Waltrip wants to silence critics

Michael Waltrip is back where his season soured so suddenly, returning to Daytona International Speedway on Thursday for Saturday’s Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup race and still trying to rebound from what he called “the worst thing that happened to any team ever.”

Waltrip has qualified for three of 17 races this year, a disappointing start that followed an inauspicious opening week at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Waltrip’s Toyota failed inspection here in February when a suspicious substance was found in his intake manifold. After two frenzied days of investigation, NASCAR determined it was a fuel additive and kicked out two of Waltrip’s team members – competition director Bobby Kennedy and crew chief David Hyder. Hyder was fined a record $100,000, and Waltrip was docked 100 points.

The team bounced back to make the season-opening Daytona 500, but Waltrip finished 30th. But things went downhill from there.

Indy Racing League

Helio Castroneves started on the pole in each of the first two races at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and has little to show for it.

“Every race we seem to have trouble,” said Castroneves, who is sixth in points, 114 behind leader Dario Franchitti’s 359. “The first year we got into a little trouble with the tires, and that cost us the race. The second race, it was about the weather. Now, hopefully the third race (Sunday) – three times is the charm, as they say.”

Formula One

Standings leader Lewis Hamilton returns home to race Sunday in his first British Grand Prix at Silverstone, England, with his McLaren team embroiled in a scandal over accusations of sabotage against rival Ferrari.

FIA, motorsport’s governing body, said it has the cooperation of both teams to hold an investigation after Ferrari fired an employee who allegedly sent a package of technical information to a McLaren rival.