(Ford Racing)
Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Jarmo Lehtinen fly in their Ford Focus RS WRC on day two of the 2010 Rally Mexico. Six-time defending series champion Sebastien Loeb of France won the rally, his fourth victory in the race and the 55th of his career. Petter Solberg of Norway finished second and Sebastien Ogier (France), finished third. All three were driving Citroens. Loeb now leads the driver standings, six points ahead Hirvonen. Hirvonen finished fourth on Sunday and Jari-Matti Latvala was fifth, both driving Fords.

(K-Pax Racing)

K-Pax Racing announced will return to the World Challenge GT Championship in the Volvo S60 AWDs this year with drivers Randy Pobst and Andy Pilgrim (in photo above). The K-Pax Volve team debuted in 2009 and won three races with Pobst and Pilgrim behind the wheel. The Volvo S60 uses a 2.5-liter motor with 26 pounds of boost and it will compete against machines with much larger V8s and V10s. “The World Challenge GT is a great racing series for us because of the diversity of cars: Volvos, Vipers, Corvettes, Mustangs, Porsches and many more,” team owner Jim Haughey said. “All these different types of cars with their individual advantages and disadvantages really make for a challenging race season. The SCCA technical staff does such a good job of equalizing the cars that the outcome of the races is usually determined by car preparation and driver skill.” Joining K-Pax Racing for a second season is sponsor TiAL Sports Inc. USA.  TiAL Sports designs the highest quality engineered turbo charging products for today's performance systems market. "TiAL Sports solved our turbo charger and waste gate problems last year,” Haughey said. “We could not run these turbo pressures without TiAL Sports engineered solutions and we are proud to use their products on our Volvos.” More information on K-Pax racing, drivers Pilgrim and Pobst, and the Volvo S60 AWD are available at www.kpaxracing.com. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing and managed by WC Vision, the World Challenge Championships represent some of the best production-based racing in the world. Utilizing a single driver format and standing starts for the 50-minute races, the series offers non-stop action in each of its three categories—GT, GTS and Touring Car. The series features 12 races at eight different venues in 2010, starting with a doubleheader weekend at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in conjunction with the Indy Racing League, March 26-28. For more information, visit www.world-challenge.com.

(ALMS)
Even though the gates don’t open for another week, more than 100 vehicles with nearly 300 spectators are already in line awaiting the 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. At 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, March 17th, spectators can enter the historic raceway in preparation for the 12-hour classic that starts at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20th. The opening race of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón expects the largest entry in four years.

(HSR)
Historic Sportscar Racing’s (HSR) season-opener at Sebring International Raceway saw fourteen feature races, four special challenge races, two 40-minute night races and two three-hour enduros over a full weekend of historic car racing. The Al Holbert Memorial for GTP, WSC and DP was a highlight event of the weekend. Saturday’s race was won by owner/driver George Robinson, in his 2001 Riley & Scott MK111C. Sunday’s 90-minute race was won by Bill Adam and Butch Leitzinger in the Jim Rogers owned 2005 Audi R8 and the overall 3-hour enduro victory went to “Ironman” Travis Engen in a 2005 Audi R8, who drove solo the entire three hours. The Cayman Interseries, featuring 2009-2010 Porsche Cayman S cars painted in famous historic Porsche racing paint schemes, had its inaugural race at Sebring. The winning driver of both Saturday and Sunday’s feature races was Jim McCormick, of New York, New York, in the No. 44 Martini Porsche-liveried 2009 Porsche Cayman. The next HSR race will be the “MITTY presented by Classic Motorsports Magazine and sponsored by Mazda”, celebrating its 34th year, at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia on April 29-May 2. The very popular race weekend will be highlighted with a tribute to Formula 5000 and Peter Brock’s BRE heritage of Datsun 240Z’s, 510’s and Shelby Daytona Coupes with Peter Brock on hand as Grand Marshall. Check out www.TheMitty.com for details.

Publisher's Note: Our friend and photographer extraordinaire John Thawley attended the World Famous Naples Swamp Buggy event in Florida and filed the following report: "The World Famous Naples Swamp Buggies wrapped up their 2009/2010 season March 5~6 crowning Eddie Chesser as the Budweiser Shootout Champion. Running in front of yet another packed house at the Florida Sports Park, the buggies put on a fantastic display of wheel-to-wheel racing. No one in the stands went home disappointed. In the paddock it was a different story, though. Swamp Buggy racing is a win or go home proposition, so needless-to-say, many competitors see their hopes of victory gone in 60 seconds or less. With the season point's championship on the line, it was Eddie Chesser taking home the big feature win and the season championship. Chesser ended up with 39 points, 11 more than Bud Cup runner-up Lorrie Johns, the driver of the V8 Sportsman entry called Lady Liberty. Third place in the points went to Ortega’s Terminator. The big story of the weekend, however, was the retirement of the winningest man in Swamp Buggy history, Leonard Chesser. Known as the Godfather of Swamp Buggy, you'd have to go pretty deep in the Everglades looking for someone who doesn't agree the title is well-deserved. Leonard began racing in 1956 and has won more Big Feature races than anyone. Chesser is known for his competitiveness, a long list of buggy innovations and his unrelenting work ethic. Though Leonard claims he won't miss driving, he still plans to keep on helping his son, Glen, and his daughter, Amy, with their racing futures." - John Thawley. Check out John's spectacular images from the event by going here. - PMD

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

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AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

(Timothy Williams/Rally America)
Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino drove their Ford Fiesta to victory in the 2010 Rally America 100 Acre Wood Rally on February 25-27, 2010, in Salem, Missouri. That makes five wins in a row at the race for Block and Gelsomino, but the first in a Ford.

(Timothy Williams/Rally America)

    That Pathetic Auto Publication That Used to Be Weekly but Now Comes Out Every Other Week. You got your facts wrong, boys. There are two manufacturers directly involved in talks with NASCAR and there's more to the story than you're being told. Much more. And we can assure you that you will be the very last to know when it comes to the who-what-when-where of it all too.  And just for the record, only you lame-asses could have taken a weekly automotive publication - the only print car mag premise that had even a whiff of a shot at survival in this Internet age - and turn it into an even more boring excuse for a car mag that now comes out every other week. Nicely done.

(Ford Racing)
The 2010 Ford Racing Mustang Challenge season kicks-off its third season of competition with a double-header this weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway as part of the GRAND-AM Grand Prix of Miami. The series utilizes the Ford Mustang FR500S - the first-ever Ford production-line built race car - and is sanctioned by GRAND-AM. The Mustang Challenge is also a support series to major professional road racing events across North America.

(Ron McQueeney/IMS)
A banner of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 ticket - measuring 91½ feet wide and 19½ feet tall - was unveiled Tuesday, March 2, over Gate 2 (Main Gate) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will remain there through the month of May. Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 30, will be mailed to ticketholders starting Wednesday, March 3. The 2010 ticket features popular IZOD IndyCar Series star Helio Castroneves, who earned an emotional third Indy 500 victory in May 2009 in a Team Penske entry. Castroneves will attempt this year to become just the fourth driver to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” four times. Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 are on sale now, with Race Day ticket prices starting at $20. Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

(Kayla Graham Racing)
Kayla Graham, a 17-year-old high school senior from Lighthouse Point, Florida, will make her professional racing debut this week at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kayla, who started racing go-karts at age 12, will compete in the Grand-Am-sanctioned Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge on Saturday, March 6th. Kayla will be driving the No. 85 Classic BMW Z4, sponsored by Bonefish Mac’s. Her co-drivers this weekend include her trusted mentor and coach, Andre Serra, and Continental Tire Challenge regular, Toby Grahovec.

 Racing. A sad press release came over the Internet today: "Due to the downturn in the global economy and the subsequent shortage of funded drivers, the Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda will go on hiatus until global conditions improve. The Atlantic Championship has and always will be committed to providing the best driver development series available to the world’s next generation of top-tier driving talent. Unfortunately however this experience cannot be upheld through 2010. Series officials will continue working throughout the year to develop new ideas for the future that will add value to drivers and also lower costs associated with competing in a world-class racing series like the Atlantic Championship." Not Good.

 Sage Karam. Andretti Autosport has signed 15-year-old Sage Karam to drive for the team in the 2010 Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda, the entry level series for the Indy Racing League's Road to Indy. Karam, a native of Nazareth, Pa., has spent the last few years competing in the Skip Barber National championship, a part of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder program, as well as the World Karting Association (WKA). He was the only American driver to compete in both a national karting championship and an open-wheel professional series full time in 2009. Karam began competing in karts at the age of five. He has since established himself as a 35-time WKA and Indy Racing League (IRL) Stars of Karting national champion. Karam also stands as the only driver ever to win a WKA Triple Crown Championship and titles in the IRL Stars of Karting (East, West and National) all in the same year (2007). In 2008, Karam - then 13 -- established himself as the youngest winner in the history of the Skip Barber Shootout.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

(Image by John Thawley)
Publisher's Note: Aston Martin Racing topped the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón’s annual Winter Test time sheets with a lap of 1:46.894 (124.609 mph) in the factory Aston Martin-powered Lola B09/60 at Sebring International Raceway. Adrian Fernandez, Chris Buncombe and Harold Primat will drive the Lola-Aston Martin coupe at the season-opening 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. Primat crashed hard into the Turn 1 wall in the afternoon session, however, and he was transported to a local hospital for observation but released later in the evening. Jon and Clint Field (Intersport Racing Lola B06/10-AER) were second with a 1:47.925 (123.419 mph) lap around the 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit. Patrón Highcroft Racing was the next quickest entry and first in LMP2 with its HPD ARX-01c. The car – driven by David Brabham, Simon Pagenaud and Marino Franchitti – set a best time of 1:48.153 (123.159 mph) in the morning session. Patrón Highcroft won the LMP1 championship last year and is running an updated version of the LMP2 car it fielded in 2008 and won four times in class – once overall. Less than 0.4 seconds back was Chris Dyson and Guy Smith (Dyson Racing Mazda-powered Lola B09/86 coupe) with a 1:48.496 (122.770 mph) in the morning session. Jaime Melo and Gianmaria Bruni (Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT) set a best lap of 2:02.559 (108.682 mph) in the morning in GT2. Risi is the two-time and reigning class winner at Le Mans and hasn’t lost an endurance race since the Sebring race in 2008. A pair of Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs were close behind. The entry of Darren Law and Seth Neiman sat second with a lap of 2:02.929 (108.355 mph). Porsche factory drivers Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long, last year’s GT2 class champions, were third at 2:03.021 (108.274 mph). Le Mans Prototype Challenge and GT Challenge class entries also tested. Once again we're pleased to be able to feature the scintillating images by master lens man John Thawley in our racing coverage. Click here to see the latest images by John from Sebring. - PMD

(ALMS)
The American Le Mans Series announced that Tequila Patrón would become its presenting sponsor, the highest tiered corporate partnership in Series' history. The involvement will be felt immediately with the newly designed green-steepled Club Patrón at the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season opener - the 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, March 17-20. Club Patrón will also appear at Long Beach and Petit Le Mans races. Patrón will offer VIP hospitality at all 2010 events, and beginning at Sebring, the American Le Mans Series paddock will be dubbed the “Tequila Patrón Paddock”. In addition, Tequila Patrón remains the official spirit of the American Le Mans Series. Tequila Patrón will also be involved in post-race podium ceremonies with their ultra-sophisticated Patrón Girls (Yeah, Baby!). Tequila Patrón  has been the primary sponsor for Highcroft Racing’s Acura prototype effort, which won the LMP1 championship with drivers David Brabham and Scott Sharp. The Tequila Patrón banner also will be featured on two Ferrari F430 GTs (above) from Extreme Speed Motorsports, a new GT team fielded by Scott Sharp. Sharp’s seatmate will be veteran Series driver Johannes van Overbeek.  Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo will pilot the other car. Brown is CEO of The Patrón Spirits Company and raced last season in the Series’ GT Challenge class and the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama, one of the International Motor Sports Association’s leading developmental championships.

(ALMS)
Peugeot Sport will enter two diesel-powered factory Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. It will mark the third straight year that Peugeot has entered the classic endurance contest in central Florida. Peugeot finished just 22 seconds behind the winning Audi Sport R15 TDI in 2009. The French manufacturer went on to win at Le Mans for the first time since 1993 and then at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans. Anthony Davidson, Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz – the latter two drivers part of the winning Peugeot with David Brabham at Le Mans last year – will share one Peugeot 908 at Sebring. Sebastien Bourdais, Pedro Lamy and Nic Minassian will drive the second car. Additionally, Patrón Highcroft Racing star Simon Pagenaud was confirmed to the factory squad for Le Mans. He will drive with Bourdais and Lamy. The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

  The California Speedway. The fact that this track hosts two, count 'em - two - NASCAR races is a complete joke. And last Sunday's Auto Club 500 - with maybe 50,000 fans in attendance (and that's a big maybe) in a venue that holds 90,000+ - was probably the end of NASCAR's California double. Look for the Kansas Speedway - with the $680 million Hollywood Casino scheduled to open overlooking Turn 2 - to get California Speedway's second date. And if the races get any more boring than last Sunday's snooze-fest, California Speedway may just lose their other NASCAR date too.

(BMW)
Just in case you were hoping BMW's "Joy" campaign was going to be a momentary lapse, BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team debuted new livery on its M3 GTs for the 2010 American Le Mans season at Sebring this week in pre-season testing. And lo and behold, the new livery is supposed "to tell BMW’s worldwide Story of Joy" (according to BMW) and features words and phrases emblematic of the spirit of the campaign, which was launched during coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the XXI Winter Olympic Games on NBC. Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner will drive the No. 92 M3, while Joey Hand and Dirk Müller will share the No. 90 M3. 

(Mark Weber/SCCA)
Brass Monkey Racing will campaign a pair of Nissan GT-Rs in the 2010 World Challenge GT Championship with the support of Nissan North America, Inc. Nissan last competed in World Challenge with a Touring Car effort in 2005. The twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive Nissan GT-Rs will make their North American debut March 26-28, in St. Petersburg, Fla., with drivers Tony Rivera (right, above), of Missouri City, Texas, and rookie Steve Ott, of Houston. Rivera won twice last year (Sebring, Road America) driving the team’s Porsche 911 GT3, finishing an impressive third in the 2009 Championship standings. The Brass Monkey Racing effort will have support from Nissan, Tax Masters, Stoptech, Penske Shocks, South Side Performance and Seibon Carbon. For more info go to www.brassmonkey.com.

(Patron Highcroft Racing)
Patrón Highcroft Racing has formed a unique technical and sponsorship partnership with GE for the 2010 season. GE Capital has become one of the team's sponsors for 2010, while Highcroft Racing has also formed a technical partnership with GE Global Research, GE's technology development  arm.  The teams will work closely together to develop additional new technologies to further enhance the performance of the Honda Performance Development, factory backed ARX-01c chassis.

(Ron McQueeney/IRL)
Team Penske swept the top three spots on the time charts on the second and final day of the IZOD IndyCar Series Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park Thursday. Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Dallara/Honda/Firestone) was quickest with a lap of 1 minute, 9.8724 seconds on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn circuit. Helio Castroneves (1:10.0084) in the No. 3 entry (above) was second and Ryan Briscoe (1:10.0459), who topped first day lap times, was third in the No. 6 car. Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon (1:10.0594) was fourth and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Justin Wilson (1:10.0869) was in the top five for the second consecutive day in his Z-Line Designs-sponsored car. Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato, participating in his first IZOD IndyCar Series test with KV Racing Technology, had another impressive outing with the sixth-best time of 1:10.2070. Mike Conway of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing finished seventh (1:10.2497) and Marco Andretti of Andretti Autosport was eighth (1:10.3956). Twenty-one driver/car combinations totaled 2,009 laps in the three sessions (all drivers posted their best laps times in the Thursday's session). The top 14 cars were separated by 0.8399 of a second. Firestone Indy Lights teams take to the track on Feb. 26 for a one-day test at Barber Motorsports Park.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

  That Pathetic Auto Publication That Used to Be Weekly but Now Comes Out Every Other Week. You got your facts wrong, boys. There are two manufacturers directly involved in talks with NASCAR and there's more to the story than you're being told. Much more. And we can assure you that you will be the very last to know when it comes to the who-what-when-where of it all too.  And just for the record, only you lame-asses could have taken a weekly automotive publication - the only print car mag premise that had even a whiff of a shot at survival in this Internet age - and turn it into an even more boring excuse for a car mag that now comes out every other week. Nicely done.

(Photo©2010, autostock, USA Brian Czobat)
Publisher's Note: The field heads for yet another restart (above) in the 2010 Daytona 500. Even though the day was ruined by two excruciatingly long delays for a total of over two hours - due to a deteriorating track surface, which caused a Motor City-sized pothole that needed to be fixed and then fixed again - there was no denying the fact that it was a hugely satisfying - and emotional - win for Jamie McMurray and the entire Earnhardt Ganassi Racing organization (with Felix Sabates). McMurray, who was given his first break by Ganassi, found himself looking for a ride after Roush-Fenway Racing dropped his team at the end of last season. And Ganassi stepped in to give him another shot, which paid off handsomely for both men. Ganassi now becomes only the second car owner - after Roger Penske - to have won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and the Daytona 24 Hour sports car race. And after languishing in near obscurity for years, Jamie McMurray will now forever be a Daytona 500 champion. Congratulations to all for a superb win. - PMD

(Ford)
Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, with co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen (BP Abu Dhabi Ford Focus RS WRC) on their way to victory in the 2010 Rally Sweden, the first round of the 2010 World Rally Championship. Hirvonen defeated world champion Sebastien Loeb of France (Citroen) by 42.3 sec. Ford's Jari Matti-Latvala, also from Finland, finished third.

(ALMS)
Drayson Racing has added five-time overall 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro to its squad for three races this season. The former Audi factory driver will join Drayson Racing pilots Paul Drayson (London/Gloucestershire, UK) and Jonny Cocker (Guisborough, Yorks, UK) in the program’s Le Mans Prototype One (LMP1) entry. Pirro will drive for the UK-based team at the season-opening 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on March 20, at Le Mans in June and Petit Le Mans in October to close the 2010 season. The Italian has won 19 times in the American Le Mans Series. 2010 marks the first full year in which the Dale White (Bozeman, MT, USA)-managed team will race in the prototype class.

(ALMS)

(Richard Prince/GM Racing Photo)
In preparation for the season-opening round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series - the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, to be held in Sebring, Fla., on March 20 - Corvette Racing is testing at the historic Florida road course February 16-18. The No. 3 C6R will be driven in the GT class by Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, while the No. 4 team car will be driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Emmanuel Collard.

(ALMS)
Extreme Speed Motorsports, the new race team created and owned by Scott Sharp, announced today that Dominik Farnbacher (above) and Joao Barbosa will join the team for next month’s 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, and Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans later this year. Farnbacher - a four-time winner in the Series - will join Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek in one of the team’s Ferrari F430 GTs..Barbosa, who won the 24 Hours of Daytona title last month, will join drivers Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo in the other team car. The team will compete in the American Le Mans Series’ GT class.

(Pawel Litwinski © 2010, Courtesy of Gooding & Company)
Gooding & Company - the internationally-known auction house - will feature cars from Porsche, Bugatti and Alfa Romeo for its first-ever Amelia Island Auction on March 12 in Amelia Island, Florida, including this 1961 Porsche RS61 Spyder. One of only 14 ever built, the lightweight, 4-Cam 1961 Porsche RS61 Spyder was the ultimate evolution of the Porsche Spyder project that began with the legendary 550 Spyder. Originally raced by famed Porsche advocate and works driver Bob Holbert, this highly-developed sports racer found early success in major East Coast events. Between 1961-1963, this car captured over a dozen victories in the hands of numerous significant racing figures. Since retiring from racing, this car has been featured in several distinguished Porsche collections and has been a successful participant in vintage racing and various concours.  Gooding & Company estimates that this car will sell between $1.2 Million - $1.5 Million.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

 Corvette Racing. We already knew that Corvette racing was invited to compete in GT2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What we didn't know is who would be replacing Marcel Fassler (who will drive a factory Audi R-15 in LMP) as the third driver in the car driven by Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta for the three long-distance races (Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans). Emmanuel Collard is the new guy, while Antonio Garcia will return as the third driver in the team car with Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen in the endurance events. Collard, 38, of Champs sur Marne, France, has scored multiple victories in the Sebring 12-hour, Daytona 24-hour, Le Mans 24-hour, and Spa 24-hour races. He is a two-time Le Mans Series champion, and drove for the Cadillac LMP team in 2000-02.

(Sebring International Raceway)
Sebring International Raceway has unveiled the poster for the 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. America’s greatest sports car race runs on Saturday, March 20th, kicking off the 2010 American Le Mans Series season. Painted by motorsports artist Roger Warrick, the poster features two of the leading teams competing in this year’s American Le Mans Series entering Cunningham Corner (Turn 10): The Drayson Racing Lola and Patrón Highcroft Racing Honda Performance Development ARX-01c, as well as the new JaguarRSR Jaguar XKR GT. Sebring posters have been produced since the first Sebring 12-hour classic in 1952, and many have become valuable collectibles. Tickets to the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida are available by calling 800-626-7223 or visiting Sebringraceway.com. Gates open at 6 am on Wednesday, March 17, and remain open 24 hours a day through Saturday. The green flag will fall at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. Tickets are $10 per day with no overnight camping or public paddock access allowed. BTW, why the Jaguar XKR GT on the poster? It was just announced that Jaguar is the "official vehicle" of Sebring, that's why. It clearly has no business being there otherwise.

Publisher's Note: John Thawley attended "Cars On Fifth" last Sunday morning - an annual event that takes place on 5th Avenue in downtown Naples, FL - and captured the spirit of the occasion through his excellent images. See a slide show of the event here. - PMD

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

(Grand-Am)
The Action Express Racing Riley-Porsche V-8 driven by Terry Borcheller, Joao Barbosa, Ryan Dalziel and Mike Rockenfeller won the Rolex Daytona 24 Hour Grand-Am race last weekend. The Porsche engine powering the entry was a Cayenne-based V-8 built in New Braunfels, Texas by the Lozano brothers - a development frowned upon and unauthorized by Porsche - which makes it all that much sweeter. The race-winning car was prepared in Brumos Racing's North Carolina shop. Congratulations to all.

(Grand-Am)

(ALMS)
Adrian Fernandez and Aston Martin Racing will be definite contenders for the win at the 58^th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, as the Mexican star joins forces with the UK’s premier endurance team for America’s greatest sports car race. The partnership - said to be a three-year deal - was announced Monday, and will have Fernandez drive a works Aston Martin V12-powered prototype at Sebring, Long Beach and Le Mans in 2010, with the team looking at additional races worldwide following the 24 Hours. “We are looking forward to a great season of racing and we hope to have another strong showing at Le Mans,” AMR team principal George Howard-Chappell said. “I’d like to welcome Adrian to the team, I’m sure with his experience he will be a great addition to our driver lineup.” Aston Martin was the first major international factory team to enter Sebring in 1953. It finished second place overall (and won its class) that year in the 12 Hours with Reg Parnell and George Abecassis driving a DB3. An Aston Martin DB3S finished fourth overall and won its class in 1956 with Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori driving. Aston Martin won at Le Mans three years later with its DBR1, with Shelby and Salvadori paired again. It returned to Sebring with a GT1 victory in 2005, 49 years after its previous Sebring win. The British manufacturer, wildly popular with its UK base, also was the GT1 champion at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008 with its DBR9. The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20, with live coverage on SPEED. The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

(ALMS)

(Grand-Am)
The No. 70 Castrol Syntec SpeedSource RX-8 driven by Sylvain Tremblay, David Haskell, Nick Ham and Jonathan Bomarito took the lead in the GT class at lap 563 in the 20th hour of the Daytona 24 Hour and held the lead to the end, completing 707 laps of the 3.56 mile Daytona circuit for a total distance of over 2,500 miles. "Everyone at Mazda in North America and Japan is proud of our association with the Castrol Syntec SpeedSource team.  This is their second win at Daytona and the 23rd for Mazda and is dedicated to our dealers and 9,000 club racers.  They are the heart and soul of our operation.  Now that our season has begun we are looking forward to a year-long battle for the Grand-Am GT Manufacturers Championship, ” noted Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality, and the man responsible for Mazda’s North American motorsports operations under the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development banner.

(Grand-Am)
The Matt Plumb/Gianluis Bacardi No. 13 Rum Bum.com BMW M3 E92 won Friday's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Fresh From Florida 200 in the GS class. Plumb finished 0.107-seconds ahead of Charles Espenlaub (No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3) in the two-and-a-half hour event. Spencer Pumpelly and Steve Miller  third in the No. 41 Colo Logistics Porsche 997. In the Street Tuner class, Lawson Aschenbach (No. 74 HPD/Skunk2 Honda Civic Si with co-driver David Thilenius) made it two consecutive victories for himself, putting Compass360 Racing back in the winner's circle at Daytona for the first time since 2007.

(Ford Racing)
Monster World Rally Team driver Ken Block debuted his Ford Fiesta at the first Rally America race of the year in Atlanta, Mich. Block, making his first start as a Ford driver in his newly formed global rally program, piloted the 2011 Fiesta to the quickest time in the first stage of Rally America’s 2010 Sno*Drift Rally. Unfortunately for Block a suspension component failure in Stage 7 left him unable to finish and prematurely ended his weekend in Northern Michigan. The Monster World Rally Team will spend the next month getting ready for the second stop of the Rally America Series, February 26–27, the Rally in The 100 Acre Woods in Salem, Missouri. Block will also spend time preparing for his World Rally Championship (WRC) debut in Mexico in early March where he will pilot the Monster Energy Drink Focus RS. For more information on Fiesta, Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team go to FordRacing.com and MonsterWorldRallyTeam.com.

 Randy Bernard. The longtime CEO of Professional Bull Riders, Inc., has been named CEO of the Indy Racing League. The announcement came from Jeffrey Belskus, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, the home of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and owner of the Indy Racing League. Bernard will begin March 1. Bernard said that for the 15 years he has been the CEO of the PBR he’s been “blessed to work with such a great sport, and I enjoyed the success that we all shared together. I truly believe I can make a difference with the Indy Racing League, and I see tremendous potential. The IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights have intense action, high-stakes competition, extreme athletes, a diverse international schedule, great sponsors and a very passionate fan base.” It has to be better than Gene Simmons, right?

(Brian Cleary)
Bobby Rahal, president of the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC), named FIA Senate President Nick Craw as the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Phil Hill Award at a dinner preceding the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The Phil Hill Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the person who the RRDC feels has rendered outstanding service to road racing. The recipient may be a driver, entrant or outstanding member of a sanctioning body. The award is named in honor of America’s first Formula One World Champion, and is not only a tribute to his masterful accomplishments on the race track, it also recognizes his contributions as a great ambassador for the sport. Hill passed away in 2008. Craw was elected in 2009 as President of the Senate, the number two position in the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile. The FIA is the governing body for worldwide motorsports that includes 100 million members and features the Formula One and World Rally Championships. Based in Denver, Craw had been an FIA Senate member while also head of the American Automobile Competition Committee of the U.S. (ACCUS). Prior to accepting that position, he was President and CEO of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) for 17 years, and Executive Director of U.S. SAILING. A Princeton graduate with a Harvard MBA, Craw had been involved with the Project HOPE hospital ship, VISTA and the Peace Corps, and was a sports-car racing driver from 1968-1977, mainly as a factory BMW driver. He resigned as Peace Corps Director in 1974 in order to race full-time and, as a professional race-car driver, claimed the IMSA Goodrich Radial Challenge Championship in 1973 and 1975. "I'm honored and humbled and grateful," said Craw. "I got started in this business to go racing; I just wanted to beat people. And one thing and another evolved and long after my racing career was over I was either fortunate or unfortunate enough to be drawn back into the sport and the result has been extremely rewarding and gratifying. When I was elected to this group back in the dark ages it was at the time, I thought, the highest honor that could be bestowed on a racing driver. Championships only last for a year but RRDC is for life. And this group has maintained that culture and that spirit over the years and shows great promise to the future. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to give something back to the sport that's given me so much and I hope to be able to continue to do that on behalf of this club, and I thank you for the honor." Craw was then grilled by Speed TV's preeminent race commentator Bob Varsha, fielding questions on subjects that ranged from the future of Formula One competition and the return of Michael Schumacher to Formula One, to the status of all forms of motorsports in the United States.

 The American Le Mans Series. Seven full-time ALMS teams with nine entries will be in this year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s premier sports car race. The Series’ representatives cover three of the four classes in the 78th edition of the French classic organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which announced the list of accepted entries Thursday morning. Drayson Racing (Judd-powered Lola B09/60 coupe), Autocon Motorsports (AER-powered Lola), and Highcroft Racing (HPD ARX-01c) are on the list. “While our drivers have been to Le Mans and I've raced there four times, only a handful of our crew guys have done the race so we will be on a steep learning curve,” said Highcroft team owner Duncan Dayton. "We are going to have to earn it, work very hard and be a quick study because most of the competitors we will be fighting with have been there before.” While the team competes in the ALMS as Patrón Highcroft Racing, advertising laws in France will not permit the team to display its regular colors. “We’re going to be headed to France with new colors in June,” Dayton confirmed. “We would have loved to fly the Patrón flag in the biggest endurance race in the world, but we now have a great opportunity to introduce new marketing partners to a massive international audience.” Other invitations went out to Corvette Racing (C6R), Risi Competizione (Ferrari F430 GT), Flying Lizard Motorsports (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) and JaguarRSR (Jaguar XKRS) who will all square-off in GT. The famous race will be run June 12 - 13.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

(IRL)
The Indy Racing League has released the course design for the IZOD IndyCar Series' inaugural race in Brazil, the São Paulo Indy 300. The IZOD IndyCar Series will open its 2010 season March 14 on the 2.6-mile, 11-turn circuit located in the north central section of São Paulo known as Anhembi. The circuit incorporates the Sambodromo - permanent grandstands lining the route primarily used for parades during Carnival - that will include the start/finish line and forms one of three long straightaways. The backstretch is nine-tenths of a mile long, leading into a sharp right-hand turn into the Sambodromo.  The São Paulo Indy 300 will be contested over 75 laps.

(IRL)

(ALMS)
Tim Pappas’ Black Swan Racing announced officially today (1/28) that it is returning to the American Le Mans Series in 2010 with a full-season effort. The Harvard, Mass.-based squad will enter a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GT class equipped with tires from Dunlop Motorsport. Pappas-owned entries first appeared in the American Le Mans Series in 2007 with a Porsche GT2 that competed under the banner of Team Trans Sport. The car’s best finish was fourth in class at Petit Le Mans with Pappas, Terry Borcheller and Marc Basseng driving. Black Swan also ran in the second half of the 2008 season with a Falken-shod Doran-Ford GT. Black Swan has signed Porsche driver Jeroen Bleekemolen as Pappas’ full-time co-driver. Though Bleekemolen has made only one career start in the Series – eighth place in GT2 at Sebring in 2006 with Spyker – the Dutchman won the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 – with a Porsche RS Spyder - and was crowned Porsche Supercup Champion in 2008 and 2009. The team will announce its third driver for Sebring, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans in the near future.

 (ALMS)
Tim Pappas.

 Vision Racing. Tony George has pulled the plug on his IndyCar operation due to a lack of sponsors. He had formed Vision Racing in 2005 and his stepson, Ed Carpenter, had been its main driver. George had resigned from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board of directors two weeks ago. He was ousted as CEO of the Speedway last June after acrimonious dealings with his mother and sisters over his spending on track upgrades, among other issues. George was president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 20 years and formed the IRL in 1994.

© John Thawley Motorsports Photography 

Publisher's Note: Our friend and photographer extraordinaire John Thawley attended the 2010 Palm Beach Cavallino Classic and documented the event. Held at The Breakers Resort Hotel, January 19-24, the 19th Annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic was a six-day convention for Ferrari owners and enthusiasts, with participants and their 400 Ferraris attending from the U.S. and Europe. Hosted by Cavallino Magazine, The Journal of Ferrari History, the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic is regarded as one of the top four automotive events in the world, along with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza and the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The event also benefits several charities, including the Children's Wish Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club and the American Council of the Blind Scholarship fund. Click here to see John's photos of the event. Thanks again goes out to John - as always - for allowing us to showcase his work. - PMD

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

  Chaparral Cars, The Petroleum Museum. One of the coolest things we know of in the car enthusiast world is the fact that Jim Hall's famed Chaparral racing cars - which are permanently housed in a special gallery in The Petroleum Museum, in Midland, Texas - are "exercised" on a regular basis as part of the routine maintenance program to keep the cars in top-notch running condition. Not only that, but when the cars are run the word is put out so enthusiasts in the area can gather and watch in person. On Wednesday, January 27th - weather permitting - the Chaparral 2D Coupe  will be driven at approximately 5:30PM for about 10-20 minutes on the front circle of the museum property. Fans are invited to enter through the Visitor Center, east of the museum entrance (which will be closed off) to watch the festivities. Fans who arrive early can even watch the 2D being prepped for the run back in the garage. Check out the museum here.

Dario Franchitti. Dario received one more award for his stellar 2009 season when he was named the recipient of the Jerry Titus Award during the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association's All-America Team dinner in Brownsburg, Indiana, on January 16. The Titus award, given in remembrance of the late racer/journalist, signifies the top vote-getter among All-America Team members as the driver of the year. Franchitti also won the award following his 2007 series championship and Indianapolis 500 victory.

 Brian Stewart Racing. Firestone Indy Lights championship-winning team Brian Stewart Racing will field a team in all three series that make up the Indy Racing League's Road to Indy developmental ladder. The racing organization, which has fielded a Firestone Indy Lights team since 2002, announced it will add a team in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear to its previously announced plans to field a team in the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda. "In our 45-year history, we have consistently graduated drivers through the various levels of open-wheel racing. Since 2005 we have sponsored the Brian Stewart Racing Karting Championship (BSRKC) and we recently added a USF2000 team to our Driver Development Program," said team owner Brian Stewart. "With the addition of our Star Mazda team, we now have a seamless series of stepping stones for a driver moving from karting right through to our Firestone Indy Lights team." BSR's Star Mazda Team will compete in 13 races in 2010.

(ALMS)
Porsche has announced that factory driver Wolf Henzler (above) will team with Bryan Sellers in the American Le Mans Series’ 2010 GT class. The German, who shared the 2008 GT2 title with Jörg Bergmeister, will drive Team Falken Tire’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with his new American teammate for all nine rounds of the championship. The 34-year-old Henzler is a five-time winner in the Series, with all of his 49 starts coming in Porsches. The season-opening 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida in March will be Henzler's first pairing in the Series with Sellers. Two other Porsche works pilots – Germany’s Bergmeister and American Patrick Long – will try to defend their GT2 championship with Flying Lizard Motorsports, which has won the last two class team titles. Long has two championships and Bergmeister four.

(ALMS)
Endurance racing champion Risi Competizione is reuniting 2007 Series champion Jaime Melo with 2008 FIA GT champion Gianmaria Bruni. The Brazilian/Italian partnership, which drove together to victory for Risi in the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be formidable. Melo, 29, will be starting his fifth season with the team. The 28-year-old Bruni is well known to the American series, having competed for Risi in a number of 2007 races as well as at Sebring and Le Mans the following year. Both drivers are based in Rome, Italy, and will also be competing together in the European-based Le Mans Series. “This will be our fifth and final season with the F430 GT,"  Risi Competizione’s Team Principal, Giuseppe Risi, said. "And, while we are all very much looking forward to the introduction of the new Ferrari 458 in the future, we want to close this particular chapter of the 430 book with style - by winning.”

 Jim Russell Racing Drivers School. The racing organization confirmed details for its 2010 Championship Series with the news being that the champion will earn a fully funded drive in next year’s FIA Formula Two Championship.The racing series features eight weekends of two races each staged on consecutive days between April-November utilizing a variety of configurations at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. The FJR-50 single-seaters used are owned and prepared “in house” by the Jim Russell organization to equalize performance and place the emphasis on driver talent. The Lola-built Formula Three machines have a carbon/kevlar fiber composite monocoque, a sequential five-speed gearbox and a two-liter, turbocharged Mitsubishi engine producing 300bhp. The outright JRCS champion will compete in the 2011 FIA Formula Two series, a European-based series launched last year and featuring a Williams F1 developed single-seater. Inaugural 2009 FIA Formula Two Champion Andy Soucek was awarded a test with the Williams F1 team last month as his prize for winning the F2 title. The top-three F2 Championship finishers also qualify for an FIA Superlicence and are eligible to compete in Formula One.

(Ford Racing)
The new 2011 Mustang GT - powered by the all-new 412-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8 - will be the pace car for this year’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14. It is the first time in 40 years that a Ford has served as the pace car for "The Great American Race." The last time a Ford paced the race was in 1970 when a Ford Torino GT convertible did the honors. This will be the Mustang’s first time as pace car for the Daytona 500. Fifty special pace car editions of the 2011 Mustang GT will be built and sold to the public, and the actual "Race Red" Mustang will be auctioned off at the 39th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Collector Car Auction on Jan. 23, with the help of Richard Petty.

Publisher's Note: Tony George has resigned from the Board of Directors of Hulman & Company. Below is the full press release, but go here to read Robin Miller's excellent piece about the story behind the story. - PMD

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 – The Board of Directors of Hulman & Company and affiliated companies, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has received the resignation of Anton H. “Tony” George from the board of directors effective immediately, according to Mari Hulman George, chairman. “As members of his family, we are sorry to see Tony leave,” said Mrs. George. “We are grateful for his service to our company as a board member and of course for formerly serving as CEO and president of our companies. I speak for our whole family in wishing him well. “All of us had hoped that Tony would continue to serve on the board, and we made that clear to him. We are disappointed with his decision to step down despite our wishes.” His resignation removes George from any remaining role in Hulman & Company, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy Racing League, IMS Productions and other affiliated companies. His term as CEO of the family companies ended June 30, 2009. He continues to be involved in racing through his ownership of Vision Racing, a competitor in the IZOD IndyCar Series of the Indy Racing League. The board vacancy will be addressed at a later date. In addition to Mari Hulman George, board members include Nancy George, Josie George, Kathi George-Conforti and Jack Snyder. Mari Hulman George said she is very pleased with the direction of the company and the progress that has been made during the last six months. “Our company is healthy and is weathering the economic recession well,” she said. “Jeff Belskus, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Curt Brighton, president and CEO of Hulman & Company, are both doing excellent jobs in guiding our companies through this difficult time. Many hard decisions have been made, and now our companies are well positioned for the future.”

(Elan Motorsports Technologies)
Élan Motorsports Technologies (EMT) and Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Inc., announced today an agreement that will see the Haas group assume distribution responsibilities for products manufactured by Élan. The offerings – constructed by the Braselton, Ga.-based arm of Panoz Motor Sports Group – include a full line of race cars, parts, update kits and other components for motorsports teams across multiple competition platforms and sanctioning bodies. Élan will continue to exclusively build and manufacturer a wide range of world-class race cars and accessories for competition in the American Le Mans Series, IMSA, Superleague Formula, F2000 and SCCA, among others. Carl Haas Automobile Imports will handle inventory, trackside service and distribute EMT’s world-class racing products worldwide. Élan Motorsports Technologies is a multi-faceted race car and engine building entity comprised of Élan Composites, Élan Power Products, Élan Precision Engineering and Van Diemen. Its wares have claimed winners’ trophies at the most prestigious races in the world including the Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Most recently, the Van Diemen arm of Élan was named the primary constructor for the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda. It will be the sole constructor in the top-level Championship class with Van Diemen models from 2001 to the 2010-spec DP08 (above photo) able to compete. Van Diemen cars also are eligible for the National class, which is open to cars that conform to the current SCCA Formula Continental regulations.

(ALMS)
JaguarRSR has confirmed that Marc Goossens will return to the cockpit of its No. 33 Jaguar XKR GT for the full 2010 American Le Mans Series in the GT class. He will share the seat with team owner Paul Gentilozzi in the nine-round championship. Additional drivers for the endurance races are to be named later. The experienced sports car driver is a Belgium native but currently resides in North Carolina as he continues to pursue his racing career in North America. Beginning in 1985, Goossens developed his résumé in series such as Formula Ford, FIA F3000, FIA GT, Japanese Formula Nippon, Belcar Championship and others, as well as entering multiple endurance races with nine starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He holds a record with four wins (1997, 1998, 2005, 2007) in the Zolder 24 Hours along with Vincent Dupont and Anthony Kumpen.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

(Ron McQueeney/IMS)
Helio Castroneves received the spoils of his third “Indianapolis 500” victory – the Herff Jones Champion of Champions Ring and the unveiling of his likeness on the famed Borg-Warner Trophy – in a ceremony Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. Surrounded by the cars that A.J. Foyt, Wilbur Shaw and Johnny Rutherford drove to their third “500” victories, IMS Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus presented Castroneves with his winner’s ring. Event host Bob Jenkins and a crowd of fans counted down the time until Castroneves removed the covering from the trophy to see his face sculpted in sterling silver. Belskus also surprised Castroneves by giving him a basket of baby clothes as a congratulatory gift on the recent birth of his first child, daughter Mikaella. In addition to the champion’s ring and likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy, Castroneves and Team Penske owner Roger Penske will receive scaled-down replicas of the Borg-Warner Trophy in a ceremony Wednesday night. The “Baby Borg” is traditionally presented by BorgWarner to the winning driver and car owner during the Detroit Auto Show. Castroneves’ likeness also will be featured on the event ticket for the 2010 “500.”

 Izod IndyCar Series. Some good news for IndyCar fans. The series will have two Open testing periods during the 2010 season, beginning with a preseason Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park slated for Feb. 24-26. This will be the only Open Test conducted prior to the start of the 2010 season. It marks the second-straight season that both IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights teams will conduct an Open Test at the scenic Alabama road course. The inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will take place on April 11 at the 2.38-mile road course in Birmingham, Ala. The in-season IndyCar test will be conducted at the Kentucky Speedway on Monday, May  3 (Firestone Indy Lights) and Tuesday, May 4 (IZOD IndyCar Series). AND, a reverse gear supplied by promotional partner Xtrac will be incorporated in cars for the nine road and street course races and be available to drivers through the paddle shift system. Drivers will retain six forward gears, and the kit won't be required for the eight oval events. Hallefrickin' luja!

(Patron Highcroft Racing)
Patrón Highcroft Racing will have Marino Franchitti joining forces with David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud for its 2010 American Le Mans Series driver lineup. Franchitti took two LMP2 class victories for Dyson Racing in 2009 but will now line-up aboard the Honda Performance Development factory-backed ARX-01c Patrón Highcroft Racing entry for the 2010 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the Monterey Sports Car Championship at Laguna Seca and the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Alongside his three confirmed race outings, the popular Scotsman will be behind the wheel for additional test duties as well as attending each round of the ALMS championship.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

In 2010, the American Le Mans Series will use its "Global Leader Green Racing" mark as its primary logo. “Major auto manufacturers and our government leaders confirm that racing series which provide opportunities to showcase and develop new technologies – with an emphasis on the environment – are the future,” said American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton.  “We have also led the way in proving to the public that ‘green racing’ gives nothing away to other forms of motorsport in terms of sheer excitement, passion and close competition. We have never been more confident in our positioning. We believe our branding should reflect that confidence.” The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

Ken Block, Ford. Ford announced today that it is teaming up with Ken Block, the California-based action sports icon-turned-rally driver, for future global motorsports endeavors. Block - the 2005 Rally America Rookie of the Year and a three-time medalist at X Games - has cultivated a tremendous following with his wild-ass videos on YouTube.  In 2010, Block will campaign a Ford Focus in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and a Ford Fiesta in Rally America and X Games. "Ken Block has established himself as an action sports competitor and a rising star in the world of American rally racing," said Jamie Allison, director Ford North America Motorsports.  "We are excited to have him on our team to help promote our new global products, the 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2012 Ford Focus."  

 Flavio Briatore. Samuel Petrequin (Associated Press) reports that former Renault Formula One team boss Flavio Briatore had his lifetime suspension from motor sports overturned by a French court Tuesday (January 5). The Paris court did not immediately explain its reasons for overturning Briatore’s ban, but has ordered the FIA to pay him $21,500 - far short of the $1.4 million he had sought in damages. The Paris court also overturned a five-year FIA ban imposed on former Renault chief engineer Pat Symonds. He was awarded $7,200, also far short of the $722,000 he had sought. F1's governing body, the FIA, banned Briatore in September after it ruled that he had ordered Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash his car to help teammate Fernando Alonso win the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008. Briatore denied a role in the scheme and took legal action to be reinstated. FIA lawyer Jean-Francois Prat said the motor sports governing body was likely to appeal, preventing Briatore from returning to the sport until the appeals process runs its course. “We have the feeling that some justice has been reinstated,” Briatore’s lawyer Philippe Ouakrat said. “I’m certain that the court was quite shocked by the way that the decision was made against Mr. Briatore.” Ouakrat had argued that Briatore was suspended because of his tense relationship with then-FIA president Max Mosley, and that the FIA exceeded its authority by imposing a sanction on individuals. Gee, and here we were hoping that Briatore would just go away - permanently.

(Ford)
Ford Racing is introducing the 2011 BOSS 302R, a factory-built race car ready for track days and road racing in a number of Grand-Am, SCCA and NASA classes. Each base model of the Mustang BOSS 302R will come with a new 5.0-liter four-valve engine, six-speed manual transmission, a roll cage, race seats, safety harness, data acquisition and race dampers/springs, and a Brembo brake and tire package. (12/28)

Road America, NASCAR. The NASCAR Nationwide Series is going to add a third road race to its 2010 schedule. The new venue? Road America - America's National Park of Speed. The spectacular 4.048-mile road course will host the Road America 200 on Saturday, June 19. A trial run before adding a road race to its ten race "Chase for the Sprint Cup" Championship, with the beautiful Elkhart Lake, WI, circuit being the No.1 contender perhaps? Only time will tell. (12/21)

(Ron McQueeney/IMS)
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 Pace Car was unveiled at the Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum Dec. 18. The special Camaro has a Inferno Orange Metallic paint scheme with White Diamond rally stripes that travel from the front to the rear over the top of the body, as well as extending to the interior dash. This year’s pace car is equipped with a stock 400 hp 6.2-litre V-8, an RS appearance package with special grille and leather interior with Inferno Orange interior accents. The first year Camaro paced the Indianapolis 500 was back in 1967, the year the car made its debut. Camaro has since paced the race in 1969, 1982, 1993 and 2009. 

(ALMS)
Twenty-five-year-old French sports car star Simon Pagenaud will join Patrón Highcroft Racing alongside David Brabham for the 2010 American Le Mans Series. Pagenaud has been a key rival of the Danbury, Conn.-based team during his stint at de Ferran Motorsports during the past two seasons but will now join forces with Brabham to form a potent attack at the Honda Performance Development factory squad armed with the newly revised ARX-01c chassis. Pagenaud made his US debut in 2006, winning the Atlantic championship, beating out Graham Rahal in the process. He graduated to the Champ Car World Series in 2007, finishing eighth in points before making his sports car debut with Gil de Ferran at Salt Lake City in May 2008. Pagenaud blossomed in 2009, taking three poles, five race victories and five fastest laps in the 10 American Le Mans Series races. He and de Ferran placed second in the LMP1 championship behind Brabham and Scott Sharp. Brabham captured his first American Le Mans Series championship alongside Sharp for Patrón Highcroft Racing in 2009 and he also scored his first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Peugeot. Pagenaud and Brabham will begin testing duties next month in preparation for the opening round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series that kicks off at the Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20.

(ALMS)
Simon Pagenaud and David Brabham will be a force in the 2010 ALMS.

 VW. Beginning January 18, the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup one-hour documentary, “Racing Under Green” will begin airing on the Discovery Communications networks. A preview of the documentary is already available online, as Volkswagen has released the long-form trailer on YouTube. To view the trailer, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnHaIVGou8U. The broadcast schedule for the documentary (all times Eastern): 1/18 @ 2 a.m. on Discovery Channel (Premiere), 1/19 @ 9 p.m. on Planet Green, 1/22 @ 7 a.m. on Science Channel, 1/24 @ 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on HD Theater, 1/25 @ 6 p.m. on HD Theater, 1/29 @ 3 p.m. and 5 a.m. on HD Theater, and 1/30 @ 8 a.m. on HD Theater.

 The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is trimming its "Month of May" schedule leading up to the Indy 500. A full week will be lopped off of the schedule turning it into a two-week, three-weekend event. Daily practice is scheduled for seven consecutive days from Opening Day, Saturday, May 15 through Fast Friday, May 21. Pole Day qualifications are scheduled for Saturday, May 22, and the remaining spots in the 33-car field will be determined on Bump Day, Sunday, May 23. Track activity will resume Thursday, May 27 with practice for the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights race. Miller Lite Carb Day is Friday, May 28 and will feature a schedule packed with the final Indianapolis 500 practice, the Firestone Freedom 100 race, the annual Pit Stop Challenge for Indianapolis 500 teams and the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert. The 2010 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 30. Leading the numerous storylines for the 2010 race will be Helio Castroneves’ attempt to become just the fourth driver to earn four Indianapolis 500 victories, joining legends A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. Castroneves earned his third Indy victory last May for Team Penske, giving team owner Roger Penske his record 15th victory at the “500.” "I commend Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar Series officials for this change to the month of May schedule," said Penske. "It will reduce costs for teams on several fronts and provide continuous activity as we build momentum from Opening Day through race weekend. We look forward to the traditional battle on Pole Day and defending our 2009 race victory."

John Thawley. Publisher's Note: I'm happy to report that there's a new must-see destination for sports car racing enthusiasts: John Thawley's Sports Car Insider. Featuring John's outstanding photography and the excellent work from contributors such as John Dagys, Rick Dole, Regis Lefebure and others - as well as yours truly - I expect Sports Car Insider to become the go-to place for hard-core road racing enthusiasts. Check it out here. - PMD

Publisher's Note: Along about this time of year - with the racing season starting to wind down - we like to publish The Year in Review by John Thawley. John and I knew each other way back in the 70s when we were both doing something totally different, and we renewed our friendship around racing three decades later. John is now considered one of the best at what he does, and it's a real privilege to be able to share his work with our Autoextremist readers throughout the season. John's year-end gallery allows all of us to step back and savor another excellent season of racing in the American Le Mans Series. Thanks again to John for allowing us to display his work. Click here. - PMD

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

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AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

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See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.