Playoff tension rises for NASCAR drivers

Playoff tension rises for NASCAR drivers

Joey Logano, a three-time NASCAR playoff champion, is under pressure after a 20th place at Darlington and 13th in the standings. Gateway is very important because a win would move him safely into the next round before the cut at Bristol, where the field will shrink from 16 drivers to 12. Team Penske has done well at Gateway, with Logano strong there and Austin Cindric took last year’s race, while Hendrick Motorsports has struggled at the track. Other drivers near the cutline, like Austin Dillon and Alex Bowman, also see Gateway as a key race to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Click here to read the full article by NATE RYAN (www.nwaonline.com)

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Gasly and Hadjar handed pit lane starts after engine changes

The FIA confirmed new engine parts for Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine before the Italian Grand Prix. Hadjar, who did not make it out of Q1 just a week after his podium in the Dutch GP, will start from the pit lane because his car has a full set of new parts. His car now uses a fifth engine, turbo, MGU-H and MGU-K, plus a third energy store and control electronics, all over the season limit. Gasly’s Alpine also has its fifth engine, turbo, MGU-H and MGU-K, and both drivers’ cars now use a sixth exhaust, with eight allowed this year.

Click here to read the full article by Ian Parkes (racingnews365.com)

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Hamlin takes pole as playoffs head to Gateway

The NASCAR Playoffs just started, and things are already intense—Chase Briscoe won at Darlington to move on, and now the next race is at Gateway for the first time in the playoffs. Denny Hamlin took the pole with a super fast lap, just ahead of Kyle Larson, with other top playoff drivers like Briscoe, Ross Chastain, and Ryan Blaney right behind. Big names like Kyle Busch (22nd) and Chase Elliott (19th) didn’t qualify well and will have to fight their way forward, while rookie Shane van Gisbergen starts 18th. A new tire setup that only Larson has tested could change how the race plays out, and the past three races at Gateway have had three different winners.

Click here to read the full article by Samriddhi Jaiswal (athlonsports.com)

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Browning claims F2 win after crash-filled Monza race

Luke Browning won the F2 feature race at Monza after a race full of accidents and safety cars. Leonardo Fornaroli lost part of his front wing at the start but still finished fifth, while Richard Verschoor dropped to 13th early, was unlucky with the safety cars, and ended up eighth. Arvid Lindblad caused two crashes, retired with damage, and was given a grid penalty for the next race. After all the chaos and retirements, Browning crossed the line first for the win.

Click here to read the full article by Tobia Elia & Hidde Korte (www.gpblog.com)

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V8 engine may not return until 2031

Formula One will not bring back V8 engines until at least 2031 because teams and the FIA could not agree on doing it earlier. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem wanted them to return in 2029 with sustainable fuel and some electric power, but most car makers prefer to keep the new 2026 hybrid engines. These engines will be 50% hybrid, use sustainable fuel, and stay until 2030. Audi, Mercedes, Honda, and others want the full plan to finish before big changes.

Click here to read the full article at www.straitstimes.com