Sept. 1 newsstand

It's Detroit qualifying day...
Today's big story
The worst-kept secret in motorsports: Ryan Briscoe might be in the 6 car next year. From the Detroit Free Press: Briscoe could move to IndyCar in 2008

Quotes from Roger: "If Sam decides to go to NASCAR, (Briscoe) would be a lead candidate for the vacant open-wheel seat. Ryan had done a great job for us in ALMS this year. He's matured. I think he'd give a good account of himself."

"Ryan is popular with the team, people like him. He's good with the sponsors and the crew respects him. He's a great kid, and he's a great race driver."

And, Roger says Sam is ready to compete in Cup full-time: "He got wrecked a few times in Busch races, and was running with no teammate to compare set-ups. But he did a nice job in the ARCA race at Michigan, where he ran a lot of laps. He'll be OK."

Translation ... I don't think Sam is 50/50 anymore. Expect to see him as a Nextel Cup regular next year.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, Sam is expected to announce (or would that be make official) his decision in a month. However, in Curt Cavin's blog, the Indy Star reporter claims his "sources" say Sam will run the Indy 500 even if he goes to NASCAR.

Other silly-season stuff: The Gary Post-Tribune is noting that Sam Schmidt's team is expecting Alex Lloyd to move up to the IndyCar Series, which would mean a promotion of sorts for Northwest Indiana native Logan Gomez.

Infineon redux ...
Indianapolis Star: Franchitti, Andrettis still disagree on crash

Says Dario on Michael Andretti calling him "impatient": "I didn't agree with his assessment at all, but it's not the first time we've been upset with each other nor will it be the last time. We'll work it out." Michael says everything is fine ..."We've all been there. I've made the same mistakes."

Canada.com: Franchitti takes a shot at IRL lead
Dario had the lead for so long, now he's trying to get it back at a place where he can see his sponsor's distillery from the backstretch.
He takes a few swipes looking back at Infineon ... on Marco: "I was not happy with his comments and I've made that plain." On the team: "I've made some mistakes, the team has made some mistakes. The team as a whole has not performed as well."

Or, maybe things are more harmonious in the AGR ranks than Dario would have us believe, says the Easton Express-Times, the Andretti family's hometown paper. It also rehashes Mario's legendary tow truck incident at the old Ren Cen course.

Calgary Sun: Andretti teammates bury the hatchet
Dario says he was able to bury the hatchet with Marco, but not quite yet with Michael.

Speaking of AGR, IndyCar.com has a Q&A with Canadian Club's Dennis Prado about their relationship with the IndyCar Series and Dario Franchitti's car.

Detroit GP race stuff
Entry list, schedule, live timing & scoring

ESPN.com: Helio, the original Spiderman
Great piece from Bruce Martin. Says Helio about the first fence climb: "When I did it the first time, Bobby Rahal was the CEO of CART at that time and asked, 'What did you do?' I said, 'I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional.' He said, 'No, it was the best thing ever.' Then the next year, I got fined for doing it because it needed to be at a spot where the TV cameras could get it."

A funny quote from Helio about those that think Tony Stewart "invented" the move (even though Jeff Burton & Kevin Harvick have copied it before TS ever did): "I don't think that way, to be honest. NASCAR also thinks they are the only one racing right now. If they want to think that way, fine. But everybody knows who started the fence climb so I don't need to tell everyone I started it."

Detroit News: Castroneves picks Dixon for title
Says Helio: "Scott definitely showed that on road courses he has been very strong. I do feel now Scott is on the momentum, you know, because of the chasing, the hunting. The momentum is on his side right now."
Several other good items in the notebook, as well, including an update on Detroit-area native Robbie Buhl, Adam Andretti's IPS debut & Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom driving the pace car.

IndyCar.com: Goal: Maximum points
Dixon, Dario & TK are all shooting for 53 this weekend.

Detroit Free Press: Drivers brave slick course
Says Dario: "We were kind of surprised this morning how slippery the track was, how bumpy it was, as well. We had to work very hard on the car to get the balance that we wanted. However, I'm feeling really happy right now with the way things are going. The bumpy track at the moment is definitely suited to the way I live to drive the car." Meanwhile, Helio is pleased that the cameras didn't pick up one of his spins, becaus

Detroit News: Track conditions provide challenge
Says Tony Kanaan: "It's so slippery right now that you really have to use everything you know about driver skills, not just setting up the car. I think it's definitely a challenging track, which I think is good for all of us."
Windsor Star: Drivers like road courses
The drivers may, but the rest of us ...

IndyCar.com: Friday's practice story

Detroit Free Press: New track is tricky at start
This notebook mostly deals with the ALMS cars.

Detroit Free Press: Safety team comes prepared
A nice piece on the IRL safety team.

Canada.com: Fans rev up
The obligatory "what a party" story.

Another fan story, from the Detroit Free Press
Says Scott Dixon, 27 of Chicago, "I think it's the greatest thing ever." Not to be confused with Scott Dixon, 27 of Auckland.

Detroit News: Send-off to summer
A good time is had by all in Detroit. Says 51-year-old Craig Nash of Detroit, "We may be converted race fans. This has turned out to be fantastic."

And, the motor lifestyle column from the Detroit News, Penske nixes ties, but knot his own.

And finally, a new track?
The East Oregonian says groundbreaking on the Pacific Northwest Motorsports Park in Boardman, Ore. will be Oct. 18. The complex's first phase will include a 6-mile road course (with eight potential track layouts), and largely be for club racing. Future plans are to build a high-banked oval "suitable for NASCAR racing." He says the "rest of the complex" is being built to be suitable for the IRL, ALMS, Grand Am, SCCA, et al. Note to the IRL folks ... run the *oval.* The problem is the place's location. Boardman is about a 2.5-hour drive from Portland, a 3-hour drive from Spokane, a 4-hour drive from Seattle/Tacoma and a 4-hour drive from Boise. Track website: www.pnwmotorsportspark.com (NOTE: the newspaper link may or may not work).