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Mark Webber put Red Bull to the top of the timesheets after the second practice session in Suzuka on Friday afternoon, lapping his RB8 in 1m32.493 to head McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by 0.214s after the 2008 champion recorded 1m32.707.

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)

An action-packed session was halted for six minutes early on when Paul di Resta lost his Force India on the entry to the Spoon Curve after getting the right-rear wheel in the dirt. The Scot was not hurt.

Mercedes AMG's triple DRS. (Photo: WRi2)

Later Michael Schumacher had exactly the same accident there in his Mercedes AMG. The German was not injured.

Ferrari using flow-viz pain in the front wings. (Photo: WRi2)

There were also incidents for Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen, Sauber teammates Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez, Marussia's Timo Glock, Williams' Pastor Maldonado, HRT's Narain Karthikeyan, Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen, while Vitaly Petrov spun in the first corner in the closing minutes after his Caterham shed its rear wing.

A rack of Pitot tubes installed on the diffuser of the Mclaren. (Photo: WRi2)

Female mechanic at work at HRT. (Photo: WRi2)

Jenson Button (McLaren) set the best time in the morning session and Mark Webber (Red Bull) was fastest in the afternoon session of free practice at the Grand Prix of Japan.

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) ranked second in each session.

Paul di Resta (Sahara Force India) had a huige crash at the beginning of the second practice session. Le Scot was uninjured , but the the session was stopped to clear the track from the debris.

Two reserve drivers were in action in the morning. Valtteri Bottas at Williams, in Bruno Senna's car, and Giedo van der Garde for Caterham, driving the CT01 of Heikki Kovalainen.

Grand prix of Japan - Suzuka
Friday, October 5th 2012

Free practice session 1 - Results*
1 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'34"507 - 20 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'34"740 - 26
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'34"856 - 24
4 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'35"059 - 18
5 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'35"122 - 20
6 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'35"199 - 27
7 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'35"283 - 24
8 - Paul di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'35"299 - 18
9 - Nico Hülkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'35"474 - 22
10 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'35"478 - 24
11 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'35"484 - 26
12 - Sergio Pérez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'35"584 - 24
13 - Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'35"691 - 22
14 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'35"724 - 21
15 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'36"123 - 19
16 - Jean-éric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'36"222 - 25
17 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'36"366 - 23
18 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'36"389 - 24
19 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'37"716 - 17
20 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'38"295 - 23
21 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'38"616 - 25
22 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'39"043 - 25
23 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'39"374 - 22
24 - Pedro de la Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'39"688 - 19

Free practice session 2 - Results*
1 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'32"493 - 34 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'32"707 - 32
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'32"836 - 37
4 - Nico Hülkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'32"987 - 30
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'33"093 - 28
6 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'33"107 - 35
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'33"349 - 22
8 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'33"499 - 35
9 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'33"614 - 32
10 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'33"750 - 13
11 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'33"866 - 19
12 - Sergio Pérez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'33"903 - 36
13 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'33"933 - 33
14 - Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'34"291 - 12
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'34"300 - 33
16 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'34"863 - 32
17 - Jean-Éric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'35"080 - 34
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'35"711 - 41
19 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'35"870 - 37
20 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'36"194 - 32
21 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'36"636 - 28
22 - Pedro de la Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'37"342 - 30
23 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'37"701 - 35
24 - Paul di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - no time - 2

* Unofficial results

Kyle Busch has apologized for some in-car comments which were available to anyone with a scanner.

After dominating last week's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Dover, leading more than 300 laps of the 400-lap race, the race ended up to be a fuel economy run and Busch's Toyota needed to stop for fuel ending up seventh.

Brad Keselowski took the lead, and the win, with a few laps to go after Busch had to pit for fuel.

Since this year Toyota Racing Development (TRD) prepares engines for Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch was irritated to the extreme.

"Thank you, TRD,'' Busch said over his in-car radio.”F----- us out of another one. Piece of s--- mother------.''

Toyota and TRD, in particular, were not pleased with that public outburst.

Kyle Bush in the pit at Dover. (Photo: NASCAR)

Late Thursday Busch, and principals of JGR and TRD issued written statements concerning the race and Busch's outburst.

"I made some remarks out of frustration on my radio at the end of last weekend's race in Dover that were very misguided," said Busch. "I owe my friends at Toyota and TRD an apology. We have a great partnership with TRD and they built me a motor that helped me lead over 300 laps and nearly lap the field. It's just frustrating that the caution fell where it did and suddenly it became a fuel mileage race and we were set up for maximum horsepower. Obviously, that worked well for most of the day and you can't control when the cautions will fall."

Lee White, President and General Manager, TRD, U.S.A. said "We understand Kyle's passion for racing -- and winning. At TRD and Toyota, we have that same zeal for racing -- and winning. We were disappointed with Kyle's post-race comments from Dover -- a race that he dominated. Kyle's had a frustrating year with several car and engine mechanical failures which were not his responsibility, and we're working extremely hard on our end to improve our products and processes. We will continue to address these issues, but we're ready to put this behind us and move forward with the remainder of the season, including the Toyota drivers battling for the championship."

Joe Gibbs, the team owner added "We have a great relationship with Toyota and obviously they are a major part of everything we do at Joe Gibbs Racing. Toyota is first class in every aspect of their company and they share our passion for winning. It has been a frustrating season for Kyle in many ways when you think about some of the issues we've had with that 18 team this year and obviously some of those frustrations carried over to his finish last week in Dover. We were able to lead over 300 laps, but unfortunately the cautions didn't fall our way and certainly you can understand the frustration of having to give up the lead late in the race. However, Kyle recognizes that his comments and the tone of his comments were misguided.”

From GMM

HRT boss Luis Perez-Sala has expressed concerns F1's 2014 engine regulations could push small teams out of business.

"Yes," he is quoted by Autosprint magazine, "today for a team like HRT, the engine costs account for 20 per cent of our total budget. If this figure will double in 2014, then I do not know what we would do."

The Spaniard and former Minardi driver suggested that, to cushion the blow, small teams should be allowed to buy a customer car from a bigger team.

Photo: HRT F1 Team

From GMM

Hot on the heels of Alain Prost's test in a Red Bull, it has emerged that the F1 legend's son Nicolas will drive the black and gold Lotus in Abu Dhabi next month.

The 31-year-old Frenchman, who currently races for the Lotus-linked Le Mans team Rebellion, will contest F1's final 'young driver test' of the year.

In the media statement, Lotus described Prost as its 'reserve driver', and said he will prepare for Abu Dhabi with a two-day run at the Navarra circuit in Spain.

"This is an exciting next step in my career," he said.

Nicolas Prost. (Photo: Rebellion Racing)

At the same time, however, McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh rubbished the 'young driver' test format.

"If we are honest," Martin Wthimarsh is quoted by motorline.cc, "we all use it to further develop our cars. I haven't yet seen a so-called young driver test at which a young driver has been specifically prepared with the intention of having him racing the next year. We don't like to admit it, but that's the truth."

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG is now arriving at dealerships across the country with a 630-horsepower, 6.0L twin-turbo V12 engine and a price of $229,900, according to the brand's Canadian website.

New this year, customers can take delivery of their 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG directly from the AMG Customer Center in Affalterbach, Germany. This also includes a visit to the AMG Performance Studio and a meeting with the engineers who built the V12 engine used in their SL 65 AMG.

A special "45th ANNIVERSARY" edition, limited to just 45 vehicles and sold at €272,034, will be available. A Mercedes-Benz Canada spokesman confirmed to Auto123.com that a certain number of units will find their way here, although Canadian pricing has yet to be determined.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Technology keeps finding new ways to amaze us. Scientists at the University of Keio, in Japan, have developed an ''optical camouflage'' system that makes the rear seats of a Toyota Prius invisible when reverse is engaged, offering the driver a much better view when backing into a parking spot or out of the driveway.

No doubt the see-through Prius will be popular among fans of Harry Potter and his cloak of invisibility!

Source: Cnet

Custom cars, hot rods and other special vehicles rule the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. For this year, Hyundai has partnered with Re: Mix Lab to present three customized models.

One of those will be an Elantra GT hatchback finished in matte military green and sporting 24-carat gold coloured wheels. It also features a roof rack, ski compartment and Nintendo Wii!

The event runs from October 25 to November 2, 2012, with public access starting on October 28.

Photo: Hyundai

Photo: Hyundai

Photo: Hyundai

From GMM

Pirelli has offered Michael Schumacher a job as F1 tire tester.

After losing his Mercedes seat to Lewis Hamilton, the seven time world champion announced on Thursday that he is returning to retirement in 2013.

The news has piqued Pirelli chief Paul Hembery's interest, with the Briton describing the 43-year-old as the sport's "most experienced tyre tester".

"If he gets bored in the Swiss mountains, then we will find a job for him," he laughed, according to Germany's motorsport-total.com.

"We can't offer him 20 million, so he would have to do it for the love," grinned Hembery.

Pirelli conducts private F1 tyre testing with a 2010-specification Renault R30.

Lucas di Grassi driving the Pirelli R30 Renault at Barcelona. (Photo: Pirelli)

A car this outrageous must be hard to get approval for within the halls of a manufacturer's headquarters, especially when the decision makers aren't necessarily sports-car nuts. An extreme supercar that will cost millions to develop and end up selling in very low quantities doesn't make a business case when all you're looking at is the profit column.


Luckily, the notion of a halo car hasn't disappeared at Chrysler. The mighty Viper will make a comeback for the 2013 model year, redesigned and packing something new: refinement. Fortunately, not too much of it.

First of all, as you may have noticed, the car has been taken out of Dodge's product lineup, and is now called the 2013 SRT Viper. Last year, Chrysler announced that SRT would become a separate performance brand, and The Snake is the first official standalone SRT model. The hand-built supercar will be offered in base and GTS trims.

The new 2013 Viper still relies on the massive 8.4L pushrod V10 engine, albeit with some modifications in order to reduce weight. All dressed up, the engine is now 25 pounds lighter. Output is estimated at 640 hp and 600 lb-ft. A reworked version of the Tremec TR6060 6-speed manual transmission will have the arduous task of managing all that power.

The 2013 Viper is equipped with traction control and electronic stability control systems, as well as a launch control system. (Photo: Dodge)

The 2013 SRT Viper's chassis is said to boast a 50% stiffer structure, while the use of aluminum components allows for weight savings of about 100 lbs. In addition to a reworked rear suspension on both trims, the GTS gets a new two-mode adjustable suspension (street and track) with Bilstein shocks.

For scrubbing off extra speed, four-piston Brembo calipers pinching 14" vented discs are fitted to each wheel. StopTech slotted two-piece rotors are also available on the 2013 Viper as part of an SRT Track Package.

For the first time ever, the 2013 Viper is equipped with traction control and electronic stability control systems, as well as a launch control system.

The 2013 SRT Viper's cockpit is all new and features higher-quality materials as well as more comfort and convenient amenities. Never before seen in a Viper are a stitched dash and door panel surfaces, skinned in leather in the GTS model.

The 2013 SRT Viper's cockpit is all new and features higher-quality materials as well as more comfort and convenient amenities. (Photo: Dodge)

Racing seats with Kevlar/fibre glass shells are included in both trims, now installed 20 mm lower and with an extra 90 mm of seat travel for added room and comfort. The height-adjustable seats are also power-controlled in the GTS.

Two Uconnect media centre systems are offered in the 2013 SRT Viper, which features an 8.4" touchscreen and wheel-mounted controls. An 18-speaker Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 sound system is also available in the GTS; and for the first time, the Viper gets cruise control.

Exterior highlights include the traditional double-bubble roof, bi-xenon headlights as well as LED daytime running lights, turn signals and taillights. Viper and Viper GTS get their own alloy wheel designs, wrapped around 295/30ZR18 front and P355/30ZR19 rear Pirelli P Zero tires.

The 2013 SRT Viper will arrive in Canada by the end of 2012 with a base MSRP of $99,995, while the Viper GTS will retail for $119,995.

The cancellation of the Montreal NAPA 200 NASCAR Nationwide race triggered some interesting rumours, one of them is calling for a DTM race to be held on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit next year.

The DTM is facing difficulties to attract spectators at certains rounds such as Zandvoort, Brands Hatch and Valencia. ITR, the governing body of DTM is fully aware that the German series needs to expand and reach new markets.

Three car manufacturers are involved in DTM: BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. For all three, North America is a major market.

“We have been approached by the DTM officials not long ago,” said Francois Dumontier, boss of Octane Management.

“And as the organisers of the Grand Prix of Canada, we enjoy a very good relationship with Mercedes-Benz. One official of ITR will come here soon to visit the facilites and the circuit. So I'd say it is possible that we'll see the DTM here in Montreal, but not in 2013. That's too short. And certainly not before 2014,” Dumontier added.

Canada is currently represented by two drivers: Quebecer Bruno Spengler (BMW) and Toronto's Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz).

Francois Dumontier of Octane Management Inc. announced Friday that there will be no NASCAR Nationwide race in Montreal next year.

“From day 1, our objective was to have a Sprint Cup series in Montreal,” Dumontier told the media in Montreal.

“We staged the Nationwide race for years with the objective of having the Sprint Cup one day. Unfortunately, NASCAR made it clear to us that it was not in their intention to have a Cup race in Montreal in the near or distant future. The Nationwide race alone is not profitable here. So we decided to not renew the contract,” Dumontier explained.

The boss of Octane Management also said that he asked NASCAR to change the date of the event and to have a Sunday race, which were turned down by NASCAR officials.

“I must admit that NASCAR's final answer is extremely disappointing. We were told so many times that the Montreal race was very important to NASCAR. However, we continue to have a good relationship with NASCAR and who knows what may happen in the future,” Dumontier said.

Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb enjoyed a 15-second lead after seven special stages held Friday at the Rallye de France Alsace.

Ford Fiesta driver Jari-Matti Latvala showed great speed early in the day but Loeb, who is on the verge of clinching a 9th World Rally Championship title, pushed hard his Citroen DS3 to take the lead.

Latvala complained that his Ford was not fast enough on the dirty portions of the road.

So after SS7, Loeb led Latvala by 15.6 seconds.

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen DS3. (Photo: Citroen Racing)

Loeb's teammate Mikko Hirvonen was third, already 33 seconds down the leader.

Ford's Petter Solberg (who complained about the mud on the road) was fourth ahead of the MINI of Dani Sordo who is suffering from some brake problems.

One more stage, SS8 in Nulhouse, had to be run later Friday night.

Vile Gossip: My Ultimate Fantasy Reality: JeanKnowsCars.com

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Honda is expanding a recall launched in March to fix a headlight problem to include the

Also in this episode: Autoweek editors select the best of the Paris motor show, Chevrolet tests the

Japanese supplier Denso said it has developed a lithium ion battery pack to boost fuel efficiency of vehicles with stop-start systems.

Visteon will decide its strategy for each of its units by the end of 2013 and provide investors 'clarity,' the company's permanent CEO Tim Leuliette says.

High on many Subaruphiles' wish list is a new two-door WRX STI, and the Japanese manufacturer might just be working on such a model.

News 4 Oct, 2012

Prices have been announced for the new SEAT Toledo, ahead of first deliveries in December