Gridcrasher ranks the best drivers of the year

How did F1’s best compare with the top pilots from other series? Here’s the second part of our end-of-year rankings (see part 1 here)…

5. Felipe Massa (F1)
Arguably the most improved driver of the year, the likeable Brazilian got so close to winning his first F1 drivers’ title - had he won, it would not have been undeserved. He also made the 2007 world champ - his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen - look ordinary.

Gridcrasher ranks the best drivers of the year

How did F1’s best compare with the top pilots from other series? Here’s part one of our end-of-year rankings…

10. Kyle Busch (Nascar)
The least popular man in Nascar won 21 races in 2008 - that’s an extraordinary figure. Indeed, Busch would be much higher than No.10 but for a disastrous Chase series (Nascar’s equivalent of a play-off system), when three mechanical problems ruined his chances of becoming champion.

She’s a better driver than you and she looks better nekkid

In the United States of America, it is perfectly legal for a woman to operate a motorised vehicle on the highways. Of course, there are no corners on America’s roads, so at the age of 16 Danica Patrick moved to England to learn how to turn the wheel, and became extremely popular on the Formula Ford and Formula Vauxhall circuits. The Wisconsin-born lass  then graduated to the IndyCar series, in which she has comepted since 2005.

Much like Nigel Mansell, Danica has shown a willingness to be marketed on her fabulous looks, hence she has appeared in many underdressed photoshoots. See more examples after the jump…

Hollywood star’s IndyCar lid makes money for charity

This unique crash helmet, which features a design based on the most famous films of the late Paul Newman, raised nearly $41,000 for charity on eBay this week.

The helmet, worn by IndyCar prodigy Graham Rahal at this year’s Mid-Ohio round, was snapped up by an anonymous bidder for the impressive sum of $41,900, with all proceeds going toward the new Flying Horse Farms children’s camp in Ohio.

IndyCar star pleads not guilty to tax evasion charges

The world of IndyCar has been rocked by the fall from grace of Helio Castroneves, who faces serious jail time after being indicted on six charges of tax evasion and conspiracy for purportedly failing to report more than $5m in income to those meanies at the IRS. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Castroneves, who found nationwide fame in the States after winning the 2007 series of Dancing with the Stars, pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently out on bail after fronting up a $10m bond. The terms of Castroneves’ bail allow him to race in the States but not abroad, meaning he will almost certainly miss a race later this month in Australia.

Hollywood actress who makes a fast Scot very happy

Today’s Grid WAG is 40-year-old American beauty Ashley Judd, an actress who rarely takes a part in a film unless it involves gratuitous nudity. Her husband since 2001 has been Dario Franchitti, a racing driver who left sunny Scotland behind to pursue a career in the CART and IndyCar series. For his 2007 IndyCar series victory, he received the coveted BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year award, but probably only because he was up against the grumpiest man in the world, Andy Murray.

Enjoy two thrilling finishes from the weekend’s Stateside racing

Great action from Nascar this weekend, when Jimmie Johnson held off Tony Stewart to win the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 by less than a second. Johnson’s win secured him third seeding in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, behind leader Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards.

Sunday’s IndyCar event saw an even closer finish, and a new champion for 2008. Watch it after the jump…

Scot lasts just one season in Nascar

Dario Franchitti, a man who is rightly best-known as Mr Ashley Judd, is leaving Nascar after just one season, to return to IndyCar in 2009. The Scot, who won the Indy 500 last year, will replace fellow Brit Dan Wheldon and team up with Scott Dixon.

Dixon is delighted with the news (perhaps because Wheldon has a reputation in the IndyCar paddock as being a bit of a dick, whereas Dario is a bit of a dude). The Kiwi said: “We saw each other over the weekend and I thought there must be some rustlings going on. To have a driver like Dario on our team is going to be spectacular. We’re going to be a force next season.”