NASCAR hints at playoff changes, open to moving away from some spec parts

Ex-F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen could be set for a surprise switch to Red Bull Racing in 2010, it has been rumoured - as the Finn's discussions with former employers McLaren-Mercedes appear to have hit deadlock over his financial demands, whilst Mark Webber's continuing allegiance to his disgraced manager Flavio Briatore has reportedly made him unpopular with RBR top brass.

McLaren's partnership with engine-supplier Mercedes-Benz - believed to have been on rocky ground for some time - could culminate in divorce as soon as the end of the 2009 F1 World Championship campaign, it has been rumoured, with reports that BMW is set to fill the breach.

Formula 1's inaugural night race in 2008 was widely-regarded as one of the success stories of the season, and as the travelling circus returns there this weekend for the second edition of the Singapore Grand Prix in the Far Eastern city-state, hopes are high for a similar spectacle.

With the annual Formula 1 silly season getting increasingly into full swing, three names are being mooted as the most likely candidates for a drive at Manor Grand Prix in 2010 - out-of-work Super Aguri F1 refugee Anthony Davidson, current BMW-Sauber reserve driver Christian Klien and reigning A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Champion Adam Carroll.

The post-qualifying fuel weights ahead of the European Grand Prix this weekend suggest that Sebastian Vettel should be worried, that Rubens Barrichello is arguably in the box seat - and that Jenson Button could just be about to get his faltering championship challenge back on-track under the Spanish sun.

It's that time of year again. The F1 circus is off sunning itself on its mid-summer break, drivers and teams alike are taking a much-needed and well-deserved breather from the frenetic nature of one grand prix after another - and everybody seems to be talking about who will be driving where in 2010. Here at Crash.net there is no exception, so we have put together a list of likely options and moves between this season and next, who is in favour and who is likely heading out of the door. The drivers have been listed in order of present championship position.

Global music superstars Beyonce, The Black Eyed Peas, Simple Minds, ZZ Top and N.E.R.D have all been lined up by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to rock the weekend of the Singapore Grand Prix next month - though ticket sales for the island city-state's second race are still struggling to get off the starting grid.

BMW has dropped hints that it may be willing to follow fellow German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz in supplying 'customer' versions of its engines to other F1 teams - with suggestions the Bavarian marque has Red Bull Racing as its prime target.

Flying in the face of the opinions expressed by both Ferrari and BMW over the past week, Ross Brawn has thrown his support behind the FIA's new optional ?40 million budget cap in Formula 1, warning that without it the top flight risks 'turning [engineers] into Swiss watchmakers' - but equally underlining that it will only be workable if it is embraced by all.

In an exclusive interview on the Dale Jr. Download, NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell announced a planned increase from 670HP to 750HP for select tracks in 2026. He also touched on a variety of other topics, hinting at both possible changes to the current championship format, and even opening Cup garage up to more innovation again.On the playoff format, O'Donnell clearly stated that any ...Keep reading

NASCAR has confirmed the long debated and long rumored horsepower increase for short tracks and road courses in the Cup Series in 2026.As a result, the target number increases from 670 to 750 for the following tracks on the 2026 schedule -- Circuit of The Americas, Watkins Glen, San Diego, Sonoma, Charlotte Roval, Bowman Gray Stadium, Phoenix, Darlington, Martinsville, Bristol, Dover ...Keep reading

Harrison Burton is parting ways with AM Racing after one season with the team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He helped to elevate the small organization, making the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs before being eliminated in the first round. Burton currently sits 12th in the championship standings with a program that was outside the top-30 just one year ago, but he announced on Wednesday that ...Keep reading

On the final lap during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval on Sunday, Ross Chastain attempted a dive-bomb on Denny Hamlin to complete a pass that would have secured the point needed to advance in the Playoffs.That move resulted in both drivers crashing out instead and Joey Logano taking the final Round of 8 spot on pointsHowever, there were a lot of moving ...Keep reading

The hopes of any candidates dislodging incumbent FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in December look all but gone, as it appears none of his rivals will be able to submit an eligible team.Ben Sulayem is seeking a second four-year term as FIA president during the governing body's General Assemblies held on 12 December in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.Alongside the 63-year-old Emirati, three other ...Keep reading

The hopes of any candidates dislodging incumbent FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in December look all but gone, as it appears none of his rivals will be able to submit an eligible team.Ben Sulayem is seeking a second four-year term as FIA president during the governing body's General Assemblies held on 12 December in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.Alongside the 63-year-old Emirati, three other ...Keep reading

The judge overseeing the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports v. NASCAR antitrust lawsuit and countersuit has effectively ordered a middle ground compromise over a recent ask made by both parties.On Monday, NASCAR motioned to Judge Kenneth D. Bell to have the Western District of North Carolina oversee a settlement conference due to previous meetings through mediator Jeffrey Mishkin in August ...Keep reading

Tyler Reif, 18, will drive the No. 41 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado in his NASCAR Truck Series debut later this month. Reif will compete in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on October 31st.Phoenix is a special track for the teenager, as he earned his one and only ARCA victory at the Arizona track. During the 2023 season, he made his ARCA debut at the age of 15 and earned a shock ...Keep reading

In Formula 1 the numbers never lie – whether it’s the number of zeros on your paycheque, the thousandths of a second on the stopwatch or the points of downforce on your new front wing.By looking at the underlying numbers of driver and team performance we can spot trends and learn more about what’s really going on this season.We did this at the quarter stage, the half stage and now ...Keep reading