Courtesy of The Associated Press
All times Central (U.S.)
IZOD IndyCar
Sao Paulo Indy 300
Site: Streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil (street course, 2.6 miles)
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (1 p.m., Versus); Sunday, race (10:30 a.m., Versus)
Race distance: 195 miles/75 laps
2009 winner: Inaugural event
Fast facts: Danica Patrick is back in her No. 7 Andretti Autosport ride after racing in three NASCAR Nationwide races and an ARCA event. ... Brazilian drivers Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Vitor Meira, Mario Romancini, Raphael Matos, Bia Figueiredo and Ana Beatriz are set to compete in the season-opening race, the country’s first Indy-style event since the CART ran in Rio de Janeiro from 1996-2000. ... The circuit features a nearly mile-long straightaway and runs through the Anhembi Sambadrome, a stadium-like venue that is the site of Carnival parades. ... Dario Franchitti is the defending series champion. He won five times last year. ... Sao Paulo also will host the Formula One finale in November.
www.indycar.com
NHRA
NHRA Gatornationals
Site: Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (11 p.m. taped, ESPN2); Sunday, final eliminations (5 p.m., taped, ESPN2)
2009 winners: Bob Tasca (Funny Car), Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle)
Fast facts: Kurt Busch, coming off a NASCAR Sprint Cup victory Sunday at Atlanta, is making his NHRA debut in the Super Gas class. He’s driving his rebuilt ’70 Dodge Challenger, powered by a stroked 6.1-liter Hemi that produces 1,167 horsepower.
www.nhra.com
Formula One
Bahrain Grand Prix
Site: Sakhir, Bahrain, Bahrain International (road course, 3.914 miles).
TV schedule: Friday, practice (5 a.m., Speed); Saturday, qualifying (5 a.m., Speed); Sunday, race (6:30 a.m.,live; 12:30 p.m., taped, Speed)
Race distance: 191.634 miles/49 laps
2009 winner: Jenson Button
Fast facts: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is returning to racing after a three-year retirement. The 41-year-old German star, the winner of a record 91 races, is driving for Ross Brawn-led Mercedes GP. Schumacher won the first F1 race at the track in 2004. ... Lotus is returning to F1 after a 16-year absence, backed by the Malaysian government and a consortium of businessmen. Lotus won 79 races and seven constructors’ titles between 1958 and 1994. Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen will race for the team. ... Jenson Button is driving for McLaren.
www.formula1.com
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