FEBRUARY 17, 2016
Sunday, February 14, 2016 at 07:02PM
(Photo by Harold Hinson/HHP for GM/Chevrolet Racing)
Chase Elliott (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet SS), the rookie phenom son of Bill Elliott (right) captured the pole position with a lap of 45.845 seconds/196.314 mph during qualifying for next Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Did he get "the call" - ? We doubt it, because the kid is brimming with true talent. But people are gonna talk anyway. Elliott, who takes over the No. 24 car previously known as Jeff Gordon's ride, is the youngest driver ever to win the pole at 20 years, two months and 20 days of age. Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Dollar General Toyota Camry) qualified second at 196.036 mph and will start in the front row with Elliott for the February 21st race. The rest of the lineup will be determined by the twin qualifying races on Thursday night.
(Photo by Andrew Coppley/HHP for GM/Chevrolet Racing)
“This is a very, very cool day,” said Elliott. “I don’t know that this opportunity has sunk in yet, much less sitting on the pole for the Daytona 500. So this is very cool. I think the big thing is just the team and the Daytona 500 qualifying is about the team guys and the effort they put into these cars and it’s nothing special I did, it’s really what kind of work they did this off-season to make it happen. Jeff (Gordon) knows all about that and I just wanted to give a big thanks to NAPA Auto Parts and all of our partners at HMS on this No. 24 Chevrolet. This is very special and a great way to start the season.”
(Photo by Logan Whitton/LAT Photo USA, ©2016, courtesy of Toyota Racing)
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Express Toyota Camry) won the Sprint Unlimited - a major crash-fest - on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. It was JGR's third consecutive win in the meaningless exhibition race that traditionally opens the NASCAR season. It was Hamlin's third win in the event. Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion) finished second, followed by Paul Menard (No. 27 Richard Childress Racing Peak Antifreeze/Menards Racing Chevrolet SS), Kyle Larson (No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet SS) and Casey Mears (No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS).
(Volkswagen Motorsport)
Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (No. 1 Volkswagen Polo R WRC) won the Rally Sweden, the only winter rally in the FIA World Rally Championship. It is the third success in four years for Ogier and Ingrassia at this classic rally and their 34th in total. It was Volkswagen's eleventh win in a row and 36th victory in 41 rallies.
(Porsche images)
Porsche is showing images of its Le Mans-winning Porsche 919 Hybrid engine for the first time. With a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder combustion engine to drive the rear axle, an exhaust energy recovery system, the latest lithium-ion battery technology for energy storage to serve the e-machine on the front axle, and complex hybrid management – Porsche was determined to go its own way in its quest to win Le Mans again. In 2015, which was only the second year of competing, Porsche scored a 1-2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the manufacturers’ and drivers’ World Championship titles. The Porsche 919 Hybrid’s engine will be on display at race events, exhibitions and, of course, in the Porsche Museum at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
(Aston Martin images)
Aston Martin Racing has unveiled its latest V8 Vantage GTE racing machine for the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The automaker will be supported by global energy supplier TOTAL, IQ Option and will also make the eye-opening switch from Michelin to Dunlop tires. With new regulations that allow for more aero development, the 2016 V8 Vantage GTE has a fully redesigned aerodynamic package that includes a distinctly pronounced rear diffuser. The No. 95 GTE Pro entry will feature Darren Turner (GB) and Danish drivers Nicki Thiim (DN) and Marco Sørensen. The No. 97 GTE Pro entry will be driven by Richie Stanaway (NZ), Jonny Adam (GB) and Fernando Rees (BR). Aston Martin will also have a single entry in the GTE Am class in this year's WEC. Aston Martin has 23 wins in FIA WEC, more than any other manufacturer.
(Harold Hinson Photography)
To coincide with the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, Pennzoil celebrated Team Penske’s 50th anniversary of racing history with the opening of the “Team Penske 50th Anniversary Exhibit” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The museum display opened February 19th marking the 100-day countdown to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, taking place Sunday, May 29th. “We are thrilled to be part of such a historic milestone for Roger Penske and all of Team Penske. It’s humbling for Pennzoil to witness winning traditions half a century in the making,” said Rusty Barron, Vice President of Marketing, Shell Lubricants Americas. The Team Penske Exhibit will put a spotlight on 50 years of racing history, tradition and heritage with an amazing 22-car collection at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The exhibit will feature an extensive lineup of Indy cars, stock cars, Formula 1 and sports cars accompanied by an array of memorabilia and trophies. The collection of Indianapolis 500 winning cars starts with Mark Donohue’s 1972 car along with winning cars from legends such as Rick Mears, Bobby Unser, Danny Sullivan, Al Unser, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Gil de Ferran and Sam Hornish Jr. "It’s truly an honor for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and Pennzoil to showcase all of the hard work, dedication and winning momentum from everyone at Team Penske from over the past 50 years,” said Roger Penske. "The museum is a true testament to the heritage this team embodies and we’re most excited to be able to share this with our racing fans.”
(IMS Photo)
Former Team Penske great Rick Mears was on hand to help Helio Castroneves unveil his paint scheme for the 100th running of the Indy 500. The No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet will be sporting the iconic Pennzoil Yellow Submarine paint scheme, the same graphic treatment that Rick Mears so memorably drove to victory at the Indy 500 in 1984 and again in 1988.
(IMS Photo)
Editor's Note: Watch the latest episodes of AutoextremistTV on YouTube here (note that this week's episode is in two parts #12 & #13) -WG