Volkswagen rolled out its all-new Beetle TDI today prior to its debut at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show press day that is just under a week away. The oil-burning clean-diesel Bug promises 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway, all wrapped in the Beetle’s redesigned look.

Following the 2.5-liter and Turbo gasoline models, the Beetle TDI uses VW’s familiar 2-liter turbodiesel engine that puts out 140-horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and which can be found in the current Golf and Jetta TDI models. The first diesel in a Beetle since 2006, the most fundamental improvement in the new engine is a switch to an efficient common-rail fuel-injection system and raising displacement to 2 liters from 1.9 via wider cylinder bores.

Paired with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions, the Beetle TDI is also available in three core trim lines: TDI, TDI with Sunroof, and TDI with Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation.

The uninventive yet highly descriptive names give away the differences: the base Beetle TDI comes with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, a chrome interior/exterior package, and a standard audio system; the Sunroof model adds a sunroof plus an upgraded audio to a Premium VIII audio system with a touchscreen color display, six-disc changer and an SD card reader; and the top-tier model brings a Fender premium audio system, RNS 315 navigation system with five-inch touchscreen display and a 400-watt Panasonic subwoofer.

The Beetle TDI goes on sale this summer as a 2013 model.

Joe Denette Motorsports announced Friday that AM FM-Energy.com, a provider of alternative energy solutions, will continue its support of the second-year team as an active player in its 2012 sponsorship lineup. The Virginia-based company will be an associate sponsor for Ron Hornaday‘s No. 9 Chevrolet and rookie teammate Max Gresham‘s No. 24 Chevrolet.

“AM FM-Energy.com is proud to partner with Joe Denette Motorsports again for the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season,” said Andy Mays, president of AM FM-Energy.com. “With a veteran like Ron Hornaday and an up and coming rookie like Max Gresham, we know the duo will be powerful spokesmen for our brand. As a small company in Virginia that sells pellet and wood stoves on our website, we know the power of a NASCAR partnership. We look for both drivers to ‘heat things up’ in 2012.”

AM FM-Energy.com, based in Amherst, Va., is celebrating its seventh year in business as a provider of alternative energy solutions. The company specializes in multi-fuel stoves, wood stoves and pellet stoves, and is also a distributor of the Timber Ridge line of wood and pellet stoves from England Stove Works.

AM FM-Energy.com sponsored Elliott Sadler‘s No. 24 Joe Denette Motorsports entry in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway. Sadler captured JDM’s first Keystone Light Pole Award and led 53 laps en route to a ninth-place finish.

“After partnering with JDM and Elliott Sadler in last year’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol, we saw a tremendous boost in sales through our online store,” said Mays. “We hope this is a winning combination for both sides and we wish Joe, Ron and Max the best of luck in 2012.”

On Tuesday, Joe Denette Motorsports, in conjunction with FoSho Italian Sports Bar, catered lunch to the employees of England Stove Works and AM FM-Energy.com.

The boyish smile hasn’t abandoned him. Nor has the familiar twinkle in his eye.

Hang around Joey Logano for long enough, and both will be on prominent display sooner rather than later.

Yet this Joey is different from the Joey who burst onto the Sprint Cup scene three years ago brimming with the unbridled optimism you might expect from an 18-year-old being billed as the next big thing.

Now 21 and with three full Cup seasons under his belt, Logano no longer feels like the world-beater he did before joining NASCAR’s top series.

He’s experienced the trials and tribulations that come with competing 38 weekends out of the year against 42 of the world’s best stock-car drivers.

He’s learned how to win, but more often, how to handle losing.

He’s angered fellow competitors, worried about his future and even sought advice from a sports psychologist along the way.

In sum: Logano has grown up fast.

“Eighteen years old, you’re still a kid,” Logano said. “There’s a lot of life lessons that you have not gone through. As much as I had been thrown out into the real world from a young age, there’s still a lot of things you haven’t been through. I feel like I’ve been through a lot, especially last year, and it makes you a very strong person. Like everyone says, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. I’ve experienced that a lot and I think it’s great. You’ve got to go through that time to enjoy the good times.”

Good times were certainly scarce for Logano during the 2011 Sprint Cup season. Coming off a solid sophomore Cup campaign that ended on a particularly promising note, Logano had every reason to believe 2011 might be his breakout season.

Instead, his confidence and his communication with veteran crew chief Greg Zipadelli broke down. Logano failed to win a race for the second straight year, finished a career-worst 24th in points and began to face questions about his future with Joe Gibbs Racing.

At the suggestion of team owner Joe Gibbs, Logano began meeting with a sports psychologist around midseason in hopes of gaining a more positive outlook.

Logano’s outlook did improve but his results never consistently did. Zipadelli left after the season to become competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing, prompting JGR to promote Nationwide crew chief Jason Ratcliff to lead Logano’s No. 20 Cup team.

Logano and Ratcliff know each other well, having won races together in Nationwide, so the combination could be stout. For Logano, who is in a contract year, anything less than a Chase berth and couple wins may not cut the mustard with JGR’s top brass.

“If it wasn’t a contract year, if the pressure wasn’t there, if we didn’t have a high-profile race team, if our teammates weren’t out there bidding for a championship – then we might sit back on our heels and take it easy,” Ratcliff said. “We don’t want to do that. If we’re going to be successful, we want to go out there and take everything we can and take a really hard-nosed, high-pressure approach to being successful and not really set our expectations too low. We want our expectations to be somewhat intimidating to us. Otherwise we’re going to sell ourselves short.”

When Logano entered the Cup Series in 2009, few expected the Connecticut native to be on the hot seat three years later. But since winning a rain-shortened race at New Hampshire in the summer of his rookie season, Logano hasn’t returned to victory lane.

He’s missed the Chase all three seasons while teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have been regulars in the championship field. Rumors of Logano’s possible exit from the company picked up last summer when JGR was courting free agent Carl Edwards.

Edwards eventually re-signed with Roush Fenway Racing, protecting Logano’s seat for the immediate future, but the experience of not knowing exactly where he stood took its toll.

“Positive thinking is very important, no matter what’s going on,” Logano said. “And that’s something I learned more last year than I ever thought. I went to a sports psychologist. When you talk to those people you find a new way of going to the race track and a whole new way of thinking about a lot of things. And that’s very, very important. I was able to see some of the gains that you can make through that stuff. When you’re down, you’ll look at anything, and I think that was some really good things to look at.”

Logano was initially skeptical about taking the psychologist route, but changed his tune.

“I was against it at first,” he said. “I said, ‘I don’t need strength. I’m good.’ But it’s not that. It’s confidence. It’s not like you’re screwed up in the head, it’s not like you’re a weirdo. I think it’s good for anybody. I have a whole new outlook on the whole thing. I’d recommend it to anybody. I think it’s a very smart move.”

But a fresh perspective alone won’t be enough to keep Logano at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013.

“At the end of the day you’ve got to go, you’ve got to perform,” said team president J.D. Gibbs. “We struggled last year but I think him having Jason there in his corner is real valuable, and having those crew chiefs all working together. So we really feel like big things are in store for Joey for 2012.”

Logano hears the message loud and clear.

“Wasn’t it time to go last year?” he quipped with a hint of sarcasm. “That means exactly what it says. What am I going to say? I don’t argue with that. In my eyes, we should have went three years ago. I know the potential’s there. I know I have it in me. I know my team’s got it in them. So no excuses. We’re going for it.”

Jared Turner is an Associate Editor for SPEED.com, covering NASCAR and Formula One, and is an Editor for TruckSeries.com. His professional motorsports writing career began in 2005.

Narain Karthikeyan has been confirmed for the second HRT seat, alongside Pedro de la Rosa, according to Adam Cooper of SPEED.com.

The Indian was dropped by the team in favor of Daniel Ricciardo halfway through last year, but returned to drive in his home event in Delhi.

He was hopeful of finding sponsorship for 2012 – given the boost in interest in India that weekend – and he appears to have done just that.

The Spanish team, which is clearly in urgent need of funding, said that he was re-hired on the basis of “the principle of continuity contributing to the stability and reliability of the team and, at the same time, offering Narain Karthikeyan the necessary confidence to progress.”

Karthikeyan won’t drive until the second test at Barcelona at the end of this month, although it’s not clear whether the 2012 car will be ready by then.

Karthikeyan said:

“It has taken a lot of hard work to make this happen but I am absolutely elated to feature on the 2012 grid with HRT F1 Team. I was pleased with our strong performance at the Indian Grand Prix, in front of my passionate home fans, and I look forward to building on this result in 2012. I have been training hard since the end of 2011, ensuring I was ready for the rigors of F1 if an opportunity arose. I am delighted to have signed with HRT F1 Team.

“With the new management, Pedro, and the team, there is definite potential for progress. We need to understand that F1 is new to India, we hosted our first race only last year which was a resounding success. To build on that momentum, an Indian driver will certainly keep the interest engaged throughout the season. I am proud to secure an opportunity to forge a stronger connection between India and Formula One once again.”

Team boss Luis Perez Sala added:

“I am pleased to count with Narain for this season, as he will contribute continuity and stability. He is a quick, intuitive and secure driver who met his expectations despite a lack of continuity last year.

“Of the eight Grands Prix he contested in 2011, he only failed to finish on one occasion and had a great performance in the last race he took part in. I’m sure that the fact that he will continue to work and drive on a regular basis will help him take a step forward this season. And if he advances, so does the team. This is a year in which you could say that the team starts from scratch and everyone’s input will be fundamental.”

Join Bob and Paul Milhous as they discuss highlights from their private museum, to be offered for sale this February by RM Auctions in association with Sotheby’s.

In evaluating the numerous prospects campaigning for a seat in the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda-powered Indy car for the 2012 season, the Indianapolis-based team was searching for the right balance of speed, success and experience to lead it into the new era of IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

With his glittering Formula 1 resume and strong recent results demonstrating his continuing climb up the IndyCar Series grid, Takuma Sato proved to have all of the tools for the job, as the team named the Japanese veteran to pilot the team’s #15 Dallara/Honda/Firestone – one of its two Indy cars in 2012.

Sato, who made 91 starts over seven seasons in Formula 1, joins RLL after making great strides in IndyCar in 2011. A two-time IndyCar Series polesitter last year, Sato looks to build on a successful sophomore season that saw him earn three top-five finishes, seven top-10s and lead 61 laps on his way to a 13th-place finish in the point standings.

“RLL is extremely pleased to welcome Takuma to our IndyCar Series team for 2012, and we anticipate having a very strong season together,” said team co-owner Bobby Rahal. “While we were determined to have an experienced driver for this season, we also needed someone that knew how to get to the front and Takuma has shown that he can do that, and we expect to have a great opportunity to win races this year. He has made great strides through the last two seasons in IndyCar and I have no doubt that we can produce a strong effort with him leading the team.”

Takuma made his Indy car debut in 2010 and made great improvements in 2011, gaining speed and positions as he visited the circuits of the series for the second time. In 2011 the IZOD IndyCar Series competed on 11 tracks that were also on the 2010 schedule, and Sato improved his finish from 2010 on seven of those circuits.

“I’m very proud, motivated and excited to be chosen by Bobby to join his big project,” Sato said. “This team I feel has got huge potential. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has got a great history and record of winning so my motivation is ever so high and I am extremely thrilled to start the new season. With a new car for everybody, I am confident that we’ll be up to speed very quickly.”

RLL returns to full-time IZOD IndyCar Series competition in 2012 for the first time since 2008. That season saw Ryan Hunter-Reay finish seventh in the final series standings, marking the 11th consecutive year that a RLL driver finished the year in the top-10 in driver points. The winners of the 1992 IndyCar championship as well as the 2004 Indianapolis 500, RLL Indy cars have finished in the top 10 in more than half of its 587 career series starts.

The RLL squad is currently readying the car for its first preseason tests and expects to participate in the IndyCar Series open testing at Sebring in March. The team is also finalizing its plans for a second car and intends to have it ready for preseason testing as well. The final sponsor and driver lineup for 2012 will be announced in the near future.

OAK Racing has secured three of the 56 entries for this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours on June 16/17 following an announcement by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest in Paris on Thursday.

After first stepping up to the premier prototype class last season, the French outfit – based at the Le Mans Technoparc – will return with a single Judd-powered OAK-Pescarolo LMP1 with the full intention of challenging for conventional petrol-powered honors.

A strong challenge will also be mounted in the junior prototype category after a pair of Morgan LMP2s – prepared by OAK Racing and designed by its constructor division Onroak Automotive – also secured grid slots. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the famous British marque’s only class victory at Le Mans to date, a record the team will hope to add to in 2012 following three podium finishes in the past four years.

An extremely competitive 30-car entry list (18 of which are prototypes) for the newly-created FIA World Endurance Championship was also revealed in Paris at the headquarters of TF1 whose Eurosport television channel will broadcast live WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours coverage throughout 2012.

As confirmed yesterday, OAK Racing will field a single OAK-Pescarolo LMP1 in the eight-round global sportscar championship alongside a Morgan LMP2.

OAK Racing’s full driver line-ups for this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and WEC will be announced at a later date.

Jacques Nicolet, OAK Racing Team Owner:

“The fact that as many private teams have entered LMP1 as LMP2 is, for me, complete proof of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s appeal, so understandably I am extremely enthusiastic about the fact that OAK Racing has secured two prototype slots.

“The entire team is also delighted to be part of Morgan’s Le Mans 24 Hours return with a pair of LMP2s. In putting together an exceptional entry list – perhaps amongst the best in the race’s 80-year history – the ACO offers us an opportunity to express ourselves in an ultra-competitive environment. It’s an environment that will hopefully see OAK Racing fully demonstrate its qualities as a team and its pair of LMP2 Morgans.

“In addition, we have decided to enter just one LMP1 in the WEC and at the Le Mans 24 Hours as we concentrate our resources in finding improved performance. Nevertheless, a second LMP1 and dedicated technical team will be devoted to a development programme throughout the year that will not only advance future evolutions but also build towards the new technical regulations due in 2014.”

This year’s FIA World Endurance Championship kicks off with the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida on March 17.

The Spanish bank Santander has extended its major sponsorship contract with Formula One team Ferrari yet again.

On the day of the launch of the famous Italian team’s new F2012 car, Europa Press news agency reports that the three-year contract extension will now push the existing Santander deal through to the end of 2017.

The report said the new deal involves increased signage on the car’s livery, whilst Santander continues to sponsor the Italian, British, German and Spanish grands prix.

The bank’s chairman Emilio Botin said on Friday he is “delighted”.

“Our sponsorship with Ferrari is the best marketing operation in the 150 year history of the bank,” he said.

Scottish sportscar ace Marino Franchitti has been selected as the first driver for the unique DeltaWing program that will debut at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Franchitti’s name was revealed Thursday at the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) press conference that announced the entries for this year’s twice round-the-clock endurance classic.

Launched at last year’s Le Mans event, the DeltaWing program was awarded the 56th entry for this year’s 80th running of the race. “Garage 56″ is reserved for an entry demonstrating new and innovative technology previously unseen in the sport.

“It is so different from everything I have ever seen and everything that I have known a racing car to be – my initial reaction was “what is this?” – it really takes your breath away,” Franchitti said.

“When you look at the people behind the program like Ben Bowlby, Don Panoz, Duncan Dayton and somebody like Dan Gurney who is a hero of mine – if they have faith in this program, then that gives me a lot of confidence.

“I am so excited about getting the opportunity to drive the car. I have no doubt in my mind that it is going to turn, but I am really looking forward to finding out how it is going to feel and how it will work as a package.

“I have nothing to compare this against. Like the car itself, I will be going in with a clean sheet of paper and will start exploring the limits.”

The Project 56 DeltaWing program brings together American Le Mans Series founder Don Panoz; American racing legend Dan Gurney’s All American Racers organization who is building the car; two-time ALMS championship winning team owner and Le Mans entrant, Highcroft Racing’s Duncan Dayton; and award-winning DeltaWing designer, Ben Bowlby.

Franchitti has worked with members of the consortium in the past. The Scotsman drove for Highcroft in 2010 and 2011 – winning at Laguna Seca and taking second place at last year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring. He also previously drove for Don Panoz in 2004 and 2005.

“It is not something that has been done before and it kind of feels like when the first rear engine F1 car hit the track, or the first car with a wing, or the first ground effects car – the DeltaWing will be so new and unique and I am really honored to be given this opportunity,” Franchitti said.

“In recent times, we really haven’t seen major advances like this – great leaps and changes. Technological steps have been quite small and now it is very exciting to be a part of something this huge.

“Being somebody who loves the history of the sport, I am really looking forward to experiencing something that my heroes experienced.

“Those opportunities don’t come along every day. I’m looking forward to being that guy who can say – “yes, I turned the wheel and round the corner it went’”

“I have obviously worked with Duncan and Highroft Racing recently and Don Panoz gave me a great opportunity early in my career – it is great to be involved with those guys again.”

The DeltaWing car is set to enter the Windshear wind tunnel early this month with the first test laps scheduled to take place soon after.

The 2012 Daytona 500 will boast a record purse of more than $19 million, and the winner of NASCAR‘s biggest race is guaranteed a minimum $1.4 million.

Daytona International Speedway also announced Wednesday a $200,000 bonus for the driver leading at the halfway point.

DIS President Joie Chitwood believes the bonus is incentive for drivers to race up front and not lay back in the February 26 season-opening race.