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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rocketed away from Denny Hamlin and Paul Menard on a restart with six-laps to go at Texas and headed to his second NASCAR Nationwide Series win of the year.

Driving a Ford Mustang Stenhouse, on Friday night, said "then that last restart Mike (Kelley his crew chief) decided to go with no changes on that last pit stop which I wasn't fond of but he knows what he is doing which is why he gets paid to do that.

"That last restart, it was crazy man. I think I spent the whole five laps or whatever it was under caution just praying for a good restart and everything worked out for us. It was fun racing those guys. I had to drive it in turn three wide open with Denny on the left rear of us and got us a little bit loose but we managed to hang on and pull it off."

It was Stenhouse's fourth career victory and fourth Nationwide Series win for his Roush Fenway Racing team at the mile and-a-half Texas Motor Speedway. Including Sprint Cup and the Camping World Series it's the 17th time an RFR driver visited victory lane and got a cowboy [hat] as well as the trophy.

Menard who ended up second in a Richard Childress Chevrolet said "I kept up with Ricky pretty good, but, we kind of spun our tires. I think we probably let him get away a little bit."

Kasey Kahne passed pole-sitter Hamlin for third place while Hamlin finished fourth in a Toyota.

Here is our selection of world rally cars that stand out from the pack because of their outstanding results or their stunning technical features, even if some of them never have won an event or a title.

At the beginning of the World Championship, the rally cars are quite simple machines. Then, the rally world entered the mighty Group B era where scary, super powerful cars were the rule. Then, the FIA imposed the WRC regulations destined to bring the rally cars closer to their road going cousins.

The next photos should bring good memories to many!

Photo : WRI2

10. MG Metro 6R4
Group B car created in 1985 and fitted with a V-6 engine. Started to race in 1986 but abandoned following the ban put on Group B cars.

Continue reading Rally: Top 10 historical world rally cars

As homage to the London-to-Brighton classic car relay, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has organized a Brighton-to-London run of its own, this time in Ontario, and featuring green vehicles instead of classics.

Event organizers hope to highlight for consumers the breadth of options available to those who are fed up at the pumps — 21 green vehicles include hybrids, EVs and other advanced technologies.


The three-day route highlights green student initiatives with stops at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa, which runs the only accredited automotive engineering program in Canada. Their world-class Automotive Centre of Excellence features a unique climatic wind tunnel which can produce a storm at any temperature from -40 to +60 degrees Celsius.

Centennial College, another stop on the route, offer Technical Standards and Safety Authority-accredited courses in alt fuels such as natural gas and propane, as well as specialized training in hybrid systems maintenance. Another stop is Toronto's Evergreen Brick Works, which in 2010 National Geographic named one of the world's top 10 geotourism destinations. McMaster University in Hamilton is the future home of the $26-million McMaster Automotive Resource Centre featuring the world's most advanced dynamometers.

Finally, London's Fanshawe College, where students can study to be automotive technicians, will show off its eco-friendly facility, which has a vegetated green roof system over shop areas, storm water reclamation for toilets, solar hot water preheating, and solar-powered GPS tracking skylights for natural day lighting in the auto shop.

Event partners are CAA and Natural Resources Canada.

Chevy says it will cease production on its Avalanche crew cab pickup, with a final run of 2013 Black Diamond editions.

The final models will feature body-colour bed surrounds, unique badging, and lower prices. Additional features will appear on the LS and LT trims, including rearview cameras. Base prices have gone down $2,500.

2013 Chevrolet Black Diamond Avalanche (Photo: General Motors)

Among the innovative features introduced by Avalanche over its run is a midgate that extends the bed into the cab. Crew cab pickups that do family duty as well as work duty have grown steadily since the Avalanche was introduced, and by 2011 accounted for 65% of light-duty pickup sales.

A specially equipped Avalanche transported the Olympic Flame during the Torch Relay prior to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Motor Trend called it the Truck of the Year in 2001; the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada gave it the same honour in 2007. Popular Mechanics in 2002 awarded it the Design and Engineering award. Chevy has sold more than 580,000 Avalanches since its introduction in 2001.

2013 Chevrolet Black Diamond Avalanche (Photo: General Motors)

Although Marco Andretti was able to set the fastest time in the first practice session on a wet track in preparation for the Grand Prix of Long Beach, the second session was cancelled due to heavy rain.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Takuma Sato was second-quickest but still ended-up his day's work by spinning and hitting the wall just after Turn 10. HVM's Simona de Silvestro crashed almost simultaneously at Turn 9, causing the session to be briefly red-flagged, meaning that there was little opportunity for anyone to change the order.

AJ Foyt Racing's Mike Conway was third-fastest ahead of KV Racing's Tony Kanaan and Panther's JR Hildebrand, who was one of the few drivers to improve after the restart.

Several drivers elected not to run at all in anticipation of drier conditions over the rest of the weekend.
In the afternoon, a thunderstorm shortly before the session was due to begin was followed by showers throughout the hour that had been allocated for running.

Only the Ganassi duo formed by Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon tried to make it around the street circuit but Franchitti returned right after his installation lap while his teammate, less fortunate, ended in the barriers.

The weather is forecasted to be clear and dry for the remainder of the weekend.

History/Description: The MKX was Lincoln's venture into the luxury crossover segment occupied by such brands as BMW, Infiniti, Acura and Audi when it launched for the 2007 model year. Like most of its competition, it packed V6 power, available all-wheel drive, heaps of leather and numerous high-end features like a premium audio system by THX, leather seating, Bluetooth, navigation, an oversized sunroof and plenty more.

2007 Lincoln MKX (Photo: Lincoln)

Look for all models with a six-speed automatic transmission and 3.5L 265-horsepower engine. The MKX would seat five and was noted for its unique looks and spirited performance. The MKX didn't offer up a V8 engine, a low range or huge towing capacities - though it should work well as an all-weather on-road cruiser that's capable of light to moderate off-road work, too.

What Owners Like: Styling, comfort, power, and handling are often highly rated by MKX owners. Many note that despite its comfort on long voyages, the MKX has a potent, sporty side. The THX stereo system, interior roominess, flexibility and seat comfort are highly rated as well.

What Owners Dislike: Many MKX owners wish for more steering feel, better fuel economy, stronger feedback through the brake pedal, and longer life from the factory tires.

Common Issues: The first-generation MKX may suffer from several fairly minor issues that test drivers should be familiar with.

First off, numerous reports of bad rear wheel bearings mean that test drivers should ‘listen' for a fairly loud roaring noise from the rear of the vehicle. If present, be sure to have the repair calculated into your purchase price.

The sensors and computer that control the MKX's transmission may also be an issue, so note any clumsy, hard shifting or slipping as you drive. If any of the above are present, a mechanic should check the vehicle over to determine why.

“Check Engine” or other warning lights can illuminate for numerous reasons - many of which are sensor related. Be sure to note the presence of any such lights in the instrument cluster. Also, an “ABS” or “Traction Control” light may illuminate because of a problem with the wheel-speed sensors.

2008 Lincoln MKX (Photo: Lincoln)

Continue reading 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX Pre-Owned

From GMM

A steady regroup is not possible for the Ferrari team, Stefano Domenicali has claimed.

The famous Italian team's boss admitted in Shanghai that while the F2012 was eight tenths off the genuine dry pace in Malaysia, the gap is even bigger this weekend.

Technical chief Pat Fry, a Briton who used to work at McLaren, warned that Ferrari needs to change its "fundamental methodologies" in order to return to the front.

Mercedes, arguably with a faster car than Ferrari in 2012, has spoken of a steady push towards a title tilt that could take several years.

But Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari president, has hinted Maranello's problems could be firmly in the past in a matter of races.

So is a three-year plan possible for Ferrari, a team either revered by its Tifosi or said to be in deep crisis?

"No," Domenicali firmly told Germany's Die Welt newspaper.

"If I said that publicly, I would have a lot of problems and I would have to move somewhere high in the Dolomites," he joked.

From GMM

Lotus has become the second team to announce it would be happy to operate within a budget cap.

A few years ago, former FIA president Max Mosley's push for teams to be confined to an even playing field when it comes to spending power was angrily rejected, resulting in a bitter political war.

But Sauber said recently that it would be happy if the idea was proposed again.

Like the Swiss team, Lotus has also agreed a new commercial Concorde Agreement with Bernie Ecclestone, as have the 'grandee' outfits Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.

But on the issue of a budget cap, they apparently do not agree.

"Some teams do not realise that we need to do something on the cost side," Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"Most do agree, but unfortunately there are a few obstructionists."

As for a budget cap specifically, Lopez revealed: "There is no problem with it. It would reward the smartest ones."

A rains-soaked track forced the ALMS organizers to set the starting grid for Saturday's race with the championship standings.

Therefore, Sebring P1 class winners Guy Smith and Chris Dyson (Dyson Racing) were awarded pole position, and Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf (Muscle Milk Pickett) the other spot on the first row.

"Obviously the situation is not ideal, but historically Long Beach has been good for the Dyson team and myself," Smith says in the ALMS official release.

Photo: ALMS.com

"This is a new car so we'd like to have more time to get it ready but I know with our experience we'll be able to still be successful tomorrow. So it should make for a good race. We saw in Sebring the Muscle Milk car is working really well."

Last year's Long Beach GP winners, Joey Hand and Dirk Müller will lead the GT field of this year's edition in their BMW Team RLR BMW M3. Thanks to their runner-up spot at Sebring, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia (Corvette C6.R) will start second.

Photo: ALMS.com

"I love this place, this is my favorite venue in all the world," Hand said. "Last year we had a great setup and had great times. Being fast at the end of the race last year bodes well for tomorrow's race."

In P2, Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut (Level 5 Motorsports) will lead Tim Pappas and Jeroen Bleekemolen (Black Swan Racing).

Photo: ALMS.com

CORE Autosport's Alex Popow and Ryan Dalziel lead the way in LMPC: "It is a strange feeling to be on pole without even racing on the track," said Popow, who turned four laps in Friday morning's wet session. "I'll have to get used to the track tomorrow and learn as I go."

Photo: ALMS.com

Leh Keen and Cooper MacNeil, driving Alex Job Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, were lucky to be awarded the GTC pole. JDX Racing's Michael Valiante topped the time sheet before the red flag set everything back to zero.

Photo: ALMS.com

"The car was pretty jerky the first we drove it in the dry," Keen said. "We had no data from this morning, but we had a lot (in the dry) from last year. I'm excited to get the car out there tomorrow and go for the win. The track will rubber in tomorrow if it stays dry. We know Alex Job always has good setups."

From GMM

Lotus has become the second team to announce it would be happy to operate within a budget cap.

A few years ago, former FIA president Max Mosley's push for teams to be confined to an even playing field when it comes to spending power was angrily rejected, resulting in a bitter political war.

But Sauber said recently that it would be happy if the idea was proposed again.

Like the Swiss team, Lotus has also agreed a new commercial Concorde Agreement with Bernie Ecclestone, as have the 'grandee' outfits Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.

But on the issue of a budget cap, they apparently do not agree.

"Some teams do not realise that we need to do something on the cost side," Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"Most do agree, but unfortunately there are a few obstructionists."

As for a budget cap specifically, Lopez revealed: "There is no problem with it. It would reward the smartest ones."

While much of the attention has been on his new teammates, Martin Truex, Jr. won the pole for the Texas Sprint Cup race.

Driving a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Truex turned lap of 190.369 mph edging the Ford of Matt Kenseth 190.148 mph.

Series points leader, Greg Biffle will start third in another Roush Fenway Racing Ford followed by Truex's teammate the ageless Mark Martin.

Truex's last win came in 2007 driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

"We've come a long way," Truex said. "I feel like we're really starting to gel as a team, we're starting to get where we need to be. We're not there yet, but this is one step in that direction. Hopefully we'll be standing over here in victory lane shooting guns tomorrow (Saturday) night celebrating."

Both Truex (tied for third) and teammate Clint Bowyer (ninth) are in the valuable top ten in standings.

"This is a big accomplishment," said Truex, who has four top 10 finishes this season. "It's not easy doing anything better than anybody else out here."

He added "We still have work to do. I just feel good about my whole race team -- everything we have going on right now."

Daytona winner, Kenseth said "I just would feel better if I got beat by more I guess. I felt like I got it all out of there and we just missed it a little bit. Our car has a lot of speed we just don't have it driving exactly right yet. I had a couple different issues. A little bit of everything. It was a little too loose, but I had some other problems too."

A pair of Chevrolets driven by Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman will start fifth and sixth respectively. Brad Keselowski had the best Dodge in eighth.

David Stremme, Joe Nemechek and Stacy Compton failed to qualify for the 43-car field.

From GMM

One of Sebastian Vettel's engineers has admitted the reigning double world champion is currently playing second fiddle to Mark Webber.

Cyril Dumont, who works with German Vettel through Red Bull's works engine supplier Renault, admitted to RMC Sport that the balance of power from one side of the team's garage to the other has changed.

"Mark tends to be able to get around the problems and adapt," he said.

"But for Sebastian, each ingredient needs to be at its optimum for him to have full confidence and get the performance out.

"The car has worked well for him in the previous two years, while it is true that at the first two grands prix (of 2012) he has been less comfortable.

"Mark seems to be suffering less," added Dumont.

Nico Rosberg drove his Mercedes AMG W03 to pole of the Chinese Grand Prix. His teammate Michael Schumacher will start alongside him, thanks to a grid penalty handed to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Nico Rosberg (Photo: Mercedes-AMG-F1.com)

"I feel sorry for Lewis," Schumacher is quoted saying by GMM, talking about how the Briton lost his spot on the first row alongside Rosberg because of a gear box change.

"But it's good good for us," he added.

For Rosberg, it's a first career pole in 111 grands prix. By earning first spot on the grid, the German gave the Silver Arrows their first pole since 1955 - back when Juan Manuel Fangio was driving for Mercedes.

Ross Brawn (left) and his boss Norbert Haug congratulating each other (Photo: Mercedes-AMG-F1.com)

"We want to congratulate Nico Rosberg and Mercedes," Paul Hembrey Pirelli's motorsport boss said in a press release. "They used their tires perfectly today."

The second biggest story of the qualifying session was Sebastian Vettel's (Red Bull) poor performance. The two-time world champion German only starts 11th, after failing to make it into Q3.

Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) also caused his own commotion. He clocked the fourth best lap, which means he will start a career-high third tomorrow, thanks to Hamilton's grid penalty.

All top 10 drivers posted their best time while on Pirelli's yellow soft rubber, but only the two Mercedes drivers, Hamilton and Kimi Raïkkönen went out early in the session. The Finn's Lotus teammate, Romain Grosjean didn't venture out at all, he will start 10th.

Jenson Button (McLaren), Mark Webber (Red Bull), Sergio Perez (Sauber) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) are the drivers completing the top 10.

The big question ahead of the race is whether or not the Mercedes can build on their qualifying pace - which has been very impressive since the beginning of the season. Both in Australia and Malaysia they suffered from tire degradation and quickly spiralled down the order on Sunday.

The starting grid will once more feature all of the 24-car field since everybody, including the HRT drivers, made in within the 107% rule.



Starting grid - Chinese Grand Prix

Row 1

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min35.121s - Q3
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min35.691s - Q3


Row 2

Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min35.784s - Q3

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1min35.898s - Q3

Row 3

Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min36.191s - Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min36.290s - Q3


Row 4
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min35.626s - Q3 **

Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min36.524s - Q3

Row 5
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1min36.622s - Q3

Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - no time - Q3

Row 6
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min36.031s - Q2
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1min36.255s - Q2

Row 7
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min36.283s - Q2
Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min36.289s - Q2


Row 8
Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min36.317s - Q2

Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min36.745s - Q2


Row 9

Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min36.956s - Q2
Jean-Eric Vergnes (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min37.714s - Q1

Row 10
Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min38.463s - Q1

Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min38.677s - Q1

Row 11

Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min39.282s - Q1
Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min39.717s - Q1

Row 12
Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min40.411s - Q1
Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min41.000s - Q1

**Grid penalty for gearbox change

Source: ItaliaRacing.net

From GMM

At least three television broadcasters will not travel to next week's controversial Bahrain grand prix.

Blick newspaper, as well as Bild and London's Times, are reporting that the host broadcasters for Finland, Japan and Germany (Sky Deutschland) will not be sending personnel to the troubled island Kingdom.

The broadcasters usually report directly from the twenty grand prix locations, but have pulled out of Bahrain due to security fears.

"Grands prix attract so much attention internationally that the possibility of problems is too high," said a spokesman for Finland's MTV3.

"It is too bad," he added, "because Kimi Raikkonen's return has dramatically increased the interest in formula one. But we don't want to go at the expense of safety."

Former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi, however, played down the risks.

The Swiss, who has lived in Bahrain with his uncle, is now Red Bull's reserve driver.

"My uncle goes to work every day and takes his children to school," he is quoted by RMC Sport. "The reality is not necessarily what you see on TV.

"We'll see when we get there."

In the wake of F1's decision to plough ahead with next week's race, media reports said violence returned to the streets of Bahrain on Friday.

"No F1, no F1 -- they killed my son in cold blood," one protester is quoted as having chanted on Friday.

The Associated Press, meanwhile, said protesters hurled firebombs at police, who returned fire with bird shot bellets.

Driven: Hennessey Cadillac V700 Wagon

Please Hammer, don't hurt em.

If you've ever driven a Cadillac CTS-V, you know that the main problem is that it's not fast enough. The 98-pound weakling under the hood makes only 556 hp, barely enough to pull Bambi across the proverbial frozen pond. Fortunately, longtime speed merchant John Hennessey recognized the Caddy's noodle-armed feebleness and resolved to do something about it, creating the V700 package at his Texas skunk works. With a little old-fashioned hot-rodding, perhaps the CTS-V could be transformed into something that's not a plodding embarrassment to all America.

Photo Gallery: Hennessey Cadillac V700 Wagon - Driven - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Hennessey Cadillac V700 Wagon - Driven - Automobile Magazine

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The men who brought you hydropneumatic suspension, a charmingly doofy peasant's car and a

2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite - Saying Goodbye

Our Odyssey is gone.

With a grand total of 36,630 miles traveled, the Honda Odyssey goes down in the Automobile Magazine record books as one of the highest mileage Four Seasons cars we've ever had. This isn't necessarily surprising when you consider that from the moment it arrived at our office, the Odyssey was the go-to vehicle for family vacations and road trips.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite - April 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite - April 2012 - Automobile Magazine

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Also in this episode: The government pushes brake-override systems,

It's been a year since Jann Mardenborough entered the PlayStation GT Academy.

The global automotive industry faces a "severe" shortage of a resin used to make fuel and brake components that may interrupt production "in the next few weeks," according to a top supplier executive.