MAY 12, 2021
Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 11:19AM 
A race-long battle between Max Verstappen (No. 33 Red Bull Racing Honda) and Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team) resulted in Hamilton getting his sixth Spanish Grand Prix victory, the reigning world champion brilliantly executing a two-stop strategy to claim his third win in four races this season, as Verstappen finished ahead of Valtteri Bottas (No. 77 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team). Verstappen led the majority of the race after brilliantly snatching the lead from Hamilton into Turn 1 at the start, with Red Bull then committing to a one-stop strategy around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as Hamilton's team opted for two. But with six laps to go, Hamilton used the superior performance of his newer tires to pass the Dutchman into Turn 1 and check out for his 98th victory, and fifth straight win at the circuit. Verstappen ultimately decided to pit for soft compound tires once Hamilton was past and go for a consolation fastest lap, which he duly got. (Thank you to F1 media for the details)
Martin Truex Jr. (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) dominated the Goodyear 400 NASCAR Cup race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, leading 248 of the 295 laps. It was his 30th Cup win and third victory this season. Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) was second, and Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing) finished third. (Thank you to NASCAR.com)
A 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible will lead the 33-car field to the green flag for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 30, 2021. The Arctic White Stingray - with Sky Cool Gray and Strike Yellow upholstery - will be the first convertible since 2008 to pace the iconic race. The 2021 Corvette Stingray convertible is powered by the naturally aspirated, next-generation 6.2L Small Block V8 LT2 engine, which produces 495HP (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette. The LT2 V8 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. When combined, the advanced propulsion system, revised chassis tuning and retractable hardtop make the Stingray "the most no-compromise Corvette convertible in history," according to Chevrolet PR minions. Chevrolet and Corvette have led the starting field more than any other manufacturer and nameplate, respectively. The 2021 race marks the 32nd time for Chevrolet to pace the race dating back to 1948, and the 18th time since 1978 for America’s quintessential sports car. Chevrolet has a storied history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race. Company co-founder and namesake Louis Chevrolet, along with brothers Arthur and Gaston, competed in early Indy 500s. Arthur competed in the 1911 race and Gaston won in 1920. Nine drivers powered by Chevrolet engines have combined to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” eleven times, with Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Arie Luyendyk, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and, most recently, Simon Pagenaud in 2019. The Indy 500 will be televised live on NBC for the third consecutive year, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. The INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA.
(Chevrolet)
Chevrolet and other major automotive brands competing in the NASCAR Cup Series revealed their Next Gen models today (May 5). Starting next season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Chevrolet’s new entry will be its Next Gen Camaro ZL1 race car. The new look and features are a result of a collaborative effort by Chevrolet, the series and other original equipment manufacturers for race cars competing at the Cup level to look and perform more like their production counterparts. The Next Gen Camaro ZL1 race car’s new lower greenhouse, shortened deck lid and widened track width contribute to a coupe-like appearance. A fully symmetrical body design makes the race car look even more like the production Camaro. Other changes to the 2022 Next Gen race car include: Upgraded specs to match modern passenger vehicle technology, including independent rear suspension – like production Camaros – and rack and pinion steering; An increase in wheel size from 15 to 18 inches. The larger diameter wheels allow for larger brakes for improved track performance. Wheels will be made from forged aluminum, like the wheels on the production Camaro ZL1; A new transaxle that combines the transmission and rear gears into one package; The bottom of the car will be sealed with an underwing and rear diffuser for enhanced aerodynamics;A redesigned chassis features new front and rear bumpers with an energy-management system. Both the front and rear clips bolt on to the center section for easier serviceability and damage repair. Chevrolet has campaigned 14 different nameplates in the Cup Series, dating back to 1955, and with 798 victories is the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history. Chevy’s first win was by Fonty Flock at Columbia Speedway in South Carolina in 1955, the same year Chevrolet introduced its famed small-block V-8. Since then, Chevrolet has won 39 Manufacturer Championships, including 13 in a row from 2003-2015, and 32 Driver Championships to lead all manufacturers. The Next Gen Camaro ZL1 race car will make its points-paying debut at next season’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 20, 2022. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 race car Saturday, May 8, at 8 p.m. ET by joining “Chevy MyWay: Meet the All-New NASCAR Next Gen Camaro,” a free broadcast open to all.
(Toyota)
More than two years in the making, Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A.) today unveiled the manufacturer’s Next Gen car that will take to the track in 2022 – the Toyota TRD Camry – in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS). Toyota has been working alongside NASCAR, as well as the other OEMs, on the development of the Next Gen vehicles for competition. The components of the Next Gen race cars are an unprecedented move for the sport, but one that looks to continue to evolve safety enhancements of the race cars and promote on-track competition. Toyota, TRD and Calty Design have worked together to ensure as many body styling characteristics as possible are incorporated into the Toyota TRD Camry Next Gen so it resembles its production counterpart as closely as possible. From the grill to the spoiler and everywhere in between, the Next Gen TRD Camry race car has the most body styling attributes to its production counterpart than ever before in a NCS Camry. This is a practice that Toyota and TRD have employed since the development of the 2013 Camry in NCS competition. “There has been a substantial amount of work put into the Toyota TRD Camry Next Gen car by all of our partners, but specifically everyone at TRD and Calty Design,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager of motorsports and assets, TMNA (Toyota Motor North America). “We’re thrilled to have the chance to showcase the TRD Camry to represent Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series through this Next Gen project. This is our topline, track-inspired performance Camry and it seemed only fitting for it to take it’s spot on the race track.”
(Ford)
Along with new entries from GM and Toyota, Ford unveiled its all-new 2022 NASCAR Next Gen Mustang to the public in Charlotte, North Carolina, today (May 5). The Next Gen Mustang will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series starting next season. The new car, which has been under development for two years, is completely different from its predecessor because it is redesigned from the ground up. Unlike past versions, with the exterior being the only noticeable change, this model is built for future developments down the road, featuring flexibility for technological advances such as a hybrid or electric powertrain. Changes include rack-and-pinion steering, independent rear suspension and 18-inch tires with aluminum forged wheels. The all-new body features a wider stance, while a symmetric exterior shell, tail and smaller greenhouse area closely resemble the production Mustang. Development of the new car took place both in Ford’s Dearborn design center and at the Ford Performance Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina, where Ford’s NASCAR scale model and aero teams are located. Extensive development continues on full-motion simulators at the technical center, where both racing and production car work takes place. The NASCAR Next Gen Mustang makes its competition debut on Feb. 20, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway for the 64th annual Daytona 500.
