Elmer George Bob Gerard Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani
Thursday, June 30, 2011
McLaren MP4-12C GT3
McLaren is making its way back into the GT sports car racing scene with a limited number of GT3 racing cars based on the MP4-12C sports car. These models will be designed and developed by McLaren and CRS Racing, and should make their first racing debut in the 2012 European FIA GT3 Series.
"The 12C?s architecture and design was always aimed at high-performance and ease of maintenance - two key criteria for potential customers. Combine that with the vast amount of racing experience in our automotive team, and CRS Racing?s specialist development experience, and the 12C GT3 should be an exciting proposition for the top teams planning to race in GT3 from 2012."
McLaren is confident that the MP4-12C’s revolutionary lightweight one-piece moulded carbon chassis, high levels of downforce and aerodynamic performance, and focus on form and function make it an obvious choice to bring back racing success to the McLaren name. The last win McLaren had was in the McLaren F1 GTR when it won the Lemans Series 15 years ago. The MP4-12C GT3 will be the first McLaren car built for FIA GT series racing since the McLaren F1 GTR finished production in 1997.
UPDATE 05/05/2011: At yesterday’s official launch of the new MP4-12C GT3 race car, managing Director Antony Sheriff talked about the company’s future plans and we like what we heard. Turns out, the company has plans to offer a road legal version of the GT3. It will be limited to about 20 units and will be put on sale at a price higher than $500K.
In an interview with Inside Line Sheriff also said that McLaren doesn’t have any plans to "over-egg it" with the MP4-12C. A roadgoing McLaren is in the works, but the car will not get various models like Porsche did with the 911.
UPDATE 06/30/2011: The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will make its world debut at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, held from June 30, 2011 - July 3, 2011. The model has received a front radiator, which increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can run, along with a new gearbox cooler mounted on the rear Aerodeck. Check out the modified racer in the 16 new high res images that have been added to our picture gallery!
McLaren MP4-12C GT3 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 30 June 2011 16:00 EST.
Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin
Austin Council votes for F1
The Austin City Council has endorsed the plans for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas by a margin of five votes to two. There has been discussion about the June 17 date because this may fall on what is called an Ozone Action Day. These are hot, sunny, still days [...]
Watch Bahrain F1 Grand Prix Live on Star Sports ? Time in India, Hongkong, Malaysia and Singapore
Fernando Alonso clocked the fastest time in Q3 on Saturday at the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix. However, it was Sebastian Vettel who will take the pole position on Sunday at Sakhir, Bahrain. Sebastian Vettel dedicated his pole position to Ferrari’s Felipe Massa. Fernando Alonso will start from the 3rd position on the grid.
Star Sports, which [...]
Star Sports, which [...]
Today?s Headlines
DOT to Remove Three Fort Hamilton Parkway Ped Islands, Add Painted Median (News)
Manhattan CB 12 Endorses Bike Lane Study, Wants What They Have Downtown (DNAinfo)
Canal Street Crash: Victim May Not Survive, Police Claim He Turned Into Car’s Path (News)
MTA Staff Encouraging Upper East Siders to Advocate for Capital Funding (2nd Ave Sagas)
Tea Leaves: Ward Loyalist [...]
Manhattan CB 12 Endorses Bike Lane Study, Wants What They Have Downtown (DNAinfo)
Canal Street Crash: Victim May Not Survive, Police Claim He Turned Into Car’s Path (News)
MTA Staff Encouraging Upper East Siders to Advocate for Capital Funding (2nd Ave Sagas)
Tea Leaves: Ward Loyalist [...]
Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Dover International Speedway announces new pricing program beginning with its June 1-3, 2012 race weekend
New tiered pricing program offers lowest pricing in more than a decade for fans who purchase in advance of Aug. 24, 2011 deadline Dover International SpeedwayDOVER, Del. ? On the heels of the 2012 race dates announcement last week, Dover International Speedway officials announced today a new, three-tiered pricing program beginning with its June 1-3,...more»
Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte
Blake Koch Heads Home For First Daytona International Speedway Start
No. 81 Daystar.com Dodge Challenger R/TSubway Jalapeno 250 Daytona International Speedway (2.5 miles) Friday July 1st @ 7:30 pm TV: ESPN Radio: MRN MacDonald Motorsports @ Daytona?.. In 17 career starts at the high banks of Daytona, MacDonald Motorsports has had some great success. With current owner Randy MacDonald behind the wheel in 1991 he...more»
Jean Pierre Jarier Max Jean Stefan Johansson Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson
Supernatural Impala Conversion - Finished 6/23!
I started this as a part of the recent TV/Movie CBP, but it ended up extending way past the deadline. So I figured I'd start a new thread to post my progress. The base kit is AMT's '67 Impala 2-door HT, and my first step was to modify the body to the 4-door HT configuration:
I used the rear corners from a '68 Camaro to get the basic shape, and did a lot of filling and reshaping to flatten the trunk and blend the old and new roof components together. I also rescribed the door lines, filled in the old door break, and removed the original trim.
I used the stock 427 from the kit, mated to the automatic transmission from AMT's '76 Impala:
Show-accurate wheels came from Fujimi's Suzuki Jimny kit, and parts box tires provided the correct stance:
Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glцckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort
How (and Why) the Middle East is Buying into Europe?s Car Companies
The Mideast Gets a Piece: Qatar, Bahrain, and others have taken stakes in major automakers. This past January, a Boeing 747 loaded with 11 Volkswagen Phaetons landed at Doha, the capital of Qatar, in the Persian Gulf. The cars and their drivers had been sent there for one day to chauffeur Volkswagen?s senior executives and [...]
Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III
Vietoris confident he is now fit
Christian Vietoris is certain that he is back to 100 per cent fitness after missing the last two GP2 rounds for health reasons. The German crashed heavily in the sprint race of the first weekend of the year in Turkey when he suffered a brake failure, and after racing in the DTM at Zandvoort the following weekend he skipped the GP2 races at Barcelona and Monaco to allow his head to recover. He has since raced twice more for Mercedes in the DTM, and reported no ill effects after returning to GP2 action on the streets of Valencia on Friday
Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones
Exclusive: 2014 Porsche ACC InnoDrive tested... hello, Big Brother?
Filed under: Performance, Safety, Technology, Porsche, Luxury
Should Porsche Make Cars That Even Hint At Driving Themselves?
2014 Porsche ACC InnoDrive - Click above for high-res image gallery
We have to remind ourselves to breath deeply at these high-tech junctures in the road. Porsche is still first and foremost a remarkable sports car company that we all love and adore for so many reasons. In recent years, yes, Porsche has challenged all of us with some product and tech moves that have caused a groundswell of debate. But the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen based company still continually makes the lion's share of enthusiasts dream big.
We have just been brought to the company's hardcore research & design center in Weissach in the verdant farm country just outside of Stuttgart to drive special Panamera S test mules equipped with the most recent iteration of an ECU-software development that Porsche knows is going to make people like us fret. Until we actually experience it first hand.
Adaptive Cruise Control is a pretty quotidian option these days, especially on larger Porsches that get driven regularly in busy highway traffic. It's a good idea that's been serving owners faithfully since its introduction.
But we've just tried the next phase in ACC development, called ACC InnoDrive, short for Innovative Drive. It's officially part of the Intelligent Drive Strategy sub-group within the Porsche Intelligent Performance umbrella. The InnoDrive system takes ACC into areas of our driving lives that a Porsche shopper would never have imagined from the brand just 10 years ago. Mercedes-Benz, Audi, maybe BMW, you bet. But the winningest company in racing?
Continue reading 2014 Porsche ACC InnoDrive tested... hello, Big Brother?
2014 Porsche ACC InnoDrive tested... hello, Big Brother? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsOscar Gonzбlez Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried
Fernando Alonso: ?Obviously we are optimistic??
Fernando Alonso has never had much luck in Valencia, and despite being fastest in practice today, the Ferrari driver was not getting too excited. However, he was willing to concede that he was “optimistic” for qualifying. The local hero was … Continue reading 
Jean Pierre Jarier Max Jean Stefan Johansson Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson
Behind the glitz and glamour of Monaco shoot
BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey takes you behind the scenes at the shoot for the opening sequence for 2011 Monaco Grand Prix.
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Filmed & edited by Michael Cunliffe, Music - Bright Lights Bigger City by Cee Lo Green & Poker Face by Lady Gaga.
Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wilks? puncture gives Loix big lead
Freddy Loix now leads the Ypres Rally by 1m41.3s with five stages to go after his nearest rival Guy Wilks suffered a double puncture on the first stage out of service this afternoon.
Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean
Video: Reed Sorenson Wins Wild Road America NNS Race
Reed Sorenson takes the checkered flag as Justin Allgaier runs out of fuel, and Ron Fellows blows past a yellow flag, handing the win over to the 32
Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gбlvez
34 Ford flatbed hot rod - nearly done
This is an AMT 34 Ford p/u I recently got in a trade. This will be built as a stakeside flatbed shop truck for a fictional salvage company called L&R Original Parts Rescue. So far I have modified the kit suspension to get rid of the wishbones. I plan on totally scratching the flatbed (& stakesides)so I made a frame for it from 2x2mm stock. The rear step/ trailer hitch is to add the trailer I made a few months ago. The engine is the flattie from the Revell 50 F-1 and will feature Ardun Heads and triple carbies.
This build will be mildly weathered and feature distressed suede paint. No salt or hairspray here just paint that has gotten thin in areas and a little primer showing through. I plan on taking 1/8 inch out of the top (bout 3 scale inches) no hood sides. Checkerboard firewall, lots of wood, mud flaps in the rear. I'm still kicking the interior around for this one. I may use the bench seat and make another mexican blanket. Lots to do still.
Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones
Doctors use Formula One pit crews as safety model
American Medical News reports hospitals in at least a dozen countries are learning how to translate the split-second timing and near-perfect synchronisation of Formula One pit crews to the high-risk handoffs of patients from surgery to recovery and intensive care.
"In Formula One, they have checklists, databases, and they have well-defined processes for doing things, and we don't really have any of those things in health care."
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil
Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 94: 2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG
On Tuesday, we posted an audio recording of a mystery car?s exhaust note. To hear it again, click play above. Almost everyone who commented figured out that this week?s sound came from a V-8, but only one commenter specified that it came from a 2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG. Like that sound? Download the MP3 and [...]
Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne
Hyundai Veloster to spawn five-door variant - report
In a recent interview, a Hyundai executive revealed the company is developing a Veloster with a traditional five-door body style.
Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James John James Jean Pierre Jarier
Monday, June 27, 2011
Bruce McCall Presents the E. Hardy & Fils Classic-Car Auction
1956 Li?l Sunshine Bumper Car Personal bumper car of the late Michael Jackson, fresh from a Neverland estate clearance sale. This provenance, and tasteful customizing work, no doubt helps explain a selling price well over the reserve. The engine compartment, housing a 4.0-liter Lamborghini V-12, is admirably finished and detailed, especially in view of the [...]
Oscar Gonzбlez Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried
Solid Run Ends in Disappointment for Tommy Baldwin Racing at Sonoma
Dave Blaney finished 31st in the No. 36 Big Red Chevrolet 2011 NSCS Dave Blaney - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCASONOMA, CALIF. (June 27, 2011) ? Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) driver Dave Blaney finished 31st in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Blaney drove the No. 36 Big Red Chevrolet from the...more»
Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr
As Local Governments Innovate, State DOT Still Focused on Roads
This map shows many of the projects in the region’s transportation improvement program, revealing the priorities of the area’s transportation agencies for the next five years.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) has released a draft of its transportation improvement program, or TIP [PDF], providing a window into the investment priorities of the region’s transportation [...]
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) has released a draft of its transportation improvement program, or TIP [PDF], providing a window into the investment priorities of the region’s transportation [...]
Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez Oscar Gonzбlez Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon
Biggest points haul of the season
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 2011 European Grand Prix Race Report Valencia,Sunday June 26 2011 Fernando Alonso had said he really wanted to salute his home fans from the podium in Valencia, after failing to do so in Barcelona five weeks ago...
Yves Giraud Cabantous Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glцckler
Spies thrilled first win was at Assen
Ben Spies said it meant a great deal to him that his maiden MotoGP victory came at the famous Assen track, as he clinched reaching the top step of the podium for the first time in the world championship in today's Dutch Grand Prix. The American led from the outset, and got an early break on the field when his Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was taken out by Marco Simoncelli (Gresini Honda) just behind him. Spies said the win was particularly poignant given Assen's heritage in motorcycle racing and the fact that Yamaha was celebrating its 50th anniversary in grand prix racing this weekend
Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs
2011 NNS Bucyrus 200 First Practice Session Speeds
Bucyrus 200Billy Johnson (practicing for Carl Edwards) with a lap speed of 108.050 mph, was the fastest during the first NNS Bucyrus 200 practice session at Elkhart Lake’s Road America. Road course specialist, Jacques Villeneuve, with a lap speed of 107.996 mph, was second fastest, and was followed by Michael McDowell (107.972) who was third...more»
Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson
Lawsuit filed over $25m Austin Bernie payment
A lawsuit filed by three Austin citizens could disrupt preparations for the US GP. The suit claims that it seeks to prevent “the unlawful plunder of public funds for promoters of a Formula One race at a time when the … Continue reading 
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Notes from TNT NASCAR Summer Series ? Race #3 ? Infineon Raceway ? SaveMart 350 (Sonoma), Sunday, June 26, 2011
NASCAR on TNTQuote of the Day: ?If I were the other teams, I?d be switching over to his Racebuddy camera to see how he?s getting around the track because he?s in a totally different zone than these other cars.? – Kyle Petty on Kurt Busch during Lap 27 of 110 TNT NASCAR: Countdown to Green...more»
Video: Utah Highway Patrol wows with 900-horsepower burnout
To anybody who’s ever thought that Utah was a boring state, you may want to retract it after watching this video.
This, dear folks, is a Dodge Charger patrol car. But while most police vehicles of this stature are already more powerful than their standard variants, this particular Charger patrol car is unlike any of its brethren either. Why, you ask? Because it has an output of 900 horsepower.
In a world of don’t-ask-don’t-tell, we’ll spare the questions of why the Utah Highway Patrol has a car this powerful in the first place. What’s important to us is that this Dodge Charger is absolutely and insanely packed with ponies. And as the video will show you, it can do a pretty mean burnout, too. On top of that, it was done for the Coats for Kids charity event, which makes sense because charity benefits like this could always use a spectacle that includes a 900-horsepower burnout from, of all things, a highway patrol car.
Video: Utah Highway Patrol wows with 900-horsepower burnout originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 26 June 2011 06:00 EST.
Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III
25 Senators Demand Robust Transit Funding
In a letter to Finance Committee leaders [PDF], 25 senators today urged adequate funding for mass transit in the next transportation authorization bill.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) led 24 other senators in urging "strengthened" funding for transit. Photo: Examiner
The letter notes that public transportation systems find themselves in a budgetary crisis just as more and more [...]
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) led 24 other senators in urging "strengthened" funding for transit. Photo: Examiner
The letter notes that public transportation systems find themselves in a budgetary crisis just as more and more [...]
JR Motorsports (Aric Almirola / Ron Fellows) Road America Preview
JR MotorsportsEVENT ? Bucyrus 200 (50 laps / 202.4 miles) TRACK ? Road America (4.048-mile 14-turn road course) DATE ? Saturday, June 25, 2011 TV / RADIO ? ESPN (coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 5 p.m. EST) Aric Almirola No. 88 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet ?This is going to be my...more»
Abraham gets second MotoGP season
Karel Abraham and his family Cardion AB team will continue in MotoGP with a satellite Ducati for a second season in 2012. The 21-year-old Czech rider graduated to the premier class this year after six seasons in the lower world championship categories, culminating in a maiden top-level win in the 2010 Moto2 season finale at Valencia.
Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Whiting defends Canada safety car decisions | 2011 F1 season
"It was the right decision to start the race with the safety car. I'm not expecting everyone to agree."
Rumormill: Porsche 550 rumors resurface
Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Etc., Europe, Porsche, Rumormill, Luxury
Another day, another rumored entry-level Porsche. Auto Express is reporting that the German sports car manufacturer may be looking into resurrecting the 550 moniker for a new sub-Boxster model. Stop us if you've heard this one before, but the article claims that the ride will be based on the same bones as the Volkswagen Bluesport Concept that debuted way back in 2009.
The resurrected 550 will get its power from a new 1.6-liter flat-four with a galloping 200 horsepower. The pep will reportedly be shuffled to the rear wheels via a good old-fashioned manual transmission, though Auto Express reports that Porsche may eventually offer a PDK dual-clutch gearbox, as well.
Curb weight is expected to land in the 2,600-pound range thanks to the use of a manual top, and the dash to 60 miles per hour should take somewhere in the neighborhood of six seconds. Is your mouth watering yet?
Porsche 550 rumors resurface originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSchumacher hits back at Irvine
Michael Schumacher has denied being frustrated by his Formula 1 comeback despite former team-mate Eddie Irvine accusing him of having "lost his talent." The seven-time world champion said that he had no problem with his old Ferrari team-mate's hard-hitting comments, made in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine. The four-time grand prix winner, who partnered the German from 1996-199, suggested that it "must be frustrating" to Schumacher that he is no longer the driver that he once was. "No, it is not," said Schumacher when asked if he is finding his return frustrating
Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie
Stoner troubled by tyre temperature
Casey Stoner admitted his Assen qualifying effort was compromised by worries over tyre temperature following his crash at the start of morning practice. In a bizarre string of incidents, all three works Honda team riders - Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso and Hiroshi Aoyama - had heavy falls within two minutes early in today's practice session, with a lack of tyre temperature in left-handers seemingly the cause
Perez confident he is now fully fit
Sergio Perez felt confident he was back to full fitness after completing the opening practice day in Valencia.
Michael Schumacher finally finds his form
In all the excitement following Jenson Button's stunning fightback from last place to victory in the Canadian Grand Prix, one man has been overlooked.
Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher put in by far his most convincing performance since he came out of retirement at the beginning of last year, narrowly missing out on a podium position.
The German legend's race in Montreal was a far cry from some of his lacklustre showings in the last 15 months. Competitively fast and assured in his handling of rivals on the track, he looked like he belonged at the front of a grand prix. And it has been a long time since anyone could confidently say that.
Could this be the beginnings of some consistent form from Schumacher, even a sign that he may yet recover the former greatness that won him a record seven world titles and 91 victories in his first career in Formula 1?
His team principal Ross Brawn, the man who masterminded all of Schumacher's world championships, knows him better than most. He told BBC Sport in an exclusive interview that he had "always had the confidence" Schumacher would make a success of his comeback.
"I wouldn't say (it's) a breakthrough because that's too strong a word," Brawn said, "but there have always been some niggling reasons why Michael's not had the best opportunities to demonstrate what he can do.
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"He's had the odd 'mare of a race, which every racing driver does, but of course when he has one it tends to get focused on.
"But there have been lots of races where his times in the races have been pretty comparable with Nico (Rosberg, his team-mate) but they've not reflected in final results."
Brawn describes Schumacher's drive in Montreal as "some vintage Michael, particularly some of his racecraft and overtaking manoeuvres during the race". And that was indeed one of the most striking aspects of his performance.
At times during his comeback, Schumacher has looked at sea alongside his younger rivals - the most recent example being an embarrassing performance in Turkey.
But in Canada he was fair and robust - positioning his car perfectly in defence, feisty but precise and calculating in attack - and was heavily involved in the sort of strategic decisions with which he and Brawn used to make their rivals look flat-footed.
"If I had to comment," says Brawn, "I think that side of him is better than it used to be because I suppose maybe having to fight your way through or battling in the pack there is more opportunity to demonstrate those skills. But his manoeuvres at the starts of races or the occasions when he demonstrates his race-craft on the track have been quite entertaining this year."
The key call in Canada - in which Schumacher was instrumental - was being the first car to switch to intermediate tyres from full wets after the restart which followed the two-hour race stoppage. That enabled him to be second to championship leader Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull as the field prepared for the final re-start.
A podium would have been a fitting reward, but he lost out to Button and Red Bull's Mark Webber thanks partially to the DRS overtaking device arguably making passing a little too easy in Canada and his second place became a close fourth at the flag. So it is little wonder Schumacher was, as Brawn puts it, "very, very frustrated".
Brawn, though, does not see this as the watershed moment in Schumacher's comeback one might imagine it could be.
"He's a very experienced, confident guy anyway," Brawn says, "so I don't think it will make a dramatic difference to his confidence or his belief in his ability to do it.
"It's a useful boost but I don't think he's a guy who needed something to flip him from one side to another. I don't think he was in a bad position and needed a good result to put him in a good position. He's always been in a pretty good position.
"The main thing is we need to give him a better car. There was a period in the race when the car was probably as good as anyone's and he was the quickest car. If we give him the equipment, he's demonstrated he's as quick as anyone."
Ah, but there's the rub. Has he, really?
In Canada, Schumacher qualified within a hair's breadth of Rosberg and was quicker than him through most the race.
Rosberg, though, had his own problems - his wet tyres were over-pressured, causing him to lose grip, and later on his car sustained significant damage to its floor, costing him key aerodynamic downforce, after he was hit from behind by Adrian Sutil's Force India. So, as Brawn says, "it wasn't an easy race (in which) to compare (the drivers)".
The facts are that Schumacher has generally been out-paced by Rosberg in their 26 races as team-mates. The qualifying record this year stands at six-one in favour of Rosberg, although the two are equal on points so far, which is a big change from last year, when Schumacher was out-scored two to one.
And beyond that there is the question of how good Rosberg is. Has he matured into a world-class F1 driver who can be talked of in the same breath as the sport's current big three - Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Vettel? Or is he - as one paddock wag put it recently - "one of the not-quite-good-enough best drivers in the world"?
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Many questions arise out of this. Is Schumacher doing the job of a man who deserves his place in F1? In Canada, the answer was certainly yes. Does he justify being considered in the top 10? Is he as good as he was? If not, will he ever be?
"That's always the interesting debate," Brawn admits, "because Nico is a reference that's in a little bit of a vacuum because he has not come up against the strongest drivers on a regular basis in the past. But he has matured and improved a lot over the last couple of years, so he's a very strong reference.
"You can play that comparison game any way you like.
"Where is Michael compared to where he was? Is the fact that Nico outqualifies him more often than not a demonstration that Michael is a bit slower than he was or that Nico is an exceptionally quick driver?
"Who knows? I don't have any way of calculating that equation. It's a comparison in a vacuum.
"All I do know is if we get the car better we've got two drivers who can produce the results. It's down to us to improve the car and give them that opportunity."
Mercedes bosses have understandably been reluctant so far to engage in this debate so perhaps the fact Brawn is now willing to give it a go tells you all you need to know about the point Schumacher arrived at in Montreal.
When Schumacher returned to F1 in 2010, Mercedes said he had signed a three-year contract but he has struggled so much at times that there has been constant speculation about whether he will see it out.
If he carries on in the vein of Canada, those doubts will all go away. And Brawn says Mercedes - the team and the wider car company - are happy he is able to perform at the level they require him to be.
"There is no question about that," he says. "Every team wants an unfair advantage, where they can have an average car and the driver takes care of the rest.
"Our car might be even worse than we think and we've got the two fastest drivers in F1. Who knows? We won't know.
"All we know is we're not winning races at the moment and we don't need to change the drivers to fix that, all we need to do is have a faster car."
Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani
Friday, June 24, 2011
Karthikeyan Makes Surprise F1 Return With HRT
Narain Karthikeyan has made a surprise return to Formula One after being announced as one of Hispania HRT’s drivers for the 2011 season. The Indian driver was unveiled as the first racer to be working with the Spanish based squad, who look likely to enter into a second season of racing despite on-going financial concerns. [...]
2012 Renault Koleos facelift revealed
New Kaleos will be offered with two diesels and one petrol unit and comes in a new Cayenne Orange color. 
Smolensk round postponed
Superleague Formula has postponed its maiden trip to the Smolensk Ring until at least 2012 as the circuit will not be ready in time to host the series' proposed September round. Superleague was due to be the first international championship to visit the new track on September 3-4, but received notification from senior track officials on Wednesday that this would not be possible.
Ford would relish Citroen rivalry
Ford team director Malcolm Wilson says he would love to be faced with the kind of internal rivalry going on at the Citroen World Rally Team at the moment. The battle for supremacy on the Acropolis Rally and within Citroen between Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier was the talking point of the seventh round of the World Championship.
Community Boards Line Up for Car-Free Central Park. Whither Bloomberg?
By unanimous voice vote, the full board of Manhattan CB 11 has passed a resolution endorsing a summer trial for a car-free Central Park. Says park advocate Ken Coughlin, “We have the agreement of all the boards surrounding the park and are now waiting for a response from DOT on whether they will move ahead [...]
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Bobby Labonte Mentally Prepared for the Demands of Sonoma?s Road Course
2011 NSCS Bobby Labonte - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCARSONOMA, Calif. (June 22, 2011) – - The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) schedule?s versatility is evident now more than ever. On the heels of Michigan International Speedway, race teams quickly turned things around in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at the 1.99-mile Infineon...more»
Michigan track, ESPN collaborate on title sponsor (NASCAR.com)
Michigan track, ESPN collaborate on title sponsor
Joseph Francis Nemechek III Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines
Lewis Hamilton outburst overshadows Monaco thriller
As if the Monaco Grand Prix had not already been dramatic enough, Lewis Hamilton's controversial comments afterwards will ensure it makes even bigger headlines across the world.
The McLaren driver quoted Ali G, the original spoof character dreamt up by Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen, as he railed against the decision by race stewards to call him to explain his part in two separate incidents during Sunday's event.
Hamilton pointed out to BBC F1 pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie that it was the fifth time in six races this year he had been called to account for his actions, and she asked him why he thought that was.
"Maybe it's because I'm black," he said, laughing. "That's what Ali G said. I dunno."
"People want to see overtaking and racing and you get done for trying to put on a show and make a move," he continued. "Fair play. If I really feel I've gone too late and hit someone, I'll put my hand up and say I've caused the incident and been the stupid one."
Hamilton described his being called to account for incidents for which he felt was blameless as "a joke", and described the rivals in question - Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Williams novice Pastor Maldonado - as "stupid".
What was he going to do about the situation? "I'll just try and keep my mouth shut," he said.
It is too late for that, though, even though McLaren went into damage-limitation mode after the race.
"Immediately after the race he was very down," team principal Martin Whitmarsh said, "and during a post-race TV interview he made a poor joke about his penalties that referenced Ali G. However, I'm pleased to say that he chose to return to the track a little while later to speak to the stewards about the joke. They accepted his explanation."
Hamilton's remarks came at the end of a weekend when nothing seemed to go right for him.
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A wrong call to do only one run in qualifying led to him starting the race from ninth place, after he made a mistake and cut a chicane on his flying lap.
Trying to make up ground in the race, a brilliant early pass on Michael Schumacher was followed by the two collisions with Massa and Maldonado.
Sir Jackie Stewart talks about the importance of ridding yourself of emotion before stepping into a grand prix car, but it looked as if Hamilton had not taken the great man's advice on Sunday.
Hamilton has made himself one of global sport's highest profile figures thanks to his inspirational driving, and cool, youthful image. And he has established himself in the four and a half years of his career as unquestionably the greatest overtaker in F1, as well as arguably its out-and-out fastest driver.
But he did not earn that reputation with performances like that in Monaco on Sunday. BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle described his late lunge down the inside of Massa as "clumsy" and his attempt to pass Maldonado later on was similarly optimistic.
When Hamilton watches the incidents back, I suspect he might agree, as he may well regret his post-race comments when he calms down after what was admittedly an intensely frustrating weekend. It remains to be seen whether they will get him into hot water with governing body the FIA.
In the days of the former president Max Mosley, there is no question Hamilton would have been called up to answer a charge of bringing the sport into disrepute. His successor Jean Todt has taken a less antagonistic approach, but has not yet had to deal with a similar incident.
Brundle said he thought Hamilton had let frustration creep into his driving, and it certainly looked that way.
He entered Monaco expecting to fight for victory and was quick throughout practice on a circuit he adores and on which he excels, only for it all to slip agonisingly through his fingers.
That frustration will be heightened by the fact that Vettel is now in what has to be considered a virtually unassailable position in the championship.
Hamilton is well aware of how good he is. He aches to add more crowns to the one he won in 2008, and even before Monaco it was obvious that the fact this season is likely to be another barren year was already bubbling provocatively inside him.
But the sooner he realises that his quest to win the multiple titles he feels he deserves will not be helped by this sort of reaction, the better it will be for him.
While luck appeared to desert Hamilton in Monaco, the angels are truly smiling on Vettel this season. And it is not even as if he needs them.
Time after time, circumstance has intervened to make the German's path to victory easier than it should have been, and Vettel has taken full advantage.
Vettel's victory in Monaco on Sunday, his first in the principality, was his fifth in six grands prix so far this season. Only Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell, Schumacher and Jenson Button have achieved that and all of them ended the season in question as champions.
Vettel now leads the championship by 58 points - that means Hamilton, his closest pursuer, would have to take two wins and a sixth place with the Red Bull driver not scoring just to draw level.
It is the sort of margin that can be closed only by a driver in the best car. The problem is that it is Vettel himself who enjoys that luxury and, boy, is he capitalising on it.
His and Red Bull's domination is being founded on their blistering superiority in qualifying. In races, as Sunday demonstrated yet again, the Red Bull is far more vulnerable.
This time, a mix-up at Vettel's first pit stop meant he rejoined on the harder of the two tyre choices, the softs, when Red Bull had been intending to put him on the super-softs, which his closest pursuer Button chose to fit at his first stop.
The mistake made, Red Bull altered their strategy, in light of a mid-race safety car period, and decided to try to make it to the end of the race on those tyres.
That meant Vettel entered the final 30 laps of the race with tyres that were already 32 laps old and with two of F1's finest drivers closing in fast on fresher rubber.
The tyres on Fernando Alonso's Ferrari were 17 laps younger than Vettel's, Button's a full 31; and with a little less than 20 laps to go the three of them were running nose to tail.
Vettel, driving brilliantly as he has all year, had held them off relatively comfortably until a big crash involving Hamilton, Vitaly Petrov, Jaime Alguersuari and Adrian Sutil brought out the safety car again and subsequently the red flag.
The 20-minute stoppage before the race was resumed robbed millions of viewers around the world of what promised to be a spectacular climax to the race - it meant all the drivers could fit fresh tyres and Vettel survived the last eight laps of the re-started race without incident.
It will never be known whether he could have held off Alonso and Button had the race not been stopped.
But McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale told BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz that by their calculations Vettel's tyres had no more than three more laps before they "dropped off the cliff", as F1 teams have taken to describing the moment the Pirellis that have done so much for the racing this year finally lose all their grip.
If Neale was right, even at Monaco Vettel would surely not have been able to hold Alonso and Button back.
Even Red Bull team principal Christian Horner admitted luck had shone on his team, saying the red flag was a "reprieve".
It was just the latest example of a recurring phenomenon this year. For all Vettel's searing qualifying pace, he is vulnerable in races, but events are transpiring to give him the breathing space he needs to keep winning.
Monaco followed Australia, Malaysia and Turkey this year as a race in which he might have faced a more serious challenge but didn't.
The championship may already appear to be a formality but the races themselves are making up for it with a combination of action and unpredictability that F1 has never seen before.
Next up is the Canadian Grand Prix, on one of the least favourable tracks for Red Bull, the long straights at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve favouring the extra power of McLaren's Mercedes engine and Ferrari over the Renault in the Red Bull.
Last year, Red Bull could manage only fourth and fifth in Montreal, behind Hamilton, Button and Alonso, in a race that prompted the decision to ask new supplier Pirelli to produce tyres that degraded rapidly.
The unique track surface there made the super-durable Bridgestones used last year behave like the Pirellis are doing at every race this season, and prompted the most exciting grand prix of the year.
If that happened when the racing was sometimes processional, even if the title fight was thrilling, the mind boggles at what could happen there in 2011.
Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte
Hamlin scores his first win of 2011
Denny Hamlin held off Matt Kenseth to claim his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory of the season at Michigan on Sunday.
Video: Nissan GT-R takes on Aprilia RSV4 at Monticello
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan, Motorcycle
Nissan GT-R vs. Aprilia RS4 Factory APRC SE - Click above to watch video after the jump
Car versus motorcycle is a never-ending debate, which can leave both sides of the room shouting and pointing (middle) fingers. Hell for Leather certainly sits on one side of the debate, but the crew also knows a thing or two about four-wheeled modes of transportation. Aprilia came to the HFL team to help produce a video showing what the new 2011 RSV4 Factory APRC SE can do against an automobile on a track.
Monticello's Mushroom track would be the place for the showdown, and the opponent is none other than a 2010 Nissan GT-R. Since these are two-wheel-loving folks, you can excuse them for stating that the 2010 GT-R produces 530 horsepower. It doesn't. The 2012 version certainly does, but the 2010 car "gets by" with 485. Still, the coupe is a track assassin, and a worthy opponent to the Aprilia.
How does each machine fare? Click past the jump for the clip.
Continue reading Nissan GT-R takes on Aprilia RSV4 at Monticello
Nissan GT-R takes on Aprilia RSV4 at Monticello originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsThe Final Lap #162 ? Red Bull Racing
SHOW #162 – We recap the Michigan weekend, discuss the recent Red Bull Racing announcement, and preview the road course racing action from Road America and Infineon Raceway this weekend. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop LISTEN HERE (About 42 mins) Download audio file (tfl_podcast_162_11.mp3) SUBSCRIBE HERE DOWNLOAD HERE SUBSCRIBE FROM iTUNES: Take us [...]
Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Could Hamilton join Red Bull?
As Lewis Hamilton ponders the fall-out from his controversial performance in Canada, he has more on his mind than a few lost points in the world championship.
Formula 1's most exciting driver is pondering his future as he watches Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel canter to a second consecutive world title.
As Mark Hughes explained in his column, Hamilton's frustration is down to the fact that he believes he is the fastest driver in the world, that he would be beat any of his rivals if they were all driving the same car. It is a belief largely shared within Formula 1.
Most would probably say Fernando Alonso was the best driver - by which they mean the most complete - but they would agree that Hamilton is certainly the quickest. Although Vettel is gaining increasing support in both categories.
For Hamilton, it is proving increasingly hard to cope with the fact that he has won the world title just once, in 2008, and that he is facing a third consecutive year in a car that is arguably not really fast enough to allow him to compete for another.
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McLaren's race pace - far superior to its qualifying speed - is clouding the issue slightly, but it's hard to argue with Vettel's five wins and two second places in seven races.
Given these circumstances, it is easy to see why the 26-year-old Englishman might be beginning to wonder whether McLaren is the team to satisfy his burning ambitions.
Not for the first time, the concept of Hamilton joining Red Bull raised its head again in Montreal - and that was even before Autosport revealed on Monday that he had spent 15 minutes in a private meeting with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner on Saturday evening at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
According to Autosport, the meeting was described by a Red Bull "source" as a "social visit". That "source" may or may not be Horner himself.
Hamilton has played down the idea of leaving McLaren, saying the team have a car capable of winning races and that there is no reason to leave while they remain competitive. He also says it is not unusual for him to talk to rival team bosses.
But that is not an outright denial, so the issue of his future will continue to remain a source of speculation.
Could the meeting with Horner be the start of serious negotiations about a move to Red Bull? Certain sections of the media suggest it is wrong to attach too much significance to Saturday's chat, claiming it would be foolish for a driver to walk over to a rival team's HQ in full view of the F1 paddock with the express intention of discussing his future.
But people have either got short memories or do not pay close enough attention.
When Alonso joined McLaren for 2007, it was the culmination of a process that began in 2005. Ron Dennis, who was the team boss of McLaren at the time, mooted the idea to the Spaniard in a chance conversation as both men waited to go out on to the podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Alonso having just won his first world title for Renault.
Likewise, in Belgium in 2007, with his relationship with McLaren in pieces, Alonso strolled over to the Red Bull motorhome, where he discussed the chances of joining the team with Horner as they sat on the open top deck. I know, because I watched them from the upper level of the paddock.
And so the 2011 F1 driver market 'silly season' starts in earnest.
Alonso has just signed up with Ferrari until 2016, the double world champion is not going anywhere. The same goes for Vettel, who is under contract to Red Bull until 2013. So, of F1's big three, that leaves Hamilton.
Theoretically, he is contracted to McLaren until next year, the result of a five-year deal that was signed in the wake of his stunning debut season alongside Alonso in 2007.
That has always been assumed to be a firm five-year contract, which means any move Hamilton makes - to Red Bull, for example - would have to wait until 2013.
However, it would be very unusual for a driver to sign away his future to a team for that length of time without any opt-out clauses, even if - as in the case of Hamilton and McLaren - that team had groomed him for success since he was 11 years old.
And even if the contract is solid, it does not mean Hamilton cannot move. As one veteran driver manager said: "I don't know the details of Hamilton's contract but if the team-driver relationship gets to an irreconcilable point then it won't matter what the contract says."
So a Hamilton move to Red Bull for next year cannot be ruled out, especially in light of the mixed messages coming out of Red Bull about the future of Mark Webber.
On Thursday, Horner said Webber had made it clear he would like to drive for the team next year, adding that he felt the Australian still had the "motivation and desire" and that Red Bull were "very happy with him in the team".
But 24 hours later, Webber did not sound so sure. "We'll see how we go," he said. "There's a bit to go yet in the summer. Keep thinking."
So what is going on?
Horner shrugged his shoulders when I asked why Webber would say that if he had told him he wanted to continue. But when I explained the situation to a man with long experience of the driver market, he said: "I think you can read that as Horner trying to tease another driver out, getting him to make up his mind."
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Could that driver be Hamilton? Is it a coincidence that the Englishman went to speak to Horner two days after the Red Bull boss made those comments to the media?
On the face of it, you might wonder why Red Bull would want Hamilton. They already have Vettel. Putting Hamilton alongside the German would be a wonderful proposition for F1's audience but it would be a massive headache for those inside the team. And such a move would be guaranteed to infuriate Vettel, the company's blue-eyed boy wonder.
But from a global marketing perspective, what could be better? Red Bull have long made a point of letting their drivers race. What better scenario for a company wishing to project an exciting, dynamic, youthful image, than two of F1's three most exciting drivers going at it head-to-head in the same team?
It would be a tricky situation for Horner to handle, as he has already admitted himself, but why would that be a concern for Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz?
Equally, while Vettel would probably be furious at having Hamilton alongside him to start with, he might well come round to the idea. He already has an advantage as the incumbent and, while he may not be as fast as Hamilton, he is, by reputation, better at working with his engineers to get the best out of his car.
If Hamilton did go to Red Bull, it would be in place of Webber. The Australian will not be drawn on the apparent disconnect between his words in Montreal and Horner's but many believe he will leave the team at the end of the year - either into retirement or to another team for one last hurrah.
That team could be Ferrari, where Felipe Massa's future is in question. The Brazilian has a contract for 2012 but he is an inconsistent performer. He is pretty close to Alonso at some races but nowhere near at others.
Massa, I'm told, will keep his seat if he puts in a strong showing at the next race, the European Grand Prix at Valencia on 26 June. If not, Webber is one of the drivers on Ferrari's list of candidates.
Ferrari are, I understand, also interested in Jenson Button and have had some contact with him. When Button joined McLaren in 2010, it was said that he had a three-year contract. But I am told he is a free agent at the end of this year if he wants to be. The prospect - however slim - of losing both his drivers must be giving McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh sleepless nights.
Ferrari are also interested in Nico Rosberg, who has impressed since joining Michael Schumacher at Mercedes last year. However, the rumours are Rosberg has been offered a big pay packet to stick with the German team.
That is not surprising given the uncertain form of Schumacher, whose excellent performance in Montreal will not bury memories of less convincing races elsewhere.
Schumacher is on a three-year deal but will he continue beyond 2011 if he cannot retain the speed he showed in Canada? If he doesn't, Paul di Resta, who has impressed enormously in his debut season with Force India, must be a strong candidate to replace him, as a Mercedes prot駩.
How many of these prospective moves actually happen remains to be seen but it certainly promises to be an interesting summer.
2012 BMW F10 M5 on the track [video]
Video provides a glimpse of what the new F10 M5 can do on a track putting its 560 horses to work. 
INDYCAR: Milwaukee Rewind
Marshall Pruett looks at the Franchitti/Power tire controversy from Milwaukee, the odd points standings after 7 rounds, awards the Golden Bowling Ball and more.
Name That Shifter, No. 29: 1990 Isuzu Impulse XS
On Monday we presented this week?s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence it came. Many of you guessed that this week?s rubber-booted shifter was from a Geo Storm. Only a few of you surmised the shifter was from the Storm?s Japanese cousin, the 1990 Isuzu Impulse [...]
VW of America says 'no' to Volkswagen GTI Edition 35
U.S. unit of Volkswagen says it can develop its own special editions and believes the Edition 35 isn't a good fit for the American market. 
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