Auto News 5

Transport Canada has issued a recall of 18,368 2005 to 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Cars and Mercury Grand Marquis', as the steering column lower intermediate shaft can become severely corroded.

As a result, the upper intermediate shaft could collapse on certain vehicles, allowing the steering column lower bearing to separate, causing a loss of steering capability. A loss of steering control could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.

Dealers will replace the steering lower intermediate shaft. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected and, if necessary, repaired or replaced. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed.

Source: Transport Canada

A.J. Allmendinger's NASCAR redemption has come to full completion with the announcement that he will be driving the No. 47 for JTG Daugherty Racing in 2014.

The 31-year old failed a NASCAR random drug test last year, when he drove in Sprint Cup for Penske Racing, but completed a required treatment program.

Roger Penske showed his loyalty and confidence putting Allmendinger in an IndyCar and competing in the Indy 500 this year where led 23 laps and finished seventh — a performance he calls "probably the biggest moment of my career."

Allmendinger went on to win the Nationwide Series races at Elkhart Lake and Mid-Ohio for Penske while competing in 12 Sprint Cup races for Phoenix Racing and JTG Daugherty. His new team previously signed him to do a total of six races alternating with their current driver, Bobby Labonte. Now he will replace Labonte for next year.

"For me, it is an amazing opportunity," Allmendinger said.

"I looked at this year as a new beginning for me. I have worked hard and feel fortunate about every opportunity this season and I am very grateful. It has been nice to have the chance to really get to know the JTG Daugherty Racing team and the owners Brad (Daugherty), Jodi and Tad (Geschickter). This is the start of something full-time and I look forward to the next full blown chapter of my career with JTG Daugherty Racing."

The team did not announce its' manufacturer affiliation for 2014.

Kyle Larson, one of NASCAR's hottest prospects has been named to take over the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevy SS, currently driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, next year in the Sprint Cup Series.

The 21-year old Japanese-American, in his first year in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, has yet to visit Victory Lane, and may be best known to casual fans as the driver of the car which went through the crossover gate at Daytona International Speedway in February.

Industry observers think that the timing may be premature.

Team owner, Chip Ganassi, insists that his protégé is ready for the move up to the major leagues of stock car racing.

"Obviously, the guy is ready," Ganassi said. "Like some of the smarter people in the sport have said, maybe a Cup car is a little more like his style than a Nationwide car. It wouldn't be the first time, and time will tell. The kid's ready."

Ironically sprint cars, the open wheel roadsters which weigh 1400lbs and have 900 hp where Larson has come from, are more like Sprint Cup cars than the Nationwide car in the power to weight ration.

As Larson explained “I'm used to having way too much horsepower. I think it will translate well to the Cup cars.”

As for the 37-year old ex-Formula One driver and Indy car champ, Montoya, Ganassi hasn't ruled out running the Colombian in other series.

“I think there are always opportunities in our team that seem to present themselves,” said Ganassi. You never know from time to time when those come along.

“With all the different cars we have, it does make for some great opportunities at different times. I'm certainly not counting him out of any opportunities or potential opportunities coming along.”

A.J. Allmendinger's NASCAR redemption has come to full completion with the announcement that he will be driving the No. 47 for JTG Daugherty Racing in 2014.

The 31-year old failed a NASCAR random drug test last year, when he drove in Sprint Cup for Penske Racing, but completed a required treatment program.

Roger Penske showed his loyalty and confidence putting Allmendinger in an IndyCar and competing in the Indy 500 this year where led 23 laps and finished seventh — a performance he calls "probably the biggest moment of my career."

Allmendinger went on to win the Nationwide Series races at Elkhart Lake and Mid-Ohio for Penske while competing in 12 Sprint Cup races for Phoenix Racing and JTG Daugherty. His new team previously signed him to do a total of six races alternating with their current driver, Bobby Labonte. Now he will replace Labonte for next year.

"For me, it is an amazing opportunity," Allmendinger said.

"I looked at this year as a new beginning for me. I have worked hard and feel fortunate about every opportunity this season and I am very grateful. It has been nice to have the chance to really get to know the JTG Daugherty Racing team and the owners Brad (Daugherty), Jodi and Tad (Geschickter). This is the start of something full-time and I look forward to the next full blown chapter of my career with JTG Daugherty Racing."

The team did not announce its' manufacturer affiliation for 2014.

Fabien Pailler, who drives a Peugeot 208, leads the overall standings after the first two rounds of the European Rallycross Championship race held at Loheac, France.

After day 1, Pailler leads the standings from Timmy Hansen, in a Citroen DS3 and Timur Timeryzanov in a similar Citroen DS3. The championship leader had two tough races, having to fight hard to make it to third overall.

Meanwhile, American Tanner Foust, driving a Ford Fiesta is 7th overall ahead of Jean-Philippe Dayraut in a Peugeot 207 WRC and nine-time World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb in a Peugeot 208.

"The second round was OK, but I had a problem with the diff in the first one," Loeb said.

"I know it's important to be consistent, and that I am not allowed to do any more mistakes. I was happy with the setting of the car in round two."

The final and decisive two rounds will be held tomorrow.

Transport Canada has issued a recall of 18,368 2005 to 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Cars and Mercury Grand Marquis', as the steering column lower intermediate shaft can become severely corroded.

As a result, the upper intermediate shaft could collapse on certain vehicles, allowing the steering column lower bearing to separate, causing a loss of steering capability. A loss of steering control could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.

Dealers will replace the steering lower intermediate shaft. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected and, if necessary, repaired or replaced. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed.

Source: Transport Canada

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. learned it's good to listen to his boss as eclipsed his Roush Fenway Racing teammate, Carl Edwards, to take the pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

What did the rookie driver do? In a pre-qualifying interview he said that Jack Roush told him to take the low line around one NASCAR's fastest tracks and in doing so got his first Sprint Cup pole, in a Ford, at a speed of 189.688 mph (or 29.227 seconds) around the one and one-half mile oval.

Rickie Stenhouse Jr. (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

Stenhouse said “we were sitting in the trailer after practice and Jack asked me what line I was gonna run in qualifying and having a late draw I told him, ‘Well, whoever is on the pole at that time I'm gonna run where they ran,' and he said he didn't want to hear that, he wanted to hear that I was gonna run the bottom because it makes him less nervous when I'm on the bottom.”

Edwards, who had held the provisional pole at 189.021 mph, said “As soon as he (Stenhouse) went to the bottom I thought, ‘He gave it up. It's done,' so it did shock me that he was able to go that fast on the bottom.

“I think this race will change a lot throughout the event. The track changes a lot through the race and I think whatever works at the beginning of the race won't work at the end, and I think you'll see a migrating groove. The fast line won't stay in the same place, but it definitely will make it tough for him to pick which line to start in. I'll be curious to see if he picks the bottom or the top, but it is a 500-mile race and the biggest thing is to work tomorrow to have our cars fast on the long run.”

Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya, who will be replaced by Kyle Larson next year at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, was third fast in a Chevrolet at 188.539 mph.

Rounding out the top five were Denny Hamlin in a Toyota and Jeff Gordon in a Chevrolet.

Sunday night's 500 miler is the penultimate race before the points are reset. While five-time champion, Jimmie Johnson, leads the actual points, he would be second to Matt Kenseth due to bonus points awarded frowns in the first 26 races. Kenseth has five to Johnson's four.

Transport Canada has issued a recall of 18,368 2005 to 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Cars and Mercury Grand Marquis', as the steering column lower intermediate shaft can become severely corroded.

As a result, the upper intermediate shaft could collapse on certain vehicles, allowing the steering column lower bearing to separate, causing a loss of steering capability. A loss of steering control could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.

Dealers will replace the steering lower intermediate shaft. The upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing will be inspected and, if necessary, repaired or replaced. If the steering column lower bearing has separated, a retainer clip will be installed.

Source: Transport Canada

Kyle Larson, one of NASCAR's hottest prospects has been named to take over the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevy SS, currently driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, next year in the Sprint Cup Series.

The 21-year old Japanese-American, in his first year in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, has yet to visit Victory Lane, and may be best known to casual fans as the driver of the car which went through the crossover gate at Daytona International Speedway in February.

Industry observers think that the timing may be premature.

Team owner, Chip Ganassi, insists that his protégé is ready for the move up to the major leagues of stock car racing.

"Obviously, the guy is ready," Ganassi said. "Like some of the smarter people in the sport have said, maybe a Cup car is a little more like his style than a Nationwide car. It wouldn't be the first time, and time will tell. The kid's ready."

Ironically sprint cars, the open wheel roadsters which weigh 1400lbs and have 900 hp where Larson has come from, are more like Sprint Cup cars than the Nationwide car in the power to weight ration.

As Larson explained “I'm used to having way too much horsepower. I think it will translate well to the Cup cars.”

As for the 37-year old ex-Formula One driver and Indy car champ, Montoya, Ganassi hasn't ruled out running the Colombian in other series.

“I think there are always opportunities in our team that seem to present themselves,” said Ganassi. You never know from time to time when those come along.

“With all the different cars we have, it does make for some great opportunities at different times. I'm certainly not counting him out of any opportunities or potential opportunities coming along.”

From ALMS

German driver, Klaus Graf captured the pole for Saturday's American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT, leading a qualifying session that saw track records for all five classes broken on the 2.02-mile Inner Harbor Street Circuit.

Klaus Graf (Photo: ALMS)

Graf ran a lap of 1m25.290 in the No. 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03c co-driven by Lucas Luhr. It was his second pole of the 2013 ALMS season and fourth for the team this year.

Graf will be joined on the front row by the No. 16 Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 of Chris Dyson and Guy Smith. ONly two P1 cars are entered in this race.

In GT class qualifying, Bill Auberlen captured his first pole of the season in the No. 55 Team RLL Crowne Plaza BMW Z4 GT4 with a lap of 1m29.560.

Bill Auberlen (Photo:René Fagnan)

Teammate Joey Hand originally qualified second in the No. 56 BMW, but his times were disallowed when a ride-height issue was revealed in post-qualifying technical inspection.

As a result, Corvette Racing's No. 4 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 qualified by Tommy Milner moves to the GT front row.

Ryan Briscoe won his fourth pole of the season in P2 qualifying and the sixth for Level 5 Motorsports in the No. 551 HPD ARX-03b, 1m27.170. Briscoe is back in the cockpit after recovering from an injury suffered in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

The Aussie ran his fast lap late in the 15-minute session to take the pole from Extreme Speed Motorsports driver Johannes van Overbeek's No. 02 Tequila Patrón HPD ARX-03b.

Dane Cameron led Prototype Challenge presented by Continental Tire (PC) qualifying. Driving the No. 52 PR1 Motorsports Molecule ORECA FLM09 for the first time this season, he won the pole with a lap of 1m28.235.

In GTC, Jeroen Bleekemolen captured his fourth pole of the season and 15th of his career with a lap of 1m34.322 in the No. 22 Alex Job Racing WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

From GMM

Daniel Ricciardo has confirmed reports he would be a tight squeeze at the wheel of Red Bull's 2014 turbo car.

We reported on Thursday that the Australian, the hot favourite to replace his countryman Mark Webber at the world champion team, hit a snag this week when he had a seat-fitting in the cockpit of the 2014-spec RB10.

Designer Adrian Newey is known for his tight-fitting cars, and European media reports claim Ricciardo's hips are wider than Webber and Sebastian Vettel's.

Daniel Ricciardo (Photo: WRi2)

"It's not my arse per se," the 24-year-old told the Telegraph.

"Even when I signed for Toro Rosso we had to do a few seat fits and they did some scans to make that particular part of the cockpit a bit wider, so that we're not sitting on the actual carbon fibre.

"I can't do much about it. Even if I go on a massive diet my hip bones aren't going to change."

Ricciardo insisted, however, that his hips are not going to hurt his dream of switching to F1's premier team.

"No chance," he grinned. "I'd shave my hips if necessary. I might die of blood loss but it would be worth it!"

He is not confirming Webber's recent cat-out-of-the-bag announcement that he has secured the 2014 seat -- but Ricciardo is at least starting to drop big hints.

"Oh ok, I'll just come out and say it," he said. "I moved to Monaco last week. There," said Ricciardo, who has lived in the UK for the last five years.

Moving to the tax-haven is a sure sign Ricciardo's income is about to soar.

Still, he's confirming nothing.

"Until something is done I'm not getting too excited," said the Perth-born driver. "Then if it doesn't happen I won't kill myself."

From ALMS

German driver, Klaus Graf captured the pole for Saturday's American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT, leading a qualifying session that saw track records for all five classes broken on the 2.02-mile Inner Harbor Street Circuit.

Klaus Graf (Photo: ALMS)

Graf ran a lap of 1m25.290 in the No. 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03c co-driven by Lucas Luhr. It was his second pole of the 2013 ALMS season and fourth for the team this year.

Graf will be joined on the front row by the No. 16 Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 of Chris Dyson and Guy Smith. ONly two P1 cars are entered in this race.

In GT class qualifying, Bill Auberlen captured his first pole of the season in the No. 55 Team RLL Crowne Plaza BMW Z4 GT4 with a lap of 1m29.560.

Bill Auberlen (Photo:René Fagnan)

Teammate Joey Hand originally qualified second in the No. 56 BMW, but his times were disallowed when a ride-height issue was revealed in post-qualifying technical inspection.

As a result, Corvette Racing's No. 4 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 qualified by Tommy Milner moves to the GT front row.

Ryan Briscoe won his fourth pole of the season in P2 qualifying and the sixth for Level 5 Motorsports in the No. 551 HPD ARX-03b, 1m27.170. Briscoe is back in the cockpit after recovering from an injury suffered in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

The Aussie ran his fast lap late in the 15-minute session to take the pole from Extreme Speed Motorsports driver Johannes van Overbeek's No. 02 Tequila Patrón HPD ARX-03b.

Dane Cameron led Prototype Challenge presented by Continental Tire (PC) qualifying. Driving the No. 52 PR1 Motorsports Molecule ORECA FLM09 for the first time this season, he won the pole with a lap of 1m28.235.

In GTC, Jeroen Bleekemolen captured his fourth pole of the season and 15th of his career with a lap of 1m34.322 in the No. 22 Alex Job Racing WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Fabien Pailler, who drives a Peugeot 208, leads the overall standings after the first two rounds of the European Rallycross Championship race held at Loheac, France.

After day 1, Pailler leads the standings from Timmy Hansen, in a Citroen DS3 and Timur Timeryzanov in a similar Citroen DS3. The championship leader had two tough races, having to fight hard to make it to third overall.

Meanwhile, American Tanner Foust, driving a Ford Fiesta is 7th overall ahead of Jean-Philippe Dayraut in a Peugeot 207 WRC and nine-time World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb in a Peugeot 208.

"The second round was OK, but I had a problem with the diff in the first one," Loeb said.

"I know it's important to be consistent, and that I am not allowed to do any more mistakes. I was happy with the setting of the car in round two."

The final and decisive two rounds will be held tomorrow.

Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon set the fastest time in qualifying for the IZOD IndyCar race to be held Sunday in the streets of Baltimore.

Scott Dixon (Photo: IndyCar)

Driving a Dallara-Honda, Dixon drove the 2.04-mile, 12-turn street circuit in 1m18.0838 on his final lap. He recorded the fastest lap of the weekend in Group 1 of Round 1 of qualifications (1m17.9275), which bettered the 2012 pole time laid down by Team Penske's Will Power.

Frenchman Simon Pagenaud will start the racde from third place.

Dario Franchitti will start the race from last place as his mechanics had to change his engine.

Pos Driver Team/Engine Time Gap
1. Scott Dixon Ganassi/Honda 1m18.0838s
2. Will Power Penske/Chevy 1m18.1171s +0.0333s
3. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Honda 1m18.4307s +0.3469s
4. Justin Wilson Coyne/Honda 1m18.8698s +0.7860s
5. Josef Newgarden Fisher/Honda 1m18.9022s +0.8184s
6. Tristan Vautier Schmidt/Honda 1m19.0380s +0.9542s
7. Helio Castroneves Penske/Chevy 1m19.0288s Round 2
8. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti/Chevy 1m19.0367s Round 2
9. Charlie Kimball Ganassi/Honda 1m19.0523s Round 2
10. Takuma Sato Foyt/Honda 1m19.2216s Round 2
11. James Hinchcliffe Andretti/Chevy 1m19.3182s Round 2
12. Graham Rahal Rahal/Honda 1m22.2045s Round 2
13. James Jakes Rahal/Honda 1m18.6398s Group 1
14. Luca Filippi Herta/Honda 1m19.1242s Group 2
15. Dario Franchitti* Ganassi/Honda 1m18.6694s Group 1
16. Tony Kanaan KV/Chevy 1m19.3051s Group 2
17. Oriol Servia Panther/Chevy 1m18.8075s Group 1
18. Marco Andretti Andretti/Chevy 1m19.4738s Group 2
19. Simona de Silvestro KV/Chevy 1m18.9829s Group 1
20. Ed Carpenter Carpenter/Chevy 1m20.5694s Group 2
21. Sebastian Saavedra Dragon/Chevy 1m19.2440s Group 1
22. EJ Viso Andretti/Chevy Group 2
23. Stefan Wilson Coyne/Honda 1m20.1871s Group 1
24. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon/Chevy Group 2
*Franchitti will start last

Ford is recalling 370,000 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car vehicles from the 2005-11 model years to inspect and repair the lower steering shaft.

Ford is recalling 370,000 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car vehicles from the 2005-11 model years to inspect and repair the lower steering shaft.

Ford is recalling 370,000 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car vehicles from the 2005-11 model years to inspect and repair the lower steering shaft.

We're feeling a little deprived this afternoon. Our HotWheels tracks consisted of straight orange pieces and a few 90-degree turns. The only way to get them going fast was to send them down the stairs and around the corner.

We're feeling a little deprived this afternoon. Our HotWheels tracks consisted of straight orange pieces and a few 90-degree turns. The only way to get them going fast was to send them down the stairs and around the corner.

We're feeling a little deprived this afternoon. Our HotWheels tracks consisted of straight orange pieces and a few 90-degree turns. The only way to get them going fast was to send them down the stairs and around the corner.