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From press release

Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that Mike Conway has joined the organization as the driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet-powered Dallara Indy car for the road and street course events during the 2014 IndyCar Series. 

Conway, 30, is a two-time IndyCar Series winner with victories in 2011 at Long Beach and 2013 at Detroit.

Ed Carpenter, the IndyCar Series' only team owner/ driver, will continue to pilot the No. 20 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet for all of the oval races throughout the 2014 campaign. Carpenter also is a two-time IndyCar Series winner with race wins in 2011 at Kentucky and 2012 at Fontana.

“We couldn't be happier to welcome Mike Conway to the Ed Carpenter Racing family,” said Carpenter

2014 will be Conway's sixth IndyCar season with 60 career starts including his two victories, four podiums, five top-fives and 18 top-10 finishes.

From GMM

F1's controversial 22-race calendar for 2014 has shrunk by three races, it has emerged in the Austin paddock.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport has seen the revised 19-race calendar and it does not feature previously-scheduled grands prix in New Jersey, Mexico and Korea.

The season finale, previously set to be held in Brazil late in 2014 as per the last few seasons, will now be held in Abu Dhabi, with the championship also to be wrapped up two weeks earlier than expected.

Korea and New Jersey have reportedly succumbed to financial troubles, while Mexico City has run out of time to guarantee that necessary money for improvements to the circuit - last used for F1 in 1992 - will flow.

"But the grand prix will be held in 2015," said correspondent Michael Schmidt. "The (Mexican) government has had to delay its subsidy because of the recent flooding, which is more important than a grand prix," he added.

The revised calendar is set to be rubber-stamped by the governing FIA in early December.

While Matt Kenseth was happy with his first pole at Homestead Miami Speedway, third of year, he knows that's not quite good enough to claim his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

“I'm always surprised when I'm on the pole and qualifying isn't my strong suit,” Kenseth said after his 11th career pole. “I think I missed every corner. He (crew chief Jason Ratcliff) did a spectacular job to make the adjustments and we got the (pole) lap.”

That said no matter what Kenseth does Jimmie Johnson, who will start seventh, only needs to finish 23rd or better to clinch the title. Kenseth averaged 177.667mph around the mile and half oval.

“Jimmie is so far ahead if he has a problem; we have to be able to capitalize on that, try to lead as much as we can.

Last week, at Phoenix, Kenseth's bad set up caused him to finish 23rd and fall 28 points behind Johnson. This pole was a bit of mood booster.

“Phoenix takes the wind out of your sails when you have a day like that. We were leading the points with three to go and now there's a slim chance it (the pole) builds confidence.

Johnson, talking about Sunday's race, said of his commanding points lead “It's a great position to be in... it's nice but it doesn't guarantee anything. I have to run all 400 miles on Sunday and that's really the goal.”

Looking to Sunday Kenseth added “we can't control how they (Johnson) finish. We have to concentrate on the 20 (his Toyota's number).”

Matt Kenseth (Photo: Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Kurt Busch, in his last race for the one-car Furniture Row Racing team, was chagrined that the team finally turned a corner on his Chevrolet in the final race of the Chase, and starts second at 177.445mph.

Busch, the first champion in NASCAR's Chase format said “it was a great lap gave me confidence to sweep through turn two on the high side.” Considering how he restored his reputation which resulted in his deal with Stewart-Haas Racing and taking the FRR team to the Chase made him proud.

“Ultimately it's been a very successful season.”

Joey Logano, also having one of his best seasons, who starts third at 177.445mph credits a recent test in a Nationwide Series Ford for giving some vital information on how the track will change in a race that starts in warmer daylight and finishing in cooler temperatures after the son sets.

Brad Keselowski, Logano's Penske Racing teammate and 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion will start fourth.

Kevin Harvick, who is third in the standings, and will also be leaving for Stewart-Haas Racing, will start sixth alongside fifth place Denny Hamlin.

From GMM

According to the paddock grapevine in Austin, Nico Hulkenberg is no longer in the running for the 2014 race seat at Lotus.

Venezuelan oil minister Rafael Ramirez has hinted to the newspaper El Nacional that Pastor Maldonado's PDVSA millions are being switched from Williams to Lotus.

"The team is changing (from Williams) and what he is working on is going to Lotus," said the PDVSA president.

Maldonado confirmed: "We are talking to teams but we are quite clear about where we want to go.

Pastor Maldonado, Williams (Photo: WRi2)

"I believe in the coming days we will have a confirmation," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

The news of PDVSA's switch to Lotus, whose 'Quantum' investment appears to have fallen over, will also be a blow for Sauber, who recently welcomed Maldonado to Hinwil.

Also assessing his ever-diminishing options is German Hulkenberg, who is now fending off a new and powerful addition to the 2014 driver market -- the Telmex-backed Mexican Sergio Perez.

Force India might now be Hulkenberg's last hope of a 2014 seat, as his current team Sauber muses the possibility of an all-Mexican lineup, featuring Perez alongside Esteban Gutierrez.

"We have several options," team boss Monisha Kaltenborn is quoted by Sport1, "but a team like ours has to consider how it stands financially.

"We have never chosen drivers by nationality," she added. "We are talking about drivers who are both talented."

The Scuderia Ferrari racing team was founded by Enzo Ferrari on November 16th, 1929, initially to race cars produced by Alfa Romeo.

Scuderia is Italian for a stable reserved for racing horses. As for the logo, the yellow badge represents Enzo Ferrari's hometown of Modena, while the prancing horse is derived from the symbol on World War I ace Francesco Baracca's fighter plane.

Tensions between Enzo Ferrari and Alfa Romeo (which sought control of Scuderia Ferrari) led to Ferrari's independence in 1938. The brand started building its own cars -- both for the road and the track -- in 1947.

Source: Wikipedia

Ferrari main entrance in Maranello, Italy. (Photo: WRi2)

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid Review

Nissan gets back in the hybrid game.

Nashville, TN -- Although the successful Leaf proves that Nissan can build a great EV, its gasoline-electric-powered models have always left something to be desired, from the clunky Infiniti hybrids to the discontinued Altima with a licensed version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. With the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, Nissan is hoping for a fresh start, as this crossover sport-utility represents the first application of a new hybrid system that has been developed in-house.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid Review - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid Review - Automobile Magazine

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid Review | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

The Chrysler 300 is getting a few upgrades for 2014, and it will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson says he's frustrated by the 'confusing' overlap between GM's Chevy and Opel brands in Europe, signaling that a major strategic shift is ahead to change the company's brand strategy in the region.

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson says he's frustrated by the 'confusing' overlap between GM's Opel and Chevrolet brands in Europe, signaling that a major strategic shift is ahead to change the company's brand strategy in the region.

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson says he's frustrated by the 'confusing' overlap between GM's Chevy and Opel brands in Europe, signaling that a major strategic shift is ahead to change the company's brand strategy in the region.

Hyundai will launch new versions of its Sonata and Genesis sedans and a hydrogen-fueled Tucson crossover in the United States in the first half of 2014, the automaker's top United States executive said today.

2014 Dodge Charger, Challenger Centennial Editions Debut Before 2013 L.A. Show

Happy 100th Anniversary, Dodge Brothers.

Dodge will unveil two special edition models to the 2013 Los Angeles auto show to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of John and Horace Dodge building the first Dodge car in 1914. Based on the 2014 Dodge Charger and the 2014 Dodge Challenger, these special 100th Anniversary Edition cars will feature a special exterior paint colors and other exclusive elements to set these limited production models apart.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Dodge Charger, Challenger Centennial Editions Debut Before 2013 L.A. Show - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Dodge Charger, Challenger Centennial Editions Debut Before 2013 L.A. Show - Automobile Magazine

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The Federal Reserve today said it does not object to a revised capital plan for Ally Financial for 2013, after it rejected the firm's initial proposal earlier this year.

Whether you drive a Tesla Model S, a Nissan Leaf or a

Hyundai is working on a 1.8-liter engine that works like a diesel, but burns gasoline.

Volkswagen is in the midst of planning a SUV surge in the U.S. market, and at the Los Angeles Auto Show, it will give a glimpse of one potential offering: the CrossBlue Coupe, a stylishly raked SUV concept shown at the Shanghai auto show this year.

VW is in the midst of planning an SUV surge in the U.S. market. At the Los Angeles auto show this week it will give a glimpse of one potential offering: the CrossBlue Coupe, a stylishly raked SUV concept shown in Shanghai earlier this year.

News 17 Nov, 2013

Gran Turismo 6 car brought to life by Mercedes AMG

General Motors is recalling nearly 15,000 Chevrolet Malibu sedans from model year 2013 to check for faulty wiring harnesses that could cause a fire.

Pictures See all 4 pictures 17 Nov, 2013