May 18, 2011
(Image © 2011 - John Thawley)
After a highly successful five seasons as partners Highcroft Racing and Honda have parted ways, a result of the crisis in Japan and the subsequent budget realities facing Honda. Highcroft was selected as one of the initial factory Acura teams for the brand’s debut in the American Le Mans Series in 2007, and throughout the partnership Highcroft established itself as not only the highest ALMS point-scoring team out of four factory outfits, but also collected back-to-back ALMS championships in 2009 and 2010. The team also won the 2010 Michelin Green X Challenge Championship for optimizing overall on-track performance, while using the least amount of fuel. Highcroft scored 11 race wins for Honda, nine pole positions and 28 podium finishes from only 42 races, including its gallant second place finish at Sebring, where it defeated both factory Audi and Peugeot entries. This means that the team won't be able to run in next month's 24 Hours of Le Mans, a last minute blow to an outfit that was determined to field a very competitive entry. “We have had an amazing relationship with all the associates at Honda, Acura, Honda Performance Development and Wirth Research over the past five years and it is with deep regret that our amazing run has come to an end,” Highcroft Racing owner, Duncan Dayton said. “We are extremely proud of what we have achieved with our partners. When we were first selected as a factory team, nobody expected we would be able to run with some of the biggest names in racing, that came across from IndyCar racing. “Not only did we prove that we were competitive, but we became the team the beat. We are equally proud of the great working relationships we built with HPD and Wirth Research developing the cars and turning them into winning machines.” Make no mistake, Dayton's Highcroft Racing is a class outfit and it will be back. As a matter of fact, don't be surprised if a global auto manufacturer jumps in and forms a new partnership with the team.
(Photo©2011, Nigel Kinrade Autostock)
Matt Kenseth went to victory lane for the second time this year as he piloted his No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Wiley X Ford Fusion to the win at the FedEx 400 at Dover International Speedway Sunday afternoon. He had this to say afterward as his crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, said he made the call to take two tires on the final pit stop. “Not exactly, honestly I was sitting on the track and thinking that we should stay out and get clean air and try it because I knew we wouldn’t win if we took four. Jimmy wanted four but as I was driving down pit road I thought maybe we could compromise. While I was on the jack I asked if he was sure we didn’t want to try two and he said to put on two. It was really Jimmy’s call and just a suggestion by me. It was tough to pass on top of that rubber out there. We had a lot of power and these guys did a good job with the car.” 
(Photo©2011, Nigel Kinrade Autostock)
Matt Kenseth celebrates his win at Dover in Victory Lane with his family. 
(Ford)
The 2011 Fiesta RS WRC is a featured player in Codemasters' DiRT 3.
(Ford)
Colin McRae's Ford Focus in 2003 Martini livery is featured in Colin McRae Rally 3 from Codemasters.
(Grand-Am)
Joao Barbosa beat Scott Pruett to the checkered flag by .270 seconds to end TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing’s record six-race winning streak. Barbosa took the lead in the No. 9 Action Express Riley Porsche/Riley (also driven by JC France and Terry Borcheller) with 50 minutes remaining, and led the final 22 laps to score his first victory since the 2010 Rolex 24 At Daytona. In addition to the $25,000 “Bounty” posted by GRAND-AM for the team that stopped the Ganassi team’s winning streak, Action Express also pocketed an $18,750 Continental Tire Horsepower bonus in addition to the winner’s share of the purse for an $83,750 payday. Pruett closed up to Barbosa’s rear wing on the final lap but in the end it marked only the third time in 15 races since the 2010 Rolex 24 that Pruett and Memo Rojas had failed to win in the No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley. Darren Law passed Max Angelelli with two laps remaining to give put the No. 5 Action Express Porsche/Riley in third, giving the team two cars on the podium.
(Grand-Am)
In a history-making day at Virginia International Raceway, Bill Lester took the GT victory in the Bosch Engineering 250 to become the first African-American to win a GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series event. Fittingly, Lester’s victory came in Danville, Va., the hometown of racing pioneer Wendell Scott – the first African-American to win at NASCAR’s highest level. Lester was joined by Jordan Taylor in the No. 88 Autohaus Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. It was Lester’s third career podium finish in 39 races.
(Grand-Am)
Bill Lester and Jordan Taylor celebrate their GT win in the Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: If you really must keep up on all of the latest F1 developments and the potential U.S. GP in Austin, Texas, go here. - PMD
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD
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