact that Chrysler used the Talladega to showcase its brand recent Dodge Charger Daytona with its iconic rear wing. The Detroit brand then convinced Brickhouse to run the race while the remaining of the PDA walked. He was considered one of only three Cup drivers to not take part in the boycott, together with Jim Vandiver and Bobby Isaac.

To fill the remaining field, France turned to a lower league, the NASCAR Grand American Series. He invited these drivers to compete in a 500-mile race, even allowing them to enter smaller, slower cars within the race. France also offered current fans free admission to the 1970 Daytona 500 as compensation for the dearth of star power at Talladega.

Goodyear put recent tires on the morning of the race, and despite the concerns that began all of it, no major problems occurred. With only three true Cup cars in the sphere, Brickhouse took the checkered flag, his only Cup Series victory. Among the numerous lower-level drivers who filled the sphere was a rookie making his Cup debut — future NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner and then-driver Richard Childress.

The PDA disbanded shortly after the Talladega debacle in 1969, much to France's satisfaction. He retained full control of the game, and the France family continues to accomplish that to today. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are actually searching for to challenge the body resulting from what they consider are unfair terms of their 2025 charter agreement. They should not the primary to return out against the France family, but can they succeed where everyone else failed before them? Well, they’ve Michael Jordan on their side…

Alex Palou's greatness is in a category of its own

0

Alex Palou.

For 4 of the last five seasons, the name has struck fear into the hearts of fellow IndyCar competitors. And not necessarily since the Spaniard is ruthless in combat, but just so unflappable that he could easily be mistaken for a cyborg.

The only time Palou wasn't consistently near the front was during his rookie campaign with Dale Coyne Racing in 2020. However, it was only within the third race, when his rivals stood on the rostrum at Road America, that focus was drawn to him. Later that 12 months, during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, he caught the eye of team owner Chip Ganassi and his organization's managing director Mike Hull when he guided Coyne's Honda-powered machine to seventh place despite breaking a weightlifter after the primary race. lap – it was the fastest lap among the many Fast Nine fighting for pole position that day.

When Felix Rosenqvist left Chip Ganassi Racing and signed with Arrow McLaren at the tip of 2020, Palou was the candidate chosen to succeed him. The decision saw a right away return on investment after winning his CGR debut at Barber Motorsports Park and doing so after defeating two legends of the game in Team Penske's Will Power and Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon. Palou was nearly untouchable for the remainder of the tour, ending 2021 with three wins and eight podiums in 16 rounds en path to his maiden IndyCar title.

alex palou reserve driver mcla 1

Then got here the 2022 season, with such gripping contract drama surrounding Palou that it continues to this present day. In the midst of an unsuccessful defense of the championship (ending the 12 months with one win, six podiums and a fifth-place finish in the general standings), he found himself in a bizarre and confusing situation when CGR announced a contract extension with Palou on July 27, only to take to social media just a few hours later he rejected this criticism while confirming his departure to McLaren Racing at the tip of the season. McLaren then announced his arrival moments later, with no confirmation on whether he would drive for IndyCar's Arrow McLaren division or be placed on the fast track to Formula 1. The scenario led to CGR filing a civil lawsuit against its driver, who continued to drive for the team. By mid-September, all parties had reached an agreement that will allow Palou to stay at Ganassi through 2023, while also serving as a reserve with the McLaren F1 team and testing its MCL35 before moving full-time to the organization in 2024.

However, the deal fell apart in August 2023 after Palou decided to withdraw from his contract with McLaren and sign a three-year extension to stay at Ganassi. As a results of this example, McLaren Racing sued Palou for about $23 million – a figure that increased to $30 million – to get better costs that included testing, finding a alternative and even a $400,000 advance payment. Palou's argument for breaking his contract got here right down to the sensation that only a reserve role can be available to him in F1, especially within the context of McLaren's F1 squad with Lando Norris signed until 2025 and Oscar Piastri until the tip of 2026. In turn, the preference was to stay in IndyCar.

Dealing with the mental and emotional toll of the contract and legal spectacle, Palou recorded one of the vital dominant seasons within the history of North America's premier open-wheel championship. He scored five wins, 10 podiums and 17 top-eight finishes in 17 rounds to secure the 2023 title on the penultimate round in Portland – a feat not achieved since Sébastien Bourdais in 2007.

Alex Palou's overall stats

YEAR RACING WINS PODIUM POLES LAPS LAPS diode CHAMPIONS

2020

14/14 0 1 0 1581 1 16
2021 16/16 3 8 1 1710 137 1
2022 17/17 1 6 0 2246 173 5
2023 17/17 5 10 2 2258 379 1
2024 17/17 2 6 3 2446 263 1

Although Palou wasn't as dominant this 12 months, he still scored two wins and 6 podiums in 17 rounds, claiming one other Astor Cup trophy. He also won the $1 Million Challenge non-point exhibition at The Thermal Club.

The latest achievement earned Palou an astonishing list of accolades, including being one in all only 13 drivers to win three or more IndyCar championships. He was also just the seventh to win three league titles in 4 years and the primary to win back-to-back league titles since Dario Franchitti – also with Ganassi – won three in a row within the 2009–2011 season.

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, podium, Dario Franchitti

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, podium, Dario Franchitti

Photo: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images

At 27 years, five months and 14 days old, Palou became the second-youngest driver to win three IndyCar championships. Only Sam Hornish Jr. was younger, winning his third title in 2006 on the age of 27 years, two months and eight days.

While it's not a totally straight comparison as a consequence of how much the racing schedule has modified over the past twenty years, Palou is a three-time series champion despite having never won on an oval track yet, with all 11 of his wins coming on road and street. Meanwhile, Hornish has 19 profession victories (twenty third all-time), but all of them have come on ovals, and his highest finish on the road track was a runner-up finish at Watkins Glen in 2007 – his final season within the series.

But perhaps probably the most remarkable achievement to date is that Palou has achieved a lot despite only spending five years in IndyCar. He has only 81 starts in his profession, but he won in 13.58% of them and was on the rostrum in 38.27%. Additionally, with 17 races on the 2025 schedule, it's surprising to think he won't hit the century mark by way of starting profession until 2026.

About an hour after Palou won his third title and gave CGR its sixteenth title in Nashville, Ganassi was asked about his driver's performance and if anyone had a comparison.

“You want to make obvious comparisons, but I don't know if you can,” Ganassi said. “At the age he's at, having the ability to do what he's doing, having the experience he's got, especially with the shows as they’re today, with a few of the ovals, these guys usually are not precisely the oval champions that excel within the shows today . There are some higher oval competitors. I'm sure he'll let you know that.

“It's an interesting series now. It's an interesting mix.

“To have a guy like Alex on the team, I told someone, three championships in four years. I mean, I don't know how many guys have three championships, not that many. As they say, he is now in rather thin air. His name must be mentioned in the conversations of great drivers. He is certainly participating in conversations with the greatest.”

Ganassi didn't hesitate to confess that Palou has to date exceeded expectations. When Palou joined CGR, Dixon was fresh from adding a sixth series championship to his own legend. However, since they’re each teammates, Dixon's legacy is kept in check while Palou continues to expand his legacy.

“I had no idea what three of the next four years would be like,” Ganassi said, recalling his first contract with Palou.

“If I said I had a special idea or expectation, I can be lying. I had no idea it will be a lot fun and so successful.

Neither will we, Chip.

Why F2's Zane Maloney made the best alternative to risk the title

0

With an approximate population of just over 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 people and a distant location within the Caribbean, it's not surprising that Barbados is little known for its motorsports heritage. But Zane Maloney's exploits began to alter that.

The young Barbadian cut his teeth at his home track, Bushy Park Circuit, the primary racing facility on the island. The 21-year-old is ready to make his Formula E debut in two months' time after signing with the Abt team at an interesting point in his life.

Maloney has climbed the junior single-seater ranks into Formula 2 and is theoretically only one big step away from Formula 1. Along the way in which, his skills definitely didn’t go unnoticed by the upper echelons of motorsports.

Maloney was previously on Red Bull's books and in 2024 was a part of the Sauber Academy. During a barren season for the Swiss F1 outfit, just once did its distinctive black and green colours find themselves on the sharp end of the web, courtesy of Maloney, who stays in contention for the F2 title after ups and downs.

A double victory within the season opener in Bahrain and five further podium finishes kept him within the fight, but a 34.5 point deficit with just 78 points available within the remaining two rounds implies that realistically Maloney is unlikely to be in capable of return to leader Gabriel Bortoleto.

Maloney will still compete within the upcoming Qatar competition with Rodin in late November. But even when he were to place the title even further close by, he would miss the ultimate in Abu Dhabi resulting from a conflict with the Formula E season opener on December 7 in Brazil.

“I think it was a good year, we had problems with the pace for maybe one or two rounds and then things happen in the championship in general that are beyond our control,” Maloney tells Motorsport.com. “We can have had just a little more of that this 12 months than we expected, in order that put us behind.

Maloney failed to repeat the sensational form he achieved after winning the double in the first match in Bahrain

Maloney did not repeat the sensational form he achieved after winning the double in the primary match in Bahrain

Photo: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“We were within the fight until the previous few rounds. I still think we're still fighting, but that's my focus now [Formula E] a chance that then takes me out of the fight. It was a 12 months of being out and in of the fight, but I at all times pushed as hard as I could and the team did an awesome job.

“I feel like I'm skating at a really high level. We won't have the championship to brag about it, but I feel everyone who must know what happened this 12 months knows and that's a very powerful thing.

Already in 2019, when he won the British F4 title with Carlin, Maloney's profession was on the rise. He has just missed out on the 2022 F3 title in his debut season with Victor Martins after a late surge that secured wins in each of the last three feature races. Despite this, Maloney defeated 2025 Haas F1 driver Oliver Bearman and Bortoleto's closest challenger Isac Hadjar, who appeared for Red Bull in the primary practice at Silverstone.

“I'm just grateful to have been given this spot on this amazing team and I look forward to the opportunity to do the best job I can.”
Zane Maloney

Winning the F2 title this season would probably not mean Maloney's place at the highest of the game, nevertheless, because the case of fellow Sauber Academy driver Theo Pourchaire shows. The Frenchman won the title last season after ending second last 12 months, but that didn’t improve his standing as a Formula One contender.

That could change if he is chosen over Bortoleto, Valtteri Bottas and Franco Colapinto to partner Nico Hulkenberg within the team next 12 months. But the 21-year-old now resembles a somewhat forgotten man. He was left in limbo while driving in IndyCar with Arrow McLaren and his profession lost momentum.

A move to Formula E also makes some sense for Maloney. He has served as Andretti's reserve and development driver for the past two seasons, collaborating in rookie test sessions and collecting plenty of information ahead of his season debut.

Maloney will now join fellow F2 race winner Taylor Barnard within the championship, with the 20-year-old Briton winning the Monaco sprint race with AIX Racing. Barnard made three appearances for McLaren last season rather than the injured Sam Bird, and after impressively scoring two points in Berlin, he was signed on full-time for the 2024-25 season.

Another F2 race winner, Taylor Barnard, showed that adapting to Formula E can bring results even with limited preparation

Another F2 race winner, Taylor Barnard, showed that adapting to Formula E can bring results even with limited preparation

Photo: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

Thanks to the commitment of manufacturers, high-quality drivers and ever-increasing automotive speeds, Formula E began to rework right into a desirable place for young drivers with talent, but perhaps without the chance and support that their peers needed to make it to F1.

However, the move to Formula E definitely doesn't mean that any hope of a future F1 seat is totally ruled out. This is evidenced by drivers including Alex Albon, who jumped from Nissan before the beginning of the season to Toro Rosso, and Nyck de Vries, who joined AlphaTauri after winning the title in 2020-21.

“It is clear that in motorsport in general today, in any professional level championship, there are many more drivers than places,” says Maloney. “So I'm just grateful that I got this spot on this amazing team and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to do the best job I can.”

Novices generally have difficulty mastering Formula E's unique variety of racing, which consists of peloton-style racing, all while having to conserve little energy. While Maloney will likely be the least experienced driver on the grid and has yet to compete in a Formula E race, he will likely be competing alongside stalwart champion Lucas di Grassi, who with 131 starts has missed only one race within the category's 10-year history.

The Brazilian had his worst season within the championship last season, scoring just 4 points and was comprehensively outplayed by Nico Muller, who left for Andretti to turn out to be a Porsche works driver. But in di Grassi, Maloney may have a uniqueness of reference to match himself to and, perhaps more importantly, learn from. This knowledge could prove crucial as Abt begins its recent journey with powertrain supplier Lola and Yamaha.

This season also coincides with the beginning of the Gen3 Evo era, with the cars using softer Hankook tires in comparison with last 12 months, and all-wheel drive (AWD) will likely be utilized in certain situations comparable to qualifying duels, race start and attack modes . This implies that the new edition of the automotive is a couple of seconds faster than its predecessor, however the indisputable fact that it’s, in a way, a brand new start line for all teams and drivers might be an ideal opportunity for Maloney to make his mark.

The Abt/Lola/Yamaha partnership is unlikely to challenge for wins and maybe even podiums from the beginning, but Maloney will likely be aware of it and to some extent it is going to mean a less closely scrutinized debut campaign. But then again, being involved within the project from the very starting and helping to put the foundations could have huge advantages in his profession, not only in Formula E but beyond in motorsport.

Maloney will have a lot to learn on his new journey into Formula E, but committing to the Yamaha-Lola powertrain from the start will help him develop

Maloney may have rather a lot to learn on his recent journey into Formula E, but committing to the Yamaha-Lola powertrain from the beginning will help him develop

Photo: Abt/Lola

“[AWD] it changes the balance of the automotive and changes the way in which it drives,” explains Maloney. “I feel all of it depends upon how each team adapts to it and I feel this recent solution can be good for me because everyone seems to be learning it and not only me.

“It's one thing that everyone seems to be recent to and that's cool. I've driven it a bit over the previous few weeks and yes, it's completely different. It will take a while to know and excellent the way to be fast with 4WD and 350kW and I'm sure that's one among the primary topics for many teams further down the grid in the intervening time.

“For us, in fact, it’s something more, entering the market as a brand new manufacturer [with Lola and Yamaha]. But we're looking forward to starting the season as high as possible, though we don't know where that’s now.

Walking away from a title shot is never an easy decision, but Maloney now has a chance to prove he made the right decision

Walking away from a title shot is rarely a straightforward decision, but Maloney now has a likelihood to prove he made the best decision

Photo: Andrew Ferraro

Why F2's Zane Maloney made the precise alternative to risk the title

0

With an approximate population of just over 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 people and a distant location within the Caribbean, it's not surprising that Barbados is little known for its motorsports heritage. But Zane Maloney's exploits began to vary that.

The young Barbadian cut his teeth at his home track, Bushy Park Circuit, the primary racing facility on the island. The 21-year-old is about to make his Formula E debut in two months' time after signing with the Abt team at an interesting point in his life.

Maloney has climbed the junior single-seater ranks into Formula 2 and is theoretically only one big step away from Formula 1. Along the best way, his skills definitely didn’t go unnoticed by the upper echelons of motorsports.

Maloney was previously on Red Bull's books and in 2024 was a part of the Sauber Academy. During a barren season for the Swiss F1 outfit, just once did its distinctive black and green colours find themselves on the sharp end of the web, courtesy of Maloney, who stays in contention for the F2 title after ups and downs.

A double victory within the season opener in Bahrain and five further podium finishes kept him within the fight, but a 34.5 point deficit with just 78 points available within the remaining two rounds signifies that realistically Maloney is unlikely to be in in a position to return to leader Gabriel Bortoleto.

Maloney will still compete within the upcoming Qatar competition with Rodin in late November. But even when he were to place the title even further close by, he would miss the ultimate in Abu Dhabi because of a conflict with the Formula E season opener on December 7 in Brazil.

“I think it was a good year, we had problems with the pace for maybe one or two rounds and then things happen in the championship in general that are beyond our control,” Maloney tells Motorsport.com. “We can have had a bit more of that this 12 months than we expected, in order that put us behind.

Maloney failed to repeat the sensational form he achieved after winning the double in the first match in Bahrain

Maloney did not repeat the sensational form he achieved after winning the double in the primary match in Bahrain

Photo: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“We were within the fight until the previous couple of rounds. I still think we're still fighting, but that's my focus now [Formula E] a possibility that then takes me out of the fight. It was a 12 months of being out and in of the fight, but I all the time pushed as hard as I could and the team did a fantastic job.

“I feel like I'm skating at a really high level. We won't have the championship to brag about it, but I believe everyone who must know what happened this 12 months knows and that's crucial thing.

Already in 2019, when he won the British F4 title with Carlin, Maloney's profession was on the rise. He has just missed out on the 2022 F3 title in his debut season with Victor Martins after a late surge that secured wins in each of the last three feature races. Despite this, Maloney defeated 2025 Haas F1 driver Oliver Bearman and Bortoleto's closest challenger Isac Hadjar, who appeared for Red Bull in the primary practice at Silverstone.

“I'm just grateful to have been given this spot on this amazing team and I look forward to the opportunity to do the best job I can.”
Zane Maloney

Winning the F2 title this season would probably not mean Maloney's place at the highest of the game, nevertheless, because the case of fellow Sauber Academy driver Theo Pourchaire shows. The Frenchman won the title last season after ending second last 12 months, but that didn’t improve his standing as a Formula One contender.

That could change if he is chosen over Bortoleto, Valtteri Bottas and Franco Colapinto to partner Nico Hulkenberg within the team next 12 months. But the 21-year-old now resembles a somewhat forgotten man. He was left in limbo while driving in IndyCar with Arrow McLaren and his profession lost momentum.

A move to Formula E also makes some sense for Maloney. He has served as Andretti's reserve and development driver for the past two seasons, participating in rookie test sessions and collecting plenty of knowledge ahead of his season debut.

Maloney will now join fellow F2 race winner Taylor Barnard within the championship, with the 20-year-old Briton winning the Monaco sprint race with AIX Racing. Barnard made three appearances for McLaren last season instead of the injured Sam Bird, and after impressively scoring two points in Berlin, he was signed on full-time for the 2024-25 season.

Another F2 race winner, Taylor Barnard, showed that adapting to Formula E can bring results even with limited preparation

Another F2 race winner, Taylor Barnard, showed that adapting to Formula E can bring results even with limited preparation

Photo: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

Thanks to the commitment of manufacturers, high-quality drivers and ever-increasing automotive speeds, Formula E began to remodel right into a desirable place for young drivers with talent, but perhaps without the chance and support that their peers needed to make it to F1.

However, the move to Formula E definitely doesn't mean that any hope of a future F1 seat is totally ruled out. This is evidenced by drivers including Alex Albon, who jumped from Nissan before the beginning of the season to Toro Rosso, and Nyck de Vries, who joined AlphaTauri after winning the title in 2020-21.

“It is clear that in motorsport in general today, in any professional level championship, there are many more drivers than places,” says Maloney. “So I'm just grateful that I got this spot on this amazing team and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to do the best job I can.”

Novices generally have difficulty mastering Formula E's unique kind of racing, which consists of peloton-style racing, all while having to conserve little energy. While Maloney will likely be the least experienced driver on the grid and has yet to compete in a Formula E race, he will likely be competing alongside stalwart champion Lucas di Grassi, who with 131 starts has missed only one race within the category's 10-year history.

The Brazilian had his worst season within the championship last season, scoring just 4 points and was comprehensively outplayed by Nico Muller, who left for Andretti to grow to be a Porsche works driver. But in di Grassi, Maloney can have a distinctiveness of reference to match himself to and, perhaps more importantly, learn from. This knowledge could prove crucial as Abt begins its recent journey with powertrain supplier Lola and Yamaha.

This season also coincides with the beginning of the Gen3 Evo era, with the cars using softer Hankook tires in comparison with last 12 months, and all-wheel drive (AWD) will likely be utilized in certain situations similar to qualifying duels, race start and attack modes . This signifies that the new edition of the automotive is just a few seconds faster than its predecessor, however the indisputable fact that it’s, in a way, a brand new place to begin for all teams and drivers may very well be an ideal opportunity for Maloney to make his mark.

The Abt/Lola/Yamaha partnership is unlikely to challenge for wins and maybe even podiums from the beginning, but Maloney will likely be aware of it and to some extent it would mean a less closely scrutinized debut campaign. But then again, being involved within the project from the very starting and helping to put the foundations could have huge advantages in his profession, not only in Formula E but beyond in motorsport.

Maloney will have a lot to learn on his new journey into Formula E, but committing to the Yamaha-Lola powertrain from the start will help him develop

Maloney can have rather a lot to learn on his recent journey into Formula E, but committing to the Yamaha-Lola powertrain from the beginning will help him develop

Photo: Abt/Lola

“[AWD] it changes the balance of the automotive and changes the best way it drives,” explains Maloney. “I believe all of it is dependent upon how each team adapts to it and I believe this recent solution can be good for me because everyone seems to be learning it and not only me.

“It's one thing that everyone seems to be recent to and that's cool. I've driven it a bit over the previous couple of weeks and yes, it's completely different. It will take a while to grasp and ideal methods to be fast with 4WD and 350kW and I'm sure that's one in all the primary topics for many teams further down the grid in the mean time.

“For us, in fact, it’s something more, entering the market as a brand new manufacturer [with Lola and Yamaha]. But we're looking forward to starting the season as high as possible, though we don't know where that’s now.

Walking away from a title shot is never an easy decision, but Maloney now has a chance to prove he made the right decision

Walking away from a title shot isn’t a simple decision, but Maloney now has a probability to prove he made the precise decision

Photo: Andrew Ferraro

Red Bull and Ford sign a contract with American Chloe Chambers for the 2025 F1 Academy

0

Red Bull has signed American driver Chloe Chambers for its F1 Academy program for the 2025 season, with the support of Ford, F1's future power unit partner.

Former USA F4 and W Series racer Chambers will drive a Red Bull and Ford automobile within the third season of F1 Academy, replacing Emely de Heus and giving the US carmaker a homegrown driver within the all-female F1 series.

“Our continued partnership with Ford as title sponsor of the Red Bull Academy program is extremely exciting and further cements their commitment to women's participation in motorsport,” said Christian Horner, head of Red Bull F1. “Everyone at the team is looking forward to welcoming Chloe to the Red Bull family, where she is a key part of our squad for the 2025 F1 Academy season. Welcoming the American driver, who has previously been linked with Ford, marks an exciting development in our partnership with Ford Performance.”

Chinese-born Chambers, who grew up in New York, currently competes within the F1 Academy for Campos Racing for Haas F1. The 20-year-old claimed her first victory under the Spanish Grand Prix Support Act, ending fourth within the championship with 4 rounds remaining.

To highlight his connection to Ford, Chambers can even compete on this weekend's final round of the 2024 IMSA Mustang Challenge, a companion event to the Indianapolis 8 Hours of Sports Car Race.

“As an American driver, it is an honor to work with an iconic American automotive company like Ford,” said Chambers. “It is an honor to partner with the Red Bull Ford Academy program to further improve women's representation in sport and I’m grateful for his or her support in achieving my very own profession goals in motorsports. I'm excited to participate within the Ford Mustang Challenge this week and gain more racing opportunities outside of my role within the F1 Academy. “

Chloe Chambers, Campos Racing, 1st place, lifts the winners trophy

Chloe Chambers, Campos Racing, 1st place, lifts the winners trophy

Photo: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsport, added: “It's great to welcome Chloe to the Ford family as she joins the Red Bull Ford Academy program. Chloe is just not only a real racing talent, but additionally has the flexibility to race in various series, and watching her compete within the Mustang Challenge in our Dark Horse R is basically cool. Having an American driver representing an iconic American brand is the proper scenario for us and we stay up for all the things that 2025 will bring.

Ford will re-enter F1 in 2026 as Red Bull's engine partner, supporting the Milton Keynes-based team with various facets of its hybrid power units developed in-house at Red Bull Powertrains within the UK.

Red Bull is supporting three drivers within the 2024 F1 Academy series, all run by Dutch team MP Motorsport, with De Heus' Ford automobile joining a Red Bull-liveried automobile for Emirati Hamda Al Qubaisi and an RB-backed automobile for her sister Amna Al- Qubaisi.

The rising WRC star has no idea concerning the future after his appearance in Rally 1

0

Martins Sesks says he has “no idea” where his future lies within the World Rally Championship after impressing in three Rally1 appearances this yr.

The 2023 European Rally Championship runner-up showcased his rising star status after three breathtaking performances in the highest class of rallying because of a program with M-Sport-Ford, part-funded by the WRC organizer.

Sesks' repute as a future talent was enhanced by ending fifth on debut in Poland, then taking a maiden stage win in Latvia and progressing to a probable third place before his Puma suffered a mechanical problem on the ultimate stage.

Last weekend, the 25-year-old took part in Rally 1 for the third time, driving a non-hybrid Ford Puma through the Chile Rally, by which Sesks had never taken part before.

The rally was a steep but precious learning curve after suffering a double puncture on stage two. With just one spare tire at their disposal, Sesks and pilot Renars Francis were forced to retire.

Despite a sudden failure of the rear wing on the penultimate stage, each drivers accomplished Saturday and Sunday's stages with none problems, which allowed them to cover key kilometers of the Rally.

“I think if you told me I would be driving a Rally1 car three times this year, I wouldn't believe you,” Sesks said.

Martins Sesks, Renars Francis, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Martins Sesks, Renars Francis, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Photo: M-Sport

“Coming to South America for the primary time and driving a Rally1 automobile was amazing. It was really difficult. The first two times went quite easily, I might say from a driver's perspective, nevertheless it was an actual challenge and I learned quite a bit.

“I think we have learned a lot for the future and now we know how to approach WRC rallies where we don't know the roads.”

Sesek's three performances impressed the M-Sport management, which has not yet confirmed the motive force line-up for next yr. M-Sport lead driver Adrien Fourmaux is at the middle of a silly WRC season, having been linked with a move away from Ford to Hyundai.

When asked about his future within the WRC, Sesks said: “I actually don’t know. We did this rally and I don't know what’s going to occur next. We are able to make the most of every opportunity. It is dependent upon how, when and what we are able to do in the longer term.

M-Sport team principal Richard Millener, who was curious to see how Sesks would cope on unfamiliar roads, felt the rookie performed “great” under the circumstances.

“I think it didn't quite come true what Martins and Renars hoped for,” Millener said. “A small mistake with big consequences on Friday and a difficult final stage and not using a rear spoiler, but I feel they still did an ideal job and gained insight into the experience they should learn to get to the highest of the WRC – that's one in every of the important thing reasons who’re value bringing here.”