So in looking to add some sexy video to the story about a possible iCar—below—I wanted to find a video of the 1998 commercial for the new Beetle. It uses the song "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" by Spiritualized, and it’s beautiful. But I couldn’t find the clip, if you can, post a link to it in the comments, and I’ll send you a t-shirt. Promise. Anyway, here’s the news:

• So contrary to published reports, Danica will not be testing with Honda’s F1 team, thought the team is apparently still open to the idea. Why don’t you guys just make out and get it over with already! Autoblog
• Full disclosure: I have drank Apple’s Kool Aid, and it is delicious. So I hope something comes from this totally dreamy VW concept. Even though I wouldn’t buy one, the world would be a prettier place if these were parked all over the place. CarScoop
• Uncle Sam is going to pony up $300 million to relieve the Big Three from some of the costs of developing a plug-in hybrid. And while that sounds like a lot, it’s not as much as they asked for, and it’s really just chump change to the government. Think about it; $300 million is what ten fighters cost. Detroit News
• This week, Ford has sold two plants, and while that doesn’t sound like the best news—except for the real estate agents involved in the deals—I think it’s good it’s getting things done quickly. Hey if you’re not moving, you’re going to get run over. Freep

Drunk driving is a serious crime, and if you get busted doing it in Arizona, the authorities make sure you pay. Check out this article on how the Grand Canyon State treats people convicted of DUI. The first paragraph is a little weepy, but I thought the rest was interesting. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Engineers over at the General are working their tails off to get the Volt ready for production in 2010, but John McCain apparently thinks that a super-battery is just around the corner. Of course, this is the same guy who thinks you’ll believe he’s completely different from a man he voted with more than 95% of the time. Jalopnik
• GM is going to begin airing a commercial that’s basically a "Dear John" letter to Big Oil. It’s a funny concept, but something tells me this relationship isn’t completely on the skids. Automotive News
• As sales of full-size trucks and SUV slow to a trickle, Ford is planning to reconfigure some truck plants so they can produce small cars. Sounds like a smart move to me. Detroit News
• The Indy Racing League probably won’t be too stoked if she jumps ship, but it looks like Danica Patrick is getting pretty friendly with Honda’s F1 team. Winding Road
• Getting lost sucks, and it sucks even worse when you’re burning up $4-per gallon gas. So have you ponied up and bought a GPS? Or are you just using mapping sites more? Our buddies at Automotive Traveler want to know. Automotive Traveler

You know the best thing about coming back to work after a three-day weekend? Realizing that it’s going to be a short week! How’s that for a glass-half-full perspective? Anyway, here’s the news:

• Here’s a question: How many white-collar Ford employees does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: 12% less than it did yesterday. Detroit News
• When pictures of the BMW M1 Concept surfaced, there was audible drooling from the automotive press. So will we see a similar-looking production model? At least one mag thinks so we just might. World Car Fans
• The quality of Hyundai’s cars has been exceptional in recent years, but the Genesis sedan is the company’s first real effort to break into the luxury market. Will it fly? Well, the guys from Winding Road just got their hands on one, and it sounds like they were impressed. Winding Road
• Should Danica Patrick go to F1? Personally, I’d like to see her take the checkered in some more IRL races, and raise open-wheeled Stateside profile first. But others aren’t so patient. Top Gear
• Consumers want small cars, and they want them faster than anyone could have predicted. Sounds like more bad news for Detroit. Auto Observer

This clip of Danica Patrick getting wrecked by Ryan Briscoe is in Spanish, and it’s not the best—€”read: really crappy—€”quality, but it does have the several different angels of the wreck. There’s also some good footage of her marching toward his pits. I still think it was Briscoe’s fault. What’s your opinion?

All day, Danica Patrick was reporting that her car was slow, but she still managed to keep it in the top ten for most of the race—until a collision with Ryan Briscoe in the pits ended her chances for victory on lap 170. Once out of her crippled car, she marched straight toward Briscoe’s pit, but was stopped by security before getting near the rival driver. As someone who wanted to see her win, I’m just sorry I didn’t have a chance to lean over the wall and hand her a 3/4 torque wrench so she could give him a couple of payback bruises. She didn’t have anywhere to go when Briscoe got loose after completing his stop, and she had every right to confront him. And those that call her too emotional? Please. Racing has seen more than a few champions reduced to tears, and from what I saw, she had every right to be pissed. Better luck next year Danica, I’ll be pulling for you!

Photo courtesy Associated Press

I’ve been watching the Indy 500 for years on TV, and right now, I’m about to hop on a plane for Indianapolis to see it in person. How awesome is that? I’m completely losing my mind! This year, I’m pulling for Danica Patrick to win. She’s starting fourth, she’s fresh off a win in Tokyo, and her driving skills are no joke, so I think she’s got an awesome chance to take the checkered. I’m going to be heading over to the track bright and early tomorrow morning, and I’ll start posting updates as soon as I physically can. Stay tuned!   

Though my Dad knows more than a little about wrench-turning, and Mom still misses her slick 5-speed 240SX, neither were ever race fans. But every year when I was a kid, two of their best friends threw a party to watch Indy—I still associate the shrieks of high-pitched engines with taco dip—and motor sports fan or not, everyone who came always had a blast.

One of my favorite Indy memories is watching the 2005 race with a girlfriend who—usually terminally bored by anything automotive—stood and cheered as Danica Patrick became the first woman to lead a lap at the Brickyard. And that’s what I love about Indy. For a couple of hours, everyone in front of the tube turns into a race fan.

So I’m stoked I’ll be there in person this year! Hell and yes! Now, I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try to do as good as job as Jen did covering Talladega. I’ll have a full wind-up to the green flag next week, but for the record, here are the drivers that have scored the top six spots; Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon, Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, Tony Kanann and Marco Andretti. Personally, I want to seen Patrick take the checkered, and I think she’s got a great chance. Who do you want to see in victory lane?

Last night I went to the Dead Baby Bikes Film Festival, and it was a total blast. I hadn’t geeked out over bicycles in a while, and the parking lot was filled with sexy stuff. Next time, I’ll have to remember to bring a camera. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Jerry York is a respected former auto exec, and while I’m sure he has a lot of good ideas about how to turn Ford around, his suggestion that the Blue Oval sell Mercury is kind of strange. Um, who would they sell it to exactly? And what would Mercury be without Ford? Automotive News
• Tesla has opened its first dealership in LA, and it’s about time. Hopefully they can ramp up production so all the pretty young things in Hollywood don’t feel like they have to drive a Pirus to get green cred. AutoWeek
• The new Beetle is ten years old. For a moment let’s forget that it’s front-engine, front-wheel drive, and focus on the bigger question: what the hell happened to the new version of the micro-bus? That seems like a total no-brainer. CarScoop
• Will Danica Patrick graduate to F1? After a test ride in Honda’s Grand Prix car, she might just find the big leagues to hard to resist. Top Gear

The days are finally getting longer, which is raising the tantalizing possibility of getting to both enter and leave work while it’s light outside. Of course, the more I think about it, that situation seems about as likely as giving up booze or converting to Scientology. Here’s the news:

• Sold! To the dude with way, way, way too much cash! The Ferrari FXX just purchased in a online auction went for almost 4 million bucks. Sure, the price is steep, but on the rare days the factory actually lets the lucky owner drive it, he might get to rub elbows with Michael Schumacher. Auto Express
• Aston Martin is opening a test facility at the Germany’s N?rburgring. Does this mean more podium finishes and happy customers? You bet it does! CarScoop
• Look, just because someone is a talented driver doesn’t mean they can’t look great in a swimsuit. Good guess, but no, I’m not talking about Tony Stewart. Sports Illustrated via Top Gear
• If you’ve ever seen some of the swamps which pass for roads in Russia, then you understand nobody over there takes pavement for granted. So once crews get started laying blacktop, they don’t stop. For anything. English Russia