glennkellt

Saturday, November 3, 2012

PATRICK HEAD STEPS DOWN FROM THE BOARD OF WILLIAMS GRAND PRIX HOLDINGS PLC

WILLIAMS GRAND PRIX HOLDINGS PLC
Grove, UK. 31 December 2011

Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC (Ticker: WGF1) today confirms that Director of Engineering Patrick Head will step down from its Board of Directors with immediate effect.

Patrick co-founded Williams F1 in 1977 with Frank Williams and over three decades has led the team's engineering department. In that time, Williams F1 has won 113 Grands Prix and secured nine Constructors' and seven Drivers' World Championships.

Patrick will continue in his role as a Board Director of Williams Hybrid Power Limited, a subsidiary of the company that develops and produces hybrid technologies.

The company wishes Patrick well in his future activities and remains indebted for his service to Williams F1 over the past 34 years.

Frank Williams:

"Patrick and I have been in partnership for 34 years. During that time, he has been the leader of the technical team that has won the majority of our race wins and championships. This is a remarkable legacy and one which will be treasured and definitely not forgotten.

"Patrick is a very straightforward, hard working and truly gifted engineer who comfortably operates at a world class level. I will miss him very much, as I am sure his colleagues will, and he will always be welcome at Grove. Indeed, Patrick will still be seen around the factory as he continues to be involved in the development of our hybrid power activities."

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/patrick_head_steps_down_f.php

Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler

Avoid the Post-Sandy Gridlock — Bike Tomorrow’s Commute

The p.m. commute today heading north on Eighth Avenue at 47th Street, where one of the city's newest protected bike lanes stretches through Midtown. Photo: Stephen Miller

After much of Manhattan seized into gridlock, Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg jumped into action a day late this afternoon with a transportation plan for New Yorkers. Even with the combination of HOV-3 restrictions, partially restored subway service and special bus routes ready for tomorrow morning’s commute, most New Yorkers will discover that — like today — their bike provides the fastest one-seat ride in the city.

If only there were a faster way to get around... Bike riders on West 65th Street this afternoon. Photo: Stephen Miller

Protected bike lanes throughout Manhattan were a blessing for bike riders today, who did not have to fight with gridlocked cars to keep moving, at least where the lanes have been installed.

Tomorrow morning from 8 to 11 a.m., Transportation Alternatives will host After-Sandy Commuter Support Stops for bike commuters at the Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Queensboro Bridge and 26th Street at 6th Avenue, where volunteers and staff will be offering coffee, route guidance and assistance to riders.

Tomorrow evening from 5 to 7 p.m., the support stops will be available at 2nd Avenue and 9th Street at Veselka Restaurant, 5th Avenue and 25th Street, the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge.

The West Side Greenway in Midtown was being used by joggers and bicycle riders this afternoon, though neither the New York City Parks Department, which manages the path north of 59th Street, nor the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which manages the park south of 59th Street, said it was officially open. However, Riverbank State Park, adjacent to the path on the Hudson River between 138th and 145th Streets, is one of three state parks that is officially open. The other two open state parks are East River State Park in Williamsburg and Gantry State Park in Long Island City.

If you are thinking of riding tomorrow but are unsure of the rules of the road, take a look at these tips from Dani Simons and DOT’s Bike Smart guide. You may also want to take a look at a list of bike shops that are open post-Sandy compiled by Brooklyn Spoke.

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/31/avoid-the-post-sandy-gridlock-bike-tomorrows-commute/

Clint Bowyer Zaxby s Chevrolet Brad Keselowski Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards

Perez: McLaren deal not affecting focus

Sergio Perez, Sauber Sergio Perez has rubbished any suggestion that securing a McLaren deal for 2013 has affected his focus on his 2012 Formula 1 campaign with Sauber.

The Mexican has not scored any points in the three races since his team switch was announced.

He crashed out in Japan - ironically while battling with Lewis Hamilton, the man he will replace at McLaren – finished outside the points in Korea, and had an incident with Daniel Ricciardo in India.

Asked by AUTOSPORT if thoughts of his McLaren future were becoming a distraction, Perez replied: “Not at all. I think it’s very normal that people are looking at you [after you've been in the news]. When you have something good, and you do something bad after that, it’s normal that they relate everything to it and they make up the stories.”

He added: “For sure it’s just a coincidence. The people who know what’s going on are the people who worry me at the moment. I’m fully focused.

“If the results haven’t come, it’s because there is a reason for that.

“It’s normal that people want to make up stories that I’m not doing well because of the McLaren deal. It’s not true and it’s not right.”

Perez said his main concern was that his engineers and fans might start to believe that he has taken his mind off 2012.

“It doesn’t bother me at all, but it bothers me because of my team,” he said.

“My team, my engineers and my mechanics are fighting so hard, and when my people read this stuff, maybe they get a bit frustrated.

“But in the end, I know I’m giving my maximum to score some points for my team, and this I will keep doing until my last lap with Sauber.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/perez-mclaren-deal-not-affecting-focus

Miguel Ángel Guerra Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne

The Final Lap Weekly #226 – Joey Coulter / Texas NASCAR Preview

Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/11/01/the-final-lap-weekly-226-joey-coulter-texas-nascar-preview/

Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille

Friday, November 2, 2012

Red Bull sure Webber will do right thing

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing Red Bull expects Mark Webber to do what is best for the team if circumstances dictate that he needs to help Sebastian Vettel.

With the championship battle distilling down to a straight fight between Vettel and Fernando Alonso, Webber could play a crucial role in the outcome of the title battle.

But although Red Bull will not impose any direct orders on Webber until he is mathematically out of the championship hunt, team principal Christian Horner said on Thursday that he has no doubts the Australian knows what is expected of him.

“Mark is a strong competitor and he is a big team player,” explained Horner. “I am quite convinced that he will want to see the team achieve its best possible results.

“I am sure as a team player, if required, he will do everything to support the team.

“Mathematically now it is very difficult for him to win the championship and he is a smart guy. He has been an important part of the team and I have every confidence that he will be doing his best to help the team achieve its objectives for the championship.”

When asked to expand on whether any direct instructions have been given to Webber, Horner said: “I think you can talk about so many scenarios and then a scenario you haven’t talked about is the one that comes up.

“Mark is a bright guy, and he has been around a long time. He is a key member of the team and I think that he will be able to do his best.

“His primary objective is to make sure we achieve the constructors’ championship and for us that we have got both drivers ahead of Fernando [Alonso].

“He was desperately unlucky last week not to keep Fernando behind after having to run reduced power and KERS for most of the race. So he will be driving his best to ensure that we have got two Red Bulls right up the front end.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/red-bull-sure-webber-will-do-right-thing

Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle

NCWTS Pole Report: Piquet Jr. wins third career pole at Texas

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/11/ncwts-pole-report-piquet-jr-wins-third.html

Helm Glöckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith

Two-Time Olympic Medalist Patton, Three-Time Indy 500 Champ Rutherford To Serve As Grand Marshals For ‘No Limits” Half Marathon & 5k

Texas Motor Speedway No Limits Wild Asphalt Circus

FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 15, 2012) - Two-time Olympic silver medalist Darvis “Doc” Patton and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will serve as Grand Marshals for the inaugural “No Limits” Half Marathon & 5k benefitting Speedway Children’s Charities on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Texas Motor Speedway.

Rutherford, a 74-year-old Fort Worth resident who is considered among the best all-time Indy-car racers, has been chosen to give the command and wave the green flag to officially start the “No Limits” Half Marathon event that kicks off at 7:30 a.m. on Allison Ave. in the speedway’s infield. He is one of 10 drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 three or more times (1974, ’76 and ’80) and collected 27 victories and 23 pole positions in his Indy-car career. He also earned a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series championship in 1980.

Rutherford also dabbled in NASCAR with 35 career starts, including a win in his stock-car debut in a Daytona 500 qualifier race in 1963. Rutherford, dubbed “Lone Star JR” due to his Texas heritage, has been inducted into several motorsports hall of fames, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

“As the Official Pace Car driver for the IndyCar Series events and as a three-time Indy 500 winner, I am honored to have been chosen by the Speedway Children’s Charity, Texas Chapter, to act as the Grand Marshal and official starter for the inaugural “No Limits” Half Marathon & 5k Run and Expo,” Rutherford said. “I look forward to greeting all of the runners who will be attending the races. I do know the excitement you will feel as you take the green flag and then the later at the waving of the checkered flag. Actually, you and I are not very different … It’s just that I get my kicks while racing a slick car with wheels and a strong engine.”

Patton, a Texas Christian University graduate who was raised in Dallas, has been selected to wave the checkered flag for the half marathon winner as well as award the medals to the eight major category champions.

Patton, 34, is a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 4x100m relay, the most recent coming at this summer’s Olympic Games in London. His other Olympic silver came at Athens in 2004. Patton also is a two-time 4x100m relay gold medalist and a 200-meter silver medalist in the prestigious World Championships and has represented the United States on six national teams. As a collegiate, Patten earned 12 All-American certificates in just two years at TCU.

“In most sports, running is a form of punishment,” Patton said. “If you don’t make a play – or if you miss too many free throws – you run laps. It’s hard work, and that’s something I understand. So, just knowing that so many people are coming out to the ‘No Limits’ Half Marathon to run – willingly – is amazing. And then, to do it for such a great cause is really selfless.

“It takes a lot of time, effort, and training to prepare for an event like this, so I know the folks that are participating are truly dedicated to the cause. How could I not feel honored to be among such good company? I’m really looking forward to it.”

The entry fee for the “No Limits” Half Marathon currently is $100 through Oct. 25 and $125 on race day. The 5k entry currently is $30 through Oct. 25 and $35 on race day. For more information or to sign up for the event, please visit www.nolimitsrun.com.

Source: Texas Motor Speedway, Press Release

The post Two-Time Olympic Medalist Patton, Three-Time Indy 500 Champ Rutherford To Serve As Grand Marshals For ‘No Limits” Half Marathon & 5k appeared first on Catchfence.

EGR switching from Earnhardt to Hendrick engines

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/02/2457499/egr-switching-from-earnhardt-to.html

Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV

The Scion FR-S Pirelli World Challenge Race Car Is Wicked [2012 SEMA Show]

Scion’s FR-S has practically stolen the show this year at SEMA—modified versions literally are everywhere—but this race-prepped World Challenge iteration from Ken Stout Racing (KSR) might just take the cake. This FR-S will be campaigned in the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class, and will make its race debut in March 2013 at the Streets of St. Petersburg. Oh, and did we mention that it’s supercharged? According to Scion, the KSR FR-S GTS was picked up from a dealership in Indiana in August before being driven to North Carolina and being completely torn down and rebuilt as a race car. A full roll cage, a five-point safety harness, an OMP flat-bottom steering wheel, and a Racetech racing seat were fitted. Outside, a Vertex carbon-fiber splitter and tow hooks match up with an APR carbon-fiber wing and Rays 18-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero racing slicks. Behind the sexy wheels are TRD four-piston calipers clamping 14-inch brake rotors and a Teves anti-lock system. The suspension is fully adjustable JRX fare with Eibach springs, as well as Vertex custom upper and lower control arms and sway bars.

Of course, the FR-S GTS’s most exciting race-car bits are under the hood. The stock FA20 boxer four-cylinder engine gets a TRD supercharger (FR-S owners may soon be able to get a TRD blower through Scion’s accessory catalog), a C&R radiator, and JE forged pistons. The flat-four now breathes through a TRD intake, a Vertex custom exhaust, and Coast Fabrication mufflers. No power specs were given, but a Scion representative stated the obvious when he noted that the FR-S race car isn’t underpowered, as some feel the 200-hp stock FR-S is.

The FR-S looks great in its World Challenge getup, and we totally dig the #86 livery. (The FR-S is sold as the Toyota GT 86 in other markets, and is the spiritual successor to the Corolla AE86 from the ’80s.) Better still, it matches up nicely with the wickedly cool Subaru BRZ race car Subaru Tecnica International whipped up for Japan’s Super GT series.

Read full story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/ZIK9LJsz4zo/

Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner Billy Garrett

Chevrolet Camaro Performance V-6 and V-8 Concepts: Full of ZL1 and 1LE Goodies [2012 SEMA Show]

As a performance car, the Chevrolet Camaro is a pretty good value by itself. And with its powerful V-6 and V-8 engines and rear-wheel-drive layout, the Camaro begs to be modified. A lot of performance components are available from Chevrolet Performance and a vast number of aftermarket tuners. As a showcase for the Camaro’s capabilities, Chevrolet has unveiled a Performance V-6 and a Performance V-8 concept at this year’s SEMA show.

Camaro Performance V-6 Concept

The Camaro Performance V-6 concept is powered by a 323-hp, 3.6-liter V-6—the Camaro’s base engine, as offered in the 1LS for a mere $24,295. But a number of additions set it apart from the base model. There is the Camaro ZL1 brake conversion and the 1LE’s suspension; the rear differential off the ZL1 enhances the Performance V-6’s drifting capabilities.

For looks, the Performance V-6 concept is equipped with a front splitter, a special grille, a matte-black vinyl wrap on the hood with a white stripe, special 20-inch wheels, and an interior accentuated with Chevrolet Performance logos and white door panels and dashboard inserts. The rear diffuser and the dual-mode exhaust system are taken straight from the ZL1.

Camaro Performance V-8 Concept

The Camaro Performance V-8 concept is based on a Camaro SS and is designed to be used as an SCCA Touring 2 race car. Like the V-6 concept, the V-8 packs the 1LE suspension, the ZL1 brake-conversion kit, the ZL1 rear differential, and the ZL1’s dual-mode exhaust. A short-throw manual shifter also is added. The V-8 concept is then fitted with the ZL1′s rockers and rear diffusor, 20-inch wheels, a front splitter, and a sizeable number of further cosmetic enhancements, including metallic red graphics.

The interior is modified as well, and it is fitted with partially suede-covered seats and the ZL1′s racing-style, flat-bottom steering wheel. Stylistically, the V-8 concept comes close to the look of the ZL1 and surpasses it in some areas.

While these V-6 and V-8 concepts are unique to the SEMA show, Camaro customers can bring their car nearly inline with the concepts through the Chevrolet Performance parts catalog. Few cars are better suited for weekend racing on a budget than Chevy’s legendary rear-driver. The Camaro may be lacking in sophistication, but the power-to-dollar ratio illustrated by these concepts is tough to match.

Read full story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Tahs-KONNaU/

Bruce Kessler Nicolas Kiesa Leo Kinnunen Danny Kladis Hans Klenk

Motorsports This Week on ESPN

ESPN

NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series at Kansas

The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., this weekend with races on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20-21. ESPN will have a live telecast of Sunday’s 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the sixth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, with NASCAR Countdown at 1 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag at 2:16 p.m. Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race also airs on ESPN, with NASCAR Countdown at 3 p.m. and the green flag at 3:46 p.m. ESPN2 will have telecasts of practice and qualifying sessions for both series on Friday and Saturday (schedule below). All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets with the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com. The schedule:

Date	Time	Event	Network
Fri., Oct. 19	2 p.m.	NASCAR Nationwide Series practice	ESPN2
	3:30 p.m.	NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice	ESPN2
	5 p.m.	NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying	ESPN2
Sat., Oct. 20	11 a.m.	NASCAR Sprint Cup practice	ESPN2
	3 p.m.	*NASCAR Countdown*	ESPN
	3:30 p.m.	NASCAR Nationwide Series race	ESPN
Sun., Oct. 21	1 p.m.	*NASCAR Countdown*	ESPN
	2:16 p.m.	NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race	ESPN

Announcers:

Booth: Lap-by-Lap announcer Allen Bestwick (Sprint Cup); Marty Reid (Nationwide Series); analysts Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree.

Pit reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch.

NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe (host); Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham, Brad Daugherty (analysts).

NASCAR Now Schedule

ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will preview the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway in the one-hour edition airing Sunday, Oct. 21, at 9 a.m. ET. Host Jonathan Coachman will be joined in the studio by ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven with reporters Ryan McGee and Mike Massaro at the track. Coachman and Craven will review the race Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. The week’s schedule:

Date	Time	Show	Host	Network
Wed., Oct. 17	3 p.m.	NASCAR Now	Shannon Spake	ESPN2, WatchESPN
Thu., Oct. 18	3 p.m.	NASCAR Now	Shannon Spake	ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sat., Oct. 20	1:30 a.m.	NASCAR Now	Shannon Spake	ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sun., Oct. 21	9 a.m.	NASCAR Now	Jonathan Coachman	ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sun., Oct. 21	10:30 p.m.	NASCAR Now	Jonathan Coachman	ESPN2, WatchESPN
Mon., Oct. 22	3 p.m.	NASCAR Now	Marty Reid	ESPN2, WatchESPN

American Le Mans Series Season Ends with Petit Le Mans

One of the biggest races on the world sports car racing calendar will bring down the curtain on the 2012 season for the American Le Mans Series when the Petit Le Mans runs at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 20. The race will go for 1,000 miles or 10 hours, whichever comes first, and will air live on ESPN3 beginning at 11:15 a.m. ET. Highlights will air Sunday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. on ABC.

Also from Road Atlanta, qualifying for the event will air on ESPN3 on Friday, Oct. 19, at 1:50 p.m.

Motorsports on Other ESPN Platforms

ESPN.com – RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Sunday, Oct. 21, RacingLive! Kansas will coincide with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Fans can join ESPN.com’s NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live athttp://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/. ESPN.com motorsports writer Terry Blount will report from Kansas.

ESPN Radio – Each weekend morning, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay starts its engines at 6 a.m. ET with host Pat Patterson anchored from the site of that weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay listeners get an hour of news, previews and analysis, as well as profiles and interviews with NASCAR’s biggest names and newsmakers and the involvement of listeners via calls and e-mails.

Source: ESPN Communications, Press Release

The post Motorsports This Week on ESPN appeared first on Catchfence.

NASCAR - Sprint Cup - AAA Texas 500 Preview

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/31/2452746/nascar-sprint-cup-aaa-texas-500.html

Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green

VW Gives Vegas a Dose of Beetle Mania [2012 SEMA Show]

Volkswagen is celebrating this year’s SEMA show by reintroducing Beetle Mania to Las Vegas. The gang from Wolfsburg has brought six Beetles to the show, allowing a number of tuners to have their way with the latest VW icon. Follow the jump to check out the photos and more details from all of VW’s SEMA show cars.

VWvortex Super Beetle

Using the Golf R‘s all-wheel-drive platform, our friends at VWvortex have teamed up with APR to boost horsepower of the Beetle’s 2.0-liter turbo four to more than 500 hp in the Super Beetle you see above. The engine was extensively modified with high-strength connecting rods, bearings, pistons, and wrist pins. There is a high-flow cylinder head and intake manifold, a modified fuel system, a hi-po intercooler, and an upgraded ECU. Boost is provided from an APR Stage IV GTX turbocharger. The engine is mated to a manual transmission. The Super Beetle’s powertrain is matched by an H&R adjustable coil-over suspension, H&R motorsport bushings, H&R sport sway bars, and H&R front uprights designed for the Audi TT RS.

The Super Beetle’s interior is relatively modest, with Recaro sports seats as the biggest eye-catcher. Its exterior is covered in a Matte Azure Blue Metallic wrap and accentuated by 19-inch wheels. In what could be interpreted as a nod to the Beetle and Porsche 911′s common roots, VWvortex has designed a body kit with front and rear fascias that take styling cues directly from the Porsche 911 GT3; the Super Beetle lettering on the tailgate resembles that classic Porsche lettering as well.

Rotiform Beetle

Tuner Rotiform is going for a classic, customized look with large, concave wheels colored in red. Mirrors are glossy black, and a chrome strip is applied to the lower part of the doors. An air suspension system and a re-engineered rear axle are added in order to allow the Beetle to lay-frame. A Matte Gray Aluminum wrap enhances the desired, somewhat menacing look of the asphalt-kissing Rotiform Beetle.

European Car Magazine Beach-Battle Cruiser

European Car magazine has created a Beach-Battle Cruiser, following the concept of a Beetle for the beaches of California. Surfing is serious business, of course, and the military-inspired paint will gain you respect wherever the waves are breaking—just be sure to stay out of the sand with those 19-inch Fuchs Performance wheels and high-performance tires.

The powertrain is upgraded with a large Revo Technik turbocharger, new intake and exhaust systems, and a software upgrade, boosting horsepower to an estimated 400. Inside, the seats are upholstered in military green suede and leather. You wouldn’t want to soil such a precious interior after conquering Malibu Beach, and therefore, European Car has added a deployable shower system to keep the sand out of all those nooks and crannies.

FMS Modern Beetle

Tuner FMS Automotive has created a tasteful gray-and-black two-tone paint scheme, complete with a matte-black hood, for its Modern Beetle show car. TSW wheels, a slightly lowered suspension with H&R springs, and a dual-exhaust system provide not-so-subtle enhancements to an already sporty base car. We could do without the horizontal LED lights, however.

FMS Classic Beetle

As the yin to its Modern Beetle interpretation’s yang, FMS Automotive has restored a 1956 Beetle to perfection, and then added some more trick bits. It now features extensive bodywork, two-tone paint, a high-performance powertrain, and an upgraded chassis with four-wheel disc brakes and large aluminum wheels. The interior is fully clad in leather; headrests were deemed dispensable—which is fine by us, given this car’s purist approach.

GAS Chopped Top Beetle

Galpin Auto Sports has created a chopped-top Beetle with many ’50s and ’60s styling elements. Candy Apple Red metal flakes accentuate the Onyx Black paint job, and they are found on the dashboard as well. The roof is lowered by 5.5 inches at the A-pillar and 2.5 inches at the B-pillar and the windshield is steeply raked forming that classic chopped look. The all-American legend of chopped-top performance cars lives on in this interpretation of the Beetle.

Read full story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/4I5AiOpl4YQ/

Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings Brian Henton

Sadler, Stenhouse Set to Battle for Championship Points and Cowboy Hats

Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/11/01/sadler-stenhouse-set-to-battle-for-championship-points-and-cowboy-hats/

Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil

GLOBAL iPRINT NAMED OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF NHRA

NHRA
GLENDORA, Calif. Jan. 4, 2012

Global iPrint, a premier printing and distribution company, has signed a three-year agreement to become the "Official Print Sponsor" of NHRA.

Based in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Global iPrint offers a number of printing services including offset printing, digital printing, large-format printing, mailing services, bindery, specialty finishing and distribution. As the preferred printer, Global iPrint will provide a wide array of services to the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body. "Given the enormous printing needs of NHRA throughout the year, Global iPrint will be able to provide professional and timely printing capabilities for all of our applications," said Tony Driscoll, vice president of sales and business development of NHRA.

As part of the multi-year agreement, Global iPrint will provide exclusive incentives and programs for NHRA sponsors, teams and members in hopes to fully integrate its capabilities into the NHRA Drag Racing community. Global iPrint will receive advertising in National DRAGSTER as well as introductions by NHRA to the entire racing community.

"We are excited to get involved with all aspects of NHRA's business," said Brian Rozansky, president of Global iPrint. "Our mission is to create an atmosphere to encourage teamwork and challenge our people to consistently meet and exceed the expectations of our clients. Our core team has been involved in all facets of the printing industry since the early 70s and we want to bring our expertise, technology and industry innovations and advances to bear on behalf of the NHRA community."

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 23 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/01/global_iprint_named_offic.php

Graham Hill Phil Hill Peter Hirt David Hobbs Gary Hocking

Sandy Aftermath: Where Would You Reserve More Space for Buses and Bikes?

Pedestrians and cyclists flood the Brooklyn Bridge promenade during the 1980 transit strike. Wouldn't this picture look more balanced if one of those motor vehicle lanes was filled with people on bikes instead?

As the flood waters recede from New York City, it looks like the effects of Hurricane Sandy are going to linger in the city’s subway tunnels. MTA Chair Joe Lhota has called the storm the most devastating disaster to strike the subway system in its 108-year history.

All seven subway tunnels under the East River have flooded. So have several rail yards, though the MTA removed rolling stock to higher ground, preventing damage to subway cars. The exact extent of the damage to tracks, signals, and switches was unknown as of this morning, with Lhota telling WNYC that the MTA would have a firmer assessment later today.

At some platforms, the flooding is all the way up to the ceiling, Lhota said at an 11:30 press conference. The agency is currently in the process of pumping out the tunnels. While the subway system is out of service and gradually comes back online, Lhota said, “We’re going to use the bus system to complement and supplement” the subways.

Right now there is no definite timetable for restoring the subways. Speaking to the press this morning, Mayor Bloomberg said that he hoped some buses would be running this afternoon, with most bus service potentially resuming tomorrow. “Getting transit up and running is going to take more time and a lot of patience,” he said. “The damages they face really are enormous.”

At the 11:30 presser, Governor Cuomo said that the process of getting trains up and running will be “more about restoration of parts of the subway system first.” After the whole transit system is back online, he said, there will need to be a “long-term reconstruction effort,” referring to the region-wide process of recovery from the storm and flood damage.

For the immediate future, it seems, NYC will be without the main arteries of its transportation system, which means the city is going to have to wring more efficiency out of its surface streets.

In the past, large-scale transit disruptions have prompted officials to take innovative steps to keep New Yorkers moving. The 12-day transit strike in 1980 famously led to a surge in bike commuting, experiments in new bike infrastructure, and an ill-fated Koch administration proposal to compel single-occupancy vehicles to take the tolled crossings across the East River instead of the traffic-clogged free bridges.

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, the city for a time banned single-occupancy vehicles from entering Manhattan below 62nd Street, and bus-only lanes were implemented or expanded on Church Street in Lower Manhattan, in the Lincoln Tunnel, and on the Gowanus Expressway [PDF].

During the 2005 transit strike, the city’s plan called for tight HOV restrictions — allowing only cars with four or more passengers — on many highways and river crossings. The city also identified major north-south and east-west streets in Manhattan as “reserved streets” where only buses, emergency vehicles, commuter vans, and motorcycles were allowed.

As New Yorkers get back to work and resume our daily routines in the wake of the storm, we’re going to need innovative measures to keep us moving. Without the subways, most New Yorkers don’t have the option of driving to work, and if people who do own cars start driving solo, the streets will seize up. Dedicated space for buses, bikes, and high-occupancy vehicles will be essential.

In a press release, Transportation Alternatives recommended the following measures “to assist stranded New Yorkers and prevent gridlock”:

- Emergency Bus Lanes to allow swift transit throughout the City until subway service is restored.

- Emergency Street Reservations exclusively for the safe use of walkers, bikers and emergency vehicles.

- Off-Peak Bridge Biking and Walking Lanes to ensure sufficient safe space for people on foot and bicycle and prevent overcrowding on the bridges.

- Emergency Biking Lanes on well-used routes to enable safe mobility, including coned-off Midtown bike lanes.

- Bike Parking Stations and Temporary Bike Storage in major employment centers in Lower Manhattan including Foley Square, Union Square, Herald Square, Times Square, Washington Square Park and Bryant Park.

- High Occupancy Vehicle Requirements on crossings into the most congested areas of the city.

- Carpool Staging Areas offering parking and passenger pick-up locations in support of drivers sharing rides to meet the HOV requirements.

So, while we’re waiting for the official post-Sandy transport plan, let’s open this up. Where would you reserve more room for spatially-efficient transportation modes, Streetsblog readers?

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/30/sandy-aftermath-where-would-you-reserve-more-space-for-buses-and-bikes/

Jim Hurtubise Gus Hutchison Jacky Ickx Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Lorenzo gets title as Stoner dominates

Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, Phillip Island 2012 Jorge Lorenzo secured his second MotoGP world championship with second place behind runaway winner Casey Stoner in the Australian Grand Prix.

The title battle was effectively settled on lap two, when Lorenzo’s remaining championship rival Dani Pedrosa crashed out of the lead.

Polesitter Stoner had fallen from first to third off the line, as Lorenzo’s Yamaha burst to the front.

Determined to push for a fourth consecutive race win to try and close down Lorenzo’s 23-point advantage, Pedrosa thrust his Honda into the lead at the hairpin on the opening lap.

Lorenzo then lost out to Stoner’s sister Honda on the pits straight.

Given that Stoner had dominated the entire weekend so far, and with Honda not expected to impose team orders, it seemed only a matter of time before Pedrosa relinquished the lead.

Pushing hard to try and stay ahead, Pedrosa then lost his Honda’s front end and crashed after carrying too much speed into the hairpin on the second lap.

He picked his bike up and trundled disconsolately back to the pits.

There was no longer any need for Lorenzo to even try and chase Stoner – who was clearly in another league anyway.

In his penultimate MotoGP start before retiring, Stoner was able to secure his sixth consecutive home victory by a comfortable margin, as Lorenzo easily took the second place he required.

Cal Crutchlow made an early break from the pack behind to secure a lonely third.

His Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Andrea Dovizioso had to fight much harder for fourth, only defeating Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl after a huge race-long dice.

Valentino Rossi led the uncompetitive Ducatis home in seventh.

Aleix Espargaro very narrowly beat Aspar team-mate Randy de Puniet to top CRT honours in 10th place.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/lorenzo-gets-title-as-stoner-dominates

Jimmy Jackson Joe James John James Jean Pierre Jarier Max Jean

Red Bull’s dominance ‘track-specific’

Red Bull India 2012 McLaren believes that different track characteristics could be enough to wipe out Red Bull’s advantage at the front of the field, as it targets ending its rival’s dominant streak.

Sebastian Vettel has won the last four grands prix, and the extent of the advantage he has enjoyed in recent races has prompted some to suggest that he could win all the remaining races this season.

But McLaren sporting director Sam Michael thinks that the competitive situation is more flexible than recent results suggest.

“The performance can swing from one track to another by a couple of tenths,” he explained.

“There are two or three tenths in terms of qualifying and, if you have that performance from [starting on] the front row, then you have a better chance.

“So if no one upgraded cars, there would still be a reasonable chance you can have a go at [Red Bull].

“But in terms of the overall championship it is quite different, because they need to have DNFs for people to take the title, and the chances of that happening are pretty slim.”

Michael believes that the fact the F1 field is so competitive means that no team can be confident about its chances on any track.

“There is a swing from one circuit to another, and it is not to do with the developments you put on the car,” he said.

“In days gone by, when you had a one second advantage over other cars, you could be confident you would not get those trends.

“But now there are no favourite tracks, so you don’t know if you are going to be competitive until you get there.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/red-bulls-dominance-track-specific

Geki Olivier Gendebien Marc Gené Elmer George Bob Gerard

Shifter Issues Plague Casey Mears and GEICO Racing Team at Charlotte

Casey Mears - Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR

CONCORD, N.C. (October 14, 2012) – In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, things can change in a blink of an eye. Last week at Talladega Superspeedway, Casey Mears drove his way to the front of the field, leading laps and placing his No. 13 GEICO Ford in position for the win. Fast-forward seven days and Mears is plagued by shifter issues for the majority of Saturday night’s 500-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and relegated to a 29th-place finish.

On Thursday night, Mears took to the track for his qualifying effort. After clocking a lap of 28.417 seconds, the GEICO Ford was placed in the 27th starting position for Saturday night’s event under the lights.

The green flag flew shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET and quickly Mears gained eight positions within the first two laps to move into the top-20. Three cautions slowed the pace during the first 40 laps and Mears brought his Ford to pit road for fresh tires, fuel, and adjustments to help with the handling.

The veteran driver looked to move forward but the Germain Racing Ford was tight on entry and exit, hindering his drive through the corner. A lengthy caution-free period ensued, forcing Mears to come to pit road for green flag stops.

On lap 165, Mears reported to Crew Chief Bootie Barker that the No. 13 GEICO Ford had all of sudden become extremely tight. Despite the handling condition, Mears’ lap times remained consistent, allowing the team to make the decision to stay out and not pit. A timely caution came just a few laps later, giving Mears the opportunity to visit pit road for fresh tires and fuel.

While running inside the top-25, Mears’ shifter handle came off, transforming a simple task into a challenging one. The GEICO Ford was stuck in fourth gear for restarts and leaving pit road, causing the Ford to not achieve maximum speed quickly. Another green flag run consumed the final 100 laps, giving the team little time to help fix the shifter issue. As the checkered flag flew on the 334-lap event, Mears crossed the finish line in the 29th position.

“It was a tough night for us,” said Mears, after the race. “The GEICO Ford was definitely better than practice, but we still needed a little more. Our night went downhill when the shifter broke just past halfway. The car was stuck in fourth gear so restarts and getting off pit road were tough. There are only a few more weeks left this season and I’m looking forward to finishing strong.”

The GEICO Racing team will head to Kansas Speedway for an open test prior to the race on Sunday, October 21st. The Hollywood Casino 400 will begin at 1 p.m. ET and can be seen live on ESPN. MRN Radio and Sirius XM Radio will also have the live radio broadcast.

For an inside look at Casey Mears and the GEICO team, please visit: www.CaseyMearsRacing.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

Please visit the Casey Mears Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/caseymearsracing

Source: Player Management International, Inc., for GEICO Racing, Press Release

The post Shifter Issues Plague Casey Mears and GEICO Racing Team at Charlotte appeared first on Catchfence.

Team Honda Research - West and Rimicci Corse Prepare for the USAF 25 Hours of Thunderhill

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. (October 30, 2012) - The United States Air Force 25 Hours of Thunderhill race is just over a month away with plenty of high profile entries preparing for the twice around the clock plus one hour race to be run at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California on December 8-9. Two exciting entries are the Team Honda Research - West Acura ILX and the Rimicci Corse Fiat 500 Abarth.

ACURA ILX Team Honda Research - West, located in Los Angeles, is building a pair of Acura ILX cars for the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill. The build was completed in time for this week's Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas.

Calvin Liu, Team Honda Research - West project leader, created the build plan and schedule early in the year as the team not-so-patiently waited for the cars to arrive. Once the new chassis and donor cars arrived in late summer, the bodies were prepped and painted. Next, the roll cages were installed. Once the team received the donor cars from Acura Public Relations, the work began in earnest. Following the primal fun of tearing down the donor cars, the suspension, powertrain, interior and electronics were fitted to the two new white-body chassis.

"Team Honda Research - West, with support from American Honda and HPD, has entered two Acura ILX cars to highlight the performance credentials of the new entry level Acura," Liu said. "Team members from Honda R&D, American Honda Motor Company, Honda Access America and Honda Performance Development (HPD) have been contributing many after-work hours, including weekends, to build the two cars. The team has completed two shakedown tests of the first ILX at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, and a third, more extensive test at Willow Springs International Raceway prior to delivering one of the cars for display at SEMA in Las Vegas."

Liu likes the challenge that running Thunderhill Raceway for 25 hours provides to car and driver.

"We are racing in the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill because the track layout offers a great blend of speed, handling, and braking. It is a grueling event that taxes all parts of the car and team, like engine, transmission, suspension, and strategy. While we could go out and just run a test all by ourselves and get the mileage, Honda thrives on competition. It is one thing to say you did all this testing, but it is another to conquer the elements, show mechanical durability and speed, and to measure yourself against the competition."

Honda has a rich history at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill. With entries ranging from individual Honda associate-run teams to full, HPD-supported efforts such as the Honda CRZ hybrid program of 2010, Honda-affiliated teams have been on the grid of every 25 Hours of Thunderhill since 2003.

Rimicci Fiat 500 Rimicci Corse, based in Northridge, Calif., has built a Fiat 500 Abarth to compete in the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Anthony Rimicci, team principal, is utilizing the two-day event as a part of the development program for the car. Rimicci will partner with GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge driver and 25-hour veteran Johnny Kanavas, brother and Alfa Romeo racer Fabrizio Rimicci, and longtime vintage racing friend Efrain Olivares in hopes that the Abarth will somehow survive the longest endurance race in the world.
Rimicci Abarth
Anthony Rimicci with Rimicci Corse Fiat Abarth 500.

"One great thing about being Italian is that you have a huge family, which means you have a lot of people you can ask for help," said Rimicci. "Also, it means we'll have an espresso machine in our trailer to keep the guys going through the night. The 25 Hour will be a big challenge, but we also expect it to be a lot of fun. We can't think of a better scenario to test the Abarth under race conditions and really push its limits. There are a lot of parts that have been built specifically for the car and we really want to put them to the test to get ready for next season."

Jerry Kunzman, NASA Executive Director, likes the mix of privateer and "skunk work" factory teams that populate the diverse grid for the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

"There is a nice mix of top privateer, semi-factory and full factory backed entries for the 25 Hours," Kunzman said. "The teams with factory affiliation look forward to competing with the best privateer teams the sport has to offer. The Team Honda Research - West guys are no strangers to the 25 Hours. They have been with us since the first one in 2003. Rimicci has a very interesting Fiat 500. I am looking forward to seeing that great looking car on the track come December."

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/10/team_honda_research_-_wes.php

Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson Gimax Richie Ginther

Today’s Headlines

Bloomberg at NACTO: Pedestrians, Cyclists, Transit as Important as Drivers (CapNY, Post)
Expect BusTime to Roll Out in the Bronx This Week (SAS)
Increased Tax Collections Will Not Be Enough to Prevent MTA Fare Hike (Observer)
De Blasio Takes in the City Through His Windshield (NYT)
Hell’s Kitchen Neighbors Want to Reclaim Sidewalk From Illegal Restaurant Enclosures (Post)
Turning MTA Express Bus Driver Crushes 84-Year-Old’s Foot on UES (News)
Somehow, a Wrong-Way Car Crash by Alleged Robbers Fleeing Police Is Still an “Accident” (NY1)
NYT: Barclays Brings More Yellow Cabs to Brooklyn; AYR: What About the Black Car Idling?
Many Islanders Fans Will Probably Shift to Transit to Get to Barclays Center (NYT)
Is This the Laziest Hit Job Against Bike “Lanes” From the Post Yet? (Post)
Breaking: Joggers Run in Bike Lanes; It’s Annoying to Cyclists and Dangerous for All (Bklyn Paper)

More headlines at Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/29/todays-headlines-1505/

Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen

Official: Tesla Model S wins Automobile car of the year [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Tesla, Electric

Automobile Magazine recently spent the better part of three days getting to know 28 of the latest and greatest cars on the market to pick its Automobile of the Year, and today it announced that the 2012 Tesla Model S was given this coveted award. As much as the all-electric Model S means to the automotive world, we'd be surprised if it doesn't snag a lot more hardware in the next few months.

The Model S beat out cars like the 2013 Cadillac ATS, 2013 Ford Fusion, 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 2013 BMW M5 with its sleek design, luxurious and tech-filled interior and, of course, its unique electric powertrain that offers both an incredible all-electric range and equally eye-popping performance.

To narrow down the top candidates for the award, Automobile took all the cars out for two days of road testing and then spent another day at Gingerman Raceway in Western Michigan, and the performance aspect of the Model S seemed to surprise and/or impress a lot of the magazine's staff more than anything else. To prove how fast the car is, they did a drag race to 100 miles per hour with the Tesla and the new M5, and the Model S won. The 265-mile driving range and 17-inch touch-screen display won points for the car, too.

Scroll down for a quick video from Automobile that goes into detail why its staff chose the Model S, and shows some great driving shots of the car as well. We've also put together a gallery with the Model S and the nine other cars that made the short list for the award, so be sure to check them out below.

Continue reading Tesla Model S wins Automobile car of the year [w/video]

Tesla Model S wins Automobile car of the year [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/01/tesla-model-s-wins-automobile-car-of-the-year-w-video/

Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV

Why I Love NASCAR: Tony Stewart by Chief 187™

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/10/why-i-love-nascar-tony-stewart-by-chief.html

Gimax Richie Ginther Yves Giraud Cabantous Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock

2013 Toyota Avalon First Drive: Less “Get Off My Lawn” Than Before

In 1994, Toyota wrote a love letter to the AARP and called it Avalon. A stretched Camry, the Avalon replicated the classic American car with a vast rear seat, a column shifter, and a front bench seat. Even the name served up a warm bowl of nostalgia, simultaneously conjuring up the old movie house on Main Street, Hugh Downs, and a backrub from Jessica Tandy. Soft, comfortable, and spacious, the Avalon chased the Big Three right down the big-car rabbit hole. READ MORE››

Read full story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/DVjp-59NW3E/2013-toyota-avalon-first-drive-review

Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt Nico Hülkenberg Denny Hulme James Hunt

Ferrari: No point crying over RBR pace

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali says there is no point in his team ‘crying’ over the fact it does not have the fastest car in Formula 1 at the moment.

After losing further ground to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel at the Indian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s lead driver Fernando Alonso is 13 points behind his rival with just three races remaining.

At the moment, Ferrari appears to have no response to Red Bull’s charge, but Domenicali says there is reason to feel encouraged his team can make steps – especially because for the first time in a while all the updates that the team brought to a race worked.

“It is clear at the moment that Red Bull has a better car,” he said. “But what can we say? We cannot cry. We need to work hard, full stop.

“By saying that they are stronger we don’t have to change the approach we keep in house.

“I have said to my team, ‘listen, in 1982 in the World Cup of football, our team [Italy] was not the strongest, but we won the title’.

“We have the luxury of having Fernando with us, who is the number one driver, so it is something we will do and fight up until the end.”

Despite what appears to be an increasingly difficult championship situation, Alonso remains ’100 per cent’ convinced that he will still win the title.

When asked if he shared Alonso’s optimism, Domenicali said: “I am always optimistic. In life it doesn’t change to be negative, it doesn’t give you points.

“If you have the right approach with the guys, we can maximise what we have. This is what I have told my people.

“When you are fighting you have to be brave to use the things you have in the best way you can.

“There are also the others who are fighting, and we have to respect them. But their life will not be easy until the end.”

Domenicali has, however, refused to make any bold claims about Ferrari’s potential for upgrades over the forthcoming races, as he says all that matters is what is delivered on track.

“If I say something it doesn’t change what we can do,” he said. “What I say to my people is try to do the best and we see if what we can do is enough to make sure we improve the car.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/ferrari-no-point-crying-over-rbr-pace

François Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill Phil Hill

Schumacher hopes lessons learned

Mercedes Michael Schumacher India Michael Schumacher hopes that Mercedes at least learnt something from its dreadful Indian Grand Prix.

The soon-to-retire Formula 1 legend had one of the worst races of his record-shattering career at Buddh last weekend.

Schumacher picked up a puncture from first-lap contact with Jean-Eric Vergne, was later investigated for allegedly impeding Romain Grosjean while being lapped, and was on course for only 18th place when he withdrew with gearbox issues near the finish.

Mercedes’ tough weekend was completed by Schumacher’s team-mate Nico Rosberg finishing outside the points in 11th.

Schumacher said the upcoming Abu Dhabi GP was normally one of his highlights of the season – so he was keen to learn from last weekend’s disasters and turn things around at Yas Marina.

“The facilities there are state of the art, very modern and very attractive,” he said.

“The timing of the race makes it even more appealing: it’s something quite special and uniquely fun to race from day into night.

“Admittedly, ‘fun’ is not exactly the right word to describe the race I had on Sunday in India.

“However, I hope that what we learned about our car across the weekend can be translated into something positive in Abu Dhabi.”

Mercedes has not scored any points since September’s Singapore GP.

Team boss Ross Brawn acknowledged that such form was way below the team’s expectations, but remained confident its development efforts would pay off before the end of 2012.

“Our team has had a challenging time during the season-ending flyaway races so far,” he acknowledged.

“However, we are continuing to work hard on improving our performance, while also taking the opportunity to look at developments which will be relevant next season.

“We would like to end the season on a positive note, and hope to have a stronger result this weekend.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/schumacher-hopes-lessons-learned

Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne

McLaren hindered by soft tyre issues

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren McLaren believes a lack of speed on the soft tyre ruined its chances of landing a podium finish in the Indian Grand Prix.

The team had gone in to the race convinced that Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button would be able to challenge Red Bull for victory if they got away well at the start.

But in the end the duo slipped behind Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari and lost ground during the opening stint, before a switch on to the hard compound produced a lift in form that helped Hamilton close in on third-placed Mark Webber by the end.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said that the tyre characteristic meant the one-stop nature of the race left his outfit with little chance.

“We blistered the option tyre, so we were slow on it,” he explained. “By the time we had got on to the prime we were the quickest cars consistently.

“But, by that stage, we had lost too much time – and in fact Jenson had fallen behind [Romain] Grosjean. So the bottom line is that we did not have the pace on the option tyre.

“In truth we struggled with the option all weekend, as you know. We got on to the second row with a bit of a struggle with underlying reasonable pace. It is disappointing we were close to getting on the podium but not quite.”

Despite the disappointment with the overall result, Whitmarsh did think McLaren’s change of Lewis Hamilton’s steering wheel mid-race was excellent.

On the back of a suspected problem with the steering wheel, the team executed a change of it and all four wheels in just 3.1 seconds.

“He had some mis-shifts and we believe that the rocker, the pivot, was sticking,” said Whitmarsh. “I was initially dead against changing the steering wheel as I wanted the drivers to persevere, but we felt we had enough time to do it.

“Our time on it was 3.1 seconds so it wasn’t bad, but I would not want to do it routinely because it can easily go wrong.

“I think Lewis had the wheel off before the car stopped, and he had to put it in neutral. Getting the wheel off is normally not the most difficult bit; it is getting it back on that is as there are lots of electrical connections.

“So for the guys to do a 3.1-second stop time, and change the steering wheel, I hope we don’t do it routinely, but it went well.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/mclaren-hindered-by-soft-tyre-issues

Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez