Auto Racing Capsules: Edwards paints NASCAR into disciplinary corner
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The boys sure backed NASCAR into a corner on this one.
Determined to give drivers more leeway this season when it came to policing each other on the track, NASCAR opened the year with a relaxed "boys, have at it" attitude. It was interpreted to mean NASCAR would look the other way at a nudge here, a spin there, and all the retaliatory bumping and banging that goes on over a very long season.
No one could have predicted, though, that NASCAR's first true test would come a mere four races into the season following a frightening accident at Atlanta.
NASCAR on Monday found itself smack in the center of a dilemma over what to do with Carl Edwards, whose intentional wrecking of Brad Keselowski late in Sunday's race ignited a heated debate about just what's permitted under this new policy.
Emotions are high in almost every corner, and no decision NASCAR makes will satisfy everyone.
What first must be figured out, though, is what is everyone is so upset about?
Is it that Edwards returned to the track down 153 laps, intent on retaliating against Keselowski, and after trying for at least one full lap, finally succeeded with a deliberate nudge?
Is it that the high-speed contact sent Keselowski airborne in a spectacular flip that could have caused serious harm to Keselowski or any number of fans in the grandstands?
Or, maybe, the issue is that NASCAR wasn't properly prepared to deal with the ramifications of allowing drivers free rein on the race track. All three are valid arguments.
First up is Edwards, who is on a long list of drivers who have been on the losing end of Keselowski's aggressive charge into NASCAR's top level. Although Denny Hamlin had the most public feud with Keselowski, there is no shortage of top-name drivers who privately pledged they'd exact their revenge this season.
Edwards' most obvious run-in with Keselowski was on the final lap of last April's race at Talladega, where Keselowski's nudge sent Edwards flying into the fence in a wreck that some may argue was more frightening than Atlanta. But the two race against each other weekly in two series, and Edwards' hinted at a far deeper history with the unapologetic Keselowski.
So when early contact between the two knocked Edwards out Sunday, at a track where he's won four times in two series, he was ready for revenge. He 100 percent deliberately wrecked Keselowski and has so far been rather unrepentant about his action.
Edwards, who was immediately parked for his actions, had little to say after a postrace meeting with NASCAR. But he minced no words in a Facebook posting late Sunday night.
"My options," he wrote, "Considering that Brad wrecks me with no regard for anyones safety or hard work, should I: A-Keep letting him wreck me? B-Confront him after the race? C-Wait til bristol and collect other cars? or D-Take care of it now?
"I want to be clear that I was surprised at his flight and very relieved when he walked away. Every person has to decide what code they want to live by and hopefully this explains mine."
Opinions were split, though, perhaps fueled by the severity of Keselowski's crash.
There was no similar outrage when Hamlin fulfilled his promise of payback on Keselowski in last year's Nationwide Series finale at Homestead. And it sure seemed that the cheers far outweighed the jeers when Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Stewart played retaliatory bumper-cars a day later.
But because Keselowski went airborne, bounced hood-first off the retaining wall, and had to climb from a cockpit so crumpled it looked more like an accordion than a car, there's a been cry for NASCAR to issue serious sanctions against Edwards.
Fans want him suspended, and many analysts have agreed. Even Keselowski seemed to taunt NASCAR into cracking down on Edwards.
"It'll be interesting to see how NASCAR reacts to it," he said after the wreck. "They have the ball. If they're going to allow people to intentionally wreck each other at tracks this fast, we will hurt someone either in the cars or the grandstands. It's not cool to intentionally wreck someone at 195 mph."
It's left NASCAR to sift through the evidence. On one hand, this is no different than a traffic infraction: run a red light and nothing happens, you maybe get a ticket. Run a red light and kill someone, now you're looking at vehicular homicide.
So now NASCAR plays judge, jury and executioner, and its decision will reverberate through the rest of the season.
A severe punishment against Edwards is akin to a death sentence on the "have at it" attitude. If the first driver who actually "had at it" is hit with a stiff penalty, then other drivers won't ever dare test the limits.
A significant fine, points deduction or probation will likely back Edwards into a conservative mode that could alter the way he races the rest of the year.
And no action at all, aside from infuriating an enraged mass of fans, well, that could promote repeat behavior from Edwards or others.
Whatever NASCAR decides won't satisfy everyone, but there are some guarantees going forward.
Keselowski, for one, got the message loud and clear that some rival drivers have been trying to deliver for a while now, and he's likely going to think twice before bulldozing his way through a pack of traffic.
Edwards, after a night to sleep on it, probably wishes he'd done things a little differently and will likely give deeper thought to how he exacts his revenge in the future.
And NASCAR? Well, NASCAR knows for sure it needs a quick handbook on how to deal with these issues.
Nobody wants to see the Wild West re-enacted on the track every weekend, but "boys, have at it" was a well-intentioned idea that doesn't deserve to be scrapped because one incident took everyone — including Edwards — by surprise.
Jenna Fryer covers NASCAR for The Associated Press.
Formula 1
Schumacher returns for highly anticipated F1 fight
MADRID — After an anti-climatic championship capped a season of turmoil in 2009, Michael Schumacher's return to Formula One has set the stage for a highly anticipated title fight.
Schumacher's comeback puts four champions on the grid, and at least four teams — including Schumacher's Mercedes GP — are expected to challenge for the championship after a season of surprises on the track generated little excitement despite the victory of underdog Brawn GP.
Most of the news was made off the track in a series of scandals that included the teams nearly forming a breakaway series, Lewis Hamilton allegedly lying to stewards to gain an advantage and Renault's Flavio Briatore being banned from the sport for ordering a driver to crash.
Order appeared to be somewhat restored in February when Ferrari emerged as this season's leading contender after preseason testing, while McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes are all expected to be in the hunt from the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14. In all, 12 teams will be on a starting grid, with Lotus racing for the first time since 1994 and the Senna name returning to the track.
"There could be five or six teams who are competitive," said defending champion Jenson Button, who switched from Brawn to McLaren in January. "It is great for the sport, and I think it is exciting for the fans of F1, and all of us involved, because we don't really know what is going to happen."
Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champ, has returned after three years in retirement and is ready to duel with some familiar foes, as well as others who have emerged during his absence.
Among those he's raced in the past is two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Spain, who has been re-energized by his move to Ferrari.
"This is the best car I've ever had," said Alonso, who won the title in 2005 and 2006. "When you join Ferrari if you don't expect a fast car it means there's something wrong. I was hopeful and it's always good to confirm that the car works well."
Teammate Felipe Massa of Brazil has also chalked up miles and looks to show he's recovered from life-threatening injuries he sustained in a crash at the Hungarian GP in July.
Schumacher, who finished second to Alonso in his final season, said his former team is the one to beat, and most of the paddock considers Alonso the favorite as the iconic red car has had few problems in testing.
Button, meanwhile, left constructors' champion Brawn GP — now Mercedes — to form an all-British lineup with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, which gives it the past two champions.
McLaren had a strong second half in 2009 and came on strong at the end of testing before this season, which sees some rule changes that will alter strategy significantly.
"(The car) feels all new. It feels light years ahead of what it felt last year at this time," said Hamilton, who won two races down the stretch to finish fifth last season. "We're definitely in a much stronger position. We'll start a lot higher up than we did last year."
Button, who got off to a fast start early in 2009 and then hung on to win his first title, isn't deterred by walking into a tricky situation at McLaren, where Hamilton came up through the ranks and has always been favored.
"We're very open with our opinions and also with our feedback so it's a good situation to be in," Button said.
Hamilton has never raced Schumacher, whose comeback was cut short last summer when neck and back injuries kept the 41-year-old German from filling in for Massa after his crash. That missed opportunity whetted Schumacher's appetite to return.
"I feel like it's the good old days," Schumacher said. "It's just the challenge of driving the car, going at the other guys, and fight them, wheel to wheel. I'm here to fight for it. I'm sure we will be in the position."
Red Bull driver Mark Webber doesn't expect Schumacher's return to be all smooth sailing.
"It's totally obvious that he's maybe not like he was, age-wise. That might be something that we might find out if it works against him," Webber said. "But you can never underestimate him, we know that."
Schumacher's teammate, Nico Rosberg, will also be trying to make his mark as he finally gets a seat in a championship-caliber car after four seasons at Williams. Mercedes' Silver Arrows cars return to the grid for the first time in 55 years.
Hamilton and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel are among the drivers who haven't raced Schumacher.
Vettel, who finished second behind Button last year, has another fast car but reliability continues to be an issue. The Austrian team at least has a Renault engine, expected to be the most fuel efficient in a season where refueling is banned and cars will only pit to change tires.
Rubens Barrichello replaces Rosberg at Williams, and will be joined by German rookie Nico Hulkenberg. Williams is expected to be in the group just behind the leaders alongside Sauber, Force India, and perhaps Renault and Toro Rosso.
"Hopefully we can (compete)," the 37-year-old Barrichello said. "We have a competitive car, if it's competitive enough to win the first race I don't know."
Barrichello, who will go over 300 career races this season, is no longer the oldest driver on the grid. He is younger than Schumacher and 39-year-old Pedro De la Rosa, who partners Japan's Kamui Kobayashi at Sauber.
Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi return for Force India, as do Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari for Toro Rosso.
Despite new management and the arrival of Robert Kubica, Renault continues to feel the effects of last year's poor car and "crashgate" scandal and is just hopeful of points, which will be given to the first 10 drivers. Previously only the first eight received points. Race winners will be awarded 25 points instead of 10, while the runner-up earns 18 instead of eight.
Kubica is joined by Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov, one of five new faces on the starting grid this year with Lucas Di Grassi joining Timo Glock at new team Virgin Racing.
Virgin and Lotus, which has drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen for its Malaysian-backed return after 16 years, are the only two new teams that tested. Hispania Racing Team, formerly Campos Meta, will go to Bahrain with rookie pair Bruno Senna — nephew of three-time champion Ayrton Senna — and Indian driver Karun Chandhok.
USF1 will not be competing after governing body FIA rejected its bid to start racing after the start of the season.
Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt has replaced Max Mosley as president of FIA, the sport's governing body. Mosley, who headed the governing body since 1993, made headlines for his power struggles with the teams and a sex scandal nearly two years ago.
Montreal will host the Canadian GP again after it was removed from last year's calendar, while a Korean GP will make it 19 races if the track is ready to go by its scheduled Oct. 24 date.
-- Paul Logothetis
F1 champion Button leaves comfort for McLaren
MADRID — Formula One champion Jenson Button's move to McLaren is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing decisions of the season.
Button left constructors' champion Brawn GP in November after seven years with the former Honda group just before it was taken over by Mercedes, which is investing in an F1 team for the first time in 55 years.
The Briton traded in the comforts of a team he knew well for a chance to drive at McLaren, where teammate Lewis Hamilton has been racing since he was 13. Hamilton's influence inside the team led Fernando Alonso, who joined immediately after winning a second straight championship in 2006, to leave after just one season due to supposed favoritism.
"Jenson knew exactly what he was letting himself in for," McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said of his all-British lineup. "So far he hasn't regretted it. We will see as the season unfolds which of our drivers feels most uncomfortable — inevitably they will. One of them has to feel uncomfortable if he's being beaten by the other."
Last season, Button won six of the first seven races and then hung on to win the championship over Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton was fifth after a mixed season with McLaren, but preseason testing has shown that the British team is one of the favorites going into a field where Alonso has been reinvigorated by a move to Ferrari and seven-time champion Michael Schumacher returns to take Button's place.
Despite all of the competition on the grid, it's the in-house threat that seems most dangerous.
"Our chances our good. I have a confidence in my ability and my confidence in building a good team around me," Button said. "But you never know until you're racing someone in the team. It's very difficult to know where you stand.
"There will be rivalry, there always has to be between teammates. (And) one of us is always going to be on top."
Whitmarsh, who regrets how the team treated Alonso, said the rivalry will help the team's drive for the title.
"Jenson and Lewis in harmony at McLaren isn't a headline we're likely to read," Whitmarsh told the BBC. "We'll do our best to do everything as fairly as we can with the two drivers.
"There is all kind of speculation about this is a Hamilton team — Lewis knows we want a fair fight. We will be fair and treat these guys equitably."
Hamilton, who won two races as McLaren rebounded down the stretch last year, said his working relationship with Button was good, but the 2008 champion did not mince words when it came to getting back into the title fight.
"I'm happy to put my hands up and say when I've been beaten, and I have lost a race to a teammate, but not a championship," said Hamilton, who also admitted to errors in handling Alonso's stay at the team. "At some stage it could happen, but I will just do everything I can to make sure it doesn't."
Button said his driving style will also suit new regulations, which have banned refueling.
"It's still a different way of driving for me because it is like an endurance race. It's like driving at Le Mans, you really have to look after the tires at the start of the stint," the 30-year-old Button said. "If you damage the tires on Lap 3 you are (in trouble) for the whole stint. You really have to be very gentle with the car."
Whitmarsh said McLaren has the fastest team on the grid, which is quite a statement considering Button was better known by his playboy reputation than driving skills for some time.
Button made a promising debut for Williams at 20 before eventually moving to Benetton and Renault, where his off-track reputation came alive.
He joined BAR-Honda in 2002 and finally scored his first victory four years later in Hungary, but waited until last season to triumph again. Button was on the verge of exiting the sport when Honda pulled out in December 2008, even taking a pay cut while paying his own way to some races.
The highs and lows have obviously benefited Button, whose maturity and patience eventually paid off with Brawn at the start last year, something he will need to do with McLaren or risk falling by the wayside of Hamilton.
"This year I'm more excited because of the competitiveness of the four top teams, plus Sauber and Williams," Button said. "Also having Lewis as a teammate. He's an exceptional driver and it's really a challenge, an exciting one."
-- Paul Logothetis
Moss falls down elevator shaft at London home
LONDON — Former Formula One driver Stirling Moss has broken both ankles and hurt his back in a fall down an elevator shaft at his London home.
The 80-year-old Briton was taken to the Royal London Hospital on Saturday after falling three floors.
A statement on Moss' Web site says he stepped through the open elevator door without noticing the elevator had malfunctioned and stopped on the floor above.
Moss broke four bones in a foot and chipped four vertebrae but did not lose consciousness. The statement says his "body still has the same resilience to injury as it did in his racing days."
Moss won 16 Grand Prix races but never the world championship. He was runner-up four times.
