Mugello MotoGP, Le Mans test day, Detroit IndyCar
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NASCAR - Dover: Penske is celebrating right now, three qualifying sessions this weekend and three poles so far.
After Brad Keselowski's Sprint Cup top spot yesterday and Helio Castroneves' IndyCar pole in Detroit this morning, Joey Logano has just put Penske's #22 on pole for the Dover Nationwide Series race, which takes place later today.
After Brad Keselowski's Sprint Cup top spot yesterday and Helio Castroneves' IndyCar pole in Detroit this morning, Joey Logano has just put Penske's #22 on pole for the Dover Nationwide Series race, which takes place later today.
MotoGP - Mugello: Both Espargaro brothers shunted this afternoon, with Pol's crash coming at the end of Q2.
That still didn't prevent him qualifying an excellent fifth, but he thinks something better was possible.
The crash came on the out-lap as he tried to put maximum heat into his hard compound tyres for his final Q2 run. It was, he says "a rookie crash, and a stupid crash".
That still didn't prevent him qualifying an excellent fifth, but he thinks something better was possible.
The crash came on the out-lap as he tried to put maximum heat into his hard compound tyres for his final Q2 run. It was, he says "a rookie crash, and a stupid crash".
MotoGP - Mugello: Aleix Espargaro came close to ending his Q2 streak today before scraping in through Q1.
He admits that trashing his main bike in practice four didn't help, but says the main issue is that the Open class Forward Yamaha can't match the Factory bikes on Mugello's long straight so he has to rely on tows.
He admits that trashing his main bike in practice four didn't help, but says the main issue is that the Open class Forward Yamaha can't match the Factory bikes on Mugello's long straight so he has to rely on tows.
MotoGP - Mugello: Marquez adds that he's keen to test an F1 car one day.
Asked if he's got a preference for which team, Marquez quickly goes for his personal sponsor Red Bull... then switches allegiance when reminded that his MotoGP employer Honda will be back in F1 with McLaren next year.
Asked if he's got a preference for which team, Marquez quickly goes for his personal sponsor Red Bull... then switches allegiance when reminded that his MotoGP employer Honda will be back in F1 with McLaren next year.
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MotoGP - Mugello: Marquez is telling journalists about a chat he's just been having with Fernando Alonso.
According to Marquez, Alonso says MotoGP looked pretty smooth and easy on TV but seems harder in real life!
He's paraphrasing...
Marquez also suggests that Alonso agreed that the car makes a bigger difference than the driver in F1, but it's the opposite in MotoGP. Again, paraphrasing... and maybe a little skewed in translation.
According to Marquez, Alonso says MotoGP looked pretty smooth and easy on TV but seems harder in real life!
He's paraphrasing...
Marquez also suggests that Alonso agreed that the car makes a bigger difference than the driver in F1, but it's the opposite in MotoGP. Again, paraphrasing... and maybe a little skewed in translation.
European F3 – Hungary: Esteban Ocon grabs pole for both of tomorrow's races. Fuoco will be second for both, Auer third for both, and Rosenqvist fourth for both.
Detroit and Budapest are the focal points of the rest of the AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live day.
DTM qualifying in Hungary should begin at 5.10pm UK time, but delays in the support programme are likely to knock that back.
Meanwhile in America, the United SportsCar race in Detroit is due off at 5.10pm UK, with IndyCar race one beginning around 8.30pm UK.
DTM qualifying in Hungary should begin at 5.10pm UK time, but delays in the support programme are likely to knock that back.
Meanwhile in America, the United SportsCar race in Detroit is due off at 5.10pm UK, with IndyCar race one beginning around 8.30pm UK.
Breaking news
Auto GP - Monza: Elsewhere in Italy, the Auto GP field has an open goal this weekend as points leader Kimiya Sato - who was only ever popping back to help Euronova out alongside his main programme in GP2 - isn't racing.
Markus Pommer struck first by dominating race one. Here's SAM SMITH's full report of how he did it:
Monza Auto GP race one report
Markus Pommer struck first by dominating race one. Here's SAM SMITH's full report of how he did it:
Monza Auto GP race one report
MotoGP - Mugello: Alvaro Bautista had to scrabble through Q1 to reach the business end of qualifying again today and having got there, was only 11th. He admitted that crashing and putting his primary bike beyond quick repair in practice four left him spooked and over-cautious.
Bautista is only three places ahead of his Open class Gresini team-mate Scott Redding.
The Brit said following Mugello legend Valentino Rossi around for a few laps this morning gave him some good tips for getting a MotoGP bike around the gorgeous Italian venue on a weekend when Friday's poor weather had left him short on practice mileage.
Bautista is only three places ahead of his Open class Gresini team-mate Scott Redding.
The Brit said following Mugello legend Valentino Rossi around for a few laps this morning gave him some good tips for getting a MotoGP bike around the gorgeous Italian venue on a weekend when Friday's poor weather had left him short on practice mileage.
European F3 – Hungary: Finally, qualifying for races two and three is underway. Will it be all Blomqvist and Ocon as it was yesterday, or will someone else spring a surprise? We'll know more in a little under 20 minutes.
MotoGP - Mugello: Valentino Rossi describes himself as "quite desperate" about ending qualifying for his home race - where many expect him to topple Marc Marquez - only 10th on the grid.
The times were extremely close in qualifying and he was only three tenths from a front row spot, but he said switching to the softer front tyre halfway through Q2 was "a big mistake" as he couldn't get the same feeling with the bike afterwards.
The times were extremely close in qualifying and he was only three tenths from a front row spot, but he said switching to the softer front tyre halfway through Q2 was "a big mistake" as he couldn't get the same feeling with the bike afterwards.
Breaking news
FR3.5 - Spa: It was an all-Red Bull front row at Spa, but one of the two cars disappeared by itself in the race.
That used to be a familiar story in F1, but today that tale comes from Formula Renault 3.5, where Carlos Sainz Jr was dominant again.
Here's GLENN FREEMAN's full report from a race that bodes well for Sainz's title prospects:
Spa FR3.5 race one report
That used to be a familiar story in F1, but today that tale comes from Formula Renault 3.5, where Carlos Sainz Jr was dominant again.
Here's GLENN FREEMAN's full report from a race that bodes well for Sainz's title prospects:
Spa FR3.5 race one report
Checkered flag
Brad Keselowski
NASCAR - Dover: Brad Keselowski's great weekend is continuing at the Monster Mile. He took pole yesterday, by a pretty commanding margin for a one-mile oval (a tenth of a second), and he's just topped the first of Saturday's two practice sessions.
The race is tomorrow and you can follow it as it happens on AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live from approximately 6pm UK time.
Leading Saturday morning practice results:
1 Brad Keselowski
2 Kevin Harvick
3 Carl Edwards
4 Brian Vickers
5 Matt Kenseth
6 Dale Earnhardt Jr
7 Clint Bowyer
8 Marcos Ambrose
9 Jimmie Johnson
10 Tony Stewart
European F3 – Hungary: A new start time of 4:50pm local (3:50pm UK) has been set for F3 qualifying.
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FR3.5 - Spa: Sainz says he can't understand why he was so far ahead in that race, but Gasly might have the answer.
"I had a problem with my brake pedal after the aborted start," says the Frenchman. "It was causing me some problems, but I think even without that I would not have been able to catch Carlos today."
"I had a problem with my brake pedal after the aborted start," says the Frenchman. "It was causing me some problems, but I think even without that I would not have been able to catch Carlos today."
European F3 – Hungary: There's a long delay at the Hungaroring as a crashed Maserati is removed from the fence. At this rate, the F3 drivers will need to carry torches.
FR3.5 - Spa: That was a significant win for Sainz. He beat one of his title rivals fair and square in the form of Gasly, while Rowland - who was building some momentum - has lost a lot of ground with that non-score.
Breaking news
Helio Castroneves
IndyCar - Detroit: Here's MARK GLENDENNING's full report from Detroit's early morning qualifying session for race one.
Helio Castroneves on pole on a street track might not be a huge surprise, but Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay on the back row...
Detroit IndyCar qualifying one
European F3 – Hungary: Qualifying for races two and three at the Hungaroring is about to get underway. The session is 20-minutes long, with drivers fastest laps counting for race two, and second fastest laps counting for race three.
Checkered flag
FR3.5 - Spa: Dominant win for Sainz.
Result: 1 Sainz; 2 Gasly; 3 Jaafar; 4 Laine; 5 Nato; 6 Ghiotto.
Result: 1 Sainz; 2 Gasly; 3 Jaafar; 4 Laine; 5 Nato; 6 Ghiotto.
FR3.5 - Spa: Jaafar makes his low downforce trim work, taking third on the final lap from Laine at Les Combes.
FR3.5 - Spa: Some drama in the closing stages here as Ghiotto passes Sorensen into Eau Rouge! That was for sixth, and Sorensen loses seventh to Stevens on the exit.
The move was set up by Sorensen locking up into La Source, which cost him momentum.
Sainz, leading by 16s, is on his last lap.
The move was set up by Sorensen locking up into La Source, which cost him momentum.
Sainz, leading by 16s, is on his last lap.
Checkered flag
Auto GP - Monza: Markus Pommer takes the first race of the weekend leading home Tamas Pal Kiss by 1.5s. Michela Cerruti rounds out the podium after a great drive in the Super Nova Lola. Andrea Roda comes home fourth.
FR3.5 - Spa: Not sure Jaafar can get himself onto the podium here. He's fast, but clearly running less wing than Laine so he loses too much in the middle sector every lap.
Sainz now leads Gasly by 13.3s with two minutes + 1 lap remaining.
Sainz now leads Gasly by 13.3s with two minutes + 1 lap remaining.
Auto GP- Monza: Hairy stuff for what is the final podium position. Michela Cerruti under intense pressure from Roda's Virtuosi UK Lola defends robustly but fairly at Rettifilo. This allows Shinya Michimi to sneak passed a rattled Roda and into fourth. But as soon as he does he slows at the first Lesmo and parks up.
Auto GP - Monza: Disaster for Giovesi as his Eurotech mechanics desperately try to remove left rear but it is stuck fast. That should enable Pommer to cruise to the chequered flag.
Tom Blomqvist
Hungaroring - European F3: We'll have qualifying for races two and three of the European Formula 3 weekend in Hungary coming up shortly.
Race one was this morning, and victory went to Carlin's Tom Blomqvist, which helped close the points gap to our rookie championship leader Esteban Ocon, a Lotus Formula 1 team protege.
Championship standings after 10 of 33 rounds:
1 Esteban Ocon 182
2 Tom Blomqvist 132
3 Lucas Auer 107
4 Jordan King 70
5 Max Verstappen 68
6 Antonio Fuoco 67
(25 points for a win)
Auto GP - Monza: Super Nova blinks first and Pommer pits from the lead. It is a tidy stop by Norfolk's finest. Giovesi now must hammer it before he makes his mandatory stop.
FR3.5 - Spa: Sainz leads by nearly 9s, while Jaafar has already caught third-placed Laine. If he can get past the Finn quickly, he'll get a shot at Gasly in second as well.
Auto GP - Monza: Pommer and Giovesi still running 1-2 but yet to pit. Six laps remaining. La Rosa is third and Dracone fourth and they are the only others yet to stop.
FR3.5 - Spa: Rowland's championship chances were taking a serious hit as he found himself stuck behind Mavlanov and Visser battling for the final point in 10th. Things got worse though, as he has slowed on the run to Blanchimont and returns to the garage.
Towards the front, Jaafar has just passed Nato for fourth, and will have his sights on back-to-back podiums if he can catch Laine.
Towards the front, Jaafar has just passed Nato for fourth, and will have his sights on back-to-back podiums if he can catch Laine.
Auto GP - Monza: Kiss has pitted a lap before Cerruti but a sticky left rear has cost the Milanese resident the net third place.
FR3.5 - Spa: The pack behind Gasly in second is closing up. Laine, Nato, Jaafar, Sorensen and Ghiotto all started from lowly grid positions (the Finn was seventh, to be fair - the rest were outside the top 10) but they are staying with the front row starter in the race.
FR3.5 - Spa: Sainz has checked out already, leading by nearly 3s. Gasly has the chasing pack under control, which is Laine, Nato, Jaafar, Sorensen and Ghiotto.
Checkered flag
Moto2 - Mugello: It's a fourth pole in six races for Moto2 points leader Tito Rabat, and his nearest rivals Mika Kallio and Maverick Vinales are only 11th and 16th.
But the big news is a breakthrough second place for British star Sam Lowes in his first Moto2 season. He heads 2012 Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese on the front row.
Leading qualifiers:
1 Tito Rabat
2 Sam Lowes
3 Sandro Cortese
4 Jonas Folger
5 Dominique Aegerter
6 Luis Salom
7 Jordi Torres
8 Franco Morbidelli
9 Tom Luthi
10 Marcel Schrotter
But the big news is a breakthrough second place for British star Sam Lowes in his first Moto2 season. He heads 2012 Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese on the front row.
Leading qualifiers:
1 Tito Rabat
2 Sam Lowes
3 Sandro Cortese
4 Jonas Folger
5 Dominique Aegerter
6 Luis Salom
7 Jordi Torres
8 Franco Morbidelli
9 Tom Luthi
10 Marcel Schrotter
Crash
FR3.5 - Spa: Another car in the wall after Les Combes - this time its Fantin. Several more cars followed Nato past the Brazilian up the hill, but van Buuren then tagged the Draco car into a spin. No safety car, it's being dealt with under local yellows.
Green flag
FR3.5 - Spa: The safety car pulls in and the race is live again at the start of lap five.
The top three are away well, while Monaco winner Nato pounces on a sleeping Fantin into Eau Rouge!
The top three are away well, while Monaco winner Nato pounces on a sleeping Fantin into Eau Rouge!
Crash
AutoGP - Monza: Von Grunigen's misery is compounded as he bounces over the gravel at Parabolica, his left rear wheel cocked into the air after contact with Spinelli's Eurotech Lola-Zytek.
AutoGP - Monza: Von Grunigen is dead last now after almost stalling on his first AutoGP start.
Checkered flag
IndyCar - Detroit: Castroneves holds on to pole, and in IndyCar terms his 0.4s gap is huge. Hinchcliffe claimed P2 with his final lap to knock Hawksworth back to third. Conway, Briscoe and Montoya complete the first three rows.
By: Matt Beer, Andrew van Leeuwen, Mark Glendenning, Glenn Freeman, Sam Smith, Dan Cross, Gary Watkins, AUTOSPORT staff, Charles Bradley
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