The All-Motorsport Power Rankings: Week 22

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LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 13: Jan Magnussen of Denmark and Corvette Racing drives during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

It's probably the one week of the year where the answer "France" as an answer to the question of "Where would you rather be?" shouldn't be greeted with sideways looks and phone calls to the asylum as Week 22 is for the 24 hours of Le Mans.

All eyes were on the Circuit de la Sarthe, and the race didn't disappoint, with the race bringing us controversy, huge accidents, and some great racing.

However, this week wasn't just the host to one all conquering motorsports event. Oh no.

It was also the week we saw the latest twist in the F1 sage with the 2010 entry list being revealed, with three new teams, and all the current ones (no matter how much some of them don't want to be there).

15. The Red Bull F1 Team (F1)

MONTE CARLO, MONACO - MAY 23: Detail of the Red Bull Racing nose cone is seen in their team garage during the final practice session prior to qualifying for the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at the Monte Carlo Circuit on May 23, 2009 in Monte Carlo, Mona

Red Bull have apparently managed to enter the 2010 World Championship without an engine.

Now that’s what I call cost cutting!

14. Narain Karthikeyan (Le Mans)

LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Narain Karthikeyan of India attends the drivers parade prior to the Le Mans 24h Race on June 12, 2009 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

A Le Mans 24 hours nursery rhyme:

Karthikeyan hurdled the wall
Karthikeyan had a great fall
And thought Kolles said “he’s as good as Zwolls-men”
They couldn’t get Narain on circuit again.

13. Bernie Ecclestone (F1)

MONTE CARLO, MONACO - MAY 24: F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is seen in the paddock before the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at the Monte Carlo Circuit on May 24, 2009 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Want to be the first to know of the next non-sensical step or baffling decision in the world Formula One?

There’s an Ap for that.

12. Brian France (NASCAR)

CONCORD, NC - MAY 15: NASCAR CEO Brian France speaks with the media following practice for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 15, 2009 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR open to more foreign manufacturers.

Oh good, I’ve always wondered what a lynching looks like...

11. John Manor (F1)

17 Jan 2001: CART FedEx Championship Series driver Roberto Moreno poses with a Playboy Playmate during the CART Party at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit: Jon Ferrey/ALLSPORT

Manor Motorsports to use “Yorkshire Values” in F1

So, expect the car to run on tea, be fantastic in the wet and for “duk” to replace “for sure” in press conferences.

10. Sebastien Loeb (WRC)

LOUTRAKI, GREECE - JUNE 12: Sebastien Loeb of France and Daniel Elena of Monaco in action in the Citroen C4 Total during Leg 1 of the WRC Acropolis Rally of Greece on June 12, 2009 in Loutraki, Greece (Photo by Massimo Bettiol/Getty Images)

Ah, well, in hindsight he probably could have gone to Le Mans anyway.

9. Adrian Campos (F1)

And the award for prospective F1 team with the name that sounds most like a computer virus is...

Campos Meta 1

8. Valentino Rossi (Moto GP)

MOTEGI, JAPAN - APRIL 26: Jorge Lorenzo (R) of Spain and Fiat Yamaha Team and Valentino Rossi of Italy and Fiat Yamaha Team in action during the MotoGP World Championship Grand Prix of Japan at the Twin Ring Motegi race circuit on April 26, 2009 in Moteg

Rubens Barrichello, let’s hope Ross Brawn wasn’t watching.

Spanish MotoGP report and results

7. Patrick Dempsey (Le Mans)

LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 13: Actor Patrick Dempsey drives for Team Advanced Engineering during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

$258,000 for Seattle Children’s Hospital from 301 laps of Le Mans.

It almost makes six seasons of Grey’s Anatomy worthwhile.

6. Mikko Hirvonen (WRC)

LOUTRAKI, GREECE - JUNE 14: Mikko Hirvonen of Finland and Jarmo Lehtinen of Finland celebrate victory on the podium after winning the WRC Acropolis Rally of Greece on June 14, 2009 in Loutraki, Greece (Photo by Massimo Bettiol/Getty Images)

Shock as WRC takes place and a competition breaks out.

B/R Acropolis Rally report.

5. Mark Martin (NASCAR)

BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 14: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 14, 2009 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by E

Mark won on fuel mileage at Michigan.

Ironic as many men his age struggle with a weak flow.

Lifelock 400 results.

4. Sebastien Bourdais (Le Mans)

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JUNE 07: Sebastien Bourdais (R) of France and Scuderia Toro Rosso talks with his Chief Engineer Laurent Mekies before the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on June 7, 2009, in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty

Toro Rosso employees are already having an office sweep on how many times Bourdais mentions his Le Mans second place at Silverstone.

2009 Le Mans 24 Hours results.

3. Franck Montagny (Le Mans)

LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Franck Montagny of France and Team Peugeot Total is seen at the drivers parade during previews for the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race on June 12, 2009 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

Jeez, Franck thank you!

Now I can’t use the old “Sorry boss I can’t come into work today as I have stress fracture of my left leg” line after a heavy drinking night.

2. Marc Gene (Le Mans)

LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 14: Marc Gene of Spain and Peugeot Sport Total 908 HDi FAP drives during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 14, 2009 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

Win Le Mans and get linked to a new F1 drive all in one week.

Tell me someone got Marc’s lottery numbers off him after that week.

1. David Brabham (Le Mans)

LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 14: Peugeot drivers Marc Gene, Alex Wurz and David Brabham celebrate on the podium after winning the Le Mans 24h race on June 14, 2009 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

So, between Geoff in 1993 and David in 2009 it’s clear that the way to beat the Germans is to have a Brabham in your car.

So, Panoz, what’s your excuse?

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The All-Motorsport Power Rankings: Week 22

By
James Broomhead
(Analyst) on June 16, 2009

15. The Red Bull F1 Team (F1)

14. Narain Karthikeyan (Le Mans)

13. Bernie Ecclestone (F1)

12. Brian France (NASCAR)

11. John Manor (F1)

10. Sebastien Loeb (WRC)

9. Adrian Campos (F1)

8. Valentino Rossi (Moto GP)

7. Patrick Dempsey (Le Mans)

6. Mikko Hirvonen (WRC)

5. Mark Martin (NASCAR)

4. Sebastien Bourdais (Le Mans)

3. Franck Montagny (Le Mans)

2. Marc Gene (Le Mans)

1. David Brabham (Le Mans)

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3 Comments

Bleacher Report Team Stream^TM

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The All-Motorsport Power Rankings: Week 22

By James Broomhead (Analyst) on June 16, 2009

15. The Red Bull F1 Team (F1)

14. Narain Karthikeyan (Le Mans)

13. Bernie Ecclestone (F1)

12. Brian France (NASCAR)

11. John Manor (F1)

10. Sebastien Loeb (WRC)

9. Adrian Campos (F1)

8. Valentino Rossi (Moto GP)

7. Patrick Dempsey (Le Mans)

6. Mikko Hirvonen (WRC)

5. Mark Martin (NASCAR)

4. Sebastien Bourdais (Le Mans)

3. Franck Montagny (Le Mans)

2. Marc Gene (Le Mans)

1. David Brabham (Le Mans)

More Articles You'll Like

3 Comments

Bleacher Report Team StreamTM

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By
James Broomhead
(Analyst) on June 16, 2009

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