FIA Nitro Nationals 2010
Andy Carter and the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Team travel to Finland for round two of the FIA Top Fuel Championship. You can also keep up to date with our progress by becoming a fan at www.facebook.com/cartermotorsport
1st July, 2010 - 21:30 - Evening Update
Welcome to Finland for the FHRA Nitro Nationals and round 2 of the 2010 FIA Top Fuel Championship. We arrived at a very warm and sunny Alastaro yesterday and today has been spent making final preparations for Q1 which takes place on Friday morning. After a disappointing start to the season at the FIA Main Event the Carter Motorsport / Andersen Racing / Lucas Oil team have been working tirelessly to make sure we get our 2010 season back on the right track in Finland.
We are very pleased to announce a new sponsorship deal with Alamo rental cars. Alamo will be supplying the team with cars throughout the FIA season and are very pleased to be driving around Finland in one of their cars this weekend.
We will be back in the morning with an update from Q1.
We are very pleased to announce a new sponsorship deal with Alamo rental cars. Alamo will be supplying the team with cars throughout the FIA season and are very pleased to be driving around Finland in one of their cars this weekend.
We will be back in the morning with an update from Q1.
2nd July, 2010 - 21:00 - Evening Update
Welcome back to Finland, we have been racing under bright blue skies all day... the weather couldn't be better. It has been a challenging day for the team, our first pass of the day was an off the pace 6 second pass. In Q2 the Lucas Oil dragster hooked up well but down the track the headers broke and Andy had to get out of the throttle. A 4.3 second pass was good enough for number three spot. Risto and Stig has an terrible looking crash this afternoon when their cars coming together in the shutdown area. Both drivers are OK but the cars look to be badly damaged.
Andy said "I was at the top end getting ready to tow back when Risto and Stig crashed... it was a nasty accident. I was very happy to see them both walk away and really hope they will be back out in their spare cars later this weekend. On our second pass today the headers broke, just one of those unfortuate things, I felt the engine change and it pushed me to one side so I got out of it."
Andy said "I was at the top end getting ready to tow back when Risto and Stig crashed... it was a nasty accident. I was very happy to see them both walk away and really hope they will be back out in their spare cars later this weekend. On our second pass today the headers broke, just one of those unfortuate things, I felt the engine change and it pushed me to one side so I got out of it."
3rd July, 2010 - 20:00 - Evening Update
It has been another glorious hot and sunny day in Finland. The big talk of the day was that after their terrible crash yesterday Stig and Risto would attempt to make it back out today - Stig repairing his car, Risto in a spare car.
In Q3 we launched well but struggled down track, Andy having to pedal and the tires hazing at the top end of the track. A 4.4 second pass was not enought ot move us up the ladder but we stayed in number three spot.
In Q4 we made our best pass of the weekend so far, a 4.30 but big moves up the ladder from Risto and Timo Tehtimaki meant we dropped to number 5 spot and will face Jari Halinen in round one.
Unfortunately, after working through the night to repair his car Stig couldn't make it into the field and will miss out tomorrow... a real shame. Special mention to Risto Poutiainen who in his first pass in his spare car blasted straight into the number one spot.
Tune back tomorrow for news from eliminations day in Finland.
In Q3 we launched well but struggled down track, Andy having to pedal and the tires hazing at the top end of the track. A 4.4 second pass was not enought ot move us up the ladder but we stayed in number three spot.
In Q4 we made our best pass of the weekend so far, a 4.30 but big moves up the ladder from Risto and Timo Tehtimaki meant we dropped to number 5 spot and will face Jari Halinen in round one.
Unfortunately, after working through the night to repair his car Stig couldn't make it into the field and will miss out tomorrow... a real shame. Special mention to Risto Poutiainen who in his first pass in his spare car blasted straight into the number one spot.
Tune back tomorrow for news from eliminations day in Finland.
4th July, 2010 - 21:30 - Evening Update
Raceday in Finland and yet again we were treated to more glorious weather, could the Andersen Racing / Carter Motorsport team pull out a performance to match the weather?
In the first round we faced Jari Hallinen, the Lucas Oil dragster was away first and soon pulled away from a tire smoking Halinen. Our quickest pass of the weekend, 4.24 seeing Carter through to a semi final match up with the in form Risto Poutianen. Risto put Carter out in round one at the Main Event, could the Finn again take out the reigning champion, this time on home soil? The Lucas Oil dragster was deep staged by Carter and away from the line first, but Risto was soon chasing him down. Andy's tires stayed to haze and Risto pulled ahead, Andy stuck with it hoping to chase him down but the Finn was too far ahead and took the win with a 4.20 to Carters 4.42.
Timo Lehtmaki went on to defeat Risto in the final and take the win.
We now move on to Sweden, always one of our favourite events on the tour, we can't wait!
Thanks to Lucas Oil and all of our associate sponsors... Landmeco, Alamo, Stand-21, NGK Spark Plugs, Binamic, Pioneer Print, K&N Filters, Yuasa Batteries, BMRS, Sigma Signs, Rainbow Conference Sets, 3T Creative, Norfolkline Ferriers, RCS Cables, Teng Tools, CAAR, Autotel, Jerrys, USA Autodele, AACI, Ultimate Airbrush, ZIP Karts and GPR.
In the first round we faced Jari Hallinen, the Lucas Oil dragster was away first and soon pulled away from a tire smoking Halinen. Our quickest pass of the weekend, 4.24 seeing Carter through to a semi final match up with the in form Risto Poutianen. Risto put Carter out in round one at the Main Event, could the Finn again take out the reigning champion, this time on home soil? The Lucas Oil dragster was deep staged by Carter and away from the line first, but Risto was soon chasing him down. Andy's tires stayed to haze and Risto pulled ahead, Andy stuck with it hoping to chase him down but the Finn was too far ahead and took the win with a 4.20 to Carters 4.42.
Timo Lehtmaki went on to defeat Risto in the final and take the win.
We now move on to Sweden, always one of our favourite events on the tour, we can't wait!
Thanks to Lucas Oil and all of our associate sponsors... Landmeco, Alamo, Stand-21, NGK Spark Plugs, Binamic, Pioneer Print, K&N Filters, Yuasa Batteries, BMRS, Sigma Signs, Rainbow Conference Sets, 3T Creative, Norfolkline Ferriers, RCS Cables, Teng Tools, CAAR, Autotel, Jerrys, USA Autodele, AACI, Ultimate Airbrush, ZIP Karts and GPR.