Auto News 5

DeltaWing Technologies, the Atlanta-area developer of the DeltaWing race car, wants to license its unusual wedge-shaped design to automakers as a template for a lightweight, efficient production car.

Fiat will team with Mitsubishi to add a long-promised large pickup to its lineups in Europe and Latin America, sources said. Mitsubishi will provide Fiat with a variant of the L200.

Bollore Group, a French electronics manufacturer with nearly $15 billion in sales last year, is entering the United States with a disruptive business plan: It wants to win consumers without selling them any cars.

Fiat will team with Mitsubishi to add a long-promised large pickup to its lineups in Europe and Latin America, sources told Automotive News Europe.

From press release

Kerry Earnhardt, Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr. grew up in the outdoors with a love of being outside carried from generation to generation.

"Growing up, granddad (NASCAR Sportsman Champion Ralph Earnhardt) and dad (NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt) handed their traditions down to us ... being on the water, in the woods," former NASCAR driver Kerry Earnhardt said.

"We like to ride four-wheelers and trail-ride and do things like that as well," NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "So there's a lot of fun to be had out in the woods and outdoors. You just kind of never forget that, those experiences as a little kid."

Dale Earnhardt Jr (Photo: Facebook)

To promote a multi-generational love of the outdoors, the three siblings have created an outdoor lifestyle brand, Earnhardt Outdoors, and partnered with Tackle Grab, an online subscription service for the recreational and sport-finishing industry.

"Sharing the outdoors with people and passing that along from generation to generation is important to us," JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller said. "Partnering with Tackle Grab makes enjoying the outdoors just easier and simpler. They provide a very authentic product, quality product. It's innovative, and I think the same is true for the Earnhardts."

Kelley, Kerry and Dale Jr fishing (Photo: Facebook)

Tackle Grab Powered by Earnhardt Outdoors will add new brands of fishing products, providing members with the latest industry offerings to meet their fishing needs. According to Experian Consumer Research, Simmons National Consumer Survey in 2010, 25 million NASCAR fans fished over the previous 12 months. The study also indicated that those fans were twice as likely to fish as non-fans.

"Tackle Grab is thrilled to partner with the Earnhardt family and Earnhardt Outdoors," Stash Karandanis, co-founder of Tackle Grab, said. "Their family and organization represent the core values we strive for -- family, love of the outdoors, and fishing. With the Earnhardt's help, we will continue to provide our members with the best access to high quality fishing equipment each month."

From press release

Nearly two weeks removed from potentially season-ending engine issues, Corey Jones will return to OSCAAR Super Late Model tour competition at Kawartha Speedway on June 1st.

"I'm not sure we could have cut this one much closer", smiles Jones as he works alongside his team to put the final preparations together to return to action. "It was a long drive home from Sunset, that's for sure. Blowing an engine in the first feature of the season is just about the roughest way to start the summer."

"It looked as though our season was over", continues Jones. "As hard as the team worked throughout the off-season, all the preparation, all the planning - it seemed all for naught. Thankfully, at the eleventh hour, we were able to put a deal together with help from McGunegill Engine Performance to be back out at Kawartha for Round 2."

The early-season hurdle has sent the Rookie contender scrambling for funding to complete the season, after sinking the majority of his family-run J Star Motorsports budget into the new powerplant.

"We're definitely looking for a little bit of help to be able to run the rest of the tour", explains 'Twinkle Toes'. "Our projected budget is pretty much tapped out now, so we'll have to pound the pavement a little bit and find some additional support."

Despite the adversity, the former Canadian Vintage Modified standout is quick to underscore just how grateful he is to be returning to the tour.

"After coming so close to having our season wiped out, we can't wait to get to Kawartha", beams Jones.

"I feel like we've just taken this team off death row. We're more motivated than we've ever been. We had a great car through practice and qualifying at Sunset, we just didn't get to show it in the feature. I hope we can make up for that this weekend."

Round 2 of the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is scheduled for Sunday, June 1st at Fraserville, ON's Kawartha Speedway. Gate times and ticket prices for the event can be found at www.OSCAAR.ca.

Fans can keep up with Corey on Twitter @CoreyJones82 and visit J Star Motorsports' page on Facebook.

Corey Jones is proud to carry marketing support from Castle Building Centres, RBC, Accountable Automotive, Dan Simpson - RBC Mortgage Specialist, Lafleche Roofing, Anmar Cleaning Services, Inno-Tech, Ken Robinson Refrigeration, Oktane Productions, Epic Racewear and Westmeadow Dental.


How old were you when you first decided you wanted to be an F1 driver?


Felipe Massa: It was always part of my dream when I started go-karting as a kid - so it was something of a distant dream that step by step transformed into reality. The first time it really occurred to me that it might be possible was probably when I was 15.



When was your first big accident in a race car?


FM: It was with a go-kart. I had a roll when I was 15. I tried to overtake, but the other guy closed the door. I was not hurt, but it was the kind of accident that you will remember your whole life.



Felipe Massa (Photo: Facebook)

When did you win your first trophy in racing and what did it look like?


FM: My first race in a go-kart when I was 13. I was an instant success! (laughs) The trophy was gold - no, not real gold, gold colour - and had a little go-kart on the top as a kind of arch. I still have it.



What was the first road car you drove?


FM: It was my dad's road car - and I was around ten years old. It was a Chevrolet Monza - a big car for a small kid.



Where was the first house you lived in?


FM: It is a house that I still have. It's in the countryside of Sao Paolo and is now kind of a country house for the family. I was six years old when we moved there.

What was the first thing you did this morning?


FM: Had a shower, and then had breakfast with my family. Wait a minute... it was actually looking at my iPhone. Somehow that seems a shame, but this is the reality nowadays!



When was your first romantic kiss?


FM: The first time - eyes closed and shy - was when I was around ten. For my first real romantic kiss, I was maybe 13.



Felipe Massa, Williams FW36 (Photo: Facebook)

When was the first time you were asked to sign an autograph for a fan?


FM: When I was a Formula Chevrolet driver - somewhere around 1999.



When did you first taste champagne?


FM: When I went to the podium for the first time. Maybe I had a secret taste before - from the glass of somebody at some family event...



Which would you eat first - a piece of fruit or a piece of chocolate?


FM: A piece of fruit. My mum was always very strict about my teeth so sweets and chocolate have never really been on my agenda.

From press release

Marco Andretti's analogy following two rounds of practice and qualifications for the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit summed it up.

“(Comparing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and the 2.36-mile, 13-turn street circuit on Belle Isle is) like baseball and basketball,” he told IndyCar.com.

“I mean, that's the thing about the IndyCar Series is the diversity. It's so different. We run at totally different places in our whole schedule. One is an oval, and one is a very bumpy, challenging street circuit. Different discipline. Very difficult to compare really.”

Marco Andretti, Belle Isle circuit (Photo: Chris Owens)

Andretti finished third in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 25 - the third such result to pair with a runner-up finish in his 2006 debut on the 2.5-mile oval and a fourth place in 2013. Teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay won in the second-closest margin of victory in the 98 editions of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and Carlos Munoz finished fourth.

Andretti wasn't satisfied with his result after starting sixth in the No. 25 Snapple car.

“I think any other racetrack it would be awesome.  But Indy we fell short again, so a little bit of a disappointment,” he said.

“We probably should have been more aggressive with the aero package at the end of the race. We should just hopefully keep coming back and having shots at it.  Hopefully my number is picked one day there.”

From press release

Jeff Gordon almost missed the Coca-Cola 600, last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, because he was suffering from back spasms. The four-time champion says he feels better now.

The pain was so bad in Charlotte, Hendrick Motorsports asked stand-by driver Regan Smith to get ready, just in case.

But Smith, the Nationwide series points leader, says he hasn't heard from Hendrick this time, meaning Gordon is expected to be well enough to get behind the wheel the No. 24 Chevrolet, this weekend for the Fedex 400, in Dover.

Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet No. 24 (Photo: Facebook)

"I have not had anything said to me yet so as of now," Smith said. "I'll be going home Saturday night and watching (the race) on TV."

"I wouldn't say 100 percent, but I'm closer to normal," Gordon confirmed to MRN Radio. "I'm still feeling some of the effects from last week, but I felt good in the car, didn't have any sharp pains. I just had a week of rest and normal activity, lots of ice."

Gordon ended up 7th in Charlotte, despite the pain. He qualified 6th ahead of tomorrow's race.

From press release

Part of everyday life for professional racing drivers are frequent trips away from home. Even though these can often be long, the chances to explore the areas surrounding the circuits are few and far between.

They don't get to experience life in some of the most beautiful cities and soak up the atmosphere that makes them unique. However, ahead of the third DTM race of the 2014 season in Budapest, the eight BMW DTM drivers were given the rare opportunity to do just that.

BMW drivers visit Budapest on two high-speed boats (Photo: BMW)

Augusto Farfus, Joey Hand, Bruno Spengler, Martin Tomczyk, Timo Glock, António Félix da Costa, Marco Wittmann and Maxime Martin boarded two powerful motorboats for a trip down the Danube, taking in spectacular views of the centre of Budapest and its many landmarks, including the suspension bridge known as the Chain Bridge, Gellert Hill and its citadel, and the impressive parliament buildings.

It is no coincidence that the Hungarian capital's panorama is a World Heritage Site.

“The tour was a lot of fun,” said Wittmann, who goes into the third DTM weekend of the year lying third in the Drivers' Championship with 25 points. “We do not usually get to see the cities we travel to. However, we were given a unique view of Budapest from the Danube. It really is a fantastic city.”

One of the highlights of the tour was the trip under the famous suspension bridge. With the Buda Hill in the background, the historic bridge, which opened in 1849 and was rebuilt in 1949, attracts countless tourists to Budapest every year.

Augusto Fargus, Antonio Felix da Costa, Timo Glock and Joey Hand admiring Budapest (Photo: BMW)

“I drove across that bridge on my demonstration run at the start of May - and now I have seen the outstanding view from the water too,” said Glock. “I just really like this place. And it made a nice change to explore it together with my fellow drivers on board our motorboats.”

“My first thought was: where can you go fishing on the Danube?” said Hand, who spends a lot of time on the Pacific off the coast of California when not at the racetrack.

“All that was missing was my fishing rod. I didn't have it here - so I will have to go fishing for points at the circuit on Sunday instead. Seriously though: I love the water and can really relax on it. Therefore, I really enjoyed this extraordinary city tour.”

From press release

Takuma Sato's race-worn Indianapolis 500 helmet will be up for bid through June 9, with the proceeds to benefit children affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan.

The helmet also bears the autographs of the Japanese driver and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, the owner of the team for which Sato competes in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

Race fans and collectors can bid at www.501auctions.com/takumasato.

Inspired by his love for the Indy 500, Sato commissioned the helmet design to reflect elements from his signature race cap, the historic bricks of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Foyt's accomplishments in the 500 Mile Race, plus the Japanese flag incorporated into the No. 14 graphic.

Takuma Sato and A.J. Foyt with the helmet that will be auctionned (Photo: IndyCar.com)

The United SportsCar Championship (USCC) is in Detroit, this weekend, racing on the Belle Isle street circuit.

Extreme Speed Motorsports driver Ryan Dalziel takes your for a lap of the 2.35-mile course aboard his No. 1 ARX-03b Prototype (P).



Belle Isle is a 982-acre island located in the Detroit River between Detroit and Canada, which officially became a Michigan state park earlier this year. As far as racing goes, the original plan was for Formula One to move the U.S. Grand Prix from city streets to the park starting in 1989.

When that plan didn't pan out, the old CART open-wheel series came to the island in 1992. The ALMS raced on Belle Isle in 2007 and ‘08; the Rolex Series had a two-year run that immediately prefaced the merger, in 2012-13.

This Saturday's USCC 100-min race starts at 1:30 pm.

GM asked a federal judge in Washington to protect information related to its ignition-switch defect that a consumer-advocacy group sought from the United States Treasury, according to a filing on Friday.

GM asked a federal judge in Washington to protect information related to its ignition-switch defect that a consumer-advocacy group sought from the United States Treasury, according to a filing on Friday.

Certified used-vehicle sales are expected to grow this year and next year in lock step with increases in the supply of late-model used vehicles, the latest issue of Perspective, a monthly report by NADA Used Car Guide that highlights industry...

General Motors Chairman Tim Solso and former CEO Dan Akerson said neither they nor current CEO Mary Barra knew about GM's defective ignition switches that have been linked to 13 deaths.

Who would have thought six years ago, when Tata Motors bought the ailing Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford, that the British carmaker would be propping up its Indian parent?

The Mercedes GLA was unveiled at the Shanghai motor show in 2013.

Ford is recalling nearly 1.4m vehicles in North America in four separate campaigns, including 1.1m Escapes, Mercury Mariners and Explorers for power steering problems.

Every first weekend in June, the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance welcomes car fans to Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in the seaside community of Greenwich, Conn.