This Week in Auto Racing March 26 - 28

This Week in Auto Racing March 26 - 28

Martinsville, VA (Sports Network) - It's a second straight weekend of short- track racing in NASCAR, with the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series running at Martinsville Speedway. Meanwhile, IndyCar tackles the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Formula One heads to the "land down under" with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Sprint Cup Series

Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 - Martinsville Speedway - Martinsville, VA

Starting this weekend at Martinsville, the current Sprint Cup Series cars will have a different look, with the spoiler replacing the wing on the rear decks of the cars.

NASCAR confirmed last week the change from the wing to the spoiler will take place at Martinsville -- the oldest and shortest track on the Sprint Cup schedule. For all race tracks except Daytona and Talladega, the spoiler will be four inches tall and 64.5 inches wide across the back of the car. It will be affixed at a 70-degree angle and is not adjustable.

The wing has been a fixture of the current car -- also known as the Car of Tomorrow (COT) -- since its debut three years ago at Bristol. The spoiler was used on the previous cars.

Teams had raised concerns about the wing since it had reduced downforce on the cars. Fans also did not favor its appearance.

"I never had a big issue with the wing," Jeff Gordon said. "I guess it wasn't mounted on the car the way that wings on race cars should be mounted, but it wasn't that big of a deal. I'm looking forward to the spoiler and using it on the car, because I think we're going to have more downforce.

"It helps with our valence as well, so that's good. The fans like it, and that's good. I see a lot of positives, so I am looking forward to that."

Teams are testing this week at Charlotte to finalize their preparations with the spoiler. Last week, teams tested the spoiler as well as various carburetor restrictor-plate openings at Talladega.

Jimmie Johnson's team also have tested the spoiler at Rockingham, NC and Little Rock, AR.

"I think we're as ready as anyone," Johnson said. "But until we get out there and really have someone to chase and some lap times and can get in traffic and figure out what's going on, I think we're all on equal ground and hoping we have what we need. But nobody has a clear advantage at this point, so it's going to be different."

Johnson, the four-time defending series champion, is off to one of his best starts this season by winning three of the first five races, including last Sunday at Bristol.

Don't be surprised if Johnson wins again later this week at Martinsville, where he has recorded five victories in the last seven races there.

"I think when we go to Martinsville, we're one of the probably three or four guys that you have to put as a favorite to win there," he said. "[Denny Hamlin] has been on pace, and [Gordon] is going to be good there. [Juan Pablo Montoya] has gotten good there. As much as Mark [Martin] hates the place, he's been running good there.

"I feel we're one of the ones to consider. But this is racing, and anything can and will happen. We're off to a great start, but we've all seen enough teams rise and fall. You never just hand it to anybody."

One year ago, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick celebrated the 25th anniversary of his first Cup victory, with Johnson taking the spring race at Martinsville. Hendrick's first win ironically came at Martinsville in 1984. Geoff Bodine drove for the team at the time.

Hendrick Motorsports has won at Martinsville 18 times, which is one short of the track record held by Petty Enterprises. Johnson and Gordon have combined for 13 of those wins.

Forty-six teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500.

Camping World Truck Series

Kroger 250 - Martinsville Speedway - Martinsville, VA

Following a two-week break, the Camping World Truck Series returns with its first short-track race of the season at Martinsville.

Kevin Harvick will attempt to win his fourth consecutive truck race that he has entered. Harvick finished the 2009 season with victories at the last two tracks on the schedule -- Phoenix and Martinsville. He won in his first 2010 season start earlier this month at Atlanta.

Harvick's chances of four in a row are good this weekend at Martinsville, where he won the spring race there one year ago.

"Martinsville has been a good track for us," Harvick said. "We ran really well there last spring, obviously, winning the race. We had a little trouble in the fall race with a flat tire, but we were able to make up a couple laps and come back with a solid top five. Based upon our most recent success in the series, confidence is very high."

Last year, Harvick's teammate, Ron Hornaday Jr., won a record five straight races en route to his fourth series championship. Hornaday is looking to bounce back at Martinsville after a sluggish start this season. After finishing 27th at Daytona and 34th at Atlanta, he sits 28th in points.

Hornaday holds the record for most victories in the series with 45 but has yet to win at Martinsville.

Rick Crawford will extend his series record of most starts to 325 at Martinsville.

Meanwhile, Narain Karthikeyan is expected to become the first driver from India to compete in a truck race. Karthikeyan, a former Formula One competitor, will drive the No.60 Chevrolet in place of truck veteran Stacy Compton for Wyler Racing/Starbeast Motorsports. Compton will serve as his driver coach.

"The opportunity to compete in a NASCAR series is a dream come true for me," Karthikeyan said. "I have raced all over the world, but this is a different kind of challenge for me, and I look forward to learning everything I can about racing in this environment."

Karthikeyan tested an ARCA car last December at Daytona. He has a guaranteed starting position for Martinsville based on last year's owner points.

Thirty-nine teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Kroger 250.

IZOD INDYCAR SERIES

Honda GP of St. Petersburg - Streets of St. Petersburg - St. Petersburg, FL

After racing in Brazil for the first time last week, the IZOD IndyCar Series returns to the United States with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, FL.

Will Power has established himself as a serious title contender this year after winning the inaugural race in Brazil. Power turned in a gutsy performance in the season-opener. The 29-year-old Aussie avoided a five-car pileup on the opening lap and then endured rainy conditions for a majority of the event before passing Ryan Hunter-Reay for the lead in the closing minutes to claim his second career IndyCar victory.

By the time Power parked into victory lane, his hands were severely blistered from driving on one of the most physically demanding courses.

The 1.8-mile St. Petersburg street circuit will not be as rigorous as Brazil but will present many challenges.

"It's one of those races where we started last year and the first corner was just absolutely wild," said Ryan Briscoe, who won last year's race at St. Petersburg. "I was able to get through that and then the race kind of fell into my hands."

Graham Rahal started on the pole but spun out on the first turn of the opening lap after being tapped from behind. Mike Conway also spun during the incident. Rahal, who claimed his first IndyCar win at St. Petersburg in 2008, rallied for a seventh-place finish in last year's race.

Rahal recently secured a ride in Sarah Fisher's No.67 car for St. Petersburg and next month's race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. The 21-year-old Rahal has been without a ride since the end of last season when McDonald's discontinued their sponsorship with his Newman/Haas/Lanigan team.

"I'm extremely excited and obviously very enthusiastic about everything that's gone on at [Sarah Fisher Racing] so far," Rahal said. "I think as we look to St. Pete and Barber, I think a lot of people are pretty optimistic. I feel like we should have a pretty good run at both places."

One year ago, Power drove to a sixth-place finish in his debut with Team Penske at St. Petersburg. He drove the No.3 car in place of Helio Castroneves, who was in the tail end of his federal income tax evasion trial. Castroneves returned to the car in time for the second race of the '09 season -- Long Beach, California -- following his acquittal. Power then drove a third entry for Penske in a partial schedule.

Power joins Briscoe and Castroneves in Penske's stable of full-time drivers this year.

FORMULA ONE

Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Circuit - Melbourne, Australia

Fernando Alonso made a stunning debut with Ferrari by winning the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month. Felipe Massa finished second to give the Italian team a 1-2 result in the Formula One season-opener.

When F1 kicked off its 2009 season with the Australian Grand Prix, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello gave Brawn GP a 1-2 finish in the team's debut. Button won six of the first seven grand prix last year, en route to his first world championship. Brawn also claimed the constructors' title in convincing style.

Will Ferrari follow the same route as Brawn did last year?

After a disappointing season last year, it appears Ferrari is back on track with its program. Alonso left Renault and jumped into a championship- contending car at Ferrari this season. He joins Felipe Massa, who has made a remarkable comeback after a high speed crash in qualifying at Hungary last July shortened his season.

"The one-two win in Sakhir gave us confidence and was a great result, but we can't take anything for granted," Alonso said. "We have to keep our feet on the ground, keep calm and stay concentrated. In Melbourne, we're starting from square one."

Alonso won the Australian GP during his second consecutive F1 championship season with Renault in 2006.

After winning the title last year, Button moved over to McLaren and teamed up with 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton. Button finished seventh in his debut with McLaren in Bahrain.

"We learned some very useful lessons about the MP4-25 [car] in the opening race, and the whole team is keen to put them into practice this weekend," Button said.

Hamilton looked impressive in Bahrain with a third-place finish. The Briton won the Australian GP in 2008.

"I've always enjoyed Albert Park," Button said. "I had a great race here on my Formula One debut in 2007, won the race a year later and made full use of KERS to drive through the field there last year."

Thanks in part to some of new rule changes this year, the Bahrain GP turned out to be a lackluster event.

Starting this year, teams are prohibited from refueling their cars after they have left pit lane prior to the start of a grand prix. In Bahrain, teams were in and out of their pit stalls in seconds after taking on new tires only.

Sebastian Vettel started on the pole and led two-thirds of the 49-lap Bahrain GP, but Vettel lost power and gave up the lead to Alonso.

If it weren't for Vettel's unfortunate mishap late in the race, the Bahrain GP would have been a bummer. Hopefully, the Australian GP will be a bit livelier.