Car News Articles

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