Blogginisracin

Kovalainen staying at McLaren

Heikki Kovalainen will remain a McLaren driver for the 2009 Formula One season. The 26-year-old Finn, who is sixth in the standings in his first season with the British team, was confirmed as a driver for next year by McLaren on Thursday. Kovalainen, left, has had a disjointed debut season at McLaren since joining from Renault, with Fernando Alonso going the other way. There had been reports that McLaren was interested in signing Williams driver Nico Rosberg for 2009.

-- The Associated Press

Newman agrees to join Stewart-Haas?

According to espn.com, Ryan Newman has made a verbal agreement (what is this college recruiting?) to race for Stewart-Haas Racing next season. The ESPN report relies on a NASCAR source, so take it or leave it.

But wait, there's more for all you Ryan Newman fans out there. The Rocketman took NASCAR to task for the Indy tire fiasco, saying, "NASCAR has the ultimate responsibility." Read more here.

-- Michele Vincze

Johnson, Moss set to team up

Jimmie Johnson, coming off his victory in last Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, has added a pair of races to his 2008 schedule.
In addition to his duties behind the wheel of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, the two-time reigning Sprint Cup champion will make his Truck Series debut in Bristol on Aug. 20 — driving for NFL star Randy Moss. Johnson will drive the No. 81 Kobalt Tools Silverado fielded by Randy Moss Motorsports.
Johnson also will drive the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet fielded by Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen on Aug. 9.
In Nationwide, Johnson has made 88 starts, with his only victory in 2001 — his second and final full season in the former Busch Series — at Chicagoland.
“Watkins Glen and Bristol are two tracks where I really want a win,” Johnson said. “I enjoy racing (on the road course) at Watkins Glen and, for some reason always seem to be a little better there than Sonoma. We've had some top-fives, so, hopefully, this will put us in the win column.
“As for the trucks, I am really looking forward to that. I have never run a truck race, so it should be fun. Heck, my brother Jarit has run more than me. But it's going to be a good time.”

-- The Associated Press

This week's racing schedule

Courtesy of The Associated Press

NASCAR Sprint Cup
Pennsylvania 500
Site: Long Pond, Pa., Pocono International Raceway (triangular oval, 2.5 miles, 14 degrees banking in turn 1, 8 degrees in turn 2, 6 degrees in turn 3)
TV schedule: Friday, qualifying (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (ESPN, noon)
Race distance: 500 miles/200 laps
2007 winner: Kurt Busch
Fast facts: Six of the last 10 Brickyard winners have gone on to win the Cup, including Jimmie Johnson in 2006. ... Jeff Gordon, who has four career victories at Pocono, has yet to win in 20 races this season. He has won at least two events every year since 1994. ... Two-time Pocono winner Denny Hamlin is expected to make his 100th career Cup start this weekend. ... Kasey Kahne won this season’s first Pocono race on June 8. ... Petty Enterprises will use three different drivers in the No. 45 Dodge over the next three races as it continues to evaluate the slumping team. Chad McCumbee will attempt to qualify the car this weekend. Kyle Petty will try to qualify the car the next week at Watkins Glen, and Terry Labonte will drive it at Michigan.
www.nascar.com

NASCAR Nationwide
Napa Auto Parts 200
Site: Montreal, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (road course, 2.71 miles, 15 turns)
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 11:30 a.m.), race (ESPN2, 2 p.m.)
Race distance: 200.54 miles/74 laps
2007 winner: Kevin Harvick
Fast facts: This will be the third non-American event in series history. The first came in Mexico City in 2005. ... Joey Logano, the 18-year-old who finished in the top two in his previous three Nationwide starts, was eighth at Indianapolis. ... Standings leader Clint Bowyer did not compete in last year’s event and has never raced at Montreal. ... The track is named for the father of former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve and also hosts that circuit’s Canadian Grand Prix.
www.nascar.com

Formula One
Hungarian Grand Prix
Site: Budapest, Hungaroring (road course, 2.465 miles)
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 7 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 6:30 a.m.)
Race distance: 172.55 miles/70 laps
2007 winner: Lewis Hamilton
Fast facts: The 10 F1 teams created an association Tuesday to safeguard their interests in response to rule changes proposed by motorsports’ governing body. Ferrari said in a statement that the meeting at its headquarters had produced an unanimous decision to establish a new “Formula 1 Teams Association” to work with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) “to agree upon regulations and commercial conditions which will provide a framework for a strong and dynamic sport.” ... Lewis Hamilton’s victory at Germany two weeks ago pushed him four points ahead of main rival Felipe Massa, who settled for third. ... Nelson Piquet Jr. earned his first career top-three finish after starting 17th at Germany. It was Renault’s first top-three finish of the season. ... Timo Glock was hospitalized during the German Grand Prix after an accident, but he was not seriously injured. He returned to the track days later for a testing session. ... Jenson Button won his first career F1 race in the 2006 event.
www.formula1.com

Grand-Am Rolex Sports Cars
Site: Montreal, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (road course, 2.71 miles, 15 turns)
TV schedule: Friday, race (7 p.m., Speed)
Race distance: 200 miles/74 laps (two-hour time limit)
www.grand-am.com/rolex/

IndyCar Series will race in Australia this year

More than a month after its scheduled "finale" at Chicagoland Speedway, the IndyCar Series will travel to Surfers Paradise, Australia, for the non-points Gold Coast Indy 300 on Oct. 23-26. The event, held on a 12-turn, 2.795-mile course on the beachfront streets, once served as one of the final races on the Champ Car schedule. The race does not appear on the 2009 schedule, for now. Read more here.

-- Michele Vincze

Kenseth, McMurray to visit for TMS FanFest II

A visit from NASCAR Sprint Cup stars Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray will highlight Texas Motor Speedway's FanFest II, a free event for fans scheduled for Aug. 19. The event will run from 5-9 p.m. in the speedway infield garage area (south garage) and pit lane and will also feature a concert by the Gin Blossoms and several ride-along programs. Kenseth, the 2003 Sprint Cup Series champion, and McMurray will kick off their visit with individual one-hour autograph sessions in the tech bay area of the garage, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Roush Fenway Racing duo also will conduct a Q&A with the fans.
Read more here.

2009 IndyCar schedule features new tracks

The 2009 IndyCar schedule has been released and Texas Motor Speedway will again host its traditional early June race as one of 10 ovals on the schedule. The schedule features a nice blend of tracks for the 18 events, including three permanent road courses and five temporary street circuits. The series will race on the Long Beach (Calif.) and Toronto street courses for the first time.
Read more here.

-- Michele Vincze

2009 IndyCar schedule set for release

The IndyCar Series schedule, including one race at Texas Motor Speedway, will be announced Wednesday at 10 a.m. Central. Follow the festivities at www.indycar.com.