Danica Patrick involved in another race crash, blames new NASCAR rules

Danica Patrick’s 2017 Daytona 500 ended even earlier than usual after she was one of the drivers involved in a "treacherous" 17-car collision which included eventual race winner Kurt Busch who managed to stay on the track.

But afterwards, of course, it was Patrick who was loudest in finding a scapegoat.

To be fair, with 15 of 40 drivers out of the race with about a quarter of the 200 laps remaining, the No. 10 Ford driver in her fifth full season might be correct in laying the blame on NASCAR’s new staged racing. 

Big crash! @JimmieJohnson, @KevinHarvick, @DanicaPatrick and others involved. #NASCAR #DAYTONA500  https://t.co/EEwW62QOHv

— FOX SPORTS: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 26, 2017

Starting this season, the races are divided into three stages with points awarded to the top drivers from each stage, counting toward their championship total.

“The stages are definitely going to add to it because not only is it creating a reason to push at certain points in the race that aren’t anything but the last 20, but you’re also seeing it shuffling the grid up,” Patrick said after being cleared by the in-field medical staff – a new requirement for those who don’t finish.

But that wasn’t the only rule she said is leading to so many drivers falling short of the finish line. Following an accident, teams that must return to pit road have a five-minute time limit for repairs. If cars cannot be fixed and return to the track at minimum speed within that time, they’re out of the race.

Prior to this season, teams had an unlimited amount of time to fix their cars and could eventually return to the track to try and earn even just a few points out of the race.

“What you’re seeing is the product of the five-minute clock,” Patrick continued. “You’re seeing a product of the new rules of having to go to the in-field care center if you don’t finish the race. … I’m totally fine. I drove my car back to the garage. I never would have come to the in-field care center if not for the new protocols, so I’m all for being all well, but it’s probably a bit much.”

She explained that on a superspeedway track like Daytona International, drivers assume multi-car wrecks have “a real high chance of happening.

“That’s the name of the game. It’s what makes it exciting, too, for the fans.”

Argentine goalkeeper gets hamburger thrown at him, then eats it (VIDEO)

The Argentine first division game between Racing and Belgrano on Saturday was about as exciting as the 0-0 final score would indicate, but Belgrano's goalkeeper Juan Olave did something that made it a little more interesting.

During the match, a fan tossed a hamburger at the long-haired Belgrano, and he proceeded to pick it up and nonchalantly take a couple bites.

It's better than fireworks and they do love their meat down there in Argentina.

Raceway lights go out during NASCAR truck series race (VIDEO)

NASCAR was left in the dark Friday night when, with 27 laps to go, the lights at Phoenix International Raceway went out during the Lucas Oil 150 with Erik Jones in the lead.

And there weren't any headlights.

The red flag was thrown at 11:45 p.m. ET with 126 laps of the scheduled 150 laps completed in the event. The official decision to call the race came down at 11:56 p.m. ET.

The delay was not the first one in the race. A power outage a bit before the race was scheduled to go green delayed the start of the race by just over 75 minutes as there was a power outage in the West Valley area near the track.

The lights came back on in full around 9:48 p.m. ET and the command to start engines was given at 9:57 p.m. ET. The green flag for the race officially dropped at 10:04 p.m. ET.

At the time of the delay, the track tweeted the following:

PIR has learned there is a major power outage in the West Valley. APS has multiple crews working on it. We will update as soon as possible.
— Phoenix Raceway (@PhoenixRaceway) November 8, 2014

During the delay, drivers passed the time by just chatting on pit road, while some crew members were spotted tossing a football around.

The second outage brought a halt to the race with Jones being declared the winner.

Just call it Friday Night Lights Out.

Kevin Ward Jr. died from massive blunt head trauma: Report

Kevin Ward Jr. died of massive blunt force trauma when he was hit by a race car driven by NASCAR star Tony Stewart, his autopsy has revealed.

The autopsy was completed on Monday, two days after the 20-year-old New York sprint car driver died after the incident on the track at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said.

Authorities questioned Stewart following the tragedy on Saturday and went to Watkins Glen to talk to him again on Sunday — but Povero said there were no plans "at this time" to speak with him again.

Ward's funeral will be held on Thursday, according to the Empire Super Sprints website.

Povero repeated that there is no evidence that a crime was committed, and said authorities had a second video of the fatal incident that they were reviewing.

The second video shows the incident from a different angle, he said. There was no camera in Stewart's car that could have recorded the crash.

Other footage of the incident shows Stewart's car struck Ward as the helmeted driver stood on the dirt track after he hit a wall.

The crash occurred on lap 14 of a 25-lap race at the upstate New York track on Saturday evening.

Ward can then be seen getting out of his crashed car and walking towards other cars on the track before pointing a finger, apparently at Stewart.

A car swerves to avoid him, but when Stewart's car passes close to Ward, his right rear tire apparently hits him, and Ward was pulled beneath the car and thrown in the air.

In the next scene emergency workers are seen rushing to his aid. Ward was apparently not struck at racing speed, but sprint cars can go as fast at 140 mph.

After the tragedy, Stewart dropped out of the NASCAR event on Sunday.

According to his website, Kevin Ward Jr has been racing since age four and started Sprint Car racing in 2011. The  New York native was Empire Super Sprint rookie of the year in 2012 and this year was his fifth season racing the Empire Super Sprints.

Relatives of Kevin Ward Jr. call Tony Stewart a 'dick' for fatal collision: Report

Tony Stewart's change of heart to not race on Sunday, after running over sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. on Saturday night, did little to ease the pain family and friends of Ward are feeling while coping with the tragic incident.

While no charges are pending against Stewart after two police interviews, grieving members of Ward's inner circle are voicing their anger publicly after the death of the 20-year-old racer on the Watkins Glen racetrack.

In an emotional attack on the three-time NASCAR champion, Ward's aunt Wendi Ward, posted a furious message to Facebook on Sunday, labeling Stewart a "dick" following his fatal collision with the young racer, according to the Daily Mail.

Stating that Stewart has left her family with a "deep hurt that should not be there," Ward's comments are in stark contrast to the more measured official statement released by his parents, who were reportedly in the crowd when their son was hit and killed.

The family has said it "appreciates all the prayer and support" but that members "would like time to grieve" a day after Ward was killed on a racetrack when he was hit by a car driven by the 43-year-old NASCAR star.

However, they have asked for time to "grieve and wrap our heads around all of this."

But the angry aunt didn't hold back when she sarcastically posted "thanks for thinking of our family tony Stewart (sic) when you decided to be a dick."

And on Sunday, some members of the Ward family posted a group picture to Facebook of them wearing T-shirts embossed with artwork on the back from Ward's website and the message "Always and forever."

Stewart has expressed his remorse over the incident and race officials claim there was nothing going on between the two drivers before Ward got out of his wrecked car to confront Stewart inside the Canandaigua Motorsports Park..

"There's no history with these two drivers," said Chuck Miller, the series race director.

"That's the competitive nature of the game and the drivers around it. Any time Tony has raced with us, Kevin also raced. Tony's been good for us."

"He was a good kid, fun to be around," Miller said about Ward.

 "He was really talented and looked like a winner straight from the get-go."

Man arrested after driving onto track during live auto race (VIDEO)

The brazen driver of the VW Polo that invaded a live race at Brands Hatch racetrack in England on Saturday has been arrested by police.

The idiot behind the wheel of the white Polo drove onto the track during a "VW Fun Cup" race against the will of his female passenger and yells "We're on the track boys and girls" as the whole escapade is caught on video by a passenger in the backseat.

Listen as the unofficial race car enters the track (1:30) and the woman goes into a panic:

The subsequent video has been seen and shared hundreds of thousands of times and sparked outrage and concern worldwide.

Exterior footage with the shocked commentators' remarks are on the video below:



Kent Police said they arrested a 21-year-old from Tonbridge on suspicion of false imprisonment.  He remains in police custody.

Michael Schumacher no longer in a coma and has left hospital: Report

Michael Schumacher is reportedly no longer in a coma and has been released from the hospital where he has been receiving treatment for the last 170 days.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion finally is able to see and hear after a skiing accident last December, according to his manager, Sabine Kehm.

Schumacher had sustained severe head injuries in the incident in the French Alps, and was subsequently put into an artificially-induced coma a few days later.

"Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore," said Kehm.

This is welcome news for Schumacher's family who offered their gratitude to all those who have played a part in his steady recovery over the past five and a half months.

"His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble, as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months," added Sabine.

"The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes. We are sure it helped him.

"For the future we ask for understanding his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye."

Encouraging news on Michael's condition this morning. We couldn't ask for a better start to the week. #KeepFightingMichael
— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) June 16, 2014

Schumacher initially required surgery to remove a hematoma from his brain, but despite its success, the 45-year-old was forced to remain in a medically-induced coma.

Official reports  surrounding Schumacher's status have been sporatic and gloomy at best —  prompting negative stories regarding his health and future.

Prior to today the last update on Schumacher's condition had been in early April which stated he was showing of "moments of consciousness."

The silence in between had led to doubts as to whether the popular Schumacher would make a complete recovery.

There has also been no indication of where the racing driver has been taken since leaving the Grenoble hospital.

It was reported in April that his family was still planning to build a custom-made multi-million dollar mini-clinic to care for him, although not in the home he shares with wife Corinna, as previously reported, but in the house of his father Rolf.

Formula 1 team looking to include Danica Patrick as only woman in the sport: Report

NASCAR racer Danica Patrick could become America's first female Formula One driver after her boss hinted she would be a "great candidate" for his F1 team — and the first woman in the sport in nearly four decades.

Despite struggling in her transition to NASCAR,  Formula One racing could be an option for one of the most accomplished female race car drivers in history.

Formula One team owner Gene Haas, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, for whom  Patrick races for in NASCAR, is preparing to launch a brand new F 1 team in time for the 2016 season.

And in an interview with NBCSN commentator at the Canadian Grand Prix yesterday, the racing mogul dismissed the chance of any of his NASCAR drivers competing in Formula One and said including her on his team could be a possibility.

"She'd bring an awful lot of viewership, I think it's be great for America," said Haas. "I think she would be a great candidate for one of the two seats remaining.

"Whether that's going to happen or not, I think that's kind of a long shot there. Just the thought of jumping into a Formula One car from a Cup car would be very, very difficult."

The 32-year-old Patrick is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing and has competed in NASCAR since 2012, finishing inside the top ten twice. 

Patrick is the only female driver to win a Sprint Cup pole and also has the highest finish (eighth) of any female in the Daytona 500. But she is 28th in the current Cup standings in her second year of full-time Cup competition.

But women's inclusion in Formula One has been criticized by some drivers including former champion Sir Stirling Moss. 

Last year he was quoted as saying: "The mental stress I think would be pretty difficult for a lady to deal with in a practical fashion. I just don’t think they have aptitude to win a Formula One race."

"I don't care," responded Patrick, who has also faced criticism in the past for being female.

"There's going to be people who believe in you and people who don't."

Only one woman, Lella Lombardi of Italy, has ever picked up any points in a Formula One race. And she retired in 1976.

Chinese Grand Prix ends two laps early after checkered flag blunder: Report

The Chinese Grand Prix ended two laps earlier than scheduled after the checkered flag was waved before the end of the race. 

The embarrassing blunder stunned the start-to-finish leader, and eventual winner, Lewis Hamilton, who reported the mistake over the team radio as he began his final lap.

"That was very strange. I was thinking 'am I seeing things?'" Hamilton said afterwards. "I looked up, I was coming across the line expecting to do another lap and all of a sudden I looked for a split second and I saw the flag.

"I lifted for a second and I saw there was no one on the wall, so then I just kept going. 'I did lose a second or so. I asked the team, they said no, so I just kept going."

Under FIA rules, the race was subsequently classified after 54 laps, rather than the scheduled 56-lap race.

The ruling states:  "Should for any reason the end-of-race signal be given before the leading car completes the scheduled number of laps, or the prescribed time has been completed, the race will be deemed to have finished when the leading car last crossed the line before the signal was given." 

At this stage it remains unclear why the checkered flag was waved prematurely; although it is worth noting that there were several erroneous blue flags – which warns a driver that he is about to be lapped – throughout Sunday's race.

Michael Schumacher might have different personality when he wakes up, warns neurologist

Michael Schumacher is no longer listed in "critical condition" but the Formula One racer "will not be Schumacher" if he wakes up from his coma, a leading neurosurgeon has claimed. 

Like an episode of The Twilight Zone, Dr. Richard Greenwood, a consultant neurologist at London’s Homerton Hospital, said the international racing legend will be a "regular Joe" if he recovers, as a result of his severe brain trauma.

Schumacher has been in a medically induced coma for nearly three weeks after suffering the significant head injury in a skiing accident at a French Alpine resort. The champion was admitted to the University of Grenoble hospital on December 29 after striking a rock while skiing off-trail.

"If Schumacher survives he will not be Schumacher. He will be Joe Bloggs," Dr. Greenwood said at a conference looking into the long-term effects of head trauma.

"His rehabilitation will only be effective if he comes to terms with being Bloggs, and fulfills what Bloggs can do. That’s a very, very difficult process to take people through, and many people don’t achieve it."

Earlier this week, there were reports speculating that Schumacher may never wake from his current state.

"Unfortunately, I have to repeat any information regarding Michael’s health not coming from the doctors treating him, or his management, must be treated as pure speculation," Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm said.

Whether it's as Schumacher or Bloggs, I think everyone wishes the race car driver a quick recovery.