Jalopnik Weekend Motorsports Preview
The race season is winding down and the auto show season is ramping up. But there's still plenty of exciting action on the track this weekend and we've got it all, from Formula 1 to the ZR1 Vettegasm at ALMS below the jump.
Formula 1
What: Brazilian Grand Prix
Where: Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos, Brazil
When: Qualifying Saturday, race Sunday
The final race of the season promises to be a nail-biter as rookie Lewis Hamilton, two-time defending world champion Fernando Alonso, and nose-picking party boy Kimi Räikkönen all duke it out for the 2007 driver's championship. Ferrari was pretty much handed the constructor's championship on a silver platter earlier this season when McLaren Mercedes was disqualified after the espionage scandal with Ferrari, so there won't be any surprises there. This grand prix also marks the racing debut of Kazuki Nakajima for Williams; the test driver was put into the seat vacated by Alexander Wurz, who announced his retirement last week.
Champ Car World Series
What: Lexmark Indy 300
Where: Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
When: Qualifying Saturday, race Sunday
The Champ Car kids go to the land down under for their second-to-last race of the season. And since it's a day ahead in Australia, the starting grid is already set. Will Power (yes, we still snicker every time we write his name) sits on the pole (double snicker), perennial road-rager Paul Tracy will round out the front row, and season leader — and perhaps soon-to-be F1 driver — Sebastien Bourdais starts third.
American LeMans Series (ALMS)
What: Monterey Sports Car Championships
Where: Laguna Seca, Monterey Peninsula, CA
When: Qualifying Friday, race Saturday
The ALMS season finale is bound to be a fast one; thirteen cars across all four classes broke the track qualifying records on Friday. Sascha Maassen snagged pole in the P2 class in his Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder with a time of 1:10.528, a whopping 3.203 seconds quicker than the former track record set by Stefan Johansson last year in a factory Zytek. Allan McNish took pole in the P1 class in his Audi R10 TDI with a lap time of 1:11.175. Jan Magnussen drove his Corvette to pole in the GT1 class, and Risi Competizione's Jaime Melo will start first in the Ferrari F403 in the GT2 class. Despite the rumors to the contrary, we will be at this race with some great behind-the-scenes action, so stay tuned.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
What: Subway 500
Where: Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, VA
When: Qualifying Friday, race Saturday
Chevrolet claimed the top four spots during a rainy qualifying session Friday on NASCAR's shortest circuit. Jeff Gordon took pole with a top speed of 94.974 miles per hour. This marks Gordon's 63rd career pole, six of which have been at the Martinsville track. Martin Truex Jr. qualified second at 94.737 miles per hour, with Kevin Harvick behind him at 94.685 miles per hour. Points leader Jimmie Johnson qualified fourth at 94.618 miles per hour.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
What: Kroger 200
Where: Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, VA
When: Qualifying Saturday morning, race Saturday afternoon
Toyota could clinch the manufacturer's championship this season if the team finishes ahead of Chevrolet and Ford on the 2.66-mile oval. The stats are in their favor, as Toyotas have won the last three truck races at Martinsville. Ron Hornaday Jr. currently leads the series with 3207 points, with Mike Skinner just 14 points behind.