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Monday, November 5, 2012

Hamilton beats Webber to pole

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Lewis Hamilton halted Red Bull’s run of qualifying dominance with a commanding run to pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It was a disappointing qualifying session for both Formula 1′s title contenders, with Sebastian Vettel only third behind Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber – but far better off than his Ferrari rival Fernando Alonso, who lines up only seventh.

McLaren driver Hamilton had been quickest in two of the three Yas Marina practice sessions, led Q1 and Q2, then produced a 1m40.630s early in Q3 to immediately put himself 0.4 seconds clear of his opposition.

A second pole shot might have been faster still, but once it became clear that Hamilton’s rivals had no answer to his pace, the Briton backed off and pitted.

Webber’s 1m40.978s pushed Vettel off the front row. The points leader, hampered by a substantial loss of practice mileage, had pushed hard throughout qualifying – brushing a barrier in Q1, flying over kerbs in Q2, and then stopping on track after his unsuccessful final flying lap in Q3.

Pastor Maldonado delivered the strong Williams qualifying result he had promised by grabbing fourth on the grid.

Kimi Raikkonen improved to fifth for Lotus on his second Q3 run, with Jenson Button making similar gains to take sixth. Button had been as low as ninth at one stage, but a five-place and 0.6s gap to McLaren team-mate Hamilton will not please the 2009 champion.

Alonso held fourth after the early Q3 runs, only to be shoved down to a potentially costly seventh as others improved. His team-mate Felipe Massa starts ninth, ahead of Romain Grosjean’s Lotus.

Nico Rosberg made just one run in Q3 and initially held fifth, before falling to eighth when his rivals came out again. Rosberg’s performance was a boost for Mercedes on what had looked like being another disappointing weekend. His team-mate Michael Schumacher was only 14th, amid mutual apologies from team to driver over the radio.

Force India and Sauber could not reach the top 10 this time. Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez filled row six, with Paul di Resta 13th in his new chassis and Kamui Kobayashi six tenths down on Perez in 16th after locking up on his last lap.

Bruno Senna’s run of tepid qualifying performances continued with 15th, 0.4s slower than Williams team-mate Maldonado in Q2.

Having appeared to conquer his qualifying problems in the summer, Jean-Eric Vergne notched up his second straight Q1 exit – and his eighth of the year – in Abu Dhabi. The recently re-signed Toro Rosso driver was on course to make the cut before spinning. He pushed on for another lap, but his abused tyres had no more pace to offer. Vergne’s team-mate Daniel Ricciardo brought up the rear of the Q2 field in 17th.

Marussia pushed Caterham hard in the battle at the tail of the field. Although Heikki Kovalainen emerged in front again, he was only a tenth ahead of Charles Pic.

Vitaly Petrov was right in the fight in the second Caterham too, but Timo Glock was puzzled by a relative lack of speed from his Marussia as he beat only the back-row dwelling HRTs.

Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m40.630s
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m40.978s + 0.348
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m41.073s + 0.443
4. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m41.226s + 0.596
5. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m41.260s + 0.630
6. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m41.290s + 0.660
7. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m41.582s + 0.952
8. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m41.603s + 0.973
9. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m41.723s + 1.093
10. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m41.778s + 1.148
Q2 cut-off time: 1m41.907s Gap **
11. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m42.019s + 1.118
12. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m42.084s + 1.183
13. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m42.218s + 1.317
14. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m42.289s + 1.388
15. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m42.330s + 1.429
16. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m42.606s + 1.705
17. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m42.765s + 1.864
Q1 cut-off time: 1m43.582s Gap *
18. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m44.058s + 2.561
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m44.956s + 3.459
20. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m45.089s + 3.592
21. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m45.151s + 3.654
22. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m45.426s + 3.929
23. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m45.766s + 4.269
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m46.382s + 4.885

107% time: 1m48.601s

* Gap to quickest in Q1

** Gap to quickest in Q2

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/hamilton-beats-webber-to-pole

Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V

Hulkenberg ‘had nowhere to go’

Nico Hulkenberg Force India Bruno Senna Williams 2012 Abu Dhabi GP

Nico Hulkenberg says he had nowhere to go in the first-corner accident that put him out of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Force India driver was squeezed by team-mate Paul di Resta and Bruno Senna’s Williams approaching Turn 1. The resultant contact spun Senna and left Hulkenberg’s car being too damaged to continue.

Hulkenberg had started from 11th position, but a bad start meant he dropped into the middle of the chasing pack.

“I made quite a bad start and had a poor run going into the first corner. Then I just got sandwiched by the cars around me go,” Hulkenberg said.

“I think there was my team-mate, a Sauber and a Williams around me, and there was not enough space.

“I tried to back out of it, but it was too late. There was contact between the cars and that was my race over.”

Di Resta suffered a puncture in the accident and was forced to pit at the end of the first lap.

The safety car periods helped the British driver recover to ninth by the finish.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/hulkenberg-had-nowhere-to-go

Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya

Muller penalised for Menu collision

Yvan Muller Alain Menu Chevrolet WTCC Shanhghai 2012

Yvan Muller’s World Touring Car title hopes have taken a huge blow after the Frenchman was stripped of his podium finish in the second Shanghai race on Sunday.

While battling for the lead of the race the three-time world champion hit his Chevrolet team-mate Alain Menu, pushing the Swiss driver wide and costing both time.

After investigating the incident post-race, the event stewards decided that Muller had caused an avoidable incident and added 30 seconds to his race time in lieu of a drive-through penalty.

The penalty drops Muller to 12th in the results and out of the points.

With Rob Huff in the third factory Cruze winning the race and Menu inheriting second, Muller is now third in the championship, 41 points behind Huff and 35 adrift of Menu with just 55 available from the Macau finale in a fortnight.

Additionally, five drivers have been penalised for gaining an advantage by cutting the chicane to avoid a first-race pile-up that also involved Muller.

The highest-placed driver to suffer was Tom Boardman, who drops from sixth to 12th because of a 30s penalty. Tiago Monteiro’s seventh place becomes 13th while SEAT privateers Fredy Barth and Hugo Valente fall from 10th and 15th to 14th and 16th.

James Nash, who retired, was also penalised.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/wtcc/muller-penalised-for-menu-collision

Al Keller Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel Bruce Kessler

Your guide to the AAA 500

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/03/2461325/your-guide-to-the-aaa-500.html

Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould

Pressure-free Lorenzo wants home win

Jorge Lorenzo is determined to return to the top step of the MotoGP podium in the Valencia finale now the title pressure is off him.

The Spaniard sealed his second premier class championship last time out at Phillip Island, finishing second behind a dominant Casey Stoner.

That continued his record of finishing inside the top two in every race bar Assen, when he was wiped out at the first corner, but he has not win a grand prix since Misano in September.

Lorenzo says he aims to enjoy competing without having to worry about the championship, with victory his primary goal after months of watching the points.

“This is the last round of the season, [and] it’s a great feeling to be coming home to my Spanish fans as the world champion,” he explained.

“It’s been a long, tough year and we have all worked so hard to get here.

“Now this weekend will be one to enjoy for all of us with less pressure.

“I will of course still be pushing for the top step of the podium – it would be amazing to end the year with a victory.”

Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli hailed Lorenzo’s achievement, but said the team’s joy was tempered by the fact Ben Spies will miss what was due to be his final race with Yamaha.

Ben Spies The American, who has agreed a switch onto Ducati machinery for 2013, will miss Valencia due to the injuries that also ruled him out of Phillip Island.

As AUTOSPORT reported last weekend, he will be replaced by test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga.

“It’s with mixed emotions that we come to the last race of the year,” Meregalli admitted.

“We are obviously overjoyed to be world champions, a very deserved title after all the hard work Jorge and the team have put in to get there.

“On the other hand it is a great shame we won’t have Ben with us for what would have been his final appearance for Yamaha.

“We wish him well with his recovery in the US and we welcome Nakasuga-san back into the team for this round.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/pressure-free-lorenzo-wants-home-win

Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi Naoki Hattori Paul Hawkins Mike Hawthorn

Perez: Sauber has pace to make Q3

Sergio Perez Sauber Abu Dhabi Sergio Perez believes Sauber has the pace to make it into Q3 on Saturday after finishing in the top 10 in the second practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Mexican, who has not finished in the points since the Singapore Grand Prix, was 10th quickest in FP2 after what he labelled as a positive day.

“For me it was a good day,” said Perez, who has qualified in the top 10 twice in the past three races.

“We have completed our entire planned programme, so in this respect it was very positive.

“I am comfortable with the balance of the car and, therefore, I think my position in the second session is pretty much what we are capable of here.

“This means Q3 is possible.”

Team-mate Kamui Kobayashi endured a more difficult day as he struggled with the balance of his car, finishing down in 16th place.

“I definitely have to work and improve the balance of the car,” he said. “At the moment it isn’t right in any regard, but it is only day one in Abu Dhabi.

“The track’s grip normally improves a lot here, which might also help. Today I didn’t really manage to get the tyres to work.

“However, on long runs I don’t see any issues with either the soft or medium compounds in terms of degradation.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/perez-sauber-has-pace-to-make-q3

Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings Brian Henton

Report: Honda to share platforms, facilities with Proton

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

Honda and Malaysia's Proton have signed an agreement to work together, but before we go and start dreaming about a Lotus-derived Honda S2000 successor, Automotive News Europe breaks down what the deal could mean for both automakers. Proton (parent company of Lotus) has been trying to build a relationship with bigger automakers (including Volkswagen) since being acquired by DRB-Hicom back in January, but this agreement with Honda could be a great opportunity for the rebuilding automaker to grow.

According to the article, it is likely that the two companies could share production facilities and even vehicle platforms, and it also says that the deal could help Proton boost its export capability. Since Honda already has a plant in Malaysia, which is currently being expanded to build the new Jazz Hybrid, it isn't clear how the Japanese automaker will benefit from the deal. That said, DRB-Hicom is already involved in many areas of the automobile industry and builds Mercedes-Benz, Suzuki and Volkswagen cars in Malaysia.

Honda to share platforms, facilities with Proton originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/04/honda-to-share-platforms-facilities-with-proton/

Billy Garrett Jo Gartner Tony Gaze Geki Olivier Gendebien

Ford’s Show-Car Onslaught Includes Two Escapes and One Explorer [2012 SEMA Show]

Ford created customized versions of what seems like nearly every car in its current lineup for the 2012 SEMA show, and these two Escapes and one Explorer Sport continue the parade.

2013 Ford Escape 2.0L EcoBoost by Heide Performance Products

Heide Performance Products’ Ford Escape project (pictured above) began as a front-drive mid-level SE model with the turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, but received a total performance overhaul. First, power is increased by way of a modified exhaust sourced from the Focus ST—which uses a variant of the Escape’s 2.0-liter engine—while the suspension benefits from a 1.5-inch drop and Eibach springs. The Escape now rides on 20-inch Forgiato wheels, and HPP wisely spec’d EBC high-performance brake pads at all four corners to help stop all that rolling inertia. HPP also butched-up the Escape’s body with an aggressive front fascia, wheel-arch extensions that match up to widened rocker panels, a rear spoiler, and a rear bumper that integrates the Focus ST’s center-exit exhaust. Inside, the seats have been custom-upholstered in leather and suede.

2013 Ford Escape 2.0L EcoBoost by VACCAR

VACCAR is calling its modified Escape the “Urban Escape Adventurer,” and says the crossover balances upscale comfort with rugged off-road utilities. We’re not sure about the off-road utilities part—the rig’s vestigial brush guard looks like a retainer falling out of the Escape’s mouth—but we can’t deny this Escape’s undeniable cool factor. Cool-looking Battleship Grey paint has been applied, and the UEA also has a K&N intake, an ECU reflash, and a VACCAR prototype exhaust. The cabin is classed up with custom two-tone Ostrich-leather and MB Quart audio bits, while the exterior is completed by black 18-inch whels and a Thule roof cargo basket.

2013 Ford Explorer Sport by Forgiato

At first blush, the Forgiato Explorer Sport doesn’t look ridiculously customized, but in fact it boasts a rather subtle makeover. Look closely, and you should spot the crossover’s wide-body kit provided by TS Designs and special Pearl White paint. Of course, you’d be blind as a bat if you didn’t see the enormous 26-inch Forgiato wheels, and the interior has been worked over with black and white Top Stitch upholstery. Okay, so maybe it is ridiculously customized, after all.

Read full story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/z7sEyjVsY6w/

Gus Hutchison Jacky Ickx Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue

Video: Jimmie Johnson And Brad Keselowski Battle Door-To-Door At Texas

Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/11/04/video-jimmie-johnson-and-brad-keselowski-battle-door-to-door-at-texas/

Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson

Video: Lexus rolls out new LS campaign, touts F Sport model

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Lexus

Cue the camera and step into the life you think you deserve.

That's the message from the new ad campaign for the Lexus LS, in which imaginary young LS owners jet-set around the globe attending fashion shows and parking their LS sedans on the roof for a cup of Joe. It's a little cheesy, but in fairness, any commercial that attempts to define a lifestyle by a vehicle tends to be that way. Now walk down that red carpet and note how bad the valet service is at the end of the piece.

The commercial, aptly named Flashbulbs, touts the new Lexus flagship and features the all-new Lexus LS F SPORT model. (You know it's sporty because Lexus made the word sport all caps.)

The sport campaign by Lexus is going to continue as the brand attempts to move away from its older owners and grab some customers who aren't hitting the early-bird special at the local diner. A second spot, Paddleshifters, continues the campaign, taking our couple on even more interesting adventures with every upshift.

Scroll down to see the Flashbulb commercial and read the full press release.

Continue reading Lexus rolls out new LS campaign, touts F Sport model

Lexus rolls out new LS campaign, touts F Sport model originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/lexus-rolls-out-new-ls-campaign-touts-f-sport-model/

Cecil Green Keith Greene Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard

Johnson forces Keselowski to settle for 2nd

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/04/2462214/johnson-forces-keselowski-to-settle.html

Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Raikkonen Wins, Hamilton DNF In Spectacular Grand Prix

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/11/raikkonen-wins-hamilton-dnf-in.html

Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr

Video: Global RallyCross comes to Vegas with SEMA [UPDATE]

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Videos, Racing

Tanner Foust Global RallyCross Las Vegas

Global RallyCross is an interesting motorsport. Beginning in 2010 at the X Games, the series races on short tracks made partly of asphalt and partly of dirt, along with a signature variation called the Joker Lap, in which drivers are required to take an alternate, slightly longer route that generally incorporates a 70-foot gap jump.

The final event for the 2012 season took place just across the street from the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and those of us covering the event for Autoblog scored a birds-eye view of the track from our hotel rooms. Fortunately for those who weren't able to attend, X Games decided to upload the entire final to YouTube.

For those keeping track, Tanner Foust took the victory, clinching the Global RallyCross Championship for the second year in a row. The race had to be restarted after Ken Block's car started billowing ominous-looking black smoke from underhood.

If you're interested, GoPro stitched together a brief video reel of highlights, along with some skate footage from an empty pool, from driver Bucky Lasek. Both videos are available for your viewing pleasure down below.

UPDATE: We've also added a video from Driving Sports showing RallyCross action in slow motion.

Continue reading Global RallyCross comes to Vegas with SEMA [UPDATE]

Global RallyCross comes to Vegas with SEMA [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/02/global-rallycross-comes-to-vegas-with-sema/

William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick

Smoke Signals: Newman, Borland Reunite at Martinsville

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/10/smoke-signals-newman-borland-reunite-at.html

Richie Ginther Yves Giraud Cabantous Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glöckler

Alonso got ‘maximum from the car’

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari Fernando Alonso believes he extracted every bit of speed possible from his Ferrari as he struggled to seventh on the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

As a tough weekend for the world championship contender and his team continued, Alonso saw his initial provisional fourth place in the Yas Marina starting line-up become seventh as others improved. His Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa is only ninth.

Alonso’s title rival Sebastian Vettel, who currently holds a 13-point lead with three rounds remaining in the 2012 Formula 1 title race, starts third.

“I think we were not competitive today, but myself, personally, I’m happy with the performance in qualifying,” said Alonso.

“We extracted the maximum from the car.

“I did a 1m41.5s in Q2, a 1m41.5s on my first lap in Q3 and a 1m41.5s on my second lap in Q3. I think I could do the lap 100 times and do a 1m41.5s each time because that was the maximum today.

“Unfortunately there were six people faster than us.”

Having progressed from fifth on the grid to second in last weekend’s Indian GP, Alonso is optimistic he will gain ground in the Abu Dhabi race as well.

“Normally the pace improves on Sunday so I hope that will be the case,” he said.

* Click here to follow the latest news about Ferrari’s upgrades and all the other technical developments in AUTOSPORT’s new rolling F1 Tech Blog

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/alonso-got-maximum-from-the-car

Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris

Davison sweeps to poles hat-trick

Will Davison swept to a hat-trick of pole positions for V8 Supercars’ Abu Dhabi triple-header with a scintillating late rally in qualifying.

A single session was used to determine the grid for all three races, with second and third fastest times being used to set the second and third races. On all three counts, Davison was top.

It wasn’t until the final minutes, however, that he really made his charge, with the initial running instead being set by championship leader Jamie Whincup.

The Triple 8 Holden man had carried on his practice form to top the timesheets early on, before pulling seven tenths clear of the field with six minutes to run.

Davison was one of several who had pitted for fresh rubber at the time however, and once out his response was immediate.

His first lap carried him to within four hundredths of Whincup, before his second flyer – a 2m11.766s – earned him and the FPR Ford squad pole.

His second and third fastest laps meanwhile also proved good enough for pole, earning him a qualifying clean sweep.

Whincup hung on to second, just over one tenth of a second down the road.

He will start from the same place in both the second and third contests.

Three tenths of a second further back Shane van Gisbergen (Stone Brothers Ford) hung on to third after a late battle with stablemates Tim Slade and Lee Holdsworth.

Holdsworth, slowest of the trio in fifth, will therefore share the third row of the opening race with the HRT Holden of Garth Tander.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/davison-sweeps-to-poles-hat-trick

Brian Gubby André Guelfi Miguel Ángel Guerra Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin

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

Mike Hailwood Mika Häkkinen Bruce Halford Jim Hall Duncan Hamilton

MATT ARTIN JOINS NHRA AS DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS

NHRA
GLENDORA, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2012)

NHRA announced today that Matt Artin, an eight-year veteran in media planning, advertising and promotions, has joined the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body as director of advertising and promotions.

"We are excited to bring someone of Matt's caliber to NHRA to spearhead our advertising and promotions for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series," said Glen Cromwell, vice president of national event marketing, NHRA.

As director of advertising and promotions, Artin will work in partnership with national event track owners and operators on all advertising and promotions for the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. His primary and day-to-day focus will be to increase ticket sales at national events through creative and innovative strategies designed to reach the core as well as a broader fan base.

Artin comes to NHRA from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he spent the last six years as a senior marketing manager. In that capacity, he played an integral role in brand management, advertising, ticket sales marketing, game entertainment, special events and promotions. During his tenure with the Angels, he maintained a strong relationship with Major League Baseball and was responsible for the team's brand and logos making sure the look and usage of core assets aligned with brand standards.

Prior to the Angels, Artin was a media planner at the Los Angeles-based agency PHD US, implementing media plans in the Pacific Northwest for Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep. Before that, he was a media assistant at Davis-Elen Advertising in Los Angeles, working on the McDonald's account.

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/matt_artin_joins_nhra_as.php

Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III

Why NYC Needs Busways and Traffic Reduction, in Two Pictures

Photo: Clarence Eckerson

Here’s a look at Roosevelt Avenue and 82nd Street in Jackson Heights earlier this afternoon. Streetfilms’ Clarence Eckerson says the line to get onto these buses snaked twice as long as what you can see in the frame. Buses were already rolling up full and proceeded to crawl along Roosevelt, in traffic, at walking speed.

Eventually these buses merge onto Queens Boulevard, where today they would have run into this hellish traffic jam:

Photo: @ProleofQueens

Each of those buses, packed as they were, was probably moving about as many people as all the cars in this picture combined.

With HOV restrictions in effect tomorrow, everyone riding the bus won’t have such a sluggish trip. And if the city reserves some lanes exclusively for buses — which seems like it could be in the offing, though specific plans are unknown right now — bus riders can bypass traffic even more quickly.

Of course, gridlock on streets like Queens Boulevard was worse today than it usually is, but grinding traffic heading to the free Queensboro Bridge is a fact of life when the subways are functioning perfectly well, too. The steps the city is taking to make the transportation system function during this emergency are pretty close to what needs to be done to eliminate the daily dysfunction on NYC streets: road pricing and busways.

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/10/31/why-nyc-needs-busways-and-traffic-reduction-in-two-pictures/

Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James John James

2012 NSCS NNS & ARCA Series Kansas Speedway Track Event Schedule

KANSAS SPEEDWAY 2012
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES / ARCA RACING SERIES presented by MENARDS
EVENT SCHEDULE

Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway Logo

Wednesday, October 17th  10:00 AM             NSCS HAULERS ENTER                      (TRUCK PARKING ONLY) 11:30 AM             TRACK SERVICES MEETING                       (MEDIA CENTER) 11:30 AM             NSCS REGISTRATION OPENS 12:00 PM             NSCS GARAGE OPENS 1:00 PM 5:00 PM      NSCS TESTING 5:00 PM              NSCS REGISTRATION CLOSES 6:00 PM              NSCS GARAGE CLOSES 7:00 PM              NNS HAULERS ENTER   Thursday, October 18th  7:00 AM              TRACK SERVICES MEETING (MEDIA CENTER) 7:00 AM              NSCS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS 7:30 AM              ARCA REGISTRATION OPENS  8:00 AM              ARCA HAULERS ENTER  8:30 AM 12:30 PM     NSCS TESTING 9:00 AM              ARCA GARAGE OPENS  10:30 AM             NNS REGISTRATION OPENS  11:00 AM             NNS GARAGE OPENS  12:00 PM             NNS ROOKIE & SPOTTER MEETINGS   1:00 PM 5:00 PM      NNS PRACTICE  3:00 PM              NSCS & NNS REGISTRATION CLOSES 3:30 PM              NSCS GARAGE CLOSES 5:00 PM              ARCA GARAGE & REGISTRATION CLOSES  5:30 PM              NSCS REGISTRATION CLOSES 6:00 PM              NNS GARAGE CLOSES  Friday, October 19th  7:00 AM              NSCS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS 7:00 AM              ARCA GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS  7:30 AM              TRACK SERVICES MEETING (MEDIA CENTER) 7:00 AM              NNS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS  7:45 AM              ARCA ROOKIE MEETING  8:00 AM              ARCA DRIVER & SPOTTER MEETING & RANDOM DRAWING  9:00 AM 11:15 AM     ARCA FINAL PRACTICE  10:30 AM             NSCS ROOKIE & SPOTTER MEETINGS & RANDOM DRAWING 11:00 AM             NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT ** 11:30 AM 1:00 PM     NSCS PRACTICE 12:00 PM             NNS RANDOM DRAWING  1:10 PM 2:15 PM      NNS PRACTICE  2:40 PM 4:00 PM      NNS FINAL PRACTICE  3:40 PM              NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT ** 4:10 PM (5:10 PM)    NSCS QUALIFYING (TWO LAPS, ALL POSITIONS) followed by 5:00 PM              NNS REGISTRATION CLOSES  5:30 PM              NSCS REGISTRATION CLOSES 5:35 PM Approx.      ARCA QUALIFYING (TWO LAPS, ALL POSITIONS)  6:00 PM              NNS GARAGE CLOSES  6:30 PM              NSCS GARAGE CLOSES 6:30 PM              ARCA REGISTRATION CLOSE  7:00 PM              ARCA DRIVERS INTRODUCTIONS  7:30 PM (8:30 PM)    ARCA RACE (100 LAPS,150 MILES)   Saturday, October 20th  7:30 AM              NNS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS  8:30 AM              TRACK SERVICES MEETING (MEDIA CENTER) 8:30 AM              NSCS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS 9:30 AM              NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT ** 10:00 AM 10:50 AM    NSCS PRACTICE 11:05 AM (12:05 PM)  NNS QUALIFYING ( TWO LAPS, ALL POSITIONS)  12:15 PM 12:45 PM    TV EXHIBITION RUN (TIME PERMITTING)  12:20 PM             NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT ** 12:30 PM             TRACK SERVICES MEETING-PIT ROAD 12:30 PM             NNS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING (MEDIA CENTER)  12:50 PM 1:50 PM     NSCS FINAL PRACTICE 2:00 PM              NNS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS-SECURITY –CLEAR PIT ROAD 2:30 PM (3:30 PM)    NNS RACE (200 LAPS, 300 MILES)  3:00 PM              NNS REGISTRATION CLOSES  4:30 PM              NSCS GARAGE & REGISTRATION CLOSES  Sunday, October 21st  7:15 AM 8:30 AM      Kansas Speedway Pace Car Rides  8:00 AM              NSCS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS 8:00 AM 12:30 PM     NSCS Minors Admitted into Garage Area*  8:40 AM 9:15 AM      NASCAR Pace Car Rides  9:30 AM              TRACK SERVICES MEETING (NASCAR Nationwide Series GARAGE) 11:00 AM             NSCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING (NASCAR Nationwide Series GARAGE) 12:00 PM             NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT ** UNTIL ONE HOUR AFTER RACE 12:30 PM             NSCS DRIVERS INTRODUCTIONS-SECURITY –CLEAR PIT ROAD 1:00 PM (2:00 PM)    NSCS RACE (267 LAPS, 400.5 MILES) 1:30 PM              NSCS REGISTRATION CLOSES                      *With Proper Credentials          (EASTERN)

ALL TIMES ARE LISTED IN LOCAL / CENTRAL TIME ZONE
TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE

The post 2012 NSCS NNS & ARCA Series Kansas Speedway Track Event Schedule appeared first on Catchfence.

What Has President Obama Done to Improve American Transportation Policy?

With the election just days away, it’s a good time to reflect on what the Obama administration has done with transportation policy – and what a Romney administration might have in store. Streetsblog does not endorse candidates. This is an overview of their respective records and a look back at what we know of these two men. We’ll start with President Obama in this post and move on to Mitt Romney in the next one.

High-speed rail could have been President Obama's signature achievement. Photo courtesy of Obama for America.

Perhaps the best thing President Obama did for transportation policy was to nominate Ray LaHood as U.S. DOT secretary. Sure, LaHood reportedly wanted to be Secretary of Agriculture, not transportation. And yes, Obama’s main motive for nominating the moderate Republican congressman was to make friends across the aisle, a goal that for the most part went woefully unmet. Nonetheless, LaHood has proven to be a genuine reformer.

We knew LaHood was a keeper when he stood on a tabletop and declared that bicycles were on an “equal footing” with cars, announcing “the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”

The administration’s creation of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities has created valuable new links between federal transportation, housing, and environmental policies, demonstrating how government can eliminate barriers between agencies. It’s a model that some state transportation agencies have begun to take note of, as they approach local governments to craft land use and transportation decisions that make sense in tandem.

Even the Republican House of Representatives’ ire toward the Partnership can’t destroy the essential piece of it: that agencies are breaking down siloes and communicating more effectively with each other. The smart growth ethic that infuses the Partnership has permeated the three agencies involved – and many more.

Another signature achievement of this administration has been the TIGER program. TIGER has awarded more than $3 billion to more than 200 transportation projects based on their ability to meet strategic objectives, bucking longstanding policies (which continue in the current transportation bill) that fund transportation based on formulas and a singular focus on making sure every state gets their piece of the pie. While TIGER has some geographic criteria and a set-aside for rural areas, it has rewarded cities, regions, and towns that are innovating, and the program has prioritized bike/ped infrastructure, streetcars, freight rail, maintenance of existing roads, and other measures that advance sustainable transportation and smart growth. And by the way, that rural set-aside isn’t a bad thing: It’s helped jump-start transit access in a lot of small towns and tribal areas.

You can’t talk about the Obama administration’s “signature” accomplishments without mentioning high-speed rail, which could have been the president’s crowning achievement. He swung for the fences and ended up hitting a single. The program now focuses on rail improvements, rather than HSR per se, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The confluence of the sour economy, bitter Congress, and stubbornly anti-rail governors was too much to implement the full extent of the administration’s vision. High-speed rail is now being kept on life-support only because Congress can’t pass a budget and keeps extending old ones.

The high-speed rail program and TIGER both had their genesis in the stimulus bill, one of the monumental acts on which Obama’s administration is judged. But the stimulus was a one-shot affair, and it didn’t change the core transportation policies that shortchange transit and lead so many states to waste billions of dollars on expanding highways.

The president did put forward an ambitious transportation bill that looked like a step in the right direction. It would have spent $556 billion over six years (compare that to the current bill: $105 billion over two years) with a bigger share for transit than in the current law. That bill, as well as his failed jobs bill, included seed money for a national infrastructure bank – another unfulfilled priority.

But the administration’s unwillingness to engage with Congress to find a viable revenue stream doomed Obama’s transportation proposal. The White House refused to get behind any funding source for the plan, whether it be an increase in the gas tax or a vehicle-miles-traveled user fee. That same issue jammed up negotiations in Congress as well, with the House unable to pass a bill at all until it finally approved the conference report. As the two chambers were embroiled in the process, it was hard not to notice the lack of leadership from the White House.

So maybe that’s the story of Obama’s presidency, when it comes to transportation: big ideas, not enough follow-through.

Rep. Jim Oberstar, the former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair who was ousted in the midterm election, still remembers with no small amount of bitterness that the same reticence on funding issues resulted in the sidelining of his own transportation proposal, released three full years before MAP-21 was finally signed. In 2008 and 2009, when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress and the White House, the best chance to enact a robust bill came and went. Coming on the heels of the Wall Street meltdown and the foreclosure crisis, the price tag was deemed too high, and the political appetite for tax increases was too low.

Transportation and infrastructure haven’t come up much during this campaign. The Democratic platform is all GM bailout and new highways. Supporters of transportation reform have been left to pine for the days when Obama campaigned on a message of urbanism and transit.

Source: http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/11/02/what-has-president-obama-done-to-improve-american-transportation-policy/

Peter Hirt David Hobbs Gary Hocking Ingo Hoffmann Bill Holland

Women in NASCAR Presents: Patricia Driscoll

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/10/women-in-nascar-presents-patricia.html

Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt Nico Hülkenberg Denny Hulme

Surprised Vettel plays down car problem

Sebastian Vettel was left perplexed by Red Bull’s instruction to stop his car following the end of qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but doubts it will prove significant.

The German driver, the winner of the previous four races, had to settle for third position on the Yas Marina grid, having been unable to match the pace of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and his own team-mate Mark Webber.

After the session ended, Vettel was asked to stop his car on the track, although the world champion is confident it was not a serious problem.

“I don’t know why I had to stop. I was asked to stop, I guess there was some problem,” said Vettel. “It should not be something major.”

Vettel said he had not been entirely happy with his qualifying after having missed most of the final practice session because of a brake issue.

“This morning it was not ideal not getting to run. We didn’t get answers we were hoping for. I’m not entirely happy with my qualifying,” he said.

“The last part was tricky for me. I guess I should have been a bit quicker but overall we can be quite happy. The race pace should be good tomorrow. It is a long race here, lots can happen so I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Vettel said the brake issues were fully rectified for the grid-deciding session.

“We fixed the problem and had fantastic brakes in qualifying,” he said.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/surprised-vettel-plays-down-car-problem

Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley

Cup leader Johnson on Texas pole, Keselowski 8th

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/02/2457588/cup-leader-johnson-on-texas-pole.html

Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Di Resta: ‘Fundamental car issue solved’

Paul di Resta is hopeful he and his Force India team have solved the issues that have hindered the Scot in the last few races.

Di Resta has failed to score a point since the Singapore Grand Prix and has been overshadowed by the performances of team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, who has been in the points in Japan, Korea and India.

Di Resta admitted a “fundamental” problem with his car has been hindering his form.

“I think there is one fundamental thing that we have picked up on and after the last races it has been getting progressively worse and worse, but I don’t think it has been that easy to identify what it has been,” di Resta told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

“We hope that we have resolved the issues by taking action for this grand prix.”

Although the Scot refused to go into details about the problem, he said the team had identified it before the Indian GP last Sunday.

“I am not saying what it is, but as I said in India, we picked up on it on Saturday night, which was probably not the best time because you kind of knew the race was going to be difficult,” he added.

“So for probably one of the best races I have ever driven in India, personally getting what I could out of the car, it was not rewarding enough.

“But I left India far more satisfied than I left Korea, and I think that is a fundamental thing relative to what they have looked at.

“I think since then everybody within the factory and within this team has investigated further and picked up on a few other things and I think going into this event certainly tomorrow is crucial and I think you will see it after the first run that it has made a difference.”

He added: “There is definitely something that we have highlighted and as I said, having the team looking at it in more depth, we have found a few more things. At the end of the day, I am sure they understood how difficult my race was in India and through nothing other than this thing.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/di-resta-fundamental-car-issue-solved

Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt Nico Hülkenberg Denny Hulme

Official: HondaJet production underway

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

During a press conference at the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention in Orlando, Florida, Honda announced that production has begun of its HondaJet line. Honda considers this a major milestone in the development of the business jet. The Japanese company has stated that its next milestones are FAA approval and delivery of its first model.

According to Michimasa Fujino, CEO and President of Honda Aircraft, "An assembly line for HondaJet production is in place, major aircraft components including the fuselage and wing have been produced, and we have started assembly of the first customer aircraft."

Included in the announcement is an explanation of one of Honda's production processes. The Automatic Guided Cart, Known as AGC, it is described as a "mobile robot ... designed to pick up and deliver parts to the production facility's unique assembly areas." (That is, of course, until it becomes self aware, and the reign of our machine overlords begins.)

According to Fujino, "Our commitment to deliver the best possible product that will bring new value to the aviation remains. We have taken the necessary time and effort with the HondaJet program to do it right and give our customers the finest product with the best ownership experience." Honda calls the HondaJet the "most advanced light business jet aircraft." The very first HondaJet is in final assembly now, with testing scheduled for early 2013. Check out more on the HondaJet in the press release below.

Continue reading HondaJet production underway

HondaJet production underway originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/02/hondajet-production-underway/

Elmer George Bob Gerard Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani

Aaron Robinson: Across Europe on a Hot Date with a Citroën ID19

The oddest thing about registering a car in Germany is that they stamp your license plates right there in the Kraftfahrzeug-Zulassungsstelle, which is the Deutschland DMV.

After you’ve paid the tax and collected your green-tinted Kraftfahrzeugschein and Kraftfahrzeugbrief (title and registration), a clerk picks a pair of blanks off a shelf containing all of Germany’s various shapes and colors of plates. He or she arranges blocks of numbers and letters in a small hydraulic press, steps on a foot pedal to activate the machine, and then feeds the stamped plates through an automated hot-roller that prints black ink on the raised letters. You give the clerk 30 euros and you get back a pair of plates that are as warm as a couple of freshly baked baguettes. READ MORE››

Read full story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/5CVzz3tG1Iw/aaron-robinson-across-europe-on-a-hot-date-with-a-citroin-id19-column

Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr

Button mystified by lack of speed

Jenson Button, McLaren Jenson Button was left utterly baffled by his McLaren’s lack of speed in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying.

While his team-mate Lewis Hamilton blasted to a dominant pole position, Button was 0.660 seconds slower in sixth place.

He had only been 10th and ninth in Q1 and Q2 respectively.

“All weekend I’ve been happy and the pace has been good,” Button said.

“But in qualifying it wasn’t there and I don’t know why. If I knew, I would’ve sorted it out, so I don’t know.

“Obviously the car is very quick – Lewis is on pole by quite a bit. I’m five or six tenths off. It’s a lot of laptime.”

Asked what exactly he was struggling with, Button replied: “Lots. Understeer on turn-in. Traction very poor. Locking up fronts and rears. So there’s lots that wasn’t working.”

Although he had been confident about his long-run pace in practice, Button was not sure whether that would be sufficient to make up ground.

“On Friday the car was working well on high fuel and we had the quickest long run, so hopefully we can put that to good use,” he said.

“But it’s going to be difficult.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/button-mystified-by-lack-of-speed

Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine

Hamilton ‘faster than expected’

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Lewis Hamilton admitted he had not expected his McLaren to have Red Bull-beating pace in Abu Dhabi after storming to pole position at Yas Marina.

Red Bull’s run of three straight poles came to an end on Saturday when Hamilton followed up a strong practice performance to top all three qualifying segments at Abu Dhabi and take the top spot by nearly four tenths of a second.

As McLaren took its first pole since Singapore in September, Red Bull had to settle for second and third with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

“I’m very excited. Very excited,” said Hamilton. “It’s the first time for a long time to be ahead of the Red Bulls. Normally I see the tail of them at the start of the race.

“I know the race will be tough because they have great race pace. I hope we are strong enough to fight.

“The car has been beautiful all weekend.”

Hamilton could only suggest that the McLaren might be naturally well-suited to Yas Marina, as he did not think it had taken any technical steps forward this weekend.

“I don’t know why the car has worked so well this weekend, we haven’t improved it much,” he said. “Maybe it just suits us here.”

He added: “We always modify small little things but it does very little. The car has felt great from the get go this weekend.”

Hamilton was also surprised that his pole margin was as great as 0.348 seconds.

“Red Bull were slower than we expected but I was faster than we expected,” he said.

“I knew they would be very, very quick but never imagined I would be this far ahead of them. I thought we either a match or slightly slower than them.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/hamilton-faster-than-expected

Richie Ginther Yves Giraud Cabantous Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glöckler

iRacer Profile: Mitch Miller

In some iRacing circles, M stands for Mitch, Miller . . . and Modified. While he is no stranger to NASCAR Class A, B and C, Street Stocks and IndyCars, 16 year old Mitch Miller (from West Boylston, Massachusetts, naturally) has focused most of his racing energy on the NASCAR iRacing.com Tour Modified and SK Modified Series of late. To good effect, witness the fact that he captured the 2012 Season 3 Tour Modified Time Trials title and finished a close second to Brandon Salvatore in the Tour Mod racing points on the strength of 17 wins and 28 top five finishes from 32 starts.

And there’s another M in Mitch Miller’s racing repertoire, namely the Modified he races in the PASS (Pro All Star Series) North series. As with the iRacing Mods, Miller races his PASS Modified to good effect, taking P11 in the 2012 PASS North Modified standings thanks to a win, two top fives and a couple of heat wins in the nine race schedule. In other words (letters), whether it’s sim- or real world racing, Mitch Miller puts a lot of Ws in the win column.

Q: How long have you been sim-racing?
A: I started sim-racing with Nascar 4 a while ago, but never really got into it until I joined iRacing in April of 2010.

MM enjoys his first “W” in PASS Modifieds.

Q: What attracted you to iRacing?
A: I had heard about it for awhile but never tried it until I saw a rig set up at a car show, which I tried and really liked so I bought a one year membership, and have been playing since.

Q: What are favorite iRacing cars/tracks?
A: My favorite car would have to be the Tour Mod but the SK is not too far behind. Also my favorite tracks would be Thompson and Concord.

Q: What do you like most about iRacing?
A: The thing I like the most about iRacing is that anyone can race and not have to worry about the cost and time aspect of owning a real car.

Miller collected 17 Tour Mod wins in 2012 Season 3.

Q: What would you change about iRacing?
A: If I could change anything I would change the crash physics. Sometimes, when a wreck happens. the effects after the crash get crazy.

Q: How many hours a week do you spend on iRacing?
A: It really depends on the week and what I am doing but it can range from two to 20 hours.

Q: Tell us about the paint schemes on your helmet/car(s).
A: The paint schemes don’t really mean much on any of my cars; the only one with any connection is my SK, which is based off of my real car.

Q: What other sim racing activities (Forza, Gran Turismo, etc.) do you do?-
A: Nothing, iRacing has kind of killed the rest of them for me.

Q: What are your favorite video games?
A: My favorite games are Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto and Skyrim.

Miller out front at Star Speedway.

Q: Do you do any real world racing? Has iRacing been of any benefit?
A: Yes I do race a real car, I race a PASS Modified. iRacing does have some benefit in my opinion. It is nice to know the layout of a track before racing it, and just get a rough feel for the track.

Q: What is your most memorable iRacing moment?
A: My most memorable iRacing moment would be winning the 2011 Season 4 high SoF for Thompson. It was a 3913 SoF and I was the 10 car, but I managed to pull-off a win.

Q: What is a iRacing moment you’d love to forget?
A: I really can’t think of one, nothing that bad has ever happened to me on iRacing.

Q: What car/track would you like to see iRacing add to the service?
A: Personally I would really like them to add a Super Late Model. Also I would like to see them add Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, TN.

Q: What person, living or dead do you most admire?
A: A person that I admire would be Dale Earnhardt Sr. Not only was he a great driver on the track, but from what I have heard he was a great person off the track.

Any resemblance between Miller’s SK and PASS Modfieds is strictly intentional.

Q: What’s your favorite real world racing series?
A: My favorite real world racing series is the Whelen Modified Tour.

Q: Name of your favorite movie/TV show?
A: My favorite movie is hard to say but some of my favorites are all the Matrix, 21 Jump Street and Black Hawk Down. For TV shows my favorites would be Nitro Circus, Ax Men and Yukon Men.

Q: Home many of your close friends are iRacing members?
A: Only one of my close friends is currently a member of iRacing.

Q: Has competing with iRacers all around the world influenced your opinions/outlook on life/world events? How?
A: I think it has, from looking on the forums and hearing people talk I have learned about different would events that I most likely never would have heard of otherwise.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/iracer-profile-mitch-miller

Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch

Report: Hyundai says dual-clutch gearboxes fit brand's character better than CVTs

Filed under: Hyundai

Hyundai officials are not afraid to make their views known on prevailing technologies, standing by their choices and criticizing the alternatives. Previously, the Korean automaker's fuel cell boss told reporters that EV makers "jumped the gun." Now comes word that Hyundai is sticking by dual-clutch transmissions, citing the shortcomings of continuously variable transmissions.

A report from Automotive News points to words from Hyundai Motor America VP of product planning, Mike O'Brien, backing the dual-clutch technology. "Dual-clutch has a better future with us. It has better fuel economy advantages. It's better for the enthusiast driver. It matches [our product philosophy] better," said O'Brien, speaking at SEMA on Monday.

While it is noted that shifts with the dual-clutch units are not the smoothest available, O'Brien says that characteristic is outweighed by the parasitic losses experienced by CVTs resulting in poorer performance and fuel economy. According to the report, the "rubber band" effect experienced is also a setback, as is the limitation of engine size. CVTs are optimal only for smaller-displacement engines so application becomes an issue.

Hyundai currently offers the Veloster with a dual-clutch gearbox, though O'Brien has suggested that the application of such a transmission could expand in Hyundai's future.

Hyundai says dual-clutch gearboxes fit brand's character better than CVTs originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/02/hyundai-says-dual-clutch-gearboxes-fit-brands-character-better/

Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi Naoki Hattori

Aric Almirola 2012 NSCS Bank of America 500 Post-Race Report

NSCS Aric Almirola in garage - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Ford

Starting Position: 17
Finishing Position: 12

Aric Almirola earned his fifth top-15 finish of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday in a Smithfield Ford Fusion that was racy all night.

The driver of the No. 43 started the 500-mile event in the 17th spot, quickly advancing to 12th position by Lap 11 when an early caution flag waved for a spinning Matt Kenseth.

The first 35 laps of the race saw two additional cautions for accidents, and by the third yellow flag, Almirola was up to 10th in his fast Ford Fusion. He gave up his top-10 spot to come to pit road for a routine but quick stop, putting him in 18th for the restart.

Almirola didn’t stay back there long, as he started making fast laps once again, passing four cars to get up to 14th by Lap 60. Despite his fast lap times and forward progress, he asked crew chief Todd Parrott for a little help with the car’s handling through the turns. The team responded with chassis and air-pressure adjustments during their next two pit stops.

As the race approached the half-way mark, Almirola was holding steady in the top-15, but still asking for help with the front tires sliding through the turns. With the field under yellow for a debris caution on Lap 168, Parrott brought his driver down pit road for more chassis and air-pressure adjustments to help him be more aggressive off the corners.

The second half of the race saw more green-flag racing than the first — in fact, the final 107 laps went caution-free — which strung the field out and made it difficult to pass for position. But that did not hold back the No. 43, with Almirola gradually chasing down and passing cars over the long runs.

He was in 11th and pushing into the top 10 with fewer than 30 laps to go. But at this time, concerns throughout the field about making it to the finish on fuel forced one last shuffle on the leaderboard, as one by one cars peeled off to pit for gas. Almirola’s was among the cars that could not make it to the end without a late refueling stop, and he brought his Smithfield Ford to the pits for a quick stop for right-side tires and fuel on Lap 312.

He rejoined the field scored in 16th, but climbed back up to 12th and maintained his position until crossing the finish. His 12th-place finish allowed him to maintain 21st place in the driver point standings.

Comments from Almirola after Charlotte:

“We had a fast Smithfield Ford Fusion right off the truck when we got here, and Todd (Parrott) and the guys did a great job on it. We had to keep adjusting with the track over the course of the race, but we were solid all night. I told the guys on the radio afterward, we’ve had some fast cars recently where, unfortunately, we didn’t really have the results to show for it. It’s nice to get a good result to show for all the hard work that went into putting a fast car on track this time.”

About Richard Petty Motorsports:

A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneurs Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force and STP and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with primary partners Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.

Source: Breaking Limits Marketing for Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release

The post Aric Almirola 2012 NSCS Bank of America 500 Post-Race Report appeared first on Catchfence.