Motor Sports News

Race driver Danica Patrick rests her head on her helmet during a break in practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Qualified and non-qualified drivers get work done at Indy

AP - Thu May 15, 6:21 PM ET

INDIANAPOLIS - A group of antsy drivers got their wish Thursday, with a dry track allowing them to finally get some work done at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

  • Charles Buckman, a crewman for Dale Coyne Racing, is treated by crewman and emergency personnel after he was struck by a car driven by Danica Patrick as she returned to her pit during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 9, 2008. He was taken to Methodist Hospital with a concussion and lacerations. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)
    Injured Indy 500 crewman released from hospital AP - Tue May 13, 5:09 PM ET

    INDIANAPOLIS - Charles Buckman, a crewman for Dale Coyne Racing, has been released from Methodist Hospital four days after being struck by Danica Patrick's race car during practice for the Indianapolis 500.

  • The Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers play through the rain as it delayed activities on the second day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 11, 2008. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
    Indy 500 qualifying, practice canceled because of rain AP - Sun May 11, 5:39 PM ET

    INDIANAPOLIS - Qualifying and practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been canceled for the day due to rain. Qualifying for positions 12-22 for drivers at the May 25 Indianapolis 500 was to be decided Sunday. Now those slots will be added to next Saturday's scheduled qualifying. It was the fourth day this month that speedway events were canceled or limited because of rain.

  • Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil celebrates during the victory ceremony, watched by second placed McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, after he won the Turkish Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park Formula One circuit in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
    Ferrari's Felipe Massa wins his 3rd straight Turkish GP AP - Sun May 11, 5:31 PM ET

    ISTANBUL, Turkey - Felipe Massa held off Lewis Hamilton to win his third straight Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday and earn Ferrari's fourth consecutive Formula One victory.

  • Cans of beer are throw from the grandstand after Kyle Busch wins the NASCAR Dodge Challenger 500 Sprint Cup series auto race at the Darlington International Raceway, in Darlington, S.C. on Saturday, May 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Daniel Plassmann)
    Busch overcomes penalty, a few scrapes to win at Darlington AP - Sun May 11, 7:32 AM ET

    DARLINGTON, S.C. - The crowd booed him. He called his car pathetic. His crew missed a lug nut, and he couldn't stay off Darlington Raceway's wall. Despite it all, Kyle Busch found Victory Lane once again.

  • Race driver Danica Patrick waits for the start of practice on the first day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 10, 2008. An accident Friday occurred in the pits, where Dale Coyne Racing crewman Charles Buckman was knocked to the ground by the front wing of Danica Patrick's car as she drove into her pit. Buckman, who was walking through the pits, was taken to the hospital with a concussion and cuts to his face and scalp. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
    Danica Patrick bumped off, falls short of Indy 500 pole AP - Sat May 10, 9:21 PM ET

    INDIANAPOLIS - Danica Patrick watched contentedly from Indianapolis' pit wall as the first day of qualifying ended. With fans shouting her name and crew members hustling to put away her equipment, Patrick shook her head and reflected on the opportunity that had just slipped away — winning the Indy 500 pole.

  • The car driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay hits the wall in the third turn during a qualification attempt on the first day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Kurt Bauer)
    Rookie Ryan Hunter-Reay crashes during Indy 500 qualifying AP - Sat May 10, 6:03 PM ET

    INDIANAPOLIS - Rookie driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has crashed during a qualifying attempt for the Indianapolis 500.

  • Tony Stewart holds the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 auto race at the Darlington International Raceway, in Darlington, S.C. Friday, May 9, 2008. (AP Photo/C.J. Driggers)
    Stewart wins wreck-filled Nationwide race at Darlington AP - Sat May 10, 4:22 AM ET

    DARLINGTON, S.C. - All it took was his first Darlington Raceway victory to bring out Tony Stewart's softer side. Only two months ago, Stewart angrily blasted Goodyear after the Atlanta race, saying the company had given him "the most pathetic racing tire I've ever been on in my professional career."

  • Hamlin hits wall at Darlington AP - Fri May 9, 5:10 PM ET

    DARLINGTON, S.C. - Sprint Cup star Denny Hamlin, who won the past two Nationwide Series events at Darlington Raceway, hit the wall during qualifying and did not make Friday night's Nationwide race.

  • Rain ends Indy 500 practice 3 hours early AP - Fri May 9, 4:08 PM ET

    INDIANAPOLIS - Rain has ended practice for the Indianapolis 500, the third time this week track time has been curtailed by the weather.

  • NASCAR claims electrical fire caused fatal plane crash AP - Fri May 9, 12:23 PM ET

    ORLANDO, Fla. - NASCAR officials claim an electrical fire caused a fatal plane crash near Orlando last year that killed two aboard the aircraft and three on the ground, but federal investigators do not necessarily agree with that claim.

  • Dale Jr.: Busch has "Intimidator's style AP - Thu May 8, 8:06 PM ET

    DARLINGTON, S.C. - Kyle Busch just might have a little "Intimidator" in him.

  • Indy rookie Camara crashes during practice, hospitalized AP - Mon May 5, 9:00 PM ET

    INDIANAPOLIS - X-rays are negative on rookie driver Jaime Camara's injured back.

  • AP source: Bobby Labonte agrees to extension AP - Sat May 3, 3:18 PM ET

    RICHMOND, Va. - Bobby Labonte became the latest driver to take himself off the free-agent market, agreeing to a contract extension with Petty Enterprises, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

  • Driver Carl Edwards pushes his car during qualifying for Saturday's NASCAR Sprint cup race at the Richmond International Raceway, in Richmond, Va., Friday, May 2, 2008. Edwards signed a multiple-year contract extension to continue driving the No. 99 Ford. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
    Edwards signs contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing AP - Sat May 3, 2:12 AM ET

    RICHMOND, Va. - Carl Edwards briefly explored free agency before deciding to stay with Roush Fenway Racing for the next several years.