Saturday
De la Rosa: New floor helping HRT
Report: McLaren MP4-12C Fire Black SGP Edition for Singapore, priced over $1M
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, McLaren
Despite the fact that the design study of its all-new P1 supercar is set to debut in Paris next week, McLaren is still keeping busy selling its existing MP4-12C model. We've heard news of other special edition Macs, after seeing the one-off X-1 Concept at Pebble Beach, and now it seems that a limited edition MP4-12C will be made available for the supercar-inclined one-percenters of Singapore.
Slated to be delivered this weekend to coincide with the Singapore Grand Prix are three Fire Black SGP Edition McLaren MP4-12Cs. Very little is known about these specially modded Macs, save that they feature a unique paint scheme, matching interior, revised front and rear bumpers and lightweight wheels.
According to the rumor-dropper at Teeemspeed, each of the special-edition cars will command a whopping $1.28 million SGD (around $1.04 million U.S.) asking price. Lest you think that price is too steep for even the very capable MP4-12C, note that two of the cars have allegedly been spoken for.
McLaren MP4-12C Fire Black SGP Edition for Singapore, priced over $1M originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/21/mclaren-mp4-12c-fire-black-sgp-edition-for-singapore-priced-ove/
BMW expands to eight cars from 2013
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/miscellaneous/dtm/bmw-expands-to-eight-cars-from-2013
Gronholm delays rallycross comeback
Vincent and Rhyne victorious in Japan
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing/vincent-and-rhyne-victorious-in-japan
Friday
Drivers react to new rules changes dictating rear steering
This week, NASCAR issued new rules (or, if you prefer, "clarifications") regarding bushings in the rear suspension that gave drivers the ability to manipulate the rear handling of their cars. Both the reasons behind, and the potential effects of, the rule change were a topic of conversation at Richmond International Raceway on Friday.
In easy terms: NASCAR has decreed that the tiny sleeves that allow the car's rear arms to move may now be no longer than a quarter of an inch. Hendrick teams had been making the sleeves of softer material, giving the driver more control over the car's movements. Brad Keselowski, among others, has criticized the engineering maneuver, but until now, it was perfectly within bounds.
The timing is curious (and, for Hendrick conspiracy theorists, problematic): making a change in the first race of the Chase is a recipe for controversy, at the least. Still, there's doubt as to how much of an effect the change will have.
[What to watch for: Federated Auto Parts 400]
"It probably won't change a lot," Matt Kenseth said on Friday. "Everybody was kind of on to what they were doing anyway. For me, it might make it better because it didn't seem like we had it quite nailed down like the other guys did."
Jimmie Johnson, as expected, had a slightly different view: "I think NASCAR made it known that they are just putting parameters on what is going on," he said. "There is no change ... The field migrates quickly in certain directions, and I think NASCAR is just making sure that people understand the parameters so they can regulate in post-race and find ways to make sure no one is going above and beyond."
And Jeff Gordon? The man whose interests depend on getting that extra edge noted that he is, indeed, trying to get that extra edge: "When you watch on TV and see the cars skewed, running sideways down the straightaways, it's pretty obvious what everybody is trying to do," he said. "Everybody is trying to get as much downforce in the car as possible. And every time NASCAR comes up with a rule, you go, OK, how do we get around the rule? I feel like that's what everybody is doing, and our guys have done a lot of work in that area to gain that advantage and I give them all the credit in the world."
However, Gordon was quick to point out that this wasn't anything done without NASCAR's knowledge: "When we presented it to NASCAR for approval, they didn't act like it was something they had never seen before," he said. "I don't even think we were the first ones to do it."
And, naturally, where one team goes, others will follow. "We all started working on it once we saw what they were doing," said Kyle Busch. "It's follow the leader. You really don't have many secrets here in the garage area very long. We started going to work on those kind of things, too, and trying to manipulate some of the same things they were doing."
The effects of the change will depend on exactly how reliant each team was on the bushings' benefits. Like everything else in the Chase, it'll be a wait-and-see situation.
Baseball video from Yahoo! Sports:
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? NFL's most valuable franchise hasn't been to Super Bowl in 16 years
? Brian Scalabrine says he's likely retiring, will pursue broadcasting
? Michael Jordan to serve as adviser for U.S. Ryder Cup team
? Y! News: See photos of the Obama girls all grown up
Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot
Grosjean feels stronger after ban
Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard Brian Gubby AndrŠ¹ Guelfi
Class A Time to Shine in Windy City
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/all-news/class-a-time-to-shine-in-windy-city
Hunter-Reay takes IndyCar title
Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin
Thursday
Class A Time to Shine in Windy City
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/all-news/class-a-time-to-shine-in-windy-city
Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick
LeMons Thunderhill Day One: BMW 5 Series Leads, Soccer Mom Minivan Dominating Class C
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/a2TIuDA6VL4/
First Drive: 2013 Fiat Strada [w/poll]
Filed under: Truck, Europe, Work, First Drives, Fiat
Should Fiat Sell This Tiny Truck In The U.S.?
"Niche" is the word of the day. No, this funky, spot-on little pickup from Fiat do Brasil was never designed or destined to put up huge sales numbers in North America, but we think it might fit in perfectly with the niche-loving image of this Italian brand in the United States. And why not? Executives have spoken of bringing over their range of Fiat Professional models in the next couple of years, and we remain foolishly hopeful something like the Strada might be on that boat.
Regular Autoblog readers know of our almost knee-jerk love of hot hatchbacks, station wagons, diesels and other less-than-popular automotive subsets. We too are aware of this quiverful of weaknesses - hell, we embrace them. And perhaps more than any other underserved niche, we cheer for the return of truly small pickups to the U.S. en masse, preferably with quirky solutions and deliberately fun chassis and body combos as on this Strada.
Built primarily at Fiat's huge Betim factory in Brazil, and contracted out to other South American countries, as well as to Russia, these wee Strada pickups can be seen everywhere in the sub-Caribbean western hemisphere. For my day of driving and actually delivering stuff, I was handed a finished prototype of the 2013 Fiat Strada Adventure double-cab. If I use the unprofessional term "fun" too much in this review, cut me some slack. This journalist is just old enough to remember driving new Pennsylvania-built Volkswagen Rabbit pickups that lived their love-hate existence in the U.S. from the late-1970s into the early 1980s. And who can forget the sassy Subaru Brat with those two rear-facing seats in the bed that were immediate darlings over at NHTSA? And I speak from personal experience, having driven a Mitsubishi turbodiesel pickup that taught me how to kick broken-down cars in anger.
Continue reading 2013 Fiat Strada [w/poll]
2013 Fiat Strada [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/20/2013-fiat-strada-first-drive-review/
Dale Earnhardt Jr.?s moving letter to his 16-year-old self
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had a life that few of us could even imagine, and there are times when even he doesn't seem to be able to believe he is where he is. In a moving segment on "CBS This Morning," Earnhardt reads a letter to his 16-year-old self, advising him on family, racing and confidence. It's some powerful stuff, and it might just inspire you to think a little differently about the 88.
[H/t to Highflyjet]
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Notre Dame protects treasured football schedule with move to ACC
? Newly released 2013 MLB schedule features year-round interleague play
? Insurance policy isn't to blame for spate of injuries in UFC
? Yahoo! News: How safe is America's nuclear stockpile?
David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss
2013 Ford Taurus SHO Tested: Maybe the Most Bull for the Buck
Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani
Wednesday
NASCAR drivers divided on proposed Bristol changes
Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/nascar-drivers-divided-on-proposed-bristol-changes.html
Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman
Pedestrian Hit at Nostrand Avenue and St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights
At approximately 1:30 this afternoon, a van driver struck an unidentified man at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Reader David Sessions was in a nearby [...]
Loeb still pushing for GB victory
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki
Munoz wins, Vautier takes title
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/munoz-wins-vautier-takes-title
Tuesday
No Charges for Drivers Who Killed Seniors in Manhattan and Brooklyn
Pelagia Zingtapan and Gitzella Katz. Photos via New York Post and DNAinfo, respectively.
Yesterday afternoon, 65-year-old Pelagia Zingtapan was struck by a yellow cab driver [...]
Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman
Ryan Newman officially re-ups with Stewart-Haas Racing
Ryan Newman is returning to Stewart-Haas Racing.
The driver of the No. 39 was scheduled to be a free agent at the end of 2012, but will be back on a one-year deal for 2013. Over the summer, both Newman and team owner/driver Tony Stewart said a priority was Newman's contract renewal.
SHR will field three full-time cars in 2013; for Stewart, Newman and Danica Patrick. However, Patrick is the only one of the three that has full-season sponsorship announced. Newman has operated with a variety of different sponsors while at SHR, and the team's biggest sponsor, the U.S. Army, announced earlier in the year that it wouldn't be returning to the team in 2013. On Sunday at Atlanta, Office Depot, Stewart's largest sponsor, announced that it wouldn't be returning to the hood of Stewart's car next year either.
With a win Saturday night at Richmond, Newman, currently 17th in the Sprint Cup points standings, would qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. During his four-season tenure at Stewart-Haas Racing, Newman has qualified for the Chase twice.
Is This the Best Transit Ad Ever?
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/14/is-this-the-best-transit-ad-ever/
Cortese wins to extend points lead
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/cortese-wins-to-extend-points-lead
Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith JosŠ¹ FroilŠ±n GonzŠ±lez Oscar GonzŠ±lez
Monday
2012 Chase Prospects: From zero (wins) to hero for Martin Truex Jr.?
At times, it's looked like Martin Truex Jr. has been poised to grab his first win for Michael Waltrip Racing. But, alas, it hasn't been meant to be, whether it was at Kansas when the handling on his car disappeared when the sun came out or at Atlanta, when Jamie McMurray blew a tire with just four laps to go, erasing Truex's large lead.
And while he's 0-fer this season, those strong performances are the main reason he's in this year's Chase for the first time since he signed on with MWR. In 26 races, he has 14 top 10s.
The last two weekends, Truex has lamented his team's bad luck that's prevented them from reaching victory lane. But let's be honest; that luck will have to change rather quickly if Truex is to be a strong contender in the Chase. Will it?
Best Chase track: If you take away a crash at Talladega, Truex's lowest finish at a Chase track in 2012 is 12th. We'll go with Dover, the site of his only Sprint Cup Series win and where he finished seventh in June.
Worst Chase track: By average finish, it's Talladega and Kansas. But Talladega is a crapshoot and Kansas is a completely new track. Next up on the list would be Martinsville, but Truex finished fifth there earlier this season.
NB's prediction: 11th. Much like Brad Keselowski last year, given the improvement at Michael Waltrip Racing, using past history may not be the best guide to how Truex will perform in the Chase. But that said, the recent history doesn't have any wins either. Truex has been running well enough to win, however, and if that luck turns, he's the perfect candidate to be this year's Tony Stewart.
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? Adrian Wojnarowski: Dominic McGuire reaches agreement to play for Raptors
? Brian Murphy: PGA's best make FedEx Cup a playoffs worth watching
? Loving MMA isn't cheap: How much four fans spent on their favorite sport
? Martin Rogers: USA Soccer's World Cup hopes jeopardized by a proud Jamaica squad
Hunter-Reay takes IndyCar title
Pickett HPD back on top in ALMS
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/pickett-hpd-back-on-top-in-alms
Olivier Grouillard Brian Gubby AndrŠ¹ Guelfi Miguel Šngel Guerra
What do Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon have to do? Here?s the Wild Card math
We know that two of NASCAR's biggest names won't be part of the 12 man Chase for the Sprint Cup Series field, and we'll find out which two Saturday night at Richmond.
Eight drivers are mathematically alive for the two Wild Card spots, but the most realistic opportunities belong to Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne. How realistic? Well, here are the clinching scenarios for each driver. (Note: Tony Stewart in 10th is guaranteed a place in the Chase, either via the top 10 or a Wild Card berth. His performance on Saturday could impact the Wild Card race significantly.
Kasey Kahne (11th, -18 points behind 10th, 2 wins): As the only driver outside the top 10 with two wins, Kahne's got the easiest path to the Chase. No matter what, if another of the seven drivers eligible for the Wild Card doesn't win, he's in the Chase. If he gains 19 points on Stewart, he's in the top 10 and in the Chase. If Busch gets into the top 10 (knocking Stewart into a Wild Card spot) and Gordon wins -- the ultimate worst case scenario for Kahne -- he needs to finish 13th with no laps led to stay ahead of Gordon.
Kyle Busch (12th, -23 points, 1 win): Win and Busch is in. If he doesn't, he's got a 12 point cushion on Gordon and a 40 point cushion on Ambrose. If neither of those two (and the other five drivers) win and Busch maintains those leads, he's in. And he's also in if he gets past both Kahne and Stewart into the top 10. As Jay pointed out on Sunday night, Busch's Richmond stats are damn good.
Jeff Gordon (13th, -35 points, 1 win): Win and Gordon is in. But here's where things start to get tricky if none of the one-win drivers win.. Assuming Busch doesn't get in the top 10, Gordon needs to make up those 12 points on Busch while keeping his 28 point margin on Ambrose and his 37 point lead on Newman. If Busch does get into the top 10, part of that worst case scenario for Kahne above, Gordon has to win and overcome his 17 point deficit to Kahne.
Carl Edwards (14th, -49 points, o wins): Carl's chances of sneaking into the top 10 went up in smoke with his engine on Sunday night, and it's a dastardly situation for Edwards. If he wins, Busch can finish no better than 24th with no laps led while Gordon finishes no better than 12th with no laps led. Yikes.
Paul Menard (15th, -59 points, 0 wins): This may sting for all the Menard-dogs out there, but the only reason he's in this column is because he's technically still mathematically alive for a Chase spot. And while we can never say never, that math is kind of like Calculus II. If Menard wins, Busch has to finish 34th or worse with no laps led while Gordon finishes 22nd or worse with no laps led. If Menard pulls this off, it'll replace the Channel 2 incident as his most memorable Richmond moment.
Marcos Ambrose (16th, -63 points, 1 win): If Ambrose doesn't win and automatically clinch, the probabilities aren't in his favor, as he's got to beat Busch by 41 points and 29 ahead of Gordon. So that's a second place finish for Ambrose, a last place finish for Busch and a 31st place finish for Gordon. If Menard's was Calc II, this is Quantum Physics.
Ryan Newman (17th, -72 points, 1 win) and Joey Logano (18th, -105 points, 1 win): This math is simple; Newman and Logano are in with a win. Otherwise, they're out.
So, who you got? Will we see a scenario like Jeremy Mayfield in 2004? Or will the standings look like they do right now?
Heikki Kovalainen Kevin Harvick Armour Vienna Sausage Kroger Chevrolet Clint Bowyer
Sunday
Pirelli test car hit by alternator issue
Is This the Best Transit Ad Ever?
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/09/14/is-this-the-best-transit-ad-ever/
Latvala holds narrow lead in Wales
NASCAR in the Desert: On the Pole in Phoenix, Yoda Is
Martin qualified his Michael Waltrip Racing #55 fastest.
He is the all-time leader in top fives, top tens and lead lap finished at Phoenix International Raceway.
Nice though, a win would be, hmmm.
Photo credit: Getty Images for NASCAR
Logano takes Chicagoland pole in Nationwide
With six wins to his credit in 15 starts this season, Logano took his fourth pole of the season by earning the top spot in qualifying for Saturday?s Dollar General 300 at the Chicagoland (Joliet) Speedway.
? I thought it was a pretty decent lap,? said Logano after his lap. ?This was one of our worst races of the year here last year. We?ve made it a lot better here this year.?
Logano took the pole with a lap averaging 177.649 mph around the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, marking the 20th time in his Nationwide Series career that he will lead the field to the green flag.
?I?m exicted about it. I feel like I have a shot at another win here today,? said Logano.
Current Nationwide Series point leader and winner of the most recent race at Chicagoland Speedway in July, Elliott Sadler, will start this afternoon?s event from the fifth position.
SadlerR...