Bubble Gang 2013 Summer Special Part 1

On the April 26, 2013 episode, Bubble Gang is out for another Summer Special at Morong. One part of Morong to be precise...WHITE CORALS! The weather's getting hotter but the laughter is still even more hotter such as this:

- Social media-related gags



- Who's going to be buried in the sand first?



- Mr. Assimo at the swimming lesson



- Bubble Gang does Century Tuna by spoofing this ad as Send-Churi Tuna! There's no other tuna!



- Pickup Lines!



- Choose your boat wisely...



- Summer advices from Tata Lino



- Sorry but, your sand castle needs to be demolished because of health and safety...



- IyoTube



The first part of this Summer Special 2013 of BG is fun but next week promises more fun under the sun! See you on Part Two!

Threats from North Korea - A Week in Review (April 27, 2013)

And now, the week in review of what's what at the Korean peninsula...

April 22, 2013

- South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-se cancelled his visit to Japan for talks with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, after a trip to China to discuss the North Korean issue.

April 23, 2013

- A bag of white powder (which turned out to be edible wheat flour) along with a threatening message to South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin was delivered to the defense HQ at around 10:00 AM local time. A message says that Kim Kwan-jin will be punished under the name of the Korean race if he continues to degrade North Korea's highest dignity. Defense Ministry will boost anti-terrorism measures against postal deliveries sent to the HQ and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

April 24, 2013

- South Korea extended an offer to hold talks with North Korea over the Kaesong complex that has been idle since early this month in the midst of the tensions at the Korean peninsula.

April 25, 2013

- SoKor government asked the North to come out to the negotiating table and they want their response by Friday morning. If agreed, officials in charge of the inter-Korean cooperation from the two will meet for discussions on the situation of the Kaesong complex.

April 26, 2013

- South Korea announced that they will withdraw all of its workers from the Kaesong Complex in North Korea after Pyongyang denied their offer to resolve disputes over the inter-Korean rapprochement.

K-Brosas, IHAW NA!

Comedienne K-Brosas was the guest on the IHAW NA segment from the April 25, 2013's Banana Nite and in here, they discuss about her career, her funny side, and other stuff...

Let's Do The News! (April 25, 2013)

(cheers and applause)

JC: Well done, shorty!

RH: Yeah!

JM: Now let's do the news!

JC: Okay, let's start with this. Namco Bandai released another DLC Catalog on The iDOLM@STER 2 for the PS3 console, here it is...



JC: It's another one of the PS3-exclusive costumes that will drive those X360 owners some jealousy. Here, Catalog 17 for the PS3 version features two new costumes "Bright Eaglet" and "Exotic China" as well as the song titled 9:02pm, which is familiar for those who had L4U before...

JM: Aren't you the so-called Jeremy Clarkson who, a couple of months ago, demanding to Namco Bandai saying that "PLEASE ADD THE PUNKISH GOTHIC COSTUME ON THE PS3 VERSION!"

(audience laughing)

JC: Rubbish me...

RH: Anyhow...

JC: I just can't believe that Namco Bandai still refusing to add the Punkish Gothic outfit on the PS3 version of the iM@S 2. It's been years now since the PS3 version of the iM@S 2 broke cover but how come they spend several months featuring outfits that were the same as the XBOX 360 version while others featuring costumes developed specifically for the PS3 version. Why is this happening?

RH: I don't know, maybe Punkish Gothic costumes will always stay on the XBOX 360 version and nowhere else...

(audience laughing)

JC: Maybe, but it seems that Namco Bandai keeps on saying "Right, we don't need the Punkish Gothic costumes. Let's make some costumes that were exclusive to the PS3 version!"

(audience laughing)

JC: That's why I don't want that C7 Corvette Stingray...

RH: Okay...

JC: The point is that if you are wearing a Punkish Gothic outfit, the C7 Corvette will say "ACCESS DENIED".

(audience laughing)

JC: Think about it, there will never be a Punkish Gothic DLC on the PS3 version of the iM@S 2 and no matter how many times you beg, it will NEVER happen because they don't think they'll going to feature it. And that's a shame because there's been a lot of otakus in the international community always wanted to cosplay as their favorite 765PRO idols in an outfit that the PS3 version may never get. The More You Know...

(audience laughing)

RH: Yep! The More You Know!

JM: The More You Know!

(cheers and applause)

JC: Now, Toyota, they said that sold over five million hybrids worldwide and this also includes those biblically terrible Toyota Prius eco-car which we don't like because it's too ECO for its own right. So, what does this mean to you?

RH: Uh...does this mean that the world's turning into a boring place for petrolheads?

(audience laughing)

JC: Acceptable but I was thinking about the S word...

JM: What S-word?

JC: Smug!

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, has any one of you watching an episode of South Park about hybrids? Hands up...

(audience raising hands)

RH: I do...

JM: Hammond, you do that because it's an American show...

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, as said in a South Park episode, those morons who owned a hybrid, especially those who owned a Prius, getting themselves stuffed and spew a lot of self-satisfied garbage to the air. That's SMUG! I can imagine those countries that sell hybrids, especially Japan, which is the producer of mass-market hybrids, getting ravaged by such strong monsoons and thus, I believe, is SMUG.

(audience laughing)

JC: ♫Come on, people now, people now. People now, come on, people now. Got to drive hybrids, people now.♫

(audience laughing hysterically, then cheers and applause)

RH: Oh! I see! It seems that based on a South Park episode, hybrids causing people to spew some garbage to the air, creating S-M-U-G! SMUG!

JC: Yep, even in the UK, such floodings from the past years really put the hybrids in the blame game because of SMUG! Perhaps no other people noticed this South Park episode making fun of hybrids.

(audience laughing)

JC: There you go, Top Gear Top Tip: Don't buy a hybrid or you'll be causing natural disasters!

(audience laughing, then cheers and applause)

JC: Ah.....(farts)

(audience laughing)

JC: Whoa, that was one that I really don't want...

JM: By the way...remember the time that, but a year ago, you had a statement regarding the legendary Sauber Mercedes C9 Le Mans racer? You said "If you see a car that was featured only in Gran Turismo franchise but robbed by the Forza franchise for DLC purposes, watch your backs for a series of complaints written in Japanese."

(audience laughing)

JC: Awww....Yes, yes I was. But recently, the cap's been lifted for the Sauber C9 because an upcoming indie racer game from developer I don't really know about, called Project CARS, is about to feature the Sauber C9 as well as some historic Mercedes-Benz racing machines. Also, they'll be going to feature the all new A45 AMG hot hatch as part of the builds for this community-assisted racing game which is still a WIP (work in progress) but it's getting mass attention for racing-sim fans everywhere.

JM: So, your statements about the Sauber C9 is wrong?

JC: Yes, yes I am wrong...

(audience laughing)

JC: Uh, anyway, I just received some news that Microsoft is going to reveal their new generation replacement to the XBOX 360 this May and this is the only info we've received...



(audience laughing)

RH: That's it? That's the info regarding the next generation XBOX?

JM: I don't know but regarding this invitation note, I'm guess that Microsoft's trying to outdo Sony's PS4 with something...

JC: Yeah, stay tuned for more info...

(audience laughing)

JC: Now, as we know, Iron Man 3 draws near and it seems that there's a new trailer from Marvel, showing off the upcoming Thor sequel, titled THOR: THE DARK WORLD and it seems most people are getting interested about that new villain played by Christopher Eccleston from Doctor Who. Here's the pic of what Chris is going to be in Thor 2...

Malekith

(audience laughing)

RH: What? That doesn't seem to look like Christopher Eccleston to us...

JM: Yeah, who's that?

JC: Well, apparently, some say that's the new enemy for Thor, named Malekith. I'm not 100% sure if this is Christopher Eccleston playing the role of a new Thor villain.

RH: Me neither!

(audience laughing)

JC: Right, that brings us the end of the news...

("Gitchee Gitchee Goo" playing)

(audience laughing)

JC: What's that?

RH: Oh, wait! It's my cellphone.

JC: Richard, that was the weirdest ringtone you have in the phone.

RH: No, it's a brilliant one.

JC: Then what the heck that goes "Bow chika bow wow, that's what my baby said"

(audience laughing)

RH: That's my favorite P&F song. Gitchee Gitchee Goo! 

All: ♫GITCHEE GITCHEE GOO MEANS THAT I LOVE YOU!♫

(applause)

JC: Oh boy...

Bangs Garcia, IHAW NA!

In the April 24, 2013's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment, Tito Bhoy interviews guest star Bangs Garcia. He explains...why does Bangs doesnt have bangs on her hair, her career , and others.

Meanwhile, Melai Cantiveros shares us three tips to get yourself awake when the alarm bell rings in Laugh Three

3) Put a sharp object on an alarm clock

2) Add some unusual sound on the alarm clock

1) Get yourself a wife!

As for Hala Bara: ALAK KA BA? KASI, HABANG TUMATAGAL, NASUSUKA NA KAMI!!!

Forza Motorsport 4: HIJACKED

No no no no... Not the GTA kind of hijacking cars, Hijack. You know, it's Ridge Racer stuff. Hijack. It's a pickup truck that first appeared in Rage Racer at the end of 1996 and then resurfaced again on RR6 in late 2005 when the XBOX 360 first went on sale. Anyway, enough of that analogy because that Hijack pickup only comes into your imagination but what if you want a true-to-life pickup that behaves just like the Hijack pickup?

What we have here in FM4 are three potential sport trucks that have blown away their "pickup" images to become one of the most performance-oriented sport trucks on the market in the not-too-distant past. Those sports trucks might lose their ability to go offroad but they sure are quite a handful when they start to misbehave themselves. Putting big power in a big pickup truck might sound ridiculous but with all that added brute force, it can be as punishing as The Punisher himself.

Take a look at those three sports trucks I had lined up...

GMC Syclone

Based on the GMC Sonoma pickup truck, the Syclone is GMC's high-performance sport truck that was launched in 1991 and then it spawned a Jimmy-based Typhoon a year later. Some critics say that the Syclone pickup has specifications that had more in common with a Porsche rather than pickups even though the Syclone has a turbocharged 4.3L V6 engine equipped with Mitsubishi TD06-17C 8 cm² turbocharger and Garrett water/air intercooler. It develops 280HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated with a 4-speed automatic. 0-60mph takes about 5.3 seconds and based on a Car & Driver test, it does a quarter-mile run in 14.1 seconds at 93 mph.



Dodge Ram SRT-10


What happens when you drop a big Viper V10 engine under the hood of the Dodge Ram pickup? The answer was the Ram SRT-10 and unlike any other Ram Trucks, which were focused on utilitarian purposes, it was made for the purpose of speed.

It features an 8.3L Viper V10 engine which develops 510HP of power and 712Nm of torque. The regular cab model of the Ram SRT-10 with such an engine has a top speed of 153 mph (246 km/h), and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.9 seconds.

During its tenure, Dodge released several special models for the Ram SRT-10 such as the Viper Club of America Edition, the Yellow Fever, the Commemorative Edition, and the Night Runner. Right when the SRT-10 Ram stopped production after the 2006 model year, about 9,527 Dodge Ram SRT-10s were manufactured.

In 2004, the Ram SRT-10 was hailed as the fastest production truck in the world with an average speed of 154.587 mph (248.784 km/h). This record was beaten by an Australian-made HSV Maloo with a speed of 168.668 mph (271.445 km/h).



Saleen S331


While essentially a tuned version of the Ford F-150 SuperCab FX2, the S331 is Saleen's first-ever pickup truck since 2001 and it was priced at $54,000 for the supercharged model while non-supercharged models priced at $44,000.

The supercharged 5.4L V8 engine that powers it generates about 450HP of power and 500lb-ft of torque while being mated with a 4R75-E 4-speed automatic gearbox.

The S331 Sport Truck featured specially tuned front and rear springs and new shock absorbers specifically designed to withstand the bulk of the 23-inch forged, one-piece aluminum wheels holding 305/40R23 BFG high-performance tires, thus giving it a lower center of gravity.

While high-performance trucks sacrificed their utilitarian traits for performance purposes, the S331 keeps its traits while maintaining its performance quo. The base model has a full payload rating of 1300lbs and it's capable to tow a 5-ton trailer.



Okay, now that we finally get to know more about those sport trucks, let's find out which of these three is the best round the Top Gear Track and that means handing them over to the tamed racing driver...



I had the time! Let's see...

Syclone - 1:33.411
S331 - 1:38.145
Ram SRT-10 - 1:31.274

So based on the times, the V10-powered Dodge Ram is the quickest around the track so by sneaking suspicion, maybe the Ram SRT-10 is quite a sport truck that blown away its pickup image and sacrificed its utilitarian and offroad capabilities to become a muscle truck with a big engine that powers it. The Syclone though, that's just right for sport truck enthusiasts because even though it's not quite as fast as the V10 Ram, it's lighter and I think both of these sports trucks are instant classics because it's going to be very rare to find one of those for grabs. These are definitely future classics because of such rarity and value.

What about the S331? Meh, that's just a tuned Ford F-150 but who cares about it?

PASS CARD

Top stories from the Kandila segment of April 23, 2013's Banana Nite;

- As election nears, two candidates are fighting over a... RAFFLE DRAW!

- E-cigarettes are not healthy according to DOH...and instead, do the H-Shake! Harlem Shake.

- BIR, nullified the cedula...MABUHAY!!!

Meanwhile, Angelica showcased some funny pics in another ETO NA POST; such as a diver equpped with LPG tank, a pizza that melts in the oven, FEAR HEAD, before and after, and keep off the grass.

And then, in another CHAZZ DO IT, they all dare to do the PASS CARD. Watch out for kisses!

Renault Scenic XMOD

2013 Renault Scenic XMOD

Remember the RX4?

Well, back in 2000, Renault made a toughened version of the Scenic family mover called the RX4 which comes with the part-time, on demand 4WD system which works very well without all the drama. It's a good car though, especially the rear seats can be removed for added space. Some people say, they like this one better than the present-day Koleos because it's Korean and it's rubbish.

So what's it all about this present-day Scenic XMOD?

Well, like the old RX4, the XMOD is a crossover type of Scenic for those who want to go Adventure Time (no, not the one you'd expect from) on the great outdoors. On the outside, it looks like a recently facelifted Scenic but the XMOD features an enhanced ride height, new bumpers, sill guards, new alloy wheels and roof bars to make the XMOD look like it's ready for adventures in the Alps.

But...

Despite being a crossover, the XMOD is available only in front-wheel drive, same as the Clio-based Captur crossover, which is also FWD you know. However, Renault added something specifically to the XMOD such as this; the all-new Extended Grip system. This new system provides the confidence of a 4WD car in a FWD crossover people carrier and when set to EXPERT MODE, it takes care of the braking system, while leaving the driver in full control of the engine torque. When you set it in ROAD MODE, it provides conventional traction control settings and automatically reconnects at speeds of 40kph. Lastly, on LOOSE GROUND MODE, it optimises braking control and engine torque control as a function of available grip. That sounds interesting but even with this Extended Grip system, I'm afraid that going to be as redundat to drive as the Captur due to the lack of 4WD. As for the ride however, that's creepy in so many levels. It may not be as fun to drive as a 4WD minivan and I'd expect to have the same feeling as having your kids saying...um...how do you say "Are We There Yet?" in French? Never mind but if you have kids on your next road trip to Dune of Pyla or at the Mont Saint-Michel, your best bet is to buy some SeatPets elsewhere and put it on the seatbelts of the rear seat so your kids will stay comfy on your trip. Just saying...

Engine Choices?

Let's see... There are two petrol engines (Energy TCe 130, Energy TCe 115) and three diesel engines (Energy dCi 110, Energy dCi 130, dCi 110) available on the XMOD. Most models do have a 6-speed manual while the one with the dCi 110 comes with an optional double clutch transmission which sounds a bit fine but the one with the dCi 110 mated with a manual promises a 4L/100km of combined fuel economy, which sounds perfect for the long journeys and practical for road use.

What's it like to be inside?

2013 Renault Scenic XMOD interior

Well, it's not half bad to be inside the XMOD. It's even more spacious than the regular Scenic because the boot is now up to 555 litres in capacity, it has the new R-Link infotainment first applied on the new Clio, seating for five people, and joy of joys, it has a premium Bose stereo which is a favorite for those who had Bose Edition models in the past.

Price List?

2013 Renault Scenic XMOD

Zen dCi 110 - 27,250 Euros
Zen Energy dCi 110 eco² - 27,950 Euros
Zen dCi 110 EDC - 28,750 Euros
Zen Energy TCe 115 - 26,450 Euros
Bose Energy dCi 130 - 31,700 Euros
Bose Energy dCi 110 eco² - 30,900 Euros
Bose dCi 110 EDC - 31,700 Euros
Bose Energy TCe 130 - 28,800 Euros

Available Colors?

Available colors for the XMOD are Beige Dune, Bleu majorelle, Gris Cassiopee, Gris Platine, Jaune Automne, Rouge Grenat, Teinte Fictive, Blanc Nacre, Noir Etoile, and Blanc Glacier.

Jessy Mendiola, IHAW NA!

Jessy Mendiola was guested on the IHAW NA segment of the April 22, 2013 episode of Banana Nite and in here, Tito Bhoy talks about Jessy's love for Italian foods, her own Paraiso, and something else...

Meanwhile, Melai shares us top three tips on what to do when your date has some "tinga" on his or her tooth in Laugh Three

3) Be brave and kiss her!

2) Show your magic mirror to her face and pretend that this is the wrong mirror

1) Make fun and ready your cellphone!

Let's Do The News! (April 22, 2013)

(cheers and applause)

Lexus IS-F and Lancia Stratos

RH: You silly man. You think you're the only man in existence who thinks that the S in the Lexus IS naming really mean Stratos?

JC: Uh...quite.

RH: But the question really is, if the S in the IS do mean Stratos...what's the I?

JC: Infinite...

(audience laughing)

JC: I know. I talked about that a couple of years ago that IS stands for "Infinite Stratos" and if this would mean it, the Lexus IS could have been mocked as a Lancia Stratos with some Japanese-y things on it.

RH: Aren't you, forgetting something, idiot boy?

(audience laughing)

2014 Lexus IS

RH: There's a new Lexus IS coming...

JC: I know but seems to be that car's a bit of a mess while the F-Sport variant has the LFA-style gauge on its interior. Also, I heard that there's this rubbish hybrid variant which some say it will have the same 2.5L hybrid powerplant as expected on the Toyota Crown! But still, I'm not sold into those...

(audience laughing)

RH: So, news now?

JC: Yes, idiot boy and while on the subject of the IS thingy, there's an announcement happened on last Saturday's IS All-Night Festival that there's going to be a second season of the IS anime and it will be titled Infinite Stratos 2. Here's the promo clip...

(audience exclaming in awe)



JC: ...based on some new info, the cast of the anime series returning for this new season and Zone of the Enders' Kumi Horii, Busou Shinki & IS novels' CHOCO join design staff. I don't know that if this going to air on TBS very very soon...

JM: Hold on...how could they've announced a second season of IS? Oh wait...could this second season of IS really be made to coincide the release of the 2014 Lexus IS?

(audience laughing hysterically)

JM: I mean come on...IS? New Lexus IS? Second Season of IS? That's proper comedy to me. This is like "Right! Let's take a look at the new 2014 Lexus IS, shall we? Oh, look! LFA speedo in the new IS!"

(audience laughing)

RH: Yeah and imagine that if that new 2014 Lexus IS come out sometime soon and if whoever wants to buy this hideous looking Lexus...I'd expect the person who buys it...goes by the name of Houki.

(audience laughing)

JC: Thank you, Hammond. Oh, and last Sunday, there was this Hayate-Kaminomi Joint Concert going on and guess what? This is really what happens when you Never Mind The Buzzcocks...

(audience laughing)

JC:...I know, it's two different groups from two parallel worlds come together in one party! I mean look; it's Ruka Suirenji from Hayate no Gotoku join forces with The World God Only Knows' Nao Toyama while Hayate no Gotoku's residential tsundere, Hinagiku Katsura, meets up with Kaminomi's residential tsundere, Haqua!

RH: Hang on a second pal...You know you do have a nendo of both Hinagiku and Haqua, right?

JC: Uh yes but sadly, I didn't bring those because I got no time for those willy-nilly at the concert.

(audience laughing)

RH: So, what did you do while at the concert?

JC: Like this!

GOODBYE

(audience laughing)

RH: He he he he...eh...huh? So you did this while you were there?

JC: Uh-huh...

RH: You were like...and video game machine who got stranded in the forest and then encountered a baloon and then starting to developing some...what should I call it? Short-term relationship? WHAT ARE YOU? BMO?!

(audience laughing)

JC: What's a BMO?

RH: BMO! B-M-O! BMO! From a cartoon show called Adventure Time with Finn and Jake!

(audience laughing)

JC: I don't understand anything! Why are so many teenagers got addicted to this...kids show?!

JM: Come on , Jeremy. It's a great show. You should watch it...

JC: It's as good as your jumper you're wearing...

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, has any one of you watched PSY's latest MV of his new song called Gentleman? Hands up...

(audience raising hands)

JM: I don't...

RH: Me neither...

(audience laughing)

JC: Well, I have and I can't believe that it's over a hundred million hits already and most are slowly adapting the new Gentleman moves from the man who brought you last year's Gangnam Style. However, there's something that I don't understand about this new Gentleman video.

RH What, is it because it's Korean?

(audience laughing)

JC: Maybe but the real thing I don't understand is that...um...well...sort of...anyway, watch that clip and find out...

JC: So, what do you see?

RH: Well...what is it?

JM: Yeah, nothing's wrong about it. Unless...this is somewhat disrespectful against women...

JC: Nope. This is when this guy's getting out of control on this clip....just like me. I always wanted to the the Gentleman stint...

(audience laughing)

RH: Oh, come on! You know that this new Gentleman stint won't have the firepower against the (mocking) Gwiyomi stuff...

(audience laughing)

RH: Come on! PSY's new song? Can you fire this against an unknown phenomenon known as GWIYOMI?!

(audience laughing)

JC: You guys are so G-R-R-R right now. If I want to spend a couple of minutes watching pointless videos of morons doing the Gwiyomi stint, I would rather kill myself after seeing those...

(audience laughing)

RH: So, there you are folks.THE MORE YOU KNOW by Jeremy Clarkson...

(audience laughing)

JC: So anyway, last year, THE IDOLM@STER SHINY FESTA was available on the PSP hand held console and brings a new twist to the beloved cult classic from Japan.

JM: Yes we do but now, SHINY FESTA is coming to the Apple iOS for the first time. Of course, there are three different versions of the SHINY FESTA but for the iOS version what's HONEY SOUND in the PSP version is called Harmonic Score on the iOS version. Groovy Tune then on the PSP, Rhythmic Record on the iOS version, and lastly Funky Note then, Melodic Disc now.

RH: Yes. And like in the PSP version, Harmonic Score features Haruka, Chihaya, Azusa, and Ritsuko, while Rhythmic Record features Miki, Takane, Makoto, and Yukiho, and lastly, Melodic Disc features Ami and Mami, Hibiki, Iori, and Yayoi. Three different versions have three different animations to watch but the gameplay's the same deal. Tell it, James...

JM: Yes, and this feels like the Hatsune Miku Project Diva games. All you have to do is to touch when it hits the correct position and aim for the high score. The best bit of it is that it's available in either iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. Sadly though, this can be the most expensive app to buy at the App Store because the Shiny Festa app can cost you 54.99 US Dollars, it's about as pricey as a new game you bought at the retails so when this breaches...you need your own.

(audience laughing)

F1 2013 Bahrain GP

Well, that wasn't unexpecting. Despite protests against this year's Bahrain GP, it seems that like every F1 race each year, this year's Bahrain GP goes on and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel dominated this year's Bahrain race, leaving two Lotus F1 racers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean in 2-3 places behind.

PRESS RELEASE:


Race - Vettel dominates Bahrain thriller for Red Bull 21 Apr 2013
       
Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull simply annihilated their opposition in Bahrain on Sunday, and though the world champion’s three-stop race left him only 9.1s ahead of Kimi Raikkonen’s two-stopping Lotus, the margin of superiority was significantly greater than that.

Nico Rosberg led the opening two laps from pole position, but once Vettel overtook the Mercedes on the third lap the race was his to lose. On an opening set of medium Pirelli tyres and then three sets of new hards, he was simply unbeatable and controlled the race to win as he pleased.

Behind him, however, it was a hard race to read but a thrilling one nonetheless. Raikkonen was inevitably overshadowed at times as his stops were out of kilter with the majority’s, as was Paul di Resta who drove a brilliant race for Force India from fifth place on the grid. Unable to contain Raikkonen’s faster Lotus, the Scot was on target for a podium finish until Romain Grosjean, in the second Lotus and on a three-stop strategy, hauled him in and overtook with seven laps to run. 

Despite missing the podium, Di Resta’s performance equalled the best of his F1 career and reward for the poor fortune he’s had so far this year.

Behind them, fifth place was at times the subject of super-heated debate between Mark Webber’s Red Bull, the McLarens and both Mercedes cars. In particular, the McLaren pair of Jenson Button and Sergio Perez had such a scrap that the Englishman at one stage instructed his team over the radio to 'Calm him down' after Perez tapped the 2009 world champion’s right-rear wheel with his front wing.

Rosberg faded after suffering contact at one stage with Webber, and needed a fourth pit stop. But once he got ahead, the Australian was vulnerable. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who early in the race had been as low as 11th on pace while conserving his tyres, came alive at this point and overtook the second Red Bull on the 51st lap, but Webber was able to retaliate on the 53rd. That set up some mighty side-by-side racing between the two as Webber blocked and Hamilton ducked and dived behind him.

On the very last lap Hamilton hung tough down the inside going into Turn 1, and Webber had to concede. As he and Hamilton had fought, Perez got a second wind after dealing with an attacking Alonso, and passed the Red Bull as Webber lost momentum after Hamilton’s pass.

Alonso had grabbed second at the start, but after Vettel passed him later that lap after judicious use of his KERS, the Spaniard stopped for new tyres on the seventh lap, then had to duck in again on the ninth when his DRS rear wing flap stuck in the open position. That dropped him way back, and left him to fight back - without DRS - for the rest of a disastrous afternoon for Ferrari in which he’d eventually finish eighth.

Rosberg finished a frustrated ninth in a race in which he had earlier run way ahead of his team mate, while Button got the better of Perez in their heated battles, but ultimately also had to make a fourth stop and thus dropped to tenth.

Pastor Maldonado drove a controlled race to 11th for Williams, after team mate Valtteri Bottas required a late stop for fresh rubber and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who had to stop four times because of a failed tyre early on and then a serious puncture towards the end, fell back. Thus it was Nico Hulkenberg who crossed the line in 12th for Sauber, with Adrian Sutil recovering from another first-lap clash, with Massa, to take 15th for Force India after a drive which at one stage earned him fastest lap. Bottas was 14th, Massa 15th.

Daniel Ricciardo was Toro Rosso’s sole, troubled, finisher in 16th after Jean-Eric Vergne became the race’s only retirement after an early clash with Giedo van der Garde’s Caterham.

The Marussias jumped the Caterhams at the start, as per the pre-race plan, but then Charles Pic overtook them both and swept away to secure a minor victory for the Leafield team and 17th overall. As Jules Bianchi led Marussia partner Max Chilton home in 19th and 20th positions, Van der Garde finished 21st and last. Esteban Gutierrez started last, got hit by debris on the opening lap, but made up some places to finish 18th for Sauber.

The race extends Vettel’s points score to 77, ten points ahead of Raikkonen on 67, while Hamilton moves up to third on 50 from Alonso on 47. Webber is fifth on 32 from Massa on 30, Grosjean on 26, Di Resta on 20, Rosberg on 14 and Button on 13.

Red Bull have 109 points in the constructors’ championship, with Lotus moving to second on 93 from Ferrari on 77. Mercedes are still in play with 64, with Force India fifth on 26 and McLaren on 23.

Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/4/14499.html

So far, Red Bull's S. Vettel is still in the lead by 77 points while Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen is 2nd place by 67 points and Mercedes-Benz's Lewis Hamilton is in 3rd place in 50 points. Next race is on Spain in May 12th and let's see how far can these F1 race stars go...

Forza Horizon: The Battle of IS

IS meets Stratos

Huh, that's weird. Even in Colorado, there really was The Battle of IS. Oh, man! Come on! Get it, together, man! What am I saying? Do you think am I the only one around here who says that the S in the Lexus IS naming really mean Stratos? As in...Lancia Stratos?

Nah! But still, it was nice driving both the Lexus IS F and the Lancia Stratos though. It's kinda fun to drive both of these weapons-grade materials on the streets of Colorado. While the Stratos has the crispiest sounds thanks to its Ferrari engine at the middle, the IS F sure is an out-of-character car for the brand that makes saloons for rich golfers.