Auto News 5

Auto123.com had an interview with Frenchman Simon Pagenaud who stands sixth in provisional point standings of the IZOD IndyCar series after eight rounds.

Question: Simon, you're standing in sixth place after eight races. Is this what you expected befeore your season with Sam Schmidt Motorsport?
Simon Pagenaud: I race to win, and my ambitions are high, but as the begineer in this series I have to be reasonable. Being in the top six in the championship is one of my goals this year.

Simon Pagenaud (Photo: WRI2)

You seemed to be pretty comfortable on the street circuits. How do you evaluate your performance on oval tracks ?
Much better than I could imagine. I feel at ease. However, the complexity of the races on an oval open up opportunities that I did not expect. You see several championship contenders making mistakes and that give you the opportunity to move up in the standings. For now, we have not taken benefit of those opportunities. I am currently building my experience and it goes step by step.

What are the areas where you think you can still make progress (oval or road racetracks) with the team?
Even when the weekend runs perfectly, there is always a possible progression whatsoever in the use of tires, changing the balance of the car during the race, the pit stops, the restarts, overtaking, human relations and communication in the race, how to make progress with the engine, brakes, downforce a different strategy for the different gearbox, etc. ... we could probably talk of this all day ! In motorsport, the development and progress must be part of everyday's life in different departments. Right now for the road courses I try to make the team focus on giving me a car with more grip, more stability and constant in the fast corners. On the ovals, we would need something quite similar. The balance is good but the car slides with its four wheels and it is not easy to control or even adjust.

Simon Pagenaud (Photo: WRI2)

How do you rate your first experience at the Indy 500?
Fine. I think we did a good job! If I went back this weekend I'd be much stronger. However I can not be satisfied with 16th place. But I learned what I needed to learn, I reached the end of the race and next year the goal will be to fight for the win.

It seems that you really found your marks on the oval tracks, is it your feeling?
Yes, I love this sport. I am discovering my own style of driving on oval. I just figured out what the car needed to get me at ease and so fast ! This learning phase is very important, but there are a lot of little details when racing on the ovals. From outside it seems very simple but it is not, this is very technical.

It seems also that the public discovered you during the Long Beach race. Did you feel that your status had changed at the end of this race with fans, and even within the paddock?
I am fortunate to be well known in the USA where endurance racing is much appreciated. I am not a stranger, but indeed in the paddock, many are surprised with our level of performances with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Ben Bretzman, my longtime engineer came with me on the team and we push the other one and each in our fields! But I think the truth is that is very hungry!

Have you ever contacts for next year?
It is too early to talk about next year. Sam Schmidt has an option for my services for 2013.

At first, many people thought it was a joke or a mirage. Truth is, the DeltaWing might very well be the future of auto racing.

And we're not talking about a concept, here: this car is already making a mark on the track and the racing scene including the biggest and most renowned endurance event in the world - the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For sure, the DeltaWing is a sight to behold and looks like nothing else on the road right now. But let's focus on the technical aspect, if you don't mind. Its developer explained how auto racing has to reclaim its rightful place and lead the way in terms of new technologies. The team of engineers started from scratch and brainstormed tons of interesting ideas.

Photo: WR12

Their plan was to create an innovative race car powered by a relatively modest 300-hp Nissan engine and helped by super-efficient aerodynamics. The DeltaWing can reach a speed of 300 km/h in a straight line. The long, wind-slicing body generates little to no drag, while the massive delta-shaped floor produces the downforce, resulting in a race car with no wings.

The two tiny wheels up front are close to each other and make the nose of the car quite sharp and nimble. The entire tail has been carefully designed to ensure maximum overall balance, meaning no understeering or oversteering.

Michelin came up with unique tires for the DeltaWing. They can last through ten relays at Le Mans, or a distance of about 1,500 kilometres, whereas a normal race tire seldom tops 500 kilometres.

That's good news for environmentalists, much like the fact that the DeltaWing burns roughly half the amount of fuel of an LMP1 car. So despite its small 40-litre fuel tank, the DeltaWing can travel the same distance between pit stops as the mighty Audis and Toyotas!

I'll admit that I was one of those who initially mocked the project, but I have since come to realize that the DeltaWing is incredibly efficient and just as fast as the times announced by the company. In a word: bravo! Take a serious look at it as we may already be witnessing the future of the sport.

The Japanese manufacturer believes it can sell 20,00 electric Leaf during the current financial term. The biggest problem right now is about whether or not the factory in Japan can sustain the demand.

The new Smyrna plant, in Tennessee, will only start production in December; only at that time will it be able to supply Leaf cars to the American consumers.

Sales of the Leaf have dropped in the last two months, because of product shortage in the dealerships. Currently, Nissan's electric vehicle is only sold in seven States, but it could be introduce to the whole country as soon as next year.

Nissan has made 1.18 million cars in the United States and in Mexico last year, never before has it produced more vehicles. Figures could reach 1.35 million next year if everything goes well.

Source: Bloomberg

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

When I was just a kid back in the 60s (yes, I know I don't look that old), I used to dream of one day growing up to become the next Saint. Crazy I know, but fair play, Simon Templar (played by Roger Moore) had it all and then some back in those days. He was charming and sophisticated, with endless amounts of pocket money. All the girls swooned over his good looks, and perhaps way more importantly (especially to a kid who was not quite ten), he drove some pretty cool cars!

I say cars, because in the Return of the Saint (1978/79), Ian Ogilvy, Moore's somewhat unworthy replacement, piloted a first-generation Jaguar XJS. What's quite interesting about that is Jaguar had reputedly turned down the opportunity to supply the first series with an E-Type back in 1962. Yet here they were, a decade later, attempting to cash in on the success of the show.

Of course, Mr. Templar's most famous automobile, and the one which he will always be associated with, was the rather rare Volvo P1800. And what a lovely little car it was.

Photo: Volvo

However, what some of you may not know is that the P1800 was almost consigned to the history books before it ever saw the light of day. Designed for Volvo, the Swedish company searched for other manufacturers to actually produce the vehicle for them. Famous Italian & German names were bandied around, and the project was almost dropped until Jensen Motors of England came on scene.

Yes, those early Volvo P1800 models were all built in Britain, its unibody shell being formed in Scotland, before final assembly took place in West Bromwich, England. That's probably why the British TV production company viewed the vehicle as a suitable car for our Mr. Templar.

Of course, while Roger Moore went onto bigger and better things, like changing his name from Simon Templar to James Bond, Volvo, after discovering quality issues with the Jensen plant, moved production home to Sweden.

At this time, the P1800 became the P1800S which was then followed by the P1800E and perhaps my favourite of all, the P1800ES station wagon. Now that really was a pretty looking and quite practical sports car!

By 1973, however, total sales were still running shy of 50,000 units and with strong competition from other manufacturers including the Jaguar E-Type, Volvo's sports coupe finally went into retirement.

Naturally, over the years, there have been several rumours of Mr. Templar returning to our TV screens but, apart from the rather lame & loosely based 1997 movie version starring Val Kilmer, we have yet to see this happen. Of course, if it ever does, you know who's going to be putting his name forward for the starring role. Come on now, I even have the right accent!

From GMM

Organisers of the first Russian grand prix are tipped to incorporate the 2014 Winter Olympics stadium into the formula one circuit.

The coastal city Sochi is scheduled to host not only the Olympics but also a grand prix in 2014, with a 5.5km circuit to be situated in and around the Olympic village.

There have, however, been suggestions the race could be delayed to 2015, as the priority is the Olympics.

The respected Olympics website Around The Rings now reports that organisers could use the actual Olympic stadium, which is currently under construction, as part of the formula one circuit.


Around The Rings said the stadium is being designed so that structures in place for the Olympics can be removed to allow for the incorporation of the F1 circuit.

"This is something that has emerged as a possibility," a source in Sochi is quoted as saying. "It is an exciting possibility for formula one."

Known as Fisht Olympic Stadium and uniquely shaped like a shell, the 40,000-capacity and $63 million facility is within walking distance of the Olympic village.

The stadium is also touted to stage matches during Russia's hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

The monocoque is the safety cell of most single seaters race cars around the globe, from the beginners' development series to Formula 1.

It was the aircraft industry which used carbon fibre monocoques first in the early '80s, only to be adapted by Formula 1. A composite material, carbon fibre is light, but also very strong.

In case of an impact only the nose is supposed to crumble. In this feature AMG Mercedes F1 driver Nico Rosberg explains how the monocoque saves his life, in combination with spectacular crash test images from the Allianz Center of Technology in Munich, Germany.

From GMM

France's new sports minister sounds keen to see the country return to the F1 calendar.

The previous administration, led by ex president Nicolas Sarkozy, pushed hard to line up Paul Ricard as the venue for a French grand prix in 2013, thereafter alternating annually with Belgium's Spa Francorchamps.

But Sarkozy lost office just before the final contracts could be signed and sealed, and new president Francois Hollande and his sports deputy Valerie Fourneyron quickly put the brakes on the deal's momentum.

Fourneyron did, however, recently meet with a Paul Ricard delegation, as well as representatives of the Nievre region, who would like to see the French grand prix return to the scene of the last race in 2008, at Magny Cours.

A source close to the governing Conseil General de la Nievre indicated that a meeting next Monday could see a decision made to instigate a public interest group for the revival of Magny Cours' formula one race.

"When you see what Romain Grosjean is doing and the popularity of the races, we have to admit that we would like to have a formula one grand prix," minister Fourneyron is quoted by RMC Sport.

From GMM

Jean Todt has admitted he is worried formula one teams could collapse if costs are not reduced.

After the FIA's meeting of its World Motor Sport Council last Friday, a media statement revealed that the governing body is "having active discussions with teams regarding cost control".

The FIA added that the Council will have to vote on any amendments to the chassis rules for 2013 prior to the end of this month.

"The intention is to help all teams participate in the championship in a fair and equal manner," the statement added.

FIA president Todt is quoted by the German language Speed Week: "For me, formula one is too expensive. If we do nothing, we could get into a situation where we have less than twelve teams on the grid."

Photo: HRT F1 Team

Last week, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insisted F1 cannot ignore the impact of Europe's worsening economic crisis.

"Ferrari is in agreement with the FIA's position that drastic intervention is required," he said.

"This is no longer the moment for getting bogged down in sterile discussions or the meanderings of engineers, usually only concerned in defending the interests of someone or other. The question (of costs) has to be tackled at the highest level without further delay," added Montezemolo.

Also in this episode: Cadillac gears up for the summer launch of the XTS and ATS sedans and discusses future lineup additions, Audi captures the

It's tough to say what a metro Detroit sighting of this manufacturer-plated Alfa Romeo 159 TI Sportwagon portends for the Italian automaker's long-anticipated return to the American market--probably nothing.

Historic Ferrari race cars, Cadillacs of the Classic Era and century cars (100 years or older) are the featured marques for the 16th annual Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance (www.radnorconcours.org).

This 2013 Lincoln MKZ looks to be production ready, save for a few absent badges on the tail. Why it is perched on a flatbed rather than moving under its own power is unknown.

2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD - A Sleeper Hit

The S60 took many staffers by surprise at our 2011 All-Stars test.

After skipping the 2010 model year, Volvo's wallflower, middle-child sedan, the S60, reemerged for 2011 wearing shapely new sheetmetal and a freshly honed set of dynamic skills. The S60 took many staffers by surprise at our 2011 All-Stars test and ended up as one of the dark-horse candidates to win an award. Its profile suddenly raised, the S60 became an obvious candidate for a closer, yearlong look.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD - Four Seasons Wrap-Up - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD - Four Seasons Wrap-Up - Automobile Magazine

2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD - A Sleeper Hit | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

From the classic Alfa Romeo 8C to the extreme, one-off 2010

Federal-Mogul is backing the UK's "critical" decision to retain yearly vehicle testing for models more than three years old.

The traveling stunt show from the U.K. television franchise Top Gear has put another notch in its belt by running a buggy through a double loop-the-loop rig. It dubbed the stunt the "Deadly 720" and says the success sets a world record.

General Motors is bringing Opel's design chief to the United States to lead

Volvo reveals 501bhp S60 Polestar concept, which is aimed at the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG

Car2go has announced that 18 new dedicated electric vehicle charging points are available in three Amsterdam Q-Park garages

New SsangYong Korando SX is the cheapest and cleanest all-wheel drive model in the line-up