Monday, February 28, 2011

Alonso says extra pit stops ?does not favour? Ferrari | 2011 F1 season

Fernando Alonso says he is "not keen" on having more pit stops during races in 2011.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/i7O_BUZB7wA/

Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams Walt Ader Kurt Adolff

New challenge awaits drivers at Phoenix

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/02/27/1017145/new-challenge-awaits-drivers-at.html

Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi Erwin Bauer Zsolt Baumgartner

F1 2011 Teams and Drivers

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/JaQO-YdA3P8/f1-2011-teams-and-drivers.html

Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell Alberto Ascari

1939 Chevy Master 85 Sedan Delivery - Harley-Davidson Special

This kit was a rescue kit that I bought for $2.00 on our clubs Swap Meet. It was very badly painted and built. Had to remove all the old paint and take the kit apart.

When I rebuild it, I thought that a flat black and metallic orange would look nice on this Street Machine. Then I created custom Harley-Davidson decals for it and made it to a Harley Delivery truck.

I used some spare parts that I had around. The seats that this kit came with were sucky! I then used a set of 2006 Mustang Seats that I had in my spare parts box. Added Slick Racing tires for the rear and skinny's on the front. Also did a custom Connecticut License Plate for it.

Hope you like how this Street Machine came out.

 

 

 

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/944498.aspx

Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood

Team orders in spotlight again


Will Christian Horner regret not utilising team orders in Brazil? © Getty Images
Michael Spearman of The Sun, says that the �65,000 fine Ferrari received for breaching the team orders ban in Germany will seem like loose change if Fernando Alonso wins the drivers? title in Abu Dhabi.
?The extra seven points Alonso collected when Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to move over for him in Germany earlier in the season are now looking even more crucial. ?And the �65,000 fine they picked up for ruthlessly breaking the rules will seem loose change if Alonso clinches the title in his first year with the Maranello team. ?Red Bull could have switched the result yesterday given their crushing dominance and still celebrated their first constructors' championship just five years after coming into the sport. ?That would also have given Webber an extra seven points, leaving him just one behind Alonso.?
The Guardian?s Paul Weaver says that if Fernando Alonso does take the drivers? title in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari owes a debt of gratitude to Red Bull for their decision not to employ team orders in Brazil.
?If Alonso does take the title next week it would not be inappropriate were he and Ferrari to send a few gallons of champagne to Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes. ?While Red Bull should be heartily applauded for the championship they did win today their apparent acceptance that Ferrari might carry off the more glamorous prize continues to baffle Formula One and its globetrotting supporters. ?Their refusal to make life easy for Webber, who has led for much of the season and is still seven points ahead of Vettel, means that whatever happens in the desert next week Alonso, the only driver who was capable of taking the championship in the race today, only has to secure second place to guarantee his third world title.?
The Independent?s David Tremayne is also of the opinion that Red Bull may regret not using team orders in Brazil.
?Had Red Bull elected to adopt team orders and let Webber win ? something that the governing body allows when championships are at stake ? Webber would have left Brazil with 245 points ? just one point off the lead. For some that was confirmation of his suggestion that Vettel is the team's favoured driver ? which generated an angry call from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz in Austria and was much denied by team principal, Christian Horner. ?And it sets up a situation where, if the result is repeated next weekend, as is likely, Vettel and Webber will tie on 256, five behind Alonso.?
The Mirror?s Byron Young has put Lewis Hamilton?s fading title chances down to an inferior McLaren machine and he admits the 2008 World Champion now needs a miracle.
?Sebastian Vettel's victory sends the world title fight to a four-way showdown for the first time in the sport's history. ?Hamilton goes there as part of that story with a 24-point deficit to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, but with just 25 on offer in the final round in six days' time it would take more than a miracle. ?Driving an outclassed McLaren he slugged it out against superior machinery and stiff odds to finish fourth.?

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/team_orders_in_spotlight_again_1.php

Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo

Gearing up for new F1 season

Since that sweltering Sunday sunset in Abu Dhabi almost three months ago where we saw a man who looked about 12 years old being crowned the composed, confident, champion of the world, it's been a case of counting down the days until I can dust off the passport and embark on season three as the BBC's F1 presenter.

And this time, as we take the first steps of the few thousand miles we will be travelling to bring the 2011 F1 season to you, I need your help.

Read on to find out how.

The last three months have been a mix of highs and lows for me. Hosting Sports Personality, but being struck down by a vicious flu bug the following day. Going for a New Year's Day walk with my wife Harriet but inadvertently pulling her into the River Thames up to our waists (don't ask!), and just spending time at home, despite locking myself out of the house on three separate occasions!

And now, the wait for us all is almost over. I'm currently penning this blog in bed, Sunday Love Songs is on the radio, (what an old romantic eh ;-) and it's 13 February...one month to the day and I will be swapping Radio 2 for team radios, my home for hotel rooms, the middle of Richmond for the Middle East.

Sebastian Vettel

Vettel won the 2010 title in the final race of the season at Abu Dhabi. Picture: Getty images

I remember when I first met Martin Brundle, it was winter 2008 and we were at our first meeting ahead of the 2009 season and I asked him what he was doing with the winter. His reply was 'seeing the dentist, going to the doctor, cutting that grass...all the things I can't do during the season' and now I know how he feels.

Mind you, and I mustn't say this too loudly for fear of offending my lovely wife and all the friends I've enjoyed catching up with, I can hardly wait for that first flight to Bahrain.

Flights to grand prix races are usually 80% full of F1 faces from Bernie and team principals at the front with the drivers, to press officers, engineers, and a few fans too who can hardly believe their luck that they've also booked on to the same flight we've all chosen.

The two flights that seem to create the best atmosphere are the last flight home as we all breathe a collective sigh of relief that we've survived another season, and the first, as everyone quietly hopes that this is their season.

And this year, there is a palpable air of excitement. And I place a huge amount of credit for that at the door of 'social media'.

In seasons gone by there would be very little news from testing unless you looked at specialist websites. There was no way for drivers to converse directly with their fans. 'Trending topics' were the kinds of thing you read about in Smash Hits magazine.

These days we have drivers tweeting how their car feels the moment they hop out of the cockpit, teams uploading snaps of their speed directly to the internet, thousands of fans using hashtags to discuss the latest news from Valencia or Jerez, and far from giving us F1 overkill, it merely seems to heighten expectations as Formula 1 unsurprisingly grasps a technological development and makes the most of it.

In the past week alone #robertkubica, #bbcf1, #jerez and #formulaone have been among the most talked about topics on Twitter, most team launches were simulcast online this year, and you may have already topped up Bernie's wallet with the 2011 F1 timing app.

When the BBC got the F1 contract one thing I was really keen to do was bring the F1 fans closer to the sport that ever before. Yes, walking into a garage, touching the cars, unscripted chats with the team members and having a certain effervescent Irishman grabbing anyone he likes in a headlock is the kind of revolutionary approach you all seem to enjoy, but I think blogs, websites, apps and tweets have done just as much.

So, one month to go before we see the 24 new cars roll out into the blazing Bahrain sun. A month until Schumi looks to prove 2010 was just an anomaly, one month until we have three British drivers on the grid with Paul di Resta joining the elite.

So Paul will line up in the Middle East, sadly though, Kubica won't. I heard about Robert's accident while in Wales waiting to host live football and at first it didn't seem too serious. However, as news started to emerge it became clear it had been a very unfortunate, freak accident and his racing future would be in some doubt.

However, almost immediately social media was on the scene as people updated us from the hospital and from within the team. I was really moved by how quickly messages of support started to appear online and I know that Renault will have passed on all your good wishes.

Well this year, for the Bahrain GP in particular I want to use social media to help get the whole of the country watching the first race of the season...and that is where you come in.

The BBC's F1 following is incredible and the viewing figures since the sport returned to what I consider its natural home have been record breaking.

However, F1 is the kind of sport where the more you know the more you want to know. I still get tweets, emails or people stopping me in the frozen food aisle saying 'isn't it just cars going round in circles?'

Well of course it is, but there is the unseen drama of the tactics, the split-second decision making, the mind-boggling physics that keeps the car on the track...and then there is the actual racing.

I honestly can't believe that with the stunning locations, incredible driving talent, danger, bravery and political manouverings on and off the track that the whole country isn't sitting down at 1210 to watch the racing.

So, here's what I'd love you to do. I want you to bring a friend to BBC F1.

Essentially all this means is that you pick a mate or even better a bunch of mates who you know don't normally watch F1. Maybe offer to make Sunday lunch, or host an F1 party. Get them in front of the TV and let us do the rest.

With a Kers boost button and new rear wings to aid overtaking, a brand new tyre manufacturer coming onboard that could result in multiple-pitstops in the first few races, 12 teams and five world champions on the grid, is there a better time to bring a friend to BBC F1?

I'll be tweeting about my campaign too, so feel free to add the #bringafriendtobbcf1 hashtag to your tweets, tweet me and let me know what you are organising for 13 March and let's see what we can achieve together.

Time to induct a whole new legion of potential F1 fans. We know the sport we love is amazing. Are you ready to spread the word?

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2011/02/gearing_up_for_the_new_f1_seas.html

Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi

Turning cigarette lighters into motorcycles - check this out!

It never ceases to amaze me what some people can come up with. Check these out!

http://www.inewidea.com/2011/01/15/36096.html

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/935412.aspx

Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco Hans Binder Carlo Abate

F1 2011 : Technical Regulations

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/ubXLjf9rpo4/f1-2011-technical-regulations.html

JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Fernando Alonso eyes home win at the Spanish Grand Prix 2010

Spanish Grand Prix will kick start on Sunday bring enough joy to the home crowd. The 2010 Spanish Grand Prix will feature three local drivers – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) and Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber). There is obviously much to cheers about these three lads especially Fernando Alonso if he can [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/formula-f1/~3/F75cOQhYomI/

Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi

Video: NASCAR robots featured in latest Transformers ad

You might have wondered exactly why the latest Transformers trailer was aired during the Daytona 500. Well, apart from the NASCAR race being one of the most watched sporting events in the US, the new trailer was aptly aired during the race because of a partnership between the movie and the racing series.

If you had no idea before, then let this new trailer be your introduction to three new robots that will be featured in the third installment of the blockbuster movie franchise: they?re Chevrolet Impalas dressed up as NASCAR race cars that also happen to be Transformers.

Until now, no names or affiliations ? word has it that they?re one of the good guys ? have been given for these three racing robots, but whatever their allegiances are, it?s still pretty cool to see some US-bred NASCAR racers in the movie.

The movie hits theaters on July 1st, 2011, making it another four-month wait for ardent fans of the franchise. And if you?re fans of NASCAR like we are, there?s another reason ? or three ? to anxiously wait for the movie?s release. Until then, check out the new Transformers trailer and keep a sharp eye out for those bad-ass NASCAR Transformers.

Video: NASCAR robots featured in latest Transformers ad originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 26 February 2011 06:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-nascar-robots-featured-in-latest-transformers-ad-ar105445.html

Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari

F1: Huge crowd for Perez?s Mexico demo

Huge crowd for Perez's Mexico demo Saturday, February 26th 2011, 22:56 GMT A crowd of between 150,000 and 200,000 greeted Sauber's Mexican rookie Sergio Perez as he carried out a Formula 1 demonstration in his hometown of Guadalajara today. Perez drove last year's Sauber C29 on a 1.5-kilometre course through the streets of the city. Related posts:
  1. F1: Perez joins Ferrari young driver scheme Perez joins Ferrari young driver scheme By Jonathan Noble Friday,...
  2. F1: Sauber says signing Perez not a risk Sauber says signing Perez not a risk By Dieter Rencken...
  3. F1: Sauber signs Perez for 2011 season Sauber signs Perez for 2011 season By Pablo Elizalde Monday,...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Source: http://doxcar.com/f1-huge-crowd-for-perezs-mexico-demo/

Jean Behra Derek Bell Stefan Bellof Paul Belmondo

INDY 500: Public Remembrance for Voice of Indianapolis Motor Speedway ? Tom Carnegie announced...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/sBdtG0eOwME/indy-500-public-remembrance-for-voice.html

Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels

Sauber C30 launch pictures (31st of January)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/_KoeazpVhdM/sauber-c30-launch-pictures-31st-of.html

Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen

McLaren Mail-gate

Source: http://www.metrof1.com/blogs/metrof1/2010/12/mclaren-mail-gate.html

Kurt Adolff Fred Agabashian Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers

Opel Zafira Tourer Concept revealed [videos]

Described as a lounge on wheels, the Zafira features advanced rear seats that would feel at home in a Maybach.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/PIaabJ2PF3U/opel-zafira-tourer-concept-revealed-videos

Gino Bianco Hans Binder Carlo Abate George Abecassis

Will new McLaren live up to expectations?

Confidence was not in short supply at McLaren as they unveiled their dramatic-looking 2011 Formula 1 car on Friday.

While most teams chose to reflect the austerity of the times by taking the wraps off their new cars in the pit lane at the first pre-season test in Valencia this week, McLaren instead went for a grand reveal in the centre of Berlin.

Mechanics wheeled in a chassis and suspension and attached the wheels and bodywork to the car in front of a crowd of interested spectators in Potsdamer Platz, a public space that sits on the fringe of the old Berlin Wall.

Fortunately, the appearance of the new MP4-26 car justified such a flamboyant approach, its sweeping lines and radical design innovations immediately obvious.

Equally obvious was the expectation the team have invested in the spectacular-looking machine. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button could barely stop themselves smiling as they contemplated the car they both hope will take them to a second drivers' world championship.

Button talked about his "beautiful new baby"; Hamilton of his confidence that McLaren would be more competitive than in 2010 - when they won five races and both men led the championship at various stages of the season.

Hamilton and Button were bullish about their chances this season, and looking at the new car it was easy to see why.

For some time now, there have been rumours that McLaren had pushed the boat out with their new car, and that it would be probably the most innovative of the season. It did not disappoint.

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From the intricately curved front wing back, the new McLaren looks the part. It bristles with innovation - including an extra air intake on the airbox behind the driver, needed to cool the hydraulics and gearbox because the car has been packaged so tightly; L-shaped sidepod openings designed to get more airflow to the rear wing; and a particularly long wheelbase, which helps maximise downforce.

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh, sharing his drivers' optimism, added that there was more to come before the first race of the season in Bahrain on 13 March. "Be warned," he said, "we have not shown you everything," adding that the team had some "fantastic innovations" to come.

"I'm brimming with excitement," Whitmarsh said, "I think it's a fantastic car."

This has been a week of new-car launches, and much attention has focused on novelty.

In Valencia, there was Renault's new exhaust system, which exits out of the front of the sidepods and blows along them and under the floor in a bid to increase downforce. There was Williams's tiny gearbox. Even humble Toro Rosso were at it with a double floor.

Poor Ferrari - whose car does have innovations on it even if they are not as immediately obvious as some - and Red Bull - who have concentrated on evolving the car that was the class of the field in 2010 - were virtually ignored.

Until the cars actually went out on to the track, that is. At which point, guess what? Just as for most of 2010, the Red Bull and Ferrari were the quickest things out there, world champion Sebastian Vettel setting the pace on day one from Fernando Alonso, before the Spaniard, last season's runner-up, turned the tables, on day two.

They were beaten only by Robert Kubica's Renault on the final day, when the track was quicker because more rubber had gone down and Vettel and Alonso had gone home.

And there's the rub. F1 isn't all about innovation. It's about getting your car working together as a package, about making the numbers add up, about what engineers call "L over D". That's lift over drag - getting as much downforce (negative lift) as you can for as little drag as possible.

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button at the launch of the new McLaren F1 car

Hamilton and Button cannot hide their admiration for their new F1 car. Photo: Getty

In recent years, this has been what has let McLaren down. The team innovated last year, too, introducing the F-duct aerodynamic device, which stalled the rear wing on the straights, therefore allowing the team to either run more downforce than their rivals without the attendant straight-line speed penalty or the same downforce and be faster on the straights.

Even with this, though, the McLaren was not as aero-efficient as the Red Bull or Ferrari, and that continues a trend that has been apparent for the last few seasons.

Last season was a step forward from 2009, when McLaren started the year with a car that even they admit was awful. It improved through the year to the point that Hamilton was able to win a couple of races, but was still some way behind the pace-setters on tracks where efficient downforce is critical.

Even in 2007 and 2008, when McLaren respectively should have and did win the drivers' title, Hamilton believes the car was fundamentally not as good as the Ferrari against which it was competing. "Since I've been here, we've never had a car that was particularly strong aerodynamically," he said at one point last season.

That, in a nutshell, is the big question mark hanging over McLaren on the eve of the 2011 season.

Their drivers are world-class, Hamilton arguably the fastest in the world, and Button - not far behind him on pure pace - possibly the cleverest; the team is well-resourced; and they have fabulous engineering depth. But will the car ultimately be quick enough?

McLaren are aware of where they have fallen short in recent years, and director of engineering Tim Goss talks about "setting ourselves a very ambitious aerodynamic target for 2011".

But, for all the gorgeous curves on their new car, only in Bahrain next month will they begin to get a definitive answer as to whether those targets have either been achieved, or were high enough.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/02/confidence_was_not_in_short.html

John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello

Saturday, February 26, 2011

British GP: "Number Two" driver, Webber takes perfect win

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/y4hqEGVE374/british-gp-number-two-driver-webber.html

Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi

Michael Schumacher has no regrets

400x400_1292271108_spt_ai_italiangrandprix_fri_16

has admitted he "feels good" about his decision to race in Formula One again.

The German driver, who won the world Drivers' Championship seven times, has had a disappointing 2010 season. He had been expected to challenge for the title but ended the season ninth in the standings with 72 points.

He couldn't even beat his team-mate http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/XPnEyiQ-Rws/michael-schumacher-has-no-regrets

Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey

Kubica continues long Haul recovery

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/ucLSnnBOQXU/kubica-continues-long-haul-recovery.html

Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams Walt Ader

NASCAR sponsorships, other racing issues still on agenda

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/02/25/1014778/nascar-sponsorships-other-racing.html

Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi

Hispania F111 Launch pictures ( 8th of February)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/Gh_-2_XSc30/hispania-f111-launch-pictures-8th-of.html

Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot

Five ways to improve F1


Emerson Fittipaldi in his heyday © Sutton Images
In an interview in the Times, former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi?s outlined his five-point plan to enhance Formula One. Cut costs ?They spend a fortune in wind-tunnel testing alone. Reduce costs and the slowest teams would catch up and make it more even.? Limit downforce ?They need to reduce enormously the downforce in the cars, the only way to bring back overtaking. We need more mechanical grip so that you have longer braking areas, can set up the car coming out of a corner, get in the slipstream and then overtake.? Close the pitlane ?When the safety car goes out they should close the pitlane. Now it?s just a lottery.? Lift ban on team orders ?It is a very stupid rule. It?s why they are called teams, it?s why they have two cars. If a driver is leading in the championship, everything has to go in his favour. What is wrong with that? It?s so easy for teams to camouflage their orders anyway. All they need to do is tell one guy on the radio he has a problem with his brakes. They can bend the rules very easily. In the old days they would even swap cars, so why do we have this ban now?? Retain traditional grands prix ?These places are the soul of racing. The Americas are under-represented. We have Canada back, but there is no USA, no Argentina, no Mexico. We need to stay in the heartlands.?

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/five_ways_to_improve_f1.php

Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco Hans Binder

F1 Constructor: Lotus-Renault GP

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/YbAaysebbvk/f1-constructor-lotus-renault-gp.html

Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels

2012 MINI Roadster spied again

The MINI Roadster is sticking close to the concept model that previewed it, although MINI may be hiding some small changes to the rear shoulders and trunk beneath those strips of camouflage.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/o07N9cjt2cU/2012-mini-roadster-spied-again

Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore

Friday, February 25, 2011

Season Review: Force India

Force India?s third season in Formula One saw them finish seventh in the Constructors Championship with 68 points.

Since 2008, Force India have improved considerably year by year and the team can be very proud of what they have achieved in a short amount of time.

Yes they will have been disappointed not to have held onto sixth in Constructors this season. But 2010 ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/ZXUElHbonsI/season-review-force-india

Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams Walt Ader

Dakar adventures

Source: http://www.metrof1.com/blogs/metrof1/2011/01/dakar-adventures.html

Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh

Infiniti M30d S by Zentrum Dealer


Infiniti is one of those brands that tuning firms just skim past while deciding on their next project, so finding a decent package for Nissan’s luxury division is not something we come across on a daily - or even monthly - basis. And today isn’t going to be any different as this custom M30d comes to us from a dealer in Hamburg, Germany, and not a tuning professional.

"Infiniti Zentrum Hamburg" is offering two different stages for their M30d S. The package for Stage 1 includes painted door handles, red brake calipers with Infiniti lettering, a black radiator grille, and a black, foil covered roof. The dealer has also added an H+R suspension which lowers the vehicle by 25mm, as well as performance optimization for the V6 diesel engine. This engine now delivers a total of 280hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, up from the standard 235 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Total price for the Stage 1 package is 5775 euros ($7,947 at the current rates).

For Stage 2, the dealer takes the modifications from the first package and adds a new set of 22" wheels with 265/30R22 Pirelli tires in the front and 295/25R22 in the rear. The wheels add an additional 6800 euros ($9,358 at the current rates).

The dealer also announced that the same packages can be applied to any other Infiniti model in the line-up upon request.

Infiniti M30d S by Zentrum Dealer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 February 2011 16:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/infiniti/2011-infiniti-m30d-s-by-zentrum-dealer-ar105616.html

Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi

F1 gurus lead a revolution in car design

Formula 1 is undergoing a quiet revolution.

In two years' time, the cars that line up on the grid for the start of the 2013 season will be vastly different from those that raced in 2010.

Governing body the FIA has already announced that the current 2.4-litre normally aspirated V8 engines will be replaced by 1.6-litre turbocharged versions with integrated energy recovery systems.

Now, BBC Sport can reveal that, driven by this big change to the engine regulations, the cars will also undergo their own huge revisions.

To the casual observer, they will still look like F1 cars and, importantly, will still go like them. But within the limitations of an open-cockpit, single-seater racing car with exposed wheels, they will be very different from current machines.

Gone will be the huge, snowplough front wings that have been required since the last major change of rules. Gone will be the high, chunky rear wings. Gone, too, will be the high-revving shriek of the engines.

In their place will be a car with much smaller front and rear wings and the much flatter, lower-pitched sound of a lower-revving turbo.

And critically - although largely invisible - there will be a shaped underfloor, replacing the flat bottoms that have been on F1 cars since 1983.

The 1982 Ferrari - a 126C2 - also possessed a small front wing

The 1982 Ferrari - a 126C2 - also possessed a small front wing

These external changes reflect a major change in the philosophy behind the cars and, as with the turbo engines, it is a case of back to the future. As the 1980s dominate the latest High Street fashions, so F1 is borrowing from technologies last seen then and updating them for the 21st century.

F1 last saw turbo engines in 1988. The last time cars had shaped underbodies was 1982. Those were the days of 'ground effect', when designers created huge amounts of aerodynamic downforce - and high cornering speeds - by accelerating the air under the car through the use of curved underfloors to create a 'venturi effect'. This was enhanced by the use of 'skirts', which sealed the underbody and prevented air leaking out of the sides.

We are not talking about a return to those days but the general principle is the same. Just as the cars in the 1979-82 period had small front and rear wings, so will the cars of 2013 and beyond.

The difference now is that whereas in the late 1970s and early '80s aerodynamics in F1 cars were still relatively in their infancy and designers were simply chasing as much as they could, now they are highly refined. And the men behind the proposed new rules are using the underfloor of the car to create efficient - but strictly limited - downforce.

The FIA recognised that if it was to make such a major change to the cars, it needed to be done as effectively and credibly as possible. So to help draw up the new rules they asked two of the most respected and experienced designers they could find - Patrick Head and Rory Byrne.

Between them, Head, the engineering director of Williams, and Byrne, now retired but formerly of Benetton and Ferrari, have won a total of 17 constructors' titles and 15 drivers' titles. They were first approached by FIA president Jean Todt in March 2010.

Among the provisos Head and Byrne were given were: a) at the very least, make sure the changes did not make overtaking any harder than it already is; and b) make the cars a bit harder to drive - the target being for a driver to be able to be on full throttle for only about 50% of the lap, as opposed to the current average of 70%.

The new regulations are being fine-tuned by FIA race director Charlie Whiting this week before being sent to the 12 F1 teams for analysis. In the new year, they will be critiqued at the sport's Technical Working Group, a group of leading engineers who effectively define the technical rules.

Head says "sure as hell there'll be some small changes" there. The basic philosophy, though, is expected to stay the same, while Head says the shaped underfloor is "inevitable".

"It all starts with the fact that we are only going to have roughly 65% of the amount of fuel, and a (limited) fuel flow rate," he explains. "When you're very limited on fuel, it's very clear you've got to reduce drag enormously. OK, the tyres are a very high proportion of the drag but we decided not to put tiny skinny tyres on it because it's still required to go around corners quickly.

"So the next thing you turn to is the massive rear wing we're running at the moment and as soon as you replace that with a much smaller one, it's 'Oh, we've lost all our downforce, so what can we do?' So inevitably you end up with a shaped underside."

This idea has been around for a long time - as long ago as 1998, when another working group, led by the late Dr Harvey Postlethwaite, also suggested reducing the sizes of front and rear wings and re-introducing shaped underfloors. The idea was canned by then FIA president Max Mosley.

Back then, the motivating factor was to improve the racing. In theory, cars designed this way can follow each other more closely than modern F1 cars.

Currently, drivers experience a severe lack of grip when they get to within about a second of a car in front because the airflow to their cars, particularly over the critical front wing, is badly disturbed.

In theory, with smaller wings and a greater proportion of the total downforce coming from under the car, there is less disturbance in the wake of the car in front, so a following car loses less aerodynamic downforce. It therefore retains more grip, allowing drivers to get closer to the car they want to overtake, making passing easier.

Under these new rules, any benefit to the racing will be secondary. The first goal is improving the cars' efficiency.

But it's just possible that, in chasing a goal that is all about keeping F1 in step with a world of diminishing fossil fuels, the effect will be to make overtaking easier.

Chastened by years of rule changes aimed at making cars more raceable that made no discernible difference, those involved are cagey about that for now. But one senior figure will at least admit the thought is on their minds.

"One of the fundamental parts of this," he said, "was that it wouldn't make it worse. But we do believe that if you can ensure there's less disturbance in the wake, that's good."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/12/formula_1_is_undergoing_a_quie.html

Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza John Barber

Abu Dhabi willing to accommodate later date for Bahrain race | 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi race organisers will make room for Bahrain.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/lGZKzq1xnrA/

Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis

Bahrain GP is? postponed

An impeccable source has told me that the Bahrain GP has been postponed – rather than cancelled. Incredibly, because of the commercial implications Bernie Ecclestone is going to try to squeeze it into the schedule at the end of the … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/02/21/bahrain-gp-is-postponed/

Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth

[UPDATE - New photos] Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 image leak No. 2 and 3 - and 4

Once again, the vulnerabilities of the medium have given way to yet another magazine leak.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/_9f0or84FbE/update---new-photos-lamborghini-aventador-lp700-4-image

Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza John Barber

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Video : A Lap around Silverstone with Mark Webber

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/b4IiYlE-V0g/video-lap-around-silverstone-with-mark.html

Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard

Maserati Quattroporte Black Bison by Wald International

Wald International has unveiled their new Black Bison styling package for the Maserati Quattroporte.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/TjSyoWjJjos/maserati-quattroporte-black-bison-by-wald-international

Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard

Riders On the Storm: Thoughts upon Tom Carnegie, Man?s Best Friend and Crashing Ocean waves...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/8Tumi2BYzPU/riders-on-storm-thoughts-upon-tom.html

Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell

Channeling Revell's 1932

I have seen allot of posts with channeled Revell 1932 Sedans and 3 Windows. Is there a thread or article that shows step by step how to channel these kits? Any help would be appreciated.

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/693932.aspx

Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown

Real horsepower in Austin

The United States Grand Prix in Austin has appointed Steve Sexton as its president. Sexton has been involved in management of major sports venues for more than 25 years, beginning at Santa Anita Park, a thoroughbred racetrack in Los Angeles in 1983, he moved on to become assistant marketing director at Canterbury Downs, and then [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/real-horsepower-in-austin/

Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell Alberto Ascari

Lotus Renault confirm Heidfeld as Kubica stand-in

The Lotus Renault Formula One team have announced that German F1 Driver Nick Heidfeld will replace the injured Robert Kubica as a starting driver for the beginning of the F1 2011 season.
Robert Kubica broke several bones and almost lost his right hand in a horrific rally accident earlier this month. He is out of action [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/formula-f1/~3/09_nFyJu4hQ/

Stefan Bellof Paul Belmondo Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise

GMC Granite gets green-lighted - report

The stunning GMC Granite concept could be headed for production as a new report is indicating GM has green-lighted the ambitious Scion xB rival.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/AymlPtmHSdM/gmc-granite-gets-green-lighted---report

Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis