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From NASCAR

It was a night of continuing disappointment for Brad Keselowski, Saturday in Charlotte, a night of battling that continued onto pit road and into the garage after the race.

Keselowski finished a lowly 16th, and so missed out on a chance to secure a spot for the Eliminator Round of the Chase.

To add injury to insult, he bumped into Matt Kenseth on pit road after the race.

"I had my HANS (head and neck restraint) off and my seat belts off and everything," Kenseth said of the hit from Keselowski on pit road.

"If you want to talk about it as a man, do that, but to try and wreck someone on the race track, come down pit road with other cars and people standing around with seat belts off and drive in the side of me—it's inexcusable.

"There is no excuse for that. He's a champion. He's supposed to know better than that."

After the race, he also traded insults with ninth-place finisher Denny Hamlin, in the wake of a late race incident between their two cars.

Afterwards Keselowski posted the following on his Twitter account:

"Rough night. Understand a lot of folks may not understand everything that happened and that's ok. I'm not perfect but also not the only one."

From press release

Toyota thrilled the crowd at Fuji with a 1-2 victory for round five of the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The team scored a third consecutive win in the event thanks to the No. 8 TS040 of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, who extended their lead in the drivers' championship.

Toyota regained the lead in the championship over Audi (Photo: WRi2)

With the No. 7 car of Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima in second place, Toyota also regained the lead in the manufacturers' championship, eighth points clear of Audi.

"That was a great job by all the team; we had the strongest car, the right strategy and great pit stops," said Davidson.

"First and second in our home race; it doesn't get better than that."

Adapted from GMM

Fernando Alonso dropped a big hint about his future after Sunday's Russian grand prix.

A few hours ago, Alonso was rumoured to be headed towards a 'stopgap' year -- perhaps with Williams or Lotus, both of which will have the field-leading Mercedes V6 next year.

But the 33-year-old has now been quoted by the US broadcaster NBC after the Russian grand prix that his next team will not be powered by Mercedes.

"My future is already set," he told British television Sky a few minutes earlier. "Or already set in my mind for some months.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14-T (Photo: WRI2)

"Now we are finalazing everything," Alonso revealed. "You need to be patient, you need to wait a little bit.

"I cannot say anything until everything is completely done but it's good and I will do the best for my future and the best for the future of Ferrari because it is the team that I love.

"When you know it you will say 'it was so obvious you will do that'," he added.

From NASCAR

The Closer finally closed the deal, and the door swung almost shut on Dale Earnhardt Jr., six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and 2012 champion Brad Keselowski.

With the dominant car in Saturday night's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick led 162 laps and survived a wild two-lap dash to the finish after the final caution en route to his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win of the season and a free pass into the Eliminator Round of the Chase.

In a race that ended with battered cars, bruised egos, boiling tempers and physical confrontations in the garage, Harvick pulled away after a restart on Lap 333 of 334 and beat Jeff Gordon to the finish line by .572 seconds. Jamie McMurray ran third, followed by Joey Logano and polesitter Kyle Busch.

Kevin Harvick celebrates his win in Charlotte (Photo: Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)

"I won't be anorexic and throwing up all week," Harvick quipped, knowing he won't need to avoid the inevitable major wrecks in the Oct. 19 race at Talladega Superspeedway to advance to the next round of the Chase. "This was the night that we needed to win. I don't want to go to Talladega next week."

Nicknamed "The Closer," Harvick had failed to win the last five races in which he had led the most laps, but his victory on Saturday night—his third at Charlotte and the 26th of his career—was an emphatic rebuke to the ill fortune that had kept him out of Victory Lane since April.

From GMM

F1 looks set to test new software and procedures next time out in Austin that will automatically limit the speed of the cars through double waved yellow flag zones.

It is the governing FIA's reaction to Jules Bianchi's life-threatening collision with a recovery vehicle at Suzuka a week ago, when the Frenchman lost control of his Marussia despite the waving of yellow flags.

But it seems the drivers themselves have also been at the centre of the proposed solution, with Fernando Alonso telling Italy's Autosprint that "I was the one who raised the issue" with Charlie Whiting earlier in Russia.

"It seems to be a feasible idea," said the Spaniard.

"In indoor karting, the management can limit the speed of all the competitors by pressing a button."

Fellow Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen agreed: "As long as it's the same for everyone, I don't see any problem with it."

FIA's Charlie Whiting (Photo: WRI2)

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims that Whiting met with team bosses on Saturday and said a proposed solution is to mandate a minimum 'delta time' through yellow flag zones that drivers will have the responsibility to obey.

But F1's swift reaction to the Bianchi crash does not mean the FIA has escaped criticism.

Bernie Ecclestone had earlier called for an independent investigation, but La Stampa correspondent Stefano Mancini said: "It was hard to imagine that, in investigating himself, Charlie Whiting would have recognised (the FIA) had taken dangerous decisions (in Japan)."

And F1 legend Alain Prost told France's RMC: "I don't want to argue with the FIA, because I have too much respect for everything that has been done for safety.

"But if there was one area where we knew there was something still to be done, this was it.

"So I am not convinced (by the investigation), but (I say that) without controversy," Prost added.

"In extreme circumstances, you should have zero risk. That is why I cannot be totally convinced."

Thirty-six innovations in a diverse range from adhesives to vision systems are finalists for the 2015 Automotive News PACE Awards. The awards honor supplier innovation in product, manufacturing process and information technology.

Britain last year produced more cars than France for the first time in decades. And in a dramatic turnabout, the value of British car exports has doubled in the past 10 year.

BMW CEO Nortbert Reithofer has transformed the automaker's U.S. factory into one of the world's largest SUV production hubs.

Renault is targeting prosperous car buyers in urban areas with its Clio Initiale Paris, the first Renault to use the upscale Initiale Paris trimline, which will cost 3,350 euros more than standard versions of the subcompact hatchback.

BMW CEO Nortbert Reithofer has transformed BMW's U.S. factory in Spartanburg into one of the world's largest SUV production hubs.

GMC is planning a broad advertising campaign next year, an effort by General Motors to raise the profile of its successful, under-the-radar truck brand.

The global head of Maserati wants the Italian luxury brand to add 20 dealerships in the United States by year end. Speaking to Automotive News at the Paris auto show, Harald Wester said the U.S.

From GMM

Wherever Fernando Alonso will go next year, sponsor Movistar will go with him.

That is the claim of Spain's Marca, who reports that Movistar, the major Spanish mobile operator, has decided to partner with Alonso's next F1 team.

"Talks with McLaren are underway," read the report.

"There are also negotiations afoot with Blackberry, the phone company that is with Mercedes and with which there is an obvious synergy. One (Movistar) sells the lines, the other (Blackberry) the handsets."

If Alonso cannot find a route into Mercedes for 2015, he is expected either to sign a one-year deal elsewhere, or simply sit out next year's championship.

"McLaren will not want to be the stopgap," said London's Times newspaper.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14-T (Photo: WRI2)

So while the talks go on, everybody else waits.

"It all depends on whether he (Alonso) goes to McLaren or whether he leaves formula one and returns later," said Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who is leaving his own future open for now.

Also waiting is McLaren driver Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion.

He admitted in Russia: "My family find it really difficult to understand the situation I am in at this point, considering what I have done in the sport."

Another party whose next plans appear held up is Ferrari. There is speculation Hamilton may also be linked with the Maranello team.

"No, that's not true," the championship leader told Germany's Auto Bild in Russia.

Team boss Marco Mattiacci, meanwhile, said on Friday: "I don't have any update, any news, any announcement to be made."

From GMM

Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz insists he is "not disappointed" to be losing world champion Sebastian Vettel.

A week ago at Suzuka, the German - who was nurtured from boyhood to F1 stardom by the energy drink company - announced to Red Bull and the world that he is leaving the team.

It is expected he will switch to Ferrari for 2015.

But billionaire Mateschitz insisted to the German news agency DPA that, at the moment, Vettel and Red Bull Racing are not compatible.

Dietrich Mateschitz (Photo: WRI2)

"Given Red Bull's handicap with the current (Renault) power unit and Mercedes' dominance," he said, "you don't need a four-time world champion who at best can be 'best of the rest'."

And according to Mateschitz, the promise shown by Vettel's successor, 20-year-old Daniil Kvyat, is another reason Red Bull is happily letting its champion go.

"We considered it neither just nor necessary to intervene," he said, "particularly since this switch brings huge financial savings.

"I also believe that the forthcoming switches will contribute a lot to the excitement of the next formula one season," Mateschitz added.

From GMM

Rivals are piling pressure on Mercedes to agree to "unfreeze" engine development in formula one.

The German marque has utterly dominated the sport this year as the all-new turbo V6 era dawned.

So rivals, powered by struggling Ferrari and Renault, have argued that the strict limits on in-season development of the 'power units' should be relaxed.

For a rule change as soon as 2015, however, all teams would have to agree.

Christian Horner, boss of the works Renault team Red Bull, claimed in Russia on Friday that, in Singapore last month, Mercedes agreed to some 'unfreeze' measures.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRI2)

"One minute we agree something," he said, "then suddenly people can't remember what they've agreed and they change their mind, so we've got a bit going on at the moment."

Indeed, since Mercedes allegedly 'changed its mind', F1's influential 'strategy group' got together and the majority voted for the engine unfreeze to be sent to the F1 Commission for ratification.

"We'll see what the outcome of the commission vote is," said Horner.

"FIA are in support, FOM are in support, obviously the non-Mercedes teams are in support, so we'll see what that holds in approximately a month's time."

Horner admitted, however, that for the change to be voted through for 2015, every team will need to agree.

"I agree with Christian," said Marco Mattiacci, boss of F1's other engine supplier, Ferrari.

"Now today we have the majority of the votes to move ahead on the idea to unfreeze the engine. Let's see what's going to happen during the F1 Commission," he added.

From GMM

Romain Grosjean has denied that Lotus' new Mercedes engine deal makes it less likely he will stay with the Enstone team beyond 2014.

On the face of it, the struggling team's switch from an underpowered Renault 'power unit' is good news for Lotus' frustrated drivers.

"It will help Lotus," Grosjean agreed at Sochi.

"I am sure that next year the team will be more competitive. The option of (staying with) Lotus has become quite attractive."

But tucked away in Lotus' press release about the Mercedes deal was the detail that the team will be using Petronas oils and fuels next year.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22 (Photo: WRI2)

Currently, Grosjean is closely aligned with the Renault-linked French oil company Total.

"They (Total) understand the situation," the Frenchman insisted. "There are negotiations.

"Our relationship with Total is much closer than just a sponsor. We have been together and we want to continue.

"If the car is not running on Total fuel, that does not mean the company will stop supporting me," Grosjean explained.

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne is back in the running to keep his seat at Toro Rosso in 2015.

In August, the Faenza based team said the Frenchman would leave at the end of this season as it replaces him with teenage sensation Max Verstappen.

But Verstappen's scheduled 2015 teammate, Daniil Kvyat, has since been called up by Red Bull's main team in the wake of Sebastian Vettel's shock news at Suzuka a week ago.

Immediately, it was said that the latest cream of the energy drink company's junior programme, Carlos Sainz jr, was the favourite to complete Toro Rosso's revised 2015 lineup.

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso STR9 (Photo: WRI2)

But that would mean Toro Rosso enters the new season with a driver lineup whose combined age of an unprecedented 37, with a dubious tally of zero combined career grands prix.

Asked at Sochi if Sainz is still the frontrunner, team boss Franz Tost said: "There are also other drivers.

"We have Jean-Eric Vergne, who is an experienced driver.

"We have Carlos Sainz jr who is currently leading the 3.5 Renault championship, then we have Pierre Gasly (and) we have (Alex) Lynn.

"Fortunately Red Bull has a lot of very fast, highly skilled drivers in the driver pool and within the next weeks, Red Bull will decide who will get this seat," Tost added.

From GMM

At least four major publications believe there are "growing concerns" about the health condition of seriously injured F1 driver Jules Bianchi.

At present, the only official news is that the Frenchman suffered a 'diffuse axonal injury' in his Suzuka crash last Sunday, and now lies in a Japanese hospital in a 'critical but stable' condition.

But the British newspapers the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Times have all now expressed 'growing' fears about Bianchi's condition, particularly after the Marussia driver's siblings and best friend jetted into Japan to be with his parents at his bedside.

"The FIA does not want to give information about Bianchi's health," said the major German daily Bild.

"Bild's information is that his condition is said to have deteriorated."

Jean-Eric Vergne, Bianchi's closest friend on the F1 grid, said at Sochi that the 25-year-old is currently "between life and death" in Japan.

From GMM

The next Russian grand prix could be a night race.

According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, new F1 venue Sochi Autodrom's contract with Bernie Ecclestone is for at least seven years.

On Sunday for the inaugural race, the start-time is at 3pm local.

But next year it could be much later.

"We want to start at dusk and finish in the dark," the newspaper quoted boss Richard Cregan as saying.

"The infrastructure for the lighting is already present, we are now waiting for the green light," he added.

Bernie Ecclestone is said to have already basically agreed to the proposal.

Land Rover Canada is recalling 2,942 LR4, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport from 2014 because a fault in the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) could impair the vehicle's ability to determine the location of the individual tire pressure monitoring sensors. This would render the system inactive, displaying a "TPMS system fault" message on the instrument cluster.

An inoperative TPMS could allow underinflated tires to go unnoticed by the driver, which could affect vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash.

Land Rover dealers will therefore update vehicle software.

Source: Transport Canada