Scott Kalitta (1962-2008)

I don't know what it is about death, but it has a sneaky way of coming up and surprising me. As I sat there and watched the entertaining Grand-Am race last night I heard the terrible news that Scott Kalitta had died during NHRA qualifications up in Englishtown, NJ. I'm not really a big drag racing fan, so I can't really say I knew Scott that well. But there is one thing I do know, he died doing what he loved and that was racing. Racing was was in Scott's blood, it was in his family, his father was a drag racer, his cousin still is a drag racer and he certainly had a loving wife and two children that supported him all the way.

Drag racing is a risky sport, as is all forms of motor sport, Scott knew the risks and yet he came back every week to race. Scott even retired twice, but came back because he couldn't get rid of that itch, the itch of competition and no one can fault him for that.

Godspeed Scott, you will surely be missed.

Ex-Toyota team princnipal Ove Andersson killed in a rally crash

Former team principal for Toyota F1 Ove Andersson was killed in a crash during a vintage rally meet in South Africa, he was 70 years old. Andersson was killed when the car he was driving suffered a front end collision in a blind corner.

With Andersson, Toyota won four driver and three manufactuer championships in the World Rally Championship. Andersson became team principal for Toyota's new Formula 1 team in 2002, but retired the next year.

"Everyone at Toyota is extremely shocked and truly saddened at this terrible news," said head of Toyota Motorsport, Tadashi Yamashina. "Ove was an inspiration to our team and to many in motorsport. His passion for motorsport was legendary and he is a great loss to our sport. The thoughts of everyone at Toyota Motorsport are with Ove's family at this difficult time."

Toyota pays tribute to Andersson (Autosport.com)