Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 September 26

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Today's featured article
Rudolf Caracciola (1901–1959) was a German racing driver who won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times. Caracciola raced for Mercedes-Benz during their original dominating Silver Arrows period, and set speed records for the firm. In 1933, he established the privateer team Scuderia C.C. with Louis Chiron, but a crash in practice for the Monaco Grand Prix left him with multiple fractures of his right thigh, which prevented him from racing for more than a year. He returned to the newly reformed Mercedes-Benz racing team in 1934, with whom he won three European Championships, in 1935, 1937 and 1938. Like most German racing drivers in the 1930s, Caracciola was a member of the Nazi paramilitary group NSKK, but never a member of the Nazi Party. He returned to racing after the Second World War, but crashed in qualifying for the 1946 Indianapolis 500. A second comeback in 1952 was halted by another crash, in a race in Switzerland. After he retired Caracciola worked as a Mercedes-Benz salesman targeting NATO troops stationed in Europe. He is remembered as one of the greatest pre-1939 Grand Prix drivers, a perfectionist who excelled in all conditions. (more...) Recently featured: Henry Edwards – Pinkerton – ARA Moreno Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that bigfin reef squids (pictured) have one of the fastest recorded growth rates of any large marine invertebrate? ... that only 14 cricketers have represented Japan in Women's One Day Internationals? ... that the Fredensborg Houses were specifically designed by Jørn Utzon for Danes returning from abroad? ... that Lindsay Pearce had to be sneaked in to film the Glee third season premiere because The Glee Project finale awarding her the role had not yet aired? ... that the James Elliott Farm in Indiana was the home of the brewer for the New Harmony commune of Owenites? ... that while some prolific authors used pen and paper or typewriters, Philip M. Parker has used a computer to write more than 200,000 books? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Patrick Makau of Kenya wins the 2011 Berlin Marathon, setting a new world record. Women in Saudi Arabia are granted the right to vote by a fiat of King Abdullah. Vladimir Putin (pictured) declares his candidacy for the presidency of Russia, as proposed by incumbent Dmitry Medvedev. Michael Sata is elected President of Zambia, defeating incumbent Rupiah Banda. CERN's OPERA researchers report the observation of neutrinos appearing to travel faster than the speed of light and request independent investigation to confirm the finding. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 26: European Day of Languages; Dominion Day in New Zealand (1907) 1580 – The Golden Hind sailed into Plymouth, England, as explorer Francis Drake completed his circumnavigation of the globe. 1687 – The Parthenon (pictured) in Athens was partially destroyed during an armed conflict between the Venetians under Francesco Morosini and Ottoman forces. 1957 – West Side Story, a musical written by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim and based loosely on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, made its debut on Broadway. 1983 – The racing yacht Australia II, captained by John Bertrand, won the America's Cup, ending the New York Yacht Club's 132-year defense of the trophy. 2002 – MV Le Joola, a Senegalese government-owned ferry, capsized off the coast of The Gambia, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,863 people. More anniversaries: September 25 – September 26 – September 27 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 26, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured list

A succession of black metal plaques mounted on a brick wall. In the foreground is one plaque larger than the other entitled "Phillies Centennial Team". The smaller plaques each have a face and inscribed text.

The Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame is a collection of plaques (pictured), mounted on a brick wall in the Ashburn Alley section of Citizens Bank Park, the ballpark of the Philadelphia Phillies. From 1978 to 2003, the Phillies inducted one figure from their franchise history and one notable person from the Philadelphia Athletics (A's) organization each year—with the exception of 1983, when the Phillies inducted their Centennial Team. Since 2004, only Phillies are inducted; the team no longer inducts notable Athletics. The original goal of the Wall of Fame was to induct the greatest players in Phillies and Athletics history, but exceptions have been made for non-players who have made significant contributions to the organizations. The first figures to be inducted into the Wall of Fame were Robin Roberts, who was inducted for the Phillies; and Connie Mack, inducted for the A's. The Wall's most recent inductee is John Kruk. (more...)

Recently featured: Demolished places of worship in Brighton and Hove – Gordon Bennett Cup (ballooning) – National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents)

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Today's featured picture

The Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata, female shown here) is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. This 45–51 cm (18–20 in) duck looks like a small goose, and feeds on grassland mostly by grazing in flocks. Unusually for a duck, it rarely swims.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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