2012 F1 Chinese Grand Prix Review

Nico Rosberg feeling the joy of winning after 2012 Formula 1 UBS Chinese GP.
April 15, 2012 photo by AP Photo via The Telegraph.

The 2012 Chinese Grand Prix, round three of the 2012 Formula One Season, took place at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China on April 15, 2012.

German driver Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-Benz) dominated in this race, gaining his first win in Formula One racing. He did it after having also earned his very first pole position, a fairly rare combination.

Engine manufacturer Mercedes-Benz must have been very pleased on this day as McLaren Mercedes, the other F1 Merc team, took the other two podium spots. Jenson Button came in second, and Lewis Hamilton was third, both being from England.

Here are some related links from Formula1.com and a couple videos for you as a review of this event.


Qualifying - rampaging Rosberg takes maiden F1 pole
Posted at Formula1.com on April 14, 2012

Mercedes' innovative front wing helped Nico Rosberg to the first pole position of his Formula One career on Saturday afternoon in Shanghai, when a mighty lap of 1m 35.121s left him well clear of Lewis Hamilton's McLaren and Michael Schumacher's sister car, with respective laps of 1m 35.626s and 1m 35.691s. But Hamilton's five-place grid penalty makes it the first all-Mercedes front row since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at Monza...


FIA post-qualifying press conference - China
Posted at Formula1.com on April 14, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 2 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren); 3 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes)

Q: Nico, sensational lap how do you feel about your first F1 pole?
Nico Rosberg: Fantastic, yeah, thank you. It went really well, it's a very special feeling definitely. Now obviously looking forward to starting first tomorrow...


Race - Rosberg an F1 winner after Shanghai thriller
Posted at Formula1.com on April 15, 2012

How ironic was it that in a race that depended on tyre wear and strategy, it should all come right for Mercedes and Nico Rosberg as the young German scored his maiden Grand Prix victory by 20.6s as a fantastic war raged a long way behind him?...


FIA post-race press conference - China
Posted at Formula1.com on April 15, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), 2 - Jenson Button (McLaren), 3 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)

Q: Nico, well done. You join an exclusive club of drivers who've turned their maiden pole into their maiden win. How do you feel?...


China analysis - Mercedes make the breakthrough
Posted at Formula1.com on April 16, 2012

When Mercedes took over Brawn - then reigning champions - ahead of the 2010 season, they probably didn't expect to have to wait quite so long for a win. The waiting at last paid off on Sunday, as Nico Rosberg finally scored the victory everyone knew he was capable of. More encouraging still for Ross Brawn's squad, the nature of his triumph suggested that in their innovative W03 car, they may now have a genuine title contender...

Official F1 2012 Chinese GP Race Edit
Uploaded to YouTube by FormulaOneExpert1




F1: Chinese GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from China. Nico Rosberg wins his first career Grand Prix from pole in China.

2012 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix Review

Fernando Alonso in 2012 Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix. Photo via AUSmotive.com

The second race of the 2012 Formula One Season, the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix, was run on March 25, 2012. First to lap the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor, Malaysia (near Kuala Lumpur) 56 times on this rainy (51 minute delay early on) race day were Scuderia Ferrari and Spanish driver, Fernando Alonso.

Second to finish the race was Sergio Pérez (México) of Sauber Ferrari. Pérez is the first Méxican F1 driver to manage a podium result since 1971. Lewis Hamilton (England) was third to go by the checkered flag, in his McLaren Mercedes.

Nine different teams and ten drivers gained points in this race, where all but two cars finished. Although he was one of the drivers to make it all the way through, Sebastian Vettel (Germany) failed to pick up any points, for the first time in 23 races. Near the end of the race, the reigning champion shredded a tire upon colliding with another car. By the time he got back out from pitting, he had dropped from fourth to eleventh place.

Here are a batch of links (chronological order) from Formula1.com and a couple videos for reviewing this event.



Qualifying - Hamilton beats Button to Sepang pole
Posted at Formula1.com on March 24, 2012

Even McLaren had their doubts that they could beat Mercedes in qualifying in Sepang on Saturday, but an almost perfect first-run lap by Lewis Hamilton and a great second-run lap from Jenson Button secured the front row for them...


FIA post-qualifying press conference - Malaysia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 24, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), 2 - Jenson Button (McLaren), 3 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes).

Q: Lewis, a first pole for you and McLaren here in Malaysia but a continuation of the team's fine start to the season today.
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, it's been a good weekend so far. I think it's been a tough day to be honest with the changeable weather conditions and the temperatures climbing. Made some set up changes to the car, nonetheless we still managed to do some good times...


Race - Alonso holds off stellar Perez for Sepang victory
Posted at Formula1.com on March 25, 2012

Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix was won by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso from Sauber's Sergio Perez and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, but it was a race of two halves, and how different they were!...


FIA post-race press conference - Malaysia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 25, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 2 - Sergio Perez (Sauber); 3 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).

Q: Fernando, Congratulations on a victory that you probably didn't expect at the start of the week but what about in the latter stages as the young Mexican was catching you?...


Malaysia analysis - Alonso keeps Ferrari in the hunt
Posted at Formula1.com on March 26, 2012

No one - Fernando Alonso included - left Sepang believing Ferrari now have a competitive car, but in tricky conditions the Spaniard's driving skills overcame the F2012's inadequacies - and all of his rivals. Closest was Sauber's Sergio Perez, the Ferrari driver academy member tipped for a future Maranello race seat, whose performance marked him out as a rising star - and ensured Felipe Massa's future with the team becomes the subject of even closer media scrutiny. We take a team-by-team look at Sunday's performances in Kuala Lumpur...

Formula 1 2012 Malaysia Highlights Race Edit (HD)
Uploaded to YouTube by FormulaOneExpert1




F1: Malaysian GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from Malaysia. Fernando Alonso drives from 8th place to the front to win in Sepang.

Washington Capitals Review: March 12 - 21, 2012

Marcus Johansson keeps puck from Detroit's Ian White
during game in Detroit, Michigan on March 19, 2012.
Photo by Dave Reginek / Getty Images via WashingtonCaps.com.

Junior's Eyes goes back to the middle of March 2012 through a sampling of Washington Capitals game reviews, highlights videos and more.

Washington was in the middle of rebounding a bit in the Eastern Conference standings, at the start of this segment. Unfortunately, they faltered somewhat, with more of the 'Jekyll and Hyde' play effort inconsistency that they've been known for throughout this NHL hockey season.

In reverse chronological order, here is the review list.


March 21, 2012

Powerless
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

...Heading into tonight’s NHL action, the Caps’ total of 221 power play opportunities this season ranks 27th in the NHL. Only Colorado (204), Dallas (215) and the New York Islanders (220) have had fewer power plays.

The Caps have been shorthanded 247 times themselves this season. Eleven teams have been shorthanded more than Washington has thus far...


March 19, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 5, Red Wings 3
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...A night after they flatlined their way through the first period en route to a 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks in Chicago, the Caps turned the tables on their hosts in the Motor City...


Mathieu Perreault Shows That Crashing The Net
Isn't Just For Big Guys
By Rob Parker at Japers' Rink

...Unlike their bigger-bodied brethren who get the job done with brute force, the smaller players that go to these high-traffic areas need to use guile and timing to find loose pucks in high-percentage scoring spots. After the jump, we'll take a look at how one Washington Capital - one of the smaller players in the League - has been scoring dirty goals by crashing the net...


March 18, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Blackhawks 5, Capitals 2?
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Faulty First – By the time the Capitals recorded their first shot on goal in Sunday’s game against the Blackhawks in Chicago, their hosts already owned a 2-0 lead. The Hawks thoroughly outplayed the Caps in the game’s first 20 minutes, and while Washington has authored some thrilling comebacks of late, they haven’t done so against teams of Chicago’s caliber...


March 17, 2012

The plot thickens
By Joe Beninati (Capitals TV Play-By-Play) at CSN - Washington, DC

This will not come as a surprise to any of you, but this is going to be one crazy race in the Southeast Division and in the Eastern Conference. The Caps visited MTS Centre in Winnipeg Friday riding the confidence of a four-game win streak. Despite a gutsy effort, they would not leave victorious. When the final seconds ticked off the clock, the rabid fans in this long-forsaken, hockey-mad city sunk their teeth into a 3-2 win for the Jets which moved them to within two points of Washington on the Eastern Conference ladder...


March 16, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Jets 3, Capitals 2
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Four-Pointer Decided in Four-on-Four – The Caps and the Winnipeg Jets hooked up in a pretty good hockey game on Friday night in Winnipeg. It wasn’t a playoff game, but it had playoff implications and both teams played it that way for the full 60 minutes...


March 14, 2012

Pep rally
By Joe Beninati (Capitals TV Play-By-Play) at CSN - Washington, DC

For the second time in as many meetings the Caps showed the Islanders they would not quit until there was a winner decided. Two weeks ago the dramatic come-from-behind win was staged in the final five minutes of regulation time. In this game Tuesday, Washington would rally back from a three-goal deficit on two different occasions, before tripping up the New Yorkers in a shootout, 5-4...


Capitals’ leaders send message, sparking rally past Islanders
By Tarik El-Bashir at Washington Post's Capitals Insider

During the second intermission of Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout win on Long Island, veterans Matt Hendricks and Mike Knuble acknowledged that more than one leader stood up to deliver a strong message to everyone in the Capitals’ dressing room...


March 13, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 5, Islanders 4, SO
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Two The Hard Way – The Washington Capitals came out flat for the first 20-plus minutes of the first game of an important five-game road trip on Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. The Caps took minor penalties in the first minute and the last minute of the first frame, surrendering a power play goal against on the second one. Of the first two goals scored in the game by the Isles, neither was put into the net with a hockey stick, and neither touched an Islander last before entering the net...


Matt Hendricks' slick shootout winner for Caps
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

Matt Hendricks scored in the fourth round of a shootout and Michal Neuvirth was great in OT leading the Capitals to a dramatic three-goal comeback over the Islanders.


March 12, 2012

George McPhee on Alex Ovechkin: ‘The league has adjusted to Ovi;
now it’s his turn to adjust’
Posted by Rick Maese at Washington Post's Capitals Insider

On Sunday, The Post took a closer look at how Alex Ovechkin has changed in recent years. Capitals General Manager George McPhee agreed to sit down for interview last week. He was very insightful, but we couldn't fit everything in the article. Below is a transcript with more of McPhee’s comments on his star player...

2012 F1 Australian Grand Prix Review

Jenson Button in 2012 Australian Grand Prix on March 18, 2012.
Photo via AUSmotive.com

The 2012 Formula One championship racing battle started with the 2012 Australian Grand Prix, on the street circuit at Albert Park, in Melbourne. All six former Formula One champions running this season, spent March 16 and 17 practicing and qualifying. When the race was completed on Sunday the 18th, 2009 champion Jenson Button (England) of McLaren Mercedes had passed the checkered flag first, putting him in the points lead (25 points) for at least one week.

2011 champion, Red Bull Renault driver Sebastian Vettel (Germany) brought his car in second (18 points). Button's teammate, 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton (England was third (15 points) accross the finish line.

Below, are links to some review posts, including one audio podcast, and a couple highlights videos.


Qualifying - Hamilton heads McLaren one-two
Posted at Formula1.com on March 17, 2012

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button got their 2012 world championship campaign off to the best possible start as they took the top two positions on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park on Saturday evening. And just to make things even better for the Woking team, Romain Grosjean put his Lotus third ahead of Michael Schumacher's Mercedes and the Red Bulls of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel...


FIA post-qualifying press conference - Australia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 17, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), 2 - Jenson Button (McLaren), 3 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus)...


Race - Button proves untouchable in Melbourne
Posted at Formula1.com on March 18, 2012

McLaren's Jenson Button drove a pluperfect race to take the lead of the world championship in Albert Park on Sunday, keeping his head and his lead even when a safety car intervention appeared to throw a beaten Sebastian Vettel a lifeline...


FIA post-race press conference - Australia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 18, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Jenson Button (McLaren); 2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing); 3 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)...


Jenson Button Q&A: A very sweet victory
Posted at Formula1.com on March 18, 2012

Jenson Button was not favourite for the win, but he did it. He put it down to reacting better to the lights at the start - and McLaren team mate Lewis Hamilton playing it fair into Turn 1. Whatever it was, it means the 2009 title holder leaves Melbourne with maximum points - and the sweet taste of having started the season by leaving five other F1 champions eating his dust...


Australia analysis - the perfect start to 2012
Posted at Formula1.com on March 19, 2012

To fans' delight, pre-season predictions of even closer racing proved correct in Melbourne, with an epic Australian Grand Prix, won in style by Jenson Button. There was little between the race pace of McLaren and Red Bull; it took all Fernando Alonso's skills to haul Ferrari into contention; and the midfield action was frenetic, with just 0.1s the difference between eighth and 11th place as the chequered flag fell...

Keeping Track F1 Podcast - 20th March 2012 - Episode 10
Posted at Australian Grand Prix Corporation on March 20, 2012




Formula 1 Australia 2012 Grand Prix Highlights
HD [ F1 Official Race Edit ]
Uploaded to YouTube by FaniemTV




BBC Formula 1 2012 - 01 Australian GP
I was pretty nervous - Jenson Button
Uploaded to YouTube by SeventyBuckss




F1: Australian GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from Australia. Jenson Button pulls away from the field for the first win of 2012.

2012 WRC Rally México Review

Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena in 2012 Rally Guanajuato México.
Photo from Rally México.

From March 8 through March 11, 2012, the 2012 Rally México took place. Based in León, this gravel surface run was the third round of the 2012 World Rally Championship. Sébastien Loeb and Citroën Total World Rally Team co-driver Daniel Elena won in México for the sixth time.

After the completion of the rally, which included a mixture of high-altitude and street stages, along with some time on temporary courses, Loeb's Finnish teammate Mikko Hirvonen had ended up second. Following him in third place was Ford World Rally Team driver Petter Solberg, of Norway. The current championship standings now coincidentally reflect these three holding the same order overall.

This list (in chronological order) of links to some daily reviews, podcasts and highlight videos, will help you to review this rally.


Rally Guanajuato Mexico: Pre Event Podcast
Posted at WRC.com on March 9, 2012

Listen to the pre-event podcast for Rally Guanajuato Mexico 2012.

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: Although it's listed as the pre-event (preview) podcast, this is actually a recording of the World Rally Radio event crew reporting the action during the first stage of the rally - SS1 / Guanajuato Street Stage.


Friday wrap: Loeb heads Mexican thriller
Posted at WRC.com on March 9, 2012 - Updated March 10, 2012

With two runs of the superspecial at Leon's race circuit remaining prior to the completion of day one of Rally Guanajuato Mexico, the overall classification has a familiar look to it with Sebastien Loeb leading in a factory Citroen...


Press Conference - End of Leg 1 (Day 2)
Posted at RallyMexico.com on March 9, 2012

Present:
Yves Matton – Citroën Total World Rally Team manager
Malcolm Wilson – Ford World Rally Team director
Derek Dauncey – Monster World Rally Team

Sébastien Loeb – Citroën Total World Rally Team, 1st o/a
Mikko Hirvonen – Citroën Total World Rally Team, 2nd o/a
Mads Østberg – Adapta World Rally Team, 3rd o/a...


Rally Guanajuato Mexico: Day 2 Podcast
Posted at WRC.com on March 10, 2012

Listen to the day 2 podcast for Rally Guanajuato Mexico.

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: This is World Rally Radio event crew reporting the action during second full day of Rally México - SS18 / Super Special 3 to start of SS20 / Comanjilla 2.


Saturday wrap: Loeb on course for glory
Posted at WRC.com on March 10, 2012

Sebastien Loeb will start the final day of Rally Guanajuato Mexico on course for his sixth-straight victory in Leon after he completed day two with a margin of 36.2s over his Citroen team-mate Mikko Hirvonen...


Press Conference - End of Leg 2 (Day 3)
Posted at RallyMexico.com on March 10, 2012

Present:
Yves Matton – Citroën Total World Rally Team manager
Malcolm Wilson – Ford World Rally Team director
Sven Smeets – Volkswagen Motorsport

Sébastien Loeb – Citroën Total World Rally Team, 1st o/a
Mikko Hirvonen – Citroën Total World Rally Team, 2nd o/a
Jari-Matti Latvala – Ford World Rally Team, 3rd o/a...


BREAKING NEWS: Loeb makes it six in Mexico
Posted at WRC.com on March 11, 2012

Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena have extended their lead of the FIA World Rally Championship ... with victory on Rally Guanajuato Mexico, their sixth straight success on the demanding gravel contest...


Rally Guanajuato Mexico: Day 3 Podcast
Posted at WRC.com on March 11, 2012

Listen to the day 3 podcast for Rally Guanajuato Mexico.

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: This is a recording of the World Rally Radio event crew reporting action during the third full day of the rally - SS24 / VW Power Stage.


SS24: Power Stage joy for Solberg
Posted at WRC.com on March 11, 2012

...Petter Solberg has completed Rally Guanajuato Mexico, round three of the FIA World Rally Championship ..., by gaining three bonus points for winning the event-closing Power Stage in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC...


Sunday wrap: Loeb's six appeal
Posted at WRC.com on March 11, 2012

Sebastien Loeb has made it six wins in succession on Rally Guanajuato Mexico following a controlled drive through the event's final four stages today (Sunday)...


Post-event Press Conference
Posted at RallyMexico.com on March 11, 2012

...Present:
1st - Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total World Rally Team
1st - Daniel Elena, Citroën Total World Rally Team
2nd - Mikko Hirvonen, Citroën Total World Rally Team
2nd - Jarmo Lehtinen, Citroën Total World Rally Team
3rd - Petter Solberg, Ford World Rally Team
3rd - Chris Patterson, Ford World Rally Team...

WRC 2012 | Rally Guanajuato México_Rally Review HD
Uploaded to YouTube by sergioafonso21WRC




Highlights - 2012 WRC Rally Mexico - Best-of-RallyLive.com
Uploaded to YouTube by bestofrallylive




Review Rally Mexico 2012 Ford WRC
Uploaded to YouTube by FordWRC

2012 F1 Australian Grand Prix Preview

The 2012 Formula One Season gets under way this morning with the 2012 Australian Grand Prix, on the street circuit at Albert Park, in Melbourne. Six Formula One champions are committed to this year's calendar, and all six will be in today's race.

Preparations may not have gone terribly well for Ferrari, and they are not confident about their chances for a podium finish in Australia. Mercedes driver, and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher has also been called cautious, but then isn't everybody before the season starts? Of course, the local favorite driver is Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Here's a batch of links from Formula1.com for you to preview this event. One audio podcast and a couple sample videos are also cued up, below.

Keeping Track F1 Podcast - Episode 9
Posted for Australian Grand Prix Corporation on March 5, 2012

Australia preview quotes - Ferrari, Force India, Williams & more
Posted at Formula1.com on March 13, 2012

After months of preparation and weeks of testing, it is almost time for the 12 teams and 24 drivers that make up the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship to show just what they can do. The Formula One fraternity looks ahead to this weekend's season opener in Melbourne's Albert Park...


Australia preview - 'It's going to be a freaky one!'
Posted at Formula1.com on March 15, 2012

The Formula One world may be set for an unusual start to the season, after two years in which Red Bull domination of the opening races could be taken for granted. That's the view of several teams, and tyre supplier Pirelli, whose rubber will be even softer this year and thus will demand an even smoother style from the drivers to avoid pushing it too far, too soon...


FIA Thursday press conference - Australia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 15, 2012

Drivers - Charles Pic (Marussia), Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso), Jenson Button (McLaren), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), Mark Webber (Red Bull)...


Webber and Ricciardo gunning for home glory
Posted at Formula1.com on March 16, 2012

Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo will be doing their best to ensure that Advance Australia Fair is played after Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Red Bull racer Webber faces his 11th home race, and comes here fresh from victory in Brazil last year and a solid run of pre-season testing that has left the team quietly confident...


Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes
Posted at Formula1.com on March 16, 2012

Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and Lotus were among the quickest-looking teams during pre-season testing, but no one was quite sure how it would translate come Australia. And thanks to Friday's changeable weather we still don't know the answer. The drivers and leading team personnel reflect on their early progress...


FIA Friday press conference - Australia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 16, 2012

Team representatives - Luis Perez-Sala (HRT), Paul Hembery (Pirelli), Eric Boullier (Lotus), Ross Brawn (Mercedes), Adam Parr (Williams)...

BBC Formula 1 2012 - 01 Australian Grand Prix:
drivers look forward to F1 opener
Uploaded to YouTube by SeventyBuckss




Formula One: Friday Practice Highlights
(2012 Australian Grand Prix) (Sky Sports F1)
Uploaded to YouTube by RedBullRacingFan2011

2012 Formula One Season Preview

This 2012 Formula One Season preview is your primer for the whole season, which officially starts this weekend in Australia. Use it to get ready for another sure to be exciting year of international racing.

With 2012, we see new rules, new cars and technology, drivers switching teams, the departure of Rubens Barrichello to Indy Car, and the return of former champion, Kimi Räikkönen from World Rally Championship driving competition.

Catch up with this list, which includes a list of links to a four part preview series from Formula1.com. Plus, I've also included a few preseason promo videos.



Six appeal - the 2012 Season Preview Part One
Posted at Formula1.com on March 9, 2012

There have never been six world champions on a Formula One grid. That's how special 2012 will be, with 25 per cent of the field having at one time or other held the crown and accounting for 14 titles between them...


Rules and regulations - the 2012 Season Preview Part Two
Posted at Formula1.com on March 9, 2012

In the second installment of our look ahead to the start of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship, we discuss this year's rule book changes...


The potential frontrunners - the 2012 Season Preview Part Three
Posted at Formula1.com on March 9, 2012

In the third installment of our look ahead to the start of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship, we examine the prospects of the key contenders in the race for the drivers' and constructors' crowns...


The midfield & more - the 2012 Season Preview Part Four
Posted at Formula1.com on March 9, 2012

In the final installment of our look ahead to the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship, we consider the midfield teams and those at the back of the grid...

F1 2012 - Pirelli explains new tyres for 2012 Formula 1 season
Uploaded to YouTube by NextgenAutoVideos




BBC Formula 1 2012 Intro
Uploaded to YouTube by Prezes367




Sky F1 2012 - Are you ready?
Uploaded to YouTube by SeventyBuckss

Washington Capitals Review: March 1 - 11, 2012

Capitals take home ice against Maple Leafs on Sunday - March 11, 2012.
Photo is by The Associated Press.

It's time to start catching up with the Washington Capitals. Junior's Eyes looks back at the first week-and-a-half of March 2012 through a sampling of game reviews, highlights videos and other Capitals related updates.

They had a busy schedule, playing six tough teams in ten days. During that time Washington eventually worked their way back up the standings, from tenth place in the NHL's Eastern Conference, to eighth. Also, by the time the game on Sunday March 11th was done, the Caps had put themselves four points ahead of teams in ninth place (at the time) - Buffalo Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets.

The following list is in reverse chronological order.


March 11, 2012

Caps To Leave Verizon Center for Five Game On A High Note
By Mark at Mark's Musings

It's been a four (4) point weekend for "our" Washington Capitals and that will enable the team to leave the friendly confines of Verizon Center where they are 23-10-3 (0.681) so far on the 2011 - 2012 NHL Season. Now they go on the road...


POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 2, Maple Leafs 0
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Four-Point Weekend – For the second time in three weekends, the Caps have taken a perfect four points out of a weekend home—and-road set of back-to-back games. With Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Verizon Center, the Caps have solidified their hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings...


Capitals-Maple Leafs highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

The Race to the Finish
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

It’s hard to believe, but we’re now less than four weeks from the conclusion of the NHL’s 2011-12 regular season. Washington’s big four-point weekend has given the Capitals four points worth of breathing room in the chase for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings with 13 games to go, and the Caps are just a point back of the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Southeast Division...


That Was The Week That Was -- Week 22 (March 4-10)
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Week 22...something we haven’t seen in a while, a winning week. But it could have been a lot more...


March 10, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 4, Bruins 3
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Two In A Row On The Road – Washington scored twice in the first period and twice in the second to earn a 4-3 road win over the Bruins in Boston on Saturday afternoon. Coupled with a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto two weeks ago today, the Caps have their first pair of consecutive road victories since Dec. 7-15 when they won in Ottawa and Winnipeg, respectively...


Capitals-Bruins full-game highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

Orlove
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

Rookie Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov has quietly put together an impressive freshman campaign. With his two assists in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Bruins in Boston, Orlov notched the first multiple-point game of his NHL career. Orlov also now has points in three straight games for the first time in his NHL career...


March 9, 2012

Mike Green suspended three games for hit on Brett Connolly
By Katie Carrera at Capitals Insider

Mike Green received a three-game suspension for his hit to the head of Tampa Bay forward Brett Connolly in the second period of the Capitals’ 3-2 overtime win on Thursday night. The play was ruled an illegal hit to the head by the NHL’s department of player safety...


The Good Ol’ Hockey Game: Sizing up the Eastern Conference
playoff race
By Tarik El-Bashir at Capitals Insider

Anything can happen once you’re in the NHL playoffs. Sometimes, the trickiest part is just getting there.

With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators are in solid standing in the Eastern Conference. That leaves two openings for everyone else...


March 8, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 3, Lightning 2, OT
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...The two points earned in Caps’ 3-2 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday in the homestand finale came in the same fashion as the previous three points on this homestand, as a result of some late offensive heroics...


Capitals down Lightning in dramatic fashion
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

March 7, 2012

Three Segments of 22 Games
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

Washington is now 66 games into the 2011-12 NHL season with just 16 contests remaining. The Caps are two points behind eighth-place Winnipeg for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and they own a game in hand on the Jets as well.

The Capitals are four points behind Florida for the top spot in the Southeast Division...


March 6, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 3, OT
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Hurting at Home – Washington’s current five-game homestand offered the club an opportunity to pile up some points where the Capitals have thrived at piling up points for the better part of five seasons. But for whatever reason, the Caps have struggled on the Verizon Center sheet for several weeks now...


Hurricanes-Capitals game highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

Capitals-Flyers highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

March 4, 2012

A NO-point night -- Game 65: Flyers 1 - Capitals 0
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Now, you can start to feel it. The season wasting away. With yet again another helping of home cooking on their plate to take over a top-eight spot in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals pushed themselves away from the table...


POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Flyers 1, Capitals 0
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Timely Timeout – It’s not often that you see an NHL head coach burn his only timeout in the middle of the second period of a scoreless game without an icing call against his club. But give Flyers’ bench boss Peter Laviolette credit. He clearly has his finger on the pulse of his team, and he used that timeout wisely in Sunday’s 1-0 Philadelphia win over Washington...


Special Non-Delivery
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

...The Washington power play has been particularly vexing. The Caps’ extra-man unit has allowed more goals (four) than it has scored (two) in the team’s last 10 games. In the aforementioned 22-game stretch, Washington has surrendered five shorthanded goals while scoring just six goals of its own...


March 2, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Devils 5, Capitals 0
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...Twenty-four seconds after Hendricks was seated, the Devils had their second shot and their first goal, a Zach Parise power play goal. It would prove to be all the offense the Devils and goaltender Johan Hedberg would need on the night as they shutout the Caps 5-0.

The Caps could never quite get themselves back into the game, and their first 10 minutes were probably their best 10 minutes on this night...


Devils Caps Highlights, tough to watch but here they are!
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

2012 WRC Rally Mexico Preview

Rally México is going on this weekend, March 8 through March 11, 2012. It's the third rally of this year's World Rally Championship. Drivers are flying across gravel in the León based battle.

As a preview of this event, I've posted links (in chronological order) to articles leading up the rally and what was suppossed to be the pre-event (preview) podcast, from WRC.com.


WRC.com preview: Rally Guanajuato Mexico
Posted at WRC.com on March 2, 2012

Following the Monte-Carlo asphalt and the snow and ice of Sweden, the dusty gravel tracks of Rally Guanajuato Mexico provide the next test for crews contesting the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship...


Solberg ready for Mexico despite illness
Posted at WRC.com on March 2, 2012

...The 2003 world champion was struck down by ‘flu during his pre-event test in Spain earlier this week but he insisted he will be fighting fit when he gets behind the wheel of his Ford World Rally Team Fiesta RS WRC on the Leon-based event from 8-11 March...


Hirvonen: Mexico result eagerly anticipated
Posted at WRC.com on March 5, 2012

...With the Leon-based round the first of eight consecutive events on gravel, Hirvonen says the final results on Sunday afternoon will be eagerly anticipated...


Loeb: Mexico final day will be tough
Posted at WRC.com on March 7, 2012

Sebastien Loeb says the battle for victory on Rally Guanajuato Mexico this week won't be won until the completion of the final stage of the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship...


Solberg wins Qualifying Stage
Posted at WRC.com on March 8, 2012

...The Norwegian was close to a second faster than anybody else through the 5.18-kilometre test. Citroen’s Mikko Hirvonen was second fastest with his team-mate Sebastien Loeb, who is chasing a sixth-straight win on Rally Guanajuato Mexico, a further second down. Jari-Matti Latvala was a disgruntled fourth in his Fiesta RS WRC...


Henning a non-starter in Mexico
Posted at WRC.com on March 8, 2012

Henning Solberg has been forced to skip only his second WRC event since the start of the 2007 season after a contractual issue resulted in his no-show on Rally Guanajuato Mexico, round three of the FIA World Rally Championship...


Rally Guanajuato Mexico: Pre Event Podcast
Posted at WRC.com on March 8, 2012

Listen to the pre-event podcast for Rally Guanajuato Mexico 2012.

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: Although it's listed as the pre-event (preview) podcast, this is actually a recording of the World Rally Radio event crew reporting the action during the first stage of the rally (SS1). Somebody screwed up, and loaded the wrong audio file.

Black Sabbath Updates Through February 2012

Black Sabbath at album / tour press conference on November 11, 2011.
Photo Copyright © Kevin Winter / Getty Images.

There has been a lot going on with the band Black Sabbath, involving both past and present members. Some of the news has been good, some has been quite unfortunate.

Cancer has hit founding member, guitarist Tony Iommi. Reunion tour dates for 2012 have been cancelled or changed to "Ozzy and Friends" events. There was a contractual disagreement between band and founding member, drummer Bill Ward.

On to the good news. Deluxe album reissues (import only for North America) are coming on March 19th from the band Dio, which featured former Sabbath lead vocalist, the late Ronnie James Dio. Former lead singer Tony Martin has apparently got his Tony Martin era Black Sabbath music playing band, Tony Martin’s Headless Cross, gearing up to tour.

To get all the details on these happenings and more, you should visit the fan site run by Joe Siegler. It's called Black Sabbath Online, and I post links to his updates on a fairly regular basis, because he makes sure he gets the story straight. If you want unbiased, factual and accurate information on Black Sabbath, and the group's family tree, you go to Joe.

To read up on the things I've listed above in particular, this is the link to the Black Sabbath Online archive for February 2012.