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From GMM

Tickets for the first US grand prix in Austin later this year appear to be selling exceedingly well.

The local American Statesman newspaper is reporting that the Circuit of the Americas organisation is considering adding more grandstands due to the unexpectedly high demand.

"We have experienced incredible demand for reserved grandstand seating tickets, and customers have quickly purchased our available inventory," public relations vice-president Julie Loignon confirmed.

She said most of the tickets that went on sale a week ago have been sold.

The first US grand prix since 2007 is scheduled for mid November.

Ganassi's Dario Franchitti, who won the Milwaukee Mile event last year, took pole for the 2012 edition of the famed oval IndyCar race that will be presented this Saturday.

The Scottish driver seemed surprised himself by his pole after having quite a bit of difficulty in finding the good settings during the early practice sessions.

Texas race-winner Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) came in second with an average speed of 168.287 mph but will have to start from 12th after having been penalized for an unauthorized engine change.

Therefore, Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay will start alongside Franchitti on the front row.

KV Racing's Rubens Barrichello, also benefiting from a similar penalty to Penske's Will Power is third followed by Power's teammate Helio Castroneves.

Besides Power, who is now 14th, Scott Dixon (Ganassi) was also penalized and will line up five places behind him.



Qualifying results* - IndyCar (Milwaukee)

1. Dario Franchitti (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 168.737 mph (271.556 kmh)
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 167.911

3. Rubens Barrichello (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 166.899
4. Helio Castroneves (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 166.763
5. EJ Viso (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 166.066

6. Tony Kanaan (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 165.915

7. Simon Pagenaud (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 165.369

8. James Hinchcliffe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 165.312

9. Marco Andretti (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 164.893
10. JR Hildebrand (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Panther - 164.321
11. Graham Rahal (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 164.198

12. Justin Wilson (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 168.287**

13. Alex Tagliani (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Herta - 163.866
14. Will Power (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 167.361**

15. Katherine Legge (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 163.516
16. James Jakes (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 162.020
17. Josef Newgarden (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Fisher - 166.699**
18. Charlie Kimball (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 161.079
19. Ryan Briscoe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 166.031**

20. Oriol Servia (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - D&R - 160.375
21. Scott Dixon (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 165.726**
22. Ed Carpenter (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Carpenter - 160.308

23. Simona de Silvestro (Dallara DW12-Lotus) - HVM - 160.115
24. Takuma Sato (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 165.285**

25. Mike Conway (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Foyt - 159.794**


*Unofficial timing

**10-place grid penalty for engine change

From GMM

One of F1's new owners has bought even more of the sport, it has emerged.

Amid expectations last month that the Singapore floatation was going ahead, the US based asset managers Waddell and Reed, and others, bought a $1.6 billion stake in the formula one business from existing owners CVC.

Reuters and Sky News are now reporting that Waddell and Reed has lifted its new stake by $500 million, to almost 21 per cent.

CVC, having cut its stake from 63 per cent to 42 per cent, confirmed the news.

The news follows F1's plans to delay its stock market floatation due to market turmoil.

History/Description: Bringing a healthy dose of reliable performance, owner satisfaction and luxury to the premium sedan segment, the last-generation Lexus GS gave machines like the Mercedes E-Class, Acura TL and BMW 5 Series a serious run for their money.

2006 Lexus GS (Photo: Lexus)

Available from 2006 to 2011 inclusive, a new model has been introduced for 2013, so there is no 2012 model. The last-generation GS has now moved fully into used-car territory, and will be the focus of this review.

With six or eight-cylinder power, available all-wheel drive and a laundry list of luxury features and technologies bundled into various packages, finding a GS ideal for your needs, lifestyle or budget in the used market shouldn't be an issue. Horsepower ranged between 245 and 342, depending on the year and engine selected.

Feature content included navigation, a Mark Levinson stereo system, climate controlled leather seats, a sunroof, push-button start, xenon lights, Bluetooth and plenty more.

What owners like: A sumptuous cabin, overall comfort, performance, styling and a long list of gadgets are all enjoyed by Lexus GS owners. A smooth, quiet ride and high-quality, solid feel round out the package. Citing happiness with older Lexus models, many GS owners are repeat customers.

What owners dislike: Road noise and premature wear from the factory tires, dashboard rattles and some unintuitive controls are among the most common owner complaints.

Common issues: The Lexus GS looks to be a fairly solid performer as a used luxury car buy, but a few checks should be considered mandatory.

First, ensure all cabin electronics work as expected - triple checking proper operation of the climate control, navigation, stereo and motorized seats. These components will be expensive to repair or replace if they fail.

Check the condition of the factory tires, and listen for any brake ‘squeal' as you stop. A major complaint of the GS is squeaky brakes, which could be the result of improper pads or excessive brake dust. Having the brakes serviced is likely to fix this problem.

Have a Lexus mechanic check the condition of the vehicle's suspension while it's in the air on a hoist, looking for worn-out bushings or other issues. A check for fluid leaks is also ideal.

Note that a faulty oil line on earlier models with the 3.5L V6 engine could lead to oil ‘starvation' at startup when the engine is cold - which could result in a loud, clattering ‘metal on metal' noise from within the engine.

2008 Lexus GS (Photo: Lexus)

Continue reading 2006-2011 Lexus GS Pre-Owned

Car fans had been waiting for it for a little while now: the third-generation RS 4 can, from this week on, be ordered from Audi. First deliveries should take place this fall in Europe.

This version offers 450 horsepower out of a 4.2L FSI V8, 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, and an impressive 1430 L cargo space.

Photo: Audi

On the outside, you spot the 10-spoke, 19-inch wheels and the fact the body has been lowered 20 mm from the normal A4. As far as options go, you can get ceramic and carbon fibre brakes or the Sport package, which includes, among others, a sporty exhaust system - boosting the engine note - and some 20-inch aluminium or titanium-look alloy wheels.

The whole inside is black, except for the roof line, which can come in optional silver. You can also get Audi Connect, which facilitates navigation through Google Earth, Google Street and Audi's online traffic information. It also allows occupants to connect their cellphone to internet.

Price for this third-generation RS 4? £54,925.

The Ford F150 pickup will join the lineup of municipal edition vehicles. It's not just the

Audi chose Le Mans weekend to unveil the newest and sportiest model in the Q5 range.

Just in time for the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, RM Auctions has announced that it will be offering a

Tom Kowaleski, a veteran public-affairs executive, has joined Lincoln as its interim PR team leader, a Ford spokesman said today. Kowaleski, who once headed General Motors' communications staff, most recently worked at BMW of North America.

Chrysler Group canceled a Saturday overtime shift at its minivan assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, due to parts shortages. The company didn't disclose which parts were in short supply.

A group representing General Motors' salaried retirees has sharply criticized GM's plan to replace their pensions with an annuity handled by an insurance company.

Also in this episode: The starting grid is set for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mini refuels the

Hyundai has priced two new variants of its hot-selling Elantra -- a two-door coupe and five-door hatchback -- at under $20,000. The Elantra sedan is Hyundai's second highest-volume nameplate, with U.S.

Revolutionary new Ford B-MAX supermini-MPV goes head-to-head with the Vauxhall Meriva

2012 Honda Pilot 4WD Touring

Hondas and Acuras typically feel smaller and nimbler than their competitors. The Pilot should have the same virtue.

Hondas and Acuras typically feel smaller and nimbler than their competitors. The Pilot should have the same virtue. It weighs a relatively svelte 4608 pounds (a Chevrolet Traverse, by comparison, checks in at 4956 pounds), and it rides on the same basic platform as the Acura MDX, one of the best-driving crossovers on the market. And yet, for a company that does not sell a body-on-frame truck, Honda sure has managed to inject an old-school SUV flavor into the Pilot. That's not a good thing. The heavy, slow steering and the large, boxy shape make the Pilot feel larger and heavier than it actually is. Even Honda's trusty 3.5-liter V-6, usually a silky engine, wheezes a bit here as if under constant stress.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Honda Pilot 4WD Touring - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Honda Pilot 4WD Touring - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2012 Honda Pilot 4WD Touring | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Fixed-penalty fines could rise by 50 per cent, according to a proposal by Government ministers

The United States is considering action against auto parts imports from China and closely examining other concerns about automobile trade with the world's second largest economy, a top trade official said today.

The name Travis Pastrana may ring a bell if you are less than 30 years old and into action sports.

Some of the highlights from this year's Cholmondeley Pageant of Power

The 2013 BMW Alpina B7, the performance version of the German automaker's