The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V run on stock Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires at standard inflation pressures of 32 psi, and that the car was heavier than stock due to the inclusion of a roll bar, driving seats, five-point harnesses, and fire extinguisher in the cockpit, about 4300 pounds. The CTS-V an automatic left in Drive the entire lap, got airborne in several places around the track, and hit a top speed of 175 mph at redline (6200 rpm) in fifth gear, averaging well more than 90 mph all the way around the circuit. The chassis of the CTS-V has been upgraded substantially compared to the previous version. A second-generation version of GM’s Magnetic Ride Control, using magnetic rheological shock absorbers, is standard equipment.

The CTS-V estimated price is $65,000 which will go on sale at the end of September with a full range of options including navigation, a huge new sunroof, a Performance Traction Management system, and Recaro front bucket seats. GM plans to export the car to Europe, the Middle East and Asia for the first time.

Kevin Harvick, last year’s fastest man at Texas, sheared off an axle shaft at the first pit stop and sat out 26 laps while the crew fitted a new one. Tony Stewart called in on lap 70 saying he had a serious vibration. Next time around the Camry pitted and the team found a chunk missing from the right rear Goodyear. Observers believed if he had not immediately come in there was a strong chance he would have tagged the wall on the following lap. Smart driving meant a 10th place finish instead of a potentially spectacular DNF.

Kyle Busch’s seventh Nationwide Series start this season has another significance that may point to a different future for NASCAR. The top five finishers were driving Toyota, Chevy, Chevy, Chevy, and Ford. While Toyota is a solid, accepted player in the Truck Series, they are just now gaining the results they want in stock cars. Four Toyotas and four Chevrolets in the top 10… Expect to see those Camry’s running up front this season and maybe overtaking the Detroit iron for dominance of NASCAR.

Oh, and if you missed the story at cardomain.com, Rich King Casting is looking for cars in the LA area for the film, so if you live in So Cal and you’ve got a sweet ride, get in touch with these guys immediately for a chance to be in The Fast and the Furious 4.

FROM: Comingson.net HERE IS THE PLOT I FOUND AND THE DIRECTOR FROM TOKYO DRIFT IS DIRECTING THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS 4.

The Fast and the Furious 4

Release Date: June 5, 2009
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Justin Lin
Screenwriter: Chris Morgan
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz
Genre: Action MPAA
Rating: Not Available
Official Website: Not Available
Review: Not Available
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Movie Poster: Not Available
Production Stills: Not Available
Plot Summary: Brian (Paul Walker) is freed from prison (the authorities found out that he let Dominic played by Vin Diesel go at the end of the first film) to help the feds stop a heroin importer known as Braga. With the help of an informant named James Park, Brian – and ultimately Dominic Toretto – wins a place on the criminal’s team, where he – and his flashy Nissan plan to catch the man red-handed.

Source: Exhaust Note and Cardomain.com

As part of his preparations for the season which starts this March 16th, Schumacher has been doing some test drives in Barcelona. And during these drives, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton raced ahead of him. “We know now, where we stand now. And we know how the silver arrows are doing as well,” Schumacher mentioned.

Last Monday, Hamilton was fastest during the test drives when he clocked in a minute and 22.276 seconds. Kimi Raikkonen, another driver, took 1:22.319 while Schumacher came in third at a minute and 22.428. If Schumacher was using a Chevy Caprice, he might be clocking in even far behind. But we’re sure he wouldn’t be doing that, now would he?

"Continuity and consistency are two of the cornerstones of Corvette Racing’s success, and that is reflected in our longstanding relationships with these championship-winning drivers," said Steve Wesoloski, GM Racing Road Racing Group manager. "They thoroughly understand the team’s overall objectives, and they are total professionals both on and off the race track. We’re very proud to have these six drivers as part of the Corvette Racing family."

"It’s been very special to be a part of Corvette Racing since Day One," Fellows said. "People around the world now recognize and respect the Corvette brand as a result of the success in top-level racing that the team has achieved over the years. It’s also been very gratifying to see how the race program has been integrated with the production Corvette, first with the sixth-generation Corvette and the Z06, and now with the Corvette ZR1."

2008 Corvette Racing drivers courtesy of CorvetteRacing.com:

Olivier Beretta, Compuware Corvette No. 4
Notes: Five-time ALMS GTS/GT1 champion, five class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans, holds ALMS records for most career wins (37) and most career poles (20), two FIA championships, overall victory in 2000 Rolex 24 at Daytona

Ron Fellows, Compuware Corvette No. 3
Notes: Four-time ALMS Most Popular Driver award (2004-07), three-time ALMS champion, two 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins, 19 SCCA Trans-Am wins, five NASCAR wins (two NCTS, three NNS)

Oliver Gavin, Compuware Corvette No. 4
Notes: Three-time ALMS GT1 champion, 28 career ALMS class victories, four class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans

Jan Magnussen, Compuware Corvette No. 3
Highlights: Three Class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans, 14 career ALMS wins, former Formula 1 driver, twice voted "Most Popular Driver" in ALMS, 2005 Danish Racing Driver of the Year

Johnny O’Connell, Compuware Corvette No. 3
Highlights: Two-time ALMS GT1 champion, 28 career ALMS wins, six Sebring 12-hour class victories, holds ALMS records for most starts (84), most podium finishes (63), most top-five finishes (76) and most top-10 finishes (82)

Max Papis, Compuware Corvette No. 4
Notes: Daytona 24-hour winner, two Sebring 12-hour victories, three CART wins, 2004 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype champion.

Before the Daytona 500 took place, an inspection was made to all participating cars and Robby Gordon’s car was found to be equipped with an unapproved nose. The team than changed it and went on to place eighth at the first points race of the season.

Robby was expecting to be fined for that infraction although he knows that it is not intentional and it was a simple mistake which no one on his team even committed.

Let us look at what really happened. On February 2, Robby announced that he will be switching from Ford to Dodge to cut down on costs (whatever that means). So, he had a few days to change gear. Dodge supplied Robby with the car and its parts of course. This is where the mistake took place.

Dodge teams use the Charger this year but a nose for the Charger is not yet approved so they are using last year’s Avenger noses with the Charger decal. When Robby asked for a nose for his Charger, he was given the unapproved one. And this cost him $100,000 in fines and a 100 points.

Robby is appealing this matter to NASCAR and hopes that the punishment will be reduced. His sponsor, Jim Beam even went as far as calling up a signature campaign to support Robby Gordon.

If the penalty sticks, Robby Gordon Motorsports would go from being ninth in the standings to 40th. That would be bad for the team as only the top 35 teams will be given a guaranteed spot on every race this season. Even if Robby Gordon has a car that can easily overtake an Acura MDX with its water pump working at full speed, he would be hard-pressed to get back the 100 points docked from him.

On the other hand, Panasonic Toyota driver Jarno Trulli believes that Ferrari would definitely take the crown… and he’s 100 percent sure about it. What made him think about this matter? According to MotorSport.com, Jarno Trulli has confirmed that Ferrari is the near-positive world champions… again! Trulli spent almost a week testing next to the Maranello based marquee in Bahrain where the routine of Ferrari’s F2008 appeared to be threatening for the other teams.

"In my opinion they are at least half a second faster per lap, even considering McLaren," Trulli told the Italian specialist weekly Autosprint. "The championship already looks over to me before it has started," he added.

Toyota’s star driver also said that he wondered at how Ferrari’s 2008 machine is completely modified to the traction control’s latest ban.

"When you watch their performance on the track your arms drop," Trulli said, also describing the pace of the F2008 as "disconcerting".

"Ferrari and McLaren are out of reach for us, so it is unrealistic to talk about podiums," he said.

For the rest of this week, you can take a view of a 2008 race car. I know there is nothing special with me saying a 2008 race car (which would be just like me saying my car has a grille guard) but actually this race car comes with the famed No. 3 GM Goodwrench. Now that is special for we know that it stands by Dale Earnhardt’s victory in Daytona 500, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

This is the 10th year anniversary of that win and with Richard Childress (owner of the race car), Teresa Earnhardt (Dale Earnhardt’s widow) took off the covers of the 2008 race car. The Daytona 500 win has been one of the most remembered events in racing history for when Earnhardt won it, it actually became an instant trophy for him for he had been failing at taking the crown at that race despite racing for two decades in different competitions (and winning most of them). At Daytona 500 races before his win, this racer had taken the second spot four times and had been included in the top five ten times.

Dale Earnhardt died three years later while racing. This was in 2001.

Thinking back, Childress shared, “Every time I think of that win, it still gives me chills. It just doesn’t seem like 10 years ago. It was something the sport needed.”

The much-anticipated Daytona 500 will be celebrating its 50 years of inception and is expected to be a hit with 24 of its living Champions including three-time winner Bobby Allison (1978, 1982, 1988),  Pete Hamilton (1970), Junior Johnson (1960), two-time winner Sterling Marlin (1994,1995), and four-time winner Cale Yarborough (1968, 1977, 1983, 1984) to grace the event. 

In a press release, Speedway President Robin Braig said that since this year’s Daytona 500 marks a big event in racing history, it would be an honor to celebrate the important occasion - the golden anniversary of “The Great American Race” with these “living legends.”