New Sprint Cup Coors Light Qualifying Debuts at Phoenix:
That phrase you heard so often the last two weeks - "the pack is back" - can be recycled, and used again Friday at around 4:30pm local time at Phoenix International Speedway. At about that time, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will roll their cars to the grid, ready for the debut of the new group qualifying format to be used at each premier series race except last week's Daytona 500.
A primer on the new rules:
There will be two rounds of qualifying at Phoenix, a one-mile track. The first round will last 30 minutes. The fastest 12 will then move to a second and final round lasting 10 minutes, with the fastest car in the final round winning the Coors Light Pole.
Actually - if the weather cooperates - this weekend could see the new format in play for the first time in its entirety for the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as well. Truck qualifying was completely washed out at Daytona, and rain caused Nationwide Series qualifying to be limited to one round.
At tracks measuring 1.25 miles or longer, there will be three rounds of qualifying, with the field decreasing to 24 cars in the second round and 12 cars in the final round. The time breakdown in each: 25 minutes for the first; 10 for the second; and five for the third.(NASCAR), see more information on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying Rules page.(2-28-2014)
The FIA is due to make a decision on Friday regarding whether it will grant a 2015 Formula One entry to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Gene Haas -- or to the Romanian project fronted by Colin Kolles. The FIA on Dec. 12 announced a "call for expression of interest," and noted that it would make its decision on Feb. 28. However, when the decision will be announced to the public remains to be seen. Haas, who co-owns Stewart-Haas Racing with Tony Stewart, is tied to Ferrari, and if granted an entry would be able to take advantage of the fact that the FIA is relaxing the rules on technology sharing between teams next season. Haas would be able to buy almost everything he needs for an F1 program from Maranello. However, he has to own the intellectual property of his chassis and bodywork. The Romanian project is believed to involve state-funded backing and is in theory closer to being realized than its American rival. Lotus LMP1/LMP2 sports-car constructor Kolles, who ran the now-defunct HRT F1 team from his base near Munich, could provide existing race team and manufacturing facilities. The two candidates paid the FIA a $130,000 fee and went through a vetting process which culminated in a meeting with key FIA figures on Tuesday of this week.(Autoweek)(2-28-2014)