Viper GTS-R makes competitive debut at Mid-Ohio

Saturday saw the Viper makes its much-anticipated return to competitive motorsports when SRT Motorsport's Team Viper successfully campaigned its pair of Viper GTS-R cars in the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. What did success look like? Far from a podium finish, Team Viper was pleased just to have both cars finish the race, and was pleasantly surprised to have one crack the top ten.

The two cars fielded were the No. 91 Forza Motorsports Viper GTS-R (blue/silver) driven by Kuno Wittmer and Dominik Farnbacher and the No. 93 Pennzoil Ultra car (yellow/silver) driven by Marc Gooseens and Tommy Kendall.

We were at the race and watched both Vipers make their debut. While not nearly quick enough yet to threaten the Corvettes, Porsches, BMWs and Ferraris that contend fiercely for the GT Class crown, the Vipers were nonetheless very consistent and Team Viper reports the cars actually got quicker as the race progressed.

While the No. 91 car made it through Mid-Ohio's 15-turn, 2.4-mile course all day without incident, and in fact spent most of its time running down the black-and-gold liveried Lotus Evora of Alex Job Racing, the No. 93 had two incidents, including an off-track excursion in the final minutes of the race. The GT Class was won on Saturday in a thrilling finish by Corvette Racing's Oliver Gavin, who held off the No. 45 Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in his No. 4 Corvette C6 ZR1 for the race's final 20 minutes.

With the addition of the Viper this year (and the Lotus Evora), the GT Class of ALMS racing has become one of our favorite series to watch, especially in person where the personalities of these cars can be felt thundering in your ears. The Viper's 8.4-liter V10 engine makes a very distinct sound on the track. While not as gutteral as the Corvette's 5.5-liter V8, it's also not as loud as the BMW M3's 4.0-liter V8 nor as shrieky as the Ferrari 458 Italia's 4.5-liter V8 either. It falls somewhere in between the the Corvette and BMW, and could stand to have its volume cranked up a notch. And though the Viper's new design looked the part of a menacing GT car on the track, we hope at some point the cars will be wearing liveries that harken back to the red-and-white-striped Oreca Vipers that dominated early ALMS racing.

The next time Team Viper competes will be at Road America in two weeks.

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Is it time to replace catch fences on Indycar racetracks?

There is a debate within the world of IndyCar as to whether a new and safer type of fencing should be installed at tracks something less likely to injure a driver gone airborne than the catch fences and support posts used today. We characterize it as a "debate" but judging by the story in Autoweek, no one is against more safety not drivers, not track owners, not IndyCar execs but more importantly, no one knows who's going to kick in the $100 million dollars to get a project going.

You read that correctly: one of the doctors who worked on the SAFER barrier system estimates "it will cost $100 million to research, develop and install" either a hard barrier or an energy absorbing curtain around the necessary ovals. True, those are but two options, but in light of the physical realities and forces involved there aren't a whole lot of ways to go, and none of them might be any cheaper. Beyond that, IndyCar only uses five ovals and safely halting flying cars isn't a technology useful to NASCAR, both realities that impinge on the ability to amortize costs. A feasibility study alone is figured to cost $60,000, but the doctor's opinion is that it's not even worth starting the project if you don't know you'll get the money to finish it.

The CEO of IndyCar believes the track promoters should pay for the R&D, considering it just a part of making their facilities as safe as possible. There have been eight fatalities at oval tracks in the 34 years since CART (the predecessor to IndyCar that was absorbed by IndyCar) was established, six of those in the past 20 years but only two of the total were fence-related. Several parties consider that lucky, and that we're only waiting for it to happen again. On the other hand, Eddie Gossage, who owns the Texas oval, said the financials don't support him spending up to $20 million it would make more sense just to give up the race and he believes it should be IndyCar that pays.

Gossage said that in 33 years no one ever expressed concern to him over the fencing before Dan Wheldon's death last year. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be a concern now, but racing is dangerous and everyone knows it, and everyone also knows racing is a business and the bottom line is ultimately incompatible with the pricelessness of human life. Where is the middle ground and who'll be standing there if and when it's found is a question that's a long way from an answer.

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FIA bans former F1, IndyCar driver Tom Enge for failed drug test

Just a week after NASCAR took away AJ Allmendinger's keys indefinitely, the result of a failed drug test, Motorsport.com is reporting that the FIA has sidelined Tom Enge for a similar infraction. Enge also failed a recent drug test, earning an 18-month ban from racing for what would be his second such infraction.

Back in 2002, Enge finished the Formula 3000 season atop the standings, but had his title stripped after testing positive for marijuana use. According to the report, Enge denies that he's back on the drug, saying that he has chronic health problems and has asked the FIA for an exemption from its drug testing rules for medications related to his cardiovascular problems. Enge intends to fight the suspension in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

Most recently, Enge has been racing in the GT1 sports car series, though he drove in Formula One in 2001 and raced in IndyCar during the 2005 season. His greatest successes have come behind the wheel of sports cars, earning a class victory in the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans behind the wheel of a Ferrari and winning the 2009 European Le Mans Series LMP1 championship driving an Aston Martin.

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NASCAR tracks battling attendance downturn by adding amenities

It was bound to happen: NASCAR couldn't grow forever.

Now, as attendance for Sprint Cup Series races falls, NASCAR track owners around the country continue to add things like faster wireless internet services, newer restrooms and big-name concerts before a race to put more fans in the stands.

NASCAR attendance is down 2.4 percent from last year and 8.5 percent from 2009, according to USA Today.

Fans have either abandoned the sport or just opted to watch from the comfort of their own home. Some of the drop has been attributed to the recent economic struggles around the country as well as the rising costs associated with going to a race. Fans have told track owners that everything from the lack of access to drivers to tracks not offering a more family friendly experience has pushed them away.

Owners, in turn, have tried to provide extended pit tours, additional driver appearances and other amenities at the track ranging from better shower houses for campers to shuttles that pick you up at your car and drop you off near you seat.

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Rally motorcyclist hits deer, shrugs it off, keeps going

Motorcyclists are a different breed, and that's especially so with anyone willing to throw a leg over a two wheeler in sanctioned competition. Need proof? Check out the video we've pasted below.

During the Rally West Virginia, a two-wheeled competitor came in unfortunate contact with a four-legged animal. The impact happened after over 300 miles of closed-course riding on the very last stage.

So, race over, then? Not even close.

Our intrepid rider takes one look back at the deer that stopped him in his tracks, seeing it get up and remove itself under its own power, then remounts his trusty orange steed to finish the race. Want to see the craziness for yourself? Check out the helmet cam video below.

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German state to float $312M loan guarantee for Nrburgring

The government of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate is set to make hundreds of million of euros available to the Nrburgring. This will guarantee that a loan be partially paid, making it possible for the Nrburgring to continue to operate.

According to Germany's Deutsche Welle, officials in the West German state came to the decision to keep the track afloat during a special meeting of the state legislature's budget and finance committee. The loan, in the amount of 254 million ($312 million) enables Nrburgring GmbH, who operates the track, to service a 330 million loan ($402M). That payment will allow the track to keep operating.

According to the report, several members of German government pushed for the delay of this move, citing that such a maneuver could be illegal under European law.

The wold-famous racetrack has fallen on hard times, and this bailout appears to be essential in its bid to stay afloat. The original loan taken out by the track's investors was to build a supporting mall and a roller coaster. Neither of these attractions has proven successful, leaving investors to plead for a bailout from the EU.

No word on how this will effect Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and his commitment to "do everything" to save the 'Ring. If still committed, it likely just became a $312 million more manageable undertaking for Bernie to do so.

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Penske Racing drops AJ Allmendinger after positive drug test

You could see this one coming like the draft around the high banks at Talladega. Penske Racing gave beleaguered NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger his walking papers today, a week after the sanctioning body indefinitely suspended him for failing a drug test. Allmendinger is currently ranked 25th in the points in the series.

While neither Penske nor Allmendinger got into the details about the test, ESPN is reporting that amphetamines were found in the driver's testing sample, which was corroborated by Allmendinger's business manager. The doctor administrating NASCAR's drug testing program told ESPN that it wasn't likely that the test could have been caused by any supplements or over-the-counter medicine. Allmendinger has pledged to immediately begin NASCAR's Road to Recovery rehab program, which, if successfully completed, would allow him to be reinstated. Allmendinger's seat in the No. 22 Dodge has been handed to former Indy Car champion Sam Hornish Jr., who has long ties to the Penske Racing organization.

While we won't belabor you with any of team owner Roger Penske's canned statement wishing Allmendinger "the best," you can scroll down to read it in its entirety, along with Allmendinger's own release in which he thanks Penske Racing for "their support."

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