While our version of a racing shoes is a pair of chucks with extremely worn soles, the real racers out there need a bit more support. A good pair of racing shoes not only protects the foot from injury and soreness, it may also reduce your lap times by helping provide a better feel when it's time to put foot to clutch. We're partial to the Despite Ford's surpassed the double-century mark, and joined the Bonneville 200-mph club, in its Hydrogen 999 fuel-cell-powered Ford Fusion. It's an industry first, considering other automakers' hydrogen fuel-cell projects have eschewed speed accrual for the message of environmental correctness. Why not do both, Ford says with the 999 project, which we're just fine with us old salts. The car was worked up with The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing, and was piloted by Bonneville vet Rick Byrnes, who's also a retired powertrain engineer with the blue oval bunch.

Press Release:

DEARBORN, Aug. 15, 2007 -- The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 raced to a record 207.297 miles per hour Wednesday at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, which makes the world's first and only production vehicle-based fuel cell race car the fastest as well.

After more than one year of design and development and 10 years of hydrogen vehicle research, Ford's fuel cell vehicle team battled technical difficulties and a harsh desert environment en route to joining the 200 MPH Club of Bonneville Speed Week, an annual event that attracts hundreds of racing teams.

"What we've accomplished is nothing short of an industry first," said Matt Zuehlk, lead engineer on the project. "No other automaker in the world has come close."

Zuehlk added that Ford's historic run at Bonneville is to further expand its technological horizons with fuel cell-powered vehicles, because it is a fuel that could someday play a key role in meeting the energy needs of the transportation sector. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 is Ford's latest environmental innovation and is another step on the road toward commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The project is a partnership between Ford, The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing. Rick Byrnes, a veteran Bonneville racer and retired Ford Powertrain component design engineer, piloted the Hydrogen 999 at Bonneville.

The grille above may look like an ordinary Ford Fusion, but don't let appearances deceive you. We're told by our main spy man Chris Doane of the Priddy photographer pride that it's actually a prototype mule for the 2009 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The '09 electric sled from Ford will likely be powered by a 2.5-liter I4 HEV - similar to that of the Escape's setup and as we told you back in May, we're The wife of Juan Pablo may be absolutely gushing the love over her #42, but apparently so do the walls of the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in the lovely li'l town of Brooklyn, MI. Juan Pablo Montoya made it all of 67 laps yesterday before a wall decided to jump out and partake in some sensual car-wall loving. But the mad hearting of Connie for her man and the hearting of her man and the track-wall wasn't the only love going on at MIS yesterday. The #99 Ford Fusion was getting all sorts of love at the end of the race as "Hot" Carl Edwards drove it to victory in the Citizens Bank 400. We've got a full gallery below of the hot racing action, and we'll let you spend some time showering it with your affection, or whatever it is you'll end up doing with that picture of Connie above. – Ray Wert

[Photo Credit: Getty Images Sport]

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