This Porsche 917K used in Steve McQueen’s classic racing film LeMans is headed for auction at Pebble Beach, where its sale price could exceed $16.4 million. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
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+ Jeep will enter the India market in 2015 with the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, says Mike Manley, head of international operations. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Chrysler will expand production at its Warren, Michigan stamping plant with a $63 million investment in new high-speed press lines. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ National Corvette Museum officials have elected to retain a portion of the giant sinkhole that opened in February as a guest attraction at the facility. More at NBC News.
+ Formula One will adopt fan-friendly new measures in 2015, including titanium skid plates and standing restarts after safety car periods. More at Yahoo! Sport UK.
+ Today co-host Matt Laurer drew fire from media and industry observers when he asked GM boss Mary Barra if she could be both a good CEO and a good mother. More at MLive.
+ The refreshed 2015 Ford Focus ST was unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Great Britain. More at Motor Trend.
+ A Porsche 917K used in Steve McQueen’s classic racing film LeMans will be offered by Gooding & Co at its Pebble Beach auction in August. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ For the first time in years, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will run less than a full field of 43 cars at this weekend’s event at Kentucky Motor Speedway. More at Sporting News.
For the previous Executive Briefing from June 23, click here.
Nascar has been going down the tubes for far longer than the article infers. Other than the bull rings and the road courses, it’s boring. Used to be you could tell the cars apart with a glance, now it’s “spec racing” and a fuel mileage contest more often than not.
My solution; Go back to factory body styles and factory engines( you know stock cars). If the body you chose has four doors, sucks to be you. Second; 300 cubic inch motor, based on any stock block offered from the factory, modify it any way you want other than nitrous or forced induction. Third; 10 inch wide tires any compound you can get ahold of. you want soft and sticky, go for it. You want hard high mileage, your choice.
Dunno if it will be any cheaper for the teams, but it will certainly be more interesting for the fans. And they are the ones you want to have over the “Official Hemorrhoid Cream of Nascar”.
Just my $.02