Jorge Lorenzo will be wearing a cast on his left foot for the next ten days, in order to recover from the clean fractures he sustained to his third, fourth and fifth metatarsal bones last Sunday

The findings of a CAT scan to Lorenzo’s left foot “confirmed fractures of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal bones, without dislocation, with no new injury to the rider’s ankle,” according to Dr. Mir’s team. The recommended treatment for the injury is “immobilisation of the foot with a cast for ten days, followed by the fitting of a weight-supporting splint to allow the rider to walk.”

Lorenzo will be able to start functional rehabilitation after his ten days of immobilisation, with the target of regaining complete mobility as soon as possible. He is aiming for a return to full fitness for the Czech Republic Grand Prix, which takes place on August 17th in Brno.

Jorge Lorenzo
"I am pretty hurt and upset, because once again a crash has halted my progression. I have visited Dr. Mir and he confirmed that it is a painful injury but one that can be cured through rest. I have a cast on my left foot, but I can barely walk because of some pain in the right foot suffered in the crash. Thankfully that is not an injury, just a consequence of the impact. Luckily I have time to recover before Brno, although I won’t be having any holiday time now. For the moment I am going to enjoy following one of my interests – the Tour de France – on television!”

www.yamaha-racing.com

Ron Capps is fresh off a runner-up finish in Seattle on Sunday, his first of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, and hopes this new wave of momentum will help him sail into the winner's circle at this weekend's 21st Annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.

"Believe me, we don't want to go to Reading (Pa., Aug. 15-17), let alone Brainerd (Minn., Aug. 8-10) and start thinking, Man, we need to do this or that to get in. We don't want to be in that position," said Capps.

"Seattle was a great points weekend. Unfortunately, (14-time champion) John Force didn't qualify and we went around him in points, which was huge. We know he'll be one of the contenders at the end. So, anything you can gain on John at any time is a bonus, but it's going to be tight.

"We were definitely counting the points in Seattle as the day went on," added Capps, who hasn't won at Infineon Raceway since 1997 in his 25 career victories, but is always a favorite. "Now we are going to a place that warms my heart, in the area where I grew up. We've just been to Seattle, where I had won my first race, and I felt a lot of good mojo coming into that event, so it feels good to roll into Sonoma with this kind of momentum.

"Sonoma for me is a special place. It's where I lived for a long while, I met my wife up there, and I see a lot of friends and family when we race there. I have to get a lot of tickets for them. And it's so worth it.

"Track owner Bruton Smith obviously built a great track and it is always a terrific place to go to. From where we park our Monaco motor coach up on the hill, we have an awesome view of the track and the whole valley.

"I have my family with me on the road (wife Shelley, daughter Taylor, son Caden). We know the racing is going to be good, but it's also the things we can do with the family in the area which makes it a great race track.

"And I've been able to win there in the past," added Capps, who also has scored two runner-up finishes at Infineon, in 2002 and 2005, and qualified No. 1 in 1998. "We came close to winning our first race for NAPA AUTO PARTS in Seattle, so we're hoping to do it this weekend."

RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in Funny Car points after 14 2008 events; one runner-up, four semifinal, two quarterfinal finishes, seven first-rounds
* Qualified No. 12 in Sonoma in 2007, lost first round to Del Worsham
* Sonoma Funny Car winner in 1998, runner-up in 2002 and 2005
* No. 1 qualifier in Sonoma in 1998
* No. 4 in 2007 Funny Car point standings
* Led 2007 Funny Car point standings by as much as 154 points through 14 of the first 17 races of the season
* Had three wins in seven final rounds in 2007; two semifinal finishes, four quarterfinals, nine first rounds, and one DNQ
* Round win-loss record in 2007 was 32-19
* NAPA AUTO PARTS is new primary sponsor for 2008
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2005
* Has three Skoal Showdown titles: 1998, 1999 and 2002
* Third in 2006 final point standings
* Had class-best five wins in 2006
* Had three wins, four runner-up finishes in 2005 (St. Louis was his first
win for DSR in '05)
* 2005 Funny Car championship runner-up, eight points short of title
* Qualified No. 1 once in 2005, in Dallas; first time since Brainerd 2000
* Has seven career No. 1 qualifiers, none in 2006, '07, or '08 so far
* A perennial fan favorite, Capps has driven and won in both Top Fuel and Funny Cars since he began his pro NHRA career in 1995
* His best season points finishes were seconds in Funny Car in 1998, 2000 and 2005
* He has 25 event wins in 53 final rounds to his credit (24 national event wins in Funny Car, one in Top Fuel)
* His career-best elapsed time (established during an event) is 4.694 seconds, set in 2005 in Dallas
* His career-best speed is 331.61 mph (Pomona 1, '07)
* Capps' career round win-loss record is 326-245
* Capps' career record against 14-time champion Force is 17-40 in round wins. He's won nine of the last 13 meetings against Force, and has won the last four of five first-round match-ups over Force
* Age 43 (June 20, 1965); born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
* Lives in Carlsbad, Calif., with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (11) and son Caden (7)
* Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt Late Models, Mini-Sprints and Go-Karts

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise ninety minutes of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

Test Objective:
Preparation of the FW30 for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Weather: Hot and sunny. Ambient temperature: 34°C

Dickie Stanford, Test Team Manager, Williams F1:
“Nico Hulkenberg drove the car today and concentrated on general set-ups. Our running was cut short by a technical problem later on in the afternoon, but we fortunately didn’t lose too much time. Nico Rosberg joins us tomorrow for day two

* Please note that these times are recorded by the AT&T Williams team and there may therefore be some discrepancies with alternative recording methods

Fresno, Calif., native Gary Scelzi has his sights set on continuing success at Infineon Raceway at this weekend's FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals, the final leg of the three-race NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.).

"Wild Thing," as the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car is known in Fresno, is aiming for his third triumph here as well as a top-10 berth in the Countdown to the Championship, which begins for the top 10 in points following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.

He's close, but with only four races left before the Countdown kicks in, he'll have to move out of the 13th position and into the top 10 by making up a 58-point deficit.

"If there's any saving grace, if we're going to do anything, Infineon is going to be the place," said the four-time NHRA world champion who notched his first nitro Funny Car win in Sonoma. "I don't even want to think about not doing well here because everybody I know and everybody I've ever met is going to be here.

"It's fun having your friends and family supporting you at an event, but in one respect it's tough because if you don't get to spend time with everybody, sometimes they get upset. Hopefully, they'll understand if I can't get to them all.

"But it's all good. It's the West Coast, it's a place that I love, especially after Bruton Smith took over and cleaned up everything and made it really nice. You have the most beautiful mornings at Infineon Raceway. You get out of your Monaco motor coach and you have the cool ocean breeze, the overcast sky, and it's wonderful. The nights are beautiful, there's a nice breeze when the sun goes down, but it can be hell here too.

"We've run all aspects of the gamut here. We've won, we've lost, we've had everything. We just hope it's time to turn this thing around, get our first season victory and move up into the top 10."

GARY SCELZI QUICK FACTS:
* No. 13 in points after 14 events in 2008 (one semifinal, four quarterfinal finishes, seven first rounds and two DNQs)
* Just 58 points out of a spot in the top 10 for the Countdown to the Championship
* Qualified No. 6 at 2007 Sonoma event, lost first round to Gary Densham
* No. 1 qualifier in Sonoma in 2000 (TF)
* Third in 2007 Funny Car point standings
* Won class-best four national events in 2007, in four final rounds
* Qualified No. 1 and won the 2007 season-opening Pomona event (against Robert Hight), again qualified No. 1 and won the Chicago event, then won in Memphis and Richmond
* Seventh in 2006 Funny Car points, with one win in three final rounds, no low qualifiers
* Claimed the 2005 Funny Car championship, his first, by eight points over his teammate Ron Capps, 32 over third-place John Force
* Won three times in 2005, was low qualifier six times
* Is a three-time Top Fuel champion (1997, 1998, 2000)
* Became only the second NHRA driver to have won crowns in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Kenny Bernstein is the first
* Has set 24 Funny Car top speeds since joining Don Schumacher Racing in 2003
* Is first Funny Car driver to break the 330-mph barrier (330.15 mph at Route 66 Raceway in 2004)
* Career Funny Car bests: 4.690-second ET (Pomona 1 '07), 333.49 mph (Pomona 1 '07)
* Qualified in top five 19 times in 2005, No. 1 six times
* Has 37 career national-event titles in 58 final rounds
* Career round win-loss record is 375-204
* Age 47 (Aug. 11, 1960), born and raised in Fresno, Calif., where he lives with wife Julianne and sons Dominic and Giovanni
* Dominic, 11, races Restricted 600 Mini Sprints; Giovanni, 6, races Junior Sprints
* Runs Scelzi Enterprises, a custom truck body design and manufacturing business in Fresno with his two brothers
* Won his first Top Fuel crown as a rookie
* Has 12 Funny Car wins, 25 Top Fuel wins
* Sixth in 2003 Funny Car points, his first full season in that class
* 2008 is his sixth straight season racing for Don Schumacher Racing
* Is the only NHRA driver to have won in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. He accomplished this feat by winning Nitro Funny Car at Infineon Raceway in 2003
* Is one of the few Funny Car drivers who has a round-winning record against the 14-time Funny Car champion John Force: 3-1 in final rounds, 12-11 in head-to-head match-ups
* Said early in 2007 that he would step away from NHRA competition at end of season. An offer from NHRA team owner Ken Black to fly him to and from 10 races in 2008, so he could spend more time with family business and family, helped him change his mind and return with DSR in 2008

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise ninety minutes of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

Driver: Sebastien Buemi
Car: RB4 - 01
Time: 1:20.997, Laps: 110
Fastest Lap: S. Vettel 1:19.844
Circuit length: 4.423 km

Jerez de la Frontera, right down in the far south of Spain plays host to four days of testing this week in what is the final F1 test session prior to the summer ban.

Our Swiss test driver had a good day, completing his entire programme and setting the fifth fastest time, working mainly on suspension, as well as carrying out other development work, both short and long term. Mark Webber takes over tomorrow, when part of the Australian's programme will involve running slick tyres in preparation for 2009.

www.redbullracing.com

Driver: Jarno Trulli
Track Length: 4.423km

BOIL SLICK
Less than 48 hours after Sunday's German Grand Prix, Panasonic Toyota Racing returned to the track at Jerez today. In the blistering heat of the south of Spain, Jarno Trulli was at the wheel for the first action of this week's four-day test. He spent the day on Bridgestone's new slick tyres as part of the team's early preparations for 2009. Running with a low-downforce package, he had a trouble-free day and completed nearly 100 laps. Tomorrow Jarno will continue as Toyota starts working towards the Hungarian Grand Prix?on August 3. Timo Glock will take over on Thursday after he was cleared to drive following his heavy shunt at Hockenheim. Third driver Kamui Kobayashi will complete the test as scheduled on Friday.

Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis has been red hot this season and he looks to continue that trend this weekend at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at scenic Infineon Raceway, the ninth of 17 races for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class on the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise ninety minutes of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

David Powers Motorsports development driver Zach Beard won his fourth Rotax Max Challenge event of the season Sunday afternoon at USA International Raceway. Beard bested the 11-kart field at the Rotax Summer Shootout at the Shawano, Wis. race track.

Peterson Holding has again partnered with David Powers Motorsports and seven-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Hot Rod Fuller during the 21st annual FRAM-Autolite Nationals, July 25-27, at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. it was announced today. Fuller’s Caterpillar dragster will fly the colors of Peterson during the Sonoma NHRA race.

“Peterson is one of our biggest supporters for the NHRA recruiting program and were awesome to work with last year,” Fuller said. “Needless to say, it’s great to have the Peterson logo on our dragster again this year. Last year we went to the semifinals, now we want to celebrate in the winner’s circle with all our friends at Peterson.”

Peterson Holding will have a display on the popular Manufacturer’s Midway at Infineon Raceway. Peterson employees will be on site to answer questions about Caterpillar products, services, and to speak to people interested in a career as a Caterpillar dealer technician.

“We at Peterson are extremely excited about our second year of sponsoring Hot Rod Fuller and the David Powers Motorsports team,” said Eric Martin, President of Peterson Power Systems. “Peterson CAT employees and customers are big supporters of the NHRA and we all respect the work it takes to rebuild the 8,000 horsepower engines after every race. The fans of drag racing are the kind of people we are looking to hire at Peterson – they admire the technology and skills required to win a race and in their career. These fans are interested in working as technicians at Peterson and we are interested in them as well. We also get a lot of the younger adults interested in our college scholarship opportunities.

“The quality and professionalism of the entire David Powers Motorsports team reflects the values that both Peterson and Caterpillar enterprises want to associate with. We couldn’t think of a finer way to contact future technicians than supporting the sport we all love.”
Fuller currently ranks fourth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings following 14 of 24 races on the 2008 NHRA racing schedule. The Las Vegas racer earned his seventh career Top Fuel win by powering the Caterpillar dragster to the title of the St. Louis race in early May. Fuller also has seven career Top Fuel poles, including the Norwalk, Ohio race on June 28. ESPN2 will feature two hours of qualifying highlights from the FRAM-Autolite Nationals at 6 p.m. (ET) on July 26 and three hours of final eliminations coverage of the Sonoma NHRA race at 7 p.m. (ET) on July 27.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, Ringer’s Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.


www.petersonholding.com
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com

Jerry Toliver enters this weekend's FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway with the realization that he has to win rounds on race day if he is to contend for the Funny Car championship. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car is confident that his team has turned the performance corner following his No. 6 qualifying effort in Seattle last weekend.

“Infineon Raceway is a fantastic facility and it's fun to go there. But Sonoma is just another race on the tour. I don't care where we go. I just want to have success and get this Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge turned around and get in the winner's circle. We've got to do that. I don't care whether it's Sonoma, Brainerd, Reading or Indy.

"I like Sonoma because I have a lot of family up there and it's going to be fun. But it's down to brass tacks now for the Rockstar Energy drink team and it's time to get serious and get going."

JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 16 in Funny Car point standings after 14 events in 2008
* DNQ'd (No. 17) at last year's race in Sonoma
* Made quickest run of the 2008 season in Joliet, Ill., 4.783 seconds
* Debuted new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink at 2007 Las Vegas event
* Qualified second at 2008 season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend (4.790 seconds)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
* No. 19 in 2007 Funny Car point standings after running limited schedule (19 races)
* Returned to Funny Car competition in 2007 after two-year hiatus with new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink
* Qualified in the top half of the field twice last season; had top speed of the event in Denver
* Made Funny Car debut in 1998 running 12 races with sponsorship from MAD Magazine
* Earned first Funny Car national event win over John Force at 1999 NHRA Finals at Pomona
* Won five races in 10 career final rounds as driver
* Won seven races in 14 final rounds as a team owner
* First top-10 season finish in 1999 (eighth)
* Finished career-high No. 3 in Funny Car points in 2000 with career-best three wins in seven final rounds
* Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing
* Debuted WWF Get R.E.A.L (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership) National Youth Education Program in 2001
* Nephew of drag racing pioneers and Hall of Fame members, Art and Jack Chrisman

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise ninety minutes of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

Jack Beckman is banking on the momentum he and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team have gained in the first two events of what is considered the grueling Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) to get him in the winner’s circle for the second time this season at this weekend's 21st Annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.

Only the top 10 will compete in the Countdown to the Championship which kicks in following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.

"I think we've still got momentum," said Beckman, who came into last year's Sonoma race as a back-to-back winner in the first two venues of the Western Swing, but was unable to sweep the Swing. "We made eight good runs in Denver, we made six good runs in Seattle. The Valvoline/MTS guys are going to have their chins up and looking proud and I think we're going to march in Sonoma.

"If anything, this is going to fire us up a little bit. We are going to need to be a little bit more aggressive and still get the car safely down the track. This might be that fire that we needed to motivate us to do that. I think we're in good shape for Sonoma."

Mail Terminal Services continues its "Mail from Home" program in 2008. Fans at each NHRA national event have the opportunity to sign special cards at the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and at the U.S. Army Racing Zone in the midway, which MTS then ships, free of charge, to the troops in war zones overseas.

JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 10 in 2008 Funny Car points after 14 events (one victory-Phoenix, two final rounds)
* No. 2 qualifier in Sonoma in 2007, lost first round to Cruz Pedregon
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 10-10
* Was bumped out of the 2007 Countdown to Four playoffs standings at the Richmond, Va., event, after his teammates Gary Scelzi and Ron Capps reached the semifinal round.
* Had back-to-back 2007 season victories in Denver and Seattle, in three final rounds
* Also in 2007 had three semifinal finishes, seven quarterfinal finishes and two DNQs, and a round win-loss record of 24-19
* In his 54 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in seven final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 46-45
* Is the 2007 U.S. Smokeless Showdown winner ($100,000 bonus event held at U.S. Nationals)
* Set national elapsed-time record of 4.662 seconds and national speed record of 333.66 mph at final 2006 event in Pomona, Calif. The ET record has since been eclipsed. Beckman still holds the speed record
* As a Funny Car rookie in the last five races of 2006, he qualified No. 1 once (Pomona 2), reached two final rounds (Las Vegas 2 and Pomona 2), won once (Vegas 2), and set both ends of the national record (Pomona 2)
* Residence: North Hills, Calif.
* Hometown: Granada Hills, Calif.
* Date of birth: June 28, 1966
* Married, Jenna (wedding date 11/7/06), son Jason Russell (3/8/07)
* Height/weight: 6'0", 185 lbs.
* Serves as instructor at Frank Hawley's NHRA Championship Drag Racing School; former Sergeant in U.S. Air Force (1984-88); cancer survivor; licensed in nine different NHRA categories
* First Start in TF: Las Vegas 1 2005
* First Start in FC: , Dallas, Texas, 2006
* Competed in only 12 TF events in 2005, ended season 15th in points
* Career-best FC elapsed time: 4.662 seconds (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best FC speed: 333.66 mph (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best TF elapsed time: 4.563 seconds (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* Career-best TF speed: 324.28 mph (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* In 2003 won Super Comp world championship in Lucas Oil Series and Division 7 Super Comp championship
* Is tied in round wins against 14-time NHRA champion John Force: 4-4

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise ninety minutes of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

The team was penalised by the stewards for an incident that occurred during qualifying on Saturday afternoon. Can you explain what happened?

On Sunday afternoon, the team admitted it made a strategic error in keeping Lewis out during the Safety Car period – but what was your rationale for doing that in the heat of the moment?

“Generally speaking, when you are leading a grand prix and showing good pace, you are more risk-averse than those behind you. The first stint of the race clearly showed we had an inherent performance advantage over the rest of the field – so much so, in fact, that we felt comfortable about bringing Lewis in early for his first pitstop and fuelling him long for his second stint. When the Safety Car was deployed, we evaluated the options and felt that keeping Lewis out and running low-fuel on a clear track outweighed the potential difficulties of pitting him; which could have dropped him down the pack and would also have penalised Heikki, who would have been forced to queue in the pitlane behind Lewis. We were also affected by a number of contributing factors that we couldn’t have foreseen when we made the call. Firstly, the Safety Car stayed out for longer than we had anticipated, which meant the number of laps available for Lewis to pull out an advantage was reduced. Secondly, more cars pitted than we expected – this meant there was less traffic between Lewis and Felipe after the Safety Car came in. Finally, we felt Lewis would have an advantage running on low-fuel with used tyres; in fact, the track evolution shifted to give greater benefit to cars fuelled heavily. That made his job harder.”

Is there now a need to re-evaluate how McLaren makes these strategic decisions?

“If you’re a leading team and you get it wrong then you’re going to face criticism. But hindsight is always 20:20 and we feel we made the right decisions based on the tough choices available to us. Don’t forget, too, that it was less clear-cut for Lewis because we had fuelled him longer than the other cars at his first pitstop. We had a bigger fuel window than the other teams, who were much closer to their second pitstop when the Safety Car was deployed. Therefore, it was a much easier call for them than it was for us. And I’m sure the decision for Ferrari was far more straightforward: they probably weren’t going to beat us. And if the tables had been turned, we’d doubtless have faced criticism if Massa had stayed out, jumped us and then capitalised on his advantage with a late splash-and-dash to the finish. But let’s not forget that Nick Heidfeld made the strategy work, staying out under the Safety Car and finishing fourth – so the strategy remained a valid one.”

The team recently announced that team manager Dave Ryan has been appointed sporting director – will his duties now change?

“Given his stature within the team, and the commitment he shows to his role, we thought the new title of sporting director best reflected the progressive evolution of Davey’s responsibilities within McLaren. Dave has been hugely committed to this team, he joined McLaren in 1974 – and has played a central role in developing the race team into what it is today. We all appreciate Davey’s contribution: he’s loyal, forthright and fearlessly hard working. In fact, he’s pivotal to the way we go racing each weekend and thoroughly deserves to take on this broader role. But while his duties expand, he still remains our conduit to the wider world of F1 and will continue to attend the regular team managers’ meetings.”

There has been some confusion about the way Lewis passed Heikki in the closing stages of the race – can you clarify exactly what happened?

“The reality in that particular situation was that Lewis was quicker than Heikki on the day. When Lewis came up behind him, Heikki was sporting enough to move over – even though it must have been an incredibly difficult decision for him to make in the cockpit. We’re grateful for Heikki for showing the strength of character and sportsmanship to make that sacrifice – we’re all aware how tough it must have been.”

Drivers in the NHRA POWERade Series will compete against each other in the NHRA Softball Classic, a special softball game that will benefit the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW), on Aug. 14.

Gates for the NHRA Softball Classic will open at 5 p.m. and fans are welcome to meet their favorite drivers in a pre-game autograph session from 5 to 6 p.m. The first pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

Top Fuel rookie Antron Brown and Funny Car favorite Gary Scelzi will coach the two teams that will feature drivers from all four NHRA POWERade Series professional categories. Drivers are still signing up to participate, but those currently scheduled to play include Hillary Will, Bob Vandergriff, Mike Neff, Dave Grubnic, Rod Fuller, Tommy Johnson, Dave Connolly, Bob Tasca, Morgan Lucas, J.R. Todd, Del Worsham, Allen Johnson, Jim Yates, Cory McClenathan, Brandon Bernstein, Ron Capps, Greg Anderson, Steve Johnson and Larry Dixon. Umpiring the game will be NHRA's own Chris Hill, who doubles as an NCAA official in his spare time. Calling the action will be NHRA announcer Bob Frey and Bob Wilber, a former ball player who now serves as PR representative for Worsham.

A draft will be held during the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., so that Brown and Scelzi may select players for their teams.

Tickets may be purchased through the Reading Phillies ticket office at FirstEnergy Stadium, by visiting readingphillies.com or by calling (610) 375-8469.

De Ferran Motorsports crew member Keith Jones, injured in Saturday's American Le Mans Series race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, was transferred Tuesday from the Ohio State University Medical Center to the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Wishard in the Wishard Health Services in Indianapolis.

Gil de Ferran, owner and co-driver of the No. 66 Panasonic ELS Surround Acura ARX-01b sports car for de Ferran Motorsports, has asked that all wishes and cards for Keith Jones be sent to the de Ferran Motorsports headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind. The team headquarters is listed below:

Keith Jones
c/o De Ferran Motorsports
485 Southpoint Circle, Suite 900
Brownsburg, IN 46112

www.americanlemans.com

If there were one race that Cory McClenathan would love to win for his team's sponsor it would be this weekend's 21st annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals, the final stop on the Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) and the 15th of 24 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events. The driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster wants to present the winner's trophy to FRAM and earn his second career victory at Infineon Raceway.

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise ninety minutes of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).