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The other day on our Facebook page, I asked you which racing legend - past or present - you would like to share a dinner with. I want to thank everyone who took the time to write their selection.

I have been covering the auto racing world for a few decades now, and I have come across several champions on and off the track. I have also done a lot of research for newspapers, magazines and TV shows.

Here are five race car drivers who have made a lasting impression on me and with whom I would definitely like to spend a couple of hours one on one.

JIM CLARK
The Scottish champ was a true virtuoso behind the wheel. Going fast seemed so easy for him. How surprising from a man who used to breed sheep as a young boy. Clark excelled in numerous racing series and made it look almost effortless. In fact, he couldn't explain why and how he was so fast on the track. This diamond in the rough disappeared in 1968 during a Formula 2 race in Hockenheim.

Jim Clark, Lotus-Ford of Formula 1 (Photo: Ford)

AJ FOYT
The feisty Texan often lost his cool, but that's just part of the nature of this great competitor, who never went down without a fight. Foyt was hard to beat on oval speedways, whether in IndyCar or stock car races. His four victories at the Indy 500 are certainly no fluke. Throughout his stellar racing career that stretched over five decades, Foyt impressed legions of fans not only as a driver but also as a mechanic and race strategist.

RICHARD PETTY
The King needs no further introduction. The 7-time NASCAR Cup champion and 7-time Daytona 500 champion has won 200 races in NASCAR and is the quintessential American driver. Sporting his signature hat and sunglasses, Petty is a remarkable human being who left me nearly speechless the one time I got to meet him. A simple, honest man off the track, and a fearsome opponent on the track.

TAZIO NUVOLARI
The famous Italian started on two wheels and then made the switch to auto racing in the 1930s. He drove monstrous Bugattis, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis and Auto Unions at a time when safety didn't exist and death was part of the show. He competed in Formula 1, at Le Mans, in the Mille Miglia and many other races held on makeshift tracks with trees, houses and ravines on each side. Nuvolari was smart and fearless. He never let down those who believed in him.

WALTER RÖHRL
Germany's Walter Röhrl was extremely fast no matter which car he drove and which conditions he faced. This rally master earned victories for Opel, Fiat, Lancia and Audi in the WRC. He won four times at Monte-Carlo... with four different cars! Röhrl also dominated on road courses, even when Mother Nature ruined the day. Nothing seemed to stop him.

What do you think of my selections?

For an auto critic, reviewing $100,000 cars is quite a challenge. Actually, it's probably easier for some of us, but on a personal note there are only a few cars boasting an over-one-hundred grand price tag that I would consider selling the house for. The redesigned BMW 6 Series Coupé isn't one of them.


Oh, it's not because the 2012 650i xDrive isn't any good; in fact, it's damn near perfect. It's got everything a luxury car owner desires, including a melodious V8 engine, a lavishly finished cockpit, tons of techno gadgets and all-wheel drive. And that's the problem: It's too good. Yet, I must find things to complain about, so here goes:

Four hundred horsepower through all four wheels
The 650i Coupé is equipped with BMW's 4.4L V8, force-fed by two turbochargers which develops 400 broncos as well as 450 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters is standard, and since xDrive is also standard, no manual transmission is available. If you want to row it yourself, you must choose a rear-wheel drive 650i Cabriolet. Aha! I found a shortcoming.

With the Sport Plus mode activated, the big two-door rips to 100 km/h in 5 seconds and, when equipped with the optional M Sport package (as is our test car) it keeps accelerating until it reaches an electronically controlled terminal velocity of 250 km/h.

Yet, in Comfort mode, the engine is also quite capable of snoozing silently at legal highway speeds, providing reasonable fuel economy at the same time. Alas, our mix of city and spirited driving resulted in an average of 14.9L/100km.

The 6 Series Coupé is only available in Canada with a 400-hp V8, an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. (Photo: BMW)

It's a GT
Sure, this car can tackle any winding road, and the Sport and Sport Plus modes stiffen up the suspension and steering so the driver can benefit from feeling just how the 650i behaves.

On the other hand, the 6 Series Coupé is more of a Grand Touring car than a raw, no-holds-barred sports coupe such as the Porsche 911 Carrera S or the Nissan GT-R. It doesn't have their razor-sharp reflexes, but that's OK; the compromise is a more isolated and less punishing ride.

The xDrive system is great for the winter. It's a rear-wheel biased setup that sends power to the front wheels when slippage occurs, and it reacts quickly and effectively.

This car can tackle any winding road. (Photo: BMW)

Buttons, buttons, buttons
The steering wheel is loaded with ‘em. The centre stack has a bunch of them. You'll find plenty of buttons on the left of the wheel. And on the centre console, you get to play with more buttons and switches, as well as a rotary knob.

Ah, the iDrive. From zero to hero, BMW's infotainment system is my favourite among luxury brands, especially compared to Mercedes-Benz and Audi. BMW's iDrive is now simple to use while driving, and the system's features are well sorted out on the LCD screen.

Since our 2012 BMW 650i xDrive Coupé is loaded with virtually every option, a lot of said buttons are there to turn on and off the various electronic safety devices baked in, such as the camera system, lane-departure warning, blind-spot detection and Night Vision.

With those magnificent front seats, you can also get butt massagers, ventilated seatbacks and cushions, as well as a multitude of adjustments to get comfy for long rides. The back seat will fit small children, although adults can squeeze in if someone helps them out. You might expect more space in such a big car; I know I did.

No $100,000 luxury car would be complete without a cockpit dressed in the finest leathers, plastics and aluminum trim, and the 650i doesn't disappoint in said area. The stitched cowhide on the centre console that rises and expands over the glove box looks good, and makes you forget about the dull, ‘80s-style rows of stereo and climate control buttons.

The 1,200-watt, 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround sound system deserves a round of applause. Its phenomenal sound quality is accentuated by the dash-mounted centre speaker that rises and lowers when you turn the system on and off. However, this brilliant stereo is a $5,900 option, or roughly half the price of a new Nissan Versa. If you can afford a $100,000 automobile, I'll assume you won't mind paying an extra six grand for this.

The cockpit is an orgy of leather, metal and high-grade plastics, and the optional Bang & Olufsen stereo is brilliant. (Photo: BMW)

Did I mention it costs $100,000?
The 2012 650i xDrive Coupé carries a base price of $101,500. A Mercedes-Benz CLS 550 4MATIC is more powerful and about 15 grand cheaper, by the way.

With the Executive package, the M Sport package, the Technology package, the Premium Seating package, the BMW Apps package, LED headlights as well as the aforementioned stereo and Night Vision system, this test car costs $132,400. Ouch.

For that price, you get one helluva car. A car that flirts with perfection. And that's its biggest shortcoming. You see, a perfect car is rarely one that has character, and what makes a car special and memorable. The 650i lacks this magic.

If you like obsessive perfection, the BMW 6 Series might be for you. But there are nastier, more temperamental choices out there for the same price.

From GMM

Timo Glock has counted himself out of this year's driver 'silly season'.

Theoretically, there are 2013 race seats up for grabs at teams including grandees Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes.

But Timo Glock, whose career has floundered at the back of the grid since Toyota pulled out of the sport three years ago, suggested to German website motorsport-total.com that he remains committed to Marussia.

When asked if he is watching the 2013 driver market very carefully, the 30-year-old answered in the negative, because "I know how my future looks".

Asked specifically if that means he is already under contract to his current team for a fourth consecutive season in 2013, Glock answered: "Yes, correct."

As for whether he would answer his phone if the boss of another team tried to call him, he admitted: "No matter who it is, I always politely answer the phone!"

Timo Glock. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

The German might however be forgiven for regretting his decision to turn down an offer from the then Renault team at the end of 2009.

Although the Enstone based squad - now Lotus - is fielding one of the very best cars in 2012, the team's future was very clouded three years ago.

So Glock instead signed with Virgin, now Marussia.

"No. In the same situation, I would do the same now," he insisted when asked about his Renault snub.

But has he ever wondered how his career might have panned out differently, had he taken a punt and signed with Renault/Lotus?

"No, never. If I make a decision, and I know why I made the decision, then there's no point whining or wondering 'what if' afterwards. Only I know the situation as it was then, no one else (does). So what I decided was absolutely correct," insisted Glock.

From GMM

Nico Rosberg has undoubtedly had the measure of Michael Schumacher since the seven time world champion returned to the sport in 2010.

That is the reluctant view of Sebastian Vettel, the reigning world champion who is so close to Schumacher that the German press still often refers to him as 'Baby Schumi'.

Throughout most of Schumacher's initial 16-year formula one career, the great German utterly dominated the sport, becoming its most successful driver ever and always standing tall over those at the wheel of sister cars.

But since returning with Mercedes in 2010, it is teammate Nico Rosberg who has shone the brightest in the silver cars, with Germany's Sport1 pointing out that the younger German has beaten Schumacher in qualifying 36:13.

And in the races, the Rosberg-to-Schumacher points ratio is 308:177, the 27-year-old scoring 5 podiums to Schumacher's single top-three finish, while Rosberg has a pole and win.

Mercedes AMG team celebrating Nico Rosberg's win at Shanghai. (Photo: WRi2)

Vettel has to admit that his friend and mentor has been outshone.

"On the one hand you can say that Michael has forgotten nothing and is clearly not struggling, which he has proved very often," the Red Bull driver is quoted as saying.

"But Nico has done an awfully good job and has usually been the reference (at Mercedes). There's no way of talking around it," Vettel acknowledged.

Nevertheless, it is strongly rumoured that 43-year-old Schumacher will sign on to remain alongside Rosberg beyond his 2012 contract.

Mercedes chief Norbert Haug recently said he doubts "there will be an announcement at Spa" next month, which was widely interpreted as a clear sign that an announcement of a new deal will be made eventually.

Team Ross Brawn is hinting similarly, telling F1's official website this week that Mercedes' current driver lineup is working well.

He said Schumacher and Rosberg are "very professional, very committed, good attitude, speed, work very well in the team, work well together as a pairing - which is not always easy with drivers - and I believe both are more than capable of winning races if we provide the equipment."

So why the delay in signing off Schumacher's 2013 contract?

"I think this is a very important decision for all the people involved," said Brawn. "We won't be rushed on the decision and when the time is appropriate we will announce what we are going to do. I don't want to increase speculation by commenting on where we are."

A former Formula 1 driver with Minardi back in the late '80s, Luis Pérez-Sala was named Team Principal of HRT Formula 1 Team at the end of last year. He talked about the second half of the 2012 season.

He began by admitting that he was perfectly aware that the early part of the season would be difficult.

“As we've already said on multiple occasions, we've almost changed the entire team, we've moved to a new headquarters where we've been based since early April, and all of this whilst we built a new car,” Pérez-Sala said in an interview posted on the HRT web site.

“It was a very ambitious challenge, a priori it was impossible to accomplish, but we've made it with very limited resources,” he added.

Photo: HRT F1 Team

Pérez-Sala continued by saying that the Cosworth-powered F112 is not such a bad car. “I think that, overall, the F112 is a car that has given quite a good result, keeping in mind how it started,” he said.

“During last winter I had a lot of doubts, because the car was handed to us and we didn't have enough time to review it. It has a good base and that's its biggest strength. It's a reliable car with good mechanical resistance and it offers a lot of possibilities for its development. I'd say we're at 50% of its potential and we can still extract another 50%, mainly in aerodynamics,” he explained.

The Spaniard hopes that the next upgrades will boost the performance of the F112. “We have some upgrades prepared for the Singapore Grand Prix. As a small team we can't afford small upgrades every two or three races because the cost of an upgrade or creating a new piece for a small upgrade is very high. I hope that the aero package that we will introduce after the summer will help us to take the next step. The objective is to stay between the 104 and 105% and have the project for 2013 prepared,” he added.

In a recent interview, driver Pedro de la Rosa admitted that he was losing up to two seconds a lap everytime a faster car was lapping him. That makes race strategy pretty complex.

“We're not in the fight for points and the fact that we get lapped means that our strategy is always difficult. But it serves us to accumulate experience and, hopefully not in too long, when we're a part of the battle for points or a fight for better positions, we will be much better prepared to make the right decisions,” Pérez-Sala ended.

The redesigned 2013 Honda Accord will go on sale this fall, and the first images of the production-ready versions have just been released.

Both the coupe and the sedan boast all-new sheetmetal, with more dynamic character lines. Again, the two versions of the 2013 Honda Accord are slightly different from each other, obtaining their own body panel, hood, grille and bumper designs.

According to Honda, the ninth-generation Accord will be shorter in overall length, but gets increased interior space thanks to improved packaging. The brand also mentions a more sporty character, better fuel economy as well as more technology and luxury features.

Three powertrains will be offered in the 2013 Honda Accord. The familiar 2.4L four will get direct injection, a hybrid system with the four-cylinder engine will be added, while the 3.5L V6 will be matched to a 6-speed automatic.

2013 Honda Accord coupe (Photo: Honda)

2013 Honda Accord Sedan Touring (Photo: Honda)

From WRC

Chris Atkinson wants to return to the FIA WRC as soon as possible, preferably aboard a Citroen DS3 WRC.

Back in action in the series for the first time since Rally Guanajuato Mexico in early March, the Australian was bidding for a top-five finish on a one-off outing for the Qatar World Rally Team when he hit trouble on day two of Neste Oil Rally Finland last week.

Chris Atkinson, Citroen DS3. (Photo: WRC)

After encountering intercom problems on Friday morning, he went off the road on stage eight when he misheard a pace note from co-driver Stephane Prevot. He continued following a delay of 16 minutes after getting stuck on a tree stump only to break his car's front-right suspension striking a rock nestled on the ‘racing' line on stage 10.

He restarted under Rally 2 rules on day three and reached the finish in Jyvaskyla in 39th place having run comfortably inside the top 10 early in the event.

“One slight brain fade cost us a good result but I was happy with my speed after four years away from this event,” said Atkinson. “Sure I could have been faster if I'd had more time in one of these cars. My focus is on the Asia Pacific title this year but I'd like to get back into the WRC. It's the pinnacle of the sport and I've showed I deserve to be in one. I don't know when I'll be back in the WRC, but I hope it will be soon and with Citroen if possible.”

Using performance products to enhance that truck, wagon or sport-compact can be rewarding, or a total waste of the aspiring tuner's hard-earned cash, depending on the level of knowledge at hand.

Your writer was an aspiring tuner not so long ago. Ditto his many friends, fellow racers and colleagues. Some nights, I still have dates on which I get intimate with my Toyota MR2's oily bits.

Like most, over the years, I've wasted a pile of cash on stuff that offered little return on my investment. One of them was expensive synthetic motor oil.


Back in the day, my young, inexperienced brain once managed to convince itself that my 1993 Nissan 240SX was about the fastest, highest-performing thing ever to ride four wheels. And marketing folks at oil companies managed to convince me that if I didn't use synthetic oil in my engine, it would sludge up with guck, perform embarrassingly, and blow up like a frog sucking on a cherry bomb shortly thereafter.

As a result, I spent about 3 times the cash on synthetic oil at every oil change. I bought the special (and twice as expensive) synthetic oil filter while I was at it. I even bought a special ‘synthetic blend' oil designed for ‘High RPM' engines - or so the bottle said.

All of this was a waste.

Synthetic oil has benefits. Some folks use it to extend the distance between oil changes. Others feel it's better in cold climates. Many drive cars that require synthetic oil (check your owner's manual). These include the Porsche 911, the Nissan GT-R, the BMW M3 and the Dodge Viper.

All of these are high-performance cars that will, probably, visit a track somewhat regularly. While there, their high-performance engines will hit redline every few seconds, experience lengthy periods of high-RPM driving, and generate a sustained level of heat and stress that can start to break a regular oil down.

Cars and engines like these are why synthetic oil exists.

It's important to understand the following: a car driven on the street won't generate a level of sustained heat and stress anywhere close to that generated by track driving. Even the most aggressive street driving won't begin breaking down a standard motor oil, let alone a synthetic oil costing way more.

Today, my Toyota MR2 happily runs Castrol GTX conventional engine oil at every change. I've done a few track days and drag-race days with it, too. No issues. It runs strongly and reliably, all day long. I change my oil by the time 5,000 kilometres rolls around, don't worry about sludge, and save the extra cash for coffees and gasoline.

Besides, oil sludge is not caused by not using synthetic oil. It's caused, almost exclusively, by neglect, skipping oil changes, and driving habits that don't allow the engine to get nice and hot every once in a while.

So, got a high-performance engine? Race your car? Synthetic oil might be the way to go. But, if you're driving a normal car on the street and using synthetic oil mainly because you think the regular stuff will make your engine turn into soup, do your homework and make sure you're not wasting your money.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has revealed that he does not want to remain as Formula One Team Association's chairman when his current term finishes at the end of the year.

Whitmarsh, who took over from Ferrari chariman Luca di Montezemolo at the conclusion of the 2009 season, has been the there for nearly three years and thinks the moment is right to leave the place to someone else.

FOTA's position has been weakened with the loss of several big players in recent months, especially Ferrari and Red Bull. FOTA is only made today of McLaren, Mercedes AMG, Lotus, Caterham, Marussia, Force India and Williams.

Withmarsh said that he will not stand for re-election next time and added “I think it would be quite healthy for someone else to do it now. I think it's for the teams to decide on that.”

Possible candidates include Mercedes AMG's Ross Brawn and Lotus F1 team's Eric Boullier.

Currently up for grabs on VintageAndRare.com is famed super rock star Eddie Van Halen's 1991 Harley Davidson.

The motor bike is fully customized as one would expect and also features Eddie's signature on the fuel tank and his name on the original pink slip. The odometer shows only 811 miles, none of which were done by the present owner.

The current asking price is of €87,000, which works out to about $110,000.

Photo: VintageAndRare.com

ormer Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve is part of a large field of Canadians who will next week compete in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 of the NASCAR Nationwide series in Montreal.

Thursday Auto123.com spoke with Villeneuve, one week before this major motorsport event.

Villeneuve first said he'd been stunned that his contact with Danica Patrick late in the Road America race in June caused such a stir and got so much attention. He said the same about his post-race television interview in which he declared he was not responsible for the contact.

Jacques Villeneuve 2011 (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

“That's kind of weird because I got punted really hard earlier in that race and everybody thought it was a good thing... But in regards to the late-race contact, I think it was blown out of proportion because it involved Danica Patrick,” Villeneuve told us.

Was Villeneuve blamed by Penske for what he said on television or for the contact? “Non, not at all. I did not hear a word about it. You know, Road America happened a long time ago and there's been a good number of races since then. At Penske, everybody worked hard and did his job. This whole thing had been amplified, especially here. If someone has something to tell me, he'll do it in Montreal. But I'd be really suprised if that happens,” Villeneuve added.

Jacques Villeneuve 2011 (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Villeneuve will drive the No. 22 Dodge Penske in Montreal next week. He would have liked to compete in the Watkins Glen Nationwide race this weekend, but that was not possible. “We will not test the car prior to the race. But that's not a problem. I know the car. And I know the team very well now. Everything will be fine in Montreal,” Villeneuve told us.

“If we can be fast and competitive right from the start in Montreal, it will be a nice start to the weekend. But we have to remember that Penske Racing is switching constructors at the end of the season. We'll see the result of that in Montreal. My performance out on the track will also depend on the amount of work the other teams have accomplished,” Villeneune added.

On a final note, the Canadian took part in his second event of the Australian V-8 Supercars series this past weekend, finishing twice in 24th place. Is he disappointed? “No, not at all. It was much better than the first time. I made good progress and I was much faster. I was not lost like at the first race. I must say however that the team is not putting any effort in the current car because they are also switching constructors next season. But that's ok, and I'm having fun, which is important,” Villeneuve ended.

Adapted from wrc.com

Two-time FIA World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm has admitted he is still tempted by a return to the WRC.

Speaking to WRC Live's Becs Williams during the recent Rally Finland, Gronholm, a seven-time winner of the event said he “got the urge many times” to make a WRC comeback.

Marcus Gronholm, Rally of Finland 2002, Peugeot 206 WRC. (Photo: WRC)

The 44-year-old, still recuperating following his accident in the X Games in Los Angeles last month, was a visitor to his home round of the world championship.

“I decided on Friday afternoon to come up to Jyvaskyla,” said Gronholm, who claimed 30 wins from 152 starts during his lengthy stint in global rallying's top tier. “It's not easy to stay here and not drive but finally it's nice to be here and see old friends. I'm happy I decided to come.”

Gronholm has tackled two World Rally rounds since retiring from full-time competition at the end of the 2007 season. He revealed he drove a version of MINI's John Cooper Works WRC in initial testing but otherwise had no knowledge of the latest-generation World Rally Cars.

From GMM

McLaren, Mercedes and Sahara Force India are all struggling with excessive tire wear this year.

And according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the likely culprit is the trio's common engine supplier.

"Lotus, Red Bull and Ferrari can make a set of tires last longer than we can," said McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Auto Motor und Sport said one theory doing the rounds is that the superior mid-range power of Mercedes' V8 engine is wearing the rear Pirelli tires too much.

McLaren-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

"On the way out of corners, we are able to keep up," said Sauber's Sergio Perez. "But then there comes a phase when the Force India can pull away, so long as their tires are fresh."

Mercedes' team boss Ross Brawn acknowledged that the "characteristic of the engine has a large influence on the degradation of the tires".

Auto Motor und Sport said Mercedes has "recognised the problem" and is working at full speed to improve its engine torque maps.

Formula 1 refugee Rubens Barrichello competes in his first season of the IZOD IndyCar series alongside his old time friend Tony Kanaan as part of the KV Racing team.

Barrichello, a former Ferrari driver in Formula 1, has endured a tough time this season in IndyCar. Despite his talent and his vast experience, he only finished five times in the Top 10 and currently ranks 17th in the drivers' overall standings with 215 points.

Rubens Barrichello at Indianapolis. (Photo: LAT for IndyCar)

Although he's still learning about the intricacies of IndyCar racing, the 40-year-old Brazilian is quite frustrated with his lack of results.

Talking to British magazine Autosport, Barrichello explained that he's making steady progress, but the car is not, and the strategy side has not clicked.

The magazine understands that Barrichello has already held advanced talks with at least one Honda-powered team about a drive next year.

Barrichello may also decide to stay with KV Racing alongside Kanaan, but he may also decide to retire from racing for good.

2012 Ford Focus Titanium 5-door

The Focus is one of our favorites.

This is my first experience with Ford's revised MyFord Touch infotainment system and it worked just fine. It's not the best system on the market, but I can see how tech-savvy shoppers would be very impressed with this solution in a compact car. I'm not a huge fan of voice-activated controls in cars, but I found myself using Sync to change the satellite radio station when I wanted to jump more than four or five stations at a time. It's still easier to skip a single station in either direction by pushing a physical button.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus Titanium 5-door - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus Titanium 5-door - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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Telling a good car from a bad one is not as easy as it used to be. But that does not mean each one is necessarily as good as the rest.

Chrysler Group's head of interior design said the automaker's bankruptcy helped transform its autos' new interiors.

Honda America will take the lead in a growing list of global vehicle development projects to help the automaker fend off competitive challenges in North America and hedge against a strong yen.

What is it?

Also in this episode: Peter Brock and Bob Bondurant will visit with fans at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and