Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/07/12/martin-whitmarsh-im-not-going-to-get-carried-away/
Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert
Saturday
Martin Whitmarsh: ?I?m not going to get carried away??
Martin Whitmarsh insists that McLaren?s improved form in Germany was not purely a result of the change in tyre specification for that weekend – but he accepts that there’s still a long way to go before the MP4-28 is a … Continue reading
2013 Sachsenring MotoGP Saturday Press Releases
Press releases from the MotoGP teams and Bridgestone after qualifying for Sunday's German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring:
Round Number:
8 Year:
2013 
Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi
Dacia Logan 2013
the second generation test The second generation Dacia Logan weighs just 1,059 kilos, which allows you to average consumption pretty tight. The Dacia Logan 2013 surprised by the step forward that has occurred in regard to the design. Now looks like a current car, something that his predecessor could not boast. First test passed. Once [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/497-dacia-logan-2013.html
Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
Warped Wednesday: The reason for no roof flap penalties
Welcome to Warped Wednesday. On this, we'll put out the rush to judgment mat, go a little too far and have a little fun. Will it be funny? Sometimes. Will it be crazy and largely unbelievable? Probably. Will not everyone get it? Definitely. That means this isn't real.
Maybe NASCAR's decision to not penalize the 16 Sprint Cup teams (and 15 Nationwide teams) that it confiscated roof flaps from didn't have anything to do with competitive advantages and everything to do with Jimmie Johnson?
Warped sources exclusive to Warped Wednesday have said that Johnson's performance this season factored exclsuively into the decision that NASCAR made not to penalize teams for machining down the roof flaps to reduce their weight.
Why? The sanctioning body didn't want to see Johnson's points lead grow any larger.
Johnson's currently ahead of second-place Clint Bowyer by 49 points -- or one more than Johnson scored for winning Saturday night's race and leading the most laps. His lead over third-place Carl Edwards is 71 points. Both of those drivers had roof flaps confiscated before practice on Friday. Johnson didn't.
NASCAR has long been seen in the eyes of many to be in the corner of Johnson and the No. 48 team, and penalizing the teams directly behind him could have been more ammunition for the tinfoilers' holsters. According to NASCAR's loop data, Johnson's average running position is 6.5, a full position ahead of second place Kevin Harvick. Plus, he's tied for the series lead in wins -- a number that could be three higher.
He doesn't need NASCAR's help, and the sport realizes this. Besides, there are only two people whose domination would be fruitful for the sport and their first names start with "D". That's why this no-call, coupled with the restart penalty at Dover, is an opportunity to show that Johnson and team are just that damn good even if the playing field is tilted slightlyagainst them.
Friday
Allan Simonsen dies from injuries suffered during crash at 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 34-year-old Dane was making his seventh start in the iconic race. Driving the No. 95 Aston Martin Vantage, Simonsen crashed in the Tertre Rouge corner of the Circuit de la Sarthe at Le Mans, France.
"The driver was immediately attended on the scene by the doctors from the Automobile Club de l?Ouest?s Medical Service," an official statement from the race organizers said.
"In a serious condition, Allan Simonsen was transferred immediately to the Circuit Medical Centre where he died soon after due to his injuries.
"Allan Simonsen?s family has been informed immediately by David Richards, Principal of the Aston Martin Racing team."
After starting first in the LM GTE Am class, Simonsen's car appeared to snap loose on the damp and slick track, then immediately turned back to the left has he corrected and slid into a steel barrier.
The race continued behind a safety car for almost an hour following the crash while the barrier was repaired. A tree sits behind the barrier where Simonsen crashed and the impact from the guardrail sheared bark off the tree.
�
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Police ID cause of deadly Jason Leffler crash
? Power Rankings: Jimmie Johnson leads a familiar cast
? Daytona International Speedway plans major redesign
Craziest Moment: Paulie Harraka runs into Alex Kennedy before they leave pit road
We've all had mishaps while leaving our driveways. Maybe you've knocked a rear-view mirror off on the side of the door. Maybe you've run over a trash can on the side of the street. Maybe you've started to leave your garage before the door's gone up or you've even run into another car in the driveway.
Paulie Harraka had one of those moments Sunday. It's just that his came on pit road before officially making the first Sprint Cup Series start of his career.
Harraka, making his 16th NASCAR series start, was set to start 40th on Sunday at Sonoma, just behind Alex Kennedy, who was also making his first Cup Series start. As the field made its way off of pit road to start the pace laps before the race, David Reutimann slowed to a stop in front of Kennedy. So Kennedy did the same.
Harraka didn't until it was too late and attempted to swerve to the left. That too, was futile, and he plowed into the back of Kennedy, bashing in the front of his car and damaging the rear of Kennedy's.
Both cars immediately returned to pit road for repairs, and Harraka was forced to start the race without much of the front of his car because of the severity of the damage. Bizarrely, they weren't the only two drivers with issues before the race even started. Jacques Villeneuve spent extended time on pit road with a transmission issue and Bobby Labonte had to go to the garage before he even took to the track after his car leaked oil on pit road.
And if the incident on pit road wasn't bad enough, Harraka had an issue between turns one and two on lap 7 and brought out the first caution of the day. He ended up completing 89 laps and finished 39th.
Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy
Power Rankings: Kenseth ascends to the top spot
It's time for Power Rankings! After every race, we'll opine about who we think is at the top of the Sprint Cup heap and how and why they got there. Remember, this isn't scientific, as our formula is the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. So let's get on with it, shall we?
7
1
1
Lucky Dog: Zoolander! Nice second place run by Jamie McMurray. Must have been the mayonnaise on the car.
The DNF: Brad Keselowski, it's you again. But it's not your fault because there's nothing you could have done after Kurt Busch made his foray onto the apron. Alas, Keselowski's slide through the standings continues. He's now 13th.
Dropped Out: Tony Stewart.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Brad Keselowski may not get chance to defend his title
? Matt Kenseth gets the breaks, wins at Kentucky
? Kurt Busch gets into Brad Keselowski, triggers pileup
Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti
Q-Type Jaguar and XQ
The Tata-owned manufacturer has just recorded the names Q-Type Jaguar and XQ in the European Union, as published by Carscoop. This could indicate two things: one, that the brand has decided to take over in case names, and other than the first Jaguar SUV could be on the way. For now, the brand has denied [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/501-q-type-jaguar-and-xq.html
Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels
Thursday
Welcome to May!
Welcome to May Welcome to the official opening day Social Media Garage live blog on a chilly day at the Greatest Race Course in the World. We?re starting a bit late due to the ridiculously chilly weather today but … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/welcome-to-may/
Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
Christian Horner: ?I don?t think you can discount anybody?
Christian Horner says that Red Bull feared that Kimi Raikkonen would be able to hang onto the lead in Germany by not making a third pit stop – an alternative outcome that Kimi himself pondered after the race. In the … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/07/08/christian-horner-i-dont-think-you-can-discount-anybody/
Felipe Massa stays ahead
Felipe Massa set the fastest time of the Q2 session at the Nurburgring, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso, while Sebastain Vettel, Romain grosjean, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Dan Ricciardo, Nico Hulkenberg and Jenson Button went through to Q3. The session saw Nico Rosberg, Paul di Resta, Sergio Perez, Esteban Gutierrez, Adrian Sutil and […]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/felipe-massa-stays-ahead/
Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich
Matt Kenseth benefits from clean air and a Johnson spin to win at Kentucky
Matt Kenseth said he thought crew chief Jason Ratcliff was "slightly crazy" when he didn't want to take tires on the team's final pit stop during Sunday's Quaker State 400.
As it turned out, slightly crazy was the winning move.
Kenseth stayed out front over the race's final two restarts and got some help from Jimmie Johnson's misfortune to get his series-leading fourth win of the season in the rain-delayed race at Kentucky Speedway.
Johnson had dominated the majority of the race leading 182 laps, and he and crew chief Chad Knaus elected, along with most of the field, to take two tires when the caution flag flew for Brian Vickers' crash and tire failure. It seemed inevitable that it was going to be the No. 48 and not the No. 20 that was heading for win No. 4.
Because of how good Johnson's car was, Kenseth and Ratcliff knew that sitting fourth as the cars came to pit road, they weren't going to beat Johnson for the win if they took two tires also. So Ratcliff went the crazy route, banking on Kenseth getting out into the lead and taking advantage of the bountiful clean air.
"I didn't roll the dice, Jason did," Kenseth said in victory lane. "I thought he was slightly crazy when it happened."
The short pit stop put Kenseth in the lead for the restart with Johnson to his inside. He drove ahead of the five-time champion as the two headed towards turn one, and Joey Logano dove to Johnson's inside on turn one. That meant Johnson was in the middle of the track to the inside of Kyle Busch and when he was in the middle three-wide, Johnson's car snapped around on him. He went from 2nd to 22nd.
Over his radio, Johnson felt that Kenseth slowed down unnecessarily as he led the field to green. However, replays showed that there was no accordion-effect through the field behind Kenseth from any brake checking. Bluntly, it simply looked like Kenseth got a great jump on Johnson. (Yes, you may be having Dover flashbacks.)
After Johnson's spin, Kenseth was at the point for another restart with 17 laps to go. After briefly holding off a charge from Clint Bowyer for the first lap of green, the strength of the clean air overrode the weakness of Kenseth's old tires, and he ultimately beat Jamie McMurray to the finish line by a second for his third 1.5 mile track victory of the season.
We'll point it out for re-emphasis: The Chase features five 1.5 mile tracks. Will the No. 20 team's adeptness through the first half of the season carry over? Ratcliff noted that the team's three previous wins made going for the win a good gamble.
"I knew if we could get Matt in position he'd make a good fight at it," Ratcliff said. "And he did. Thankfully we got a couple of good restarts there and once he got out front and got rolling -- (McMurray) was coming, there were some good cars behind us there -- but that was going to be our only shot to get it done today."
Outfitted with fresh tires after looping his car around, Johnson charged through the field to finish ninth. That push, along with Carl Edwards' late fade to 21st, meant that Johnson extended his point lead to 38 points.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Power Rankings: Matt Kenseth dislodges Jimmie Johnson
? Brad Keselowski may not get chance to defend his title
? Kurt Busch gets into Brad Keselowski, triggers pileup
Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa
Wednesday
Peugeot RCZ R
At the 2012 Paris Auto Show, Peugeot unveiled the 2012 RCZ R Concept - a preview of the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot’s extensive history. Now, one year later, the production version will make its world debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The model will also be displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013 and will be put on sale early in 2014.
With its new turbo engine, the new RCZ R is the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot’s extensive history. It comes equipped with lots of elements developed by Peugeot Sport and with an interior inspired by the aviation.
The new RCZ R is not only the most powerful model in the RCZ lineup, but also when compared to the current range-topping model - the RCZ THP - it is about 37 pounds lighter and will deliver one of the best fuel economy ratings in the segment.
Click past the jump to read more about the new Peugeot RCZ R.
Peugeot RCZ R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 10 July 2013 14:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/peugeot/2013-peugeot-rcz-r-ar157569.html
Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler
Peugeot RCZ R
At the 2012 Paris Auto Show, Peugeot unveiled the 2012 RCZ R Concept - a preview of the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot’s extensive history. Now, one year later, the production version will make its world debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The model will also be displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013 and will be put on sale early in 2014.
With its new turbo engine, the new RCZ R is the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot’s extensive history. It comes equipped with lots of elements developed by Peugeot Sport and with an interior inspired by the aviation.
The new RCZ R is not only the most powerful model in the RCZ lineup, but also when compared to the current range-topping model - the RCZ THP - it is about 37 pounds lighter and will deliver one of the best fuel economy ratings in the segment.
Click past the jump to read more about the new Peugeot RCZ R.
Peugeot RCZ R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 10 July 2013 14:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/peugeot/2013-peugeot-rcz-r-ar157569.html
Ferrari pledge support for struggling Massa | 2013 F1 season
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo gave his backing to driver Felipe Massa after another disappointing performance in Germany.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/07/10/ferrari-pledge-support-for-struggling-massa/
A Ramble on Tires, Push and the Future
As the season reaches the halfway point the future of indycar is starting to look quite bright. Something as simple as an in-depth look at the odd link between downforce, pushy racecars and tires, a bone of contention in their … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/a-ramble-on-tires-push-and-the-future/
Tuesday
German Grand Prix: Winners & Losers
Round nine is over, and Germany has once again supplied drama and excitement. Now the dust has settle, we look at the best and worst performances. CLICK HERE TO REVEAL THE WINNERS & LOSERS
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/0igGTw_FLNc/german-grand-prix-winners-losers-2
What Did We Learn At Daytona? Nothing.
If you read or hear any media member say this week that Jimmie Johnson is on his way to a sixth title, or that Danica Patrick is a contender, or that the Gen 6 car needs to be tweaked, know one thing: they don’t have a clue. Did Jimmie win the 500? Yes. Did Danica [...] 
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/Tq3m8hayrAA/
Monday
Roberto Cavalli shows us his vision of the MINI Paceman
Roberto Cavalli, one of the most famous fashion designers in the world, today announced a MINI Paceman literally unique, a creation that has been undertaken to work closely with designers and engineers from the very MINI. The model was presented at an event in Vienna this same weekend, just hours before this MINI Paceman so [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/482-roberto-cavalli-shows-us-his-vision-of-the-mini-paceman.html
Warped Wednesday: Carl Edwards wanting to run armored car at Daytona
Welcome to Warped Wednesday. On this, we'll put out the rush to judgment mat, go a little too far and have a little fun. Will it be funny? Sometimes. Will it be crazy and largely unbelievable? Probably. Will not everyone get it? Definitely. That means this isn't real.
Carl Edwards has spent the last month searching for ways to avoid a repeat of Speedweeks when the Sprint Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway this weekend and he thinks he's found the solution. But will NASCAR allow him to use it?
Edwards' troubles at Daytona actually started in January when he was involved in a crash during testing. They intensified in February when he was in crashes in the Sprint Unlimited, and during practice, his Budweiser Dual and the Daytona 500. In all, Edwards was involved in five Daytona crashes.
What's the plan for the Coke Zero 400? Edwards has worked with crew chief Jimmy Fennig to install armored plates in his car in lieu of the foam that normally sits just inside the body of the car in addition to steel bumper frames. Ideally, that armor would prevent the chassis of the car from being damaged if Edwards is caught up in another crash. It wouldn't prevent body damage, but we've seen that cars with body damage can still compete in the draft at Daytona.
If you believe that things even themselves out over time, Edwards should get through this race weekend unscathed. However, he and the team aren't certain of that because of how horrible their luck was earlier in the year.
Would this car pass inspection? That's the big question. Though Edwards and Fennig hope that by making the armor the same weight as the foam that usually lies there, the car won't tip the scales at any heavier than it would normally, not tipping off NASCAR officials. And if it does? Well, it could be worth the risk. Dark times call for drastic measures.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Power Rankings: Matt Kenseth dislodges Jimmie Johnson
? Brad Keselowski may not get chance to defend his title
? Jimmie Johnson's loss is Matt Kenseth's gain
Sebastian Vettel: ?I?m just incredibly proud today??
Sebastian Vettel finally won his home Grand Prix in Germany after holding off the challenge of Kimi Raikkonen in the closing laps. It was also his first win in July, an unusual statistic that has followed him around in recent … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/07/07/sebastian-vettel-im-just-incredibly-proud-today/
Sunday
Denny Hamlin wins Dover pole, continues his impressive return from injury
So it looks like Denny Hamlin's season might not be the toast we all assumed it was after he vacated the #11 for four races because of injury.
Hamlin secured his third pole of the season on Friday afternoon at Dover. That's fine work for a guy just weeks removed from a broken vertebra in his back.�What's even more impressive is that Dover is one of Hamlin's worst tracks. He has an average finish of 19.6 in Dover; only Daytona and Sonoma have been more inhospitable. Still, he got around the Monster Mile at 22.788 seconds, for a speed of 157.978 mph.
The trick for Hamlin now is winning a race or two. He appears near-certain to work his way back into the top 20; he's 53 points out of the top 20 with 14 races left to close that gap. In the two races he's finished since his return, he's come in second and fourth. We thought it'd take Hamlin until 2014 to get back into Chase competition; now it looks like he'll be there by Independence Day.
Hamlin will be joined at the front of the pack by three other Toyotas: Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Jamie McMurray round out the top 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start 12th, and points leader Jimmie Johnson will start 24th.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Danica Patrick admits she was angry at boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. over wreck
? Slideshow: Danica Patrick's looks outside of the track
? Should Indy adopt NASCAR rule?
Craziest Moment: Ryan Newman spins David Gilliland and gets himself collected
If Ryan Newman wanted to send David Gilliland a message, consider that message delivered. However, it wasn't delivered optimally.
Newman tagged Gilliland in the left rear as the two were exiting turn two on lap 300 of Sunday's race at Dover, and the bump sent Gilliland into the wall on the backstretch. However, Gilliland bounced off the wall and careened towards the inside of the track and collected Newman as he slammed into the inside wall.
The two cars came to a rest near each other and Gilliland climbed out first and ambled over to Newman's car, where the two drivers had an animated conversation while Newman unbuckled from his car and took off his helmet. Once Newman was out of the car, the discussion continued until it was clear that the two were going to agree to disagree and Gilliland tossed his HANS device towards his car and walked off.
Newman declined to be interviewed after exiting the infield care center. Gilliland's point of view? Well, he was pretty straightforward saying that Newman "wrecked us." What did he say to Newman afterwards?
"What were you thinking? The 7 car (Dave Blaney) was holding me up," Gilliland said. "We were going, we both had race cars, we were racing each other and it was way too aggressive."
Carl Edwards locks keys in car, still wins pole in Michigan
Carl Edwards has won his first pole via qualifying in more than a year, but not without a bit of nerve-wracking pre-qualifying drama.
Early Friday, a few hours before qualifying began, Edwards went for a run and locked his keys in his rental car. What to do? The rental car company was no help. After some scheming and plotting, Edwards and his PR agent found a local used-car dealership, coaxed out a mechanic who had a few coathangers and a crowbar, and broke into the car.
"It kept my mind off the stress of qualifying," Edwards laughed. "It was a little adventure. Jimmy (Fennig, crew chief) says I should go running more often. If he had known how close I was to not making it back I don?t think he would say that.?
So who was this mysterious savior-with-a-crowbar who helped one of NASCAR's finest drivers break into a car? "I don?t want to call the guy out," Edwards said. "I mean he did use a crowbar to break into the car. I didn?t ask him how he knew how to do that so well."
The irony of a NASCAR driver being unable to drive wasn't lost on Carl. "I am just furthering the belief that drivers can?t take care of themselves," he said with a wry grin. "I have people coming to help me all the time, so that isn?t good."
Once he actually drove his company car, Edwards turned a lap of 202.452 mph at Michigan International Speedway, taking his first pole on speed in 49 races and setting himself up as the man to beat in Sunday's Quicken Loans 400. Michigan is one of Edwards' best tracks; he's won twice and finished in the top 10 a career-best 13 times there.
"I'm happy with that lap," Edwards said after his qualifying. "I don?t think I could go any faster if I ran it again."
Fortunately, he doesn't need to. He'll start on the front row alongside Kurt Busch, who's had an impressive recent run of speed. Busch has started first or second in four of the last six races. Rounding out the top five are Kasey Kahne, Paul Menard and Aric Almirola. Other notables: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 12th, Tony Stewart 14th, Jimmie Johnson 17th.
"To be second, that?s qualifying, now we?ve just got to step into the race and that?s where we?ve got to close the deal," Busch said. "We haven?t been as strong as we?ve needed to be in the last section of the race, like after the last pit stop or with two pit stops to go, that?s where we have to find a little bit more improvement. But otherwise, these Furniture Row guys are phenomenal, and we?re knocking on the door.?
Michigan repaved the track in time for the start of the 2012 season, and drivers indicated that the dreaded "new track feel" is starting to fade.
"It's just going to continue to get better," Martin Truex Jr. said. "Last year, there was times you just felt like you were along for the ride. It was hard to do anything with what you had. ... Hopefully, the groove will widen out. It's pretty narrow right now."
"The new track is super fun to race on," said Edwards, not missing a chance to ladle out the praise. "The pavement seems like it has aged more in a year than a lot of new track surfaces have and hopefully we can keep developing a Goodyear tire and keep making it softer and softer to where it becomes the old Michigan here in a year or two. I think that is going to be awesome.?
Edwards joked that even though he's started on the pole several times this season, this would be the first one to actually count for next year's Sprint Unlimited race. (Others were via rainout.)
"There are a few things I like about racing at Michigan," Edwards said. "The first is that it is the site of my first Sprint Cup start, a huge day for me personally. I will never forget when they said ?Gentlemen, start your engines.? That was one of the most emotional moments I?ve ever had in a race car."
And fortunately, you can't lock your keys in an NASCAR car.
-Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee.-
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Rick Hendrick slams Brad Keselowski after criticism
? Autopsy reveals Jason Leffler died of neck injury
? Happy Hour: The good and bad of TNT's race coverage
Into the Crystal Ball? 500 Miles To Go Edition
A 500 mile race in indycar racing, and especially the Indy 500, is an endurance test packaged as a sprint race. There is literally no time to think during this race, only time to allow ones instincts to make the … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/1408/
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