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From GMM

Former F1 driver Mika Salo has admitted he doesn't believe a simple tear-off visor strip caused Kimi Raikkonen's brake failure at Spa.

Raikkonen's first retirement since his return to formula one might be seen as a knockout blow to his championship hopes, as he drops behind Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in the chase to beat Sebastian Vettel to the title.

As the F1 paddock was disassembled at Spa late on Sunday, Lotus still had not definitively identified the cause of the brake failure.

But then it was announced that a plastic helmet visor tear-off strip had entered and blocked the brake air duct.

Retirement for Kimi Raikkonen at Spa-Francorchamps. (Photo: WRi2)

Lotus reacted with its usual humour, posting a survey on its website asking if the team should react by adding more 'iceman coolant' in future.

And on Twitter, the team jokingly pointed the finger at Vettel, posting a photo of the world champion with a visor strip and captioning 'We think we know where the infamous brake-breaking tear-off came from".

Finn Salo, however, is not convinced.

"I just cannot believe the reason the team gave for the failure," he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3. "Even the braking duct becomes so hot that, if it had gone in there, it would have melted. Lotus also had a brake problem already on Friday, but now all of a sudden it is the (visor) film?"

The former Sauber and Toyota driver said he suspects Lotus simply got its numbers wrong with a latest technical development.

"If the air is being channelled in a different way, it also might not go to cooling the brakes in the same way," said Mika Salo.

From GMM

Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen insists he has not yet given up on his Formula 1 career.

After losing his Caterham race seat, the Finn's hopes have been raised again with two more Friday practice drives at Spa last weekend, and Monza up next.

Heikki Kovalainen. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

But he admitted at Spa that if the team factors driver sponsorship into its race seat deliberations "again, then the return is not in my hands".

It is suggested Kovalainen, 31, might instead follow the likes of Sebastien Buemi, Nick Heidfeld, Bruno Senna and Kamui Kobayashi into endurance racing, including Le Mans.

However, Kovalainen told Finnish correspondent Heikki Kulta that he is not yet thinking about a similar move.

"This year, I have been asked to do many different projects in many different categories. But I don't feel so interested in them," he insisted.

"It's because I have the feeling that I have more to give in Formula 1."

Nissan North America, helped by demand for small cars and crossovers, expects to report a jump in U.S. sales of the Nissan brand when its August sales are tallied next week.

Our last Scale Model Kit of the Week was

Our last Scale Model Kit of the Week was

Our last Scale Model Kit of the Week was

Our last Scale Model Kit of the Week was

Our last Scale Model Kit of the Week was

Our last Scale Model Kit of the Week was

Our last Scale Model Kit of the Week was

What's the first thing the above image of a big Chrysler racing on the sand calls to mind?

What's the first thing the above image of a big Chrysler racing on the sand calls to mind?

What's the first thing the above image of a big Chrysler racing on the sand calls to mind?

What's the first thing the above image of a big Chrysler racing on the sand calls to mind?

What's the first thing the above image of a big Chrysler racing on the sand calls to mind?

What's the first thing the above image of a big Chrysler racing on the sand calls to mind?

What's the first thing the above image of a big Chrysler racing on the sand calls to mind?

Four decades after a failed push to outfit cars and light trucks with devices that force drivers to buckle up, regulators and the auto industry are giving interlocks another chance.

Honda showed off some of its smart future technology on Aug. 28 in Detroit. The company is hoping to reduce accidents between motorcycles and cars, and pedestrians and cars.

Honda showed off some of its smart future technology on Aug. 28 in Detroit. The company is hoping to reduce accidents between motorcycles and cars, and pedestrians and cars.