Deny the Inevitable

There was no good racing action over the weekend.  Some NASCAR thing in New Hampshire of all places.  I just can't picture the good ole boys from Alabama or North Carolina in New Hampshire. But I'm going to have to face the fact that racing season is winding down.

The IRL season is already over. Champ Car and Formula One has only three races left each.  I think ALMS has only the Petite LeMans left and I think the Rolex Series is over for the year.  I don't know where the NHRA is for the year but their season can't go on very much longer.

The only thing to do when there is no racing is talk about racing.  There's only 132 days until the Rolex 24 at Daytona!

Raikkonen Confirmed at Ferrari

I had heard the rumors but on Sunday it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen will drive for Ferrari in 2007. Raikkonen talks about going to the Horse Team:

"I'm happy to join a team with a history and all the great things, but first of all I want to finish this year as well as I can and then see what happens next year," said the Finn. "There are many reasons [why I chose Ferrari].  I have had five years at McLaren and they are a great team and nice people to work with, but in the end I wanted something else and there were only two choices - to stay with McLaren or to go to Ferrari."

Chinese Grand Prix

The next race is Sunday October 1,  2006 - Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

Schumacher Retires

The announcement finally came.

Perhaps history's greatest Formula One driver, Michael Schumacher, announced his retirement.

At the conclusion of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the seven time world champion said this would be his last season as a race driver. I thought his choice of words were curious.  He didn't say he was retiring from Ferrari or from F1.  He said he was retiring from driving.  Which means he's not going to another team or even to another series.

Even two-time champion Mika Hakkinnen drives in other series from time to time.

I just don't see how someone as competitive as Michael Schumacher can just walk away from all motorsports. Come to America Michael!  You can drive in Champ Car until you're sixty years old.

Judging from the body language between Michael and Ferrari chief Montezemolo, I believe Michael was forced out.  Which is incredibly short sighted on Ferrari's part.  No one has sold more Ferraris in the past years than M. Schumacher.

There will always be another hot-shot young driver to take Michael's place in the coming years.  No need to get rid of him just to sign Kimi Raikkonen.

Audi Clinches ALMS Title

The all powerful Audi R-10s have clinched this year's P-1 class title with two races to go. It all went down Saturday at Mosport in Ontario, Canada. Congratulations to Scotsman Alan McNish and Italian Dindo Capello. Dave Maraj (Team Director, Team Audi Sport North America):

It's a great day for Allan and Dindo and of course Audi after developing revolutionary diesel technology. But we shouldn't forget that we relied on the Audi R8 for three races and the ˜old girl' did us proud. On this occasion, it was a difficult race for the No. 1 Audi. The Dysons were very quick today which is underlined by Guy Smith's fastest race lap. It is good to have won the Drivers' title. In the final two races, we will concentrate on winning the Manufacturers title for Audi for the seventh consecutive year.

Thanks to ALMS.

Raikkonen "most likely" to Ferrari

No official word on where Kimi Raikkonen will drive next year, but the rumor mill seems to be coming to a consensus.

It looks likely that the Finn will be at Ferrari next year.  No word yet on the futures of Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn or Renault boss Flavio Briatore.  Although, Jean Todt says he's happy to stay at Ferrari next season.

All will be revealed at the conclusion of next weekend's race at Monza. Thanks to Yahoo F1.