Happy Birthday to NHRA funny car racer Al Hofmann (born 11/28/47)

Troubled Champ Car team RuSPORT who hit both highs (race wins and second in the championship with Justin Wilson) and lows (the sacking of A.J. Allmendinger and the injuries to Christano DaMatta) during the 2006 season has weatherd another storm over the last two weeks. It’s been no secret that team founder Carl Russo was looking to sell his interest in the team, and now, according to reports on Autosport.com, it appears he has found a buyer in Champ Car World Series co-owner, and PKV Racing co-owner, Dan Pettit.

While SPEED TV.com reports that Cristiano da Matta’s recovery continues at full-pace three and a half months after the former Champ Car champion suffered a life-threatening accident during testing at the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake. Now, for the first time since the incident that forced him into a coma for over a month, the 33-year-old revealed his intentions to go back to racing with the first step being a run in a kart sometime during the early part of 2007.

Happy Birthday to former NASCAR Champion Dale Jarrett (born 11/26/56)

Former F1 and Champ Car star and now World Touring Car ace Alex Zanardi made an emotional and impressive return to the cockpit of a modern F1 car in Valencia, Spain earlier today.

The 40 year-old, who lost both legs in a horrific Champ Car crash in 2001 drove a specially modified Sauber BMW and after a short shake down posted a series of very respectable times.

Zanardi today completed 12 laps at the Circuit de la Comunitat clocking a fastest time of 1:21.63.

BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen was impressed both with the driver and with the behaviour of the modified car. “After just a few installation laps on Thursday, Alessandro Zanardi had far more time today to enjoy his Formula One comeback,” he said. “I was impressed with how well the modifications on the car are working. Alessandro felt comfortable from the word go, which has also been proved by his lap times. It’s obvious that he is no Formula One newcomer.  He has not forgot how to drive a race car like this at the limit.“

GP2 Champion and fast rising star Lewis Hamilton has been confirmed in the second race seat at the McLaren Formula One team where he will partner two-times World Champion, Fernando Alonso.

During his passage through the various junior formula on his way to a Grand Prix seat, Hamilton has shown incredible natural speed and a penchant for overtaking when others hesitate, he’s always exciting to watch and in many ways reminds me of Nigel Mansell behind the wheel. Hamilton himself often cites Ayrton Senna as his role model - and from what I’ve seen so far has the potential to match either of these two great past champions.