Learn more about the Body Issue Here.
Felipe Massa was declared the winner of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton was penalized for cutting a corner during a late duel with world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Hamilton crossed the line 14.4 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Massa in a dramatic finish that saw Raikkonen crash into a barrier, but the McLaren driver was penalized 25 seconds for his illegal maneuver.
Read more and see the final laps here:
Robert Kubica just notched the victory in the Montreal Grand Prix. Last year, he almost lost his life at the same race.
See the crash from last year here:
See the crash in 3D:
Hmm… can we script such a thing?
LONDON — Formula One’s governing body is keeping its distance from sexual allegations in a British tabloid newspaper about its president, Max Mosley.
“This is a matter between Mr. Mosley and the paper in question,” an International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokesman said.
“We understand that Mr. Mosley’s lawyers are now in contact with that newspaper and the FIA has no comment.”
The News of the World reported in a front page story that FIA president Mosley, 67, had taken part in a “sadomasochistic orgy” with five prostitutes that reportedly involved Nazi role-playing.
According to a story posted by the London-based Times Online on Monday, Mosley and others “re-enacted a concentration camp scene in which he played the role of both guard and inmate.”
A video was also reportedly posted on the News of the World Web site. A check of the site Monday didn’t find the video in question.
The News of the World printed pictures of a man who appeared to be Mosley, chained over a “torture” bench while being caned by a woman, and said that the acts took place in an apartment near Mosley’s London home on Friday.
British media reports said Mosley paid 2,500 British pounds, which is a little less than $5,000, according to Monday’s conversion rates.
Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told at least one London newspaper that Mosley’s job was not in jeopardy.
“I find it difficult to believe. It’s his business but it sounds to me like a set-up. Has he in any way damaged F1? No,” he told the Daily Mail.
Jewish leaders in Great Britain condemned Mosley.
“This is sick and depraved,” Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said, according to Times Online. ” … I am absolutely appalled.”
Stephen Smith, director of the Holocaust Centre, said: “As Mr. Mosley has condemned the racism in motorsport he should live up to the standards he sets. This is an insult to millions of victims, survivors and their families. He should apologize. He should resign from the sport.”
Mosley is the son of the late Oswald Mosley, founder of the pre-war British Union of Fascists. Mosley is married with two sons. He has been president of the FIA since 1993.
That’s beyond kinky. Read more…
Time Warner takes a page from the book of “give people what they want”
Enter SI Vault. If you are wondering what SI Vault is, as the name would imply, it’s 54 years of Sports Illustraded’s covers, images, stories and much more. If an image is worth a thousand words, what would 54 years’ worth of images be worth?
Here’s a story dating back to 1992, for example, on Christian Laettner and Duke. Hmm… Laettner? Duke? Pardon the shameless plug, but enjoy WatchMojo.com’s classic college programming:
Duke in Top College Programs:
And Laettner in Top College Careers:
All right, enough shameless promotion, now go and enjoy 54 years of SI at SI Vault.
Interesting choice for the top moments in Nascar car racing. Here’s #1:
The fight
Moment Number 1: Cale Yarborough & Donnie Allison crash & fight on last lap… Petty Wins
Date: February 18, 1979
Location: Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach, Fla.What happened: It was the perfect storm, literally and figuratively, for NASCAR on February 18, 1979.Due to winter storms in the Northeast, Millions of people were at home on that Sunday looking for entertainment. For those who found the NASCAR race on television, they found more than entertainment.
NASCAR’s first race televised flag-to-flag on television offered almost everything the sport has: Major names, surprises, wrecks … and oh yeah, a fight at the end.
The most memorable moment of the event came at the end of the race when Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were battling it out for the victory in the Great American Race. Their battle got so intense that they started bouncing off each other on the backstretch and eventually spun out in Turn 3.
As a result of the wreck, Richard Petty came out of nowhere to pick up the lead with less than a lap remaining. Despite being followed by Darrell Waltrip and open-wheel legend A.J. Foyt, he managed to keep things straight to win his sixth career Daytona 500.
While that was going on though, the television cameras stopped focusing on the winner and turned to the wrecked vehicles of Allison and Yarborough as the two drivers got out of their vehicles. At the same time, Donnie’s brother Bobby Allison stopped near the wreck to see what was going on … and a fight ensued in front of a national television audience.
Darrell Waltrip, NASCAR on FOX race analyst: It was the first live flag to flag television coverage and included the famous fight. As Yarborough and Bobby’s brother Donnie raced 1-2, they crashed and took each other out of the race. That left me racing “The King” (Richard Petty) and my hero A.J. (Foyt) to the finish line.
Mike Joy, NASCAR on FOX race announcer: I was standing high on a tower inside of turn two, calling that area’s action for radio. And everyone knew when they came off of turn two on that last lap, that neither Cale nor Donnie would give an inch. Allison crowded Cale to the apron, Yarborough entered the turn three banking at an impossible angle, and 25 million people watched on TV as they slid to the apron. More then half a lap down, Petty held off Darrell Waltrip and AJ Foyt for the surprise win.
Chris Myers, NASCAR on FOX Prerace host: Richard Petty holding off Darrell Waltrip for the win while Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison put on a show with a Turn Three fist-fight.
Check out the Top 10 on FOX Sports. Or if you want to start from #50, click here.
This is crazy:
Will Nelson Piquet Jr. be Fernando Alonso’s Lewis Hamilton in 2008?
Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is heading back to Renault.
The 26-year-old Spaniard announced his return to the French team Monday after a turbulent season at McLaren.
At Renault in 2005, Alonso became the youngest driver in F1 history to win the title. He repeated in 2006.
“I am delighted to be returning to Renault,” Alonso said in a statement. “This is the team where I grew up as a driver in Formula One. Now it is time for us to begin a new chapter together.”
Renault said that Alonso, who agreed to a two-year contract, would drive along with Nelson Piquet Jr. The duo will make their debut testing the new R28 car at Valencia from Jan. 22-24.
Read more.
What a year, what feels like a decade in terms of scandals, storylines, rumors etc., was actually just one year:
“Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out,” Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso said in a statement.
Alonso, who still has a two years left on his contract, reached an agreement that allows the driver to leave without penalty.
“(We) want to wish Fernando all the best for the future,” McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said. “He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of (our team) and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward.”
Alonso has been linked with a possible return to Renault or a move to Williams or Red Bull.
Alonso had complained that as a world champion he deserved preferential treatment, and accused McLaren of favoring the 22-year-old rookie Hamilton. Dennis and Alonso didn’t talk to each other for a period.
“I know there have been suggestions of favoritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win,” Alonso said. “Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra-challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home.”
Read more.
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