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Saturday
New All-Star Format Fell Short
Sandbagging (verb): To hold back; what happened Saturday night at the Sprint All-Star race. The collective oxygen this morning is being taken up with discussion about what happened Saturday night. A new format and $1 million on the line led the winner of the race to sandbag his way to the end. NASCAR in its [...] 
Video: McLaren P1 private unveiling
After unveiling the P1 Concept at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, McLaren presented the production version at a private event in New York City. According to McLaren the model displayed in New York is "97% of the car that you will be able to order. The only thing that we will add are some vents to the bumper to get some of the warm air from the radiator coming out from the side".
The mesh grille will also be replaced by a tighter one, and the front bumper and rear grille will also be slightly updated.
McLaren said nothing about the car’s powertrain, but it has been rumored we will see a 5.0-liter V8 engine with an output of about 800 HP mated to a Graziano seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, from 0 to 100 mph in 5.5 seconds, and 0-200 mph in just 20 seconds. However, such impressive performance numbers won’t come cheap: it is believed the P1 will be priced at about $1 million.
Video: McLaren P1 private unveiling originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 21 December 2012 20:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-mclaren-p1-private-unveiling-ar140564.html
Friday
2012 season in the rear view: Paul Menard
Vitals: 16th in the points standings. 0 wins, 1 top 5, 9 top 10s, 1 DNF.
Moment to remember: Menard's lone top five of the season came at newly repaved Kansas Speedway, where he finished third, the highest finishing Chaser of the race and led six laps. It was crew chief Slugger Labbe's first race back from a suspension after Menard's car was found to have altered framerails after the August Michigan race. In that race, Menard finished 9th.
Moment to forget: With one DNF, it seems pretty easy to pinpoint, right? Well, we won't go with it. That DNF came in the fall race at Talladega, when Menard was caught up in that mass of sheetmetal with almost everyone else on the final lap and finished 28th. That was his second lowest finish of the season.
For the forgettable moments, we'll say both Phoenix races. His worst finish of the season came in the first Phoenix race when he finished 31st and in the second race there he was caught up in that final lap carnage and ended up with Danica Patrick's car on top of his hood for a brief second.
The wrap: Menard's post-race comments after that third place finish at Kansas summed up his season quite nicely.
"This year we've lacked speed overall week?to?week.� Last year we qualified really well, had a lot of good speed, but very inconsistent results." Menard said.
"This year RCR as a whole has kind of lacked speed.� We found some things in the last month or two that's helped us pick up just overall speed. �Then our consistency this year we've had, even though we haven't been as fast, we've been more consistent.� This is just one of the weekends where we put it all together."
When your two lowest finishes on the season are 28th and 31st, you know you're doing pretty well. However, Menard didn't have many of those weekends where his team put it all together, and that's why he was never really considered a true Chase threat despite being mathematically alive up until Richmond.
Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais
Hero Honda CD Deluxe
Hero Honda lunched the new generation CD Deluxe, an affordable bike aimed at normal Indian commuters. The bike received both technical and styling upgrades. Honda?s engineers have also spent a lot of time to improve the bike?s ergonomics, so the new generation offers a more comfortable riding position.
The new bike is offered in two versions, namely the Hero Honda CD Deluxe Spoke and Hero Honda CD Deluxe Alloy. Both models are available in seven colors including golden stripes, candy Tahitian blue, black with yellow stripes, amaranth maroon, cloud silver, cool mint green or maybe in the style of candy blazing red.
The bike is powered by an air cooled, 4 - stroke single cylinder OHC engine with a displacement of 97.2 cc. The engine delivers a maximum power of 5.74 kW (7.8 Ps) at 7500 rpm and 0.82 Kg-m (8.04 N-m) of torque at 4500 rpm.
Hit the jump for more information on the 2013 Hero Honda CD Deluxe.
Hero Honda CD Deluxe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 21 December 2012 10:17 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/2012-hero-honda-cd-deluxe-ar128793.html
Toyota Furia Concept
Toyota announced today the debut of a new Furia Concept on January 14th at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The concept previews an exciting new sedan and will revealed by Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division.
No other details have been provided, but the first teaser video revealed by Toyota show a concept car with a futuristic design featuring design elements never seen on a Toyota vehicle: new grille, new headlamps and tail-lamps design. The concept seems to be using lots of carbon fiber, meaning it will also have a very sporty appearance - especially if you are taking under consideration that small rear wing.
As for the engine to be used under the hood, Toyota offered no details on it, but we are pretty sure that Furia will be either an electric or a hybrid vehicle.
Full details on the new Toyota Furia Concept will be unveiled during its official debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Stay tuned!
Toyota Furia Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 20 December 2012 18:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/toyota/2013-toyota-furia-concept-ar140477.html
Thursday
Red Bull bounce back to claim title hat-trick | 2012 F1 season review
Red Bull bounce back to claim title hat-trick is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Red Bull started 2012 on the back foot after triple-whammy of rules changes over the winter. But they bounced back and were crowned champions again.
Red Bull bounce back to claim title hat-trick is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/12/20/2012-f1-season-review-red-bull/
Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok
Some Advice For Christmas
There was an article in the Charlotte Observer last week�about a woman named Christmas Abbott who is attempting to become a tire changer. She’s being supported in her effort by Turner Motorsports and is being coached by veteran jackman and coach Shaun Peet and the guys at Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR and Turner have a [...] 
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Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy
Wednesday
Happy Hour: The last words on the Bowyer-Gordon Donnybrook in the Desert
Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.
It's the season finale, and you know what that means: ten more days till Daytona! Or at least it seems that way. We'll be here with you throughout the offseason, so don't fret and keep sending in your questions. For now, we wrap up with a cavalcade of letters about, well, you know. We received more letters on this topic than anything ever, including all the Busch bros. antics, so here's a representative sampling...
Jeff Gordon. Yes, fine him, suspend him, whatever. But taking 25 points away this late in the season is nothing. Probation. Nothing. $100,000. I am sure they made that much selling hats at the team hauler. If NASCAR wants any credibility at all, when they know, and there is conclusive evidence or proof of intent, the offending driver's team should have to pay for the replacement cost for any/all cars his actions cost. So if Jeff took out 5 cars, Hendrick pays a fine equal to the replacement of those 5 cars. Want to make it more on the driver? Then you put the driver on probation for the next 10 races regardless of what season that race is in. So this season would be 1, and then the next 9 of 2013. You also strip him of Champions Provisional for the year and start him from the back of the pack for the first 5 races regardless of qualifying position. I think that would send a message. Have at it, but be prepared for the consequences.
? Brian Williams
Auburn, WA
___________________
Was the penalty [on Gordon] enough? Way too much! His move was so subtle, he could have done a lot worse. NASCAR, wake up! What happened to "have at it boys"? You're in the entertainment business and the way I see it, it was a touchdown!
? Bob
___________________
I'm neither a supporter or hater of either Jeff Gordon or Clint Bowyer, but I have to take Clint's side on what happened Sunday. As an avid race watcher I do not feel that Jeff's assumption that Clint has been racing him in a questionable manner all year is true. There has been hard racing, yes, but that takes place between many drivers over the course of the year. I feel Jeff is just trying to blame someone else for his bad year and the fact that he is no longer the hotshot on the track that he once was. Over the past few years he has taken potshots at several others to cover his career ebbing from what it one was. Even Jimmie Johnson has been the recipient of his ire.
? Joyce Keith
___________________
What ever happened to two guys meeting out behind the barn for a good old fashioned meeting of the minds butt-kicking contest? Whoever walks out is the winner. Guess the current crop of drivers just don't have the guts for that kind of thing. Might screw up their next photo shoot or commercial. Every time I see Tony Stewart or Gordon or even Harvick run their mouth it invariably makes me want to reach through the screen and smack them. It is always funny how their pit crew is around to protect them. Where are the Allisons, Earnhardts, Yarboroughs, Waltrips, Bakers and a host of others who settle issues in a heartbeat the old fashioned way? NASCAR should just put up a boxing ring at every event and instead of bringing drivers to the NASCAR hauler, just have them meet in the ring and settle their differences there!
? John Lewis Neatherlin
___________________
So from here in the Heartland what Jeff did to Clint looks like a good ole boy just getting even. Jeff loses a mere $100,000 but does he stands to make a bit more 'cause his car (48) finishes the season at worst number two in the standings and maybe his teammate gets the third-place trophy. Admittedly, I am a little biased seeing as how I am from just up the road from Emporia [Bowyer's hometown] but what an opportunity to take one for the team by saying "I was tired of this crap."
? Ozawkie N. G.
___________________
All of the shenanigans that happened this weekend are what NASCAR needed! Right or wrong on all of the issues (wrecks, cautions, fines, etc), it brought NASCAR alive and has the fans excited. Let's be honest, the majority of the year has been logging laps and everyone getting along. Let's hope some of the excitement continues into 2013!
? Dayna B.
California
___________________
I went to my first NASCAR race when I was 9 yrs old in 1974. I've never been so disappointed in a truly great driver as I am in Jeff Gordon right now. Completely uncalled for. Took out a championship contender and almost took out the #2. Aggressive racing, yes, but there was a handful of laps to go. Won't be wearing my #24 shirt anytime soon.
? Don Mulder
Naperville, IL
Whew. There you go. I think we covered the gamut there, right? My take: Gordon should have been suspended. I can understand, in NASCAR's reasoning, why Gordon is racing (no prior history, golden child, etc.) but to me, the black flag and the championship contention for Bowyer outweigh that. Anyway, all done now.
___________________
The tragedy of Phoenix is that the high-school stuff between Gordon and Bowyer is taking the place of what should be talked about. And that is the fact that NASCAR, in their never-ending quest for safety, decided to continue the race after Danica Patrick walloped the turn four wall. As she tried to get her car out of the way, NASCAR simply let the race go to completion. Didn't anyone see that there was a crippled car in the way of the oncoming herd?
[Related: Is NASCAR a sport or is it entertainment?]
I'm sick of NASCAR puffing up their chest with safety-first messages, when they clearly were not inclined to put safety first and stop the race. Is the media so concerned about being deprived of access that they are not even talking about this issue?
So, a complicit media talks and talks about the pushin', shovin', and "boys, have at it." All the while NASCAR is thanking God above for Gordon and Bowyer, because of the cover that it gave them.
? Jim Bromwell
Allentown, PA
I saw several articles focused on the Danica/no-flag issue, actually. The issue wasn't so much that Patrick's car was in the way (it wasn't) as that it was dropping oil on the track. NASCAR officials claimed they couldn't see the oil, and others backed them up on that. But it's a judgment call, and after the debacle that we'd just seen, NASCAR wasn't going to throw a caution for anything short of a thermonuclear strike.
___________________
I'm afraid I will be joining that list of "I'll never watch NASCAR again" fans. Well, I'm not going to rant like most of them and I'm not drunk while composing this email. But I am very displeased. I am a long time fan who spends money on the NASCAR industry ... tickets, racing junk (hats, shirts, etc...), and other related items. What's my beef? The same as many. One bad wreck in the Chase and you are out of it. I know that applies to other sports (you lose a game and you're gone) but until NASCAR has a playoff like those sports the comparison doesn't stand. We have the weirdest system and it's broke.
Until NASCAR fixes the problem, they won't get any more of my money. I'll check the news ever once and a while to see if things have changed but otherwise I'm looking for a new sport to waste my money on.
? Tim Palmer
I suggest college football. That sport makes total sense and is so well organized. You'll love it.
___________________
I realize the media is always looking for a good story. But I spent all last week (before the Phoenix race) laughing at every article/video/talking head I saw that basically stated the Sprint Cup Championship was over. No one could make up 7 points on JJ. And now (while I laugh more this week) the tide has turned and all those same folks are talking about how it is anything but locked up for BK because "20 points is nothing." I even saw a noted NASCAR reporter state that Jimmie made up 15 points in the final race in 2010 to beat Denny Hamlin. Does he not realize that was the equivalent of 3 positions on the track, and not 20 in today's point system?
? Ken Hall
Yukon OK
Uh ... I think he's talking about me. (Well, except for the "noted" and the "reporter" part.) I confess I made that error when discussing the Chase, and I flat-out forgot the points change. Of course, Hamlin fumbled so badly in 2010 that Johnson could've been a thousand points back and still won. (Not really.) Still, I will cop to the fact that I thought, absent a dramatic catastrophe, I thought this was Johnson's Chase to lose. And so did you. But hey, that's why they run the races.
___________________
What are you thinking? Clint Bowyer can call people "retards" all he wants, but you don't have to reprint that. It is hate speech. When I was a kid I used to play with Billie Coyle, who has Down's Syndrome. Billie is great guy. People who use these terms cause folks like Billie a great deal of pain.
I expect better from you Jay.
? Dean
Centerton, AR
We went back and forth over whether to print the "retard" line and ultimately went with the news value, rather than shock value or indifference. At this point in our society, the "r-word" has not yet ascended to the level of offensiveness of the "n-word", but I can certainly see how plenty of people feel that it has. Dean helpfully sent along a link to a letter a member of the Special Olympics sent Fox News commentator Ann Coulter decrying the use of the "r-word"; I previously wrote about that here. It's well worth reading.
___________________
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 25 points several years ago for saying _____ ... and not even while mad! Brad Keselowski says every _____ing word in the _ _ _ _ing book during his _____ing interview and calls a half dozen drivers a bunch of _____ing _____holes! Where is his _____ing fine and points deduction?!?! I am not a Johnson fan and would rather see Brad win it, but what is the� _____ deal with one being fined and docked and not the other? That is bull _____, and it pisses me off!
? _____hole Frankie in _____ing Virginia
That was _____ing beautiful. Only reason I can think of why Keselowski skated was that the press conference, while freely available online, was not broadcast on television. But oh, his lines were far worse than Junior's. Can you imagine if NASCAR had deducted points from Keselowski? Apocalypse!
And on that note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here. Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
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How I Saw It? 2012 Super Review Part The Final, The People Edition
2012 was the year of competition. Even with an unproven hardware package, the fight from the front to the back of the field was close and intense all year long. A new car, new engines, the reworked rulebook, a cleaned … Continue reading 
Kamui Kobayashi: ?I have to admit that it is very sad?
With Romain Grosjean confirmed at Lotus earlier today Kamui Kobayashi has now conceded that he won?t have an F1 race seat for next season ? but he insists that he will return in 2014. The Japanese driver has been ousted … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/12/17/kamui-kobayashi-i-have-to-admit-that-it-is-very-sad/
BMW Press Release: Testing Concludes At Jerez
BMW issued the following press release after the final World Superbike test of the year at Jerez:
Year:
2013
Tuesday
Video: Prototype Alfa Romeo 4C Crashes Into Side of the Road
When a car is in its testing stages, most engineers will push it to the limits of survival, be it the icy cold terrain, the unbearing heat of Death Valley or the sharp corners at The Ring. They do it for a living. So they’re, what we call, "lucky"...
But not all tests can yield perfect tests. Like this Alfa Romeo 4C in the video above, for instance.
Most sportscars don’t really cooperate well under harsh weather conditions and slippery roads. This video proves just about that.
Thanks to the not-so-good traction on the road, the Italian sportscar had skidded and landed into a ditch by the side of the road- that’s what we assume- and looks like it is in need of a tow. Luckily, the engineers had a another car during the test.
Unluckily, that car was a prototype of what looks like a Maserati Ghibli, a car not exactly your everyday towing vehicle.
With the Alfa Romeo 4C production version launch delayed, Alfa can’t stand another setback like this. And neither do the handful of fans they have.
Video: Prototype Alfa Romeo 4C Crashes Into Side of the Road originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 18 December 2012 15:00 EST.
Bigger, Better, More Beautiful: The MotoMatters.com 2013 Motorcycle Racing Calendar
$27.95
Back by popular demand, and bigger and better. The MotoMatters.com 2013 Motorcycle Racing Calendar is on the presses and getting ready for delivery. The highlight of the calendar is, as always, the fantastic photos taken by Scott Jones, and to give them the room they deserve, we have increased the size of the calendar by 10%. The larger size means the calendar will make an even more dynamic impact on your wall. If the calendar was great in previous years, it's absolutely fantastic in 2013.
$27.95
2013 Silly Season? Who?s Where, and What?s What
It may only be October, but it?s never too early to start thinking about silly season in indycar world. Without the post-Vegas fallout to contend with this year, silly season has picked up steam much earlier this year than in … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/2013-silly-season-whos-where-and-whats-what/
The fix is in? NASCAR advertises ?Six-Time? merchandise before season finale
This is it, people! The smoking gun! Proof positive that NASCAR is one big conspiracy designed to load up Jimmie Johnson with championships! It's right here, people!
This, via NASCAR.com, is a shot of a commemorative "six-time" plaque honoring Jimmie Johnson's 2012 victory at Homestead ... problem is, that "victory" hasn't happened yet. Now, Johnson has a huge hill to climb to win the Sprint Cup, but if he does ... well, you'll know something's up, won't you?
(Via @dustinlong)
Monday
Sachsenring MotoGP Round Could Move Back To July 14th After F1 Calendar Change
The date of the German round of MotoGP at the Sachsenring is once again surrounded by uncertainty. A minor readjustment of the Formula One calendar means that the German F1 and MotoGP races are once again scheduled for the same date, July 7th, meaning that the Sachsenring race could well be forced to move, with the following week, July 14th being an option, according to German-language website Speedweek.de.
The clash between the two series was caused by Formula One rescheduling the German F1 GP, the second time it has done so. A previous change had forced the Sachsenring to move from July 14th to July 7th, to accommodate F1 on the 14th. But now, the German F1 GP has been moved forward a week, to allow an extra race to be inserted in the calendar on July 21st.
Under an agreement between MotoGP and Formula One, the two series attempt to avoid schedule clashes as much as possible, and especially not to race in the same country on the same date. Holding both F1 and MotoGP in Germany on July 7th would cause major dilemmas for TV companies around the world, but especially in Germany, as to which to focus their resources on.
Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd David Brabham
New All-Star Format Fell Short
Sandbagging (verb): To hold back; what happened Saturday night at the Sprint All-Star race. The collective oxygen this morning is being taken up with discussion about what happened Saturday night. A new format and $1 million on the line led the winner of the race to sandbag his way to the end. NASCAR in its [...]
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