Despite encouraging results from the final days of pre-season testing in Barcelona, seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher insists that his Mercedes GP team is unlikely to start the 2011 season on top.

The Brackley-based team has struggled throughout its winter preparations – despite Schumacher topping the times for a day at Jerez – and relied heavily on a raft of upgrades to haul itself back onto the pace as the pre-season wrapped up at the Circuit de Catalunya over the weekend. However, even though the 42-year old posted the fastest time of the penultimate day – and team-mate Nico Rosberg ended Saturday on top – he is writing off Mercedes’ chances of a surprise when the season finally gets underway in Melbourne in two weeks’ time.

“We have made a lot of progress with the car, so I’m quite happy,” he told journalists during the test, “Having concluded all our reliability work at the last test, we’re now concentrating on setting up the car, fine-tuning, understanding it down to the last detail. Right now, we are not concerned with our reliability – we have had some issues, but that is why you go testing – and we are on the progress curve like we want to be.

“I guess we’re not quite in a position to win, but then I wasn’t expecting to be in this position right now. However, I know where we are, and we are working very well.”

Schumacher’s comments echo those made pre-Barcelona by both team principal Ross Brawn and CEO Nick Fry, who insisted that the initial tests had seen a very basic version of the WO2 being run-in by Schumacher and Rosberg, with the package of updates always scheduled to appear in Barcelona. Fry, in particular, dismissed speculation that the team was in ‘panic mode’ following the disappointing results it achieved in the Valencia, Jerez and first Barcelona tests, and last week’s improved performance appears to have confirmed that Mercedes is progressing as planned.

Schumacher, in line with the majority of observers, believes that Red Bull will start the season as the team to beat, and admits that Mercedes’ aim for the opening few races will be to top the list of challengers, despite the impressive pre-season form shown by the likes of Ferrari and Lotus Renault.

“We clearly know Red Bull are very strong and are the team you have to look at,” he confirmed, “But the season is long and there is a big question mark as to who is coming up behind. I hope we play a sufficient role in that.”

Gas prices in the Austin area and beyond are expected to continue an upward climb just in time for spring break and the beginning of the vacation season.

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Gas prices are in the news again. Prices at the pump are going up, up, up. That may have some of us asking: “What should I do?”

Our Money Coach Bill Stanley said there are two things to consider when trying to reduce how much you spend on gas: the car and the driver. 

“You must make sure your car is in good mechanical shape and your tires are properly inflated,” he said.

“You can monitor the mechanical condition of your car by keeping track of the miles per gallon that it gets. Few do this. All you do is write down the gallons and the mileage at each fill up. If you notice that the miles per gallon is going down, it may be time for a tune up.”

Stanley said most families have more car than they need, and many have more cars than they need.

“Americans have always used the car more as a status symbol rather than just transportation,” he said. “Do you need that pickup or SUV that gets poor mileage? Downsize your car and you will spend less on gas.” 

Once you get your vehicle in good condition, it’s time to recondition ourselves, the driver.

“How you drive matters. Modern cars don’t need to be warmed up; jackrabbit starts eat up the gas,” Stanley said. “Slow down, keep within the speed limit.”

One way we can change things is in the number of times we use the car each day and how far we go.

“Combine errands, avoid going out for just one purpose, shop close by,” he said. “If possible, carpool or use public transportation. Try walking. Establish a ‘leave the car home’ day.”

Another tip Stanley offered concerns gasoline.

“Gas is gas — buy the cheapest,” he said. “Don’t waste gas driving around looking for cheap gas. Go online at gasbuddy.com or a similar site.”

He said he gets to thinking about how much gas and money Americans waste when he’s in some neighborhoods each afternoon.

“When I get caught in the line of huge, idling SUVs picking up one child from school, I think back to when I was a kid,” he said. “I walked to elementary and middle school, and I took the bus to high school. Our kids need more exercise anyway — let ‘em walk. Moms and dads should try neighborhood carpools to shuttle kids around.”

The bottom line is that paying for transportation must be budgeted. And it’s important to keep on top of it, Stanley said.

“If you are on a tight budget and gas prices are more than expected, you must cut back in another area,” he said. “ budgeted 2011 for $3 per gallon gas. I’ll just have to cut back in another expense category.”

Bill Stanley and Money Matters airs every Tuesday on FOX21 Morning News.
If you have a question for Bill, contact him directly: MoneyCoachBill@aol.com

First iPad 2 In-Dash Install On Ford F-150 Truck

The iPad 2 has only been in the market for 3 days, and California based SoundMan Car Audio has done it again. They’ve managed to install an iPad 2 into the dashboard of a 2010 Ford F-150 pickup.

Last year, SoundMan Car Audio experimented with a Toyota Tacoma and proceeded to give it an A/V system overhaul with the first generation iPad taking center stage in the modified dashboard.

Witnesses: People Inside 2 Vehicles Fired Shots At Victim

HOUSTON — A driver was found dead inside a crashed car at a southwest Houston apartment complex, but police said that the crash was not what killed him.

Houston police went to the Sunflower Terrace Apartments in the 5000 block of Sunflower Street about 10:30 p.m. Saturday after getting reports of a shooting.

Officers said they found a man slumped over the steering wheel of a car that had crashed into two parked cars.

The man had been shot to death, police said. His name has not been released.

Witnesses told investigators that a pickup truck was driving by and someone inside fired shots at the victim’s car, and a few moments later someone in a car opened fire on the victim’s vehicle.

The shooters in both vehicles fled, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.