Harcik does it again

Busch lost ground when he was penalized for a line violation because he ran against the inside backstretch wall when the race was under caution to try to straighten out a bent fender, but still managed to lead the race for 139 laps and finished a respectable 17th. Busch had company in this accident filled affair that saw a total of 13 cautions during the race, the first one slowing the race on the first lap.

Ron Hornaday finished second in his Chevrolet, Mike Skinner third in a Toyota that ran pretty well, Johnny Benson finished fourth on a day where his Toyota held together pretty good, while the race pole-sitter Rick Crawford managed to stay in the race and finished fifth to round out the top five. Stacy Compton ran sixth in his Toyota, Dennis Setzer came seventh in a Chevrolet, Brian Scott came eighth in a Toyota, Matt Crafton ninth, and Ken Schrader tenth on this day at Martinsville Speedway.

Kyle Busch stays on top of the series points race, despite his poor finish and a partial race schedule which will see him miss the next race at Kansas Speedway, over a Todd Bodine who had trouble with the track and drivers, finishing 18th because of two different accidents, the last of which happened with just two laps to the checkered flag, and put the race under a caution flag for the last few laps.

Images Newscom.com

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Kevin Harvick Wins Kroger 250

The 2009 Formula One Season Begins

The rules changes did bring about a lot closer racing and allowed the drivers to pass one another on the track as they were designed to do, which made for an exciting and adrenalin filled experience as the cars and drivers jockeyed for position with each other. Red Bull, Toyota, Williams, and BMW did run pretty fast, managing to keep pretty good pace through out the race, but couldn’t manage to match Brawn’s pace.

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello matched a feat driving for Brawn that was first accomplished in the 1954 French Grand Prix at Rheims by Mercedes-Benz by finishing one-two at the line. Button started on the pole and never relinquished the lead, while Barrichello had problems at the start line, damaged his car at various points, but still managed to somehow finish second.

Toyota showed encouraging signs of pace that allowed Timo Glock to finish fourth, while Jarno Trulli was penalized 25 seconds, which kept him from finishing better.

Kovalainen was done for the day after being involved in an accident involving Barrichello, Heidfeld, Webber, and Sutil, but Hamilton picked up the ball and drove line a demon, finishing a nice third after Trulli’s 25 second penalty was factored in.

Renault had a pretty tough race; Alonso was behind after being stopped by the first corner traffic jam, while Piquet started well before developing brake problems that pushed the Spaniard back in the pack, before he raced his way to sixth, which became fifth place after Trulli’s penalty.

Rosberg finished in sixth for Williams, but did have the fastest recorded lap of the race, while the seeming accident prone Nakajima once again found himself on the side lines after a driving error on the 18th lap.

Nick Heidfeld placed tenth at the finish for BMS Sauber, while Robert Kubica ran well, almost catching up to Button, before being finished for the day after a crash on lap 55.

Red Bull’s Vettel showed enough pace to keep up with Brawn and was sitting in 2nd threatening to take the lead before his choice of tires brought his battle to an end. Vettel was fined $50,000 after the race for his decision and will relinquish 10 grid places when F1 gets to Malaysia.

Ferrari was an accident waiting for a place to happen, unfortunately tire choices at the start meant they never really challenged for points and fell way back, and both cars failed to finish the race.

Image Newscom.com

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Race Results Australian Grand Prix

The changes will mean that after ten years driving on grooved tires, Formula One will be using slicks in 2009; with no grooves the performance gains will be noticeable for both the drivers and the fans in the straight parts of the track. The corners will be a little different, however, since the revised aerodynamic regulations implemented will mean the down-force in the corners will be significantly reduced, which will definitely decrease the cars performance when traveling through the corners.

The winds of change are coming through

Teams will also have the option of employing a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to recover kinetic energy generated when the car brakes, store it, and then make it available to the driver in quantum amounts per lap using a “boost button” located on the steering wheel.

The FIA wants to increase reliability even more, so they are putting in limits on the revs, from 19,000 to 18,000 rpm; limiting drivers to 8 engines for the F1 season; implementing new dimensional regulations to reduce the cars aerodynamic performance, and hopefully increase a drivers’ ability to pass during the race. Teams and drivers won’t be allowed to test during the F1 season from the week before the first race until December 31 and 15,000 kilometers will be the maximum limit for testing. The pit lane will stay open during safety-car periods, so drivers will have the option of refueling during this time without being penalized and if two drivers are tied in wins at the end of the season, the championship will be awarded to the driver and team with the most race points.

March 26th, well get to see just what effect these changes really have when the drivers take the track in Melbourne, it should be interesting, and informative.

See you there!

Image: Newscom.com

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The Winds of Change Blow Over Formula One

The 2009 season will see the world come to the start line

The Moto GP World Championship has seen mostly Spaniards and Italians carrying the checkered flag around the track in recent times, but in 2009 many countries are planning on sending teams to compete for the championship. This year Finland, San Marino, Austria, Netherlands, Russia, and Thailand will all be represented by riders, each hoping to blaze their own trail across the world of Moto GP, become national and world racing heroes and make Moto GP racing history.

Mike Kallio rides for the honor of Finnish fans

Ratthapark Wilairot is already a hero for his work in the development of motorcycle racing in Thailand, the most celebrated rider in Thailand, and the first Moto GP competitor from Thailand. A popular athlete in Thailand he has shown steady progress on the 250cc grid and could become a iconic figure if he continues his success.
Russian Vladimir Leonov will be competing in the 250cc class, ending a long hiatus for full-time GP Moto competitors from Russia that last saw Nikolai Sevostavanov and Endel Kiisa competing in the 250cc and 500cc classes in the 1960s.

San Carlo Honda Gresini GP Racing Team

Alex de Angelis will be riding his 800cc sportbike for the second year in the premier class, repesenting San Marino he has been carrying the flag for his country since the departure of the Republic’s only GP winner, Manuel Poggiali in 2001 and 2003.

Finnish racer Mika Kallio will be attempting to increase Finland’s title haul to two in 2009, as he follows the trail first blazed by Finland’s only title holder, Jarno Saarinen, using the familiar “hang off” riding style he developed racing his motorcycle on ice tracks in Finland.
The Netherlands is has a sparse representation in the lower cc classes, with Michael Ranseder and recent arrival Jasper Iwema being the only representative from a country that has seen fewer and fewer riders competing in recent years.

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Moto GP Stays Hot

The 2009 Dodge Journey

This is the auto kind of taking the place of the sweet, sophisticated (and wildly expensive) Pacifica. Unlike some other reviewers, I did like the look of that crossover. What I didn’t like was the tiny interior. Oh, and the price. Did I mention it cost a bundle??

In any event, the Pacifica has been phased out and the Journey has been phased in. I was very hopeful there would also be an improvement in fuel efficiency, and they did okay with the base model.

We’re looking at 19 mpg city/ 25 mpg highway in the base model. It goes downhill from there.

• The seats are flat and uncomfortable
• The back seats are cramped and unreasonable for 3rd row
• Steering in AWD feels wiggy, and tough to handle

Probably the biggest complaint I’m hearing from people is over the bargain-basement style interior – a sharp contrast to the Pacifica’s cutting edge style.

There are some benefits, of course. If you REALLY need storage, the Journey has it built in. There are features up the wazoo – including SiriusTV which will be available in models later this year. Oh, and there’s the “chill zone” in the glove box that will keep your drinks cold. That is pretty cool. Any way you want it, that’s the way you’ll get it, but for a hefty price tag for the overall value.

All of that said, when you look at this from the eco-friendly point-of-view, the Dodge Journey is more harmful than the award-winning Subaru Forester (by a full four mpg in AWD) and then there’s the hybrid version of the Saturn Vue, which is only getting better this year.

While I personally did stop and take a second look at the 2009 Dodge Journey, I wouldn’t recommend buying one. The comfort level doesn’t match its inexhaustible list of features, and sure doesn’t justify the cost of having them.

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Some will win, Some will lose

Meet the Alias

Features:

0 – 60 mph in 5.7 seconds

Max. speed of 156 mph

100+ miles per charge

Safety features are questionable at this point, but there is – surprise – a deposit program in place. You can stake your claim for the tidy sum of $5,000.00.

So, what do you think? The styling reminds me a little bit of a wasp. Or a silver Batmobile. I’m not a big fan of how it looks, maybe a little cheesy … or plastic-y. It doesn’t compare to the Fisker Karma or the Tesla Roadster, but then, it doesn’t compare in price either.

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$30k Electric Sports Car

Kia hopes to open up the market by providing consumers with a more affordable hybrid. The electric motor works as a helper to the gas engine during start-up and acceleration. It turns off while cruising, and recharges during deceleration. It also is the first Kia to feature CVT and computerized start-stop, which personally, sounds a little wonky.

From Kia’s Press release:

computer-controlled stop/start motoring which switches both engine and motor off whenever the car comes to a standstill for more than a few seconds.

Does that mean it shuts off whenever you’re idling? I would think that would cause a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on the car. I’m tired though, and dealing with two sick kids :( so I might not be getting the point right now. lol Funny how my brain doesn’t function how it used to, when I only had myself to worry about.

The company is claiming a 44% increase in fuel efficiency (to 53 mpg) and a 37% decrease in emissions. I’ll be happy to see how affordable they can offer this technology to people.

*photos from KiaMotors.com

Sources:

NZHerald

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Kia to release Hybrid Rio in 2009

Tesla’s got a fight on their hands now that luxury car design genius Pininfarina, creators of the Ferrari P4/5 and Maserati Granturismo, joins forces with the Bolloré Group to create a new electric car.

The French-based Bolloré Group developed a high-performance lithium metal polymer battery used in the BlueCar prototype. The car is planned to travel 155 miles per charge, with seating for four, and a top speed of 80 miles per hour.

They say the Pininfarina auto will be ready by 2009, and begin leasing in Europe, the US and Japan starting around $700 a month.

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL2138653520071221
http://jalopnik.com/336642/pininfarina-and-french-company-to-develop-electric-car http://news.monstersandcritics.com/business/news/article_1382568.php/French_Italian_companies_to_develop_all-electric_car http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/06/video-french-electric-la-bluecar-in-action/

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Pininfarina and Bolloré Group to Release Electric by 2009

However, Honda says they’re offering what American consumers will be after – cute, quick cars with better gas mileage than their counterparts. Along with the Fit, and popular Civic sedan, the company intends on releasing a new 5-seater hybrid in 2009 that should drum up interest.

On one hand, I think Honda’s performance in the hybrid market has a tinge of tragedy. They were the first major car company to streamline the technology with the release of their hybrid Civic and two-seater insight, but those efforts were quickly overshadowed by the Toyota Prius.

On the other hand, the company’s plans seem somewhat unrealistic. Toyota held 79% of hybrid sales in the US in the last quarter, and they’re anticipating no rise in sales for next year. Honda’s President, Takeo Fukui, hails interest in “gas-sippers” like the popular Honda Fit, Civic, and newly redesigned Accord to boost their numbers.

A romantic could hope the best for Honda, and drivers looking for more ecologically friendly options will certainly appreciate the push. We’re also waiting to see the outcome of the FCX Clarity lease program later this year running in California.

Sources:

Wall Street Journal

Business Week

CNN Money

Bloomberg

Post from: EveryJoe

Honda looks to Fit and new 5-seater hybrid to boost US sales

I read about the sporty new Corolla, the increased power, and the additional luxury features and thought it was going to take a hit in mpg and emissions. How did I know? The 2008 Toyota Corolla base model gets 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on bigger roads. The 2009 Corolla will see that decrease to 27/35 mpg. That’s not too bad, but it’s not a move forward. t’s beefed-up model poses the real problem. In the XRS, fitted with a 2.4-liter, 158 hp engine, fuel consumption slumps to 22/30 mpg. Boo Hiss Boo.

Now, you know the Matrix is billed as a subcompact sedan/SUV. It’s also available in an XRS model with even worse mileage – 21/29. The smaller engine delivers 26/32 manual and 25/31 for the automatic version. Both cars are considerably more sporty, with more available features. I just hope new buyers will ask themselves whether they really need the extra power.

Post from: EveryJoe

New Matrix, New Corolla