Gil de Ferran has long enjoyed strong links with Honda, serving for a time as the sporting director of the Honda F1 programme. Now he is to run his own operation in the United States, preparing a fourth Acura sports car for the American Le Mans Series. The car will be campaigned under the de Ferran Motorsports banner, a newly formed team owned by the former Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time CART Champ Car champion.

The governor speaks

And that it was impossible to “rig" a money market auction to direct that level of funding to it without alerting journalists and other bankers to what was happening. What's more, an “unrigged" auction would have been ludicrous, because it would have involved injecting mind-boggling sums into the banking system – thus raising fears that the entire banking system was effectively bust.

Their second momentous decision was not to announce, at the same time as providing the loan, that no depositor at the Rock would lose a penny – that the Treasury was guaranteeing their savings.

From Malcolm's Dad to Meth Dealer, Bryan Cranston Blows Up With ...

For Bryan Cranston, one of the most fun things about starring in the new AMC television series Breaking Bad is getting to blow stuff up on set.

It seems ironic considering that Mr. Cranston, 51, is most well known for playing a father. He was the goofy, fumbling dad on Fox's Emmy-winning sitcom Malcolm In the Middle (now you can picture him!), and as the high school chemistry teacher turned drug dealer, Walter White, he's taken on another paternal role, albeit a dark and twisted one, in Breaking Bad, which premiered last Sunday, Jan.

Evans, Lambert join Craven lineup

Opening night for the 2008 Craven Country Jamboree is still 153 days away, but festival organizers have almost filled the lineup.

Auto buyers not in mood for luxury Analysts foresee market decline in ...

CHICAGO — Automakers are introducing plenty of luxury vehicles at this year's Chicago Auto Show, from the $78,000 Yes! roadster to Porsche's performance-oriented Cayenne GTS.

But the models may be met by empty wallets. Analysts and some automakers predict luxury sales will fall this year as the nation's economic woes put a pinch on high-end buyers.

"Typically in a declining market, you usually don't see luxury vehicles drop off. The drop-off in luxury sales is at a rate much slower than the overall market, and that is because of the wealth factor," said Joe Barker, senior manager of North American vehicle sales forecasting for CSM Worldwide.

"But in recent months it appears even the affluent car buyers are even pulling back a bit on auto purchases."

Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and chief executive of Porsche Cars North America, said Thursday that Porsche has seen a downturn in U.S.

Spring training brings Cubs fans to Hohokam Stadium in Mesa

Every spring training, Hohokam Stadium turns into Wrigley Field West. Fans from the Midwest, many of them senior citizens and longtime season ticket-holders, sit near the infield, swapping stories about who had the most snow this winter and their beloved Chicago Cubs' chances of winning their first World Series since 1908. The outfield berm and grandstand seats down the foul lines draw mostly families and college students, who enjoy stretching out on the lawn and drinking beer in the sun. The stadium looks out onto Red Mountain. The ballpark is generally jammed for weekend games. Best bets for tickets are early season weekday games. Hohokam Park The spring training home of the Chicago Cubs .

Buttars says issue is closed

Board of Education, "wrong to begin with" in a radio interview.

"He continues to make these derogatory statements, then he says 'I'm sorry' and moves on," Williams said. "Then the next incident happens."

Valentine said Thursday it was up to Buttars to decide whether to resign. "His resignation is his decision," he said. "Sen. Buttars is in a very difficult situation."

Valentine declined to give his own opinion about what action Buttars should take.

"I'm going to let Sen. Buttars have his space," Valentine said. "If I express my personal opinions, then it would have an effect on Sen. Buttars' decision. I think Sen. Buttars needs to come to grips with that decision."

Valentine said no further action can be taken against Buttars under Senate rules. Senators can be censured only if they refuse to apologize for a breach of decorum, he said, noting a censure carries no penalties.

USC guard shows serious dedication

I also believe Coach Wooden helped mold the greatest player of all time — Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
— Joe Luna, Santa Fe, N.M.

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