Weekend Racing Preview: Alonso eyes F1 title; NASCAR hits Texas

Formula One

Can Fernando Alonso make it three Formula One championships in Brazil on Sunday?

After an amazing F1 season that has seen five drivers battling for the title, everything could be resolved at the penultimate race at Interlagos, but only if Alonso stays ahead of his rivals.

The Spaniard's recent surge and win two weeks ago in Korea have put him in front at just the right time, and the title is now his to lose. He won both his 2005 and 2006 championships in Brazil, but lost to Kimi Raikkonen at the final hurdle in 2007. If he wins here this year, it will be an impressive achievement, as he will join that elite group who have won three or more titles.

However, there are still four drivers who could yet stop him, and who have varying chances to do so. The man closest on points is Mark Webber, who has to bounce back from his crash in Korea. Unfortunately, tension in the Red Bull camp has been ratcheted up at just the wrong moment: Webber told media Thursday that he believes the team supports Sebastian Vettel more, who is of course still pursuing his own title hopes and not ready to support the Aussie. The dark blue cars were fastest in Friday practice and the race could yet play out between them.

McLaren-Mercedes star and 2008 world champ Lewis Hamilton is also still in the hunt, though teammate Jenson Button's chances are remote and mathematical only. In Brazil, Hamilton has finished seventh (when he lost the title in 2007), fifth (when he won the championship in 2008) and third in the last three years, and a win this time will keep him in contention.

McLaren has lost out in qualifying lately, but this is a place where you can pass into turn one, and McLaren usually has the best straight line pace.

However, everything could be turned on its head on Saturday as heavy rain is expected all day, so qualifying could be a throw of the dice for everybody.

On The Air

Saturday, Nov. 6

--Formula One qualifying, Brazil, noon (L), Speed

Sunday, Nov. 7

--Formula One, Brazil, 10:30 a.m. (L), Speed

NASCAR

All three of NASCAR's top series are together in Texas this weekend, the first of three consecutive weekends the Camping World Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams share the spotlight. The Texas Motor Speedway program includes a 147-lap, 220-mile Trucks race Friday night, a 200-lap, 300-mile Nationwide race on Saturday afternoon, and a 334-lap, 501-mile Cup race on Sunday afternoon.

By Saturday night, one champion will almost certainly be crowned and another might be, too. But much to NASCAR's relief, the Cup likely won't be decided until the Nov. 21 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. After all, what's “Ford Championship Weekend” at Homestead without at least one championship on the line?

In the Truck Series, former champion Todd Bodine is 216 points clear of Aric Almirola. He'll ensure his second title by leaving Texas with a lead of 281 points, one more than Almirola could score if Bodine simply starts the Phoenix and Homestead races. Kyle Busch's first-year No. 18 Toyota team--using several drivers--sits atop the owner standings by 42 points over Steve Germain's No. 30 Toyota team with Bodine.

Brad Keselowski has a 485-point lead over Carl Edwards in Nationwide. He'll clinch if he leaves Texas 323 points ahead of Edwards and starts the last two races. Officially, Jodi Geschickter is the No. 22 Dodge owner, but everyone knows it's really Roger Penske's team. He'll have the championship driver, but Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 Toyota (using several drivers) will win the Owner's Championship.

In Cup, four-time champion Jimmie Johnson has a 14-point lead over Denny Hamlin and a 38-point lead over Kevin Harvick. By the slimmest of margins, Hamlin has been better that Johnson and Harvick at the 1.5-mile track in Fort Worth. In the spring, he was first, Johnson second and Harvick seventh. All told, Hamlin has one win, seven top-10s and an average finish of 9.6 at Texas. Johnson has one win, 10 top-10s and an average finish of 10.1, and Harvick has seven top-10s and an average finish of 12.9.

On The Air

Friday, Nov. 5

--NASCAR Sprint Cup practice, Fort Worth, Texas, 3 p.m. (S), Speed

--NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying, Fort Worth, Texas, 4:30 p.m. (L), Speed

--NASCAR Nationwide qualifying, Fort Worth, Texas, 6:30 p.m. (L), Speed

--NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Forth Worth, Texas, 9 p.m. (L), Speed

Saturday, Nov. 6

--NASCAR Sprint Cup practice, Fort Worth, 9:30 a.m. (L), Speed

--NASCAR Sprint Cup final practice, Fort Worth, 11 a.m. (L), Speed

--NASCAR Nationwide Series, Fort Worth, Texas, 1 p.m. (L), ESPN2

Sunday, Nov. 7

--NASCAR Sprint Cup, Fort Worth, Texas, 3 p.m. (L), ESPN

Also On The Air

Sunday, Nov. 7

--Moto GP World Championship, Spain, 8 a.m. (L), Speed

--NHRA, Las Vegas, 10 a.m. (S), ESPN2

Boldface denotes editors' choice. L = live; S = same day; R = rerun. Questions or comments? E-mail awtv@autoweek.com

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