AutoWeek articles from November 2004

AutoWeek archives from November 2004

AW goings-on.(News)(AutoWeek)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Online: Complete BMW 3 Series photo gallery, California auto show stoppers On the air: AutoWeek on Speed, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 On the town: AutoWeek/Automotive News Specialty Vehicle Forum, Nov. 1, Las Vegas...

The Chase: Four to go.(Motorsports)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The nine-month marathon that is NASCAR's inaugural Nextel Cup season is down to four races. Though nothing is official, it's safe to say three contenders remain. Kurt "Mr. Consistency'' Busch padded his lead to 96 points by running fifth...

400-HORSEPOWER SEXY BEAST; With the Spyker C8 Spyder, the term "Dutch Treat'' takes on a whole new meaning.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: DUTCH MANDEL When you think of the Dutch, chances are images of high-end sports cars don't pop into your head. Victor Mueller wants to change that. Mueller, CEO of Spyker cars, is a charming and animated man who you quickly...

His Finest Hour; Bruno Junqueira takes it to the finish.(Motorsports)
November 1, 2004... Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO ** Bruno Junqueira delivered his best performance in Australia, or at least his best since he stepped onto CART's traveling stage in 2001. There was an interesting race buried within the titanic party that is Surfers...

THE MAESTRO; Pellow helped Porsche faithful keep the faith.(News)(Harry C. Pellow)
November 1, 2004... Byline: GEORGE P. BLUMBERG Imagine how much Jerry Seinfeld paid to have a 1957 Porsche Speedster engine rebuilt by a Beverly Hills shop. Imagine his disgust when it quit after 47 miles. Imagine the joy Harry C. Pellow experienced when...

Fast Poll.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Readers say anything that saves on gas and increases performance is a surefire way to success, so new green machines like Honda's Accord Hybrid should thrive in the market. Accord's combination of performance and reliability in an...

AN UGLY DAY; A record number of yellow-flag laps, and a tragedy in the NASCAR family lowlight Jimmie Johnson's Martinsville win.(Motorsports)
November 1, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE Most of NASCAR's 10 Chase for the Championship drivers dread 500 laps at Martinsville as much as 500 miles at Talladega. This is even though Martinsville Speedway is a mile shorter and 100 mph slower than the Talladega...

Most/Least Stolen.(News)(HIGHEST THEFTS: Average loss payment per claim)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... 2001-2003 HIGHEST THEFTS: Average loss payment per claim Cadillac Escalade EXT (2002-03): $14,939 Nissan Maxima (2002-03): $4,126 Cadillac Escalade (2002-03): $15,703 Dodge Stratus/Chrysler Sebring: $5,483 Dodge Intrepid:...

An Ohio Town Adopts a Car.(Escape Roads)
November 1, 2004... Byline: BILL McGUIRE Here's something you don't see every day: a car in a public library. And not in a lobby or gallery, either. Parked in front of the checkout desk at the Harris-Elmore Public Library in Elmore, Ohio, is a 1904 Elmore...

I AM ITALY, Hear Me Roar; Two roadsters-the Pagani Zonda & Lamborghini Murcielago-hook up for a crosstown romp.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: MATT DAVIS No supercar test can beat this one for convenience. Pagani Automobili does what it does just southeast of Modena, Italy. Automobili Lamborghini is just eight miles to the north, amid the plowed fields of Sant'Agata...

When Too Much Ferrari Just Isn't Enough; A Ferrari improved upon by Germans.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN The German engineers at Novitec Rosso all came from the land that speed limits forgot. What we consider unfettered, wild-man speeding is just the way these guys get to work in the morning. So when they called CEC Wheels...

PUTTING ON THE RUF; Porsche lays the foundation, but Ruf builds its own special cars.(News)
November 1, 2004... Byline: PETE ALBRECHT Alois Ruf isn't a tuner. Of course, if you bring your own Porsche, his Pfaffenhausen, Germany, shop will modify it any way you like. A tuner does that-hangs stuff on existing cars. Or cuts stuff off. But Ruf prides...

REMAKING HISTORY.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In a world full of Shelby Cobra clones, here's one that might be worth a second look: the Ken Miles Ltd. 427 Cobra. Only 10 examples of this car will be built, each an exact replica of the prototype 427 (serial No. CSX 3002) that Ken Miles...

Drivers Log.(News)
November 1, 2004... 2005 Jaguar X-Type 3.0 Sportwagon Date in fleet: Sept. 23-Oct. 11 As-tested price: $37,495 Powertrain: 3.0-liter V6; awd, five-speed automatic Output: 227 hp @ 6800 rpm, 206 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm Curb weight: 3761 pounds GRITZINGER: You...

A bus, the Bog and racing.(Revs)
November 1, 2004... Byline: LINDSAY BROOKE When the 1974 U.S. Grand Prix is remembered, the ride most likely talked about isn't Carlos Reutemann's winning BT44 Brabham-Ford. Nor is it the 312B3 Ferraris Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni drove, or the Surtees TS16...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Supercar rubber In time to upgrade that tuner supercar on your wish list come ContiSportContact 2 Vmax tires, which Continental Tire executives say are the world's first road tires approved for speeds up to 220 mph. Vmax, based on the...

END OF THE V8 HIATUS: Pontiac Grand Prix GXP.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER That noise you hear from California is burbling from the quad exhaust outlets of Pontiac's hottest Grand Prix in nearly two decades- the 2005 Grand Prix GXP. The GXP's 5.3-liter, 290-hp, 325-lb-ft V8 is Grand Prix's...

WHY WORRY? Michelin re-reinvents the (spare) tire.(News)(Compagnie Generale des Etablissement Michelin)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Michelin's latest take on its eight-year-old Pax run-flat "worry-free tire safety system'' may finally take run-flat tires into the mainstream. While current run-flat tires-offered by Michelin as well as...

R.I.P. AW on Speed: March 21, 1996-Dec. 19, 2004.(Column)
November 1, 2004... Byline: Dutch Mandel It is difficult to discuss with you the loss of one so dear, because we all feel empty when close friends are taken away during their prime time. To those of us with a Barcalounger, a few minutes to spare and a...

LOOK SHARP; Saab's infrared cameras keep a safety eye on the driver.(News)(Driver Attention Warning System)(Saab-Scania AB)
November 1, 2004... Byline: ROGER HART ** Saab officials get a little tired of that other Swedish automaker getting all the attention for making "safe'' cars. To let the world know the people in Trollhattan think about safety, too, Saab let us test a system...

Tragedy at Hendrick Motorsports.(Competition)
November 1, 2004... IN WHAT MANY CALL ONE of the biggest tragedies in racing, 10 people aboard a Hendrick Motorsports plane died Oct. 24 when it crashed in fog and drizzle near a small airport at Spencer, Virginia. The plane had left Concord, North Carolina, bound...

TV: Nov. 5-7.(News)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... Friday, Nov. 5 NASCAR Live from Phoenix, 2 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Busch Series practice from Phoenix, 3 p.m., Speed (SD) NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying from Phoenix, 4 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from Phoenix,...

AUTOWEEK'S FAST FIVE: JEAN TODT.(News)(Brief Article)(Interview)
November 1, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN As much as Ferrari owes Michael Schumacher for its six F1 titles, credit also goes to team manager Jean Todt. Todt, who recently added the title of managing director of passenger cars to his official duties, spent a few...

Flash.(Briefs)
November 1, 2004... Will Chevy stay? Chevrolet has a contract to compete in the Indy Racing League through the 2005 season. Its future beyond that has not been determined, program manager Joe Negri said. A decision could be made by upper management as early...

Lightning Struck: Ford decides to shelve SVT pickup.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)
November 1, 2004... Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH ** Ford is pulling the plug on the next-generation SVT F-150 Lightning pickup truck, instead putting all of SVT's eggs into one basket-the SVT Cobra Mustang, due in 2006 as a 2007 model. "It's a business...

Events.(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... Dec. 28-Jan. 1, 2005 Holidays in Moab Off-Road Adventure Moab, Utah Welcome in the New Year on this scenic adventure. Visit bb4wa.com or call (970) 858-3468 for details. Jan. 1, 2005 HangoverFest IV Cordova, Ill. ...

PRESTIGE ON A PAYMENT PLAN; Leasing makes dream car ownership a cinch.(News)(Putnam Leasing)
November 1, 2004... Byline: ANDREW LUU You've just scored a million-dollar salary and it's time to celebrate. Since you're reading this magazine, your most likely dream car of choice is an exotic-perhaps a Ferrari Enzo or Porsche Carrera GT. Ah, but you...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... VW draws love and disappointment I've enjoyed VWs for most of my driving life (40 years). But your Oct. 18 Cover Story on the '06 GTI makes me consider divorcing the brand I love. VW has slipped on quality and left its fans with nothing...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Celebrate the Holidays in Style Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue to auction off a new CLS500, with all proceeds going to Reading Is Fundamental, a children's literacy organization. The winner receives not only the CLS,...

Under the Hood, with Big Brother; Forget Orwell's 1984-20 years later it's our cars that are giving us up.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Bob Gritzinger Someday it'll happen, probably when you least expect it. Just as you countersteer while drifting out of a tight corner, or after you punch the brakes hard, you'll hear the mechanically animated female voice emanating...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
November 8, 2004... Our Nov. 1 cover story on the 2006 BMW 3 Series should have listed 340 hp as the expected output for the turbocharged 3.0-liter I6 in the 330Ti. An Oct. 25 story on the hydrogen-powered BMW H2R should have listed -423.4 degrees Fahrenheit...

FONTANA FINALE FEELS FINE.(Motorsports)
November 8, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Ganassi shows he can win anything he wants, and Grand-Am keeps winning Grand-Am is rolling across sports car racing in America like a prototype hayride, with more revelers jumping on at each stop. The growth of...

The Chase: Three to go.(Motorsports)
November 8, 2004... Jimmie Johnson says the Nextel Cup is up for grabs among all 10 championship contenders. Well, yeah... if hell freezes again. (See: Sox, Red; Boston, 2004). But for making The Chase interesting again, NASCAR and NBC should thank the engine...

Drivers Log.(News)
November 8, 2004... 2005 Mini Cooper convertible Date in fleet: Oct. 8-22 As-tested price: $24,690 Powertrain: 1.6-liter I4; fwd, five-speed manual Output: 115 hp @ 6000 rpm, 111 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm Curb weight: 2590 pounds FLOYD: I enjoyed the quality of...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
November 8, 2004... M-B, Lexus body doubles I trust you guys in nearly all of your judgments. The new CLS (Cover Story, Oct. 25) looks terrific. Your cover says it has "a design so sexy it could change the shape of sedans to come!'' That might be true, but if...

AGAINST THE ODDS; Jimmie Johnson takes Atlanta.(Motorsports)
November 8, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE Jimmie Johnson spent the week of the Bass Pro Shops/MBNA 500 in mourning. He and his crew lost 10 friends in the Oct. 24 crash of a Hendrick Motorsports plane in Virginia (AW, Nov. 1). The team was reeling when it arrived...

The Great Boyd Coddington Raid! California goes after hot rodders and kit builders.(News)(Column)
November 8, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN State of California agents, armed with guns, raided Boyd Coddington's hot rod shop last month. Sounds exciting, right? "Well, yeah, I mean, they had guns but just because they wear guns everyday in their work,...

ALL RISE; Recalling the Goat's past.
November 8, 2004... Byline: MAC MORRISON ** For those over 40, the iridescent orange Pontiac GTO Ram Air 6 (for sixth-generation Ram Air car) first seen at the 2004 Woodward Dream Cruise and shown on these pages may trigger a nostalgic twinge: For Friday...

THE LAST ROUNDUP; Ford corrals all its ponies in one last 601-hp Mustang.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER With more than a year to go until Ford's Special Vehicle Team completes work on the next SVT Cobra (an '07 model due in '06), SVT and Ford Racing Performance Parts offer catalog suggestions for those who can't wait...

AutoWeek's Fast Five: Paul Hansen.(News)(Brief Article)(Interview)
November 8, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER As president and publisher of The Hansen Report on Automotive Electronics, Paul Hansen knows more than just about anyone about the unseen electronic wizardry in our cars. Here's what's coming. AW: So where's...

What We Know for Sure; Made-for-Oprah Pontiac G6 gets oomph.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER ** Pontiac has toyed with performance for years, while occasionally delivering on that promise. But General Motors' so-called excitement division may be onto something with its GXP line of sedans, the most recent...

WHAT SALES SLUMP? Struggling Mitsubishi showcases concepts at SEMA for fifth straight year.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER ** Mitsubishi is fighting for its survival, battling a massive sales dive in America while also apologizing to the boo-birds back home for a huge recall coverup scam. How to make things right? Well, with product...

TWENTY'LL GET YOU 281; Saleen enters his third car-making decade.(News)
November 8, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN ** Who would have thought when Steve Saleen built three Mustangs in 1984 that it would lead to this? His company has built 9000 cars, from Mustangs, to Ford Focuses, S7 supercars and the mighty Ford GT. There are even...

Owners say...(Auto File)
November 8, 2004... While my C32 was no slouch, the C55 improves upon it in every way. The suspension and steering are tighter, the interior improved in quality and function. The exterior looks great; 18-inch wheels, sleeker CLK-like front end and trunk spoiler...

SPECS & DATA.(automobile industry manufacturers information)
November 8, 2004... MANUFACTURER INFO Mercedes-Benz USA One Mercedes Drive Montvale NJ 07645 Customer assistance: (800) 367-6372 Internet address: mbusa.com Country of origin: Germany Number of dealers: 327 Sticker Base...

Flash.(meshed briefs)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... The fix is in Besides the 500-plus-hp supercharged 6.0-liter V8 in American Specialty Cars' Diamondback SSR concept is this major difference: The one shown at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association show has a lightweight...

ROCKET 55; Mercedes' littlest super sedan, the C55 AMG, blasts off.
November 8, 2004... Apparently the C32 AMG's 349 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque no longer sufficed, as with its 5.2-second 0-to-60-mph time and 104.5-mph quarter-mile speed. Not in a 21st-century world marked by all things bigger, better and faster, anyway. That...

DUMB BOX GOT SMARTER.(Sensing and Diagnostic Modules)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Bob Gritzinger When it comes to today's fairly complex Event Data Recorders, you can blame airbags for getting the ball rolling. Back in the mid-1970s General Motors first began installing EDR-precursor SDMs, aka Sensing and...

The Spy-Sly and the Spy-Shy; Which automakers record what?(installation of electronic data recorders)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Bob Gritzinger General Motors may be the worldwide leader when it comes to installing black boxes, but not every manufacturer is in a rush to record what drivers are doing. Ford, which shares with GM a common platform for...

Fast Poll.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... With no direct competition and a bold new design, enthusiasts say the Mercedes CLS500 is well on its way to pleasing the masses. BMW should take note, because the CLS500 is simply stunning. If Mercedes can improve its quality, the car...

Flash.(meshed briefs)
November 8, 2004... Sainz hangs it up Two-time World Rally champion (1990 and '92) Carlos Sainz announced his retirement from the sport after more than a decade at the top. The 42-year-old Spaniard who has driven for Citroen for the last two years said, "It...

GTO WILL ROAD RACE.(Grand Touring Option (Pontiac) )
November 8, 2004... At the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Pontiac confirmed what we told you back in February: The General Motors division will expand its racing program in 2005 when two factory-backed, Pratt & Miller-built Pontiac GTOs will enter the Grand American...

Dear Mr. President...(Column)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Rich Ceppos The President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President, whoever you are: As I write this the big vote is just a few days away, but...

Car show with 'tude; JELLO WRESTLING IS ONLY PART OF THE NOPI NATIONALS EXPERIENCE.
November 8, 2004... Byline: Steven Cole Smith RESPECT? Not enough, considering I was the one who started this whole import tuner deal back in 1971. That's when I ordered a one-piece chrome exhaust for my Volkswagen Beetle from the J.C. Whitney catalog. It...

Ken Miles.(Ken Miles Remembered)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... ** Art Evans' Ken Miles, reviewed here Sept. 27, sold out. A new softbound edition, Ken Miles Remembered, is available through The Transportation Book Service, (800) 289-3504, orders@iconografixinc.com, for $34.95 plus shipping.

It's a small world after all; Paris, Tokyo... Anaheim? California show pushes for prominence.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Anaheim is best known as the home of Mickey Mouse, or maybe as the site of the former world-champion Angels baseball team (or the made-for-TV Mighty Ducks hockey squad). Organizers of the California International Auto Show want you to think of...

But Wait, There's More...(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... * honor of the late Chip Miller, Carlisle Events co-founder, the Danbury Mint will offer a 1:24 scale replica of Miller's 1957 Corvette. The $115 model will be available in spring 2005, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Chip Miller...

Events.(Calendar)
November 8, 2004... Los Angeles International Auto Show Jan. 7-16, 2005 Los Angeles Log onto laautoshow.com or call (310) 444-1850 for details on this diverse automotive event. Jan. 8, 2005 18th Annual Burger Run Vista, Calif. Call...

Stuck with Strietzel.(Column)
November 8, 2004... Byline: Matt Davis Driving an F430, Murcielago or M5 is always a life-affirming experience. It's deactivating these cars' respective forms of traction control that gives me pause to think about my mortality. I always reach for that little...

TV: Nov. 12-14.(Calendar)
November 8, 2004... Friday, Nov. 12 NASCAR Busch Series qualifying from Darlington, S.C., 1:30 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying from Darlington, S.C., 3 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Live from Darlington, S.C., 4:30 p.m., Speed (L) ...

ON SPEC; Acura RL gets the A-Spec treatment, but is it enough?
November 8, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN ** It could be argued-and it was-that this is the most significant car introduced at SEMA this year. That's quite an argument, considering all the cars shown at SEMA. But with the RL A-Spec, this once-pedestrian Acura...

HYUNDAI GOES WHOLE HOG; Flooding tuner shops with its cars for SEMA is good bang for the buck.
November 8, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN ** Even the Vice President of product planning doesn't know how many cars he gave out to SEMA-bound tuners. "It may be nine, maybe 10 or 11, I forget the number,'' said Hyundai Motor America's John Krafcik. The...

You Are the Wind Beneath My Mustang; Former Wings West entrepreneurs soar from compacts to muscle cars.
November 8, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN ** Ernie Bunnell and Billy Longfellow took the craft of making extraneous wings and curb-scraping air dams to a high art. They popularized cosmetic aerodynamics so completely, it's near impossible to drive more than...

Three's a Charm; H3 is a kinder, gentler Hummer, but still a beast.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN The Hummer brand continues to evolve with this new H3 model, based on the Colorado pickup, and with news that the venerable H1 will get a new diesel engine and a handful of other refinements. The H3 debuted at the...

MLive! Dishing up a scoop on the next Mercedes-Benz M-Clas.(News)
November 15, 2004... Byline: GREG KABLE ** The last time we spotted Mercedes-Benz's new American-built M-Class SUV, it was riding beneath some tired old cladding on a dusty road deep within Death Valley. This time, however, our spies caught it posing-without...

TV: Nov. 19-21.(News)(Calendar)
November 15, 2004... Friday, Nov. 19 NASCAR Busch Series practice from Homestead, Fla., noon, Speed (SD) NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying from Homestead, Fla., 1:30 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from Homestead, Fla., 3 p.m., Speed (L) ...

THE FIRST CHARGER.(Revs)
November 15, 2004... Byline: JEFF SABATINI Dodge recently announced it was polishing off its most revered nameplate for the 2006 Charger, a four-door sedan first hinted at in a 1999 concept. Of course, "Charger'' instantly calls to mind those Hemi-powered...

Thrashing It Out.(Column)
November 15, 2004... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson The time difference between Detroit and Shanghai is 12 hours, so by definition it's the opposite side of the planet, and that ain't half of it. I went to Shanghai to cover the Michelin Challenge Bibendum (page 21)....

Drivers Log.(News)(2004 Mazda RX-8, 2005 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 15, 2004... 2004 Mazda RX-8 Date in fleet: Oct. 13-26 As-tested price: $41,566 Powertrain: 1.3-liter twin-rotary; rwd, six-speed manual Output: 238 hp @ 8500 rpm, 159 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm Curb weight: 3029 pounds LUU: Don't be confused: This is not a...

Fast Poll.(News)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... F1 fanatics found plenty to enjoy about the 2004 season, and say they will continue to cheer in '05. Despite Michael Schumacher's dominance, Formula One remains compelling. Jenson Button and BAR-Honda gave me the greatest hope this year,...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
November 15, 2004... Jan. 14-16, 2005 National Hot Rod and Custom Car Show Wichita, Kan. Visit darrylstarbird.com or call (918) 257-4234 for more information on this 48th annual show. Jan. 15, 2005 Winter Swap Meet Louisville, Ky. ...

C'est tres interessant, non? Speaking to the Chinese with a French accent.(News)
November 15, 2004... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson ** Looks French, doesn't it? Like something designed by people who grew up playing in streets full of Citroen 2CVs and Renault 4s and defined that as normal. Don't worry, though, the Michelin Hy-Light won't be...

Kit Cars, Kitsch Cars & Incredibly Fast Cars: Part 1 of 2; SEMA shines like Liberace's pinkie ring.(Specialty Equipment Market Association)
November 15, 2004... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER, ROGER HART, DUTCH MANDEL, MARK VAUGHN ** Technically, they could hold the SEMA show anywhere. All they need is 2 million square feet of floor space and enough extension cords to power Peru. But they hold it in Las...

THE BIG IDEAS; How to sell Detroit (or Tokyo or Stuttgart) your idea.(News)
November 15, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN You've produced the perfect automotive widget, or better, the perfect widget system. So how do you get big-time buyers interested? Or how do you get those spear-spinner wheel accents onto a big sport/ute as original...

WHEEL WORLD.(News)
November 15, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Cynics say the Specialty Equipment Market Association event in Las Vegas (see pages 14-20) is just a big wheel show. Judging by floor space alone, they're one-quarter right. Among acres and acres of wheels on display,...

Slipping away?(Motorsports)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... NASCAR's ballyhooed 10-man Chase for the Championship is officially down to seven and realistically down to four. Jeremy Mayfield, defending Cup champion Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler were mathematically eliminated at Phoenix, where Ryan...

DOMINATOR; Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes Phoenix-and watches his language.(Motorsports)
November 15, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE ** Crew chief Tony Eury Sr. leaned in the driver's window and gave Dale Earnhardt Jr. some good advice. "Don't cuss,'' he told the winner of the Checker Auto Parts 500. Eury Sr. might well have added, "Remember what...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
November 15, 2004... Thanks for proving to my wife there's a reason I never throw anything away. Here's a photo of the commemorative Bog T-shirt I bought at the Glen in the '70s. It's an embarrassing, but historically accurate, piece of graphic art. -Richard...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
November 15, 2004... Check out: http://shop.lego.com/product.asp?p=8389 We're still waiting for the David Coulthard Weeble Quote of the day, other side of the International Dateline: "Because they were ready." - Edouard Michelin, CEO of the...

Flash.(Briefs)
November 15, 2004... Fresh from the crate Mopar showed off three new or significantly improved Hemi crate engines at SEMA: a 5.7-liter 360-hp model; a 540-cid aluminum V8 in carbureted, blown or show-polished form making from 650 to more than 900 hp depending...

PLAN AHEAD FOR AUTOWEEK DESIGN FORUM.(News)
November 15, 2004... Jan. 12, 2005, Cobo Center, Detroit Dinner speaker: John Lasseter, Pixar Animation Studios. Additional speakers: Chris Bangle, BMW; Jeri Yoshizu, Scion; Beau Boeckmann, Galpin Ford; Chip Foose, Foose Design; Kip Wasenko, Cadillac Cost:...

OCTOBER RESOLUTION; How tomorrow looks from Shanghai.(News)
November 15, 2004... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON This year Michelin took its Challenge Bibendum to China, where the world's fastest-growing car market and its 1.3 billion people are running smack into the automotive bugaboos of pollution, road safety and energy...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Chevy bolts General Motors officials finally decided the reward of being in the Indy Racing League wasn't worth the cost. In a decision expected for months (and maybe since Toyota and Honda joined the IRL prior to the 2003 season), GM...

IS SHORTY BACK?(Competition)
November 15, 2004... Cristiano da Matta, the 2002 CART champ affectionately known as Shorty, was back at a Champ Car race for the first time in two years. Da Matta was a guest of former employer Newman-Haas Racing in Mexico City, and while he said he has more than...