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From GMM

Danica Patrick has refused to rule out entering formula one in 2016.

Gene Haas, F1's newest team owner, has said the world's most famous female racer "would be the dream driver" for his new foray.

He admitted, however, that the fact Nascar driver and American Patrick will be 34 by 2016 could be an issue.

"The question was about the dream driver!" Haas - who already runs Patrick in his Nascar team Stewart-Haas - told F1's official website.

"But she surely fits the bill."

Danica Patrick told the Toronto Sun: "I agree that anything is possible, but nobody has said anything to me. I am happy where I am at right now as far as racing goes. I am just starting to get the hang of (Nascar) sprint cup racing.

"Out of respect for Gene, if he came to me I would certainly listen, but I am almost getting too old to start a third career," she added.

Danica Patrick, 2011, in her IndyCar days. (Photo: IndyCar)

Fiat's board authorized the carmaker to raise as much as $5.4 billion by issuing new bonds, giving the company flexibility to refinance debt as it implements its merger with Chrysler.

Lithia Motors agreed to buy New Jersey-based DCH Auto Group in a combination that would create the fifth-largest auto retailer in the United States with 128 stores. Lithia, in a statement, said it would pay about $340 million in cash and another $22.

Before Lincoln began its reinvention, its average customer was age 64, among the oldest of any marque.

The Dodge brand was founded 100 years ago by two brothers who were confident that they could best the established competition. But after the founders died young, the brand thrived with help from Walter P. Chrysler, Richard Petty and Hal Sperlich.

BMW lopped 180 pounds off the new-generation M3 and M4 high-performance compacts by using lightweight materials.

Gilles Pironi, the son of former F1 driver Didier, has joined Mercedes AMG F1 Team.

Frenchman Pironi won three grands prix over the course of his career, including the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, infamous for ending his friendship with Ferrari teammate Gilles Villeneuve.

Pironi died in 1987, while racing offshore boats.

In January 1988, his partner Catherine Goux gave birth to twins. She named them Gilles and Didier in honour of the two former friends.

Before joining Mercedes in F1, Gilles Pironi studied engineering and worked for Hyundai in WRC.

Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi, Ferrari 1982 (Photo: WRi2)

From press release

The 82nd 24 Hours of Le Mans kept fans on the edge of their seats from the moment that Fernando Alonso waved the French Tricoleur to the chequered flag at the finish, with elation and despair being experienced in equal measure.

Deserving and joyful winners of the world's most famous endurance race were André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer and Marcel Fässler in the No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro. Tom Kristensen, Lucas di Grassi and Marc Gené made it an Audi 1-2, but it was a bitter-sweet podium place as that car had been in a strong position for victory until a turbo problem delayed it in the pits.

Photo: Audi Motorsport

Recovering from accident damage in the first of two heavy rain showers in the first quarter of the race, and finishing in the final overall podium place was the No.8 Toyota TS040 Hybrid of Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Nicolas Lapierre, the result allowing them to keep their lead in the World Endurance Drivers Championship. 

LMP2 was a triumph for ELMS entrants and a disappointment for its FIA WEC runners, and the result was too close to call until the very end. It was the No.38 JOTA Sport Zytek Z11SN of Simon Dolan, Harry Tincknell and late replacement Oliver Turvey who lifted the winner's trophy.

Photo: Adrenalmedia.com/Gabi Tomescu

World GTE Champion driver Gianmaria Bruni, his teammates Toni Vilander and Giancarlo Fisichella were in a class of their own in the LMGTE Pro class, bringing the No.51 Ferrari 458 Italia home for their second class win in three years.

It was undoubtedly a very emotional LMGTE Am class victory for the No.95 Danish-crewed Aston Martin Vantage V8 of Kristian Poulsen, David Heinemeier Hansson and Nicki Thiim, who lost teammate Allan Simonsen last year.

Photo: Adrenalmedia.com/Gabi Tomescu

Race results* - 24 Hours of Le Mans
1 - Treluyer-Fassler-Lotterer (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi - 379 laps
2 - Genè-Di Grassi-Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi - 3 laps
3 - Lapierre-Davidson-Buemi (Toyota TS040 Hybrid) - Toyota - 5 laps
4 - Heidfeld-Prost-Beche (Rebellion R One-Toyota) - Rebellion - 19 laps
5 - Dolan-Tincknell-Turvey (Zytek Z11SN-Nissan) - Jota - 23 laps
6 - Thiriet-Badey-Gommendy (Ligier JS P2-Nissan) - Thiriet By TDS - 24 laps
7 - Chatin-Webb-Panciatici (Alpine A450b-Nissan) - Signatech - 24 laps
8 - Capillaire-Rast-Charouz (Oreca 03R-Nissan) - Loeb Racing - 25 laps
9 - Brundle-Mardenborough-Shulzhitsky (Ligier JS P2-Nissan) - OAK - 25 laps
10 - Klien-Hirsch-Brandela (Morgan-Judd) - Newblood By Morand - 27 laps
(...)
*Unofficial results

Photo: Adrenalmedia.com/John Rourke

Retirements
Ragues-Taylor-Ihara (Morgan-Judd) - Larbre Competition
Bernhard-Webber-Hartley (Porsche 919 Hybrid) - Porsche
Sarrazin-Wurz-Nakajima (Toyota TS040 Hybrid) - Toyota
Bertolini-Shaitar-Basov (Ferrari 458) - SMP
Perrodo-Collard-Palttala (Porsche 911 GT3-RSR) - Prospeed
Griffin-Parente-Leo (Ferrari 458) - RAM
Rusinov-Pla-Canal (Morgan-Nissan) - G Drive
Mann-Casè-Giammaria (Ferrari 458) - AF Corse
Howson-Bradley-Imperatori (Oreca 03R-Nissan) - KCMG
Belicchi-Leimer-Krahamer (Rebellion R One-Toyota) - Rebellion
Berthon-Gonzalez-Chandock (Oreca 03R-Nissan) - Murphy Prototipes
Munemman-Latif-Winslow (Zytek Z11SN-Nissan) - Graves
Rigon-Kaffer-Beretta (Ferrari 458) - AF Corse
Bonanomi-Albuquerque-Jarvis (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi
Wyatt-Rugolo-Bird (Ferrari 458) - AF Corse
Minassian-Ladygin-Mediani (Oreca 03R-Nissan) - SMP
Ordonez-Reip-Erdos (Nissan Zeod RC) - Nissan

Photo: Adrenalmedia.com/Gabi Tomescu

From NASCAR

Steve Mathews will go into the record books as the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pole winner at Autodrome Chaudière.

In the inaugural series event, Mathews scored the pole position in Budweiser 300 qualifying. The driver out of New Liskeard, Ontario posted a time of 13.109 seconds which translates to a speed of 68.655 on the quarter-mile oval located southeast of Quebec City.

It's the first pole win of the season for Mathews and the third of his career with the last coming in September 2012 at Ontario's Barrie Speedway.

Starting alongside Mathews on the front row will be Anthony Simone, who qualified second with a time of 13.299 seconds (67.674 mph).  Jason Hathaway, who led both practice sessions earlier in the day, was third at 13.366 seconds (67.335 mph).

Quebec natives Alex Tagliani with a time of 13.368 seconds (67.325 mph) and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin at 13.371 seconds (67.310 mph) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Mark Dilley, Alex Guenette, Andrew Ranger, Joey McColm and D.J. Kennington rounded out the top-10 qualifiers. 

The Budweiser 300 is slated for green flag at 1:30 p.m. ET after persistent rain showers forced a Saturday postponement.

From NASCAR

Jason Hathaway survived a ferocious battle with Mark Dilley and won the Budweiser 300 on Sunday.

Hathaway and Dilley swapped the lead eight times in the inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Autodrome Chaudière and battled to the end on a green-white-checkered finish before Hathaway emerged with the win.

It was the fourth series career victory for the driver of the No. 3 Rockstar Energy Drink/HGC Chevrolet out of Dutton, Ontario. Dating back to last season, it was Hathaway's third triumph in his last five starts.

Jason Hathaway (Photo: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR)

Dilley settled for second while Steve Mathews, who won his third career pole position earlier in the day, crossed the line in the third position. Defending and three-time series champion Scott Steckly battled back from a start toward the rear of the field to finish fourth followed by Louis-Philippe Dumoulin in fifth.

Alex Guenette, D.J. Kennington, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Noel Dowler and Jason White completed the top-10 finishers on the day.

The race was postponed to Sunday after persistent rain showers washed out all on-track activity on Saturday. 

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 returns to Quebec for a July 6 date at Mirabel's Circuit ICAR for the Jiffy Lube 100 presented by La Petite Bretonne, the season's second of four road course events.

The key players of Formula 1 must find a way to turn the sport away from the "wrong turn" it has taken.

That is the view of Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who is asking for a "collective brainstorming" to re-establish the key values of F1, in a letter to Bernie Ecclestone and CVC president Donald McKenzie.

Di Montezemolo is inviting all high-end players of the sport to the table, but also representatives of important companies such as Google or Apple.

All this to help F1 draw more sponsors and fans.

"Formula 1 has to be based on technical innovation, research and development, but this must all be done with sustainable costs and above all, must be move forward as part of a product that can put on a show," said a report from Ferrari.

Luca di Montezemolo (Photo: Ferrari)

From press release

Albatec Racing's Jacques Villeneuve scored his first heat victory, and secured the fastest lap overall in heat one, on only his second FIA World Rallycross Championship outing in Norway.

After making his World RX debut in Portugal in April, the former F1 World Champion was forced to miss round two at Lydden Hill due to a clash with the Indy 500, and so spent two days testing at Holjës, Sweden this week in preparation for the first of the three Scandinavian World RX rounds.

Although the French-Canadian crashed late on the second day of testing causing extensive damaging his two litre, 16v Peugeot 208, the development work done by the team and its technical partners, Oreca, Sadev and Evo to both Jacques' car and the sister 208 of Team Principal Andy Scott allowed the Dumfries-based team to immediately show its potential of challenging for outright victory.

Jacques Villeneuve, Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 (Photo: FIA World RX Championship)

At the wheel of Andy's #26 600bhp Supercar Jacques was immediately on the pace at the Lånkeban track in this morning's open practice, setting a competitive lap time on only his first run, and first ever visit to the Norwegian track.

Starting on pole position for his opening heat, he beat local hero former World Rally Champion Petter Solberg into the first corner and timed his joker lap to perfection, holding off pressure from the round one victor to claim the win and post the ninth fastest time.

After a 4th place finish in the second race of the day, Villeneuve lay 12th in the overnight standings. On Sunday, he added a 3rd and a 4th place finishes, which wasn't enough to qualify him for the semi-finals.

Model: 1990 to 2005 Acura NSX

Vehicle Type: Performance Coupe

Pricing for the used Acura NSX: Used NSX models will be rare in the used market and tricky to find, though shoppers can expect pricing between $27,000 and $50,000, depending on the year, mileage, and condition of the model in question.


History/Description of the used Acura NSX: The NSX wasn't a car anyone bought to have the fastest supercar on the block. It was a car bought because it was cool-looking as all hell, and it had a gorgeous V6 bolted to the middle, and looked like a Ferrari, and handled like a fighter jet.

Ferraris from this era are still priced like real estate, but you can get an NSX on the affordable side of the spectrum. And, when you do, the local Honda Civic tuner crowd will be super-envious of your VTEC.

NSX models came one way: as a two-seater with a mid-mounted VTEC V6 driving the rear wheels. The NSX was a hard-topped coupe, while the NSX-T had a removable targa top.

Early models got a 3.0L V6 making 252 horsepower with the automatic transmission and 270 with the 5-speed manual. From 1997, a 3.2L V6 landed under the hood, bumping power to 290 horses. It was joined by a new 6-speed manual transmission.

The Used Acura NSX Test Drive: As with any used performance car ride, a few checks should be considered mandatory during your shopping and test-drive process.

• Check the consumable parts. Tires, brake pads, brake rotors. and the clutch on a used NSX should all be presumed in need of replacement until the shopper and/or his mechanic confirm otherwise. As a performance car, replacing consumable parts won't be inexpensive, so be sure the seller isn't trying to pass a replacement bill onto you.


• According to owner forums, some transmissions in earlier (1991 and 1992) NSX models may have a defective transmission-case design that allows a snap-ring inside of the gearbox to shatter. Symptoms of the snap-ring problem include a transmission that "pops" out of gear on its own or a grinding/growling noise while driving. Listen closely on your test-drive, noting that the transmission in the NSX is in the rear of the car. Using this information, an Acura mechanic can determine if the model you're considering has experienced snap-ring failure, which will require replacement or rebuilding of the transmission.


• The NSX engine uses a timing belt to set its mechanical heartbeat. This component needs to be changed preemptively on a periodic basis before it fails. If it does fail, the engine in your used NSX will turn into a giant heap of shrapnel. Determine where the timing belt in the NSX you're considering sits within its lifespan. If you're unsure, budget for a change. A mechanic can easily change the water pump while changing the timing belt, too.


• Have the model inspected for signs of worn or dried-up coolant lines (there are nearly two dozen of these), as well as other signs of fluid leaks.


• Be on the lookout for leaks. Especially in targa-top models, you'll want to be sure there's no moisture or mildew in the carpeting, and that the seats show no signs of water damage. Weather seals around the top, as well as around the trunk and engine cover, should be plump, flexible and intact--not dried up, crispy or crumbling apart. Pull up the trunk carpeting and look for signs of moisture there, too.


• Confirm that the remote keyfobs work, that the windows roll up and down as expected, and that the trunk lid stays up on its own. Run the climate control system on all settings to confirm proper operation, too.

News 14 Jun, 2014

Auto Express interviews Mark Webber ahead of his Le Mans 24-hour return in the Porsche 919 prototype

Tesla Motors says its decision to make hundreds of its electric-vehicle patents openly available to competitors will help accelerate the fight against climate change.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is probably going through his most difficult season yet in F1. But he is happy about racing in Austria again, at the Red Bull Ring.

Vettel was only 13 years old when he discovered the track, which was known as the A1-Ring at the time.

"I had the chance to test a Formula car from the Auinger family," remembers the German. "That is a huge step if you're coming from a karting background. It was something completely new and it took me a while to get used to it.

"I have great memories of the Red Bull Ring."

Red Bull Ring (Photo: Red Bull)

Which is probably why the Red Bull driver is "really happy", as F1 returns to Spielberg after an absence of 11 years.

"I'm really happy that we will race there. The circuit is actually very pretty, not only the track, but the whole area. The circuit's set amid a beautiful natural landscape. There are not many distractions there - it's just about racing.

"The Red Bull Ring is a short track, with only a few turns, but it's very challenging. There are also a lot of elevation changes, which makes it interesting and fun."

From GMM

From either end of the F1 grid, teams ended the working week by sending out very different signals about their respective futures.

At the back of the grid, struggling Caterham's supremo Tony Fernandes batted off speculation his green cars might be missing in Austria next weekend.

"Caterham F1 will be racing in Austria. There is no question," the Malaysian aviation entrepreneur told his almost 1 million Twitter followers.

But the message coming out of Ferrari, F1's most famous team, was very different.

Earlier this week, with Fernando Alonso heading to Le Mans on Saturday to flag off the famous 24 hour endurance race, reports suggested the Maranello marque might be planning a prototype sports car project.

But president Luca di Montezemolo, whose criticism of F1's rules often accompanies a quit warning, said that a Le Mans project would mean the end of Ferrari's long association with formula one.

Photo: Ferrari

"Formula one isn't working," he told the Wall Street Journal.

"It's declining because (the FIA) have forgotten that people watch the racing for the excitement. Nobody watches racing for the efficiency, come on."

Also on Friday, Ferrari said on its official website that it is "a bit of a stretch" for the media to be suggesting the team is threatening to quit the sport after 2020 to focus on Le Mans.

But Montezemolo told the Wall Street Journal: "Of course, we cannot do sports car racing and formula one. It's not possible."

The Ferrari website post, however, said Ferrari can juggle both Le Mans and F1, insisting "there's nothing to stop Ferrari upping the ante and competing in both disciplines".

From press release

On the occasion of this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans, ACO President Pierre Fillon , and FIA President, Jean Todt, have signed the contract extending the agreement between the ACO and FIA for the organizing of the FIA World Endurance Championship for seasons 2015, 2016 and 2017.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, who created and have organized the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1923 remains the promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) via its subsidiary LMEM (Le Mans Endurance Management).

The WEC will consist of 8 rounds, encompassing Europe, America and Asia with the Le Mans 24 Hours as the pinnacle of the season.

Since its launch in 2012, it has continued to grow by welcoming new competitors attracted by the technological challenge that is inherent in this discipline.

Encouraged by this success, the FIA and ACO have decided to continue their collaboration for the development of WEC during the next 3 seasons.

"This is great news for the WEC paddock," said Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

"Next year, Nissan will join Audi, Porsche and Toyota in LMP1, demonstrating the attractiveness of endurance racing to big manufacturers in the development of new technologies and to help them in the markets we visit in the World Endurance Championship. The FIA WEC will continue to grow and progress in 2015 and beyond."

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series visits the Autodrome Chaudière for the first time ever this weekend. Here are 10 things you should know before the race.

• Autodrome Chaudière will become the 10th different oval track to welcome the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 with Saturday's maiden visit to the Quebec quarter-mile.

• Four drivers entered for this week's Budweiser 300 have a chance to add Autodrome Chaudière to their list of inaugural oval track victories: Scott Steckly, D.J. Kennington, Mark Dilley and J.R. Fitzpatrick.

D.J. Kennington (Photo: DJK Racing)

• Autodrome Chaudière opened in 1992 as a dirt track and was converted to an asphalt racing surface in 2005.


• The track has held ACT Castrol Series, PASS North, ISMA and Sportsman Quebec touring series events.


• It's nickname is "petit Bristol".


Bristol Motor Speedway (Photo: BMS)

• Chaudière is the 16th different all-time facility to play host to a NCATS event, and the 10th oval.

• The race will cover 300 laps of the 1/4-mile oval, for a total of 75 miles (120 kilometres).

• The banking of the track goes up to 16 degrees.

• Current owners Dany Lagacé and Kevin Roberge took over in 2012 and have already invested $500,000 in the facility.

• ISMA driver Ben Seitz has held the track record (10.77 seconds) since June 22, 2013.

Autodrome Chaudière (Photo: Autodrome Chaudière)

From press release

Wolfgang Reip, behind the wheel of the Nissan ZEOD RC, turned a whole lap at Le Mans powered only by electricity. That's 8.5-mile (14km) with a pair of 110 kW electric motors rotating at 40,000rpm.

Reip and his teammate for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Lucas Ordóñez and Satoshi Motoyama are occupying “Garage 56” - an additional entry reserved by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest for cars showcasing new an innovative technology.

The Nissan ZEOD RC (zero emissions on demand) allows the drive to switch between two power sources - the pair of electric motors or the unique 1.5 liter, 40 kilogram, 400 horsepower three-cylinder internal combustion engine.


Photo: Christophe Jouniaux/Vision SPO

“It is a huge thrill for me to become the first ever driver to complete an all-electric lap of Le Mans - especially since this is my debut at the race,” Reip said.

“I used electricity to originally become a racing driver through GT Academy and now I've used it again to achieve this tremendous goal. I'm really thrilled for the entire team and honored I got the chance to be behind the wheel when it first happened. I actually got held up by a GT car during the lap. I was able to get past and it was quite a strange sensation to go by on electric power.”


“This is the only true prototype on the grid - literally the team have been testing, changing and updating the car every hour as we worked towards achieving our goals,” said Darren Cox, Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, NISMO.


“Nissan is the global leader for electric vehicles for the road and we proved today that we'll be taking the same leadership role in electric vehicles for the race track. The lessons learned from the development of electric drive systems and battery technology will not only improve the Nissan road car of tomorrow but will also be transferred into the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo - our new LM P1 car which will race at Le Mans next year.”


Nissan launched its upcoming LM P1 program on May 23 in London. The Japanese manufacturer will compete against Audi, Toyota and Porsche from 2015 at Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship.