Bombs Away!: Ed Carpenter has dropped another F-Bomb on the IMS Radio Network. They’re going to have to stop talking to him before his bank account is completely drained from IRL league fines. Danica had a mechanical failure today, and Mr. Austin Powers himself, Dan Wheldon, won his first race in a year. A decent race. Bummed that Smoke got knocked out of the race at ‘Dega. Ah well…one week until Opening Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A month of magic awaits…

So, I’m Tweeting!: Thank goodness for Twitter (I’m deBASHmode there) – I can post a “Tweet” (mini blog) from the train, cable car, company shuttle, at the cafe, etc, using my iPhone. It’s easy to post Tweets via a text message, too, so everyone with text can use it. More news sources and racing teams are using it all the time – I follow NPR, the BBC and ESPN for sports news. Companies, radio stations, Barack Obama, blogs and even bands post mini updates via Twitter. And there is some pretty funny stuff as well, such as TweetJeebus. It’s fun if you want to check it out: www.twitter.com

Sick Kitty: My sweet little Sabrina put a scare in me the last couple of days. Fortunately, I think she’s going to be fine, but she was weirdly wobbly, with dilated pupils, a glassy stare, lethargy and no appetite for about 24 hours. She’s doing a bit better now, but I’m keeping an eye on her per the vet’s orders to make sure all systems are going well. She’s definitely eating now, and is back to her cuddly self, but she’s still a little spacey looking…

Flu Bug: I’ve been aching and chilling from the flu the last two days. Ready for that to be gone…

Racin’: So much racing this weekend. Danica’s first race since winning her first. Trucks, N’wide (yay Smoke – sorry about your broken ankle, Dario. That’s a bummer.), Sprint Cup and Forumla 1. Plus I still have Grand AM from last week to watch. Sheesh! Listening to the Giants-Reds game right now, but will try to squeeze it in a bit if the game doesn’t run to extra innings.

Can I Get an AMEN?: Davey Hamilton clarified the Kingdom Racing thing further on Indy Racing Weekly today. They are some “great guys out of Houston” who are working in motor sports as a sponsor this year. Davey says he’s “thisclose” to announcing the team he’ll be racing with at Indy, and said they have a chance to win. Okay, that ain’t Roth Racing. It’s likely Vision again. Or… ? Says it’ll be announced during the week or at the race at Kansas this weekend. Can’t wait to hear more!

Ken’s Last Dance: A fellow regular at the Sundance Saloon dance hall recounts the story of my friend Ken’s Last Dance.  Just Friday, Ken stopped at the full color printer across from my desk to get comps and on his way by snatched a miniature Reese’s peanut butter cup from my candy dish with his usual devilish twinkle and grin. It still doesn’t seem real…doesn’t seem possible that he’s gone.

A Friend, Lost: Today we learned our friend and coworker Ken Brandow died of a suspected heart attack this weekend. He was only 38. He’d been out line dancing, which was something Ken loved to do and is completely indicative of who he was: active, vibrant and fun. Our office was eerily silent today…many folks left right after we heard the news at noon. A few of us had to stay and work all day on an emergency project and it was pretty tough to concentrate. I’m about to head off for a long bubble bath and early bed, but I wanted to stop here first and let Ken know that he’ll be sorely missed. And I know he’s already taught St. Peter the Boot Scootin’ Boogie…

It’s race day, take 2!: Hanging in the house – last weekend was stunning in San Francisco, this weekend is way below normal and very windy. What better thing to stay indoors with than my IndyCars racing in Japan! The weepers in turn 4 prevented the scheduled start yesterday, so here we go again! Looks better this time – TSO reports the weepers have been patched well and seem to be holding.

The menu for this dinner-time race includes a small salad with fresh lettuce from today’s farmer’s market; California Pizza Kitchen four-cheese thin and crispy pizza (the fontina and smoked gouda make it special); and a nice 2005 sangiovese from Ortman Family Vinyard in Paso Robles, CA. Dessert is Ben and Jerry’s Creme Brulee ice cream. Salut!

The race is live on ESPN Classic at 10 pm ET, but if you opt for that, turn down the audio and hear the ROCKIN’ IMS Radio Network call.

*Engines have fired. Four laps to warm up instead of three – it’s cold and we need extra heat in The Magic Rings. Whoa – TK’s car is waaay smoking. We’re GREEN GREEN GREEN. MARCO INTO THE WALL turn 2!!! Man, poor kid. We’re yellow. More yellow good for weaving and building tire heat, so hopefully everyone will restart safely. Marco’s out and walking. Wasn’t a hard hit, but enough to bust the left front suspension. His day is toast.

* GREEN GREEN GREEN! We get a full lap in without trouble… :p We’re all watching TK, who was smoking quite a bit before the initial green flag. NO SMOKING signs being ignored by 7-Eleven car. Race Control has checked in with him about it. Davey Hamilton explains that cold Hondas sometimes smoke, but only a little. This wasn’t a little.

*Godzilla and Danger Mouse fighting it out for 10th. Godzilla wins.

* 20 laps in the books. Twinkle Toes leads it. Marty Roth just got lapped. Yasukawa next. Helio’s dancing away with the early lead. Round and round and round we go. When we slow, nobody knows…

* Target cars are gaining on Mr. Disco Ball…

*Lap 47, Roth’s down two laps, Ed Carpenter pits.

*Festival of pitting: Danica’s in now. YELLOW!!!! why? Marty Roth is stalled. Godzilla has a damaged “flipper.” He lost in in front of the safety car! Left front wing busted, otherwise looks ok.

* 50 laps in the books, second caution of the day. Penske cars runnning 1-2.

*Godzilla has a nice new flipper and a full tank of ethanol. We’re still yellow at lap 55. Getting the furled green – let’s get back on this ride! GREEN GREEN GREEN! Dixie breaks up the Penske Party, Townsend Bell has moved from 16th to 6th.

*Lap 72, Briscoe Inferno is falling back. Currently 5th after Nariz blew by. Nice showing by the Foyt team – Danger Mouse is running 6th!

* Lap 91 YELLOW! Meira brushed the wall in turn 4. Half the field is pitting. Bent suspension on Meira’s right rear. Pit replays: Carpenter stalls on Pit box entry. Hits his tire, team mate Foyt hit him. Ed’s pitting again for a top off and inspection. Meira’s day is done.

*Lap 97 GREEN GREEN GREEN! Dixon’s got the lead now. Twinkle Toes is 2nd. Danica’s climbed to 6th. Now to 5th. Girlfriend is looking hooked up.

*We’re past halfway and now official. The Iceman Cometh…Jay Hot Rod Howard’s in for a look-see after brushing the wall.

*Briscoe Inferno used Hot Rod as a pick and passed our Princess again. Wonder if she’ll swat him for it. :p Quattro’s out of his car, after being several laps down. Perhaps the pit contact with his team mate did him in…

*Nariz is nosing in on his old buddy Twinkle Toes’ 2nd place spot… lost it a little and both Briscoe Inferno and Well Done got him.

*Lap 140 – Yasukawa pits. The other local hero, with both American and Japanese citizenship. Now O’Ryan the Hunter pits. Nice easy stop for the ethanol car. More pittage – Danger Mouse in. Oh no – YELLOW! Yasukawa into the wall. Sucks for the pit partiers…More pittage – Loads of red cars coming. Also Danica! and Nariz. They move in and out in unison that would make a synchro team cry. Nariz scored himself a couple of positions.

Lap 149 – more pittage. Helio, Ed and Danica are topping off. Strategery! Lean it out or get another yellow and they might make it.

*50 to go GREEN GREEN GREEN!!!! Nariz blows by the Inferno again…

* Godzilla pitteth. Easy stop.

*O’Ryan hunted down the Hammer and took over 5th. 25 laps to go. The Iceman is skating away…will he have enough fuel? TV goes to break – the story of the Magic Rings gets air. It’s good, but Ode to Racing set the bar soooo high…

*Briscoe scrapes the wall, continues to run high. We’re still green with 18 to go. I may get to bed by 9:30 after all. (There will be a 5 a.m. alarm for me tomorrow…) O’Ryan stops for a sip of ethanol. Radio says Danica is hanging way back to make fuel. The others on her strategy have been flying and may not make it. Townsend answers the pit bell. Seven laps…who’s on fumes?

*Hammer pits! Iceman pits! Nariz pits! Well Done pits! Twinkle Toes and Danica lead with 4 to go!

*Danica slides past Twinkle Toes and leads!!!!! 2 to go!!!!!!!!!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! DANICA WINNNNSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Okay, we’re unified. Then, second race out, a transition driver, and the youngest ever in Graham Rahal, wins. Now in race three, the first woman to win a major open wheel race. You couldn’t write it any better. I was hoping to sleep early tonight, but I may not be able to…this is just terrific. I’ve been crying since lap 198 when she took the lead…

STUPENDOUS! Watch this explode!

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A huge nod to My Name is IRL and Pressdog for the live posting inspiration and for establishing most of the driver nicknames used in this post. It was fun – but I have a ways to go to match you guys…

Not a Team: Davey Hamilton’s relationship with Kingdom Racing is that of sponsorship. Kingdom wishes to become a full-fledged team but doesn’t have the financial backing to put a car on the track themselves. In hopes of building visibility and gaining sponsors to field a team next season, they are acting as a sponsor. Davey also announced that Hewlett-Packard is also sponsoring him and that he hopes to announce a deal with a racing team in the next two weeks. Like last year’s run with Vision Racing, it’s “Rent-a-Ride” for the Indy 500. Last year’s rental rendered a remarkable 9th place finish for Davey after his 2001 crash and 6 years of recovery, and the speculation is Vision could be the team again this May. I’ll be tougher this year, but I’m hoping he makes it in. The guy is an inspiration.

A Conundrum: Rumors had Davey Hamilton in a third Roth Racing car for the Indy 500, but official word came today that he’ll be the driver for Kingdom Racing – a group out of Texas whose mission is to “Deliver the Word of God through Motor Sports.” Imagine me, a certifiably non-religious person, wearing my Kingdom Racing gear at Indy… *grin*

Weekend Wanderer: It was amazing here in San Francisco this last weekend. Low 80s, clear skies, a nice breeze. I went out for three walks and did my “One-Woman Economic Stimulus Package” routine again. Hit the Farmer’s Market for almonds and gorgeous flowers:

Saw my favorite Attack Cat:

Saw some gorgeous goldies:

And dropped loads of money on Macy’s Hotel Collection 600 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets that are BLISS to sleep on. Also got a Michael Kors giraffe print flat sheet to serve as a futon cover:

There were a couple of night races and some pretty good Giants’ baseball games to make the weekend extra sweet.

A Ruse of Olympian Proportions: The Olympic torch was due to appear along San Francisco’s waterfront today, but after an opening ceremony at AT&T Park, it was whisked away to an alternate route for security reasons. Over 10,000 spectators had gathered along the Embarcadero and were denied the opportunity to fulfill the reason(s) they turned up. There were a large number of folks who wanted to see the Olympic torch in person, and an equally large (if not larger) number who were there to protest China’s human rights record and their oppression of Tibet. They saw each other, but no torch. I wonder what images will be shown to the people of China – the torch being run down Van Ness (a mile+ inland) with nothing more than a few spectators pausing their lunch-time errands to take a look?  I feel sad for all the folks who turned up, for whatever reason, only to be left waiting for nothing by the change in plans.

Frosty Fields: Well, not literally, but the Giants’ game in SF is a nippy affair this evening. I’m home listening on KNBR, closing up the house and turning up the heat. Baseball=spring, so of course once the season starts, it turns cold here.

Is It May Yet?: Can’t wait to see my family and the Indianapolis 500. It’s about a month until opening day at the speedway and the coverage of qualifying, practices and the silly season that goes with it all. Read today that Jim Nabors is well and will be back to sing Back Home Again in Indiana. Helio’s dancing partner, Julianne Hough, will sing the national anthem. She’s as good a singer as she is a dancer. Should be hearing announcements of one-off teams and drivers over the next 2-3 weeks, and waiting especially for confirmation that Davey Hamilton will race again.

Poor (yeah, right) Babies: My two spoiled fur children are curled up on their little table…the one with the soft blanket / heating pad / soft towel on top…sitting in front of the heat fan. They’re snuggled up in all that warmth, purring their pea brains out.

Squish Update: Got word today that my “girls” appear to be cancer-free. Glad I don’t have to go through that for another year…

Time Suck: For ages, I’ve resisted completely giving in to my motor sports fascination, but the last few months I lost that battle – now following F1, Indy Car, Indy Lights, ALMS, Grand-Am, Craftsman Trucks, Nationwide and Sprint Cup series in NASCAR. Add baseball and I’m pretty much booked until mid-November. *grin* It’s pretty easy to write, take care of many household chores, etc., while keeping up with all of it, and it fits the bill for a nice, chill weekend. I’m enjoying it.

Nasty: The cold I had was a bear. I slept most of the weekend and have been going to bed really early every night this week. Still a bit tired, but it feels like I’m on the upside at last.

Squish: Went for my baseline mammogram Tuesday (a few years late). Who in their right mind thinks it’s a good idea to X-Ray round parts with a square machine? It took forever to get the X-Rays taken correctly. We can do better, I think. *sheesh*

SuperDavey!: Mike King mentioned a few weeks ago that Hewlett Packard is on board to sponsor Davey Hamilton in the Indy 500 again this year. And Davey’s been quoted saying he’s definitely running Indy, but no races leading up to it. And No Fenders reports that it will be in a third Roth Racing car!

Racing to Keep Up: There’s so much racing news going on and so many radio and TV programs that I can barely keep up. I may not get to leave my house this weekend…*grin*