L.A. Times - Auto Racing

Parnelli Jones returns to Indianapolis 500 to commemorate 1963 win

Bill Dwyre — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:50:00 PDT

For the 50th anniversary of his victory, the race driver will climb into his celebrated No. 98 roadster and lead 33 cars in a ceremonial lap at the Brickyard.

For a while, when the Indianapolis 500 was as iconically American as stars and stripes and apple pie, its rock star was a California guy named Parnelli Jones.

Marco Andretti thinks he's in position to end curse at Indy 500

By Jim Peltz — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:50:00 PDT

The 26-year-old son of Michael and grandson of Mario qualifies third for Sunday's race and will start in the front row. No Andretti has won the Indianapolis 500 since 1969.

INDIANAPOLIS — Marco Andretti thinks he's poised to finally end the decades-long "Andretti Curse" at the Indianapolis 500.

Four-time club could be enlarged at Indy 500

By Jim Peltz — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:37:00 PDT

Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti have a chance to join exclusive club with a victory. Castroneves has been faster in practice than the defending champion.

INDIANAPOLIS — More than two decades have passed since Rick Mears became the last driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times.

JR Hildebrand seeks a new Indianapolis 500 story to tell

Bill Dwyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:51:00 PDT

Hildebrand made no excuses after hitting the wall in an unforgettable Indy 500 finish as a rookie in 2011. He won some fans with his candor; now he just wants to win the race.

It was two years ago that IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand made a career-defining move at the Brickyard. But it's not the one you think.

Matt Kenseth wins Southern 500

Staff and wire reports — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:02:00 PDT

Kyle Busch dominates much of the race at Darlington, but his car gives way late.

Matt Kenseth passed his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch with 13 laps to go to win his first Southern 500 on Saturday night at Darlington, S.C.

Kyle Busch wins Nationwide race, Kurt Busch Sprint Cup wins pole

Staff and wire reports — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:34:00 PDT

It's a big day for the Busch brothers at Darlington Raceway.

Kyle Busch took the lead from Joey Logano 18 laps from the end to win his fifth Nationwide race this season and second in three years at Darlington Raceway on Friday night.

David Ragan's win at Talladega is a feather in cap of Front Row Motorsports

By Jim Peltz, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 7 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Driver earns first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory for the team, which competes with an extremely limited budget when compared with the heavyweights of the sport.

Had the rain lingered a bit longer in central Alabama, Bob Jenkins and his Front Row Motorsports team might still be looking for their first win in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.

David Ragan pulls off stunning win at Talladega

By George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 5 May 2013 17:50:00 PDT

He gets a push from teammate David Gilliland on an overtime restart to get past Carl Edwards for a 1-2 finish for Front Row Motorsports.

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Excuse David Ragan if he had to ask how to get to Victory Lane.

To Cruz Pedregon, being a one-car team is no drag

By Jim Peltz — Wed, 1 May 2013 20:37:00 PDT

National Hot Rod Assn. veteran leads the funny car standings, the first time since September 2009 that a driver who is not part of John Force Racing or Don Schumacher Racing has done so.

The elite level of the National Hot Rod Assn.'s funny car drag racing is dominated by two multi-car teams, John Force Racing and Don Schumacher Racing, which have seven funny car drivers between them.

Restart gives Kevin Harvick the win at Richmond

Wire reports — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:15:00 PDT

Post-race altercation involving Nelson Piquet Jr. results in arrest of two crew members from Richard Childress Racing.

Kevin Harvick won Saturday night's race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway by plowing through traffic on a two-lap sprint to the finish.