The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix went down on Sunday, with the two chief protagonists - Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG Petronas) and Max Verstappen (No. 33 Red Bull Racing Honda) - squaring off against each other for the World Championship title. You can watch the video highlights (below) for the big picture of the race. Verstappen started on pole but lost the lead to Hamilton on the first lap. A coming together between the two saw Hamilton run wide and cut a corner. Red Bull wanted him to give back the position but were told he had wiped out any advantage gained. Hamilton led by 11 seconds heading into the final few laps before a safety car came out after Nicholas Latifi crashed. At first, the race director said that lapped cars wouldn't overtake the leaders but then said they had to, leaving a final lap shootout between Verstappen and Hamilton. Verstappen, on fresher tires, passed Hamilton to take the win and the world championship. Mercedes has lodged two protests against events in the race (both were denied). Watch the race highlights here. (Thanks to Gary Rose/BBC.com)
(BBC.com)Kimi Raikkonen has been speaking about his final race in F1 ending in retirement: "Sometimes in a sport it goes like that. I am happy. I am looking forward to a normal life outside of the race weekend. We can actually plan something as a family. It is hard to plan when we are doing this work because things change quickly. It is great to have the freedom and be at home with the kids. They grow up quickly." (Thanks to BBC.com)
Statements from Roger Penske, J. Douglas Boles about the Passing of Al Unser
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INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Dec. 10, 2021) – Statements from Roger Penske and J. Douglas Boles about the passing of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser, who died Dec. 9 at age 82: “We have lost a true racing legend and a champion on and off the track. Al was the quiet leader of the Unser family, a tremendous competitor and one of the greatest drivers to ever race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From carrying on his family’s winning tradition at Pikes Peak to racing in NASCAR, sports cars, earning championships in INDYCAR and IROC and, of course, becoming just the second driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, Al had an amazing career that spanned nearly 30 years. He produced two championships and three wins for our race team, including his memorable victory in the 1987 Indy 500 when he famously qualified and won with a car that was on display in a hotel lobby just a few days before. We were honored to help Al earn a place in history with his fourth Indy victory that day, and he will always be a big part of our Team. Our thoughts are with the Unser family as they mourn the loss of a man that was beloved across the racing world and beyond.” – Roger Penske *** “In the 112 years of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Al Unser’s career stands out among the others. His four Indianapolis 500 wins and most laps led in the ‘500’ (644) solidify him as one of the greatest of all time. Al achieved his successes competing against many of the best our sport has ever seen, which makes his accomplishments even more impressive. In addition, his quiet and humble approach outside of the car, combined with his fierce competitive spirit and fearless talent behind the wheel, made Al a fan favorite. He will be remembered as one of the best to ever race at Indianapolis, and we will all miss his smile, sense of humor and his warm, approachable personality. Our thoughts and prayers are with Susan Unser, the entire Unser family and all Al’s friends and fans.” – J. Douglas Boles, President, Indianapolis Motor Speedway  (Trans Am Championship images)
After coming close for the last three years, Chris Dyson brought home the 2021 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA championship following an outstanding season. The driver from Poughkeepsie, New York, won seven of the opening 10 races in the No. 20 ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang, clinching the title with one race remaining. While Dyson missed the season finale at Circuit of The Americas to concentrate on family matters, late substitute Matthew Brabham took a dramatic last-second triumph to give the team its eighth victory. "Winning the championship was massive for me, personally, on a few levels,” Dyson said. “Trans Am has been one of the linchpins of America road racing for decades, and to be alongside some of the great champions – many of whom I saw racing as a kid – it’s hard to put in to words how meaningful it is, being considered a Trans Am champion.” Coming from top-level LMP1 and LMP2 (675) Prototype sports cars in ALMS, SRP and Daytona Prototype in Grand-Am, Dyson enjoyed the transition to the Trans Am race cars. “In all the forms of racing I’ve been able to compete in, I raced in cars at the top of the tree for their respective style of racing,” Dyson explained. “I think when it comes to GT-level racing, the Trans Am cars are hands-down the most monstrous cars you could possibly be racing. The actual driving is so rewarding in the Trans Am cars because there are no driver aids. The cars demand a lot of you as a driver, and reward precision and aggression. There’s a nuance between the two that’s endlessly fascinating and challenging.” For 2022, expect to see Dyson back in action in Trans Am. “Right now, our priority is to come back and defend our Trans Am championship, and hopefully build on what we’ve done so far,” he said. “I know the competition is not going to rest easy, and we’re already eagerly preparing for 2022.” The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is one of the longest-running championships in motorsport, and will celebrate its 55th season with a diverse 12-race 2022 schedule that will include multiple road courses, a roval and a street circuit. Trans Am’s 2022 roster of races will be staged at legendary venues across the United States as part of SpeedTour, IndyCar Series and NASCAR events with the season kicking off at Sebring International Raceway February 24-27. (Thank you to Trans Am Media) 
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