Car Sports Review: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Ferrari 458 Italia completes tests at Daytona

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Aston Martin reverts to old LMP race car for 2011

Formula One: Lewis Hamilton fastest for McLaren in Hungary practice

Formula One practice Hungary Lewis Hamilton.

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Lewis Hamilton posted a time of 1 minute, 21.018 seconds in Hungarian Grand Prix practice on Friday.

By ADAM COOPER on 7/29/2011

Formula One looks set for another close race in Hungary this weekend after McLaren and Ferrari topped the times during Friday's practice sessions.

Last year, Red Bull Racing dominated qualifying in Budapest, but first impressions this weekend indicate that the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix could produce a quiet different result.

Lewis Hamilton topped both sessions for McLaren-Mercedes, beating Fernando Alonso by 0.241 second in the faster afternoon practice session. Teammate Jenson Button was third in that session, emphasizing that McLaren has found some pace here.

Mark Webber was the fastest Red Bull Racing driver in fourth, despite losing time with a crash in the first session.

The 2010 Budapest winner ran wide and spun into the barrier on the opposite side of the track, ripping the front wing off of the car. He missed the remainder of the session but said he and his crew are still up to speed.

"My mistake, I got on the damp kerb," said Webber. "In fact, on the Astroturf, we've seen a few of those the last few years. Drivers still don't learn. They still go out there and try and push. So I clipped the Astroturf and hit the barrier, but fortunately only the front wing was damaged.

"We recovered pretty well this afternoon, got a lot of mileage in; the car ran well. Obviously it's a pretty tricky venue for tires, and there's lot of information to go through."

Webber said he was not surprised to see McLaren and Ferrari ahead of Red Bull at the end of the day.

"They're certainly performing pretty well, as they have done in the last few events," he commented. "It's no big surprise that they're doing decent lap times. It's a race between all of us."

World champion Sebastian Vettel was second quickest in the morning but only fifth in the afternoon, while Felipe Massa was sixth in both sessions for Ferrari.

Behind the top three teams it was very much two-by-two. Mercedes GP led the chase, with Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher taking seventh and eighth, respectively, in both sessions. Force India was the fifth-best team, as Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil finished in ninth and 10th, ahead of the Sauber-Ferraris of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Pérez 11th and 12th.

Bruno Senna had his first outing of the year in the first practice session, replacing Nick Heidfeld at Renault. He finished the session in 15th before handing the car back to the German.

PRACTICE TIMES

1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, 1 minute 21.018 seconds, 29 laps

2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:21.259, +0.241, 40

3. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:21.322, +0.304, 34

4. Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing-Renault, 1:21.508, +0.490, 35

5. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing-Renault, 1:21.549, +0.531, 31

6. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:22.099, +1.081, 40

7. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, 1:22.121, +1.103, 36

8. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP, 1:22.440, +1.422, 36

9. Paul Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, 1:22.835, +1.817, 40

10. Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, 1:22.981, +1.963, 37

11. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber-Ferrari, 1:23.030, +2.012, 34

12. Sergio Pérez, Sauber-Ferrari, 1:23.399, +2.381, 37

13. Rubens Barrichello, Williams-Cosworth, 1:23.679, +2.661, 34

14. Nick Heidfeld, Renault, 1:23.861, +2.843, 28

15. Pastor Maldonado, Williams-Cosworth, 1:24.181, +3.163, 39

16. Jaime Alguersuari, Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:24.182, +3.164 26

17. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, 1:24.546, +3.528, 21

18. Sébastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:24.878, +3.860, 35

19. Jarno Trulli, Lotus-Renault, 1:24.994, +3.976, 38

20. Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus-Renault, 1:25.447, +4.429, 39

21. Timo Glock, Virgin-Cosworth, 1:26.823, +5.805, 33

22. Jerome D'Ambrosio, Virgin-Cosworth, 1:27.261, +6.243, 28

23. Daniel Ricciardo, HRT-Cosworth, 1:27.730, +6.712, 31

24. Tonio Liuzzi, HRT-Cosworth, 1:28.255, +7.237, 25

Formula One: Austin Grand Prix moving to November 2012 as part of calendar shuffle?

Saturday, July 30, 2011

NASCAR: Travis Pastrana out of Nationwide Series race with broken foot and ankle

NASCAR: Kenseth and Biffle lead Brickyard 400 practice at Indianapolis

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Jeff Gordon rolls out of Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday for practice for Sunday's NASCAR race.

By AL PEARCE on 7/29/2011

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Fords of Roush Fenway Racing showed well in both of Friday afternoon’s Sprint Cup practice sessions at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Matt Kenseth led the first 90-minute session and teammate Greg Biffle led the second as teams began preparations for Sunday afternoon’s 18th annual Brickyard 400.

Kenseth led the opening session at 181.203 mph. Toyota drivers Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin were second and third, Kahne at 181.178 mph and Hamlin at 181.050 mph. Roush Fenway teammates Carl Edwards (180.658 mph) and David Ragan (180.404 mph) rounded out the top five.

Kurt Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, defending race champion Jamie McMurray, four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton were sixth through 10th. The slowest five were Scott Wimmer, former series champion Terry Labonte, Mike Bliss, Robby Gordon and rookie Andy Lally.

Sunday’s 160-lap race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the first since Hendrick Motorsports announced that crew chief Kenny Francis would come along when Kahne moves to the No. 5 Chevrolet next year. Kahne and Francis work together at Team Red Bull this year and it’s been generally accepted that Francis will stay with Kahne when he replaces Mark Martin next year.

"I’ve always wanted to work for Hendrick Motorsports and I think anyone who gets into this deal has seen that," Francis said on Friday. "I'm 40 years old, so I remember when I was a kid [Geoffrey] Bodine was driving the No. 5 and [Tim] Richmond was driving it, and I used to watch on TV and think 'man that would be cool to be associated with that one day.' Then the company grew and became the preeminent company in this sport, so it's really an honor to be associated with it and I'm looking forward to it."

Biffle, who ran his car in race rather than qualifying trim, led the second session at 178.310 mph. Martin Truex Jr. in a Toyota was second at 178.172 mph, then Jimmie Johnson in a Chevrolet at 177.669 mph, Casey Mears in a Toyota at 177.289 mph and Kevin Harvick in a Chevy at 177.249.

Edwards, Joey Logano, David Reutimann, Jeff Burton and Brian Vickers completed the top 10 in the second session. Travis Kvapil, Wimmer, Dave Blaney, David Gilliland and David Stremme were the slowest five. Hamlin had an issue in the second session and will now start from the rear of the grid on Sunday because of an engine change.

Teams get a final 90-minute practice session Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. Eastern, then qualify at 2:10 p.m. Sunday’s race on ESPN is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m.

NASCAR: Timothy Peters spins to win Truck Series race

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Timothy Peters leads the field during Friday night's Camping World Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis.

By AL PEARCE on 7/29/2011

Toyota driver Timothy Peters used his own spin and resulting caution period to make a critical pit stop that helped him win Friday night’s AAA Insurance Camping World Truck Series 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Clermont, Ind. It was Peters’ first Truck Series win this year and third of his career, after Martinsville in 2009 and Daytona Beach in 2010.

When Peters spun at lap 91, crew chief Butch Hilton gave him four fresh tires and a full load of fuel. The race was green the last 106 laps--an unprecedented, perhaps record-setting stretch at the track--giving Peters just enough time to rally back toward the front. He passed leader James Buescher (who was in fuel-conservation mode) at lap 195 and easily led the rest of the way, winning by 2.645 seconds.

Buescher, who led twice for 97 laps, finished second, with David Starr, Miguel Paludo and four-time series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. rounding out the top five. Matt Crafton, Joey Coulter, Cole Whitt, pole-winner Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain completed the top 10. Points leader (by only four) Johnny Sauter led once for 44 laps, but a flat right-front tire and subsequent suspension damage left him 23rd among the 34 starters.

Buescher (97 laps) led the most, then Sauter (44), Dillon (the first 36), Parker Kligerman (twice for 16) Peters (the last six) and Bodine (once for one) were the only lap leaders.

Dillon was on the verge of a top-five finish and perhaps the points lead when Bodine wrecked him on the last lap. Dillon called the former two-time champion "an idiot" and Bodine didn’t disagree, saying the accident was strictly his fault.

"He has a right to be mad," Bodine said after his lap-down 12th-place finish. "I just didn’t see him over there. It was my fault all the way."

The race may have been the last in the foreseeable future for the Truck Series at the popular. 0.686-mile bullring. NASCAR is moving its annual Brickyard 400 weekend Nationwide Series race to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year. Most series watchers expect NASCAR to also pull its trucks from Lucas Oil Raceway instead of going back for an 18th consecutive year.

TOP 10 FINISHERS

1. Timothy Peters, Toyota

2. James Buescher, Chevrolet

3. David Starr, Toyota

4. Miguel Paludo, Toyota

5. Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet

6. Matt Crafton, Chevrolet

7. Joey Coulter, Chevrolet

8. Cole Whitt, Chevrolet

9. Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

10. Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

POINTS LEADERS

1. Johnny Sauter, 453

2. Austin Dillon, -4

3. James Buescher, -20

4. Timothy Peters, -22

5. Cole Whitt, -29

6. Matt Crafton, -38

7. Parker Kligerman, -46

8. Joey Coulter, -50

9. Ron Hornaday Jr., -52

10. Todd Bodine, -70

Next event: Aug, 6, Pocono, Pa.

Formula One: Hamilton wins German Grand Prix; Vettel only fourth:

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Lewis Hamilton won the Grand Prix of Germany on Sunday at the Nurburgring.

By ADAM COOPER on 7/24/2011

Lewis Hamilton on Sunday scored a brilliant victory for McLaren in the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring on a day when Red Bull Racing's dominance was finally challenged. In fact, the battle for victory came down a fight between Hamilton and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

Red Bull's Mark Webber started from pole position, with Hamilton alongside and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel in an unusually low third place at his home race. Ferrari again showed good form, with Alonso fourth and Felipe Massa fifth.

The race was dry after heavy rain on Sunday morning, though a few drops of water fell as the cars sat on the grid before the start. The biggest problem was the low track temperature, which put a premium on getting the tires to work effectively, especially at the start and after pit stops.

Webber appeared to bog down at the start, and Hamilton surged into the lead. Behind him, Alonso made an aggressive move on Vettel and managed to take third place. On the second lap, however, Alonso ran wide, allowing Vettel back into third place.

The Spaniard regained the spot with another great move into turn one at the start of lap eight. Vettel's challenge for the podium then faded when he had a spin, and he could never quite find the speed he needed to get back on terms with those ahead.

Meanwhile at the front, Hamilton ran ahead of Webber, the Aussie pushing hard but unable to find a way past. He nearly made it by at the start of lap 13, and when it didn't quite happen he became the first of the leaders to pit, coming in on lap 14. Hamilton stayed out for an extra three laps on his old tires and, when he came in, Webber jumped ahead.

Alonso joined them to make it a fabulous three-car battle, and it was clear that everything would depend on how the rest of the stops played out. Webber was the first to come in for a third set of options, stopping on lap 30. Hamilton went one lap longer and just managed to get out ahead. Alonso did one further lap and briefly emerged in the lead, only for Hamilton, on warmer tires, to get back past. However, Alonso had demoted Webber to third, and thereafter he became Hamilton's main challenger.

The key to the race was the compulsory change to the medium-compound tire, which was significantly slower. Hamilton pitted first, and his new mediums proved to be more competitive than Alonso's old options, although it was close. Hamilton thus stayed ahead when the Ferrari driver pitted.

Webber dropped away from the two leaders in third stint, taking a gamble by staying out longer on his prime rubber. Massa and Vettel waited until the last possible opportunity--the start of the last lap--before pitting, and when the Ferrari crew had a glitch, Vettel jumped ahead to claim fourth and useful points for his championship campaign. It was the first time all year he finished worse than second.

Adrian Sutil did a great job to take sixth for Force India, beating the Mercedes GP pair of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher. The final points went to Kamui Kobayashi and Vitaly Petrov. Jenson Button was recovering well from a bad start when he retired with a hydraulic problem.

Results

1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, 1 hour, 37 minutes, 30.334 seconds

2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, +3.980s

3. Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing-Renault, +9.788

4. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing-Renault, +47.921

5. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, +52.252

6. Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, +1:26.208

7. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, +1 lap

8. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP, +1 lap

9. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber-Ferrari, +1 lap

10. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, +1 lap

11. Sergio Pérez , Sauber-Ferrari, +1 lap

12. Jaime Alguersuari, Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, +1 lap

13. Paul di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, +1 lap

14. Pastor Maldonado, Williams-Cosworth, +1 lap

15. Sébastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, +1 lap

16. Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus-Renault, +2 laps

17. Timo Glock, Virgin-Cosworth, +3 laps

18. Jérôme d'Ambrosio, Virgin-Cosworth, +3 laps

19. Daniel Ricciardo, HRT-Cosworth, +3 laps

20. Karun Chandhok, Lotus-Renault, +4 laps

Not Classified:

--Vitantonio Liuzzi, HRT-Cosworth, 44 laps (electrical)

--Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 42 (hydraulics)

--Rubens Barrichello, Williams-Cosworth, 23 (oil leak)

--Nick Heidfeld, Renault, 10 (crash)

Drivers' Championship Standings After 10 of 19 Races

1. Vettel, 216

2. Webber, 139

3. Hamilton, 134

4. Alonso, 130

5. Button, 109

6. Massa, 62

7. Rosberg, 46

8. Heidfeld, 34

9. Schumacher, 32

10. Petrov, 32

Constructors' Championship Standings

1. Red Bull Racing-Renault, 355

2. McLaren-Mercedes, 243

3. Ferrari, 192

4. Mercedes GP, 78

5. Renault, 66

6. Sauber-Ferrari, 35

7. Force India-Mercedes, 20

8. Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 17

9. Williams-Cosworth, 4

Next: Hungary, July 31 (7:30 a.m. Eastern, Speed)

Short-Track Roundup: Shaffer and Blaney take wins; Saldana released from hospital; more:

Tim Shaffer and Dale Blaney (shown) split $15,000 wins this weekend.

By MIKE KERCHNER on 7/24/2011

The Outlaw Trail

It was a busy week on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series trail, beginning with the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Pennsylvania's Lernerville Speedway. Tim Shaffer and Dale Blaney split $15,000 wins, but Shaffer earned the event trophy based on his second-place finish in the race he did not win.

From there, it was on to Williams Grove Speedway, where Greg Hodnett won on Friday night, leading into Saturday's Summer Nationals. Defending series champion Jason Meyers claimed his first victory at the legendary Pennsylvania half-mile oval and banked $20,000 for his 49th career victory.

Meyers left Williams Grove trailing four-time series champion Donny Schatz, who finished third Saturday, by a single point.

Saldana Goes Home

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series driver Joey Saldana on Thursday was released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Saldana, who was injured badly in a crash during the July 16 Kings Royal sprint-car race at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Ohio, was cleared to return home after a chest tube--which had been inserted into his body to inflate a collapsed lung--was removed.

Saldana also suffered a broken right arm, which required two plates and 25 screws to repair, and three broken ribs.

Saldana has been replaced by Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Brad Sweet.

What Vacation?

While most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers took advantage of the off-weekend on July 23-24 to travel to exotic locations, several went short-track racing. Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne each raced sprint cars, with Kahne escaping unhurt from a wild crash Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, Kyle Busch ventured to Maine to go asphalt late-model racing. Busch won Saturday night's Pro All-Stars Series late-model event and was the favorite to win the prestigious 38th annual TD Bank 250 Sunday afternoon at the three-eighths-mile track. Busch followed up the 150-lap triumph on Saturday by winning Sunday's 250-lap event in his familiar black No. 51 late model.

Money Man

Don O'Neal, who banked $100,000 earlier this summer for winning The Dream dirt-late-model race at Eldora Speedway, added another $25,000 to his bank account Saturday night, claiming the inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.

NASCAR Touring

Darrell Wallace Jr. collected his second NASCAR K&N Pro Series victory of the season Saturday night at Ohio's Columbus Motor Speedway. It was the fourth career triumph for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program driver.

Meanwhile, Scott Steckly earned his 10th NASCAR Canadian Tire Series win.

Other Winners

Points leader Jason Johnson swept a pair of ASCS Lucas Sprint Car Series features Friday and Saturday night at Oregon's Cottage Grove Speedway . . . Veteran NASCAR modified driver Ted Christopher stepped into a supermodified and won the International SuperModified Association feature at New York's Airborne Park Speedway . . . Tim McCreadie and Shane Clanton collected World of Outlaws Late Model Series wins . . . Bryan Clauson led all 30 laps in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series event at Macon (Ill.) Speedway.

F1: Lewis Hamilton surprised by victory at German Grand Prix:

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Lewis Hamilton was surprised by his victory at Germany.

By ADAM COOPER on 7/24/2011

Lewis Hamilton says that even McLaren can't say for sure exactly where its winning form came from in Germany.

Hamilton qualified second and scored a superb victory after jumping into the lead at the start, although he had to fight off Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso along the way.

“We didn't really think we would be so fast, and [we're] not quite sure what we've done because we've not really brought much here,” said Hamilton. “I don't know if it's the conditions. I think we were competitive in Montreal, and in Monaco and in Valencia; in hot temperatures, we are less competitive. We obviously went to Silverstone with the rule changes, which was a big problem for us, and then, we come back here to where we were, really, in cool conditions.

“I think we're there or thereabouts, but I do still feel that the overall performance of the two guys here, particularly the Red Bulls', is slightly better than ours. You can see this weekend, I was quickest in the first sector and the last sector, but we lose a lot in the middle sector, and that's because we don't have a DRS, [drag-reduction] system, as efficient as theirs, so I think that we will lose at least half of those four tenths in the middle sector.

“If we can improve in that area, then I think we could definitely eke ahead of them, so that's what we need to work on.”

Hamilton said that the German win would be a big boost to the team: “I think days like this definitely pay off more than you could imagine, and being able to have close races--this was a great race in the sense that there was Mark, me and Fernando all within a tenth of each other, lap after lap after lap, and it was about real perfection, and it was about really not making mistakes.

Hamilton also had kind words for Sebastian Vettel: “You can't expect him to be perfect all the time. He's won a huge amount of races from the end of last year into this year. It's easy for everyone to criticize him, just from one race, but he's been exceptionally consistent for a long time. For whatever reasons, I'm sure he will bounce back, he will be very quick at the next race, and I think it's maybe a one-off.”

IndyCar: Will Power gets back to winning ways at Edmonton:

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Team Penske driver Will Power takes a winner's leap at Edmonton.

Published on 7/24/2011

Will Power got 18 of his Canadian points back in the Izod IndyCar Series.

Power got knocked out of the Toronto race earlier this month, costing him valuable points toward the championship. He finished 24th.

Sunday, he got part of the points back at the new circuit at City Centre Airport by winning the Edmonton Indy.

Power might have gotten more of them back had championship leader Dario Franchitti, the winner of the past two season titles, not rallied to finish third. Franchitti got pushed back to ninth place in a mid-race accident involving his Ganassi Racing teammate, Scott Dixon, but he did what he normally does in these tight situations.

That means the separation is 37 points heading to the Aug. 7 race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Power's win also allowed him to avenge last year's disappointment here, when Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves blocked him entering what was then turn one. That win went to Dixon.

Castroneves finished a season-best second on Sunday. The margin of victory was 0.8086 second.

Sunday's race was a festival of contact before a crowd estimated at 25,000, although perhaps not as much was expected.

The first corner started things, though, with Alex Tagliani flying in from the inside, hitting Graham Rahal's car as he turned in. Rahal's car took significant damage; Tagliani's damage was contained to the right-front part of the wing.

Rahal was knocked out of the race, giving a big hand gesture to Tagliani as the French-Canadian drove past on the next lap. Tagliani was penalized with a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact. Tagliani finished 17th.

Sebastián Saavedra and Paul Tracy made the full-course caution necessary by suffering damage in the incident.

The top of the pack stayed mostly consistent for the next 24 laps until Mike Conway plowed into championship contender Oriol Servia in turn 12. Servia's car was knocked in the air and then into the tire barrier, bringing out a full-course caution. Conway was penalized for the contact but battled back to finish eighth.

That caution allowed Tagliani to get back into the lead group as he had pitted just a few minutes earlier. But on the restart, trouble returned.

E. J. Viso made contact with Dixon in the treacherous turn five. Viso stopped on the course briefly and Dixon headed to pit road for repairs to a broken radiator, which is located in the sidepod. The Ganassi crew had to pull the car behind the wall to make the lengthy repairs. Dixon finished 23rd.

IndyCar officials said Viso would have been penalized for avoidable contact had his car continued on, but since he lost a lap while disabled on the course, the penalty was, in effect, self-imposed. He finished 20th.

That restart saw pole winner Takuma Sato make a bold move to the inside to get the second spot behind Power but he didn't hold it that long. On lap 38, with Ryan Hunter-Reay charging, there was contact that sent Sato spinning.

Consistent with the similar incidents, Hunter-Reay was penalized for the contact, but it didn't please Sato's co-owner, Jimmy Vasser, who threw his arms in the air. Hunter-Reay came back to finish seventh with Sato settling for 21st.

The pole was the second of the season (and of a career in the series) for Sato. He didn't finish the first one, at Iowa Speedway in June, either. That time, he crashed on his own. Clearly, he had help this time.

RESULTS

1. Will Power, Team Penske

2. Helio Castroneves, Team Penske

3. Dario Franchitti, Ganassi Racing

4. Tony Kanaan, KV Racing Technology

5. Justin Wilson, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

6. Sébastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing

7. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport

8. Mike Conway, Andretti Autosport

9. Danica Patrick, Andretti Autosport

10. Ryan Briscoe, Team Penske

11. J. R. Hildebrand, Panther Racing

12. Vitor Meira, A.J. Foyt Racing

13. Ana Beatriz, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

14. Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport

15. James Hinchcliffe, Newman/Haas Racing

16. Sebastián Saavedra, Conquest Racing

17. Alex Tagliani, Sam Schmidt Motorsports

18. James Jakes, Dale Coyne Racing

19. Charlie Kimball, Ganassi Racing

20. E. J. Viso, KV Racing Technology

21. Takuma Sato, KV Racing Technology

22. Oriol Servia, Newman/Haas Racing

23. Scott Dixon, Ganassi Racing

24. Simona De Silvestro, HVM Racing

25. Graham Rahal, Ganassi Racing

26. Paul Tracy, Dragon Racing

Friday, July 29, 2011

Grand-Am: Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas take the trophy in New Jersey:

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Scott Pruett won at New Jersey Motorsports Park for the first time in his Grand-Am career.

Published on 7/24/2011

Scott Pruett put another check on his victory list Sunday, taking advantage of hot weather to post his first career victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park--one of only two circuits that the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series visits where he had never won.

Pruett and co-driver Memo Rojas took their fifth win of the season in the No. 01 Telmex BMW/Riley, taking another step toward a second consecutive Daytona Prototype championship in front of the largest crowd for a Grand-Am event in the four years the series raced at the circuit.

Max Angelelli passed Alex Gurney in the closing laps to take second in the No. 10 SunTrust Chevrolet/Dallara, which started from the pole in the hands of driver Ricky Taylor. Gurney held on to finish third in the No. 99 Gainsco Auto Insurance Chevrolet/Riley co-driven by Jon Fogarty.

In a change from the Telmex Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates strategy for the sprint races on the Grand-Am schedule, Pruett both started and finished the event, with Rojas driving the middle hour.

Pruett rebounded from a drive-through penalty early in the race when he spun out Taylor while battling for the lead. Taylor led the opening 36 laps before the contact.

Pruett took the lead for the first time with less than one hour remaining when Angelelli pitted on lap 99. He led the final 19 laps to score his 36th Daytona Prototype victory, sharing 23 of them with Rojas.

In the production-based GT class, Mazda scored a podium sweep led by Sylvain Tremblay and Jonathan Bomarito in the No. 70 Mazdaspeed/Castrol Edge Mazda RX-8.

Unlike last year, when SpeedSource cars took the top three positions, three different teams finished on the GT podium as the marque took its first victory of the season.

Bomarito took the checkered flag 0.685 second ahead of John Edwards, who won the pole in the No. 42 TheRaceSite.com Mazda RX-8 he shared with Wayne Nonnamaker. James Gue and Dane Cameron took third in the No. 41 Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8.

Jordan Taylor and Bill Lester finished fourth in the No. 88 Autohaus Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, narrowing the gap in the point standings to one point behind Brumos Racing teammates Andrew Davis and Leh Keen with three races remaining. The championship-leading No. 59 Porsche GT3 was never a factor, going several laps down in the early going with a thrown alternator belt.

NHRA: Massey, Force, Edwards collect wins in Colorado:

NHRA
Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards scored his third win of the NHRA season Sunday in Colorado.

Published on 7/24/2011

Spencer Massey raced to his third Top Fuel victory of the season Sunday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and, in the process, qualified for the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, NHRA's playoffs.

John Force (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

Massey powered his Prestone/FRAM dragster to a performance of 4.150 seconds at 269.67 mph to hold off seven-time world champ Tony Schumacher, who trailed with a 4.255 seconds at 266.95 mph in his U.S. Army dragster. Massey became the second Top Fuel driver to earn a post-season playoff berth, joining current series leader Del Worsham.

Massey outran Brandon Bernstein, Shawn Langdon and Antron Brown in earlier rounds to advance to his fifth final of the season and move to second in the points standings, 68 behind Worsham, who lost in the second round to Brown.

"I'm just ecstatic,” said Massey of his fifth career victory. "I wanted to do well at this race, especially with our sponsor's race at Sonoma being next week. Now we get to go there with a full head of steam. The final round was kind of crazy because it started hazing the tires at the eighth-mile. I just kept my foot in it and hoped that our Gates belt held on. I never saw Tony. When I saw the win light, I started going crazy.”

In Funny Car, Force won his first race of the season and the 133rd of his career, as he took an automatic win light when final round opponent Matt Hagan fouled at the start in his Mopar/DieHard Dodge Charger. Force finished in 4.361 seconds at 285.23 mph in his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang to claim his sixth win in nine career finals at Bandimere.

In the first three rounds Force raced past Tony Pedregon, series leader and teammate Mike Neff and Jeff Arend to advance to a record 214th career final round.

"Like the military, it's all about teamwork, and we have great guys,” Force said. “(Crew chiefs) Dean Antonelli and Ron Douglas have been struggling, and Mike Neff and Jimmy Prock stepped in to help them. Robert Hight, the president of the company, even spoke up and told me, ‘It's you. You have to get back in the game. Your head is hopscotching to the air show and the Indy 500 and every place you're going. You taught me that you need to live it.' He was right. I'm back in the game today.”

Neff, who became the first Funny Car driver to secure a Countdown playoff berth during the weekend, maintained his series lead, 192 points ahead of teammate Hight. Force climbed from eighth to seventh in the standings with his victory.

Edwards scored his third win of the season and 31st of his career by holding off Bandimere Pro Stock dominator Allen Johnson in the final round. Edwards ran 6.970 seconds at 197.56 mph in his Penhall/Interstate Batteries Pontiac GXP in the final but ultimately wouldn't need the strong performance as Johnson turned on a rare red light at the start in his Team Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Avenger.

“We got the Wally, but I believe that Allen Johnson is still ‘King of the Mountain,' ” said Edwards, who beat Warren Johnson, Jason Line and Larry Morgan to advance to the final round.

“It's so sweet to come up here because the Bandimere family does such an awesome job, and the fans are great,” Edwards continued. “It's such a privilege to come up here and race because it is such a unique place. We have to change everything from one end of the car to the other [to adjust for the increased] altitude, and it's a game to see which team can make the best guesses and best choices, and who can be ‘King of the Mountain' for one year. I just give praise to God because this team is all about him.”

With the win, Edwards trimmed Jason Line's series lead to six points.

Stoffer ended a four-year winless drought in Pro Stock Motorcycle as she sped to her sixth career victory with a 7.283 seconds at 182.58 mph on her Geico/Powersports Suzuki and held off fellow Suzuki rider Michael Phillips, who trailed with a 7.394 seconds at 182.01 mph on his Racers Edge-sponsored bike.

“Our main goal this season was consistency and to go as many rounds as available at each racing event,” said Stoffer, who beat Shawn Gann, Jerry Savoie and Eddie Krawiec in the first three rounds. “If you do that and do it right, you're going to get the win lights and you're going to get the Wallys. We had to wait and be patient. We went to three final rounds this year and had to wait until about midseason before we could bring it home, but we finally made it happen.”

With the victory, Stoffer regained the series lead and moves 33 points ahead of Krawiec with three bike races remaining until the playoffs.

“We got the double whammy here by taking home the Wally and also getting in front of the points,” Stoffer said. “We're now in control of our own destiny.”

The NHRA Full Throttle Series continues July 29-31 with the FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

NASCAR: Richard Childress Racing latest team to make crew chief change:

NASCAR: Scott Speed to return for three races with owner Brad Jenkins:

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Ferrari 458 Italia tests at Daytona:

Ferrari
The Ferrari 458 was tested at Daytona. It's shown in this stock photo.

By DAVID ARNOUTS on 7/26/2011

The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series-designed Ferrari 458 Italia premiered for tests at Daytona International Speedway on July 26.

“The big significance for this car is that it was conceived and produced by Ferrari and built specifically for the Rolex Series,” said Mark Raffauf, Grand-Am managing director of competition. “This car comes here straight from Maranello, Italy, right from Ferrari, and it's also significant that this is really a Grand-Am car.”

Ferrari factory engineers spent the morning preparing the car for its run around the 3.56-mile circuit.

Behind the wheel for the first time at Daytona was Ferrari factory driver Jaime Melo and 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona winner Raphael Matos.

Owned and operated by Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale, the first 458 is hopefully one of two cars for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“This was a two-year project, and to finally be out here on the track at Daytona is really great,” said Ronnie Vogel, team principal. “So far, so good--the test is going great. Now, we're going to continue to dial it in.”

Raffauf mentioned that several teams were looking at running Ferraris in the Rolex Series Championship; one of which includes1998 winner of the Indianapolis 500 Eddie Cheever.

“I know of at least five groups that are seriously entertaining racing a 458--and I might even be one of those,” said Cheever.

The Ferrari 458 will continue its tests at Daytona International Speedway on July 27.

The next Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race will be Aug. 12-13, when teams will tackle the famous Watkins Glen course in New York.

Robertson Racing forms ALMS\'s first all-female team for Mid-Ohio:

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Robertson Racing is forming the ALMS's first all-female team for Mid-Ohio. Its Ford GT is shown at Le Mans.

By DAVID ARNOUTS on 7/26/2011

American Le Mans Series GT-class team Robertson Racing will have the first all-female team in series history at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge on Aug. 6.

Team co-owner Andrea Robertson will be joined by Melanie Snow in the No. 40 Doran Ford GT as co-owner and her husband, David Robertson, steps down for the Mid-Ohio race.

Snow, no stranger to racing or the ALMS, returns after her shared ALMS Challenge championship in 2009. She won her first and only main GT-class appearance in Sebring in 1999 and is a current contender in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama's Platinum Cup standings.

“Andrea and I have been friends for a while and always joked about forming an all-girl team,” said Snow. “It was something I never really expected though, so when I got an e-mail out of the blue, it was a shock, but also a nice surprise. At the moment, the deal is just for Mid-Ohio, but we'll play it by ear and see what happens for the rest of the season.”

Snow will test the Doran Ford GT on Aug. 2 in Lexington at Mid-Ohio.

“It's great to have Melanie onboard for Mid-Ohio. She has a lot of experience in GT cars, so I'm confident it won't be long before she's up to speed in the Ford,” said Andrew Smith, team manager. “Andrea had expressed an interest in her joining the team, and I think it's a great opportunity for them to show how well they stack up against their male counterparts. We've had lots of [female] racers take part in the ALMS over the past 12 years, so it's about time an all-female crew was given their chance.”

There are no current plans to bring Snow on full-time after Mid-Ohio.

“We're not ruling out running Melanie [Snow] again later in the season,” said Smith. “But at the moment, Mid-Ohio is the only round scheduled.”

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge is the fifth round in the 2011 ALMS championship and is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Aug. 6 on ESPN3.com.

Porsche GT3 RS 3.8: A year in the life:

Ronan McGrath
Contributor Ronan McGrath took delivery of his Porsche GT3 RS 3.8 in Germany.

By RONAN MCGRATH on 7/25/2011

When the final RS 4.0 rolls off the production line, the Porsche 997 era will finally end. There have been innumerable variants of the car, including the mad turbo GT2 RS, but the car that topped virtually all comparisons was the less powerful but more communicative GT3 RS. Now, after a year with that penultimate car, a look back is on order.

The second-generation GT3 RS received heavily revised aerodynamics with a redesigned front end, larger rear wing, wider track and dynamic engine mounts, all of which were intended to differentiate it from the base GT3 and its predecessor. It also gained power, up from 415 to 450 hp, and slightly shorter gearing. The only transmission was a six-speed manual, coupled to a dry-sump race-derived engine, naturally aspirated with a redline of 8,500 rpm.

The car was ordered for factory delivery with a fairly standard specification: The first-generation car had been so low that the splitter was a disposable item, so the new car was optioned with front lifts that raised it to negotiate ramps. Because it would be tracked, standard steel brakes with their slightly better feel were specified, as was a thicker factory steering wheel and a nav system for street use.

Initial impressions on picking up the GT3 RS at the Porsche factory were that the interior was much more purposeful. The nonadjustable carbon-fiber-backed seats offered much more support than before, and pull straps to open the door and lack of side pockets were designed to reflect the track focus of the car.

During the run-in period through the Czech Republic, it was difficult to feel much differentiation from the earlier GT3 RS, but then the fun began. The 3.8 was about as tight as anything I have ever driven. The dominant impression was of perfect balance from the hyper-communicative steering and chassis, coupled with the hair-raising sound of the Metzger flat-6, which can run all day at high revs.

At 180 mph on the Dresden-Berlin autobahn, the revised aerodynamics were striking. Where the earlier car felt light and nervous at the same speed, the Gen 2 car was utterly composed with the much greater downforce being immediately evident.

Ronan McGrath
Driving the Porsche GT3 RS 3.8 on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

No Porsche factory delivery would be complete without a week at the Nordschleife. Endless words have been written about it, but it remains for me the definitive track experience, thrilling, terrifying, frustrating and utterly addictive. Some 600 kilometers of the ‘Ring later, the GT3 RS 3.8 had proven to be a much easier car to push hard than its predecessor was, more predictable in the corners and more composed.

The extra power was less important than the greatly improved handling, the ability to brake later, attack the corners more aggressively and the higher margin of safety. The 3.8 features standard--but fully defeatable--stability control, but which only engages in extreme circumstances. Most laps were completed with the stability control engaged as a result. The new seats offered superb lateral support on the track.

A day of heavy rain revealed the greatest weakness of the GT3 RS: The Michelin Cup tires were superb in the dry, but on a very wet evening, I managed four laps that were about the most stomach-churning I've ever experienced. The track had a lot of standing water in the gathering darkness, and the car skittered though the pools with as much grip as I'd have expected on black ice. When a Carrera GT spun off into the Armco barrier in front of me, I called it a day.

When my GT3 RS finally made it to America, I was curious to see how it would perform in the real world. Sometimes, the design compromises that make a great track car result in a nervous and raw driving experience unsuitable for regular road use. The much lower speed limits here mean that performance driving is limited to tracks.

Ronan McGrath
Inside the Porsche GT3 RS 3.8.

After a year of mixed driving, the Porsche GT3 RS has proven to be a perfectly practical road car and no more difficult to drive on public streets than a Toyota Camry. The front lifts work perfectly, and there has been no damage to the splitter as a result.

There are a few negatives: Compared to a normal road car, the GT3 RS has an exceptionally heavy clutch, which, although progressive and smooth to engage, is a left-leg workout. The deep buckets do not meet with universal enthusiasm due to the lack of adjustability and the difficulty on exit. The suspension transmits every change in road surface, and the tiny front trunk gets extremely hot in a short period and is impractical for laptops or cameras as a result.

Issues have been few. The end plate on the rear wing had been over-torqued in production and was replaced under warranty, as was a slider on the A/C vent. A recall to replace all hubs on center lock wheels due to danger of loosening was remediated in a couple of hours by the dealer. The Michelin PS Cups will soon be replaced, which is normal, given their softness.

Fortunately, the Alcantara and leather interior has worn much better than expected, and even the edges of the seats are unmarked. The invisible 3M clear plastic on the hood has prevented any stone chips.

The Porsche GT3 RS 3.8 is one of the most visceral cars I've ever experienced; in another way, it leaves a feeling of sadness. After all, the 4.0 will be the ultimate 997, but when the last one is built, with it will go the magnificent, screaming Metzger engine, hydraulic steering, the simple interior, the stick-shift-only RS, the handbrake and the short wheelbase.

Of course, the new car will be more practical, with better rear seating, an interior inspired by the Panamera, electric steering and much more. Porsche knows its marketplace, and it will doubtless be a success. As usual, the new 911 will improve in every way.

Yet out at the edge where the RS lives, it's not yet clear whether the mechanical, analog experience will be repeated. The day of the stick shift as the dominant transmission is already gone--long gone in the AMGs, fading fast at BMW and a rarity at Ferrari. The high-revving engine follows BMW's unique M powerplants to extinction. When the last car is built, I can't help but think we will have lost something that may not be repeated again.

Ronan McGrath is an AutoWeek contributor.

Million Dollar Fiat: 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata:

Front view of the 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata..

A look at the 2-liter OHV V8 engine under the hood.

Interior shot of the 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata.

Rear view of the 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata to .

Side view of the 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata to .

Front view of the 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata to.

By PATRICK C. PATERNIE on 7/25/2011

Fiat's first, and only, V8 engine debuted at the 1952 Geneva Auto Show powering a sleek two-seater intended to dominate Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia in two-liter sports-car racing.

The car was designated the 8V, or Otto Vu in Italian, because Fiat had mistakenly thought that Ford held a trademark on V8.

Fiat's legendary design engineer Dante Giacosa mounted the upper portions of a pair of 70-degree V4 engines on a single crankcase to make the 1996-cc, OHV V8. Topped with a pair of twin-choke Weber 36 DCZ3 carburetors, the tiny eight put out 110 hp at 6,000 rpm.

A four-speed, nonsynchro first-gear, manual transmission sent power to the rear wheels via a differential that was the only part shared with other Fiats. Other features included worm-and-roller steering, four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel drum brakes.

For homologation purposes, Fiat intended to build 200 8Vs, but only 114 chassis were produced from 1952 to 1954. To rev up interest, Fiat sent chassis to various coachbuilders, including Carrozzeria Zagato, famed for its stunning lightweight-bodied Fiats. Zagato took delivery of 32 8V chassis; including five with Fiat-design bodywork that were destined to become the most famous and collectible.

Called Elaboratas because Zagato “elaborated” on what was done by Fiat, they distinguished themselves in racing competition and by being the first cars to bear the iconic Zagato double-bubble roof, intended to add rigidity and also allow headroom for racing helmets.

The Elaborata we drove bears chassis No. 106.000022. Despite having the earliest number, it was the third 8V to be customized by Zagato. Although the Elaboratas were distinguished by lowered rooflines bearing the double-bubble and single headlamps, no two are exactly alike.

No. 0022 was sold new in April 1953 and then turned over to Zagato. Its race history includes being driven by Anna Maria Peduzzi, one of Italy's most successful female racers.

The car's owner acquired the car in 1998, had it restored to its original Zagato green, and installed a five-speed Alfa Romeo gearbox for use in classic-car rallies. The car has also been shown at Pebble Beach.

Entry requires yogalike flexibility for taller drivers, but once inside, legroom is generous and the pedals well spaced.

The green-painted dash presents a classic array of toggle switches and knobs. An oval-shaped instrument panel is dominated by a speedometer and tach that read upward in opposing directions.

A slight pull of the knob that activates the fuel pumps, followed by an equally gentle twist of the ignition key brings the V8 to life. Ease on the throttle for a slow but smooth getaway, then add force as power builds from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm.

The steering feels vague on-center but, as the independent rear suspension plants itself in the corners, becomes very communicative to maintain handling balance. The drum brakes, like the suspension, quickly build your confidence. Exotic but no diva, the Elaborata is a well-mannered “momentum” machine that loves to charge through corners with the revs up.

The car is expected to draw more than $1 million at the Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach auction Aug. 20-21.

Ford posts $2.4 billion profit:

Ford reported Q2 profits of $2.4 billion.

By JAMIE LAREAU, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS on 7/26/2011

Ford Motor Company reported a profit of $2.4 billion on revenues of $35.5 billion, excluding Volvo, during the second quarter, the automaker said Tuesday.

A year ago, Ford posted net profits of $2.6 billion on revenue of $35.07 billion, including Volvo. Excluding Volvo, Ford's revenue in the second quarter of 2010 was $31.3 billion.

"We delivered very good second-quarter results while growing the business globally and serving more customers in every region," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement. "Despite an uncertain business environment, we further strengthened our balance sheet and continued to invest for the future."

More cash, less debt

"We're off to a really good first half," Lewis Booth, Ford's CFO, said in a media briefing. "We're now at $14 billion net debt and net cash of $8 billion, which is a substantial improvement from the first quarter." Net cash is gross cash minus debt.

Ford's cash total rose $700 million from March 31. Its debt fell $2.6 billion to $14 billion.

Ford said second-quarter profits declined in its South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Africa operations.

Ford Motor Credit Co. posted a pretax operating profit of $604 million, down $284 million from a year earlier. The finance unit continues to benefit from strong residuals but is still hampered by less favorable credit loss reserves and lease depreciation expenses.

Booth stopped short of predicting when Ford would earn an investment grade credit rating. He noted that the rating agencies have made it clear they want the automaker to meet several requirements, including resolving contract talks with the UAW this summer. But Booth said if Ford continues to report profits and reduce debt, "We expect to get to investment grade sooner rather than later."

Booth added, "It wasn't an easy quarter." He said demand weakened in North America after the March earthquake in Japan interrupted production for many automakers. Even though Ford's production was minimally impacted, a shortage of cars kept some shoppers out of the market in both North America and Europe.

Ford is maintaining its U.S. full-year industry volume outlook in the range of 13 million to 13.5 million units, Booth said.

"We expect it to be closer to 13 million," he said. Several analysts have lowered their outlooks to below 13 million, citing sluggish economic growth and earthquake-related inventory shortages.

Booth added there will be some improvements in the second half as Japanese production ramps up.

"We expected a relatively quiet year this year and that's what we're going to see," he said.

All oil-driven commodity prices--including steel, aluminum and plastic--remain under upward pressure, Booth said. He reiterated Ford's guidance that its commodity costs would be $2 billion higher this year than last year.

First equals best

Ford posted first-quarter net profits of $2.55 billion on revenues of $33.11 billion and said in April it would be the best quarter this year because it planned to hike spending in following periods.

Ford has budgeted $5 billion to $5.5 billion in capital outlays this year, with the bulk of it taking place after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Ford North America reported a pretax operating profit of $1.9 billion, an increase of $10 million from a year ago. Ford attributes that rise to improved net pricing, higher volumes and a more favorable mix of vehicles, meaning more sales of higher-margin cars and trucks.

Those positives were offset by higher commodity and structural costs, as well as increased spending on new products.

Special losses

Ford's second-quarter net also was dragged down by special losses of $272 million, $177 million more than a year earlier. The special losses covered personnel-reduction actions, the closing of its Mercury brand and other dealer-related actions in North America, and pension settlements in Belgium.

Ford sold 736,000 vehicles to dealers in the quarter, up 77,000 from a year earlier. North American revenue was $19.5 billion, up $2.6 billion from a year earlier.

Ford said second-quarter profits declined in its South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Africa operations.

U.S. vehicle sales slowed across the industry during the second quarter compared with the first quarter because of inventory shortages and slower economic growth.

Ford's U.S. sales rose 9 percent during the period to 574,228 units.

"The key debate around Ford continues to be the sustainability of--or potential for improvement in--North America pretax profits," Barclays analyst Brian Johnson said in a report Monday.

Johnson and other analysts say Ford remains vulnerable to industry pricing trends, sales volumes, higher commodity costs and increased structural costs.

David Phillips contributed to this report.

Chrysler posts $370 million net loss on costs tied to repaid loans:

Chrysler posted a net loss for Q2 in part to costs incurred repaying government loans.

By BRADFORD WERNLE on 7/26/2011

Chrysler Group LLC, after recording its first post-bankruptcy profit three months ago, posted a net loss of $370 million in the second quarter due to costs tied to the repayment of government bailout loans.

Chrysler incurred a charge of $551 million in paying back the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Canadian loans that kept the automaker afloat in 2009.

"Modified" operating profit nearly tripled from a year earlier to $507 million, while revenue climbed 30 percent to $13.7 billion, the company said Tuesday.

Helped by new models and a big advertising push, Chrysler's second-quarter worldwide sales increased 19 percent to 486,000 units.

Cash reserves rose $300 million during the past three months to $10.2 billion.

"There is no doubt that Chrysler Group has taken a huge step forward this quarter," CEO Sergio Marchionne said in a statement. "Refinancing our debt and repaying our government loans six years early reinforces our conviction that we are on the right path to rebuilding this company and restoring it to its rightful place on the global automotive landscape."

In the first quarter, Chrysler recorded a net profit of $116 million, its first since exiting a U.S.-steered bankruptcy under the control of Italy's Fiat S.p.A.

Milestones in the second quarter included:

-- The May 24 repayment of $5.9 billion to the U.S. government and $1.7 billion to Canada, six years ahead of the original schedule.

-- Refinancing its debt with a $3.0 billion senior secured loan, $3.2 billion in secured notes and a $1.3 billion revolving line of credit.

-- Worldwide shipments rose 19 percent to 514,000 units and marked this first time that figure had topped 500,000 units in a quarter since Chrysler exited bankruptcy in June 2009.

As part of the refinancing, Fiat exercised an option to lift its stake in Chrysler to 46 percent from 30 percent.

Last week, Fiat ended U.S. and Canadian taxpayer ownership by paying $625 million to acquire the U.S. Department of Treasury's remaining 6 percent holding as well as Canada's 1.5 percent stake.

Under terms of the bailout, Fiat will be allowed to boost its stake by another 5 percentage points, to 58.5 percent, by building a 40-mpg car in the United States. That is expected to happen in the fourth quarter when Chrysler begins assembling a replacement for the Dodge Caliber in Belvidere, Ill.

A UAW health-care trust will own the remaining 41.5 percent of Chrysler.

Chrysler said its adjusted net income for the second quarter was $181 million, compared with a loss of $172 million in 2010.

The company projected revenue for the full year at over $55 billion.

Modified operating profit for 2011 will be $2 billion, Chrysler said.

Marchionne, who is working to unify the companies under a single management structure as soon as this week, is aiming for $140 billion in combined Fiat-Chrysler revenues by 2014.

The company is introducing 16 new- or revamped vehicles in the United States this year. The rejuvenated lineup has pumped some life into Chrysler sales, which rose 21 percent in the first six months over the same period in 2010.

That number is far below the 45 percent increase Chrysler sales executives set as a goal when they addressed dealers at the NADA convention in February.

According to data released by TrueCar.com, Chrysler has made some progress in some other key industry metrics.

The company's average transaction prices are up 11.4 percent during the first six months of the year; incentive spending per unit has dropped 19.3 percent and the percentage of units sold to fleets has dropped 8.9 percent -- from 40.5 percent for the first six months of 2010 to 31.6 percent a year later.

2011 Nissan Cube 1.8 S Krom, an AutoWeek Drivers Log Car Review:

2011 Nissan Cube Krom Edition.

Published on 7/26/2011

ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: This 2011 Nissan Cube is one of the few vehicles that can pull off the Caribbean blue paint color due to its fun nature and simplicity. Looking at this Cube brought back fond memories of our now gone long-term Cube. Everything from the seats, water drop interior accents and shag-carpet dash topper was familiar and fun.

This particular Krom model does receive some slick options, such as 16-inch wheels, upgraded audio system and specific exterior touches like the sporty fascia and spoiler. Of course, all of that comes at a price. A base Cube starts at $15,500, while this Krom edition wears a base price that's $6,470 more. That's a pretty big difference.

The 1.8-liter four-cylinder isn't too underpowered here, and once up to speed, the car is just fine cruising along. It would be neat if Nissan offered a Nismo version with a little more power and an upgraded suspension.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Since my first in-person Cube sighting, I've admired Nissan for taking some risks with the design. The porthole window cutouts and asymmetric rear corners are unlike anything else on the road, even if the car doesn't appeal to me personally. But after my recent experience in the Cubelike Scion xB, I wasn't expecting much in the way of driving pleasure from the Cube, particularly given its CVT.

Suffice it to say, the CVT delivered the expected wretched response. But the rest of the Cube was a pleasant surprise. Engine and transaxle noise is well isolated, and road noise was much less intrusive than I would have expected from a boxy subcompact. Likewise, the rush of wind whipping around those chiseled corners was nicely muted at highway speeds. With an expectation firmly in mind about how the CVT would respond, the Cube was an enjoyable runabout on city streets and interstates alike.

The interesting exterior design extends to the inside, with the ripple headliner, unique dash layout and the bathmat Velcroed to the center of the dash on our tester. If it was just odd, I'd be less enamored of the Cube, but the design elements work well. The dash layout makes sense, and the Krom version I drove had such niceties as a rearview camera, navigation system and satellite radio. That also helps explain the $22,000-plus sticker.

One note to would-be buyers in sunny locales: The side windows are flat glass, resulting in lots of reflections in the driver's peripheral vision on nice days. On more than one occasion, I found myself startled by what appeared to be a car about to broadside me, only to realize it was the reflection of a vehicle approaching safely to the right-rear of the car.

About that sticker price: Yes, it feels high. But when you factor in the amenities, interior space and powertrain, it's not out of line with similar subcompacts like the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus with comparable equipment. And for those to whom the cutting-edge Cube style appeals, a small avant-garde surcharge may simply make it more special.

COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: What fun to have this Cube over the weekend, and in an eye-catching color to boot. Not that this funky box doesn't draw stares for its styling alone because it does. And after having spent lots of time in our long-term Cube, a weekend in this car felt like catching up with an old friend.

I know some in the office weren't fans of the Cube, but I like its odd shape, its kooky cabin features like the water drop headliner, the piece of shag carpet on the dash and the colored lights in the footwell. I also like how it scoots around town. This Krom edition seemed to have a little more oomph than our long-termer, even though I checked the output, and the numbers are the same. Maybe it's because this is a fresh model and, well, our long-term Cube didn't seem to hold up to the demands of this crew too well over a year's time.

Anyhow, this blue Cube also seemed to have more sound insulation, as I didn't notice as much road and wind noise seeping into the cabin. The brakes were strong and quickly brought things to a halt when needed, and the Cube's compact size allowed it to fit into any size parking spot. The flip-down seats offered great space for toting home some packing boxes, and even having one back seat down didn't impose on the passenger space.

The sound system was great, windows up or down, and the A/C quickly cooled things down on a hot, humid afternoon. I like how all of the controls are at hand and easy to use, and I especially liked the addition of the nav unit to this Krom model. It was small but effective. And, the screen doubled as a backup camera, which is always handy.

We had several people stop us to ask what we were driving, and one guy even honked at a stoplight to get our attention and get details. All gave the Cube a thumbs-up, and I do, as well.

INTERACTIVE ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I was in the Cube last night, and like Cheryl said, it brought back memories of our purple long-termer. And even if it didn't, the funny looks from neighborhood kids would remind me. I feel the same way Andy does about the styling, I personally don't like it, but I'm glad the Cube exists.

So, the best thing about the Cube for me is the maneuverability of the little box. I was driving on some unfamiliar roads that necessitated a few U-turns, and the Cube pulled around smoothly.

Higher-speed corners feel a little weird in the upright position, but it doesn't handle terribly. I wouldn't take it to an autocross anytime soon, but it basically goes where you point it.

The power from the 1.8-liter four-cylinder is minimal, but that's expected, especially with this CVT. The car is OK off the line, but you just have to put your foot down--far.

The wind noise on the inside has been cut down substantially, and with the windows down, the cabin stays surprisingly gust-free. The air conditioning worked well and cooled the interior quickly. I didn't have a need for the navigation, though that's a nice option. The radio with subwoofer booms and will drown out any stray sounds you don't want to hear. The Krom edition has both USB and headphone jack inputs, so any music player will work.

It's nice that the rear seats move, as one piece, but I don't think it goes back far enough. If a couple tall guys were up front, the back passengers would be pretty cramped. It is a versatile little car though. With the trunk/hatch space and folding rear seats, it seems like you could fit a good amount of stuff.

An extra six grand for the Krom edition is tough to swallow, but if quirky is what you're after, with the amenities of a Honda Civic, the Cube is here.

2011 Nissan Cube 1.8 S Krom

Base Price: $21,970

As-Tested Price: $22,200

Drivetrain: 1.8-liter I4; FWD, continuously variable transmission

Output: 122 hp @ 5,200 rpm, 127 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm

Curb Weight: 2,834 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 28/28.0 mpg

Options: Interior-design package including carpeted floor mats, carpeted cargo-area mat, shag dash topper, front door bungees ($230)

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Ken Block rolls out Ford Fiesta hybrid race car:

By DAVID ARNOUTS on 7/26/2011

Driver and rally racer Ken Block introduced his latest vehicular weapon on Monday. The Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle (HFHV) is not a hybrid in the traditional gas/electric sense, but instead is able to transform itself to compete in various race disciplines.

The HFHV Fiesta will compete in three distinct disciplines--stage rally, rallycross and gymkhana events.

"Many people may not realize this, but despite the fundamental similarities between stage rally, rallycross and gymkhana, in order to be the best at each you must have specific-built vehicles," Block says. "My WRC Fiesta just can't do what my Gymkhana Fiesta can, and vice versa. But having to campaign three separate cars is a nightmare, so we built one car that can be transformed to suit each form of racing I do on the highest level."

The Fiesta's transformation from one discipline to the other can take as little as a few hours.

Each version requires different gear ratios, suspension setups, engine management maps as well as different wheel and tire combinations.

Based off the 2011 Ford Fiesta WRC car, under the hood is a 600-hp, 655 lb-ft 2.0-liter engine from the WRC Rally Ford Focus for rallycross and gymkhana events. For the stage rally events, the entire cooling system is repositioned, along with smaller brakes, a smaller turbo, a co-driver's seat and functional headlights.

"The HFHV is the best of all worlds for me," says Block. "The current WRC Fiesta is the greatest handling car I have driven, but it lacks the sheer grunt that the 2.0-liter engine in the WRC Focus created. The HFHV brings those two things together, and the result is a manic beast that is just too much fun to drive."

The HFHV will make its competition debut at the Summer X Games in Los Angeles on July 30.

Toyota gives paralyzed bride a mobility van:

BMW gets new North America boss:

Ludwig Willisch is the new head of BMW in North America.

By HARALD HAMPRECHT, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS on 7/26/2011

Veteran BMW executive Ludwig Willisch, who has led sales operations in Europe and Japan, will take over as CEO of BMW of North America on Oct. 1.

The 54-year-old German will replace Jim O'Donnell, 61, who is retiring.

O'Donnell, a native of Scotland, has held the job since July 2008. Willisch will arrive in the United States on Sept. 1 and work alongside O'Donnell during a one-month transition.

Since May 2009, Willisch has been head of BMW Group's European sales outside of Germany. Before that he was president of BMW M GmbH, the brand's performance division in Munich.

He began his BMW career in 1996 as head of the sales office in Duesseldorf, Germany. He later ran the sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden.

O'Donnell, previously BMW's top executive in the United Kingdom, worked past the company's mandatory retirement age of 60. He leaves with BMW in good shape in the United States. Last month BMW outsold Mercedes-Benz to extend its lead as the top-selling luxury brand this year. And BMW is on track to outsell Lexus in the United States for the first time since 1997.

Through June, BMW's sales rose 13 percent to 113,705, while Mercedes was up 7 percent to 110,926 and Lexus fell 18 percent to 88,010.

"They're too far behind now to catch up," O'Donnell said of Lexus this month.

Last year BMW Group sales, including Mini, rose 10 percent to 266,269, while BMW-brand sales rose 12 percent to 220,113.

2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC stickers at $143,400:

Win-A-Shelby raffle winner gets a 624-hp GT350:

Monday, July 25, 2011

NASCAR: Nationwide and Truck Series in action this weekend:

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Formula One: Webber leads Alonso in German Grand Prix afternoon practice:

LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
Mark Webber paced Friday afternoon Formula One practice.

By ADAM COOPER on 7/22/2011

Red Bull Racing and Ferrari on Friday shared the honors during the first day of practice for Sunday's German Grand Prix, as Ferrari showed that its British Grand Prix win two weeks ago was no fluke. Fernando Alonso led Mark Webber in the morning session, and then the Aussie led the Spaniard in the afternoon, though only by 0.168 second.

Meanwhile, in both sessions, Sebastian Vettel was a close third, and Felipe Massa was a slightly more distant fourth, indicating that this race weekend is likely to be all about the two teams.

Significantly, Ferrari is quick at the Nürburgring GP circuit despite the return of exhaust-blown diffusers, after the one-off clampdown on the technology for the British GP.

Although the skies on Friday were gray, no rain fell, but it is virtually guaranteed to come down at some point during the weekend.

“It was good fun. Obviously, the circuit was quite slippery, the temperatures being low,” Vettel said, enjoying his first home race as reigning world champion. “All in all, I think we did a lot of laps, and the cars seem to be OK. We're not 100 percent happy yet. We'll see what happens tomorrow [in qualifying]. At this stage, [there is] obviously a lot of work ahead. Ferrari looks very competitive; McLaren is a bit more difficult to judge, so we'll see.

“I think if we can make a step forward, then it's worth a lot. We don't know the conditions for tomorrow and Sunday. Rain is forecasted, so it's on the way. It's a question of where and when it will hit us. Now we need to sit down and see what we can improve, but surely I think there is room to improve.”

In the afternoon's faster session, Michael Schumacher gave his German fans something to cheer with fifth place, ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg.

Lewis Hamilton was only seventh for McLaren, complaining that a lack of downforce was simply costing the silver cars speed in the corners--and it's not something that can be resolved overnight. Jenson Button, who had an exhaust failure and missed gaining some useful mileage, was only 11th.

With blown diffusers back in action, the Renaults looked good in eighth and ninth, with Nick Heidfeld ahead of Vitaly Petrov. The former was trying a new rearward-facing exhaust layout, instead of the usual side exit. Adrian Sutil rounded out the top 10 for Force India.

Karun Chandhok is having his first full race weekend for Team Lotus and was 20th in the afternoon session. His countryman Narain Karthikeyan returned after missing Silverstone, but only as a test driver in the first session before handing the HRT car to Tonio Liuzzi.

Practice Times

1. Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing-Renault, 1 minute 31.711 seconds, 34 laps

2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:31.879, +0.168, 38

3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing-Renault, 1:32.084, +0.373, 28

4. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:32.354, +0.643, 36

5. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP, 1:32.411, +0.700, 31

6. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, 1:32.557, +0.846, 32

7. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:32.724, +1.013, 28

8. Nick Heidfeld, Renault, 1:33.098, +1.387, 17

9. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, 1:33.138, +1.427, 22

10. Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, 1:33.211, +1.500, 34

11. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:33.225, +1.514, 17

12. Paul Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, 1:33.299, +1.588, 34

13. Sergio Pérez, Sauber-Ferrari, 1:34.113, +2.402, 34

14. Rubens Barrichello, Williams-Cosworth, 1:34.344, +2.633, 34

15. Jaime Alguersuari, Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:34.487, +2.776, 37

16. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber-Ferrari, 1:34.491, +2.780, 35

17. Pastor Maldonado, Williams-Cosworth, 1:34.996, +3.285, 35

18. Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus-Renault, 1:35.753, +4.042, 42

19. Timo Glock, Virgin-Cosworth 1:36.940, +5.229, 32

20. Karun Chandhok, Lotus-Renault, 1:37.248, +5.537, 33

21. Jerome d'Ambrosio, Virgin-Cosworth, 1:37.313, +5.602, 33

22. Vitantonio Liuzzi, HRT-Cosworth, 1:38.145, +6.434, 31

23. Daniel Ricciardo, HRT-Cosworth, 1:40.737, +9.026, 5

24. Sébastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, no time, 3