Category Archives: racing

Toyota Motor Enters Six Teams in Rebelle Rally

“The Rebelle Rally provides the perfect platform for Toyota team members to demonstrate their passion for learning and problem solving, develop their driving skills, navigate treacherous terrains, and work together as a cohesive unit,” said Kristen Tabar, group vice president, Advanced Mobility Research and Development at TMNA. Continue reading →

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US Honda Performance Development Now Global

AutoInformed suspects that we will ultimately hear from General Motors and Honda, perhaps as suppliers to the New Andretti Formula One Team that is currently under FIA consideration. Continue reading →

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Extreme E, FIA Plan Off-Road Hydrogen Racing Championship

This means that Extreme H would join the company of just seven other official FIA World Championships, which includes ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Development of the Extreme H series is underway, with plans advanced to have a prototype launched later this year ahead of the first season in 2025. Continue reading →

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Mustang GTD – Street Legal 800 Hp Starting at $300,000

“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “This is a new approach for us. We didn’t engineer a road car for the track, we created a race car for the road. Mustang GTD takes racing technology from our Mustang GT3 race car, wraps it in a carbon fiber Mustang body and unleashes it for the street.”   Continue reading →

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Red Hot and Red Flagged – IndyCar at Nashville

With hot and humid conditions in downtown Nashville during an 80-lap race that was remarkable for its lack of yellow flags – which is why it’s called Crashville – Kyle Kirkwood in a Honda* won 2023 at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

There were tire marbles all over the course just off the racing line because of the unexpected amount of green flag laps. “It was like going on ice,” said Felix Rosenqvist, (driver of the No. 6 Chevrolet) at Arrow McLaren. As a result, the pre-race strategies of all the teams were worthless. Moreover, there was a red flag followed by a three-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Another factor in the sweltering heat was the use of cool suits. Continue reading →

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Alex Palou and Honda Outstanding at Mid-Ohio Indy 200

The result marks Palou’s third IndyCar win in a row in 2023 and fourth in the last five races. It also extends his championship lead to 110 points over teammate and now-second place driver in the standings, Scott Dixon who finished second. Will Power, driver of the #12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Verizon Team Penske – a fierce rival of Chip Ganassi the owner of  Palou’s and Power’s race cars took third place. It wasn’t all roses for Chip Ganassi – previously second place in the championship in the fourth Ganassi Racing car, Marcus Ericsson was involved in a lap one incident, ending his race. Continue reading →

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Road America Kill – Palou and Honda Dominating IndyCar

“We were able to be consistent, be fast, and we’re going to keep this rolling into Mid-Ohio,” said Alex Palou post-race. “It’s still early, but obviously you want those [championship] points into your account rather than another one. We’re not going to lose the focus, we know we have a great team, we just need to continue being consistent and winning races.” Continue reading →

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Mustang Dark Horse in Rolling Road Wind Tunnel

Overall, Mustang Dark Horse includes multiple changes and additional features, including a redesigned front bumper, a lower valence, a spoiler, and unique wheels. The front design is optimized to potentially increase air flow for engine cooling, brakes and air intake, while also reducing front lift. On the Mustang Dark Horse, the lower air spoiler and splitter are unique allowing the car to be tuned for greater downforce. The upgraded handling package on the Dark Horse provides a unique splitter, spoiler, and wheels – changes that may seem small but that make all the difference when hitting the road or track with performance in mind. Continue reading →

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Le Mans – Ferrari, Corvette, Victorious in Rain

As always, rain induced carnage worked its way with hapless drivers making the outcome somewhat random with roughly one-third of the race run under yellow flags with its innovative five separate safety cars deployed by class. There was a record 16-car hypercar field with competitors from Cadillac,* Ferrari, Peugeot and Porsche. These race cars are now clearly as complex, exciting and as expensive as Formula One cars. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition

“Even though Chevrolet has been racing since its inception in 1911, we’ve never done anything quite like Garage 56,” said General Motors President Mark Reuss, who in AutoInformed’s direct experience losing to him on a track, is quite an accomplished driver himself. If he can sit through interminable corporate meetings, we bet he could run Le Mans, but he isn’t driving. Continue reading →

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Ganassi Racing Honda Wins Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

From a racing fan’s point of view, AutoInformed remains worried about the lack of real racing in IndyCar. Street tracks present huge problems. Detroit, to our eyes, was too narrow, too short and way too bumpy. The longest straightaway needed to be resurfaced – like many Michigan roads the second half of it needs to be fixed – smoothed so passing can occur without bumps and carbon-fiber wing benders. This is an IndyCar problem. Restarts lead to more restarts, but on street circuits – the best way to overtake and pass is on the restart where everyone is bunched up – more accidents, more flags, more restarts with little sustained racing. Continue reading →

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Pato O’Ward Fastest in Practice for Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

Pato O’Ward was fastest in during Friday practice for Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Continue reading →

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Josef Newgarden Driving a Penske-Chevrolet Wins Accident Marred Indianapolis 500

All told, Newgarden led five laps of the 200. Newgarden started the race 17th on the grid. For Tim Cindric, President at Team Penske, it was the ninth Indianapolis 500 win and the 19th for Roger Penske as team owner; the first came in 1972. However, it was Roger Penske’s first as the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since he bought it three and half years ago. Continue reading →

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Chevy Versus Honda in Fastest Field Ever at Indy 500

Alex Palou produced Honda’s fourth consecutive Indianapolis 500 pole yesterday in a qualifying contest that resulted in the fastest field at 232 mph, as well as one of the closest front rows in Brickyard history. Continue reading →

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Wayne Taylor Racing, Andretti Autosport to Run Two IMSA Cars

“It has always been our plan to go to a two-car program,” said Wayne Taylor, Team Owner, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport. “There are so many advantages in being a two-car team and now, going up against all the other factory backed two-car efforts, it is vital.” Continue reading →

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