Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, autosport or motorsport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. Motor racing or motorsport may also mean motorcycle racing, and it can further include motorboat racing and air racing. It is one of the world's most popular spectator sports and perhaps the most thoroughly commercialized.

History

---

The start

Auto racing began almost immediately after the construction of the first successful petrol-fuelled autos. In 1894, the first contest was organized by Paris magazine Le Petit Journal, a reliability test to determine best performance. That first race now is called Paris to Rouen 1894. Competitors included factory vehicles from Karl Benz's Benz & Cie. and Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach's DMG.

A year later the first real race was staged in France, from Paris to Bordeaux. First over the line was Émile Levassor but he was disqualified because his car was not a required four-seater.

More on [ Auto racing ]

SI.com - Motorsports

Ky. Busch rolls to 5th consecutive Trucks victory
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:57:15 -0500
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Kyle Busch started his Texas tripleheader with another NASCAR Trucks Series victory.
Earnhardt Jr.: Danica would be good for NASCAR
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:05:35 -0500
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. says Danica Patrick would be good for NASCAR, but there's nothing new to report on the IndyCar star joining his team.
Gordon earns pole at Texas, his first of season
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:50:49 -0500
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Jeff Gordon won his first NASCAR pole of the season with a qualifying lap of 191.117 mph (307.56 kph) on Friday for the Dickies 500.
NASCAR will honor fallen soldiers at Fort Hood
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:42:24 -0500
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- NASCAR will honor the fallen soldiers at Fort Hood during a race weekend that is just 170 miles from the site of the massacre that left 13 people dead.
Newman ready for Texas after 'Dega disaster
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:41:27 -0500
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Ryan Newman is still sore and frustrated from Talladega.
Mark Beech: Five reasons to keep watching NASCAR
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:37:22 -0500
JJ isn't the only one to watch -- Montoya isn't done quite yet.

ESPN.com - NASCAR

Mark Martin faces the inevitable: finishing second in the Sprint Cup Series -- for the fifth time in his career
Ed Hinton Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:11:01 -0800
The math says Mark Martin is still in contention for his first Sprint Cup championship. The reality? The best Martin likely can do is finish second -- for the fifth time in his career.
The Fort Hood tragedy looms large at Texas Motor Speedway
Terry Blount Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:43:55 -0800
There is a kinship between racers and soldiers that runs deeper than sponsorship dollars. That much was evident Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, where NASCAR Nation remembered the fallen at Fort Hood.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: No news, but Danica Patrick would be good for NASCAR
ESPN.com news services Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:43:40 -0800
Dale Earnhardt Jr. says Danica Patrick would be good for NASCAR, but there's nothing new to report on the IRL star joining his team.

USATODAY.com Motor Sports - Top Stories

Newman renews push for safety after Talladega crash
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:49:16 -0000
After going airborne at Talladega Superspeedway last Sunday, Ryan Newman changed his mind about voicing his concerns directly ...
Kyle Busch races to 5th straight NASCAR Trucks win
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:02:25 -0000
Kyle Busch started his Texas tripleheader with another NASCAR Trucks Series victory, extending a winning streak that began in ...
Gordon races to first pole of season at Texas
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:59:15 -0000
Jeff Gordon won his first pole position of the season Friday with a qualifying lap of 191.117 mph at Texas Motor Speedway, the ...
People skills key to the success of Hendrick Motorsports
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:39:48 -0000
Before becoming the general manager of Hendrick Motorsports nearly five years ago, Marshall Carlson held an executive role in ...
Clothes, the deal: Izod sponsoring IndyCar Series
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:17:20 -0000
In announcing high-end clothier Izod on Thursday as title sponsor of the IndyCar Series, the IRL finally got the financial support ...
NASCAR takes ABC to task for 'boring' race
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:34:50 -0000
Almost everybody who watches TV sports is an instant critic. One exception: Sports leagues themselves, who almost never publicly ...

Subscribe to Motorsports RSS feed