MARCH 29, 2017

(media.crash.net)
Sebastian Vettel (No. 5 Scuderia Ferrari) won the 2017 Formula 1 season-opener in Australia on Sunday, possibly signifying renewed competitiveness in F1, although the quality of the racing itself wasn't all that. It was Vettel's first win since the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix and his 43rd F1 victory. Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team) finished second after leading the early part of the race. Vettel took advantage of an early pit call by Hamilton to pull away to a commanding lead. Hamilton's teammate, Valtteri Bottas (No. 77 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team), finished third.

(Getty Images/NASCAR)
After finishing second three weeks in a row, Kyle Larson (No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet) broke through to win the Auto Club 400 at the Auto Club Speedway on Sunday. Larson, who started on the pole and led a race-high 110 laps, took the lead on the final restart with two laps remaining in the overtime 202-lap Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, delivering his second career victory. Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Wurth Ford) finished second after recovering from damage to his car suffered just after the start of the race, and Clint Boyer (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Rush Truck Centers Ford) finished third. Watch a video here.

(Audi images)
The fourth season of the FIA World Rallycross Championship kicks off this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, April 1-2. Twelve events on three continents are on the calendar this year. This weekend will mark the debut of the energized EKS team, which becomes an Audi-supported effort for the first time. Mattias Ekström, the reigning world champion, will be fielding three 560HP Audi S1 EKS RX quattro machines for the first time. “Last week, we did another three-day test in France and are entering the season superbly prepared,” Ekström commented. The Swede is both a driver and the team boss at EKS. “I’m very happy with the development work that was done in winter and our aim for this season is clear: we’d like to win the drivers’ and teams’ titles in the FIA World Rallycross Championship again this year.” The rallycross track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is located in the stadium section of the circuit and includes two super-fast corners included in Formula 1 races as well – albeit in the opposite direction. It is one of the few tracks with very fast initial corners on tarmac, plus many flat-out sections. Coverage of the season opener at Barcelona will start on Sunday, April 2, at 15:00 CEST. A list of all TV channels is available at www.fiaworldrallycross.com/tv_listings. In selected markets a live stream of World RX will be available online at www.fiaworldrallycross.com/live.

(INDYCAR)
IndyCar has released more images of the next-gen design of the car to be used in the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series. (Note that the main center image above is of the 2018 superspeedway configuration, with the outline of the current superspeedway configuration superimposed over it for comparison. Secondary images in the upper right and lower left show concepts for the rear wing and front wing in the 2018 street course/road course/short oval configuration.) This is the universal aerodynamic bodywork kit that will be used by all competitors in 2018. The computer-generated images are the next evolution of the car's development process and provide more detail than concept sketches released in January. "While this remains a work in progress, we are encouraged with where the development of the 2018 car stands," said Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations. "The look of the car is bold, the performance data from simulations is meeting targeted goals and safety enhancements built into the design will be substantial." Frye said INDYCAR is on target to begin testing the car by mid-summer. As with the current machine, the universal car will come in two configurations: one for superspeedway ovals and the other for street courses, road courses and short ovals. Tino Belli, INDYCAR director of aerodynamic development, said the kit has been successfully reverse-designed to start with its desired appearance and build in functionality from there. "We've been working on the aerodynamics to suit the look, rather than the other way around," Belli said. A key component of the new car is for it to generate most of its downforce from underneath instead of on top. This will improve racing and passing opportunities by decreasing the turbulent air that a Indy car leaves in its wake. "We're working on creating more of the downforce from the underwing," Belli said. "The hole in the floor (of the undertray on this year's car) will be sealed for the road courses and short ovals, but will still be open for the superspeedways." Belli added that simulations show the new car meets INDYCAR's aerodynamic targets and additional safety enhancements include side impact structures in the sidepods and repositioned radiators to assist in reducing the severity of side impacts by crushing on impact. Other noticeable features in the new car images include a lower engine cover that provides "a more traditional Indy car look," according to Belli. Turbocharger inlets are moving to the inside of the radiator inlet ducts. The rear wing and front wing main plane are smaller in the new car look and the centerline wicker from the nose of the car to the cockpit is tapered. The rear wing in the road course/short oval configuration is lower and wider. The fins on the leading edge of the sidepods of the current car will be removed or minimized on the 2018 car. Though there is still work to be done, Belli feels that INDYCAR has achieved "97 percent" of its goals when it set out to create the new car's look and efficiency. Next up for the Verizon IndyCar Series race is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Live coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET April 9 on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.

(Ford Performance)
American racing enthusiasts will be able to watch the full season of FIA World Rallycross Championship Presented by Monster Energy live this year, courtesy of Ford Performance. Ford will be the exclusive live distribution channel in the U.S. for the series during the 2017 season, the first OEM to serve as a live distribution partner for the FIA World Rallycross series.  All twelve races will be streamed live on the Ford Performance Facebook page.

(Audi)
Audi Tradition will bring a variety of historic vehicles to more than 20 national and international events throughout Europe in 2017. One highlight for fans will most certainly be two-time world champion, Walter Röhrl, who will drive the legendary Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood (June 29 to July 2). And the most powerful of all Auto Union Silver Arrows, the Auto Union Type C racing car, will appearing at two events. The 560HP, 16-cylinder Type C from 1936 will be demonstrating its power in the mountains at the Großglockner Grand Prix (September 21 to 24). In the 1930s the Auto Union racing drivers climbed to the summits with great success at the then popular mountain races. The most successful of all was Hans Stuck, who, as a result, was given the nickname "The Mountain King". His son, Hans-Joachim Stuck will be following in his father's footsteps at the Großglockner event. The former Formula 1 driver says: "Driving in this car, following in my father's footsteps, is very emotional for me." The Type C will also appear at the Classic Days at Castle Dyck (August 4 to 6).

(Porsche images)
Porsche has officially unveiled its new 919 Hybrid for the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). An official two-day test for the WEC teams takes place this weekend in Monza, Italy, on April 1-2. Drivers for the two-car Porsche 919 Hybrid Le Mans Prototype effort include Neel Jani (33, Switzerland), André Lotterer (35, Germany) and Nick Tandy (32, Great Britain) in the No. 1 machine; and Timo Bernhard (36, Germany) and the two New Zealanders Earl Bamber (26) and Brendon Hartley (27) in the No. 2 Porsche team car.