Motorsports

Cadillac Makes Some Necessary Noise at the Miami Formula 1 Race

You can’t blame Cadillac for wanting to take center stage at the Miami Grand Prix last weekend: After all, it’s the first of three U.S. races on the Formula 1 schedule, and South Florida is a good place to make a big splash. Also, next time the F1 circus rolls into town, Cadillac won’t just […]

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1 week ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Also, next time the F1 circus rolls into town, Cadillac won’t just be an appealing sideshow—the brand will have a couple of cars on the track, taking its place as the eleventh team in F1, which will have a 22-car grid next year instead of the semi-traditional 20 (F1 requires that each team field two cars).

Saturday night, Cadillac hosted a red-carpet gala at a Miami steakhouse, an event Formula1.com called “dazzling”. The team unveiled its logo, which the same Formula1.com story called “striking,” which is what you might say when you are shown a photo of a friend’s less-than-cute baby. The black-and-white logo, a Cadillac crest above type that spells out “CADILLAC FORMULA 1 TEAM,” looks more like a placeholder for the real logo, but this is it:

Perhaps the only real news revealed in Miami was at a press conference with General Motors President Mark Reuss, a race fan who has actively supported the effort for the F1 team, who said the initiative will proceed despite a big potential hit for GM from the proposed federal tariffs: “You probably would have seen over the last few days, we did earnings in the early part of the week, and then we came back and did the earnings review and guidance, and so in that second one, there’s about $5 billion of impact for us. But it’s not going to affect this project.”

Indeed, it has been a long and very expensive road to F1, with the project announced in early 2022, long before Cadillac signed up. It began, as you will likely recall, with ex-driver and IndyCar team owner Michael Andretti’s goal of heading an F1 team, going so far as to hire the technical help in Europe, and building a car to test in the wind tunnel, to show how serious he was. He enlisted his father, Mario, one of only two American F1 champions (the other was Dan Gurney), and Cadillac came aboard to back the project.

Immediately, there were challenges, especially from the existing 10 teams, and it was understandable: Why cut the F1 prize-money pie 11 ways, instead of just 10? It cost Cadillac and the team a lot of money to warm the other teams up to their presence.

The powers behind F1 put one roadblock after another in front of Michael, and he dealt with a series of setbacks. Until he couldn’t. The message from F1 was clear: We want Cadillac, but we don’t want you. It did not help when, during the negotiations, Michael said F1’s resistance was “all about greed,” a comment he apologized for in a subsequent interview with Hagerty. Many casual fans in America were amazed to learn that F1 is not a democracy: After all, when new teams want to join NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA or the NHRA, aren’t their checkbooks welcomed with open arms?

So Michael exited the project and has scarcely been heard from since; he’s apparently “enjoying retirement.” With Andretti Global out, affiliate partner TWG Global took control, headed by two billionaires: Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter and businessman/film producer Thomas Tull. Dan Towriss, who had been a minority partner with Andretti, became CEO of Cadillac F1.

AUTO-PRIX-F1-USA-QUALIFYING — Shawn Threw/AFP/Getty Images

The team cut a deal with Ferrari to supply the powertrain, or “power unit and gearbox,” as Ferrari said it in the announcement of the multi-year deal. Besides Ferrari’s own team, Ferrari engines power Haas, the other U.S.-based F1 team, as well as Sauber, but that team will switch to Audi engines in 2026. Cadillac says it will have its own engines ready for 2029.

Ferrari is no longer quite at the sharp end of the stick with its team and engines. Ferrari’s own team has finished a best of third and a low of 10th in the six races it has contested this season—or five, actually, since both cars were disqualified for too-low weight (Charles Leclerc) and excessive wear on the rear skid block (Lewis Hamilton) in China. Still, Cadillac could do worse than have Ferrari as a partner.

So ostensibly everything is in place for Cadillac to join F1 beginning with the first race in 2026, presumably at the site of 2025’s opener, Melbourne, Australia, which was held March 26. It hasn’t been formally announced, but most likely the 2026 season will begin there on March 22. Cadillac and TWG insist that everything’s in place, though it was announced in Miami that the team has hired about 350 or 400 employees so far, with an ultimate target of about 1000.

F1 Grand Prix of Brazil hamilton leclerc sainz — 2023: Valtteri Bottas (L) of Finland and Alfa Romeo F1, Logan Sargeant, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz look on in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil.Clive Mason/Getty Images

One critical detail that hasn’t been decided is the drivers. Cadillac definitely needs a veteran who knows what a proper F1 car feels like, and knows the tracks F1 races on—that is a big requirement, since there are 24 of them. Odds are on Sergio Perez, from Mexico, who drove for Red Bull and has six F1 wins, and Valtteri Bottas, from Finland, who drove for Mercedes and has 10 wins. Both drivers are 35. Presently, Perez seems to be the favorite—he can likely bring his own sponsorship money, and he has massive support from Mexican fans. Some of those fans were vocal in Miami, standing outside the exclusive Cadillac event and shouting Perez’s nickname: “Checo, Checo, Checo!”

Since age 35 is nearing the sell-by date for F1, the other Cadillac driver is expected to be younger. IndyCar racer Colton Herta, who drives for Andretti, has repeatedly been mentioned as a candidate, but that seems less and less likely. As much as Cadillac would like an American racer, the cupboard is relatively bare.

Sergio "Checo" Perez — Sergio “Checo” PerezF1/Getty Images

They could bring on a young driver with some F1 experience who isn’t an American, but also hire a very young American, such as Zak Crawford, 20, to be, say, a reserve driver. Crawford raced karts here in the U.S., but began racing in Europe at age 9. He’s raced in multiple European formula car series, and currently has a developmental-driver contract with Aston Martin.

That’s a central problem with hiring a proper American F1 driver: To truly get noticed on an international stage, it’s almost mandatory that drivers must race in Europe, which often means that American drivers are virtual unknowns in their home country, such as Florida’s Logan Sargeant, who raced in F1 for Williams in 2023 and the first half of 2024. Cadillac could end up with a foreign driver who nonetheless has a large footprint in the U.S., like IndyCar champ Alex Palou of Spain.

There are still employees of Cadillac who remember the embarrassing attempt in 2000 when the manufacturer engineered a largely unprepared return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s premiere sports car endurance race. The effort was announced at the 1999 running of Le Mans, which I attended with Mercedes. I took a friend, who was a Cadillac executive, into Mercedes’ garage, and watched his eyeballs get big at the team’s opulent presence; the garage floors had actually been carpeted. “Do you think Cadillac is prepared to make this sort of investment?” I asked him. He didn’t answer.

Cadillac Northstar LMP 2000 Le Mans racing action — Flickr/Martin Lee

In 2000, all three of their Northstar LMP cars ran into trouble, with the lone survivor finishing 29 laps behind. In 2001, the three Cadillacs finished 19th, 21st and 22nd. Down to two cars in 2021, one crashed, the other finished 15th. In 2002, they finished ninth and 12th, which was better, but at the end of that year, Cadillac gave up and cancelled the program. They had gone up against the best sports car teams in the world, and had fallen short.

Today, though, this is a different Cadillac. The brand’s current return to the top class at Le Mans has been much more measured and carefully developed, and its teams have proven that they belong, and should be a factor in the race next month. And Cadillac itself, with such world-class vehicles as the remarkable Celestiq and Lyriq, has again cemented the brand’s place as one of the best premium brands, anywhere. Cadillac does not want to be embarrassed next March when they dive into Formula 1, but they—and their fans, and especially their critics—must be patient. In this modern era, nobody’s initial F1 race will put them on the top step of the podium.

It appears that Cadillac is doing everything right, though we’ll withhold final judgment until we see the driver lineup. But more importantly, we will finally have a true home team to cheer for, and hopefully someday the company can make news at the Miami Grand Prix with more than dazzling parties and striking logos.

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Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports clarifies Kyle Larson plan for North Wilkesboro amid Indy 500 prep

When Kyle Larson is bouncing back and forth this week between North Wilkesboro and Indianapolis, he will be incredibly busy. Justin Allgaier is the substitute for the NASCAR Cup Series points leader, and Allgaier will practice and qualify the car. Hendrick Motorsports is skipping one thing, though. Instead of having Justin Allgaier race in one […]

Published

12 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Instead of having Justin Allgaier race in one of the two heat races that serve as qualifying on Saturday, Hendrick is skipping it. The No. 5 team will be a DNS for the heats. That means Kyle Larson will start the All-Star Race from the rear.

In 2023, Larson got a penalty that sent him to the back of the field after speeding on pit road. Well, he charged right back through it and took the win. However, that was on the old asphalt. It will be difficult to replicate on a more or less freshly paved surface.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported on the decision from Hendrick Motorsports. A bold move from the team. If anyone can do it, it’s Kyle Larson, right?

Hendrick Motorsports says it will skip the heat races for its No. 5 car Saturday at North Wilkesboro. Justin Allgaier will practice and qualify Friday. And team will start in the back for the all-star race with Larson.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 15, 2025

Larson is going to be doing practice sessions and then going into qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 this week. He has to balance that with being at North Wilkesboro and handling his NASCAR duties there.

Should Kyle Larson qualify for the Fast 6 and it causes any kind of issues with the All-Star Race, he does plan to make the NASCAR race over staying in Indy for qualifying. So, no matter what goes on at Indy this week, we will see Larson in the No. 5 car, at the back of the pack, on Sunday.

Kyle Larson wants $1,000,000 over the Indy 500 pole

There are few pole positions as special as the Indianapolis 500. It comes with prestige and at high risk. The speeds these racers are going to qualify at the top of the field are absolutely insane.

Even though the pole at Indy would be a massive deal, Kyle Larson knows where he would rather be – North Wilkesboro. There will basically be just over an hour between Fast 6 qualifying and the All-Star Race at Wilkesboro on Sunday. That is a tight window to make work.

If Larson makes the Fast 6 again, it sounds like he will just take P6 and move on to the All-Star Race. Not a bad idea.

“I think that I would miss the Fast 6 and go to the All-Star Race,” Larson explained to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports a couple of weeks ago. “It’s important to race in, it’s a lot of money on the line, so sure it’d be great to you know, have an opportunity to get the pole, but I’d rather race for a million dollars and start sixth [at Indy]. We’ll see. I mean, you never really know how it’s going to go. Gotta make sure our car’s fast enough to even worry about all that anyways.”

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Motorsports

This Iowa motorsport race was just ranked among the best in the country

An Iowa motorsport race recently made USA TODAY’S 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards list as one of the best in the country. With 10 raceways around the state and Iowa hosting high-profile races like the NASCAR Cup Series and Sukup IndyCar Race Weekend, it is safe to say Iowans have an affinity for motorsports. Advertisement So out of all […]

Published

37 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

An Iowa motorsport race recently made USA TODAY’S 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards list as one of the best in the country.

With 10 raceways around the state and Iowa hosting high-profile races like the NASCAR Cup Series and Sukup IndyCar Race Weekend, it is safe to say Iowans have an affinity for motorsports.

So out of all the races in Iowa, which one in the state is one of the best in the country?

What Iowa motorsport race is one of the best in the country?

The NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals placed second in the Top 10 best motorsports races in the country, according to USA TODAY 10BEST.

The south-central Iowa race beat out the Dayton 500, Indianapolis 500 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix for Formula 1.

More: 15 sports-related things to do in Iowa this summer from marathons to baseball games

The only race ranked better than Knoxville’s is Sick Week in Orlando, Florida.

What is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals race?

First held in 1961, the race draws more than 20,000 spectators annually across four days in early August. Drivers earn points with every lap they complete, and the competitor with the highest point total at the end takes home $1 million.

The track was initially used for horse racing and is located on the Marion County Fairgrounds. The first automobile race was held in 1901.

When is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Race?

The 64th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals begins Aug. 6 and runs until Aug. 9.

The current champion of the race is Kyle Larson, who has won the Knoxville Nationals in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Tickets are still available for all four days, and they start at $54.

More: Kyle Larson revels in time at Iowa Speedway, Knoxville Raceway during off-week

Register reporter Kate Kealey contributed to this report

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Knoxville Nationals ranked among the best motorsport races in U.S.

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Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports Shakes Up Chase Elliott’s Crew After Heart-Wrenching Kansas Mishap

Hendrick Motorsports Shakes Up Crew After Kansas Pit Stop Blunder In a shocking turn of events, Hendrick Motorsports has decided to shake up Chase Elliott’s crew following a critical pit road error at the Kansas Speedway. The 2020 Cup Series champion was on the verge of securing his playoff spot during the AdventHealth 400 when […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Hendrick Motorsports Shakes Up Crew After Kansas Pit Stop Blunder

In a shocking turn of events, Hendrick Motorsports has decided to shake up Chase Elliott’s crew following a critical pit road error at the Kansas Speedway. The 2020 Cup Series champion was on the verge of securing his playoff spot during the AdventHealth 400 when a late-race pit stop blunder dashed his hopes.

Despite starting the race weekend in ninth place, Elliott showcased an impressive performance, clinching runner-up finishes in Stages 1 and 2. The #9 Chevrolet driver even took the lead after a swift pit stop on Lap 169, dominating the race with 77 laps to go. However, disaster struck during a subsequent pit stop, where a mishandled carjack while changing the rear tire cost Elliott valuable time and pushed him back to 16th place.

To address this issue, Hendrick Motorsports has made a bold move by swapping the rear tire changer for Elliott’s team ahead of the upcoming NASCAR All-Star Race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway. The experienced Calvin Teague, who previously worked as Kyle Larson’s tire changer, will now join the #9 crew. Meanwhile, Chad Avrit, Elliott’s former tire changer, will transition to Justin Haley’s car.

Despite the setback at Kansas, Chase Elliott’s standings in the Cup Series remain unchanged as he gears up for the next points race in Charlotte, maintaining a strong fourth-place position.

The NASCAR community is abuzz with anticipation as North Wilkesboro Speedway, a historic venue revitalized in 2021 and 2022, prepares to host NASCAR events starting in 2023. With the NASCAR All-Star Race set to take place at the Bristol Motor Speedway, past winners like Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Joey Logano are gearing up for the high-stakes event that promises a million-dollar prize to the victor.

In a recent statement, Chase Elliott expressed his excitement about North Wilkesboro Speedway’s significance in the NASCAR world, highlighting its proximity to Charlotte and the sport’s roots. Known for his stellar track record in the All-Star Race, Elliott’s positive outlook and commitment to excellence set the stage for an electrifying competition.

As fans eagerly await the upcoming NASCAR events, including the prestigious All-Star Race, Chase Elliott’s determination and adaptability position him as a formidable contender on the racing circuit. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates as the NASCAR season unfolds.

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Motorsports

IndyCar drivers struggle with hybrid cars at Indianapolis 500 – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — While the top of Thursday’s speed chart was filled with IndyCar’s usual names, many other Indianapolis 500 drivers grew increasingly frustrated with the day’s results. Graham Rahal complained on the broadcast about how the extra weight in the rear end of his car impacted how it handled around the 2.5-mile oval. Marco […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — While the top of Thursday’s speed chart was filled with IndyCar’s usual names, many other Indianapolis 500 drivers grew increasingly frustrated with the day’s results.

Graham Rahal complained on the broadcast about how the extra weight in the rear end of his car impacted how it handled around the 2.5-mile oval. Marco Andretti offered a similar critique during his radio communications.

Santino Ferrucci was so upset with the car, he put all four tires over the white line on the warmup apron, resulting in a drive-thru penalty. Even the seemingly invincible points leader, Alex Palou, went back to the garage to make a change to the No. 10 car.

It was that kind of day on the first day of practice for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” not interrupted by rain.

“Tough day today but we’re just gonna have to crank up the boost, cowboy up and go find what we need,” Rahal wrote on social media following practice.

Rahal, Andretti and Ferrucci finished Thursday near the bottom third of the speed charts. Palou, of course, was closer to the top.

Drivers knew navigating the series’ new, heavier hybrid cars around the fastest oval in racing could be problematic as far back as the April’s two-day open test when two experienced drivers crashed— 2021 NASCAR champion Kyle Larson and two-time Indy winner Takuma Sato.

What it all means for Friday when drivers get a power boost to increase their speeds before this weekend’s qualifications — or in the May 25 race — remains unclear.

But even some of the fastest drivers at Indy are fighting to figure it all out.

“You’re 100, 110 pounds heavier. That’s a lot of mass percentage wise that you are adding to this car,” two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden said Wednesday. “It’s saturating the tires more. It’s just moving around. Your weight distribution is shifted depending on where teams put it. That’s what people are trying to figure out right now.”

Sato’s new battle

Sato isn’t just cramming to learn the new cars, he’s also fighting another battle — rust.

The two-time Indy winner spent seven seasons in Formula One before becoming an IndyCar regular from 2010-2022. In 2023, he raced five times for Chip Ganassi Racing. But he hasn’t suited up since last year’s 500. This year, he’s again driving for Rahal Lannigan Letterman Racing.

“It’s not easy,” the Japanese native said Wednesday. “To get out of the car 11 months, close to 12 months, jump in the car and go 230 mph, you feel the speed for sure. The refresher program helped me a lot. So just getting through the speed with an extra two sets of tires, makes me a little more confident or comfortable to the environment to get up to speed.”

Sato is trying to become the third foreign-born driver with three Indy titles. Helio Castroneves of Brazil has a record-tying four wins. Dario Franchitti of Scotland won three times.

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Motorsports

Toy RC vs. Hobby-Grade: Why the Losi NASCAR RC Car is Built for Fans

What’s Happening? A quick stroll through any toy aisle will show you an array of radio control cars. But let’s be honest—most are just that: toys. For NASCAR fans used to speed, control, and real racing performance, a basic toy won’t cut it. That’s where companies like Losi come in. We spoke with the team […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

What’s Happening?

A quick stroll through any toy aisle will show you an array of radio control cars. But let’s be honest—most are just that: toys. For NASCAR fans used to speed, control, and real racing performance, a basic toy won’t cut it. That’s where companies like Losi come in. We spoke with the team behind Losi’s new NASCAR RC Race Car to better understand what makes their products different and why they’re built for serious fans who demand more.

Losi is no stranger to high-performance RC. They’ve been in the game for decades, with a reputation for championship-level engineering and truly hobby-grade machines. Their latest NASCAR line is fully licensed and built to reflect the quality that real race fans expect. Here’s how a Losi RC car stacks up—and why it’s nothing like the toys on the shelves.

Precise Control

When we asked Losi about what sets hobby-grade cars apart, they started with control—and for good reason. Most toy RC cars give you three basic steering settings: full left, full right, or straight. Throttle is usually just as limited: slow, medium, or fast. That’s not racing—that’s barely driving.

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Losi’s hobby-grade RC cars offer fully proportional control. Whether you’re turning the wheel a little or giving it full throttle, the car responds just like a real NASCAR stock car would. The precision allows for smoother handling and more realistic driving, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced RC racers.

Modular Construction

Under the hood, toy-grade RC cars are typically one-board machines with no replaceable parts. Hobby-grade cars like the Losi NASCAR RC are built with modular components, making them easier to repair, upgrade, and fine-tune. That design difference leads to two major advantages: serviceability and customization.

Repairable

If you clip a curb or hit a wall, a toy-grade car is usually headed for the trash. But Losi RC cars are built to take hits—and more importantly, built to be repaired. Replacement parts are readily available, and the modular layout means most components can be swapped or fixed with ease. It’s a product that’s built to last.

Upgradable

This is where hobby-grade RC really separates itself. With the Losi NASCAR RC, you can upgrade everything from the tires and suspension to the motor and electronics. That means better performance over time and a machine that evolves with your skills. You can even customize the body with wraps or switch out for your favorite driver’s scheme.

Adjustability

Ask any NASCAR crew chief—racing is all about adjustments. That same principle applies here. Unlike toy-grade RC cars, Losi’s models are built to be tuned. From the suspension setup to handling tweaks, you can dial in your RC car to match different surfaces or racing styles. It’s about performance and authenticity.

Losi NASCAR RC Race Car

The Losi NASCAR RC Race Car is a full-featured hobby-grade machine built for real NASCAR fans. At 1/12 scale, it’s large enough to feel fast, small enough for any neighborhood driveway or RC track. It comes ready-to-run right out of the box—no extra gear required. The included LiPo battery charges fast via USB and gives solid runtime and performance.

Best of all, these cars are fully licensed. You can already get Joey Logano’s 2025 Pennzoil Ford or Chase Elliott’s 2025 NAPA Chevy, with more top driver paint schemes coming later this season.

If you’re looking to bring home a piece of NASCAR that drives like the real thing, this is it.

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Motorsports

NASCAR star jokes about becoming biggest ‘villain’ in sport

There was a time where Kyle Busch was undeniably the biggest villain in NASCAR. However, that’s no longer the case. Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, embraced the villain role at every level of NASCAR. He didn’t mind being arrogant after a victory or pointing the finger at others after a disappointing result. For better […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

There was a time where Kyle Busch was undeniably the biggest villain in NASCAR. However, that’s no longer the case.

Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, embraced the villain role at every level of NASCAR. He didn’t mind being arrogant after a victory or pointing the finger at others after a disappointing result. For better or worse, he was must-see TV every time he stepped on the track.

So, who is the top villain in NASCAR as of this year? Believe it or not, that title belongs to Busch’s former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate.

Denny Hamlin, who is currently third in the Cup Series standings, has become one of the most polarizing drivers in NASCAR. He received plenty of boos when he won back-to-back races at Darlington and Martinsville this season.

On the latest episode of Hamlin’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast, he talked about being NASCAR’s villain in an interview with Busch.

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