(Formula1.com)
George Russell (No. 63 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team) claimed victory in the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the Briton leading team mate Kimi Antonelli (No. 12 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team) to secure a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of the Ferrari duo in an action-packed event that saw the Silver Arrows make a one-stop strategy work to their favor. Despite their aging tires late in the race, the Mercedes teammates appeared to be staying out until the checkered flag, with the Scuderia pair having not closed in enough to pressure the leading duo into making another stop – and the plan worked, with Russell crossing the line 2.9s ahead of Antonelli to secure a sixth career victory. Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari HP) and Hamilton (No. 44 Scuderia Ferrari HP) were forced to settle for third and fourth, with reigning World Champion Lando Norris (No. 1 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team) following in fifth for McLaren – the Briton acting as the squad’s sole runner after Oscar Piastri (No. 81 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team) spun off track en route to the grid before the race had started, meaning that the local favorite could not participate in his home event. Max Verstappen (No. 3 Oracle Red Bull Racing) climbed up to sixth, marking an impressive recovery for the Red Bull driver from 20th place, while Ollie Bearman (No. 87 TGR Haas F1 Team) took seventh, and rookie Arvid Lindblad (No. 41 Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team) secured points on his debut, claiming eighth place. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to Formula1.com)
(Photo of Josef Newgarden by Joe Skibinski for Penske Entertainment) Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden earned his first victory of the season and 33rd of his illustrious career by closing down and passing leader Kyle Kirkwood with seven laps remaining to win the Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway. Newgarden, who started second, drove away to a 1.7937-second victory in the No. 2 Team Penske XPEL Chevrolet over the No. 27 Andretti Global JM Bullion/Gold.com Honda driven by Kirkwood. “I’m very surprised,” Newgarden said. “In the middle of the race, I don’t know that I was fully believing that we had the capability to win. We just kept working through it, and I’m like, 'Look, if we get another opportunity, we’re going to be aggressive; we’re going to be on the offense.' We took tires, and the thing was like a rocket ship when it needed to be, right at the end of the race. Hats off to the whole crew. I’m pumped.” NTT P1 Award winner David Malukas finished third in the No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet as Roger Penske’s legendary team celebrated its 60th anniversary season with two podium positions. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
(The Henry Ford)
Dave Friedman has died. He was 87. The son of a movie producer and silent film actress, Dave Friedman spent most of his professional career as a still photographer on many well-known film productions. After service in the U.S. Navy, Friedman began attending and photographing local amateur sports car races around his native Los Angeles, continuing a lifelong passion for photography. At these races, Friedman met young drivers such as Carroll Shelby who, while hurtling small, powerful sports cars around hay bales on airstrips and parking lots, were in the process of defining a new professional racing sport and industry. In 1963, Carroll Shelby hired Friedman to document the design and development of what would become one of racing's most dominant stables of cars: the Shelby Cobra, King Cobra and Cobra Daytona coupe.
In 1965, Friedman started at 20th Century Fox as an assistant cameraman. While at the studio, he continued to document the growing popularity of auto racing at legendary tracks such as Laguna Seca and Riverside International Raceway. Friedman also continued his relationship with Shelby's racing teams, attending three of the biggest endurance races in sports car racing: the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Friedman captured the final development of the first American-designed and built racecars that dominated the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans race between 1966 and 1969. In 1969, Dave Friedman changed his focus again and became a still photographer for film productions, where he continued to capture iconic images of American cinema and television.
Dave Friedman has written over 30 books on automobile racing, covering a variety of classes including sports car road racing, Formula 1, Can-Am, Trans-Am, drag racing and stock cars. In recognition of his professional accomplishments, Friedman is the only still photographer elected to the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. Friedman continued to pursue his passion for motor sports into the 1990s, when he refocused his lens on a different art form – classical ballet.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Thank you to The Henry Ford for this summary of Dave's brilliant and influential career. -PMD
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
Dan Gurney in the factory Shelby American Cobra during the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 21, 1964.
(WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca)
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has announced that legendary automotive designer, racer, and motorsports visionary Peter Brock will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, one of the world’s premier celebrations of historic racing.
A pivotal figure in American motorsports history, Brock’s career spans design, engineering, competition, and storytelling. Brock first made his mark at GM Styling as one of the youngest designers hired in at the age of 19. In November of 1957 he drew the sketch which became the iconic 1963 Corvette split window Sting Ray. Before the Sting Ray even hit the market, Brock joined Carroll Shelby in Los Angeles to run his new race driver’s school and played a key role in shaping the Cobra program and designing the Shelby Daytona Coupe which won the FIA GT Championship in 1965. He then founded Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE), the team that turned compact Japanese sedans into championship-winning race cars.
A pivotal figure in American motorsports history, Brock’s career spans design, engineering, competition, and storytelling. Brock first made his mark at GM Styling as one of the youngest designers hired in at the age of 19. In November of 1957 he drew the sketch which became the iconic 1963 Corvette split window Sting Ray. Before the Sting Ray even hit the market, Brock joined Carroll Shelby in Los Angeles to run his new race driver’s school and played a key role in shaping the Cobra program and designing the Shelby Daytona Coupe which won the FIA GT Championship in 1965. He then founded Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE), the team that turned compact Japanese sedans into championship-winning race cars.
“Peter Brock’s impact on motorsports cannot be overstated,” said Mel Harder, President and General Manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “His creativity, technical insight, and competitive spirit helped shape a golden era of racing, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of designers, engineers, and drivers. We are honored to welcome him as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.”
“Salute to Japanese Motorsport: A Tradition of Precision and Heritage” will be the featured marque of the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, a title perfectly befitting Peter Brock’s storied career. As a driver, designer, and team owner, Brock not only claimed championship victories on track but also transformed perceptions of Japanese engineering, helping shape American racing culture and fueling the growth of Japanese motorsports internationally. His lasting influence across competition, automotive journalism, and design cements his place among the sport’s most respected innovators.
“I am honored to be invited as the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion’s Grand Marshal this year, celebrating Japanese vehicles,” said Peter Brock. “The JDM industry in the USA started with our BRE Datsuns and has never been stronger. It’s going to be an amazing event with no doubt the largest number of BRE original and Tribute cars ever gathered in one location, along with hundreds of other impressive entries. How fitting to be involved with such an honor as I turn 90 this year.”
Editor's Note: This is our dearly departed billboard, which we had at Road America for several years. Peter gifted the phrase "America's National Park of Speed" to the track, which now uses it proudly in all of its communications. -WG
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG