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6+ min ago (484+ words) ABU DHABI, Dec 7 " Red Bull's Max Verstappen outgunned his two title rivals from McLaren to take pole position for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and strengthen his bid for a fifth successive title. Championship leader Lando Norris, who is 12 points ahead of Verstappen and will win the title if he finishes on the podium, will start alongside him on the front row with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in third. George Russell, who was quickest in third practice earlier in the day in his Mercedes, set the early pace in qualifying and will start from fourth with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fifth. "We found a bit more lap time and I'm just incredibly happy to be in first," said Verstappen. "That's the only thing we can do, we can control, to maximise what we have and what we can with the…...

11+ min ago (177+ words) MOORESVILLE, N.C " Michael Annett, a former racecar driver who made 436 combined starts in NASCAR's three national touring series, has died. He was 39. JR Motorsports, one of Annett's former teams, posted the news on social media on Friday. No cause of death was announced. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett," the team wrote. "Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today." According to NASCAR, Annett made 321 starts in the Xfinity Series, 158 of which came with JRM. In 2019, Annett won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his only win at the national level. Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, was also a two-time…...

36+ min ago (157+ words) Professional race car driver Michael Annett has died at the age of 39, JR Motorsports shared on social media on Friday night. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett," the statement from the racing team read. "Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today." Annett is a NASCAR veteran who retired from the sport in 2021. A cause of death is not yet known at this time, but fellow NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski shared that he's glad Annett is "not longer suffering" while remembering him. This is incredibly sad news for the racing world and beyond. We'll keep you updated once we know more. This article originally appeared on For The Win:…...

57+ min ago (306+ words) Jake Dennis has won the Formula E season opener in Sao Paulo in a one-lap sprint to the finish after a late red flag for a huge crash for Pepe Marti. The Andretti driver profited from a safety car on lap 23 for a clash between Edoardo Mortara and Lucas di Grassi, where the majority of his rivals were unable to use their recently-activated energy boost from their second attack modes. By contrast, the 2022-23 Formula E champion was able to take his second attack mode at the restart and powered into the lead at the end of lap 27. After a lengthy red flag to clear up the debris, it set up a one-lap sprint to the finish of the 30-lap contest " extra laps not permitted given the first safety car came out too late to extend the race. Dennis held his…...

1+ hour, 1+ min ago (595+ words) Jake Dennis emerged from a chaotic Sao Paulo E-Prix as the winner, becoming the first driver ever to win the race from pole position. A late race sequence of a safety car, full course yellow, then a red flag left the Andretti driver in the perfect position to deliver his and the team's first win since the first race of the 2024 Diriyah E-Prix. The safety car came out on lap 23 of the 30 lap race after Edoardo Mortara was squeezed into the wall at Turn 6 by Lucas di Grassi, an incident that caused both to retire.It caught out a number of drivers " including frontrunners Oliver Rowland, Nick Cassidy and Pascal Wehrlein " who had just taken their second Attack Modes and weren't able to fully capitalize on its effectiveness. The race was then red flagged after a frightening crash for Pepe…...

1+ hour, 16+ min ago (177+ words) MOORESVILLE, N.C. " Michael Annett, a former racecar driver who made 436 combined starts in NASCAR's three national touring series, has died. He was 39. JR Motorsports, one of Annett's former teams, posted the news on social media on Friday. No cause of death was announced. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett," the team wrote. "Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today." According to NASCAR, Annett made 321 starts in the Xfinity Series, 158 of which came with JRM. In 2019, Annett won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his only win at the national level. Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, was also a two-time winner…...

1+ hour, 30+ min ago (805+ words) Jordan testified before a packed courtroom for an hour. His celebrity drew quips from the judge and even a defense attorney as he outlined why the team he co-owns, 23XI, had joined Front Row Motorsports in going to court against the top auto racing series in the United States. "Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity," the soft-spoken Jordan told the jury. "I sat in those meetings with longtime owners who were brow-beaten for so many years trying to make change. I was a new person, I wasn't afraid. I felt I could challenge NASCAR as a whole. I felt as far as the sport, it needed to be looked at from a different view." Jordan's highy anticipated appearance followed dramatic testimony from Heather Gibbs, the daughter-in-law of race team owner Joe Gibbs, about the chaotic six-hour period in…...

1+ hour, 30+ min ago (186+ words) NASCAR star Michael Annett died suddenly at the age of 39. His cause of death was not immediately known. "NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett," NASCAR said in a statement. "Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael's family and many friends." Full statement from NASCAR: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett," JR Motorsports shared on social media via X. "Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today." Annett was…...

1+ hour, 37+ min ago (1340+ words) The climax to the Formula 1 world championship could hardly be better set up after the three title contenders qualified together at the front of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull's Max Verstappen put in one of the performances of the season - and of his illustrious career - to take a scintillating pole position. McLaren's Lando Norris, who heads into the race at 13:00 GMT as championship favourite with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the front row. The Briton's team-mate Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the second row. For Norris, the maths are simple - and the task looks the same. The 26-year-old will be champion for the first time if he finishes on the podium, regardless of anyone else's result. Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth consecutive…...

1+ hour, 37+ min ago (1318+ words) The climax to the Formula 1 world championship could hardly be better set up after the three title contenders qualified together at the front of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull's Max Verstappen put in one of the performances of the season - and of his illustrious career - to take a scintillating pole position. McLaren's Lando Norris, who heads into the race at 13:00 GMT as championship favourite with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the front row. The Briton's team-mate Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the second row. For Norris, the maths are simple - and the task looks the same. The 26-year-old will be champion for the first time if he finishes on the podium, regardless of anyone else's result. Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth consecutive…...