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Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen believes his team is still missing downforce, despite qualifying on the front row for the Chinese Grand Prix.

The 2007 world champion lines up second behind pole-sitter Hamilton, who has described the Finn as his biggest threat in the race, but Raikkonen has played down his chances in the race due to the E21 car's lack of downforce in the middle sector.

“I knew the gap was quite big still and we don't have that speed right now,” Raikkonen said.

Kimi Raikkonen, Shanghai International Circuit (Photo: WRi2)

“Second is not too bad, it is the best I can gain with the team. I'd rather be in first place, but we didn't have the speed.

“We're missing downforce in the middle sector so we will see what we can do tomorrow.”

Despite being unsure whether Lotus can challenge for victory in tomorrow's race, he believes setting a fastest lap on soft tyres was the correct decision despite their short shelf life.

“We believe our strategy is the best one, that is why we did it,” he said. “If qualifying was better on primes, then you would do it.”

Take one viral video producer, a basketball player and four race drivers and what do you have? It's the Dude Perfect trick shot challenge.

NASCAR drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Travis Pastrana and James Buescher take on Canada's James Hinchcliffe of IndyCar in this stunt video.

Listed by Advertising Age as one of YouTube's hottest brands, Dude Perfect has used its crazy basketball shots to inspire hundreds of millions with their contagious Go Big philosophy.

In the four short years since they exploded onto the scene, Dude Perfect has filmed basketball videos all over the world and worked with Fortune 500 brands such as GMC, ESPN, AT&T, and Southwest Airlines. With over 775,000 subscribers & 113 million views across their online content, Dude Perfect is now the 5th largest sports channel on YouTube.

Hinchcliffe scored his debut victory in the IndyCar series earlier this year for Andretti Autosport. Sprint Cup driver Stenhouse jr. is the two-time reigning Nationwide series champion.

Extreme sports star Travis Pastrana is getting his first full-time ride in NASCAR, while 23-year-old James Buescher races in the NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series.

Volkswagen's Sebastien Ogier has finished the opening day of the Rally of Portugal with a marginal 4.4 second lead over Citroen's Dani Sordo and teammate Jari-Matti Latvala in third.

Ogier inherited the rally lead after Mads Ostberg, who had built a lead of 3.9s, rolled his M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC into retirement after mishearing a pacenote on SS3. The Norwegian's retirement promoted Ogier to the head of the field, with Sordo and Latvala in second and third where they remained after the day's final SS5 Lisbon stage.

Despite Sordo's reputation as a tarmac expert, the Spaniard headed Citroen's assault and managed to consistently challenge the championship leader on the dusty and narrow Algarve stages by taking stage wins on SSs 3 and 4, at one point trimming the rally leader's advantage to 2.4s.

SS5 saw the VW man push his lead back up to 4.4s, despite Sordo's teammate, Mikko Hirvonen winning the stage by a slim 0.9s from Ogier.

Hirvonen lies in fourth overall, just 4.8s from Latvala but 16.2s from the rally lead after suffering setup issues once again with his DS3 despite “driving on the limit”. The Finn was unable to make any changes given Friday's loop of stages are without a full service.

The M-Sport trio of Thierry Neuville, Evgeny Novikov and Nasser Al-Attiyah lie fifth, sixth and seventh with Czech Ford's Martin Prokop in eighth. The Czech managed to leapfrog Italia Mini's Michal Kosciuszko after the Pole suffered a loose bonnet due to a hard landing after one of SS5s jumps.

M-Sport's Denis Kuipers rounds out the top-10 in his debut for the team.

Andreas Mikkelsen, another of the WRC's debutantes suffered a torrid time on his first outing with the Volkswagen Motorsport II team after losing more than two minutes due to a loss of power steering on SS3. The Norwegian now lies in 16th overall.

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo (Photo: VW Motorsport)

Day 1 results - Rally Portugal
1. Ogier-Ingrassia (VW Polo Wrc) in 49'33”0
2. Sordo-Del Barrio (Citroen DS3 Wrc) - 4”4
3. Latvala-Anttila (VW Polo Wrc) - 11”4
4. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) - 16”2
5. Neuville-Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) - 30”7
6. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) - 1'17”0
7. Al Attiyah-Bernacchini (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) - 2'16”4
8. Prokop-Ernst (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) - 2'27”9
9. Kosciuszko-Szczepaniak (Mini Cooper Wrc) - 2'37”1
10. Kuipers-Bysmans (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) - 2'48”7

From GMM

Niki Lauda has backed Sebastian Vettel, after the reigning world champion laid bare his ruthlessness in the wake of the 'Multi-21' team orders affair.

Initially apologetic and sheepish, the Red Bull driver had almost three weeks to consider the matter and let rip in the days before the Chinese grand prix.

Vettel said he didn't obey the team order because teammate Mark Webber didn't deserve to win, also insisting that if he could live the fateful moment again, he would probably do just the same.

He even hinted the move was indirect payback for Webber's past indiscretions.

Mercedes team official Lauda, the plain speaking F1 legend and like Vettel a triple world champion, backed the 25-year-old's stance. Asked about Vettel's verbal attack in Shanghai, Lauda told RTL: "There is not much to say.

"Sebastian just said the thing he needs to do to be a world champion, and well.  Now everyone knows exactly what it is."

Sebastian Vettel pulled a fast one on Mark Webber in Malaysia (Photo: WRi2)

Lauda insisted Vettel's tattered relationship with Webber is not even a side-issue.

"It doesn't matter," he said.  "Sebastian made a clear statement, and I would do the same."

Told, however, that harmony within a F1 team must be a crucial issue, Lauda persisted: "Who cares about peace?  You have to win.

Lewis Hamilton has made history by claiming an ‘incredible' first pole position as a Mercedes driver at the Chinese Grand Prix by 0.277 seconds from Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

The top 3 men in qualifying (Photo: WRi2)

Despite finishing behind the Ferraris in free practice three, Hamilton became the first British driver since Sterling Moss in 1955 to claim pole for the Silver Arrows in a qualifying session that was characterised by tactics.

Many drivers elected not to take to the circuit - or not set a time/fastest lap at all - until there were just three minutes of the session remaining in order to be able to start the race on medium tires; those who set a fastest lap will have to start on the softer Pirelli compound which has an expected life of around four laps.

Fernando Alonso will have to start on the soft compound (Photo: WRi2)

Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel fell into the tyre conservation category, with the world champion not setting a competitive lap and the McLaren driver coming across the line some 31 seconds slower than Hamilton's time.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

They will line up in eighth and ninth, with Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg - another driver who failed to set a time - in tenth, and behind Daniel Ricciardo's much improved Toro Rosso in seventh. The group in front of the Australian will be headed by Nico Rosberg in fourth, Felipe Massa in fifth and Romain Grosjean in sixth.

Mark Webber, who was enjoying a clear speed advantage over his teammate in the practice and first qualifying sessions, ended the session in 14th after a fuel pump issue saw him step out of the car in Q2.

Other high profile scalps included the second McLaren of Sergio Perez in Q2 who lines up 12th between the Force Indias. Q3 saw Valtteri Bottas' Williams and Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber line up with the Marussias and Caterhams in 17th and 18th.

At the bottom of the grid, Marussia's Jules Bianchi once again leads that group in 19th, clearly ahead of teammate Chilton and the two Caterhams of Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde in 21st and 22nd.

Unfortunately, that track marshall missed some of the action (Photo: WRi2)

Qualifying results* - Chinese Grand Prix
1.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"484 - Q3
2.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'34"761 - Q3
3.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'34"788 - Q3
4.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"861 - Q3
5.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'34"933 - Q3
6.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'35"364 - Q3
7.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'35"998 - Q3
8.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 2'05"673 - Q3
9.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - no time - Q3
10.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - no time - Q3
11.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'36"287 - Q2
12.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'36"314 - Q2
13.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'36"405 - Q2
14.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'36"679 - Q2
15.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'37"139 - Q2
16.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'37"199 - Q2
17.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'37"769 - Q1
18.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'37"990 - Q1
19.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'38"780 - Q1
20.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'39"537 - Q1
21.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'39"614 - Q1
22.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'39"660 - Q1

*Unofficial

Kimi Räikkönen, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull's Mark Webber will start from the back of the grid following the fuel pump issue which eliminated him from Q2.

Despite seeming to have had a clear speed advantage over teammate Vettel during the free practice and Q1 sessions, the issue forced the Australian to park his Red Bull during Q2 and saw him originally line up 14th for tomorrow's race.

However, the team conceded in a statement from the stewards that the car did not have enough fuel on board to provide the mandatory post-qualifying fuel sample and saw Webber have his qualifying times deleted.

“Only 150ml of fuel was on board which was insufficient to provide the one-litre sample and drive the car back to the pits under its own power."

The same problem also befell teammate Vettel in the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner conceded that the situation was ‘disappointing' following the steward's decision, but remained confident in Webber's ability to fight his way back through the field.

“It's disappointing to have an issue but these things happen - we've seen it with other teams as well.” he said. “[But] the most important thing is to understand what has happened.”

“The good thing about the race here is that, particularly with the strategies, it is open and Mark's demonstrated the year before last he can come from a lowly grid position and still be right up there by the end of the race."

Price Range: $68,800 and up

Description: Taking the lid off Audi's popular touring-ready performance coupe, the S5, dials up driving pleasure significantly for 2013. This sleek two-door sets itself apart on the road with a chiseled, accented and wind-swept look that's accented by a prominent, chrome-slat grille, LED running lights and a tapered rear-end that terminates in a set of quad-pipe exhausts.

Photo: Audi

When drivers and up to three additional occupants wish to get a better listen to the exotic howl from those tailpipes, the S5 Cabriolet's roof can be dispatched into its storage hold in a matter of seconds, and at the touch of a button.

On board, look for aluminum and leather touches, as well as a dynamic and engaging atmosphere, to set the scene for drop-top thrills.

Drivetrain: All 2013 Audi S5 Cabriolet models get a 3.0L all-aluminum V6 engine that delivers 333 horsepower thanks to an integrated “mechanical charger,” which us North Americans call a supercharger. This compressor is integrated with the engine's intake manifold and driven by an accessory belt. Like a turbocharger, it blasts the engine full of compressed air and additional fuel at full throttle for a performance increase. Unlike a turbocharger, a supercharger acts with no lag, meaning performance is seamless.

An S-Tronic 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is fitted to all models, as is Quattro AWD technology. Drivers can expect 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.

Consider it if: a multifunction performance touring convertible is a priority. The 2013 Audi S5 is well suited for year-round use, with its drop-top increasing warm-weather enjoyment, and its extensive cold-weather testing and Quattro making quick work of winter driving. Family-ready cruising comes by way of the four-seat interior and decent-size trunk.

Skip it if: you want a manual transmission, as one isn't available here. Additionally, with a starting price approaching $70,000, the 2013 Audi S5 Cabriolet is in the same pricing territory as a number of other performance machines that offer more all-out firepower for the money.

Photo: Audi

Other Notes: Feature content includes climate-controlled seats, including a solar-heat reflecting Milano leather that ensures occupants are treated to a cool seat when they board the 2013 Audi S5. The Audi Quattro Sport Differential is also available to dial up performance and at-the-limit precision handling. Navigation, HD Radio and a Bang & Olufsen stereo system are available, too. Other must-haves include push-button start, automatic climate control, and adaptive xenon headlamps.

Don't Miss: the array of fuel-saving technologies and engineering efforts that seek to deliver top-of-class mileage. Working with the supercharger's on-demand power boost, direct injection technology helps extract the most energy possible from every molecule of fuel meaning the engine requires less of it to get the job done.

An aluminum frame and all-aluminum engine help keep the 2013 Audi S5's weight down, while the 7-speed transmission enables lower cruising revs for better highway range.

Rain fell all week at One Autoweek Tower, and the breaking news didn't let up, either.

Nissan North America, in the midst of dealing with a UAW organizing drive, said it will boost hourly wages for U.S. factory workers later this year for the first time since 2006.

Volvo Cars of North America is teaming up with Costco to allow the warehouse club's members to purchase or lease models from the automaker's 2013-14 lineup at prearranged pricing.

Senior motorsports editor Mac Morrison gives us a preview of this weekend's competitions in NASCAR at Texas Motor Speedway and Formula One from Shanghai.

There's more to your Costco membership than piling bulk paper towels on a flat-bed cart and filling up on free food samples. Through July 31, registered Costco members can get deals on all 2013 and 2014 Volvos.

A General Motors powertrain plant in the Detroit suburb of Romulus, Mich., was evacuated for a short time this morning after a worker threatened to shoot himself with what turned out to be a starter pistol.

Nissan Motor Co. today named Fred Diaz, head of Chrysler Group's Ram brand and Mexico operations, divisional vice president of Nissan Division sales and marketing.

The city that boasts the world's tallest building is equipping its police with $400,000 Lamborghini sports cars that Dubai's deputy police chief says are in keeping with the Gulf capital's image.

The city that boasts the world's tallest building is equipping its police with $400,000 Lamborghini sports cars that Dubai's deputy police chief says are in keeping with the Gulf capital's image.

We're learning more about the Cadillac ELR, which is set to hit showrooms in limited quantities early next year.

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