“Michael Schumacher not ready to contemplate return next year - The Australian” plus 4 more

Michael Schumacher not ready to contemplate return next year - The Australian
Auto Racing Capsules: Sorenson upbeat despite struggles in No. 43 - Brownsville Herald
Schumacher won't think of later comeback - ninemsn
Motor Racing: Schumacher too downbeat to think of later comeback - Channel NewsAsia
Series Indy ORP pre-event notes - Motorsport.com

Michael Schumacher not ready to contemplate return next year - The Australian

Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:34 PM PDT

FORMER world champion Michael Schumacher said today he was too disappointed at present to contemplate a return to Formula One later this year or in 2010.

On Tuesday Schumacher announced that he had abandoned plans to replace injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23 due to the consequences of a neck injury.

"Speculation in this business is pretty natural, the fact is that I'm disappointed I'm not able to do what I looked forward to do ... that's how I feel for now," a downbeat Schumacher said after being Wednesday about suggestions of a comeback at a following Grand Prix in Monza or next season.

The 40-year-old German, who won the world title seven times before retiring in 2006, had been primed to replace Massa in the Ferrari team for the race in Spain following the Brazilian's high speed crash last month.

But he injured his neck in a motorcycle accident in February and medical exams after recent test runs in a Ferrari at a circuit in Italy showed that Schumacher had not recovered enough to withstand the strains of F1 racing.

"The consequences of the accident were the worst Michael has had in his career," Schumacher's doctor, Johannes Peil, revealed at a joint press conference in Geneva.

Schumacher sustained fractures to the base of the head, neck vertebra and a rib in the motorcycle accident on a racing circuit.

But most had fully healed and the German driver was tremendously fit even for other racing, Peil added.

Highlighting his frustration and sadness, Schumacher simply declined to discuss a possible racing comeback for now.

"It's very disappointing because all the rest of my body, my weight, went really fast, because I kept fit basically," he added.

"Getting inside the car, driving the car was partly natural, I didn't have any problems getting in the rhythm... except for the pain."

"If it were a little thing, you can take medication, but it was strong enough to be physically unable to drive," Schumacher said, adding that he had not set out to "cruise around".

"I live in the belief of fate. I believe it was my fate to have this accident."

The former Ferrari driver, who is still a consultant for the team, revealed that he had not been so ready to replace Massa when he met Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo.

"I was quite honestly on the `o' side before this meeting, but you know Montezemolo. He managed obviously to convince me."

"I have always been someone who took care of himself and that has got stronger in recent weeks," Schumacher acknowledged.

Peil said the only way to find out Schumacher's full condition had been through intensive testing in a Formula One car at Mugello.

Ferrari announced that the team's test driver Luca Badoer would take the place for the European Grand Prix.

Schumacher called Badoer the "perfect solution" and offered to help the Italian driver if necessary.

Peil did not rule out a full physical recovery for Schumacher, although it could take anything up to 18 months.

AFP

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Auto Racing Capsules: Sorenson upbeat despite struggles in No. 43 - Brownsville Herald

Posted: 12 Aug 2009 01:32 PM PDT

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — The back of Reed Sorenson's red fire suit is emblazoned with "I'm lovin' it" in bright yellow script, the catchy slogan of one of the sponsors of the No. 43 Dodge he drives for Richard Petty Motorsports.

And though he's mired deep in the Sprint Cup standings and already thinking about next year, the slogan matches his demeanor. Sorenson is always ready with a smile, even when confronted about his struggles to make the grade at NASCAR's top level.

"I'm still enjoying myself and doing the best I can," the 23-year-old said. "I've just got to keep digging."

Especially after Monday's race at Watkins Glen International. Sorenson was sideswiped by Dale Earnhardt Jr. when the brakes on Earnhardt's No. 88 failed, sending both cars into a massive gravel trap and spoiling another day. Sorenson finished 31st, the 17th time in 22 starts he's failed to crack the top 20.

Ninth-place finishes in the season-opening Daytona 500 (after qualifying 34th) and at Indianapolis, the seventh at tiny Bristol, and the fourth at Dover almost seem like aberrations when you look at the big picture.

And Richard Petty looks at the big picture.

"The deal is he's done good in some of the races, really, really good, and he's had bad luck," Petty said. "If you took all his disappointments, or our disappointments, away with the car, the accidents, whatever, then we would be looking at him completely different. It's not how you run, it's how you finish. That's what you look at. It's really hard to gauge it when the cars don't do so good."

Though Sorenson is fewer than 100 points behind teammates AJ Allmendinger (24th) and Elliott Sadler (26th), the fourth RPM car, the No. 9 driven by Kasey Kahne, is eighth and a good bet to make the Chase for the Cup championship, something Petty has not accomplished as an owner since the new points system began five years ago.

"We're not where we want to be, hell no. But we know that we're better than where we're at," said Sorenson, a native of Peachtree City, Ga., who is in his first year with RPM. "That just makes you want to try harder and try to finish out the year with some strong runs. There's some good places we're going back to that we can definitely run really strong at."

Sorenson will do so with a new man atop his pit box after RPM shuffled crew chiefs. Starting this weekend, Mike Shiplett will switch to the 44 of Allmendinger and Sammy Johns will move from the 44 to the 43.

"Really, what we're trying to do is make sure that we've got the right people in the right place," Petty said. "We figure if we go ahead and do it now, then it's going to give us 12 or 15 races to figure out who goes where so that when we start next year we've got stronger teams than what we've got now.

"... We've got to get the best out of our people. Look, we've got the cars, we've got the drivers, all we've got to do is put it together."

Sorenson's performance the remainder of the year might be a test drive to see whether he can make some solid progress. Rumors began swirling last week when RPM announced it had asked former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve to be on standby at Watkins Glen because Sorenson had inhaled carbon monoxide during the previous race at Pocono.

The roller-coaster ride of the 43 has been tough on the Sorenson family.

"They were't even racing anybody at Watkins Glen," Sorenson's dad, Brad, lamented. "Michael Waltrip took us out at Pocono. He had a broken track bar at Sonoma when he was running 14th or something. How do you break a track bar? There's been so much stuff that I don't know where you put the finger at. It makes me sick because I know he's a good racer."

Always has been.

Sorenson was 6 when he started and his dad, who owns his a construction business, quit racing because he couldn't afford to race, too. Sorenson went on to set 15 track records in Quarter Midgets and won the 1997 national championships. He notched 84 wins in 183 starts in Legends cars and was named American Speed Association rookie of the year in 2003 at age 17.

He won in just his 11th Nationwide start, and two years ago won the Cup pole at Indianapolis, leading the first 16 laps and finishing fifth. His career-best Cup finish was a third at Atlanta in 2007.

"We've raced all our lives and had good success," Brad Sorenson said. "It's a very difficult time. Right now, you're just trying to figure out how to keep a job. I think he's worried. Anybody that says they're not is straight out lying."

Still, Reed Sorenson remains on an even keel.

"Whatever they choose to do will be fine. The teams are pretty equal as far as the level of talent," he said. "I think we're at the point where we can start heading in the other direction, and I'm looking forward to next year.

"I want to be in the top 10, be one of those guys that's in the top 10 every year and competitive. I've just got to get in the right spot."

Help wanted? Power using Penske ride as audition

Will Power grew up in Australia having older brother Nick push him around in a small plastic race car trying to emulate the moves of their father, a Formula 2 racer on the weekends.

Sometimes little Will would win. Sometimes he'd lose.

"I had more than one mechanical failure," he deadpanned.

Even as a kid Power knew there wasn't always a fairy tale ending waiting at the checkered flag. It's a lesson he's kept with him during his successful — if increasingly nomadic — career.

Power spent two-plus seasons in the Champ Car World Series before the merger with IndyCar last year. He struggled to find any consistency while driving for KV Racing Technology, finishing 12th in the points despite struggling at times on the ovals.

Finding himself out of a job, he caught on at Penske Racing, where he agreed to fill in while Penske Racing star Helio Castroneves went to trial on tax-evasion charges.

The job could have been for the entire season. It could have been nothing. To be honest, Power didn't really know what he was getting into.

Not that it mattered. He knew enough to know you don't turn down Roger Penske.

"Even knowing the situation I was going in to, I would have done anything to be on this team," he said. "I wanted to at least get a foot in the door and show them I'm capable of doing the job."

He's done more than that.

Power drove the No. 3 car to a sixth-place finish in the season-opener at St. Petersburg then headed to Long Beach knowing his days might be numbered as Castroneves' trial drew to a close.

He found out during qualifying that Castroneves had been acquitted and was heading west for the race. All Power did was put the car on the pole even though he knew he wasn't going to drive it in the race. That show of professionalism won over Castroneves and budding Penske Racing star Ryan Briscoe.

"You know it couldn't have been easy for him," Briscoe said. "But what he did after that just showed how much he cared about being on this team."

Power ended up finishing second at Long Beach in Penske's third car. When Penske summoned Power to the trailer after the race, Power figured his walking papers would be waiting for him now that Castroneves had returned.

"I didn't expect to be racing any more races," Power said. "Roger said 'You've done a good job and we're going to put you in five or six more races (in a third Penske car). It was very happy to get that. It's great when you get things that you don't expect."

Power returned the favor by doing something Penske probably didn't expect: The former road course specialist finished fifth in the Indianapolis 500.

It's a performance Power credited to four-time Indy 500 champion and longtime Penske driver Rick Mears, who tutored Power on the finer points of the Brickyard.

"I just told him he really needed to worry about finishing," Mears said. "Patience varies with some drivers, but he was very open, which was good. Some kids it goes in one ear and out the other."

Not Power, even though Mears knows there's temptation for a young driver without a guaranteed future to go out and prove himself. Mears reminded Power that a part-time ride with Penske is better than a full-time gig with most other organizations.

"All of a sudden, a guy like that gets a good car and thinks 'I've got to take advantage of this' and they get all keyed up and make a mistake," Mears said. "Will knows when he has a good car to just let it happen instead of trying to make it happen."

Power's patience was rewarded in Edmonton. He captured the pole and then went on to lead 90 of 95 laps to pick up his first IndyCar win.

"It was joy, pure joy," Power said.

His first call after the race was to his father in Australia, who watched Power hold off Castroneves and Scott Dixon over the final laps.

"He was probably happier than I was," Power said. "He feels I should have a full-time ride in IndyCar. He feels I deserve one."

Power just might get it. Maybe.

Even after his breakthrough at Edmonton, his phone didn't start ringing off the hook.

"You want a ride, you've got to call around," he said. "I think you've got to be searching for that ride. That's just how it is."

A job may be closer than he thinks. He'll run at Sonoma next week and Homestead at the end of the season. If he continues to improve — particularly on ovals — there's a chance he could stay on with Penske as a third driver. Maybe.

"We're looking at that possibility," said Penske Racing president Tim Cindric. "We feel like we've got to run (some) ovals and make him know that it's important he take a conservative approach rather than try to impress someone."

Fat chance. This is a driver who didn't even win all of his make-believe races while getting pushed around by his brother as a kid.

"I'll do whatever I have to," Power said. "I really don't care where I'm at as long as I'm in IndyCar."

Graves Schumacher 'really sad' about canceling comeback

GENEVA — Michael Schumacher called canceling his much-anticipated Formula One comeback a "really sad moment."

He had wanted to help the Ferrari team by replacing injured driver Felipe Massa but was unable to do so because of lingering pain from a motorcycle crash six months ago.

"Probably one of the toughest that I've faced in my career, although I'm retired for the moment," Schumacher said. "I felt alive again and now I had to cancel all this."

The German, who retired at the end of the 2006 season after a 15-year career in which he won 91 races in 250 starts, said any talk of later returning to F1 was speculation.

"From a purely medical point of view, there are no reasons why that couldn't be the case. But it's certainly not a topic that I'm considering right now," he said.

Schumacher, visibly subdued sitting between his doctor Johannes Peil and manager Willi Weber, said the euphoria surrounding his possible return was "extreme, and so of course the disappointment is extreme, too."

Peil said it was a fracture at the base of Schumacher's skull that prevented the return, rather than the fractured vertebra and rib he also hurt in the bike crash earlier this year.

"We kept trying to keep the pain and the inflammation in check, including with drugs, but in the end it didn't work," Schumacher said.

It was too early to say whether the injuries would heal enough to allow Schumacher to make a later comeback, Peil said.

The decision for Schumacher to pull out came after he tested an old Ferrari at the Mugello circuit in Italy last week. Ferrari will now promote test driver Luca Badoer, who Schumacher said was well-prepared to replace Massa.

-- Frank Jordans

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Schumacher won't think of later comeback - ninemsn

Posted: 12 Aug 2009 04:52 PM PDT

Former world champion Michael Schumacher says he's too disappointed at present to contemplate a return to Formula One later this year or in 2010.

Schumacher on Tuesday announced that he had abandoned plans to replace injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23 due to the consequences of a neck injury.

"Speculation in this business is pretty natural, the fact is that I'm disappointed I'm not able to do what I looked forward to do ... that's how I feel for now," a downbeat Schumacher said on Wednesday after being asked about suggestions of a comeback at a following race in Monza or next season.

But he injured his neck in a motorcycle accident in February and medical exams after test runs in a Ferrari at a circuit in Italy in recent weeks showed that Schumacher had not recovered enough to withstand the strains of motor racing.

"The consequences of the accident were the worst Michael has had in his career," Schumacher's doctor, Johannes Peil, revealed at a press conference.

Schumacher sustained fractures to the base of the head, vertebra and a rib in the motorcycle accident on a racing circuit, although most had fully healed, Peil added.

Ferrari announced that the team's test driver Luca Badoer would take the place for the European Grand Prix.

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Motor Racing: Schumacher too downbeat to think of later comeback - Channel NewsAsia

Posted: 12 Aug 2009 09:07 AM PDT

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GENEVA: Former world champion Michael Schumacher said on Wednesday he was too disappointed at present to contemplate a return to Formula One later this year or in 2010. Schumacher on Tuesday announced that he had abandoned plans to replace injured ...

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Series Indy ORP pre-event notes - Motorsport.com

Posted: 12 Aug 2009 02:36 PM PDT

MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS: NHRA'S PRESTIGIOUS CELEBRATION OF SPEED AND HIGH PERFORMANCE RACES INTO 55th YEAR IN INDY

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 12, 2009) -- As NHRA celebrates the 55th anniversary of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the world's most prestigious drag race is set to provide its traditional offering of the very best in speed and high performance for countless thousands of hot rodding enthusiasts. More than 1,000 competitors in 12 different racing categories will perform in front of the standing-room only crowd during the much-anticipated Labor Day classic.

The Super Bowl of drag racing takes place at revered O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Sept. 2-7. It is the 18th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for 2009 and will be showcased nationwide on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, which will televise more than 10 hours of coverage of drag racing's marquee spectacle.

Each year at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil fans are offered a glimpse into the past with several exciting attractions and the 2009 edition of this legendary event is no exception. Two historic Fuel Altereds -- Rat Trap and Nanook -- and two nostalgia Funny Cars -- The Wonder Wagon and The Super Nova -- will compete head-to-head in a series of match races during Friday and Saturday night racing, a great warm-up for the present day 7,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars which will hit the track immediately afterwards.

Throughout the weekend many of the 60 Show N Shine winners from the National Hot Rod Reunion will be on display in the Mac Tools Concourse. One of the beautiful vintage hot rods will be selected as the winner of the Bob Daniels Award of Excellence and will have its name permanently engraved on the prestigious perpetual trophy. All of the cars will participate in a special pre-finals parade during Monday's final eliminations.

While many of the legends of the sport will be roaming the grounds of O'Reilly Raceway Park throughout the weekend, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, the winningest Top Fuel driver in Mac Tools U.S. Nationals history and the drag racer voted No. 1 by a panel of historians and journalists during NHRA's 50th anniversary celebration in 2001, will be a featured guest in the Mac Tools Concourse during the weekend and will be signing autographs at designated times on Saturday and Sunday.

As always the event will feature spectacular pre-race and post-race shows. Krista Marie, who sings the popular song "Drive It Like You Stole It" to intro ESPN2's coverage of NHRA, will perform the National Anthem on Monday prior to the start of final eliminations. As she sings, highly-skilled skydiver Jason Peters will soar into O'Reilly Raceway Park with an American Flag in tow. On Saturday prior to the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle, noted blues singer Sammy Eubanks will perform the Star Spangled Banner to open that competition. The Goodyear Blimp will be roaming the skies over the track on Sunday and Monday and spectacular fireworks shows will illuminate the night sky following Friday and Saturday's night qualifying sessions.

Throughout the years fans at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis have cheered on drag racing immortals like Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen, Bob Glidden, and Don "The Snake" Prudhomme as they raced to the winner's circle at more than 250 mph to etch their names into the NHRA record book. Today's stars -- such as seven-time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Tony Schumacher and four-time winner John Force -- will be racing with great passion and determination at more than 300 mph to solidify their status as modern-day legends. For many of the competitors, the race has evolved into much more than an annual contest of speed. For those who seek to become a part of its mystique, winning the event has become a must-do to complete any great driver's resume.

Schumacher (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Dave Connolly (Pro Stock); and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners in their respective pro categories.

This year's edition of the famed event will feature intense side-by-side racing as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle chase their share of the $2 million purse, a position in the Full Throttle Countdown to 1, and more importantly, a spot in history. Teams in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where NHRA's future stars earn valuable experience, also will compete during the weekend.

Once again, the event will feature added drama as it is the last race in the Countdown to 10, the final event in the regular season before the playoffs -- the Countdown to 1 -- begins in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship. Championship-contending teams in each of the four pro categories will be reduced to 10 following this event, and their point totals will be adjusted by increments of 10 from first to 10th. The first place driver in each class also will receive a 20-point bonus.

Two lucrative bonus events are guaranteed to increase the level of excitement for fans during the weekend. The world's eight best Pro Stock Motorcycle riders will race for their share of the top prize in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle on Sept. 5. On Sept. 4, the world's fastest Super Stock cars will compete for bonus bucks and bragging rights in the wildly popular Mopar HEMI Challenge.

Prior to the start of official racing at O'Reilly Raceway Park, fans can get a taste of the excitement on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil Kick-Off Party, which will feature a driver autograph session, display of race cars, live music and an appearance by the popular trackside big screen, ACDelco Vision. The Kick-Off Party starts at 7 p.m. (ET), at Champps Americana on Indy's Northside at 8711 N. River Crossing. Drivers scheduled to appear include Larry Dixon, Brandon Bernstein, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Morgan Lucas, among others.

The most historic and prestigious event in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil has been contested annually since 1955. Originally known as "The Nationals" and first held at an abandoned airstrip in Great Bend, Kan., the event made stops at Kansas City, Mo., Oklahoma City and Detroit before eventually moving to O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in 1961.

SCHEDULE: The first of five pro qualifying sessions is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4. Qualifying continues at noon and 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 and concludes at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle eliminations are at 1:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 7.

TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil by calling (800) 884-NHRA, or via the Web at www.ticketmaster.com.

ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise more than 10 hours of coverage of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil beginning with a two hour and 30 minute qualifying show on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11:30 a.m. (ET). A two-hour qualifying show will air later that day on ESPN2 HD at 5 p.m. (ET). On Monday, Sept. 7, ESPN2 HD will televise a one-hour NHRA Race Day from the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals preview show at noon (ET), followed by a five-hour eliminations show starting at 1 p.m. (ET).

ABOUT O'REILLY RACEWAY PARK AT INDIANAPOLIS: One of five motorsports facilities owned and operated by NHRA, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis sits on 267 acres of land just west of Indianapolis in the town of Claremont, and features three race courses: a quarter-mile dragstrip, a .686-mile paved oval and a 2.5 mile, 15-turn road course. In addition to the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the multipurpose motorsports facility also hosts the Kroger SpeedFest, which features the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the USAC Midget and Silver Crown Series.

ABOUT NHRA: Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.

-credit: nhra