Japan Pre-Race Thread

[Cynon]

FLASH Racing, DeGarmo Enterprises Found Innocent in Customer Car Controversy

Most of the attention in the TM Master Cup Series has been placed on the customer car controversy surrounding the Saar and Inglesby teams. Customer cars, which have been outlawed for full-time teams since the beginning of 2010, are supposed to carry heavy penalties if used. Needless to say, quite a stir was created in the TM Master Cup Series paddock was created when it was announced that no penalties would be issued. FLASH Racing and DeGarmo Enterprises were found to have no similarities other than engine mounts, which are legal if a team uses a customer engine.

However, the controversy was mostly surrounding the other half of the customer car debate, between Team Saar USA, Camelot Racing, and Rick Milligan Racing, where officials found that the cars were flirting with the gray area between customer car and a car each team had made themselves. All three cars are essentially evolutions of the same car, that being the 2009 Saar Tyrant, but were different enough to satisfy the inspectors. The officials informed Team Saar USA, Camelot Racing, and Rick Milligan Racing that their cars would be cleared to race.

Not all of their competition was satisfied with the outcome of the decision. Championship leader Adrien Devereux was furious with the outcome, and made his thoughts known during the lead-in to the Round of Japan.

"It's those same people all the time. They get away with everything." Devereux was quoted as saying.
"If it was anyone else they'd be thrown out, and if we lose the championship to them, then this would no longer be a sport. Those idiots making these calls need to be fired, because it's obvious to everyone else that their cars aren't legal."

Two-time TM Master Cup Series champion Alexis Rainsford expressed similar disgust to the situation.

"Those cars have always been illegal anyway. Why should this be a surprise?" Rainsford said on the Dan Mullen Radio Hour on Tuesday.

TM Master Cup Series officials have instructed both Rainsford and Devereux to meet with them prior to practice for the Round of Japan.

Last Row Autosport, BlackDiamond Racing Assume Carrington's Grid Slots

Last Row Autosport and BlackDiamond Racing have been added to the entry list for the Round of Japan, in place of the two Trevor Carrington Racing entries. Last Row Autosport will run Dan Mackay in a #87 Omecha, and BlackDiamond will run a #54 Omecha for Brazilian TM Lights driver Cesar Vila Nova.

Kazeyama, Pushanda to Drive for Tutino in Japan

Tutino's entries for the Round of Japan show former Formula A driver Vijay Pushanda in car #42 and Nemoto reserve driver Azuma Kazeyama in car #43. The team will reportedly use Nemoto engines for this race, with a possibility of both Pushanda and Kazeyama racing at Brazil as well.

[Alpineopossum]

Taylor: Customer Car Controversy "Irrelavent"
VERC and (thanks to Gravity Racing) TM Lights driver Cameron Taylor spoke with reporters from Racing magazine. "I think it's irrelavent. If you go to an Inglesby dealership and a Juneau dealership and look at the Flashback and AMX-5 there based on the same car in essence. I'm not too familiar with Saars but I think that it'd be the same on a Tyrant and Knight. The Calton Morel I drove when I raced for Trevor [Carrington]'s team was in a customer car. They should simply allow it because it would open the series up to better competition. With this economy I think this debate is rather meaningless"

[AntmanB]

What Track are you using for Japan? twr or suzuka or something else?

[Magus978]

Delgado to Team: "We're Going to Win, or Die Trying"

In an attempt to build confidence for the #837 team leading up to the Round of Japan, Tom Delgado has vowed that he's not dead in the championship, and that he and the Star Team Nemoto bunch will "Win in Japan, or Die Trying". This "Win or Die" mentality has been the team's rallying cry ever since they touched down at the home of the Nemoto headquarters.

"It's not impossible until they tell us we're eliminated" Delgado said this morning. "We didn't work all year to give up after a few weeks of inconsistency, especially here in Japan. We're going to throw everything we have left at this race, because all we need to do is get to Decatur with a chance" Delgado added.

Tom Delgado is currently 6th in the TM Master Cup Series Driver's Championship, 88 points behind championship leader Adrien Devereaux.

[Cynon]

Rainsford Cleared to Drive After Huge Crash at Fontana

One week ago, two-time TM Master Cup champion Alexis Rainsford was involved in a massive crash during the Champ Car Fontana 500k. On the 47th lap, Rainsford was attempting to pass Indy 500 winner Marius Rutger on the outside when Rutger's right front tire exploded. Rainsford's car ran over Rutger's right rear tire before hitting the fence.

Despite the incident looking very frightening, Rainsford was not seriously injured. She was slow to climb out of her car after her legs were stuck in the car. Rainsford gingerly climbed out of her Avril-CM after rescue workers cut part of the nose away.

Rutger did not climb out of the car entirely by himself after breaking his right leg and fracturing a bone in his arm. Rutger said he did not want to climb out of the car by himself due to not being certain about the extent of his injuries and his faith in the safety crew.

Rainsford was cleared to drive in the Round of Japan by TM Master Cup Series doctors, despite complaining of soreness, especially in her right ankle, before the first practice session. She sat out most of the first practice session, only coming on-track during the last 15 minutes and logging 11 laps. Her fastest lap was good enough for 29th quickest, half a second slower than teammate Zach Duff (8th) and a tenth slower than Chris Davenport (25th).

[navycook75]

Rainsford Cleared to Drive After Huge Crash at Fontana

One week ago, two-time TM Master Cup champion Alexis Rainsford was involved in a massive crash during the Champ Car Fontana 500k. On the 47th lap, Rainsford was attempting to pass Indy 500 winner Marius Rutger on the outside when Rutger's right front tire exploded. Rainsford's car ran over Rutger's right rear tire before hitting the fence.

Despite the incident looking very frightening, Rainsford was not seriously injured. She was slow to climb out of her car after her legs were stuck in the car. Rainsford gingerly climbed out of her Avril-CM after rescue workers cut part of the nose away.

Rutger did not climb out of the car entirely by himself after breaking his right leg and fracturing a bone in his arm. Rutger said he did not want to climb out of the car by himself due to not being certain about the extent of his injuries and his faith in the safety crew.

Rainsford was cleared to drive in the Round of Japan by TM Master Cup Series doctors, despite complaining of soreness, especially in her right ankle, before the first practice session. She sat out most of the first practice session, only coming on-track during the last 15 minutes and logging 11 laps. Her fastest lap was good enough for 29th quickest, half a second slower than teammate Zach Duff (8th) and a tenth slower than Chris Davenport (25th).

a sore right ankle? oh god no.

[Magus978]

Rainsford Cleared to Drive After Huge Crash at Fontana

One week ago, two-time TM Master Cup champion Alexis Rainsford was involved in a massive crash during the Champ Car Fontana 500k. On the 47th lap, Rainsford was attempting to pass Indy 500 winner Marius Rutger on the outside when Rutger's right front tire exploded. Rainsford's car ran over Rutger's right rear tire before hitting the fence.

Despite the incident looking very frightening, Rainsford was not seriously injured. She was slow to climb out of her car after her legs were stuck in the car. Rainsford gingerly climbed out of her Avril-CM after rescue workers cut part of the nose away.

Rutger did not climb out of the car entirely by himself after breaking his right leg and fracturing a bone in his arm. Rutger said he did not want to climb out of the car by himself due to not being certain about the extent of his injuries and his faith in the safety crew.

Rainsford was cleared to drive in the Round of Japan by TM Master Cup Series doctors, despite complaining of soreness, especially in her right ankle, before the first practice session. She sat out most of the first practice session, only coming on-track during the last 15 minutes and logging 11 laps. Her fastest lap was good enough for 29th quickest, half a second slower than teammate Zach Duff (8th) and a tenth slower than Chris Davenport (25th).

a sore right ankle? oh god no.

"She gon' engage Keselowski hax!"

/generic_anti_rainsford_quote

[pennst24]

Nice lifezorz hacks, Alexis.

[PKligBKFan]

Rainsford Cleared to Drive After Huge Crash at Fontana

One week ago, two-time TM Master Cup champion Alexis Rainsford was involved in a massive crash during the Champ Car Fontana 500k. On the 47th lap, Rainsford was attempting to pass Indy 500 winner Marius Rutger on the outside when Rutger's right front tire exploded. Rainsford's car ran over Rutger's right rear tire before hitting the fence.

Despite the incident looking very frightening, Rainsford was not seriously injured. She was slow to climb out of her car after her legs were stuck in the car. Rainsford gingerly climbed out of her Avril-CM after rescue workers cut part of the nose away.

Rutger did not climb out of the car entirely by himself after breaking his right leg and fracturing a bone in his arm. Rutger said he did not want to climb out of the car by himself due to not being certain about the extent of his injuries and his faith in the safety crew.

Rainsford was cleared to drive in the Round of Japan by TM Master Cup Series doctors, despite complaining of soreness, especially in her right ankle, before the first practice session. She sat out most of the first practice session, only coming on-track during the last 15 minutes and logging 11 laps. Her fastest lap was good enough for 29th quickest, half a second slower than teammate Zach Duff (8th) and a tenth slower than Chris Davenport (25th).

a sore right ankle? oh god no.

"She gon' engage Keselowski hax!"

/generic_anti_rainsford_quote

Can't be though, Brad broke his left ankle.

[navycook75]

Rainsford Cleared to Drive After Huge Crash at Fontana

One week ago, two-time TM Master Cup champion Alexis Rainsford was involved in a massive crash during the Champ Car Fontana 500k. On the 47th lap, Rainsford was attempting to pass Indy 500 winner Marius Rutger on the outside when Rutger's right front tire exploded. Rainsford's car ran over Rutger's right rear tire before hitting the fence.

Despite the incident looking very frightening, Rainsford was not seriously injured. She was slow to climb out of her car after her legs were stuck in the car. Rainsford gingerly climbed out of her Avril-CM after rescue workers cut part of the nose away.

Rutger did not climb out of the car entirely by himself after breaking his right leg and fracturing a bone in his arm. Rutger said he did not want to climb out of the car by himself due to not being certain about the extent of his injuries and his faith in the safety crew.

Rainsford was cleared to drive in the Round of Japan by TM Master Cup Series doctors, despite complaining of soreness, especially in her right ankle, before the first practice session. She sat out most of the first practice session, only coming on-track during the last 15 minutes and logging 11 laps. Her fastest lap was good enough for 29th quickest, half a second slower than teammate Zach Duff (8th) and a tenth slower than Chris Davenport (25th).

a sore right ankle? oh god no.

"She gon' engage Keselowski hax!"

/generic_anti_rainsford_quote

Can't be though, Brad broke his left ankle.

doesn't matter, hurt ankle.

[Cynon]

OOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOf90GXAB3M

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