Racer Katherine Legge wants to follow in the steps of Danica Patrick and join an American IndyCar team. But that’s not to say comparing these two goes any further than their gender. Legge has made a name for herself as the Audi factory driver in German Touring Car racing. But the young star has been seen chatting it up with US-based IndyCar officials.

“If getting a ride was based on how much you want it,” Legge said in a recent interview, “I would already be driving an Indy car. I believe in myself and the people I surround myself with, and I am sure it will all come together soon.”

Wife of Champ Car team owner Morris Nunn, Kathryn Nunn, was at one point attempting to put together the “Firestone Indy Lights” team of female drivers. She organized an event at Texas Motor Speedway, inviting six female race car drivers to show up. Eventually, the all-woman Indy team did not come together.

Legge is no stranger to American racing. She finished successful races at the Toyota Atlantic Championship, as well as The Champ Car World Series against Danica Patrick.

Source: Motor Authority

DISCLAIMER: This video is a bit hard to watch, and is property of IndyCar. It features a multi-camera shot of the accident at last week’s Las Vegas 300, which took the life of champion racer Dan Wheldon. Thanks to TheNARLtv on YouTube for posting it:

It took us a moment to write about the accident which took Indy sensation Dan Wheldon’s life this past weekend, because frankly we’re still in shock. It’s not surprising; when you travel around an enclosed course at 250 miles per hour, accidents lurk at every corner.

But racing and vehicle technology have become so advanced, we’ve started to think drivers are invincible. Look at incidents of recent years; intense destruction but less deaths occur thanks to improvements made by Indy Car over the decades. With these advancements comes greater speed, allowing cars to travel faster, and drivers to navigate hairier turns. We take it for granted how quickly it can come to a halt.

Two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon (age 33) was sent airborne during a 15 car collision at last week’s Las Vegas 300 event. “It was like a movie scene,” said champion driver Danica Patrick. “It was debris everywhere across the whole track. You could smell the smoke.”

A chain reaction during the 12th lap caused Wheldon to launch off of Paul Tracy’s car. “I saw two cars touch each other in front of me,” adds Tracy. “Then Dan’s car…came over my back wheel and over top of me.” Wheldon’s car hit the ground and broke into hundreds of pieces, then exploded. Three other drivers were hurt, though not seriously. When hearing of Wheldon’s death shortly after the crash, remaining drivers performed a 5-lap tribute.

Dan Whelon is survived by his wife and two young children. So long, Wheldon, and good luck, champ.

Source: NY Post

Will somebody bring him back his money please… and his Maybach, and his Denali, and his Lamborghini. The man born aShawn Carter has taken his rap career and propelled it to a level of billionaire and entrepreneur.

In the making of his music videos, Jay-Z has driven pretty much every over-priced import roadster on the road today. Like a top-shelf champagne his autos are only the best. His real life is not very different. As an ambassador to GMC and an owner of Maybach’s and Lexus vehicles, Jay-Z has no shortage of hip rides. In fact, he could probably have two different cars for every day of the week.

Show Me What You Got

Jay-Z’s taste for one of a kind vehicles leads him to schedule very public test drives – on the sets of his music videos. Go back a few years to “Show Me What You Got” featuring Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and two rare roadsters: a Ferrari F430 Spider and Pagani Zonda Roadster.

In real life, Mr. Z rides around the streets of Manhattan in his Maybach 62S – not as rare as those featured in his videos, but still a collector’s item in its own right. In his video for Lost Ones, Jay rocks a Maybach Exelero Concept:

It’s a Hard Knock Life

And when jay heads back to his roots of Brooklyn he keeps it low-key, by rollin’ through the hood in his Bentley Azure. This luxury ride left such an impression on Jay that he traded in his old school Lexus he once rocked in the 90′s for a Bentley of his own.

Denali’s on the Reg

Now Jay is not all about imports, he respects the domestic brands as well. Back in 2007, the artist joined forces with GM to produce a special edition GMC Yukon Denali. This collaboration lead to the creation of a concept Yukon Denali in ‘Jay-Z Blue’. The car was unveiled in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show, at a pre-opening party held by GMC where top celebrities appeared with 17 new GM vehicles, concept cars and classics.

From Bentley to Denali, there’s no way Jay-Z is without a way to drive to he set in style and class. Now, who gonna run this town tonight?

On her first NASCAR outing at the Daytona 500, racing favorite Danica Patrick was involved in a pretty spectacular crash with about a dozen other drivers. I don’t know what’s better about a race wreck – the carnage or hearing your hillbilly commentators screech at the sight. Boy Howdy!!

That’s right sports fans – it’s time again for The Big Game! And with beer, pig-skin and muscular, sweaty men comes million-dollar commercials. Super Bowl XLIV, which kicks-off this Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 6:25pm ET on CBS, will feature the New Orleans Saints against Indianapolis Colts. It will also display almost a dozen car company ads from tires suppliers to auto makers. We’ve got previews of spots produced by VW, Audi, Hyundai and featuring the “acting” of Brett Favre & Danica Patrick.

Audi In “Green Police” Super Bowl Ad

Volkswagen Replies with Teaser, Nazi-Free Super Bowl Commercial

Old Brett Favre Struggles with Lines in Hyundai Super Bowl Ad

Cars.com Super Bowl Ad Promotes Deceased Pontiac G6

Danica Patrick’s Banned, Somewhat Homophobic GoDaddy Super Bowl Ad

It has been a tumultuous decade between 2000 & 2010 – and a lot has gone on within the auto industry. From Clunkers to SUV’s – electric vehicles to satellite maps – car tech has come further than anyone could imagine. Join Automopedia as we take a look back at what we feel is the best, most interesting, or most insane auto related events from the last 10 years.

10. Cash For Clunkers

From used car lots in Maine to the junk yards of Southern California – auto-related businesses were struggling in the later half of the 2000′s. Our Government felt it best to raise money and get customers back in dealership lots by offering up several thousand dollars for people to trade in beaters, and receive a fuel efficient auto. This deal was to be known as Cash For Clunkers. See, the $3500-4500 you were promised by Uncle Sam for your Ford Explorer towards a Ford Focus was supposed to inspire people to Buy American again – or at least just buy. It worked for a period – enough so that C4C was extended past its original deadline.

9. The Big Three

Oh yeah, these guys. One of the catalysts which brought forth the end of America’s strong auto industry (and eventually, Cash For Clunkers) was the misuse of funds and production of unpopular, over-sized vehicles by “The Big Three” car manufacturers – Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Bosses for all companies were brought up in front of Congress – and last we checked not one of ‘em has a job. In the end – GM sold off most of its brands, Chrysler was bought out by Italy’s Fiat, and Ford is…well it’s still Ford…and they still produce Expedition.

8. Hummer H2

Hummer’s H2, as disgusting for any eco-friendly car shopper to think of, is on this list for one reason only – Hummer has been and always will be ripe for parody. Come on – look at the picture above! How can we live without stretch H2-Limos?! It has become the stereotyped Republican soccer mom vehicle or ride of any “douche bag.” And where would all those anarchist kids in Southern California throw their Molotov cocktails when they wanted to burn a truck?

7. Ford Mustang Reborn, Again

The Fifth Generation Ford Mustang first popped back up around 2004 and a half – 40 years after the original ’64 and a half Mustang hit dealer lots. Many trash the updated “Rustang” – but we at Automopedia give praise for looking a hell of a lot better than the previous gen’s attempt to make Ford’s Pony up-to-date.

6. Danica Patrick

Love her or hate her – Danica has spend the last half-decade bringing attention and talent to the sport of Formula One racing. Throughout her career, Danica has blazed a path of female rivers in both F1 and NASCAR. She’s become an integral part of Andretti Autosport, had her own show of XM Satellite Radio, taken home a variety of checkered flags and is even on her way to giving stock car racing a try. She’s also added much-needed sex appeal to the male dominated sport.

5. The City Car

Along with the uprising of Electric Vehicles (See below) the “City Car” has become widely popular within the United States. Mazda2 & Nissan Cube – SMART Car, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit can take inspiration from the likes of Fiat and Peugeot. Yes, America, you will get used to seeing tiny Italian and French cars take over your driveways – and then…THE WORLD! And ok, we’ll give a mention to the Hyundai Accent 2-door…but we wont like it.

4. Car Shares

As part of the urban attitude towards fighting pollution and city-wide congestion, many have adopted car sharing. Zipcar and PhillyCarShare have become two of the better known (out of dozens) multi-user autos. Usually, someone signs a membership, checks out where a local car is parked, goes to it and magic unlocks the ride for you! The concept has branched out not only all over the globe, but to other modes or transit. Some cities have adopted bicycle shares. Now, if we can only get Harley Shares.

3. Google Street View

With an army of camera-ready cars taking photos and sending them directly to orbiting satellites, Google changed the look of driving directions with their Street Views option. The Idea behind Google Street View is…wait, what the heck is going on up there?! Did that fire truck just run over an elderly person on a bicycle?! And what in god’s name is going on down here…

…good christ! Google Street View is pure EVIL!

2. Return of the DeLorean

Back to the…Past when John DeLorean snorted a boat-load of coke and tried selling the rest to FBI agents, the DMC died…hard. In 2006, a miracle occured – using a combination of new and original parts from the old DeLorean storage facility you can now have an all new 2009/1982 DMC-12, for the small amount of $42,500. Flux capacitor not included.

1. Hybrid Cars

Everyone seems to be producing a hybrid gasoline-electric automobile nowadays. But a mere 10 years ago the only major producer (stateside) was Toyota. Now, with the rise in gasoline prices, and death of SUV’s (we should say, their rebirth as “crossovers”) almost every company is working on the next big hybrid. Tesla, a private company, has a well publicized all-electric car – too bad they went belly up.

They’ll be trading off sexist puns in the pit at future NASCAR events, as Female Race Star Danica Patrick signs a deal to compete part-time in next season’s Nationwide Series. Danica has flirted with NASCAR for months (and its fans…well if you count Google Image Searching her with parental controls off as flirting) – Now it’s official, for a limited time only, it seems.

Patrick, 27, announced she would still compete in the full IndyCar Series season for Andretti Autosport, but is keeping her options open. This seems to include a deal penned with NASCAR fav Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of four owners of JR Motorsports. Her schedule, or even when Danica will start with Nationwide, remains a mystery. However, her first official stock car race will take place next week, when she participates in the Automobile Racing Club of America test session Dec. 18-20 at Daytona International Speedway.

According to sources: “Patrick is planning to enter the Feb. 6 ARCA season opener in a JR Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet. Her performance in that race will in part determine what Nationwide races she does in 2010.”

Source: Boston Herald

Is former NASCAR star, current Indy Car driver and environmental activist Leilani Munter the hottest female in motor sports? Automopedia has already done a run down of 2008′s Sexiest Female in Sports Racing, but Firestone Indy Lights driver (in conjunction with IndyCar) Leilani Munter has left her stock car career behind to become the 4th woman to perform open wheel racing. And CHRIST are we happy about it!

Leilani has been involved with competitive driving since 2001, where she finished seventh in the Allison Legacy Series. In 2003, she had her first start in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series at South Boston Speedway, and finished ninth. She made her first speedway start in 2004 at Texas Motor Speedway, setting a new record when she qualified fourth, the highest qualifying effort for a female driver at the track. In 2006 she had her first full time season in a car. With the completion of her Indy Pro Series rookie test drive Leilani is ready to take on an all new type of driving.

Aside from being one exceptional driver, and sexy as all hell, Mz. Munter holds a bachelor degree in biology from the University of California. She once worked as a photo double for Catherine Zeta-Jones, and is an avid environmental activist. She blogs in the green section of the Huffington Post and is active in the fight for environmental legislation. In March 2008, Leilani went to Capitol Hill with the National Wildlife Federation to speak with members of Congress on behalf of the Lieberman Warner Climate Security Act.

You can bet we are going to keep a close (very, very close) eye on Leilani Munter, as she burns her way around the track.

2008 has been an interesting year in motorsport – from F1 to NASCAR. What makes this year even more interesting? What the females of this industry have achieved.

Erin Crocker – RILF – Racer I’d Like To ****

In the world of Motorsport there’s two types of women – those who wear their sex appeal on their shoulder (see Danica, Milka below) and those who have it hiding up under their jumpsuits. Looking more like that one hot desperate housewife from next door, New Englander Erin Crocker has struck the world of NASCAR like a bolt of grease lightening. At the age of 27 Eric’s already raced some of sport’s most famous tracks and battled during the Craftsman Truck series. Erin also received 2003′s National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Rookie of the Year award. She is currently set to do play by play race coverage for SPEED Channel.

Ashley Force – Feel the Force

Ashley Force is not only daughter of 14-time NHRA Funny Car division champ John Force, and one of the stars of that family’s A&E reality series Driving Force, but also the first female Funny Car driver to compete in a national series Funny Car final round. Ashley and her father also teamed up in 2007 to be the first father/daughter team to race against one another. She beat her daddy in that race – as she did again earlier this year at a NHRA Funny Car competition in Atlanta.

Milka Duno – Caliente!

Milka, originally from Venezuala, currently races against fellow racer/hottie Danica Patrick on the United States IndyCar circuit. Aside from garnering much attention off the track (she’s a former model, go figure) Milka also holds Master’s Degrees in Marine Biology, Maritime Business, Naval Architecture and Organizational Development. Brains, beauty and the ability to drive. Aside from finishing 19th at the 2008 Indy500 she also took part in the filming of this year’s movie adaptation of Speed Racer.

Natacha Gachnang – Making Formula 2 Hot

Formula Two is a new level of racing, and to bring attention to the sport is none other than 21 year old Swiss native Natacha Gachnang. This beauty has plenty of experience on the track for a young woman, fighting it out in both Formula BMW and the F3 series. The end of 2008 brought her into F2, the FIA’s new “low-cost” category for premier grand prix racing. If Natacha can hold her own as well as she has in previous competitions you can expect to catch a glimpse of her in Formula One by 2010.

Danica Patrick – Beauty and the Track

The grace and seductiveness that brought sexiness back to racing, and no longer kept it a male-oriented sport. Not only that, but Danica has made history time and time again. Just this year she was the first female to take home an Indy 300 Japan win, and has won 1-2-3 pole positions at multiple races during her relatively short career. She’s been knocked for her abilities, her size being used as an advantage, and her sex. But none of those keeps Danica from proving that racing ability is not gender-bias.