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Pininfarina has released a sketch of its Sergio concept car ahead of the rakish two-seat roadster's debut at the Geneva auto show on March 5. The car was created to pay tribute to longtime CEO Sergio Pininfarina.

From GMM

McLaren is yet to sign an engine deal for the new turbo V6 era beginning in 2014, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"Mercedes is pushing for a decision in the next days," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

The successful, title-winning McLaren-Mercedes partnership dates back almost two decades, but with Mercedes now with its own team, McLaren is no longer the 'works' partner.

According to Schmidt, the solution could be Honda.

"The question is whether the Japanese are coming in 2014 or not until 2015," he said.

"It is a poorly kept secret that McLaren is talking with Honda."

In fact, Schmidt relayed paddock rumours that Honda already has engineers working at McLaren's Woking headquarters, with a final board decision about whether the manufacturer will return to F1 after a half-decade absence "pending".

Jon Fogarty, who set the pole the day before, and Alex Gurney (No. 99 GAINSCO Corvette DP), grabbed their first win of the 2013 Grand-Am season, Saturday, in the series' first ever trip to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

They last time Fogarty and Gurney were on the top step of the podium dates back to over a year.

Brendon Hartley (No. 8 Starworks Motorsports Ford/Riley), the Mercedes AMG F1 development driver, was leading actually, and looked set for the win, only until he crashed out of the race against a GT car.

Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney won thanks to Brendon Hartley's late crash (Photo: Grand-Am.com)

Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow (No. 2 Starworks Ford/Riley) and Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas (No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley) complete the DP podium.

Canadian Paul Dalla Lana (No. 94 Turner BMW M3) overcame a two laps deficit - thanks to the help of his co-driver Bill Auberlen -, to finish first in the GT class. Alessandro Pier Guidi (No. 63 Scuderia Corse Ferrari 458) had crossed the finis first, but he was penalized for a late contact with Andy Lally (No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3), who ended up second with co-driver John Potter.

Andrew Davis and Leh Keen (No. 59 Brumos Porsche GT3) complete the podium.

Jim Norman, Jeff Mosing and Spencer Pumpelly won the GX class.



Race results* - Grand-Am (Austin, Texas)
1 - Fogarty-Gurney (Corvette DP/Riley) - Stallings - 71 laps
2 - Dalziel-Popow (Riley-Ford) - Starworks - 71
3 - Pruett-Rojas (Riley-BMW) - Ganassi - 71
4 - Potolicchio-Sarrazin (Corvette DP/Coyote) - 8Star - 71
5 - Fittipaldi-Frisselle (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 71
6 - Jonsson-Krohn (Lola-Ford) - Krohn - 71
7 - Pizzonia-Yacaman (Riley-Ford) - Shank - 71
8 - Cameron-Nonnamaker (Riley-BMW) - Sahlen - 71
9 - Bennett-Braun (Riley/Dallara-Ford) - Doran - 71
10 - Angelelli-Taylor (Riley-BMW) - Taylor - 71
11 - Taylor-Westbrook (Corvette DP) - SpiritOfDaytona - 70
12 - Anassis-Massar (Riley-Ford) - BTE - 70
13 - Auberlen-Della Lana (BMW M3) - Turner - 67
14 - Lally-Potter (Porsche 997) - Magnus - 67
15 - Davis-Keen (Porsche 997) - Brumos - 67
16 - Lindsey-Long (Porsche 997) - Park Place - 67
17 - Assentato-Lazzaro (Riley-Ford) - AIM - 67
18 - Skeen-Vess (Porsche 997) - Park Place - 67
19 - Hedlund-Van Overbeek (Ferrari 458) - Extrme Speed - 67
20 - Marsal-Schaldach (BMW M3) - Turner - 67
21 - Marcelli-Von Moltke (Porsche 997) - Muehlner - 67
22 - Papis-Segal (Ferrari 458) - AIM - 67
23 - Balzan-Pier Guidi (Ferrari 458) - Corsa - 67
24 - Cole-Hart-McCutchen (Porsche 997) - Park Place - 66
25 - Curran-Said (Corvette Z06) - Marsh - 65
26 - Costabal-Salazar (Porsche 997) - Muehlner - 65
27 - Hartley-Mayer (Porsche 997) - Starworks - 63
28 - Edwards-Aschenbach-Liddell (Chevy Camaro) - Stevenson - 63
29 - Barbosa-Frisselle (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 62
30 - Mosing-Norman-Pumpelly (Porsche Cayman) - BGB - 62
31 - Baas-Bell (Audi R8) - Apr - 60
32 - Long-Tremblay (Ferrari 458) - Speedsource - 58
33 - Nonnamaker-Nonnamaker-Sahlen (Riley-BMW) - Sahlen - 52
34 - Negri-Pew (Riley-Ford) - Shank - 49
35 - Miller-Nunez (Mazda 6) - Speedsource - 39

*Unofficial

Championship standings
1. Pruett-Rojas 65; 2. Fogarty-Gurney 59; 3. Dalziel-Popow 57; 4. Angelelli-Taylor 53.

From the "Drive" channel

Leh Keen breaks-in his Porsche GT3 Cup with Brumos Racing at the famed Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.


Source: Youtube

From GMM

Having consistently played down his expectations for 2013, Lewis Hamilton is now predicting a win.

Until this weekend, most pundits had been forecasting a Red Bull versus Lotus battle for the forthcoming season opener, with next-best McLaren and Ferrari perhaps slightly off the ultimate pace.

But on Saturday, Lewis Hamilton exploded to the top of the times with the winter's best laptime.  Nico Rosberg then went even quicker in the first half of Sunday, the last day of running before the circus heads off to Australia.

"Everywhere in the paddock, respect is being shown for Mercedes," said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner.

There are, however, outstanding questions.  Didn't Mercedes also show good pace before last season, when ultimately the 2012 car fell badly off the development pace?

And isn't there a huge difference between one-lap qualifying pace and the new tyre-degradation dominated grands prix?

Finally, is the W04 really a title contender?

"It's not 'no chance' and not 'definitely we will'," Hamilton said.  "We will definitely be able to win a race at some point."

Added Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg: "At the very least, Mercedes' betting odds have changed now!"

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) had Mercedes on top, Sunday, as the last pre-season test ended, in Barcelona, Spain.

Fernando Alonso (background) couldn't quite keep up with Nico Rosberg (Photo: WRi2)

The day before, Rosberg's stalemate Lewis Hamilton leaped ahead of everyone, boosting the team's form from point finishers to front-running material.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F138 (Photo: WRi2)

World champions Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138), Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28), Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus E21) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8) were all in action, but couldn't knock Rosberg and Mercedes off the top.

Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2)

It was close for Alonso - only some four tenths off -, but no cigar. Jenson Button couldn't break the 1min21sec barrier, and Räikkönen, who got better from yesterday's food poisoning, just squeezed passed Paul di Resta (Force India VJM06), to get into the top five.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

German Vettel was left eighth, splitting the Williams pair led by Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35).

Pastor Maldonado, Williams FW35 (Photo: WRi2)

Frenchman Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02) improved on his second day as an official race driver, lowering his best time so far by almost a full second.

Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR02 (Photo: WRi2)

With the third and final pre-season venue now over, next up for the team is the opening round of the 2013 season, Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix, in two weeks.

Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso STR8 (Photo: WRi2)

Will Mercedes finally break through this year?

Or will its impressive pace fade away like in 2012?

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32 (Photo: WRi2)

F1 winter testing, March 3rd, Barcelona (Spain)*
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'20"130
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'20"494
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'21"444
4 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'21"541
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'21"568
6 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"664
7 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"415
8 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9) - 1'22"514
9 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"524
10 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'23"115
11 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'23"167
12 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"628
13 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'24"103

*Unofficial timing

Giedo van der Garde, Caterham CT03 (Photo: WRi2)

Model: 1997 to 2013 Chevrolet Corvette

Vehicle Type: Performance Coupe / Convertible

The Verdict: Other than some fluid leaks, issues with a C5 or C6 Corvette will likely be related to electronics or the durability of interior parts. Shop carefully, and consider a mechanical and electronical inspection mandatory ahead of your purchase.

Price: Asking prices for an earlier C5 model Vette with some mileage start well below $20,000, with many later-model C5s landing in the low- to mid-$20,000 range. A C6 model can be had in the low $20,000 range with some miles; with a wide range of low-mileage models coming in between $30,000 and $40,000.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

What Owners Like: Performance, styling, heritage, relative ease-of-use, and acceleration were the big draws to the last two generations of Corvette, according to many owners. Fuel mileage is also highly rated.

What Owners Dislike: Common complaints of the last-generation Corvette models include cheap interior trim materials, limited storage space, and a rough ride. Stereo system performance was often considered a weakness, too.

History/Description: In the used marketplace, the last two generations of Chevrolet Corvette are becoming appealing ways to access a high-performance car for a relatively low price. All Vettes were rear-wheel drive, available with automatic or manual transmissions and powered by a V8 engine. Early C5 models came with 345 horsepower as standard, while the C6 generation model, which launched for 2005, got 400.

Feature content included air conditioning, push-button start, navigation, power accessories, cruise control, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, and plenty more.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

Continue reading 1997-2013 Chevrolet Corvette Pre-Owned

March is here, and things are warming up in the automotive world.

The first two official photos of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible -- but no details -- have been released ahead of the car's debut at the

What is it?

American Suzuki received bankruptcy court approval of its Chapter 11 reorganization plan to wind down U.S. auto operations and continue selling motorcycles, ATVs and boat engines.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Not my cup of tea, this 2013

Rolls-Royce and Bentley will unveil new vehicles at the Geneva auto show as they intensify their battle in the fast-growing luxury end of the market. Rolls-Royce will debut a two-door coupe version of its Ghost model, known as the Wraith.

Mercedes-Benz reported a 22 percent surge in U.S. sales last month, building on its early lead as it tries to unseat BMW as the leader in luxury-auto deliveries this year.

Having stepped up from the GT class to the LMP2 category, US based Extreme Speed Motorsports withdrew is Ferrari F458 from the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The move made way for a fifth Aston Martin entry at the fabled race.

ESM had planned running Le Mans in a GT Ferrari, and the 2013 American Le Mans Series season with two. But the Scott Sharp-owned team changed its plans, instead racing LMP2 prototypes.

So the team elected to pull out of Le Mans, which made way for a fifth Aston Martin.

Aston Martin Vantage (Photo: Aston Martin Racing)

No drivers have been announced yet for the fifth Vantage, but Richie Stanaway et Dane Cameron are expected to be tested soon at Sebring.

So far, Darren Turner, Stefan Mücke and Peter Dumbreck have been assigned to the No. 97 and Frédéric Makowiecki, Bruno Senna and Rob Bell to the No. 99, in GTE Pro.

Allan Simonsen, Christoffer Nygaard and Kristian Poulsen will drive in GTE Am, as well as Stuart Hall, Roald Goethe and Jamie Campbell Walter.

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) added to speculations his team could race for the 2013 championship, setting the fastest lap of the third day of the last pre-season venue, in Barcelona, Spain.

Overall this week, his former teammate, Jenson Button, has been impressed with the progress of the silver arrows: "The one team that has been consistently quick has been Mercedes more than anyone else," dixit the 2009 champ.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)

But as Hamilton pointed out, none of his fellow world champions were out on track today. Button himself, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen were all enjoying a day off.

Davide Valsecchi, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

Maybe the latter wasn't "enjoying" so much the day off. The Finn sat out the test because of food poisoning.

Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber C32 (Photo: WRi2)

Coming back to what happened on the track, Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) managed his best time, the second fastest of the day, before losing a wheel on the track.

Adrian Sutil, Force India VJM06 (Photo: WRi2)

Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06), in his first outing as a confirmed driver for the Silverstone based team, was third fastest.

Completing the top 5 were the two Williams drivers, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado a tenth ahead of rookie Valtteri Bottas.

Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR02 (Photo: WRi2)

Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02) went 12th fastest in his new machine, half second quicker than Giedo van der Garde (Caterham CT03), 13th and last.

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

F1 winter testing, March 2nd, Barcelona (Spain)*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'20"558 - 117 laps
2 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'21"266 - 94
3 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"627 - 109
4 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"305 - 34
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"468- 31
6 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'22"553 - 99
7 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'22"658 - 59
8 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'22"694 - 101
9 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"223 - 114
10 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"380 - 46
11 - Davide Valsecchi (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"448 - 22
12 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'24"028 - 74
13 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'24"520 - 126

*Unofficial timing

Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

Adapted from GMM

Mercedes is one of the teams that has been experimenting with the allowed 'passive double DRS' concept in recent testing.

The system, attached to the rear wing, has not been difficult to spot at times on the cars fielded in Barcelona by Lotus, Mercedes, Sauber and Red Bull.

Red Bull was fitted with the wing-stalling device all day on Friday.

"Until now, the systems were always being tried only briefly," said Mercedes' Aldo Costa.

"But whoever wants to use it in Melbourne needs to use it at least during one day of testing."

Sauber designer Matt Morris said the innovation is worth between "a few hundredths to a tenth" of a second per lap.

"And a tenth can make a huge difference when the cars are so closely matched," he added.

While it's a cliché to most people; age is just a number to Phoenix pole winner Mark Martin.

Speaking of numbers Martin becomes the second-oldest pole winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup history

Less than one week after he finished third at the Daytona 500 Martin repeated his 2012 spring Sprint Cup pole at the one-mile oval.

"A lot of people describe Mark by saying, 'Mark's on it,'" Martin's crew chief, Rodney Childers, said. "Well, for 2013, Mark's on it squared."   

Mark Martin, Toyota No. 55 (Photo: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

With a speed of 138.074 mph for his 56th career pole, Martin, driving a Toyota, eclipsed Bill Elliott for seventh place all-time.

Harry Gant is the oldest pole winner as he took the pole at 54 years, seven months in 1994 at Bristol.  Martin's 54th birthday was in January.

Kasey Kahne whose car was wrecked at the Daytona 500 starts second in a Chevrolet followed by Jimmie Johnson's Chevrolet and Kyle Busch's Toyota, respectively third and fourth.

"I said it last week and had some people make some snide remarks about it, but at this stage of the game it's pretty amazing I get to drive something like this," Martin said

He won from the pole, in Phoenix, in 2009.

"I deeply admire him and his passion for the sport," said Johnson, a five-time Sprint Cup series champion and Martin's former teammate.

"He's tried to walk away a few times -- I think we had a farewell tour for him once -- and he came back. He couldn't do it. He just loves driving his car and is an inspiration for any team he works for."

Danica Patrick who monopolized the media spotlight by winning the pole for the Daytona 500 and leading laps - both firsts for a woman in that race - had a problem in between turns three and four and will take the green for Sunday's 500k race in 40th place.

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton on Thursday sounded keen to patch up his broken friendship with returning F1 rival Adrian Sutil.

As German Sutil's career was in tatters amid the Eric Lux assault affair, long-time friend Hamilton refused to appear as a witness at the trial.

Sutil, now 30, is returning to the grid after a one-year absence with Force India this year, and both the German and Hamilton are testing this week in Spain.

"I emailed him a couple of times and I emailed him a while ago saying that I heard that he could get the seat and that I hoped he would because he deserved it," Hamilton told reporters in Barcelona.

Adrian Sutil (Photo: WRi2)

"I also emailed him on the way here as soon as I found out, saying congratulations, and that I was happy for him. I haven't heard back from him but I'm sure at some stage we will get to talk," added the Mercedes driver.

Sutil was fined EUR 200,000 and given an 18-month suspended sentence for the assault, and as he exited F1 he denounced Hamilton as a "coward".

Asked about his relationship with Hamilton, he said on Thursday: "I haven't spoken to him. I have no relationship with him.

"For sure I will meet up with him, but I don't know what will happen," added Sutil.

Kimi Räikkönen had to give up testing his Lotus E21, Saturday, in Barcelona, Spain, when he found out he was suffering from food poisoning, Formula1.com reported.

Davide Valsecchi, the team's reserve driver, took over the morning session.

Davide Valsecchi, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean who, having completed his scheduled two days Thursday and Friday left the track, was called back for the afternoon running.

The Frenchman went 10th fastest, and his teammate 11th, only a tenth down on him.

Fingers crossed, Räikkönen will be well enough to drive tomorrow, Sunday, to wrap up pre-season testing.