Automotive

Kimi Raikkonen expects little change to the pecking order in Barcelona

2013-05-11T00:36:00.000-07:00

Although the majority of the field arrived in Spain with upgrades to their cars, each step forward was negated by rivals making similar improvements.

Thus Raikkonen, who finished Friday's running fourth on the timesheets - 0.222s adrift of Sebastian Vettel, reckons there will be no surprises come Sunday.

"It doesn't look like it," Raikkonen said. "It's very similar to how it has been before in the races.

"So it's more about whoever gets it right I think in certain races, certain circumstances, they're the ones that are going to be up there."

Lotus was one of those teams to update their car, however, given the different conditions between the last time he was at Barcelona in pre-season testing and Friday's running, the Finn says it's difficult to compare the difference.

"You cannot really compare it because the last time we were here was the winter so obviously the car has changed since then a lot.

"From the last race you can say every day can be different so it's OK; we have some things we have to improve but that's pretty normal."

Press courtesy PlanetF1

Riders comment to dramatic final turn in Jerez

2013-05-11T00:24:00.002-07:00

With the dust settled at Jerez after a dramatic race-day, marked in particular by the last corner incident between Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo, motogp.com caught up with some of the riders in a slightly more relaxed environment at the Monday post-race test to gauge their opinion on the move.

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team

“It’s the final lap, it’s an aggressive move obviously. I guess if they hadn’t touched Marc would run out of track. So it means he was a little too late on the brakes. But you know - they touched in this certain point of the corner. It was kind of similar to turn one at the start in Austin, but I had time to see him coming. Just hope it doesn’t come again in the next ones.”

Colin Edwards, NGM Mobile Forward Racing

“It’s racing motorcycles isn’t it? You know, any time you’ve got this amount of people and you’ve got the passion….and especially Marquez. We’re in Spain! That kind of thing happens around here, it happens anywhere in the world. It doesn’t matter whose side you’re on – take it or leave it – that’s racing motorcycles.”

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team

“I think Marquez was quite aggressive, but I don’t think it was over the limit. But sure we have to just speak in the Safety Commission about that, just to be clear about the rules. I mean, everybody has to know how we can fight. But anyway, it was hard, but I don’t think over the limit.”

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

“It’s a hard attack for sure, and a hard overtake from Marc. He touched Jorge, but it’s the last lap, the last corner, and sure the guy behind tries something. Jorge kept the door open and Marc went inside, so I think it’s something that can happen in racing. “ Press Courtesy MotoGP.com

Ducati Team completes setup test at Mugello

2013-05-11T00:18:00.001-07:00

Fresh off of last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix and Monday’s post-race test at Jerez, Ducati Team riders Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden were back on track Wednesday and Thursday, this time at Mugello.

As the Tuscan circuit is one of the team’s selected test tracks, this was an opportunity to carry out important setup work with the Desmosedici GP13, with an eye toward the Italian Grand Prix, set to take place at Mugello 31 May - 2 June.

Thanks to perfect weather conditions—similar to those that accompanied last year’s Grand Prix at Mugello—the team was able to take full advantage of the planned day and a half of track time, with Dovizioso riding 42 laps on Wednesday and 54 on Thursday, and Hayden turning 29 and 60, respectively. Both riders rode with hard and soft versions of the Bridgestone tyres that will be used at the GP.

The Ducati Team was joined at Mugello by the Ducati Test Team, with Michele Pirro testing in preparation for next week’s French Grand Prix, where he'll compete as a substitute rider for Ignite Pramac Racing Team’s Ben Spies, while Franco Battaini continued development work with the laboratory version of the GP13.

Andrea Dovizioso - Ducati Team (96 laps) “It was an interesting day and a half because the conditions were really good for testing for the race. It was quite warm, and the temperature this afternoon was similar to what we normally have here for the Grand Prix, so true race conditions. The lap times weren’t bad, but we must improve our pace, although it’s difficult to talk about times since we don’t really have any references. However, I will say that I think this track is better suited to the Ducati’s characteristics.”

Nicky Hayden - Ducati Team (89 laps) "I wasn't sure of my physical condition, but my wrist was actually a bit better than at Jerez. We didn't do a lot of laps, but for the first time in a long time, we had great weather here at Mugello. We were able to do some things with the chassis and geometry that we had wanted to try at the first three races, along with a couple of things with the electronics. We’ll know how our pace compares when we’re here with the other teams in a few weeks. A big thanks to the team, as it's not easy for them to do a big GP weekend, plus a post-race test, and then pack up and do another day and a half of testing in a different country. Hopefully it will help us to make the home fans proud when we come back here for the race."

Press release courtesy of Ducati Corse - MotoGp.com

probes Chevy Corvette headlight problem

2013-05-11T00:11:00.000-07:00

U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the low-beam headlights can go dark without warning on some Chevrolet Corvettes.

The probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers more than 103,000 Corvettes from the 2005 through 2007 model years.

The agency says it has gotten 30 complaints from owners about low-beam headlight failure. No crashes or injuries have been reported. But in one case a driver ran over a discarded tire while trying to pull off the road.

The high-beam headlights and fog lights keep working even if the low beams fail. But the agency says driving with the high beams all the time can harm vision of oncoming drivers.

Investigators will check into how often the problem happens and decide if a recall is needed.

Dahlan Iskan on the test drive accident

2013-01-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

State-owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan could be a suspect in a Tucuxi electric car test drive accident that occurred in Dadi village, Plaosan sub-district, Magetan district, East Java, on January 5.

"The East Java Regional Police will look into the case on January 9," said Magetan`s Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agus Santosa.

Agus said the police will work closely with other agencies to examine the technical requirements and feasibility of the prototype, the Tucuxi electric car.

Meanwhile, the East Java Police`s traffic directorate head, Adjunct Police Commissioner Ade Safri Simanjuntak, said based on the team`s tentative conclusion, the accident had occurred because of the driver`s oversight.

"Therefore, Dahlan could be a suspect in the case," said Ade.

The minister had violated several articles of Law 22, Year 2009, on Traffic and Road Transportation. He had breached Article 310, paragraph 1, Article 280, and Article 64, paragraph 1, on negligence that causes accidents, with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of 1 million rupiah.

According to Article 280 and Article 64, paragraph 1, if an individual violates the rules of registration and identification of motor vehicles, he/she can face a maximum penalty of two months imprisonment or a maximum fine of 500 thousand rupiah.

"The `DI 19` license plate attached to the electric car was not officially registered. After investigations, the police found that the license plate was not registered with the Integrated Administration Service, Samsat," said Ade.

Dahlan Iskan was testing an electric car worth 1.5 billion Rupiah on January 5, when the car`s brakes failed, resulting in an accident in Plaosan, Magetan.

Source :http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/86683/dahlan-iskan-could-be-a-suspect-in-test-drive-accident

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Ferrari rules out F1 return for Schumacher

2013-01-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

Schumacher, 43, is returning to retirement in 2013 as, at the end of his unsuccessful three-year comeback, Mercedes replaces him with Lewis Hamilton.

As for whether the great German - who won five consecutive titles for Ferrari last decade - might enjoy a second F1 comeback, team president Luca di Montezemolo said: "That will not happen.

"It is a pity he did not win another race (in his comeback), nevertheless it was right of him to retire now," the Italian added.

Montezemolo also played down new reports he might soon launch a bid to become prime minister of Italy.

"No, I would not want that," he insisted. "Besides my family, Ferrari is my great love."

Source :http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-rules-out-f1-return-for-schumacher

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Jorge Lorenzo: Ducati has masked Valentino Rossi

2013-01-13T09:44:00.001-08:00

Jorge Lorenzo feels Ducati's struggles over the past two MotoGP seasons have masked 2013 Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi's true pace.

The seven-time champion won twice and claimed 10 podiums during his final year with Yamaha in 2010, finishing third in the championship.

Following his switch to Ducati he has experienced the first two winless seasons of his MotoGP career, with just three podiums - only one of them in the dry – to boast.

Rossi said in November that he had learned nothing during his barren two-year spell with the Italian marque.

Lorenzo believes Ducati's 'complicated' bikes have been key to Rossi's recent struggles, predicting that the Italian could once again become a frontrunner with Yamaha.

"Its true, the Ducati bike seems to be very complicated," Lorenzo admitted earlier this month at the Race of Champions.

"Only Casey [Stoner] won a championship and races with it, so for sure it's not easy.

"Vale is a strong rider, and really complete, but he couldn't [win] with it.

"Maybe with Yamaha he returns again to a high level."

Lorenzo reiterated his initial reaction that Rossi's return to Yamaha was a boost for both himself and the team.

"Vale coming again to Yamaha is good for the brand because we [will be an] even more competitive team than last year," he said.

"He has a very high motivation to keep fighting for wins, so I'm really looking forward to his performance on the Yamaha."

Source :http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104938

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