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Kyle Petty, a retired NASCAR Cup driver and son of Hall of Famer and seven time champion “the King,” Richard Petty, has a reputation for speaking his mind without restrictions.

As a regular commentator on SpeedTV's Race Hub Petty has an opinion on just about everything related to stock car racing.

On Wednesday night the eight-race Cup winner gave his opinion NASCAR's only and highest profile driver according to Forbes magazine's list of the top 100 celebrities.

Danica Patrick. (Photo: NASCAR)

Another Race Hub analyst, Matt Clark, asked Petty what he thought of Ms. Patrick.
Kyle Petty: I've said it from the very beginning; she's just a marketing machine. That's a fact, Jack.

Clark: She's hot...
Petty: Yeah, she's hot. She's a hot commodity and rightfully so. In a market where everybody that crawls into a race car on a Sunday afternoon in Cup racing is male; she's the female. I don't have a problem with her being a marketing machine - more power to her.

Clark: Where's she at as a driver?
Petty: That's where I have a problem. Where fans have bought into the hype of the marketing, to think she's a race car driver. She can go fast, and I've seen her go fast. She drives the wheels off it when she goes fast.

Clark: ... but has she learned to race?
Petty: She's not a race car driver. There's a difference. ‘The King' (Richard Petty) always had that stupid saying, but it's true, ‘Lots of drivers can drive fast, but very few drivers can race.' Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs. She can go fast, but she can't race. I think she's come a long way, but she's still not a race car driver. And I don't think she's ever going to be a race car driver.

Clark: Why?
Petty: Because I think it's too late to learn.

Clark: Then what makes a difference between a good driver, and a great driver?
Petty: If I knew, I'd be a great driver. I was not a great driver, and I'll be the first to admit it. I was a journeyman driver. Just like in the NFL or any sport, there are journeyman players...

RM Auctions will sell a very unique piece of automotive engineering -- and a movie icon -- at its London auction on September 8-9, 2013: the Lotus Esprit Series 1 ‘Submarine' Car that starred in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).

Specifically designed and built for the famous underwater sequence, it was developed from one of six Esprit body shells used in the making of the film -- and is the only car to be built into a fully operational, self-propelled ‘submarine'. Known as ‘Wet Nellie' on the set, it was later shipped to Long Island, NY, where it was kept in an unassuming storage unit on a ten-year rental, paid in advance.

Here's the twist: In 1989, the rent delinquent unit was put up ‘blind' for public auction. A modest winning bid from an area couple brought surprise and wonder when the blankets were removed to reveal the iconic 007 ‘Submarine' Car.

The Lotus made a few appearances afterwards -- including a stint at the Petersen Automotive Museum -- but for the most part remained closely under wraps, until now.

No estimation has been provided for this car, but you should know that RM Auctions sold “the most famous car in the world”, the Aston Martin DB5 used by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball, for £2.9 million (approx. $4.6 million CAD) in 2010.

Photo: RM Auctions

From GMM

Felipe Massa has admitted he has "a good chance" of staying at Ferrari in 2014.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali said in Canada that the Brazilian is "absolutely" likely to remain Fernando Alonso's teammate next year, despite a recent run of crashes.

"I think I have a good chance to stay here," Massa told Brazil's Agencia Estado at Silverstone. "I have to keep working and getting good results because, after all, it's the results that count. But I'm confident of doing well until the end of the season."

Asked how long it might be before Ferrari present him with a 2014 contract to sign, the 32-year-old answered: "I don't think a long time."

Felipe Massa, Ferrrari, in Silverstone. (Photo: WRi2)

He denied that his recent run of crashes in Monaco and Montreal had hurt his confidence.

"I have never been a driver with problems of accidents, as happened in the last two races. So I don't think you can put pressure (on yourself) because of that," said Massa.

In 2014 Formula 1 will enter a new era. The most significant technical change to hit the sport in more than two decades is introduced with the switch from V8 to V6 turbo engines.

The revolution is such that experts no longer talk about an engine but rather a power unit.

Engine regulations form the major part of the coming revolution, with the introduction of a new generation of Power Units that combine a 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine with energy recovery systems that will dramatically increase efficiency by harvesting energy dissipated as heat in the exhaust or brakes.

Photo: Renault Sport F1

The maximum power of the new Power Unit will exceed the output of current V8 F1 engines however fuel efficiency will be radically improved. With only 100kg permitted for the race, the new units will use 35% less fuel than their predecessors.

The rules for 2014
• 1.6L direct injection turbo V6
• Unique pressure charging architecture: single turbine and compressor (plus E-motor allowed)
• 5 Power Units per driver per season in 2014, reducing to 4 in subsequent years

Strong focus on improved vehicle fuel efficiency / reduced fuel consumption:
• Fuel quantity for the race limited to 100 kg initially (-35% from now - currently unlimited)
• Fuel mass flow rate limited to 100 kg/hr max - currently unlimited
• Potent Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) are allowed

The chart below illustrates the basic technical differences between the current V8 engines and next year's V6 power units.

Chart: Renault Sport F1

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has repeated his depiction of Sebastian Vettel as a "fantastic driver" at the wheel of an "awesome car".

Earlier this week, triple world champion and 2013 points leader Vettel insisted he is not fazed by the likes of Hamilton or Fernando Alonso, who constantly herald one another's talents but hail only Vettel's Red Bull car.

When asked about that sort of criticism, 2008 world champion Hamilton accused the media of being "unfair".

"It's unfair to say we criticise him and say he (Vettel) doesn't belong with Fernando and I. He does belong in that group, definitely," the Briton is quoted by the Mirror.

Hamilton said Vettel is "an absolutely fantastic driver", but "he really does have an awesome car".

"I think he would have a much tougher time if he was positioned with some different drivers," he added. "My comments are from what I see when I get to race wheel to wheel with him -- well, the few seconds that I do before he flies off into the distance. I am sure in the back of every driver's mind is 'What would it be like if I was in that car?'"

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG) leading Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) in Canada. (Photo: WRi2)

However, two pundits believe Lewis Hamilton should be looking at himself rather than others as he assesses why he only has a single title to his name.

"I think something happened a few years ago when he was looking for something in life outside of formula one," Gary Anderson, a leading F1 engineer turned broadcaster, told Speed Week.

"In my opinion he lost some focus. He needs to understand that what you do on Sunday is not enough -- you have to think about nothing else than success, seven days a week. I no longer see that in him."

1996 world champion Damon Hill has a similar view.

"I don't want to say Lewis is naive, but he has a lot to learn," he told the London Evening Standard.

"He genuinely wants to pursue his career in his own way. But the sport that he's in is a very Machiavellian place. To succeed in formula one you have to be a bit ruthless, have a focus, and almost a business mindset," added Hill.

On the other hand, although Hamilton eventually railed against the level of control exerted upon him, Anderson thinks Hamilton was the right man for McLaren.

Considering the great British team's seemingly endless 2013 crisis, he wonders: "Is Jenson Button just too nice for the situation they're in? I'm sure Lewis would make more fuss about it."

The National Automobile Dealers Association, ending a practice of more than four decades, said today that beginning in 2015 it will hold its annual convention and expo Thursday to Sunday instead of Friday to Monday.

A top Ford executive said today the auto sales pace in the United States may have moderated after the Federal Reserve signaled it could begin unwinding its accommodative monetary policy.

Call it a minibus, a microbus, a hippie bus or a station wagon, the Volkswagen Type 2 is a versatile vehicle.

The Senate today unanimously approved Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to head the Department of Transportation, a role held for the past four years by former congressman Ray LaHood.

In 1994, we said the Jeep Wrangler had more and#8220;guts than a government muleand#8221; in our in-depth performance profile.

According to the Porsche-lovers at flatsixes.com, an unknown

Studio Canal released a new featurette about and#8220;Rush,and#8221; the upcoming Formula One drama, on Tuesday.

Nissan, aiming to boost its U.S. market share and increase North American production, plans to add 900 workers at its assembly operations in Smyrna, Tenn. The plant added 810 employees last fall.

2013 Family Crossover Comparison - Day Four

When you choose the best family crossover in America, it's all about character.

This is Automobile Magazine's Family Crossover Comparo, our comparison test of the kind of vehicle that you see during America's summer vacation, the three-row family crossover.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Family Crossover Comparison - Day Four - Automobile Magazine

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News 27 Jun, 2013

Reports suggest that troubled Peugeot is running out of cash and turning to US-owned GM as a last resort

Workers at GM's Korean factories are planning a partial walkout in a dispute over pay.

Street-truck enthusiasts looking for V8 power with V6 fuel economy, look no further.

GM executive Walter Borst will join truck and engine maker Navistar International as executive vice president and CFO, effective Aug. 1, Navistar said today.

Longtime GM executive and former Opel CFO Walter Borst will join truck and engine maker Navistar International as executive vice president and CFO, effective Aug. 1, Navistar said Thursday.

The apparently simple issue of braking continues to be a major focus of R&D for engineers. Here, Matthew Beecham talked with TMD Friction's senior vice president of R&D, Andrew Dilnot about trends in the brake friction market, its newly-formed venture with Hella and the increasing use of aluminium brake disc on mass market cars.