Auto News 5

From GMM

Ferrari should pull out of formula one if historic Monza is axed from the calendar.

That is the view of Roberto Maroni, the president of Lombardy, in the wake of Bernie Ecclestone's warning this week that even Monza might not be safe as he looks to scrap "a couple of races" in Europe in favour of "emerging markets".

Maroni is quoted by La Repubblica: "He (Ecclestone) thinks he's father and master of the world, but he cannot decide such a thing without even consulting with people. If he does (axe Monza), there would only be one thing to do -- Ferrari withdraw from the grand prix and the formula one circuit."

As for whether Lombardy could intervene directly, Maroni confirmed he is "interested in any solution".

President of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, and Bernie Ecclestone. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Engine makers will have to supply identical packages to each partner team when the new V6 formula kicks off next year.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Red Bull and Renault fought hard against the FIA's plans, with the reigning champions having wanted to involve team sponsor Infiniti - Nissan's luxury arm - in the development of its power unit.

But the entire Renault 'power unit' will now have to be homologated, meaning all of Renault's customers - including Toro Rosso and probably Lotus and Caterham - receive exactly the same package.

Renault V6 engine. (Photo: Renault Sport F1)

Auto Motor und Sport said that rule will be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council on Friday.

The German report said Mercedes argued strongly against allowing different engine specifications for individual teams, which might have driven up costs and deepened the gap between the big and small teams.

A paddock source is quoted as saying: "Infiniti can build their own engine if they want to."

From GMM

Barcelona is unapologetic after putting tickets on sale for a 2014 Spanish grand prix.

Valencia, absent from this year's schedule, this week expressed surprise that tickets for a F1 race at the Circuit de Catalunya have gone on sale.

Valencia vice president Jose Ciscar said a "verbal agreement" between the port city and Barcelona to alternate a single Spanish F1 race, starting with Valencia in 2014, is now "in force".

But Barcelona circuit president Vicenc Aguilera told Spain's Marca sports newspaper: "We have a contract until 2016 and we will organise (a race) every year until then.

"Indeed, if we can, we'll do even more years," he added.

From GMM

Sauber's chief designer Matt Morris is leaving the Swiss team, according to international media reports.

The German-language Speed Week, Blick and Auto Motor und Sport report that Briton Morris, 39, will be replaced by a deputy at the Hinwil based team, Eric Gandelin, a Frenchman who has been head of concept design.

Speed Week reports that Morris tendered his resignation, apparently after receiving an offer from another team.

Eric Gandelin will reportedly start work on 1 July, becoming the third Sauber designer in as many years, in the wake of Morris and James Key before him.

Auto Motor und Sport said it has heard Morris, who has worked previously for Cosworth and Williams, is heading to McLaren.

Meanwhile, Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn revealed she "expects" the team to stay with Ferrari power in 2014 as F1 moves from V8 to turbo V6 engines.

Sauber C32-Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

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...

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

2013 Family Crossover Comparison - Day Four | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

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.