| Brawn targets points-finishes in 2008
Ross Brawn is keeping Honda's goals for this season in check, saying he'll be happy if the team find themselves fighting for points at every race. After claiming their first grand prix victory in 2006, Honda had high hopes for last year's Championship. However, instead of fighting for wins and titles, Honda were lapping at the back of the field as the team struggled with lack of pace and an ill-handling car. And although Brawn firmly believes Honda will produce better results this season, the former Ferrari man isn't predicting Championships and titles just yet. "Our target for 2008 is to get back to the position occupied during the second half of the 2006 season when Honda fought for points at every race," he said during Tuesday's launch.
Aston Villa's defence issues set to be resolved
VILLA'S central defensive picture should become a little clearer over the next 24 hours with one player set to stay put and another looking to move on. Martin Laursen is pencilled in to meet with Martin O'Neill tomorrow with both parties keen to reach an agreement over a contract extension, which is likely to be two years with an option year or a straight three years. Meanwhile, Gary Cahill's agent was today hoping to have a conversation with O'Neill at a time when interest in his client is at fever pitch. All this at a time when reports in Romania are suggesting Villa are set to sign 6ft 5in, 17-times capped defender Dorin Goian, valued at around £5million, to replace Olof Mellberg, who will leave in the summer. Cahill is keen to sort out a loan move this week, which will probably be back in the Championship and more than likely a return to Sheffield United.
the has-been
He's a bigger man because he's smaller than he used to be. Huckabee's triumph over his own imperfections makes him a refreshing alternative to Romney, who comes across as too perfect, and Giuliani, whose campaign slogan is nobody's perfect and who has done altogether too well in staying on message. Weight loss has some policy benefits, too. At a time when Republicans don't have much else to say to Americans about health care, Huck offers his own story as a do-it-yourself substitute for a credible health-care plan. Yet, as Huckabee rises from curiosity to contender, a potential downside of downsizing becomes clear. The man is better off than he was 110 pounds ago, but does Mike Huckabee have too much riding on whether he can stay thin? Appearance is an issue for anyone in the public eye.
Fisichella favors Ferrari
Although Ferrari have spent the past two weeks testing away from main rivals McLaren - the Scuderia were in Bahrain while McLaren tested at Jerez - Fisichella believes Ferrari's F2008 has looked the more impressive of the two cars. "This year the Cavallino is clearly the team to beat and then it is McLaren," Fisichella told Gazetta dello Sport, referring to Ferrari's Prancing Horse logo. "The Ferrari is definitely ahead. And then it's the McLaren with the others behind." As for his own prospects, Fisi reckons it's going take a bit of an adjustment lapping at the back of the field but the Roman is confident Force India will improve as the season progresses. "At the beginning of the season we may be in last place but we hope to succeed in getting the best results possible and to achieve our goals for the year." he said.
Gunned-down gangster bragged about poker winnings
Ricardo Francis Scarpino bragged about sometimes carrying around $100,000 in poker winnings and wearing a diamond-encrusted Rolex watch that would earn him envious stares in downtown nightclubs. But the Vancouver gangster, who was gunned down Saturday night, also claimed in court documents that he wasn't having difficulties with anyone. "I don't believe I have any enemies that I know of," Scarpino said in a B.C. Supreme Court affidavit for a civil trial next October. Scarpino was suing an insurance company that was refusing to pay up after the gangster claimed to Richmond RCMP that he was robbed of $500,000 in jewelry and cash in September 2005. .
BMW X6 Invents a New Niche
BMW's new X6 pre-production concept car pushes the design innovation pedal to the metal. The X6 is making its press debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and will hit showrooms in 2008. It's the silhouette that causes a double-take. Huge wheels and a SUV-like body capped with a sportscar roofline. BMW's goal with the X6 was to marry the brawn and offroad qualities of an SUV with the sportiness and sleek lines of a coupe. They call it a Sports Activity Coupe. A Porsche's Cayenne may drive like a hot rod, but it doesn't pretend to be a coupe: The Cayenne really looks like an SUV. The X6 looks like nothing on the road today. "It says I've got the muscles to take on any road, any time. But at the same time, it's dressed up," says BMW Group Design Chief Chris Bangle. "It's like a powerful athlete wearing fine clothes — you can still see the muscles rippling under his shirt." Now the question is, will buyers prefer an SUV in athletic gear or one dressed to kill.
Surging Stars swoop in to St. Louis
The Stars won for the fourth time in five games with Saturday's 6-3 victory over Nashville and are just six points behind Detroit for the best record in the West.
Mike Ribeiro had two goals and two assists, Brenden Morrow scored and added three helpers, and Loui Eriksson lit the lamp twice for the Stars, who lead the Pacific Division by four points over Anaheim. Antti Miettinen also scored and Mike Smith gave Marty Turco a breather in net, making 24 saves in the win.
Turco, who has won 10 of his last 13 starts, is 8-4-1 with a tie, two shutouts and a 1.94 goals-against average in 15 career games against St. Louis.
Just two days before today's trade deadline, Dallas defenseman Sergei Zubov had a screw inserted into a fractured bone in his foot and will not skate for the next three-to-four weeks.
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