New Chevy Camaro SS Convertible to Pace Indy 500, then go on Sale

For the second year in a row, Chevrolet's Camaro SS will serve as the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. The only difference this year is that GM's pony car will be the new convertible model with the company planning to build a total of 50 examples.

The pace car, along with the matching replicas are all based on the SS model and are equipped with a 400-horsepower V8 engine. All cars are painted in a Summit White exterior accented with orange stripes and door graphics. Inside, the seats are trimmed in orange leather with the front headrests featuring an embossed Indy 500 logo, while the door panels and instrument panel get white trims. In addition, the center panel trim features extensions of the orange exterior stripes.

GM said it will auction off the first of the 50 Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee cars at Saturday's (January 22, 2010) Barrett-Jackson event, with all proceeds from the sale to be donated to the David Foster Foundation, a charity devoted to supporting families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants.

New Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer Hits the Tarmac for the First Time

Cadillac is getting ready to return to the fabulous world of motorsports with its new CTS-V Coupe race car. Following the two-door model's world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show last week, the race-prepped CTS-V Coupe hit the track for the first time on Monday driven by Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim, for tests at Sebring International Raceway.

GM's luxury car division had pulled out of racing before the U.S. government bailed out the company in 2009. More specifically, the last time Cadillac competed was in 2007 in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series. Now, the company will reenter the series, beginning with the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 25-27. Hit the jump for a comprehensive gallery.

VIDEO: More Track Action with James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione

We’ve already seen car collector James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione on the racetrack in Turin, but the video footage wasn’t that impressive. Luckily, Youtube user Marchettino has caught the one-off special on tape (or so to speak) while running some tests on the Franciacorta circuit, near Brescia in Italy. Despite the foggy conditions, this video provides a....clearer picture of what the endurance racer is capable of. Hit the jump to see the clip.

VIDEO: Ducati Moto GP Riders Race Against Ferrari F1 Stars on Ice

While promoting Jeep products must have been a boring chore for Ferrari’s F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, we’re pretty sure they had a good time competing against Ducati Moto GP’s Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden in a series of races held on ice. Vehicles of choice were the ever entertaining karts and some sweet looking Fiat 500s. Highlights in the video after the break.

Insignia VXR to Make UK Debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed

The high-performance version of the Opel /Vauxhall Insignia will make its first appearance in Britain at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed that runs from July 3-5. The 325HP Insignia VXR (OPC for the rest of Europe) will run the famous hillclimb course twice a day. Joining the Insignia will be the most powerful production model in Vauxhall's history, the rear-wheel-drive, 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engined VXR8 Bathurst S Edition 560HP that will be performing a 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' display in front of the Goodwood House.

GM's British arm will also showcase two concept studies from the past, the gullwing-door XVR that was displayed at the 1966 Geneva Salon and the SRV that made its debut at the 1970 Earls Court Motor Show.

VIDEO: Top Gear Reveals The Stig

The first episode of the thirteenth season of Top Gear that aired on BBC on Sunday, June 21st, started with a big bang as Jeremy Clarkson unmasked 'The Stig' revealing his true identity in front of a live audience. However, whether the mystery has finally been solved is still up for debate - you can't be certain with these chaps, perhaps it's another prank from Clarkson and his fellow presenters, who cares knows. What's not up for discussion is the marvelous marketing strategy behind Top Gear. But anyway, we not going to spoil the surprise for you - no, it's not Susan Boyle. Hit the jump to find out the identify of 'The Stig' and tell us what you think.

VIDEO: Skoda Fabia S2000 AWD Rally Car in Action

In its civilian form, the Skoda Fabia hatchback is an affordable, no-frills supermini that comes with all the usual qualities you'd expect from any Volkswagen Group model. The rally-spec Fabia S2000 is an entirely different story. Presented for the first time as a concept study at the Geneva show in 2007, the Fabia S2000 has been developed ever since to compete in the Super 2000 category.

It features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine based on the VW Group's standard 2.0 FSI unit, a six-speed sequential transmission and an advanced four-wheel drive system with three passive differentials. But enough with the talk. Time to sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy the video that was shot during the official presentation of the rally-car earlier this month (June 2009).

James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione Hits the Racetrack [with Video]

There’s still much to be discovered about James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione racecar, but judging by the latest update on the dedicated Facebook page, the F430 Scuderia-based competition model has reached the final stages of its development, hitting the racetrack for the very first time.

The finished product is quite a handsome beast, boasting sharp edges and voluptuous curves, complemented by the large rear wing and exposed carbon fiber. When it makes its racing debut later this year, the P4/5 Competizione will most certainly adopt some kind of livery, but to be honest, we like its “natural” look.

Racing pilot Fabrizio Giovanardi and engineer Paolo Garella drove the P4/5 Competizione during the track test held in Torino.

“The test was fine, or better fantastic. The car is so easy to drive and all the controls light and very direct. The circuit was very short but I was able to go up to the 3rd gear. Engine and gearbox very light,” said the first test report, uploaded to Facebook less than 24 hours ago.

To see the P4/5 Competizione in action and hear its magnificent engine sound, scroll down and check out the videos.