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Brad Keselowski beat the previously dominant Jimmie Johnson out of the pits on the final pit stop to claim round one and the points lead in NASCAR's Chase.

After his first Chase win Keselowski said “what a great start. It's like a heavyweight title bout it's like round one of ten race battle. Makes me feel good about the four other mile-and-a- half tracks.” It was Keselowski's fourth win of the year, eighth in his career and the first time he's lead the points at the Cup level. He, previously, won the Nationwide title.

Celebration of Keselowski's fourth win of the season. (Photo: NASCAR)

Johnson, who won the pole, led a race-high 171-laps, at the two mile oval only to lose the lead and the race with 35 laps to go when Keselowski's Dodge beat him out of the pits.

“Overcame some adversity through or practice sessions, sat on pole, led a lot of laps today, fell some on pit road, race strategy, you name it, we had a very, very solid day. Of course we would have loved to have won the race, but we'll take second and go on,” said Johnson who drove a Chevrolet.

At the time Keselowski exited the pit lane Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, objected to Keselowski, apparently, reentering the track before the blend line. NASCAR officials reviewed tapes of the incident and concluded no violation occurred.

Kasey Kahne took home third place. “It just was a little bit to keep up with Jimmie, and then when Brad came up there later on and they were just better than I was throughout that race.” said Kahne.

Kyle Busch, who is not in the Chase, was the highest placed Toyota driver in fourth.

Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski leading the pack during a restart. (Photo: NASCAR)

Other Chasers suffered like Jeff Gordon who hit the wall with stuck throttle on lap 188 dropping him to 35th place and likely done with a bid for a fifth title. “I just let off the throttle, and it just didn't come all the way back," Gordon said as his crew tried to repair the car. "It was probably about half-throttle, which is still enough to do a lot of damage.”

Then 2003 champion Matt Kenseth had a right rear shock absorber fall off, causing a lengthy repair he finished 18th.

The most serious setback came to Denny Hamlin who came into the Chase as the first seed. He ran out of fuel on the last lap dropping him from 8th to 16th.

Tony Stewart, who finished sixth, is third eight points behind Keselowski. Greg Biffle had the best finish for a Ford driver in 13th.

The final round of this year's FIA GT1 World Championship, which was stage to be held in New Dehli, India will finally take place at Donington Park, UK.

The final round will be presented September 29-30 as part of the last rounds of the British GT Championship.

This decision means that every round of the GT1 World series have been presented in Europe, as the Argentinean and Brazilian rounds were also removed from the schedule.

Photo: Donington Park

The solar park constructed for the Sauber F1 Team in Hinwil by premium partner Oerlikon is now on stream after being officially opened Monday.

It is one of the largest solar car ports in Switzerland. The construction, consisting of 1,573 technically advanced and aesthetically appealing thin-film silicon photovoltaic modules, stretches over an area measuring 2,249 square metres. A roof of one of the factory buildings has been fitted with solar modules and large sections of the company's car park are now covered, which brings a number of benefits.

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

It took just six weeks to construct the solar park thanks to the innovative and cost-efficient way the modules are fitted. The installation delivers 155,600 kilowatt hours of power per year - equivalent to the electricity needs of 44 households - and generates peak power of 173 kWp*. The energy payback time for the thin-film silicon solar modules is less than a year.

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

"We are extremely proud of this sustainable extension to our company headquarters," says CEO Monisha Kaltenborn. "For us, local power genSeration via a photovoltaic installation not only represents another contribution to fulfilling our environmental responsibilities, it also makes financial sense. The installation is cost-efficient and also allows a large number of vehicles to be parked under cover. On top of that, it fits in well visually with our factory as a whole, which is already highlighted by the modernistic glass architecture of the wind tunnel building's façade."

The impact of the installation in terms of sustainability is clear - and neither can it be ignored by anyone passing by the Hinwil factory on Zürichstrasse. A display panel shows information on the system's current output and the energy produced both on that particular day and in total so far.

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

The solar park represents Sauber Motorsport's third major step of 2012 in terms of environmental protection. On 3rd April the Sauber Group's environment management system was awarded ISO 14001 certification and since 3rd May this year the Sauber F1 Team has been greenhouse gas neutral; the team supports a wind park project in India which saves more in greenhouse gas emissions than the Formula One team generates (overcompensation: 30 percent).

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

*One 1 kWp system in this geographical location produces approximately 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year and covers a surface area of around nine square metres. This equates to roughly a fifth of the annual electricity consumption of a local four-person household.

From GMM

Christian "Toto" Wolff on Monday admitted he hopes Pastor Maldonado stays with Williams in 2013.

Venezuelan Maldonado, although winning in Barcelona earlier this year, has been a highly controversial figure on the 2012 grid.

Bringing millions in backing to the famous British team, the 27-year-old is often fast and impressive, but he has also been involved in numerous on-track incidents.

Wolff, the team's shareholder and new executive director, insisted Maldonado is "extremely fast".

"Yes, he seems to struggle in some situations in the race," he also admitted to F1's official website.

Pastor Maldonado, Williams. (Photo: WRi2)

Toto Wolff, however, said he is "100 per cent sure" Maldonado will smooth off the hard edges.

"Remember Ayrton Senna in the beginning? Nobody wanted to touch him," he said. "In those days there weren't many grid penalties, but had there been he would probably have had to go back 10 places on the grid many times."

Wolff said Maldonado will "hopefully" be a Williams driver in 2013.

But what about Bruno Senna? The Brazilian already gives up his car to the Wolff-managed Valtteri Bottas on Friday mornings, and the young Finn is tipped to get a full race seat next year.

Wolff said it is "too early to say" if both of Williams' drivers will still be with the Grove based team in 2013.

"Sure, we are taking different looks at the issue, but the minute we discuss it we are going to mess up Pastor and Bruno - and maybe others that we try talking to - so I would give it another month before we are going to have the first idea of what we want," he said.

2013 Honda Accord First Impressions

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2012 Hyundai Accent GLS Hatchback Review

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I once owned a Taurus wagon. It was the mid-'90s and my new ride was a 1994 version of Ford's exceptionally popular full-size Taurus. Back then, the Taurus was considered quite advanced for a modestly priced, domestic product.

My ‘94 was equipped with a fuel-injected V6 engine, fully independent suspension and 4-wheel antilock disc brakes. It also had traction control and front-wheel drive. Moreover, the Taurus was somewhat futuristic in appearance, making it quite distinct from the typical sheet metal of the era.


I think it's fair to say that since launching in 1986, the Taurus has been an innovative, milestone vehicle for Ford that has also greatly influenced the domestic mid- and full-size segments, leading to vastly improved products. The prodigy is maintained in the latest generation, and further emphasized in the muscular SHO version.

Mid-cycle refresh for 2013
While the SHO (Super High Output) version of Ford's 2013 Taurus largely retains its stealthiness, it's now more easily recognized thanks to its blacked-out grille, series-specific high-intensity discharge headlamps and painted, machined-alloy wheels.

I find the distinction between the regular Taurus and its “bad boy” SHO alter ego to be just about perfect. Those “in the know” recognize an SHO from blocks away, while those less SHO-aware see it as a hot-looking, full-size sedan. I can assure you of this: Regardless of which group the admirer belongs, they'll want to know more about the car. So here goes.

We distinguish the SHO of the regular with its blacked-out grille and the series-specific high-intensity discharge headlamps. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

SHO delivers astounding performance
The core of a Taurus SHO is its firepower, which comes in the form of Ford's much lauded DOHC V6 EcoBoost powerplant. It displaces 3.5 litres while generating 365 hp at 5,500 rpm and 350 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm, thanks largely to its twin turbochargers.

Those would be impressive figures for a high-output V8 engine, so it's even more sensational to see a V6 hitting such benchmarks. The next best set of numbers apply to fuel economy. It's posted as 8.1L and 12.4L/100km of city and highway driving respectively.

My daily city-based SHO sojourns failed to reach those economy thresholds, as I found myself regularly in the 14L/100km range. I'm sure that my use of the shift paddles to control the 6-speed automatic transmission contributed, in part, to the less-than-posted results; however, really, a 365-horsepower Taurus SHO isn't the sort of vehicle you hypermile (save that for the Prius).

Much of the delight in driving the Taurus SHO is found beneath the right foot, where power is in abundance both off the line and in the passing lane. And it's in the left lane where the SHO really shows its mettle. Passing performance is outstanding and a real attribute of this vehicle, but certainly not the only one.

The core of a Taurus SHO is its firepower, which comes in the form of Ford's much lauded DOHC V6 EcoBoost powerplant. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

The Taurus SHO is also remarkably stable, regardless of road or weather conditions, thanks to its all-wheel drive (AWD) configuration and 19” or optional 20” wheels. Ford beefed up the brakes as well by revising booster tuning and increasing the size of the front rotors.

They've also incorporated torque vectoring control to augment the torque-sensing AWD system on the Taurus SHO. Torque-vectoring control applies subtle, wheel-specific braking to optimize the performance of the SHO's limited-slip differential.

Ford also improved the SHO's electrically assisted power steering for 2013 to enhance road feel and responsiveness. And frankly, the car excels in this regard. It devours corners with levels of composure and control that completely belie its size and considerable bulk; but there's a price to pay for such exceptional handling capability.

Ride quality may be too firm for some and the MSRP too steep for others
The Taurus SHO would benefit from an adaptive, or driver-selectable, suspension setup. It's a firm-riding car that some may find too rigid for everyday city driving. Yes, the sport-tuned underpinnings are ideal on the highway and on twisty secondary roads, but not so much in the city if comfort is a priority.

Of course, adaptive/adjustable suspension systems are costly and I don't imagine Ford wants to go there; the 2013 Taurus SHO is already a pricey domestic. My tester was pegged at $52,099 before destination and delivery charges.

In fairness, though, it's considerably less expensive than the Audi A6 quattro, and puts more power to the pavement than the German competitor.

My tester was pegged at $52,099 before destination and delivery charges. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Taurus SHO wrap-up
The 2013 Taurus SHO is without doubt a great looking performance sedan that's loaded to the gills with hi-tech content, cutting-edge safety, and plenty of occupant protection. It's a large, spacious, highly responsive “driver's car.” Could it be better? I think so.

While the sport-tuned SHO suspension keeps the car flat and tenacious in corners, it tends to deliver too much abruptness to the vehicle's cabin. A more sophisticated setup capable of better road-degradation absorption without compromising the exceptional handling dynamics would enhance this car's day-to-day livability and, by extension, its overall appeal.

From WRC

Jari-Matti Latvala has done something he hadn't managed for 217 days when he claimed victory on Wales Rally GB this afternoon, his first in the FIA World Rally Championship since Rally Sweden seven months and four days ago.

Co-driven by Miikka Anttila, Latvala took the lead on Friday's third stage and gradually pulled clear at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, reaching the finish in Cardiff with an advantage of 27.8s.

Photo: WRC

Sebastien Loeb beat Latvala's factory Ford team-mate Petter Solberg in a thrilling fight for second place, although the Citroen driver's sequence of wins - which dates back to Philips Rally Argentina at the end of April - is now over.

Behind fourth-placed Mads Ostberg, who was hampered throughout the final day by an engine misfire, Mikko Hirvonen fought back from a frustrating rally to win the event-closing Power Stage. The result means only Loeb and Citroen team-mate Hirvonen can fight for the WRC drivers' title on the final three rounds.

Frenchman Loeb's capture of second came after an epic scrap with Solberg with the pairing swapping position on three occasions on the final day. Solberg started the last stage 0.1s ahead but was unable to prevent Loeb from moving in front.

Final classification:
1. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) in 3.03'40”3
2. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 27”8

3. P. Solberg-Patterson (Ford Fiesta WRC) + 28”7
4. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 1'10”6
5. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 1'29”5

6. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 3'37"0

7. Neuville-Gilsoul (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 4'11”9

8. Wilson-Martin (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 6'00"4

9. Prokop-Hruza (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) + 6'58”9
10. Al-Attiyah-Bernacchini (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 9'32”1
Etc.

Championship:
1. Loeb 219 points, 2. Hirvonen 158, 3. P. Solberg 119, 4. Ostberg 114, 5. Latvala 113, etc.

As the auto industry's first-ever concept car, the 1938 Buick Y-Job pioneered hidden headlights and other never-before-seen design elements. Now, more than 70 years later, manufacturers keep driving innovation to new heights with cutting-edge prototypes such as the smart forstars.

Motivated by a 60 kW magneto-electric motor from the smart BRABUS electric drive, the zero-emission smart forstars can reach a top speed of 130 km/h. Larger than the fortwo, it also screams for attention with a full glass roof and ''alubeam rouge'' (red) body paint.

However, the most amazing feature of the smart forstars is a Bluetooth-controlled video projector built in the front hood. Combined with additional loudspeakers in the ventilation openings behind the doors, occupants can watch movies on any blank wall for a unique drive-in theatre experience.

The smart forstars will make its world debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, which kicks off on September 29th.

Photo: smart

From GMM

Peter Sauber insists he is not worried about the future, despite intense speculation surrounding his Swiss team's 2013 driver lineup.

The impressive Mexican Sergio Perez has been linked with moves to Ferrari or McLaren, while speculation suggests Kamui Kobayashi's place could be in danger due to the well-funded Charles Pic's solid debut for struggling Marussia.

"It's not for nothing that the Brits call this time of year 'silly season'," Sauber wrote in the Swiss newspaper Blick. "Journalists' crazy imaginations can tend to run away."

"From our side there is nothing new on the subject. The situation has remained unchanged for weeks, we are not under time pressure and will announce our drivers for 2013 in due course. There is no deadline. The fact is, the interest in our team is very big," said Sauber.

Sauber drivers, Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Indeed, the Hinwil based camp has been impressive this year with its Ferrari-powered C31; Perez finishing on the podium three times so far.

The usually mid-grid team, meanwhile, has already scored more than double its 2011 points tally.

"Quite a few experts predicted we would suffer a mid-season drop," Sauber explained, "because they assumed that we would be unable to keep up with the rate of development of our competitors. Actually, the opposite has happened: we are stronger now than we were at the beginning of the season. I am convinced that the clearly upwards trend is no accident, but the direct result of our entire organisation."

"Many experts were surprised when we announced our new structure without a technical director," said Sauber, referring to the departure early this year of James Key. "I heard more than once that it (having no technical director) is impossible, but our results say otherwise."

The Canadian Auto Workers union said it will focus bargaining efforts on Ford Motor Co. because it believes it has the best chance of reaching an agreement with the company before a strike deadline tomorrow.

A territorial dispute between China and Japan worsened as Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said he'll demand the Chinese government ensure the safety of Japanese citizens, thousands protested in Chinese cities and Toyota and Panasonic reported damage...

First Look: Lexus LF-CC Concept

Want a sneak peek at the next Lexus IS? Look closely.

Want a sneak peak at the all-new Lexus IS sedan that’s supposed to launch next year? You’re in luck: the Lexus LF-CC concept, which debuts next week at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, is essentially just that.

Photo Gallery: First Look: Lexus LF-CC Concept - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: Lexus LF-CC Concept - Automobile Magazine

First Look: Lexus LF-CC Concept | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Robert Kubica and team mate Gerder Jakub escaped unhurt from a crash in the Rally San Martino di Cartozza aboard their Subaru Impreza WRC.

During the shakedown on Friday, the Pole already went off but with no damage for the car, and was able to be back on the road to take the start on Saturday.

In the ESS9, his Subaru went off, before hitting a tree. Nobody was injured in the accident.

Kubica's Subaru, after the crash.

It was hard not to feel conspicuous, gliding down the main street of this working-class Ontario town in a $209,000 luxury sedan worth more than the cost of an entry-level home. The 2012 Panamera Turbo S doesn't exactly scream "ostentatious luxury" - it's more of a golf-whisper - but it attracted plenty of attention and comments during my week-long test drive.

And yet, not once did I encounter any resentment, nor derision towards a car that's provoked its share of both from media and German sports-car fans alike. For some reason it's in vogue among the more cynical of the automotive press to slam the Panamera, while the un-jaded see only a beautifully crafted luxury sedan with plenty of presence.


The 4-door Porsche
When first introduced in 2010, the Porsche Panamera drew clamourous objections from devoted Porschephiles the world over. The very anathema of what established Porsche as one of history's finest builders of pure sports cars, the Panamera was not only a four-door, it was large, heavy and - gasp - replete with cosseting, weight-adding luxury. Pundits dismissed its unusual styling as awkward and ugly.

But, such an impassioned response proves the strength of devotion among the disciples of Zuffenhausen. Perhaps, considering that expanding the lineup to attract deep-pocketed buyers of luxury sedans can only help offset the costs of producing limited production, extreme sports cars. The consolation is that there's a now a choice for the brand-conscious status seeker, leaving the raw driver's machines to the enthusiasts.

Certainly, the Panamera has proved a huge success with the well-heeled demographic, who've snapped up enough of them to make the plush four-door the top-selling Porsche in several markets - and No. 3 here in Canada. And this one, the top-spec Panamera Turbo S, has proclaimed itself the world's best-performing four-door.

Moving off, the Panamera feels extremely large, and it takes a few minutes to get accustomed to its width and length. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Polarizing powerful Porsche
At first glance, the Panamera Turbo S appears a lot like an oversized and stretched 911 coupe. The front three-quarter view presents a beautifully proportioned sedan, particularly lush in my tester's rich chocolate brown. It's only when viewed from the side that any claims of ungainliness are justified: the roofline does not flow smoothly through the bulbous arc of the rear hatch. Pushing the button that deploys the jaunty rear spoiler (in itself a fascinating exercise of technical origami) offsets the large rear end rather nicely.

Speaking of which, the "S" badge fixed to that rump defines this Panamera as one of Porsche's specially tweaked turbo models. Underhood (yes, another buck against its usually rear or mid-engined tradition) is the same 4.8L V8 found in the regular Turbo model - but the turbos and engine controller have been modified to squeeze out an extra 50 hp and 37 lb-ft of torque (which rises to 74 with "over boost" engaged). The final specs are 550 hp/553 lb-ft, with a rather stupefying 590 lb- ft. of twist during over boost.

If those numbers leave you feeling giddy, the $41,800 premium above the regular Panamera Turbo will have a cold sobering effect. But for that price, Porsche throws in as standard a host of features only available as options on the rest of the lineup. The Turbo S boasts the Sports Chrono package with launch control, a torque vectoring rear differential, Dynamic Chassis Control anti-sway system, and of course the Porsche Active Suspension Management System, or PASM, with settings that firm up the air suspension and lower the car by 25 mm.

The final specs are 550 hp/553 lb-ft, with a rather stupefying 590 lb- ft. of twist during over boost. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Regal interior, rapid performer
The interior of the Panamera S is a very fine place to be. My tester's cockpit is a study in fragrant butterscotch hides culled from plump Austrian cows. The headliner is soft, creamy suede; the dash, console and steering wheel are wrapped with hand-stitched leather. The console itself is festooned with buttons, at first confusing but quickly becoming intuitive. My personal favourite is the one for exhaust enhancement, transforming the mellow burble into a surprisingly raunchy bark.

Moving off, the Panamera feels extremely large, and it takes a few minutes to get accustomed to its width and length.

Does it feel like a 911? Of course not. But the AWD Panamera is surprisingly balanced for such a big car. The ride is creamier, yet without wallow. Switch on sports mode and the hardened-up suspension combined with the tympanic thrumming of the low profile tires remove all illusions of soft civility. The throttle mapping adjusts the marvellous 7-speed PDK transmission shifts to machine-gun rapidity.

The speed-sensitive steering is lighter than that of its sports-oriented brethren and while it might not be as talkative as that of the Cayman R or Boxter, still provides plenty of feedback.
Despite the stupefying amount of power on tap, it's doled out in such a beautifully civilized, linear progression that it's startling to find the speedometer has crept into the big ticket zone.

The 1,995 kg sedan effortlessly sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, which makes the optional $10,100 Ceramic Composite brake package seem like good insurance.

The console itself is festooned with buttons, at first confusing but quickly becoming intuitive (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

The posh Porsche
Although its prodigious display of power is certainly spine-tingling and thrilling, the Panamera Turbo S is equally satisfying when driven slowly. Effortless and easy come to mind. As a cruiser, it's majestic.

More expensive than competitors Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, or Audi S8 and more polarizing than either, the Panamera Turbo S is also faster and more agile.

As for its looks - beauty is entirely in the eye of the beholder.

This 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

Martin Whitmarsh makes contacts with the Mexican driver and Carlos Slim to explore a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton.

Simple pressure or real "plan B"? The Daily Mail reports that Lewis Hamilton is more and more close to Mercedes. Team McLaren team appears to be preparing to departure of the 2008 world champion.

The British team wants to reduce the revenues of Hamilton, while Mercedes AMG is ready to pay 74 millions Euro over three years, plus bonus for victories.

Luca di Montezemolo claimed last week that Sergio Perez is too young and in experimented to drive for Ferrari. On his end, Martin Whitmarsh praises the performance and the maturity of the Sauber driver.

Sergio Perez is reportedly free for 2013, for now, even the Ferrari Academy to which he belongs, has no option on him.

Sergio Perez celebrating his 2nd place at Monza, with Sauber team. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Carlos Munoz may have won the Firestone Indy Lights season finale at Fontana but, in the end, the star of the day was Tristan Vautier who won the 2012 championship battle.

Munoz took over the lead of the race right from the start when his Andretti team-mate and polesitter Sebastian Saavedra saw his car suffering a mechanical problem and had to retire before the end of the first lap.

David Ostella, who was part of the lead pack all thru the race took second, 0.6 seconds behind Munoz.

Tristan Vautier, 2012 Indy Lights champion. (Photo: IndyCar)

With 10 laps remaining, Esteban Guerrieri passed Tristan Vautier for third but, still, in order for him to move in front of Vautier for the championship crown, he had to fight his way to second place.

But, soon enough, Guerrieri found out that Ostella was extending his lead over him and that he had no chance of getting around him in the final laps. The Argentinean had to settle for third.

Vautier finished fourth, earning the championship in his rookie season. Victor Carbone completed the top 5.

Indy Lights Fontana Results - 50 laps:

Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Carlos Munoz Andretti 37m38.3281s
2. David Ostella Moore + 0.6344s
3. Esteban Guerrieri Schmidt + 3.3394s
4. Tristan Vautier Schmidt + 6.8818s
5. Victor Carbone Schmidt + 8.2987s
6. Stefan Wilson Fan Force + 12.2089s
7. Bruno Palli Juncos + 12.4233s
8. Oliver Webb Schmidt + 12.8229s
9. Mike Larrison Belardi + 34.6025s
10. Juan Pablo García Jeffrey Mark + 35.0477s
11. Gustavo Yacaman Moore + 1 lap

Retirements:
Peter Dempsey Belardi 15 laps
Jorge Goncalvez Belardi 6 laps
Sebastian Saavedra AFS/Andretti 0 laps

Toyota claims his maiden win in World Endurance Championship as the TS030 Hybrid driven by Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre take win in the Sao Paulo Six Hours.

After they started from pole position, Wurz and Lapierre dominated the race, that they led from start to finish. The Toyota pulled away in front when the Audi R18 Hybrid had an anticipated pit stop, but the german prototype get closer again when the Toyota lost time during his first pit stop.

Finally, Wurz was able to pull away in front again with a performant double stint, and the Toyota won the race after a impressive performance. Only a late pit stop from the Japanese car allow the Audi Hybrid to move back to the leading lap. The Audi R18 Hybrid takes second place ahead of the Audi R18 Ultra, who lost any chance of finishing second when Tom Kristensen had a spin.

Photo: Toyota Racing

The Rebellion Lola Toyota was the first of the “petrol” cars, while the LMP2 class was dominated by the Starworks' HPD Arx.

The AF Corse Ferrari won the GTE Pro class, and the Larbre Corvette C06 was the first car of the GTE Am class.

Final classification:
1 - Wurz-Lapierre (Toyota TS030 Hybrid) - Toyota - 247 laps in 6h01'08"356 (1er LMP1)

2 - Fassler-Lotterer-Treluyer (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi - 1'00"778
3 - Kristensen-McNish-Di Grassi (Audi R18 ultra) - Audi - 1'14"679

4 - Prost-Jani (Lola B12/60-Toyota) - Rebellion - 5 laps

5 - Leventis-Watts-Kane (HPD ARX03a-Honda) - Strakka - 7 laps
6 - Belicchi-Primat (Lola B12/60-Toyota) - Rebellion - 7 laps

7 - Potolicchio-Dalziel-Sarrazin (HPD ARX03b-Honda) - Starworks - 13 laps (1er LMP2)
8 - Perez Companc-Minassian-Kaffer (Oreca 03-Nissan) - Pecom - 16 laps

9 - Brabham-Chandhok-Dumbreck (HPD ARX03a-Honda) - JRM - 17 laps
10 - Nicolet-Lahaye-Pla (Morgan-Nissan) - OAK - 17 laps
(...)
16 - Fisichella-Bruni (Ferrari 458) - AF Corse - 26 laps (1er GTE Pro)
(...)
20 - Bornhauser-Canal-Rees (Corvette C6) - Larbre - 31 laps (1er GTE Am)
Etc.

In a race won by Ed Carpenter, who had been one of its principal leader all thru the night, Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay won the 2012 IndyCar championship in one exciting race presented at the 2-mile oval in Fontana.

As it had been the case in at least the two previous seasons finale, Will Power (Penske) was unable to hold his own and dramatically crashed on lap 54. Still, in order to win the championship, Hunter-Reay had to finish at least in sixth.

Ironically, Power dropped the rear of his car and crashed into the safer barrier at the same time he was passing Hunter-Reay who was fortunate not to be caught up in the accident also.

Team Penske managed to patch-up Power's car and send him back on the track to get in more points. For the Australian, it was not an easy task driving his car around the track. With 60 laps down, Power managed to do an extra 12 laps to gain a position.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2012 IndyCar Champion. (Photo: IndyCar)

Hunter-Reay now needed to finish fifth rather than sixth to secure the crown.The Andretti Autosport driver was able to climb to fifth when Alex Tagliani (BHA) suffered an engine failure.

During a restart after an unusual red flag caused by the crash of Tony Kanaan, Hunter-Reay found himself under pressure from Scott Dixon, who he let past, and Takuma Sato, who he battled for a couple of laps before the Japanese driver lost control and crashed on the second-last lap, sealing Hunter-Reay's triumph by moving him up to fourth and bringing the race to an end.

Carpenter took the race followed by Ganassi's Dario Franchitti. Dixon completed the podium ahead of Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves (Penske).

IndyCar event Fontana Results - 250 laps:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy 2h57m36.6565s
2. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 1.9132s
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 2.6091s
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 3.0477s
5. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 4.1933s
6. Graham Rahal Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 5.4381s
7. Takuma Sato Rahal Dallara-Honda + 1 lap
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 1 lap
9. Katherine Legge Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 1 lap
10. Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 1 lap
11. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 2 laps
12. James Jakes Coyne Dallara-Honda + 2 laps
13. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 3 laps
14. Wade Cunningham Foyt Dallara-Honda + 4 laps
15. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 4 laps
16. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 6 laps
17. Ryan Briscoe Penske Dallara-Chevy + 6 laps
18. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 10 laps*
19. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR Dallara-Chevy + 19 laps

Retirements:
Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda 229 laps
Sebastian Saavedra AFS/Andretti Dallara-Chevy 118 laps
Rubens Barrichello KV Dallara-Chevy 107 laps
Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda 80 laps
Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy 66 laps
EJ Viso KV Dallara-Chevy 65 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM Dallara-Lotus 16 laps

* Not running at finish

Bruno Spengler takes his third victory this season, and the third win for his team BMW, in the 8th round of the DTM championship presented at Oschersleben.

The Canadian driver, who set the pole position, stayed in front from lights to flag, excepted during his pit stops, holding the pressure from championship leader Gary Paffett (Mercedes), who was right in his mirrors during the race.

Photo: DTM

Paffett takes second place behind Jamie Green (Mercedes), who lost second position in championship classification behind Spengler, but stays in good position in classification.

Robert Wickens, the other Canadian in the DTM, takes 7th position aboard his Mercedes C Coupé.

Gary Paffett still leads championship classification, but Bruno Spengler now stands 11 points behind the Brit with two races remaining.

Final classification:
1 - Bruno Spengler (BMW M3) - Schnitzer - 51 laps in 1h12'09"607
2 - Gary Paffett (Mercedes C-Coupé) - HWA - 0"629

3 - Jamie Green (Mercedes C-Coupé) - HWA - 15"512
4 - Dirk Werner (BMW M3) - Schnitzer - 22"311
5 - Augusto Farfus (BMW M3) - RBM - 24"423
6 - Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A5) - Phoenix - 26"940
7 - Robert Wickens (Mercedes C-Coupé) - Mucke - 33"737

8 - Mattias Ekstrom (Audi A5) - Abt - 34"631
9 - Filipe Albuquerque (Audi A5) - Rosberg - 42"943
10 - Timo Scheider (Audi A5) - Abt - 44"852
Etc.

Championship:
1. Paffett 127 points ; 2. Spengler 116 ; 3. Green 108 ; 4. Rockenfeller 75 ; 5. Mortara 74 ; 6. Tomczyk 69 ; 7. Ekstrom 66 ; 8. Farfus 29 ; 9. Vietoris 24 ; 10. Scheider 19, etc.

Jimmie Johnson's campaign for a sixth Sprint Cup got off on the right foot winning the pole at Chicagoland at a speed of 182.865; his 27th career pole. 

Yet after winning the pole at the 1.5 mile oval he wasn't overly emotional,” said the five-time Chjampion “It's too early in the Chase to be over-the-top excited or down-and-out if you didn't qualify like you wanted to today. Qualifying makes the race so much easier for you. You know you're pit stall is going to be right and clearly track position at the start of the race is going to be in your favor. It's not a ‘must' to win the race or be a threat for the championship but again it just makes life so much easier.”

Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet Impala. (Photo: NASCAR)

In contrast Johnson's teammate, NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., might have gotten off on the wrong foot when he over-revved his engine after qualifying fourth. That required an engine change which will send him to the back of the 43-car grid for the start.

Earnhardt's crew chief, Steve Letarte, said “Yes, we have to change the engine and go to the back of the field. I don't think we are super concerned. We had a great car in practice and qualified really well so we showed we have good speed. Fortunately, this is a race track that there are multiple pit strategies and it's not a really simple straight forward pit strategy to call. I think there will be a lot of opportunities to use our good pit stops and place on pit road to get back towards the front.”

Aric Almirola, a non-Chase driver, was second fastest in a Ford at 182.636mph.

This week his RPM team swapped crew chiefs. Almirola got Todd Parrott and Marcos Ambrose got Mike Ford.

Matt Kenseth, will start third in a Roush Fenway Ford at 182.334 mph, while another non-Chaser, Carl Edwards was fifth fastest.

Other Chasers fared moderately well with Kasey Kahne (sixth), Denny Hamlin (eighth), Clint Bowyer (ninth), Brad Keselowski (13th). Others did not with Martin Truex Jr. (18th), Jeff Gordon (19th), Greg Biffle (22nd), defending Cup champion Tony Stewart (29th) and Kevin Harvick (35th).