The All-Motorsport Power Rankings: Week 29

James Broomhead by Correspondent Written on August 04, 2009

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JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - MARCH 03:  Michael Schumacher of Germany and team Ferrari visits Formula 1 testing on March 3, 2009 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.  (Photo by Andy Hone/Getty Images)
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He's back!!

As F1 heads off it's summer jolly, and Nelso Piquet begins a rather longer holiday NASCAR once again fell foul of weather and weepers, which was pretty much how the race ended with an emotional Denny Hamlin, endeavoring to cry to prove that NASCAR driver's aren't robots paid for my sponsors.

However, it was Indycar that took center stage. With more improvements than an Extreme Makeover house the racing on the Kentucky oval was, erm... Finger Licking Good or, well, at least interesting.

15. Ross Brawn (F1)

NORTHAMPTON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 19:  Ross Brawn, Team Principal of Brawn GP, attends the Team Owners press conference following practice for the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone on June 19, 2009 in Northampton, England.  (Photo by Paul Gil

Ross was apparently doing over 100mph in Devon last May.

And that, everyone is how to get round a testing ban (and Michael Schumacher has access to all those Autobahns).

14. Kimi Raikkonen (WRC)

JYVASKYLA, FINLAND - AUGUST 01:  Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Kaj Lindstrom of Finland compete in their Fiat Grande Punto S2000 during Leg 2 of the WRC Neste Oil Rally of Finland on August  01, 2009  in Jyvaskyla, Finland  (Photo by Massimo Bettiol/Getty

Hmm, Kimi just happened to have a Ferrari cap in his car.

And what else makes you think he was almost expected to crash?

13. Nelson Piquet Jr (ex-F1)

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JUNE 06:  Nelson Piquet of Brazil and Renault drives during qualifying for the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on June 6, 2009, in Istanbul, Turkey.  (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Bye Bye Nelson.

The only surprise is it’s taken this long

12. Peter Sauber (F1)

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 20:  Peter Sauber of BMW Sauber is seen in the paddock during previews for the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 20, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Like a serf breaking free from his feudal overlord Peter has taken no time at all to re-appear in the public eye after saying bye bye to Beamer.

11. Sebastien Bourdais (Indycar?)

NURBURG, GERMANY - JULY 12:  (EDITORS NOTE A TILT SHIFT LENS WAS USED TO CREATE THIS IMAGE)  Sebastien Bourdais of France and Scuderia Toro Rosso is seen on the grid before the German Formula One Grand Prix at Nurburgring on July 12, 2009 in Nurburg, Germ

Am I the only one who sees Doornbos’ empty NHL seat a little too conveniently?

10. Sam Hornish Jr. (NASCAR)

LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 01: Sam Hornish Jr. drives the #77 Olympic Dodge ahead of AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #44 Valvoline Dodge, during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway on August 1, 2009

Fourth?!

Soon I might have to take Hornish seriously.

Pennsylvania 500 results.

9. Giandomenico Basso (IRC)

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Madeira win a piece of cake for Basso

8. Ed Carpenter (Indycar)

SPARTA, KY - AUGUST 01:  Ryan Briscoe, driver of the #6 Team Penske Dallara Honda, celebrates after crossing the finish line after winning ahead of Ed Carpenter, driver of the #20 Vision Racing Dallara Honda, during the IRL IndyCar Series Meijer Indy 300

Because even Tony George deserves to smile sometimes.

Indycar Kentucky results.

7. Michael Schumacher (F1 again)

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 26:  Former Ferrari F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher of Germany talks at a press conference following qualifying for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on April 26, 2008 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo

Oh no, look what happened.

That’s the last time I buy Holy Water from a market stall run by a guy named Ian.

6. Jean Christophe-Boullion (Le Mans Series)

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Never before have the words “splash-and-dash” struck such fear into Frenchmen.

LMS Portimao report and results.

5. Kyle Busch (Nationwide Series)

JOLIET, IL - JULY 11:  Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, stands on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 11, 2009 in Joliet, Illinois.  (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images f

Yet another top two place in the Nationwide series, yet another deeply average Cup finish.

Iowa Nationwide results.

4. Mikko Hirvonen (WRC)

JYVASKYLA, FINLAND - AUGUST 02:  Mikko Hirvonen of Finland and Jarmo Lehtinen of Finland compete in their BP Abu Dhabi Ford Focus during Leg 3 of the WRC Neste Oil Rally of Finland on August 02 , 2009 in Jyvaskyla, Finland  (Photo by Massimo Bettiol/Getty

A third consecutive win, except this time Loeb didn’t hit a tree, or a rock, or a bump to make it easier.

3. Ron Hornaday (Truck Series)

CONCORD, NC - MAY 15:  Ron Hornaday, Jr., driver of the #33 Longhorn Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Camping World Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on May 15, 2009 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.  (Photo by Geoff Burke/Ge

Ronny Five is alive!!

Nashville Truck results.

2. Denny Hamlin (NASCAR)

LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 03:  Denny Hamlin (L), driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates with a crew member in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway on August 3, 2009 in Lon

Denny dedicates win to crewman's mum, his grandmother.

Fed-ex unhappy, as human element of NASCAR drivers upstages mentions of names on quarter panels.

1. Ryan Briscoe (Indycar)

SPARTA, KY - AUGUST 01:  Ryan Briscoe driver of the #6 Team Penske Dallara Honda celebrates with his teamates after winning the IRL IndyCar Series Meijer Indy 300 on August 1, 2009 at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Ge

Reasons for putting Ryan at No.1:

Winning after five second places and Indycar finally managed to be interesting on an oval!!

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written on August 04, 2009 Rankings/List


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