Auto News 5

From GMM

Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn was tight-lipped when asked about her visit to Moscow just prior to this weekend's Monaco grand prix.

Kaltenborn, and team founder Peter Sauber, were not in Monaco on Thursday as the practice action kicked off, with Blick newspaper reporting that they were instead looking for sponsors and partners in eastern Europe.

The Swiss newspaper now reveals that Kaltenborn and Sauber were in the Russian capital.

"We had an important meeting," was all she would tell veteran correspondent Roger Benoit.

Asked, however, if Sauber is now ready to run some new sponsor logos on the C32 car, Kaltenborn insisted: "No!"

Nico Rosberg has finally managed to turn Mercedes' impressive qualifying pace into victory, after claiming top spot in this afternoon's Monaco Grand Prix.

But the win has sparked controversy, since it was reported Mercedes conducted a secret three-day with Pirelli between the Spanish and Monaco grands prix. Rivals Red Bull and Ferrari have lodged a protest.

The weekend is also symbolic as it is 30 years since his father, Keke Rosberg, managed to win around the principality streets behind the wheel of a Williams.

In a race which was characterised by two safety cars and a red flag, the German driver managed keep his cool to claim his second career victory ahead of the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

Rosberg's teammate, Lewis Hamilton, finished fourth due to losing ground in the first safety car period which came out during the first pitstop phase as a result of Felipe Massa's crash at Saint Devote; a shunt which was a mirror image to the Brazilian's crash in yesterday's third free practice session.

Hamilton was forced to queue behind his teammate as the drivers who were scheduled to pit around that point did so immediately.

The race was later red-flagged due to Pastor Maldonado's accident, which was caused by Marussia's Max Chilton after the Brit swerved into the Venezuelan's path coming out of the chicane.

This shattered the Williams' front wing and sent Maldonado flying over it and into the barrier, thus halting the race until the debris was cleaned up.

Adrian Sutil finished fifth, one place ahead of Jenson Button in the best-placed McLaren.

The Force India driver also managed to pull off some well calculated overtaking manoeuvres against Button and the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso into the Loews hairpin.

Button's teammate, Sergio Perez, had an eventful race which eventually saw the Mexican parking his McLaren in the latter stages of the race following contact with Raikkonen's Lotus.

Despite this, the 2007 world champion still managed to salvage a point after overtaking Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber on the last lap.

Perez had also made light contact with Button on the opening lap and overtook the Briton by cutting the chicane. However, he was later made to give it back, but then managed to retake the position later on in the same place.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso had a subdued afternoon and finished a quiet seventh after having a similar incident with Perez at the chicane.

Jean-Eric Vergne finished eighth after a solid weekend ahead of Paul di Resta's Force India.

Romain Grosjean had another eventful race after shunting against Daniel Ricciardo's Toro Rosso.

Other incidents of note also include Charles Pic's Caterham catching fire at the pit entry, and Jules Bianchi crashing as a result of the accident between his teammate and Maldonado.


Race results* - Monaco Grand Prix
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 78 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 3"8
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 6"3
4 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 13"8
5 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 21"4
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 23"21
7 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 26"7
8 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 27"2
9 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 27"6
10 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 36"5
11 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 42"5
12 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 42"6
13 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 43"2
14 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 49"8
15 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'02"5

Fastest lap of the race: 1'16"577 by Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull

Retirements
Lap 73 - Sergio Perez
Lap 63 - Romain Grosjean
Lap 61 - Daniel Ricciardo
Lap 58 - Jules Bianchi
Lap 44 - Pastor Maldonado
Lap 28 - Felipe Massa
Lap 7 - Charles Pic

Drivers' championship
1.Vettel 107; 2.Raikkonen 86; 3.Alonso 78; 4.Hamilton 62; 5.Webber 57; 6.Rosberg 47; 7.Massa 45; 8.Di Resta 28; 9.Grosjean 26; 10.Button 25; 11.Sutil 16; 12.Perez 12; 13.Ricciardo 7; 14.Hulkenberg 5; 15.Vergne 5.

Constructors championship
1.Red Bull-Renault 164; 2.Ferrari 123; 3.Lotus-Renault 112; 4.Mercedes 109; 5.Force India-Mercedes 44; 6.McLaren-Mercedes 37; 7.Toro Rosso-Ferrari 12; 8.Sauber-Ferrari 5.

*Unofficial

Nico Müller took a dominant win in the Formula Renault 3.5 race presented in the streets of Monaco.

The Draco driver made a big step towards victory when he secured pole position in the qualifying session ahead of Jazeman Jaafar and Marco Sorensen. At the start, Müller maintained his position, and took a light to flag win.

Müller crossed the finish line ahead of Sorensen and Jaafar, as Kevin Magnussen, the championship leader, took 4th position.

His closest championship rival, Stoffel Van Doorne, was among the fastest drivers on track, but he took a five place penalty on the grid for a dangerous move in the free practice session, which dropped him down to 9th on the grid. The Belgian driver finally concluded the race in the same rank.

Photo: Formule Renault 3.5

Race:
1 - Nico Muller - Draco - 32 laps
2 - Marco Sorensen - Lotus - 3"484

3 - Jazeman Jaafar - Carlin - 7"184

4 - Kevin Magnussen - Dams - 14"549
5 - Antonio Felix Da Costa - Arden Caterham - 15"378

6 - Carlos Sainz - Zeta Corse - 21"230
7 - Will Stevens - P1 by Strakka - 22"135

8 - Mikhail Aleshin - Tech 1 - 22"555
Etc.

Championship:
1.Magnussen 75; 2.Vandoorne 61; 3.Muller 45; 4.Da Costa 41; 5.Stevens, Pic 36, etc.

From GMM

Toro Rosso's new engine supply deal with Renault was announced on Sunday morning.

The news, announced in Monaco by Renault president Carlos Ghosn, means both of Red Bull's F1 teams will be powered by the French marque's V6 engines in 2014 and beyond.

Photo: Renault Sport F1

Toro Rosso has used Ferrari's V8 engine since 2007.

"Strategically for Red Bull and Renault, it makes perfect sense for Toro Rosso to use the same power unit as Red Bull Racing from the 2014 season, which enables synergies between Red Bull and Renault to continue to grow," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

From GMM

Toto Wolff has confirmed reports Mercedes is in talks with Williams about the supply of engines in 2014.

Widespread and authoritative reports from the Monte Carlo paddock insist the deal for the currently Renault-powered British team to change suppliers next year is now done.

Wolff, Mercedes' motor sport boss, admitted that the German marque looked for a new partner following news McLaren is switching to Honda power for 2015.

"It's clear that we are losing an engine customer in 2015 and for Mercedes it is important to have a regular business case so it is important to have at least three customers from 2015 onwards," he said in Monaco.

"That is why we are having certain discussions with teams and Williams is one of them.

"It would be for 2014."

But while Renault is losing Williams, the French marque is expected to keep Lotus and Caterham on the books for 2014, in addition to Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

Adapted from GMM

A shadow is hanging over Nico Rosberg's Monaco grand prix win, after Red Bull and Ferrari launched a pre-race protest.

Mercedes' rivals allege the German squad conducted an illegal three-day test with Pirelli at Barcelona, just after the recent Spanish grand prix.

Nico Rosberg and Mercedes were unsually dominant in Monaco this weekend (Photo: WRi2)

The FIA summoned all of the parties to hearings in the Monaco stewards room in the immediate aftermath of the grand prix.

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn insists he checked with the FIA prior to the test, "and they were happy".

But Ferrari and Red Bull agree in saying the car used for the test was not old enough.

"They have run a current car with current drivers and current tires.  That's a clear breach of the sporting regulations," slammed Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

His colleague Helmut Marko added that the advantage gained by Mercedes was just as clear to see.

"We are very unhappy," the Austrian told German broadcaster Sky.  "When we test for three days, we go a second faster -- that's what Adrian Newey says.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) is pressing Chancellor Angela Merkel to reject the proposed new law that would lower CO2 emission standards in Europe from 135 to 95 g/km by 2020, claiming it would greatly harm the industry.

German automakers have made considerable efforts so far to reduce vehicle emissions, but it appears the stricter future standards represent too big a hurdle.

“We cannot let our powerful and high-performing premium segment, which accounts for nearly 60% of all jobs at German car manufacturers, be destroyed by arbitrary limitations,” the VDA said in a statement.

On the other hand, French automakers support the new standards. Will the Americans and Japanese step into the ring?

Source: Caradisiac.com

It's sort of a conundrum: Family-minded folks need crossover SUVs and some of them also need great big amounts of horsepower. So, for the shopper after maximum levels of performance, space and flexibility, there's the Sport-Ute.

From what was once a small, niche market segment, more automakers than ever are equipping family haulers with all-wheel drive (AWD), versatility galore, and a whole whack-load of power, handling and entertainment value.

Today, virtually every price-point is represented in this market segment. So, here's a cross section of the products available if you're after an SUV that can do double-duty as a sports car.

Model: Porsche Cayenne GTS

Starting Price: $95,000

Overview: Designed to be the most all-out athletic performer in the Cayenne lineup, the specially tuned GTS variant packs five seats, all-wheel drive, a big cargo space, and enough power to haul its big body up to 100 km/h in well under 6 seconds.

Engineers specified a naturally aspirated and silky-smooth 4.8L V8 engine for this one, developing 420 horsepower. A Tiptronic S gearbox offers eight gears and automatic or manual shifting. AutoStop technology is included for improved emissions and consumption figures.

Look for lowered suspension, enlarged wheels, massive ducting, and some radical available paint colors to help set this hot-rod Porsche family-ute apart from the competition.

Pros: The Cayenne is a great example of the resulted goodness when a brand famous for sports cars builds a sport ute. Comfort, performance, styling and safety are all world class, here.

Cons: The Cayenne's looks aren't everyone's cup of tea, and neither is the price tag, which approaches the six-figure mark.

Noteworthy: Porsche Traction Management (PTM) is an active AWD system that divvies engine power between the axles with millisecond precision based on inputs from numerous sensors. The system can even shuffle power around in cornering situations to enhance agility, effectively using its power distribution to help “steer” the Cayenne.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Continue reading Sports Car Comparison: The Sport-Ute

Model: 2010 to 2013 Kia Sorento

Vehicle Type: SUV

The Verdict: The 2010 to 2013 Sorento seems to be fairly solid other than a few potential electronic issues that shoppers should be aware of. Thankfully, virtually all models in the used marketplace will have factory warranty remaining, which adds confidence. Ensure the electronics check out, and be sure the transmission is behaving itself and you'll likely enjoy a high-value, high-flexibility family hauler for years to come.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Price: Pricing for the pre-updated Kia Sorento in this generation will start around $14,000 for a basic model with some mileage, and climb well past $30,000 for a loaded model with V6 power sold as a dealer demo. The used Sorento market shows plenty of selection between $17,000 and $20,000.

What Owners Like: Typically, overall value for the dollar, looks, space, flexibility, and feature content are rated highly by owners of the 2010 to 2013 Kia Sorento. Access to the rear seats, as well as rear-seat room, is also highly rated as is all-around performance and driving confidence. In particular, the 3.5L V6 is highly rated when it comes to power output and refinement.

What Owners Dislike: Some owners wish for a quieter, more comfortable ride, and for more hip and shoulder room. Many complain of “cheap” and easily stained seat fabric, as well as poor sound quality from the factory stereo. Others wish for better outward visibility towards the rear of the Kia Sorento.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

History/Description: The pre-updated version of this generation Kia Sorento is the first model from the brand built in the USA. It offered up front or all-wheel drive, 4- or 6-cylinder power, and an upscale list of available features including navigation, voice command, heated leather, heated wipers, push-button start, full multimedia connectivity, and more.

Power came from a 4-cylinder engine with up to 191 horsepower or a 3.5L V6 with 276. Look for a 6-speed automatic on all models, and AWD with a locking function for added traction as required (if equipped).

Common Issues: Some owners reported sporadic illumination of several warning lights relating to the Sorento's stability control systems, possibly accompanied by difficulty starting the engine or shifting into gear. This problem was covered for numerous owners under warranty, and seems to stem from a faulty switch or module in the braking system.

Transmission drivability issues, up to and including rough shifting, power loss, a heavy “BANG” from the gearbox, and a transmission that self-shifts into neutral may be caused by an improperly inserted electronic connector. While it is a startling issue, it is also one that's easily fixed.

Service Campaign number SC 079 deals with inspection and correction of electronic connectors on affected models, which will typically be 2011 model-year units. Ask your local Kia dealer for more details.

Ensure both key fobs allow the push-button start system to fire up the engine, if equipped. Several owners reported a no-start situation that appears to be caused by a faulty electrical relay.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

As car fanatics, it is next to impossible to ignore the culture of the Hot Rod. Nearly 85 years old, this movement is one that will likely never end; as long as there are ways to make cars go faster, it will exist.

As technology moves forward, hot rodding cars is becoming a cleaner hobby what with plug-and-play ways to get more power out of engines. Many still drop large engines into small-ish cars, but the art of exaggeration is slowly disappearing.

Modern Hot Rods are mostly of the restomod type where old cars maintain their original overall look but receive a number of important upgrades, typically to the suspension and brakes. Engines may also get modern ignition systems or more.

This list contains some hot rods built by some of the most famous hot rodders of the modern era, including some older ones that cannot be ignored.

Troy Trepanier's 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda aka Sick Fish

Photo: Rad Rides by Troy

This Barracuda is stunning and mind-numbing. Its class and beauty make it exceptionally desirable. It was designed by Chip Foose and built for Joe Rogan.

Continue reading Top 10 Hot Rods

Audi of America is launching a program targeting military technicians for service department jobs at U.S. dealerships.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Well, this 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited certainly was a contrast to the honkin' V8-powered

From the fires of Detroit's descent into near-death, GM, Ford and Chrysler have forged some of the most distinctive designs since tailfins were soaring in the halcyon days of the postwar-era.

From GMM

Williams' move from Renault to Mercedes power for 2014 is set to be announced.

Earlier, we reported rumours from the Monaco paddock that the deal for the British team could be on the cards, because Renault was charging multiple millions more than Mercedes for a turbo V6 package.

Mercedes' V6 engine (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

"The decision is made and it will be announced this weekend in Monaco," said Swiss newspaper Blick's veteran correspondent Roger Benoit.

Germany's Michael Schmidt, of Auto Motor und Sport, is reporting similarly.

The Mercedes link is also an obvious one for Williams, with team co-owner Toto Wolff now the German marque's executive director.

And Wolff's wife Susie is the Williams test driver.

It is Williams' fifth different engine partner since 2005, hot on the heels of BMW, Cosworth, Toyota and Renault.

Nico Rosberg has claimed his third consecutive pole position and the second front-row lock out in a row for Mercedes.

It is also thirty years this weekend since his father, 1981 world champion Keke Rosberg, won the race behind the wheel of a Williams.

The German had dominated the free practice sessions in the principality, and continued his strong form into qualifying, where he finished ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.091 seconds.

Despite his best efforts, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will line up only third, some 0.104s off of Rosberg's time of 1m13.876s.

Despite the qualifying hour beginning in drizzly conditions, by the end of the session, the drivers had elected to run with the Pirelli Super-Soft compound, such was the dry nature of the track.

Kimi Raikkonen was fifth, one place ahead of Fernando Alonso.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

However, both drivers' teammates endured difficult sessions after they shunted in the third and final free practice session; Grosjean will line up 13th, whilst Massa will line up 22nd and last, after the Ferrari mechanics failed to fix his car in time for qualifying.

Despite also crashing in FP3, Adrian Sutil managed to split the two McLarens in eighth.

Adrian Sutil, Force India VJM06 (Photo: WRi2)

Jean-Eric Vergne put in a notable performance to qualify 10th and make it into Q3 for the first time in his career. The young Frenchman also starred in the wet part of the session.

There were also surprises further down the grid, with Caterham's Giedo van der Garde finishing 15th, one place ahead of Williams' Pastor Maldonado.

The result will come as a disappointment to both the Venezuelan and the Grove squad, after they finished at the top of the timing sheets in Q1.

The Caterham team took advantage of a strategic error by Force India in Q1 after the team failed to bolt on a new set of intermediate tires onto di Resta's car. As a result, the Scotsman will line up 17th.

Van der Garde's teammate, Charles Pic, will line up 18th in the updated Caterham ahead of Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez and Max Chilton.

This is the first time the Briton will finish ahead of teammate Bianchi, after the Frenchman's failed to complete a lap following an airbox fire at Mirabeau.

Sergio Perez, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2)

Qualifying results* - Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo)
1.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'13"876 - Q3
2.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'13"967 - Q3
3.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'13"980 - Q3
4.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'14"181 - Q3
5.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'14"822 - Q3
6.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'14"822 - Q3
7.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'15"138 - Q3
8.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'15"383 - Q3
9.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'15"647 - Q3
10.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'15"703 - Q3
11.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'18"331 - Q2
12.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'18"344 - Q2
13.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'18"603 - Q2
14.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'19"077 - Q2
15.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'19"408 - Q2
16.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'21"688 - Q2
17.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'26"322 - Q1
18.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'26"633 - Q1
19.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'26"917 - Q1
20.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'27"303 - Q1
21.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - no time - Q1
22.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - no time - Q1

*Unofficial

Pros*
This new 2014 Ford Fiesta ST handles the road well and delivers impressive power without guzzling down too much fuel.

Price
The price for this 2014 series has yet to be revealed in Canada.

Here's an overview of the technology offered standard or as an option.

Standard: a voice-activated SYNC system which includes USB and Bluetooth connectivity, ambient and exterior lighting as well as an Easy Fuel capless fuel filler.

Option: the SYNC MyFord Touch system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, rearview camera, 100-watt nominal output Sony audio system, Intelligent Access with push-button start as well as heated exterior mirrors.


Fuel Economy
The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST is rated at around 6.9 L/100 km.

New in 2014
Brand-new model

Exterior Styling
This 5-door hatchback sub-compact now features more tapered headlights, a larger grille and a redesigned rear. Now 15 mm closer to the ground than the base model, the Fiesta has a dual exhaust, a pronounced spoiler and 17-inch wheel rims.

Interior
The Recaro partial leather-trimmed seats are embroidered with the ST logo and the leather-wrapped steering wheel adds a touch of luxury to this small, sporty number.

ST Special Features
Here are a few of the Fiesta ST's nice improvements:

• A few special components help increase wheel camber and quicken steering.
• A twist-beam rear axle helps increase rear roll stiffness.
• A lower centre of gravity helps increase overall stability.
• The ST's summer tires, springs and shock absorbers help improve road handling.
• The electronic differential lock optimizes performance.

Drivetrain
The Fiesta ST features Ford's most recent technology: a 4-cylinder, 1.6-litre Ecoboost turbo engine that packs 197 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. The engine is coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Cargo Capacity
This hatchback sub-compact has 286 litres of trunk space.

Safety
The Fiesta is equipped with seven standard airbags, including side-curtain airbags both in the front and in the rear. These airbags use roll-fold technology and are designed to inflate between the window glass and the passenger's head. Side-curtain airbags will not interfere with a child-safety seat.

As an option, 2014 Ford Fiesta ST also offers a driver's knee airbag, which inflates between the driver's knees and the instrument panel, offering extra protection in a collision.

Comparable Models
Chevrolet Sonic RS, MINI Cooper S

Photo: Ford

*References
www.ford.ca

Adapted from GMM

1996 world champion Damon Hill thinks Nico Rosberg is finally emerging from Michael Schumacher's shadow -- with a new benchmark.

Local boy Rosberg, whose Finnish father Keke won in the Principality exactly 30 years ago, put his Mercedes on pole on Saturday -- his third qualifying triumph in as many attempts.

"When he was teammate to Michael, the thinking was that Michael was past his best and it was difficult to judge Nico," said the former Williams driver to the Mirror.

"Well he's got a new benchmark now and shown he's not that bad. In fact he's bloody good."

German Rosberg's new benchmark, of course, is Briton Hamilton -- the highly-rated 2007 world champion who was tempted to switch from McLaren over the winter.

Cars in video games are nothing new, and it's a fact that developers are going to great lengths to make their games as realistic as possible. For instance, SimCity enthusiasts will now be able to acquire a Nissan LEAF electric car and use the available solar-powered charging stations that can accommodate up to five LEAFs.

FYI, SimCity is one of the longest-running series of video games. It allows players to build and run a virtual city, with the various payoffs and consequences that come from the many decisions players make.

In this case, the LEAF solar charging stations improve the happiness of nearby businesses, happiness to the Sims who use it, and produce no sewage or garbage for your city's trash collectors to deal with.

Source : www.greencarreports.com

Racing legend Mario Andretti has an easy way to sum up his view of Canadian James Hinchcliffe: the guy is the total package.

The young driver, who made his IndyCar debut in 2011, recently clinched his first victory, at the 2013 season-opener in the streets of St. Petersburg. Then, a few races into the calendar, he won again in Brazil.

James Hinchcliffe stood tall on the podium in Brazil (Photo: LAT/IndyCar)

The Oakville native is also shining off the track. His outgoing personality, which emerged when he replaced headliner Danica Patrick in the GoDaddy.com-sponsored car, seems to be popular with sponsors.

"You look at sponsors that he represents, for instance. Sponsors want attitude," Andretti, whose famous son Michael is Hinchcliffe's boss at Andretti Autosport, told the Toronto Star.

"You put James in front of a camera and he shines. Then, he goes in the garage, gets in the race car and he wins.

"You want anything better than that?"

James Hinchcliffe at Indy (Photo: Walter Kuhn)

Right now, Hinchcliffe would love to put a victory in the Indy 500 to his name.

"It's one of those events that kind of transcends the rest of the sport," the 26-year-old told the Globe and Mail referring to the fabled race.

Hinchcliffe qualified ninth in the 33-car field, ahead of the 97th edition of the 500-mile sprint.

Peter Dempsey came back from behind in the last seconds to win the Indy Lights Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Dempsey was fourth when the leaders started the final lap but managed, along with Gabby Chavez behind him, to get the best of both leaders Carlos Munoz and pole sitter Sage Karam coming out of the final corner.

The four drivers were coming toward the finish line four-wide but the Belardi driver was able to get his nose in front of the others to win by a mere 0.0026 seconds.

Photo finish (Photo: Peter Dempsey Racing)

Chavez was second ahead of Schmidt teammate Karam and Andretti racer Munoz.

A surprising ending since the race had been between Karam and Munoz from the outset; the only change came on Lap 12 when Munoz, who will also race in the Indy 500, overtook Karam for the lead.

Title contender Jack Hawksworth was one of only two retirees; the Briton falling out of the race after glancing the wall at Turn 4.

Earlier, Kyle O'Gara lost control and hit the barrier at the same corner.