Auto News 5

Tesla Motors hasn't decided on a site for its so-called gigafactory, but it's moving forward as though it has.

Many of the cars on sale today carry as many cameras as a cluster of paparazzi, pointing five or more lenses at lane lines and blind spots to assist drivers. The next step, experts say, could be cameras that observe the driver instead of the road.

From press release

In a thrilling qualifying session for the sixth round of the DTM season at Red Bull Ring, Canadian Robert Wickens proved to have strong nerves.

In spite of having spun, the Mercedes-Benz driver kept his cool and claimed pole position with a time of 1:25.175 minutes just before the end of the session.

Timo Glock, Robert Wickens, Marco Wittmann (Photo: DTM.com)

“I knew that we had made a step ahead, but I had never expected to be on pole position. I did my utmost, which is also why I made a mistake. Now, I am looking forward to the race”, the Canadian said.

Until a few seconds before the end, everything looked set for Tim Glock's maiden DTM pole position, but then, he was toppled by Wickens.

Timo Glock, BMW M4 DTM (Photo: DTM.com)

“That hurts,” the BMW driver said. “On my cooling down lap, I saw on the video walls that I was first and I was really happy. The fact that Robert (Wickens) still took pole position away from me in the final moment is sad.”

Only 0.006 seconds separated the 32-year old from the pole sitter with the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé.

(Photo: DTM.com)

Qualifying results* - Spielberg
1.Robert Wickens (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"175 - Q3
2.Timo Glock (BMW M4) - MTEK - 1'25"181 - Q3
3.Marco Wittmann (BMW M4) - RMG - 1'25"228 - Q3
4.Augusto Farfus (BMW M4) - RBM - 1'25"237 - Q3
5.Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"246 - Q3
6.Jamie Green (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 1'25"266 - Q3
7.Christian Vietoris (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"362 - Q3
8.Maxime Martin (BMW M4) - RMG - 1'25"424 - Q3
9.Joey Hand (BMW M4) - RBM - 1'25"259 - Q2
10.Bruno Spengler (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 1'25"309 - Q2
11.Martin Tomczyk (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 1'25"323 - Q2
12.Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"335 - Q2
13.Antonio Felix Da Costa (BMW M4) - MTEK - 1'25"343 - Q2
14.Mike Rockenfeller (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 1'25"385 - Q2
15.Timo Scheider (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 1'25"400 - Q2
16.Mattias Ekstrom (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"423 - Q2
17.Miguel Molina (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"708 - Q2
18.Nico Muller (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 1'25"526 - Q2
19.Gary Paffett (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"577 - Q1
20.Adrien Tambay (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"599 - Q1
21.Edoardo Mortara (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"666 - Q1
22.Vitaly Petrov (Mercedes C-Coupe) - Mucke - 1'25"856 - Q1
23.Paul Di Resta (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"932 - Q1
*Unofficial results

(Photo: DTM.com)

Drivers of the the German DTM championship have joined forces in a new driver association.

The DTM Driver Association's (DTMDA) role will be to represent the interest of all drivers during negotiations with ITR, the organizer of the championship, and the German Motor Sport Association.

Within the DTMDA, Timo Scheider will represent the Audi drivers, Timo Glock the BMW drivers and Gary Paffett the Mercedes drivers.

"Our task is, with a neutral voice, to present the greatest possible degree of transparency and diversity of opinion," said the spokesperson of the DTMDA, former driver Manuel Reuter.

From press release

Kyle Larson, the talented 22-year-old from Elk Grove, California, won the Coors Light Pole at Pocono Raceway on Friday, which means he is edging closer to his first career win in the Sprint Cup series.

In winning the pole, Larson set a track qualifying record with a lap of 183.438 mph (49.063 seconds).

Kyle Larson (Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Of Japanese-American heritage, Larson's rapid ascent up NASCAR's ladder is nearing a pinnacle - a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. He has come close, finishing second at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California in March.

He has already won two races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and once in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His first win came in 2013 at Rockingham Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

He followed that with a NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Auto Club Speedway in March and at Charlotte in May, both in 2014.

Larson has scored one other NASCAR national series pole in his brief career - for a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in March of this season.

IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya is hinting he would like to attempt the "double" in 2015, which would see him race in both the Indy 500 and Charlotte 600 on the same day.

"I think it would be cool," said the Penske driver. "I don't want to force (Penske) into anything.

"Physically, I don't think it wouldn't be that hard. If you went to do it properly it would be a lot of run," he added.

Juan Pablo Montoya (Photo: Chris Owens)

So far in the history of the two races, Tony Stewart is the only driver to have done the double.

Kyle Busch attempted to repeat the feat last year, but after finishing sixth at Indy, he retired just past the halfway mark in Charlotte. John Andretti and Robby Gordon also attempted it.

Montoya has one win so far in his first Indy car season since 2000, and he sits fifth in the driver's standings.

From press release

Former F1 driver Robert Kubica has wrecked his Ford Fiesta RS WRC once more, this time during Rally Finland.

The Pole went off the road in the very first stage of the day Friday and damaged his front-left suspension.

"I went onto the grass," he remembers. "Nothing would have happened if there was a bit of a straight afterwards. Unfortunately the road went right, and we were deeply on the inside of the corner.

Robert Kubica, Ford Fiesta RS WRC (Photo: WRi2)

"We were thrown to the outside and we hit something with the left front.

"The biggest problem in that situation was an unloaded car because of the crest. I hadn't noticed that during recce; I only noticed when we were there at full speed. It is very difficult to foresee these things as I am not experienced enough."

Kubica was able to rejoin the rally Saturday, and is now in 39th place overall.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone looks set to avoid jail and retain control of formula one.

Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung is reporting on Saturday that the F1 chief executive has negotiated a US $100 million settlement with prosecutors in his high-profile corruption case in Germany.

The newspaper did not name its sources but said the settlement, negotiated in Munich on Saturday, will terminate the trial altogether and see all charges dropped.

Earlier in the week, there was talk of a EUR 25 million compensation payment to the Munich state bank BayernLB.

It is believed that, on Friday, the court told witnesses due to testify not to attend until further notice.

Bernie Ecclestone (Photo: WRi2)

Official confirmation is possible within the first half of next week, and probably on the scheduled resumption of the trial on Tuesday.

"There have been additional talks involving state prosecutors, defence lawyers and the court, and it's possible that a settlement to end the case could be reached next week," a court spokesman said.

Suddeutsche Zeitung said prosecutors had initially demanded a settlement amount of EUR 100 million, but Ecclestone and his lawyers had negotiated the currency down to US dollars.

The report said that if the settlement is agreed by all sides, it would be the biggest in German history.

"The deal would mean that the Briton will not be convicted and therefore most likely remain formula one boss," correspondent Klaus Ott said.

From press release

Toyota Racing test and reserve driver Mike Conway will make his race debut for the team in the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, in Austin on 20 September, the team announced.

The Englishman, already a two-time race winner this season in the IndyCar Series, will drive the No. 7 TS040 Hybrid in place of Kazuki Nakajima, who has conflicting Super Formula duties in Japan.

Mike has already gained experience of the TS040 Hybrid during winter testing and raced on the Circuit of the Americas in 2013, when he won the LMP2 class on his way to fifth overall.

He will drive alongside Alex Wurz and Stéphane Sarrazin in Austin, before Kazuki returns to the cockpit for the Fuji Speedway race on 12 October.

"I'm really pleased to be given the chance to race at the Circuit of the Americas," said Conway.

"I cannot wait to get started. The car is phenomenal, especially with the 1000 horsepower of four-wheel drive hybrid boost, and it should be great fun to race at the front in Austin."

Auto executives who delay safety recalls that result in deaths could face up to life in prison under a new bill backed by a United States senator who has been one of the staunchest critics of GM's handling of its ignition switch recalls.

U.S. auto sales rose 9 percent in July to 1.4 million units, a fifth strong month to ease the memory of harsh winter storms that blunted January and February volume.

American Honda Motor had a rocky July, with sales falling 4 percent from a year earlier to 135,908 vehicles, in a market that rose 9 percent overall.

Auto sales in Canada in July rose to a record high for the month, up 11.3 percent from a year earlier, an industry analyst said today, with strong truck sales pushing both Chrysler and Ford to record performances.

Fiat shareholders were in a resigned mood when they met to vote on the carmaker's merger with Chrysler.

Strong sales of SUVs, pickups and minivans pushed Chrysler Group's volume up 20 percent last month to its highest July U.S. sales in nine years.

Last year's Vauxhall VXR8 not powerful enough for you? No problem, this year's GTS adds an Eaton supercharger, 150 more horsepower and a perhaps surprising amount of refinement.

Helping keeping car occupants' buns warm or cool paid off for climate control seat specialist Gentherm in the second quarter and first half of 2014.

The VW Group that operates eight passenger car brands, three truck brands and one motorcycle brand, reported solid 2Q14 results. Sabine Blümel takes a closer look at the group's passenger car business.

VW production chief Michael Macht has left the automaker amid claims that CEO Martin Winterkorn is unhappy with the production rollout of the automaker's new MQB vehicle architecture. He is the second top executive to leave VW within a week.

Volkswagen said group production chief Michael Macht is quitting immediately, the second top executive to leave the automaker within a week.