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NASCAR's Max Papis will take part in two rounds of the Euro-Racecar stock-car championship, in France and Italy.

Papis, a 92-race veteran in NASCAR, is set to race in Tours first, July 6-7, then at Monza, in his native Italy, at the end of September.

"I'm really excited to participate in two races in the Euro-Racecar NASCAR championship," Papis admitted in a press release. "I will bring with me all my passion and knowledge of the US NASCAR racing.

Max Papis, 2011 (Photo: CIA Stock Photo)

"As the European driver with (the) most starts in NASCAR, I'm very proud to bring a little of United States to Tours and Monza."

As well racing in NASCAR, Papis has starts in Indy Car and Grand-Am over in the States. He's won the 2002 24 Hours of Daytona and 2004 championship in that last category.

Belgian driver Bertrand Baguette is also set to enter the same Euro-Racecar round as Papis in Tours.

A little cloud may have made the difference helping Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take the pole on Friday evening at Kentucky Speedway.

Driving a Chevrolet Earnhardt lapped the 1 ½ mile speedway at 183.636 mph nearly two miles an hour faster than teammate Jimmie Johnson's previous record of 181.818mph set last June.

“I think that the cloud cover at least gave us a bit of speed,” said Earnhardt after winning his 12th career Sprint Cup pole.

“It's hard to say of course the cooler track temps gives the car more grip.  I would admit that I think we definitely had the better situation of anyone in practice with that scenario.  There were some clouds that came in later in the qualifying session, but not quite the extent of what we had.  I did think the lap was really good.”

Carl Edwards, who also benefitted from some cloud cover, was second in a Ford at 183.306 mph.

“We had a good cloud,” said Edwards.  “The cloud and the track temperature was a huge part of qualifying today. We were fortunate enough to have cloud cover over about 75-percent of the race track which was nice. I didn't expect, after our mock qualifying runs, that people would be going that fast.

“I knew how fast we had to go to get the pole and just couldn't quite go that fast. That was a good job by Dale Jr. and those guys, they did a great job. They did a good job with their qualifying effort and they did a good job with theirs and they just beat us.”

Johnson, the series points leader aiming for his sixth Sprint Cup title, had held the provisional pole, at 183.144 mph, for a short while, and ended up third.

“Yeah, I was really happy with my lap; (Turns) 1 and 2 went really well for me,” said  Johnson.  “In (Turns) 3 and 4, I felt like I left a little bit on the table. But still, the gap that we had on people and the fact that we had a track record, I got a little optimistic. And not long after that (Dale Earnhardt) Junior took us down.”

Kyle Busch was fourth fastest at 182.593 mph in a Toyota. Explaining that he had no weather help he said “clouds played a huge role and unfortunately we didn't get one.  We still had a solid time there and ended up fourth so at least we are up near the front.  It's always better to start here closer to the front.”

All together eight drivers eclipsed the qualifying record set last June.

From GMM

Heikki Kovalainen is closing in on a return to the formula one grid, Finland's well-connected Turun Sanomat newspaper reports.

The Finn spearheaded Caterham's race lineup until this year, when the team opted for the sponsored drivers Giedo van der Garde and Charles Pic.

But Kovalainen, who appeared in Friday practice for the green-clad team in Bahrain and Barcelona, is back in the paddock at Silverstone this weekend.

Heikki Kovalainen (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

Turun Sanomat reports rumours the 31-year-old could be drafted back into Caterham's race lineup, at Dutchman van der Garde's expense.

Kovalainen said: "Nothing has been agreed, so do not try to guess.

"But I am ready to go in all respects, and yes I would rather be here to be racing than not," he added.

From GMM

Pirelli is inching towards a deal to stay in formula one beyond its 2013 contract.

The Italian marque's F1 chief Paul Hembery revealed at Silverstone that new contracts with the commercial rights holders and most of the teams are in place for 2014.

And the latest step is the full support of Pirelli's upper management, he added.

"The company has had many internal discussions about our work, and fortunately we were able to convince the leadership that we should stay," Hembery is quoted by the Russian website f1news.ru.

"We have some good ideas to make further progress and will try to implement them.

"We have a contract with the owner of the commercial rights and the majority of the teams, so if they are all satisfied with our work, then we will continue."

The big missing link is a new deal with the FIA, whose president Jean Todt is rumoured to favour Michelin's return to F1.

Hembery said Pirelli has decided not to appeal the FIA international tribunal's decision to reprimand the tyre marque for the secret Mercedes tyre test.

Pirelli was reportedly furious with the outcome and threatening even to sue, but Hembery said "the most important thing is our continued participation in the championship".

However, Pirelli is still unhappy with many aspects of its involvement in F1, such as the ability for a single team to veto changes to the tyre specification, such as the shelved move from a steel to a kevlar belt to minimise delaminations.

"We really have to think about other decision-making mechanisms," Hembery is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport, "so that we are able to respond quickly to a problem.

"Surely majority rule would be better than (the need for) unanimity," he said.

Auto Motor und Sport also reported that the 'test-gate' scandal has not deterred Pirelli from organising more tyre development tests with selected F1 teams.

"We have no problem to meet the conditions of the federation," said Hembery.

Adapted from GMM

According to the buzz in the Silverstone paddock, Red Bull is split as the bosses consider who should replace Mark Webber in 2014.

The rumour is that while Christian Horner would like to sign 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, Dr Helmut Marko would prefer if a Toro Rosso driver - Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Eric Vergne - is pushed into the top team.

Although, Raikkonen, who hinted that moving to Red Bull is a possibility, has also insisted leaving formula one altogether can't be ruled out.

Kimi Raikkonen (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

But now, the inimitable Finn's manager Steve Robertson said he believes the 2007 world champion will be on the grid in 2014, which brings the debate back to square one.

"Frankly, it is my firm belief that Kimi will be in F1 next year," he told Turun Sanomat newspaper.

Not surprisingly, outgoing Webber thinks his fellow Australian, Ricciardo, is ready to step up.

Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso STR8 (Photo: WRi2)

One problem for Ricciardo, however, is that despite having the upper hand over teammate Vergne earlier this season, the Frenchman has looked impressive more recently.

"He has lifted his game and I can't turn a blind eye to that and say he got lucky," Ricciardo admitted.

Marko told German television RTL on Saturday that the issue will be considered in more detail in the summer break.

From GMM

Lotus has been told to bring a modified front suspension layout to next weekend's German grand prix.

The FIA told the Enstone based team at Silverstone on Saturday that the current layout does not comply with the rules, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports.

That is because the regulations allow a maximum of three suspension elements, but a McLaren-commissioned photo at Silverstone has revealed that Lotus' 2013 layout has an obscured fourth.

Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Next year's V6 engines will be more powerful than the V8s of 2013, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Previously, it was thought not only that next year's energy recovery-bolstered turbo V6s would be quieter than the normally-aspirated V8s, but also obviously slower.

Not so, at least on the latter detail, according to correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Currently, the V8 KERS-boosted 2.4 litre V8s pack about 800 horsepower, with about 350 newton-metres of torque.

The engine makers Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari are understandably holding their cards close to their chests, but Schmidt reports that Pirelli is expecting cars with full boost next year to be propelled in qualifying by up to 900 horse power.

Photo: Renault F1 Sport

And torque is set to increase dramatically, to 600 newton-metres.

Pirelli's Paul Hembery said: "At the moment we don't know exactly what to expect.

"But the numbers we are hearing are enormous.  We will have to have wider rear tyres, but how wide is something we will have to decide in consultation with the teams."

However, heavily-degrading tyres will not dominate F1 next year.  Hembery said that for "the first year of the new formula, we will be conservative".

The teams got a first taste of the experimental hard compound on Friday.

From Honda Indy Toronto

The Honda Indy Toronto officially welcomes four new partners, WIND Mobile/Samsung Galaxy 4, RUSH, Porter Airlines and Hyatt Regency Toronto, to the roster of sponsors for its 2013 event, taking place July 12-14.

“We are committed to providing a first-class experience for our fans and securing a role for top-tier sponsors is an important part of that goal,” said Charlie Johnstone, President of the Honda Indy Toronto.

“We are thrilled to welcome these four partners and are confident that they will contribute to the hospitality and festival atmosphere of the event.”

Toronto (Photo: Honda Indy Toronto)

WIND Mobile, the official telecommunications sponsor of the Honda Indy Toronto, will feature the Samsung GALAXY S4 in the run-up to the event. Attendees can call, text, tweet, pin, Instagram and Facebook to their heart's content with one of WIND's real unlimited plans, while those who visit the WIND Mobile event space during the weekend, will be able to try the handset for themselves.

A number of lucky race-goers will also have the chance to win their very own Samsung handset in a straight-up skill test - you vs. the super-smart GALAXY S4.

RUSH, a film directed by Ron Howard, is the biography of F1 champion Niki Lauda and stars Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl. Howard will provide a personal message that will be used during the opening ceremonies for 2inTO, the IZOD IndyCar Series races at Honda Indy Toronto.

Race fans from across Canada and the United States now have easier than ever access to this event, thanks to the partnership with Porter Airlines. Porter Escapes vacation packages are available from any Porter Airlines gateway and include flights, hotel accommodation and 3-day event passes.

Four-star hotel choices include Hyatt Regency Toronto, official hotel of Honda Indy Toronto, as well as the Sheraton Centre Toronto and Westin Harbour Castle.

Qualifying was cancelled at Watkins Glen for the Daytona Prototype class, ahead of the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen.

But on-track sessions went ahead as planned in GT and GX categories, which saw Robin Liddel (No. 57 Chevrolet Camaro) and Sylvain Tremblay (No. 70 Mazda 6) take respective poles.

Eric Curran and Boris Said took second in GT.

Back to DP, Max Angelelli and Jordan Taylor will start the race on pole aboard their No. 10 Corvette, because they lead in the standings.

Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney, who trail Angelelli and Taylor by only one point, will line up beside them, in the No. 99 car.

Photo: Grand-Am.com

Hamilton, who set a quickest time at around five minutes into the session went quicker again to claim to pole in the final seconds of qualifying to take the top spot by 0.452 seconds from team-mate Nico Rosberg, and reigning Sebastian Vettel who finished third.

His Red Bull team-mate and last year's winner, Mark Webber, was just 0.013s behind in fourth in what is his last ever British Grand Prix outing,

Force India once again showed impressive pace, as both cars made it into the top-10, with di Resta and Sutil finishing fifth and seventh, and Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo splitting the pairing to line up sixth.

Ferrari endured a difficult session, after Alonso could only manage 10th, and Massa two places further back.

The Spaniard had a sideways moment going into Q1, and Massa also ran onto the grass in the same session.

Similarly, McLaren's 2013 nightmare continued as both cars failed to finish in the top 10. Jenson Button missed the cut by a mere six-tenths of a second, and Sergio Perez finishing 14th. This will put him ahead of Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber.

Giedo van der Garde qualified 21st, but will take a five-place grid penalty. This will put him at the back of the grid in 22nd, and sees Max Chilton move up to 21st for his home race.


Qualifying results* - British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
1.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'29"607 - Q3
2.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'30"059 - Q3
3.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'30"211 - Q3
4.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'30"220 - Q3
5.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'30"736 - Q3
6.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'30"757 - Q3
7.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'30"908 - Q3
8.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'30"955 - Q3
9.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'30"962 - Q3
10.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'30"979 - Q3
11.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'31"649 - Q2
12.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'31"779 - Q2
13.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'31"785 - Q2
14.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'32"082 - Q2
15.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'32"211 - Q2
16.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'32"359 - Q2
17.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'32"664 - Q1
18.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'32"666 - Q1
19.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'33"866 - Q1
20.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'34"108 - Q1
21.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'35"858 - Q1
22.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'35"481 - Q1**

*Unofficial results
**5-place grid penalty

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