AutoWeek articles from April 2004

AutoWeek archives from April 2004

OWNERS SAY...(Mazda 3.)
April 5, 2004... To say I'm pleased with the Mazda 3 would be an understatement. This car is a great choice for those who like to be involved in the driving experience. The engine has good torque and is strong at high rpm, while the precision and smoothness of...

BUSCH IS BEST; He is at Bristol at least, where the roush driver has won three straight.
April 5, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE Wheeling a 3400-pound stock car around Bristol Motor Speedway has been described as like flying a jet in a gym. Here lately, nobody has been better at it than Kurt Busch. Busch's win in the Food City 500, driving for Jack...

Flash.(Briefs)(Toyota Alessandro Volta)(captions)
April 5, 2004... Finesse player They're not saying much about it, but the latest expression of Toyota global design chief Simon Humphries' "L-finesse'' look for Lexus, the LF-C, will be on display at the upcoming New York Auto Show. Lexus promises a...

TV.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 5, 2004... Friday, April 9 * Sports Car Revolution, 10:30 a.m., Speed Channel * NBS 24/7, 2 p.m., Speed * NASCAR Busch Series qualifying from Nashville, Tenn., 4:30 p.m., Speed (L) * Autorotica: Barrett-Jackson Auction, 6 p.m., Speed ...

Toyota TRD Matrix; win on sunday, sell on monday.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Andrew Luu Toyota blends the track with the street "Toyota wants to make its cars more popular with aftermarket tuners,'' says Toyota Racing Development senior sales manager Gary Boler. That seems to be the ambition of every...

SWEET P... ZEV; 2.3-liter Focus brings more driving fun to an already enjoyable lineup.
April 5, 2004... Not often do you get something for nothing or even almost nothing. But the 2004 Ford Focus is an exception. We lauded the car when Ford launched it in the United States for the 2000 model year, and we've continued to do so since. The Focus'...

FORMING A POLICY AGAINST TUNERS.
April 5, 2004... Byline: ANDREW LUU Insurance-or lack of it-may spell the end for sport compact enthusiasts Canadian Ron Shortt is a far cry from the fast and furious type: The 47-year-old Toronto man drives a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire back and forth to...

Driver's Log.
April 5, 2004... 2004 Mazda MPV Date in fleet: March 8-22 As-tested price: $31,300 Powertrain: 3.0-liter V6; fwd, five-speed automatic Output: 200 hp @ 6200 rpm, 200 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm Curb weight: 3772 pounds RAYNAL: This is one of my favorite minivans....

tuner happenings.(Calendar)
April 5, 2004... The culture surrounding sport compacts is as diverse as the cars themselves, with the cars at the center of an evolving lifestyle. As sport compacts gain popularity, the number of these tuner events grows. Below is a list-while comprehensive,...

BREAKING OUT OF THE ASYLUM (part 1 of 2); Florida's Bike Week provides its usual, er, thrills.
April 5, 2004... Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH During Daytona's Bike Week 2004, a man from Oklahoma, on his new Kannon V8-powered motorcycle, apparently fell or jumped off the bike, which then sped on riderless for several blocks. It struck, among other...

ALL REVVED UP.
April 5, 2004... Taking zoom-zoom to the next level If Mazda has been slow delivering on the promise of its zoom-zoom advertising campaign, as some have charged, it's time to quit whining and start driving. With the new 3, an entry-level five-door, Mazda...

Letters.
April 5, 2004... Dodging the Golf Let's see, for the same $29,000 I can get a factory-tuned Golf (Cover Story, March 22) or a boss-looking Dodge Magnum (March 22) with a monster Hemi and all the accessories I want. The Magnum positive-ly growls while...

But Wait, There's More....(BWTM)
April 5, 2004... Body Double: DaimlerChrysler's Jurgen Schrempp & The Three Stooges' Shemp See print copy for photo Photo with caption Ah, glorious Spring! Birds sing, flowers blossom and a snap is in the air that verily shouts...

GETTING in tune; It's all about looking cool and going faster.
April 5, 2004... Ever since cars became mainstream rather than a novelty, a certain kind of owner has wanted something a bit different from what the car manufacturers offer. The base car can be pretty good, but lower the suspension, add bigger wheels and tires,...

June 4-6.(Calendar)(Calendar)
April 5, 2004... Carlisle All-Ford Nationals Carlisle, Pa. Call (717) 243-7855 or check out carsatcarlisle.com. June 4-6 NSRA Street Rod Nationals East York, Pa. Log onto nsra-usa.com or call (303) 776-7841 for details. June 5...

A DIY JDM-tuned Subaru WRX; goin' all out in queens.
April 5, 2004... Byline: RICHARD S. CHANG Rare is good, but expensive is better Tommy Shek is late. As the owner of a highly tuned 300-hp Subaru WRX- one that should be good for high-12s in the quarter-mile-Shek shouldn't be late for anything. After...

Pacific Rim S13 Silvia Conversion in dorifto, bad is good; And Hilfiger and Nautica are for sailors.
April 5, 2004... Byline: RICHARD S. CHANG It was the crash of the D1 Grand Prix. Daijiro Yoshihara, exiting the initial banking with speed to spare, took the Pacific Rim S13 Silvia smartly around to the second major turn. But drifting at 70 mph toward the...

Axis Sport Tuning VW Golf GTI; screaming yellow zonker Showcasing a wheel empire.
April 5, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN There wasn't a character in The Fast and the Furious modeled after James Chen, but there should have been. Chen is the magnate behind wheel maker Axis Sport Tuning and he is, as the kids say, a shot caller. Chen...

OWNERS SAY...(Auto File)
April 5, 2004... My dealer was offering $5,000 off every Focus and it was too good a deal to pass up. I'm 42 and I feel like I'm 23 when I jump behind the wheel. I love it because it is fun to drive, fast, handles great, and the ergonomics are nicely laid out....

MANUFACTURER INFO.(Auto File)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Ford Motor Co. The American Road Dearborn MI 48126 Customer assistance: (800) 392-3673 Internet address: fordvehicles.com Country of origin: United States Number of dealers: 4000 (est.) sticker Base...

Spes & Data.(Auto File)(Irvine CA 92618-2922)(Mazda Motor of America Inc.)
April 5, 2004... MANUFACTURER INFO Mazda North American Operations 7755 Irvine Center Drive Irvine CA 92618-2922 Customer assistance: (800) 222-5500 Internet address: mazdausa.com Country of origin: Japan Number of dealers: 700...

Saturn Motorsports/Mavrik Ion; the search for respect.
April 5, 2004... Byline: ANDREW LUU Will a turboed Ion win over the streets? In the sport compact world, Saturn has a reputation problem. Not that it's bad, just almost nonexistent-especially when it comes to the aftermarket scene. You don't have to...

TOUCHED by an angel; MTV Gets in on the Act.(Special Report)(Television Program Review)
April 5, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Rapper Xzibit keeps things real on Pimp My Ride, wherein a grandma-taxi '92 Civic (right) gets the full tuner treatment. Don't be put off by the title of MTV's new reality show, Pimp My Ride. As with so many words...

Dixon gets F1 test.(News)(Scott Dixon)(Formula One)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... IRL champion Scott Dixon tested a Formula One car for the first time in his career. Dixon drove a 2004 Williams-BMW at Paul Ricard, turning 30 laps. After several laps, Dixon got his times down to the 1:15 range, about three seconds slower than...

TUNED MINI MUSCLE MACHINES.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: MIKE SUTTON Import fans will enjoy Funline Merchandise's Muscle Machines, a collection of die-cast street machines and import racers featuring oversized chrome wheels, custom paint schemes and supercharged engines rising out of...

The Fiberglass Car That Couldn't.(Escape Roads)
April 5, 2004... Byline: MIKE COVELLO If you ask most people what they think of Volvo's drop-top model, they will give you their opinion on the C70 convertible. But if you say you mean the P1900 from the mid-'50s, you're likely to get a blank stare. With a...

GOOD NEWS FOR CHAMP CAR.(Competition)
April 5, 2004... The Champ Car World Series field got closer to its magic number of 18 entries when Eric Bachelart's Con-quest/Mijack Racing team confirmed two entries and Forsythe Racing decided to make room for veteran Patrick Carpentier (above). ...

Results.(Competition)
April 5, 2004... Bristol Motor Speedway 0.533-mile oval March 28 1. Kurt Busch, Ford, 500 laps at 82.607 mph; 2. Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 500; 3. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 500; 4. Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 500; 5. Matt Kenseth, Ford, 500; 6. Ken...

Ultimate Altima.(News)(Altima Nissan)(Brief Article)
April 5, 2004... Altima Nissan's refreshed-for-2005 Altima gets a kick in the pants this September with the arrival of the performance-tuned SE-R version, which makes its public debut at the New York Auto Show (open to the public April 9-18). Buy the SE-R and...

Designing for the Sexes.(Column)(new cae designs for women)
April 5, 2004... Byline: Dutch Mandel Volvo eased one out at the Geneva motor show last month when the firm unveiled the YCC. It did not go unnoticed. YCC, for Your Concept Car, was an experiment that afforded a band of women the chance to design a car...

new pocket rocket; Is GM getting serious about small-car performance?(Special Report)(General Motors)
April 5, 2004... Byline: WES RAYNAL How long has it been since General Motors took a serious whack at the small-car performance market with an all-new car? Well, the new Chevrolet Cobalt goes on sale in the fall, replacing the Cavalier. Cavalier rides...

TALKIN' 'BOUT R-GENERATION.(Review)(Movie Review)
April 5, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN All great generations had their documentaries. The music and the youth of the '60s were pretty well chronicled in Woodstock; the Civil War had Ken Burns. Now this. While front-wheel-drive performance enthusiasts might...

FAST POLL.(People)(VW R32)
April 5, 2004... Volkswagen's answer to Japanese rally sedans has finally arrived. But readers say the VW R32 will succeed not because of its performance, but for its practicality and refinement. While it does not have the track performance of its...

FAMILY FORCE; The Force drag racing dynasty could pass to another generation.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN When we arrived at the sprawling John Force Racing compound in the pits of the rained-out NHRA season opener in Pomona, John Force was lamenting his lost star appeal. "How come no one wants to inter-view me,'' the...

Stillen Nissan Sentra Spec V; stillen's willin'.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Andrew Luu Bolting on more go 'n' show Rarely have we been so wary of a rev limiter. Usually one abrupt cut in power is enough to set a mental benchmark to ensure it doesn't happen again, but Steve Millen's 2003 Nissan Sentra...

KINGS OF BLING; Carmakers focus on the urban market.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 5, 2004... Byline: -MARK VAUGHN Bryon Russell is best known as an 11-year NBA forward, first with the Utah Jazz and now with the Los Angeles Lakers. But now Russell can add another title to his resume: King of Bling. He won that not for his athletic...

Flash.(Briefs)
April 5, 2004... Said, Earnhardt team up in a Vette Driver Boris Said will join Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a Chevrolet Corvette C5-R at the Sears Point American Le Mans Series race July 18. Earnhardt signed to drive a third Corvette for the series' fourth...

Correction.( )
April 5, 2004... A March 29 story should have said the 2005 SLK55 AMG is powered by a normally aspirated 5.5-liter V8.

BREAKING OUT OF THE ASYLUM (part 2 of 2); Florida's Bike Week provides its usual, er, thrills.(News)
April 5, 2004... Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH Then, more entertainment as the crew tows two full-size house trailers onto the track. The show lags as Ruic stages a "slow motorcycle'' race, with fans, who have ridden their motorcycles into the infield,...

AEM Honda Civic Si; More Si for Your Civic.
April 5, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN AEM has been doing this for 17 years, so they know where to tune This is perhaps the ultimate aspirational vehicle for the 16-to-24-age group. Look at that paint job: designed by Troy Lee and laid down on an HFP...

Chasing the Dream; NASCAR is suffering from some small fields.
April 12, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE NASCAR had seen enough. One half-speed lap without a crew or pit tools convinced officials Joe Ruttman wasn't all that serious about the Subway 400 at Rockingham. So they parked him after one mile of "competition" at...

Aye, Carrera! (part 2 of 2); THE FIRST FULL TEST OF PORSCHE'S SUPERCAR.(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Mike Duff; track test by Pete Albrecht Our first bit of driving is onto the local roads surrounding the circuit and into a couple of the neighboring towns for photography. It is also a good opportunity to conduct a quick poll on...

Corrections.(Correction)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Contrary to earlier information provided by Mercedes-Benz, the 2005 SLK55 AMG (AW, March 29) will be equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission only. The five-speed automatic transmission in the Dodge Magnum Hemi (AW, March 22) is...

CHEVY'S COMPACT CHALLENGER: 2005 COBALT.(News)
April 12, 2004... Byline: ROGER HART With the unveiling of Chevrolet's Cobalt SS Supercharged (AW, April 5), it seems the company is getting serious about playing at the top of the sport compact class, heavily dominated by import brands. But what about the...

Results.(Competition)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Bahrain 3.366-mile road course April 4 1. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 57 laps at 129.852 mph avg. speed; 2. Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 57; 3. Jenson Button, BAR-Honda, 57; 4. Jarno Trulli, Renault, 57; 5. Takuma Sato,...

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY; Hot cars headline New York auto show.(News)
April 12, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Forty years ago Lee Iacocca's baby, the Ford Mustang, premiered to rave reviews at the New York auto show. To commemorate the debut that sparked the pony-car revolution, Ford gallops into the Big Apple on the back of...

Aye, Carrera! (part 1 of 2); THE FIRST FULL TEST OF PORSCHE'S SUPERCAR.(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 12, 2004... Byline: Mike Duff; track test by Pete Albrecht The first hurdle is the language barrier. Not the one between technical German and English-any part of the Carrera GT experience that does not translate can be communicated through a...

But Wait, There's More......(BWTM)
April 12, 2004... Photo with caption "Actually, we all smelled quite nice, really." -Michael Schumacher at the F1 post-race interview responding to the use of a substitute fluid. Photo with caption ]]]] Just Try and get those stains out! For...

DERRICK MAKES 18.
April 12, 2004... Longtime team owner Derrick Walker (above) is back in the Champ Car picture. As AutoWeek went to press, Walker was expected to announce a single entry for the 2004 season. Walker lost sponsor Corona and driver Rodolfo Lavin (now with...

Flash.(Briefs)
April 12, 2004... Indy repaved Indianapolis Motor Speed-way officials said the 2.5- mile oval will be repaved after this year's Brickyard 400. The oval was last repaved in fall 1995. The 2004 repaving will include the warm-up lanes and pit lane, which were...

Letters.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
April 12, 2004... Unborn Scarab already challenged What an awesome ride the Mullin Scarab (March 22) would be. A couple of years ago I got the itch to build a hot roadster, but I didn't want a Cobra. I discovered through an AutoWeek article the '58 (Chuck)...

The Many Faces of Amelia.(Amelia Island, Florida's annual vintage car show: Concours d'Elegance)
April 12, 2004... It's a sunny Friday afternoon, and I'm trolling down Highway A1A, the two-lane beach road on Amelia Island, Florida. Traffic is crawling, but for once I'm not itching to pass. The vehicle in front, the one holding up the tourists, looks like a...

NOTHING CUTE ABOUT IT; Meat-of-the-market utes battle for supremacy at New York show.(News; auto show)
April 12, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Aside from upstart Hummer-and maybe that Japanese concern that makes the Land Cruiser-Land Rover and Jeep are the world's most recognized companies when it comes to sport/utility vehicle supremacy. At the New...

TELL 'EM WHAT THEY'VE WON.(News)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... ]]]] If you said the man in this photograph is Bill Simpson, you qualified for the prize drawing in our annual trivia contest. Go to autoweek.com to see a list of winners.

STAY IN YOUR LANE.(News; lane change warning system developed)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Byline: MIKE SUTTON, MARK VAUGHN Unintended lane change warning systems are the wave of the future, with Infiniti leading the pack when it comes to staying on track. Nissan's luxury brand will be the first to market with Lane Departure...

THEY'LL BE BACK; DARPA's robots founder in the desert, but their day will come.(News; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency competition for designing robotic vehicles)
April 12, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN The two-ton, V8-powered, four-wheel-drive fully autonomous robot swung forward out of the starting chute, turned directly to the crowd of people and paused menacingly, just 15 feet away, an array of space-age sensors...

Fast Poll.(Letters)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
April 12, 2004... The Maserati Quattroporte will be a unique and capable contender in the luxury flagship market, but in America, concerns over Italian build quality and serviceability may keep the car from glory. The Quattroporte is a worthy rival for other...

Quick Spins.(Review; School of Driving: Physics and Your Car; nake Bit: Carroll Shelby's Controversial Series 1 Sports Car; The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend; Race Legends of the Fabulous Fifties)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 12, 2004... Byline: @@Text: Snake Bit: Carroll Shelby's Controversial Series 1 Sports Car by Eric Davison, hardcover, 240 pages, Motorbooks International, (800) 826-6600, motorbooks.com, $24.95 Snake Bit: Carroll Shelby's Controversial Series 1 Sports...

BREAK OVER; the Cadillac STS returns, this time as a rear-driver.(News)
April 12, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER After a 16-month hiatus, the Cadillac STS returns to the market this fall as a rear-wheel-drive luxury performance sed-an-one Cadillac dares to compare to the best the marketplace has to offer. "We think we've...

ONCE IN A LIFETIME.(Review; opportunity to drive Formula One car)
April 12, 2004... Byline: MAC MORRISON "They tell me,'' the Michelin public relations representative says, "that the car's performance is pretty close to the current models'.'' We're not sure whether we should smack our lips or panic. Yes, we've driven...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... Sonett reborn Look for Saab to get a car based on General Motors' Kappa small-car platform, most likely in the form of a sports car that harks back to Saab's rally-bred Sonett. The possibility seems nearer now that Saturn's Kappa car,...

2004 PORSCHE CARRERA GT.(News)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... On sale: Now Price: $440,000 SPECIFICATIONS Chassis: Carbon fiber monocoque; rwd, two-seat roadster Powertrain: Mid-engine, 5.7-liter/350-cid dohc V10; 605 hp @ 8000 rpm, 435 lb-ft @ 5750 rpm; six-speed manual Compression...

TV.(Calendar)(Calendar)
April 12, 2004... Friday, April 16 * American Le Mans Special: Sebring Highlights, noon, Speed Channel (L) * NASCAR Live from Martinsville, Va., 2 p.m., Speed * NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying from Martinsville, Va., 3 p.m., Speed (L) * Trackside...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
April 12, 2004... June 10-13 Annie & Steve Norman Classic Motorcar Rally Union, Wash. Info: (206) 323-0624, collegeplan.org/rally.html June 11-13 Golden Springs Rallye Denver Info: (303) 400-8076, mgcc.org June 11-13 ...

Driver's Log.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 12, 2004... 2004 BMW 545i Date in fleet: March 16-30 As-tested price: $62,620 Powertrain: 4.4-liter V8; rwd, six-speed manual Output: 325 hp @ 6100 rpm, 330 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm Curb weight: 3803 pounds MORRISON: While I agree with everyone who hates...

2005 CADILLAC STS.(News)(Brief Article)
April 12, 2004... On sale: Fall Base price: $43,000 Powertrain: 3.6-liter, 255-hp, 252-lb-ft V6; rwd, five-speed automatic Curb weight: 3857 pounds 0 to 60 mph: 6.6 seconds (mfr.)

Race Report.(Competition)
April 12, 2004... In seven career starts Kasey Kahne has been part of two of the eight closest finishes in NASCAR history. He was on the losing end both times. His latest almost was in the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The Cup rookie went...

Results.(Competition)
April 12, 2004... Texas Motor Speedway 1.5-mile oval April 4 1. Elliott Sadler, Ford, 334 laps at 138.845 mph; 2. Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 334; 3. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 334; 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 334; 5. Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 334; 6. Kurt...

VINTAGE OVAL RACERS on the Rise; Despite the turmoil that has fractured Indy car racing in recent years, some good things have happened, and the preservation of "America's Racing Heritage'' is one.
April 19, 2004... Vintage sports car racing, as showcased at Monterey and other historic race weekends, has led not only to the restoration of many wonderful old race cars, but to increased interest in the eras those cars-and the people who raced them-represent....

HAPPY 40TH-NOW BRING ON THE COBRA.(News)
April 19, 2004... Yeah, that GT-R on the cover is killer, but here's a look at what we think is the next Mustang rocket for the masses, the 2006 SVT Cobra running on the new 'Stang chassis. A wily AutoWeek reader caught this shot near Ford's test facility in...

THE TEACHER; Andy Wallace knows what he's talking about.(NASCAR drivers' techniques)(Interview)
April 19, 2004... Byline: LARRY EDSALL When it comes to NASCAR drivers, Andy Wallace explains, "They all do the same thing wrong.'' What? We thought NASCAR drivers could do no wrong. So what is this Wallace guy talking about? Who does he think he is?...

Race Report.(Competitions.)
April 19, 2004... Last year, only four of the then-new Daytona Proto-types were at Phoenix for the Grand-Am Rolex series weekend. This year a series-record 19 of them were in the paddock, and they would have to squeeze their way through the 1.51-mile track's 11...

Results.(Competition)
April 19, 2004... Phoenix International Raceway 1.51-mile road course April 10 1. W. Taylor/M. Angelelli, Riley-Pontiac, 133 laps at 72.685 mph avg. speed; 2. M. Papis/ S. Pruett, Riley-Lexus, 133; 3. C. Wagner/ K. Collins, Doran-BMW, 133; 4. L....

CIVIC LESSON; OPEN LETTER TO THE CIVIC-SLAMMIN' SET: FIRST CAME MUSTANG. WELL, IF NOT EXACTLY FIRST, THEN AT LEAST BEFORE YOU.(News)
April 19, 2004... Byline: NATALIE NEFF Dear ________, Alas, we've been remiss. With all the attention given these days to you oh-so creative SoCal kids, your pimp import rides and all the wannabes across the country (yeah, you're legit, we know), too...

Flash.(Briefs)
April 19, 2004... Evo MR coming here If you read our report on Mitsubishi's 2004 Evolution MR (AW, Feb. 23), you're ahead of the curve. None other than Mitsu U.S. chief Finbarr O'Neill confirms the Subaru WRX STi Spec C-fighter will arrive on our shores by...

TAKE COVER, CHEVY.(News)
April 19, 2004... Byline: WILLIAM JEANES In 1965, corvette heard hoof beats Those of us who remember 1964 with clarity recall the introduction and later success of the Ford Mustang with enduring wonder. Suddenly, Mustangs were everywhere, proliferating...

MUSTANG MOMENTS.(News; Mustang automobile chronology)(Chronology)
April 19, 2004... 1500s: Mustang horses, also known as American Indian horses or Spanish horses, are brought to the New World 1863: Henry Ford is born in Wayne County, Michigan 1893: Edsel Ford is born 1923: Carroll Shelby is born in Leesburg, Texas...

Flash.(Briefs)
April 19, 2004... Prepping for Indy Newman-Haas Racing has been cryptic about its plans for next month's Indy 500. But this much we know: Paul Newman and Carl Haas will enter a car at Indianapolis. The Champ Car team has not participated in the race since...

READY FOR INDY.(News; Indy Racing League makes aerodynamic changes to vehicles)
April 19, 2004... The Indy Racing League has settled on a package of aerodynamic changes in time for May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Given a successful test at Indy in early April, there aren't likely to be further changes before the Indy 500, according...

PONIES FOR YOUR DESK.(News; Matchbox Collectibles celebrates Ford Mustang's 40th anniversary with two models)
April 19, 2004... Byline: MIKE SUTTON Matchbox Collectibles is honoring the Ford Mustang with the introduction of two 40th anniversary collections of die-cast models, beginning with the classic 1965 Mustang convertible and ranging to the 2005 Mustang GT...

HISTORIC AUTOMOTIVE LITERATURE.(News)(Brief Article)
April 19, 2004... A scrapbook of historical automotive literature is a great way to add to the value and significance of a collectible vehicle. Vintage literature not only serves as a reference for restoration but also as a means of understanding the era in...

Driver's Log.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 19, 2004... 2004 Pontiac GTO Date in fleet: March 24-April 5 As-tested price: $32,795 Powertrain: 5.7-liter V8; rwd, four-speed automatic Output: 350 hp @ 5200 rpm, 365 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm Curb weight: 3725 pounds MPG (EPA combined/AW observed):...

REALITY CHECK; With F1's tire war in mind, we sit down with Michelin's motorsport director.(Competition; Pierre Dupasquier )(Interview)
April 19, 2004... Byline: MAC MORRISON If you looked away from your television for a moment, you might have missed it. At the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix, as Ferrari once again left the Formula One field in its wake, the world-feed cameras broadcast a...

But wait, there's more...(BWTM)
April 19, 2004... Passenger? Most Champ Cars don't have passenger seats, but one does- the two-seater designed so champion Paul Tracy could give a thrill to riders of means (read: potential sponsors). If such a guest hits the handy panic button in the rear...