The American Le Mans Series doesn’t usually make big headlines; TV coverage is typically tucked away in a corner of the Speed channel’s schedule between some reality show and a program sponsored by the makers of car-cleaning products. But fans of the series have just voted Allan McNish as "Driver of the Decade." Not just driver of the year, but of 10 years. "It’s an accolade that has come completely out of the blue," he said. "Over 70 drivers, including all the legendary names from the past 10 years of sports car racing, were eligible and I’m honored to have been chosen."

"Who he?" might be a reasonable reaction. McNish is a 38-year-old Scot who drives for the Audi sports car team. He’s a nice guy and the perfect build for a racing driver — think jockey-like. When the company decided to fuel its race machines with diesel, a radical and groundbreaking move, McNish was there. He has since gone on to help make Audi one of the most successful motorsport outfits, with the 12 Hours of Sebring and the real Le Mans in France being just two of his 26 victories at this level.

Indulge me, please, as I tell my own Allan McNish story. Before he signed to Audi, McNish drove for Porsche. He was at an event I attended that took place on a track in England. I knew this circuit pretty well and thought I could get around it quite quickly. McNish took me for a lap in a stock, rear-wheel-drive Porsche 911. He was operating on a whole other level, almost supernaturally fast, with smooth — sometimes minuscule — driver inputs. And the most annoying thing? He was relaxed and chatty, not even trying. So congratulations, Mr. McNish, and thanks for the lesson.

—Colin Ryan

Photos: Audi

By Dan Neil, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

The Barack Obama campaign has reportedly declined the proposal of BAM Racing to be hood sponsor of the No. 49 Toyota driven by Ken Schrader at the Aug. 3 Pocono race.

In one respect, this is too bad for Obama. NASCAR fans are famous for crazy sponsor loyalty. Only the Gods of Beer know how much more Budweiser was sold because it sponsored fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. I mean, if Charles Manson sponsored Junior's car, pretty soon fans would be saying, "You know, that Charlie, he's a good ol' boy...." On the other hand, a losing outing for Obama's car — and Schrader has as much chance of winning as Jesse Jackson has of getting the democratic vice presidential nod — might actually hurt Obama with NASCAR dads. That would be, in the words of the Rev. Jackson, "nuts."

In other racing/political news, the McCain camp has managed to wangle a pace-car ride for the candidate's wife, Cindy, at the Firestone 200 IndyCar race in Tennessee. To the extent that open-wheel racing appeals to the wine-and-brie set, this might be regarded as a base-broadening effort akin to Obama's reaching out to NASCAR's working-class whites.

I kind of think Cindy looks like an IndyCar -- all skinny and razor-sharp angles. Somebody might hang a number on her and put her in the race.

Photos: Associated Press

By Dan Neil, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Word out of Sports Illustrated is that Barack Obama's campaign will sponsor a car in the Pocono Sprint Cup race Aug. 3. In what is expected to be one-race deal — similar to hood-sponsor promotions for movies and TV shows — the No. 49 BAM Racing Toyota, with Ken Schrader at the wheel, will fly the Obama livery. Jeez. BAM Racing, Ken Schrader? I mean, hope is a wonderful thing, but Schrader doesn't have a prayer.

BAM is a low-buck, periodically unsponsored team, and the fact that team owners Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau — described as staunch Republicans — consented to this deal is a sign of how very, um, flexible convictions can be when it comes to money and racing.

What would Wendell Scott think? Who? Exactly.

Read Andrew Malcolm's post on our blog sibling Top of the Ticket: Barack Obama to Suddenly Care About NASCAR

Photo: Associated Press