Auto News 5

Veteran French racer Franck Montagny will make his return to the Verizon IndyCar Series behind the wheel of Andretti Autosport's No. 26 Honda-powered Dallara in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10.

Montagny, who tested last month on the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course, is scheduled to participate in the Open Test on the 2.46-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit April 30.

The former Formula 1 driver made his American open-wheel debut in the April 2008 Champ Car finale at Long Beach, finishing second to Will Power.

He competed for AFS/Andretti Autosport in August 2009 at Sonoma Raceway (started eighth and finished 20th).

Practice for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis kicks off at 10 a.m. May 8, with the three rounds of qualifications starting at 2 p.m. May 9. The race is scheduled for May 10 (3:30 p.m.).

Dodge is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2014, and has released a video explaining how the company learned a lot in 100 years. The latest additions to Dodge's lineup are prime examples, such as the freshly redesigned 2015 Challenger.

Officials of the Verizon IndyCar series have put Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves on probation.

The officials claim that the popular Brazilian has violated the series' social media policy.

The outspoken driver was penalized for a tweet sent from his official account after the Long Beach IndyCar race.

In his message, Castroneves criticized race control for not penalizing drivers during the race. His tweet included an image of IndyCar's official logo with a "thumbs down" symbol photo-shopped in the center.

The controversial tweet was deleted not long after it appeared.

The three-time Indy 500 winner later wrote that his sister had sent the missive from his account without his permission.

"I apologize and the steward were correct with the call made," Castroneves wrote.

Official Twitter page of Helio Castroneves.

Here is our third feature to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tragic passing of Brazilian Formula 1 champion, Ayrton Senna.

Auto123.com spoke with Steve Hallam, who worked alongside Senna for several years. Now the General Manager of TEKNO Autosports in Australia, Hallam spent 27 years in F1, including 18 at McLaren as head of race operations.

Steve Hallam with Ayrton Senna (Photo: Steve Hallam's personal archives)

“I worked as a track engineer for Ayrton Senna from the beginning of 1985 until the end of 1987 at Lotus, and then from 1991 to 1993 at McLaren,” Steve Hallam told us.

“We could see him evolve as a race-car driver. He kept looking for what he needed to do to become a complete racer,” Hallam continued.

“He wanted to have an excellent knowledge of his car. He knew he was not an engineer, but he wanted to understand how things worked to be able to communicate more efficiently with the engineers.”

“Before we used data acquisition systems, he could easily recall all the various numbers and figures from the gauges. We then installed a wheel sensor that provided us with the speed of the car. Ayrton was able to tell us information such as: ‘I gained one mile per hour at the apex of this corner.' He had the remarkable ability to work out what he needed to do to help us,” Hallam continued.

Steve Hallam with Ayrton Senna (Photo: Steve Hallam's personal archives)

The Lotus team then implemented one of the first data systems in the car.

“Most drivers found it pretty intrusive, but Ayrton immediately recognised it was good for him. The system helped us quantify the areas where we could improve the car. He looked at the data on the screen with us and he was able to pinpoint specific things the car was doing,” Hallam told Auto123.com.

Ayrton Senna's attitude changed at the beginning of 1987 when he was about to race the yellow Lotus-Renault Camel car.

“Ayrton had previously proved he was the quickest driver around. He'd set 15 poles and four wins in the previous 32 Grands Prix with us. However, he stared the 1987 season differently. He was more mature; he had a new attitude. It's like if he'd said: ‘Now, I am ready to win the title.' He would still put the car on pole, but he now knew he could not win all the races. His new goal was to finish the race at the best position possible. That was a major difference,” Hallam explained.

Steve Hallam, McLaren F1 Team (Photo: WRI2)

However, Lotus -- now running on a limited budget -- knew it could not keep Senna forever. And Steve Hallam moved to McLaren.

“Ron Dennis of McLaren saw that difference in Ayrton's attitude. He hired him for 1988 and he immediately won the title that year despite a massive challenge from his teammate, Alain Prost. Ayrton had become extremely tough, mentally. He was able to overcome the obstacles and fight back. His 1991 championship against Nigel Mansell is a classic example of his absolute winning determination,” Hallam recalled.

That year, Ayrton Senna scored points in 14 of the season's 16 races, including six wins. Meanwhile, his archrival Nigel Mansell scored points in just 10 races, including five victories.

“The sweetest moment came with his maiden F1 victory at Estoril in 1985. He clearly was the master of the elements that day in the downpour. He made it look so easy in front of the stars. The other drivers could not compete with him at this level. Despite this, he remained very modest about his brilliant performance. Donington, 1993, was also very impressive, but Estoril remains the best moment for me,” Steve Hallam concluded.

Steve Hallam and the Lotus team celebrating Ayrton Senna's first victory in Portugal. (Photo: Steve Hallam's personal archives)

“Made in China” is a way of life for us North Americans, be it tagged in clothing or stamped on our favourite smart phone.

Although this is a widely accept fact, for some reason, we think that a car “made in China” (or sold uniquely in China) could never meet our “first world” standards. There may be some truth behind that where safety and overall quality are concerned; however, where design and fit-and-finish come into play, the Chinese are learning real fast.

Some of these cars would look downright at home in the average driveway, and others on display here would fit nicely in my garage...

Here are some of these impressive looking cars we'd like to see in Canada from the 2014 Beijing Auto Show. On some cases here, we are referring world premiere reveals that we hope will make it to our shores.

From GMM

Red Bull Racing is investigating whether a fault in his chassis is causing Sebastian Vettel's 2014 trough.

Team boss Christian Horner says the reigning quadruple world champion is lacking the "feel" for the RB10, while others think the German is simply being outclassed by his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

Dr Helmut Marko has some other theories.

"When downshifting, Sebastian needs a stable rear for his special style of driving. With all the new systems, he doesn't have that yet," the Red Bull director said.

Austrian Marko tipped Vettel to eventually get it right.

"In 2012 it was the same, and by the time he was happy with the rear, he was unbeatable," he is quoted by Germany's Sport Bild.

However, there could be more to the story.

"We don't understand why Vettel's tire wear was so much higher than Ricciardo's," Marko said, referring to the Chinese grand prix.

"We are now investigating whether his (Vettel's) chassis has a fault."

Marko said Red Bull's target is to eliminate a chassis flaw as the potential origin of the problem by giving the 26-year-old a brand new 'Suzie'.

"When a new one is ready, Vettel will get it," he confirmed.

If a chassis flaw is not the problem, however, Marko is not guaranteeing a quick fix to Vettel's troubles.

"This year is so complex that even the engineers don't understand everything," he said. "That makes it even harder for Seb to tune the car to his needs.

"But Sebastian is a perfectionist. He will tinker with it until he gets it right."

HTP Motorsport drivers Maximilian Buhk and Maximilian Götz captured victory in the first Main Race of the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series in Nogaro, France, April 21.

With their Mercedes AMG SLS they crossed the finishing line of the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro with less than two seconds advantage over the No. 3 G-Drive Racing Audi driven by local favourites Stéphane Ortelli and Grégory Guilvert.

Another Audi pairing, Mateusz Lisowski and Vincent Abril in the No. 4 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT R8 LMS ultra, claimed the third podium position during the final laps of the race, also winning the Silver Cup category.

Alex Zanardi, BMW (Photo gallery by Jean-Claude Loustau)

Sunny conditions greeted the drivers on the grid for the first main race of the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series.

Maximilian Buhk, in the No. 84 HTP Motorsport Mercedes took the lead, and from lap four the German driver was able to edge away from the chasing pack.

By the time Gregory Guilvert in the No. 3 G-Drive Racing Audi managed to overtake the Brazilian BMW, the HTP Motorsport Mercedes already had a lead of nine seconds.

A fabulously quick pitstop by the G-Drive Racing mechanics reduced the gap to only four seconds, with Stéphane Ortelli getting closer and closer to leader Maximilian Götz every lap.

The German had the race under control however, and after 41 laps of the 3.636 km track he crossed the line to take the win in the first Main Race of the season.

Former Formula 1 and IndyCar series' driver, Alex Zanardi finished 13th in his ROAL Motorsport BMW Z4 fitted with hand controls.

New York City; where walking down the street dressed as a normal person will make you feel severely underdressed most of the time, is usually host to some fantastic reveals befitting the city's high-fashion nature. For 2014, it didn't hold true, unfortunately, as mediocrity invaded the Jacob Javits Center for two full press days of boring reveals.

While there is definitely plenty to look at, and even some very interesting future product (if you are into midsize bland mobiles and minivans), there is an equal number of easily avoided mishaps and other exhibits that give you a certain metallic taste at the back of your throat.

Ford Focus Refresh
What do you get when you attach the grille from the much-lauded Ford Fusion to the front of a Focus? This. And it's boring. Ford has been slowly taking all the visual excitement out of the Focus (my favourite is the previous generation Euro-only version) and turning it into a rolling paper bag of anonymity. You'd think the nose job, since the Fusion is such a looker, would do the Focus wonders. But it doesn't. It's now the design equivalent of oatmeal. In a beige bowl. On a Formica countertop.

Photo: Mark Stevenson

Continue reading 2014 New York International Auto Show Top Misses

From GMM

Niki Lauda hopes Mercedes' rivals do not make it too easy for the German marque in 2014.

So far this year, the dominant Brackley based team has easily won the opening four grands prix on the trot, having aced the all-new V6 turbo rules.

It evokes memories of Ferrari in 2004, when the Italian team won 15 of the 18 races, or 1988, when McLaren won every race but one.

However, a full season of victory clean-sweeps would be a new situation for F1, and Mercedes team chairman Lauda is not sure he would like to see it.

"We do not want to win all the races," he told the Swiss newspaper Blick. "It definitely wouldn't be good for formula one."

But Lauda acknowledged that he is proud of Mercedes' dominance so far in 2014.

"What we are going through now is the harvest of many months of work, particularly in the area of the turbo engine," he said.

"But we do not think the current situation is normal. Our opponents will certainly be getting stronger."

From press release

Dollar General will serve as primary sponsor for the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports entry driven by 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve in the Indy 500, May 25.

This will mark Villeneuve's third start in the prestigious race. He's returning to the Indy 500 after a 19-year absence.

Jacques Villeneuve already ran with Dollar General as a sponsor in NASCAR in 2009. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

"I have so many wonderful memories of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout my career, including my last appearance at the track in the Brickyard 400 when I also was sponsored by Dollar General," Villeneuve said.

"It's been 19 years since I ran this race, but returning with a team like Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and a household-name sponsor like Dollar General is going to give me a fantastic opportunity to perform at a high level."

Practice for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 begins Sunday, May 11, with pole qualifying Sunday, May 18.

From press release

The Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada is pleased to confirm today that it will hold the fifth edition of its inaugural gala dinner, “The Grand Evening”, on 5 June.

This popular social event, attended by Formula 1 team principals and drivers who are in town for the race and by members of the business community of Montréal, will be held once again in the “Arsenal” Contemporary Art Complex in Griffintown.

This year, all proceeds will go to the Fondation de l'Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal and Moisson Montréal.

FIA chairman, Jean Todt, in Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

The organisers are also honoured to announce that Mister Jean Todt, President of the Fédération internationale de l'automobile (FIA), and Mister Marc Poulin, President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys inc., have cordially agreed to be the honorary co-chairs of this event.

Mr. Todt is well-known throughout the world for his involvement with victims of road accidents and, since his glory days at the helm of the Scuderia Ferrari, he has become vice-president of the Brain & Spine Institute (ICM) in Paris.

Mr. Poulin is the President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys inc., a true distribution and retail giant of the Canadian food industry. He supports many charities, including, of course, Moisson Montréal.

The Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal treats victims of serious accidents and injuries from the Island of Montréal and many regions in Western Québec. It has been the designated track hospital of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada for several years now, and the members of its trauma team supply medical services for this great sporting event.

For more than twenty years, Moisson Montréal - the country's largest food bank - has been insuring an optimal supply of food to community organisations helping people in need on the Island of Montréal. This organisation takes part in the development of sustainable solutions to guarantee our community's food security.

It should be pointed out that “The Grand Evening”, which is organised right here in Montréal by Octane Racing Group Inc. and produced entirely by local artisans, has been attended on each of its first four years by nearly a thousand people, including team principals and drivers taking part in the Formula 1 World Championship.

The Great Evening in the Arsenal, in Montreal. (Photo: WRi2)

“The Grand Evening” is an official activity of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2014, presented in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Canada. Tickets for the cocktail (6 PM), the dinner (7:30 PM) and the evening are on sale now for $1,000 each. Tables for ten are on sale for $10,000. For additional information, one can visit our web site at www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca.

Tickets can be ordered by phone at the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada offices, at 514‑350‑4731 or on line.

From GMM

On the eve of a trial that could send Bernie Ecclestone to jail, Formula 1 is having to look into its future.

If convicted of bribery in Munich, the F1 chief executive could even be jailed.

But if found guilty and not jailed, he would surely nonetheless fall foul of the sort of strict corporate compliance rules that groups like Mercedes parent Daimler adhere to.

"We hold ourselves to that (code of conduct) also," Mercedes' motor racing chief Toto Wolff said on Wednesday.

For the moment, Ecclestone is presumed innocent. But his predicament - with judges in two countries having already found he paid a bribe - is forcing F1 to look into its future.

"Of course we are thinking about the future of formula one," Austrian Wolff told the business newspaper Handelsblatt. "We have to.

"After Ecclestone there would be, I suspect, a management team (to run the sport)," he explained.

"It would be a normal management board, as per any other large company," Wolff added.

However, it has been rumoured that some of F1's most powerful participants - like Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull - might also push to take over the sport themselves.

Wolff insists: "Right now that is not on the agenda."

The guys of Mötley Crüe are teaming up with Dodge to give fans the chance to win a 2015

Everyone who has a Netflix account, or uses a friendand#8217;s Netflix password, knows the documentary section is where all the action is. The only thing weand#8217;d ask for is a few more driving docs. And we hope that and#8220;

It doesn't take much to transform a Morgan from an already cool car to the coolest Morgan -- nay, the coolest car ever to traverse British B-roads. Chop the windshield, lose the luggage rack. Add Dunlop-style telephone dial alloys, paint 'em black.

There's no mention of the ongoing ignition switch and steering wheel recalls but General Motors announcement today of a restructuring of global vehicle engineering - including "retirement" of the current head - is surely a consequence.

General Motors said on Tuesday (22 April) it has asked a bankruptcy court in New York to rule on whether the growing number of lawsuits alleging purely economic damages resulting from the ignition switch recall may proceed.

Electric car company Tesla wants to add manufacturing in China within the next three to four years, CEO Elon Musk told reporters in Beijing without elaborating.

A document listing details of Geely Auto future models has been published on the firm's website. It also shows an imminent, dramatic cull of existing cars.

News 27 Jun, 2014

The 2015 Driver Power Survey is now live and you can win up to £2,000 worth of prizes just by taking part