Edmunds.com is reporting that Dan Neil, a Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive writer for the Los Angeles Times, will be involved with Gear:

There’s been no official word yet from NBC on any of the show’s hosts; however, our sources say that Dan Neil, a Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive writer for the Los Angeles Times, will also be part of the show, most likely to add journalistic integrity.

I’m not sure if that means he’ll be in a hosting position or merely in a behind the scenes setting though. We’ll have to wait to see.

Top Garden Ground Gear Force will be airing this Friday at 10 PM. Here’s a short preview:

Props to Venger and aaurora of our forums.

The Scene was a little late, but they finally got their rip out.

This week, Tiff and Jonny go behind the scenes at the NASCAR Daytona 500, Vicki heads to Anglesey for another shoot-out, Tom drives the new Citroën C5 in Lisbon and Jason meets skier Chemmy Alcott, who tries out a Group N rally car.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the NASCAR Daytona 500 is one of the world’s truly great races – and Fifth Gear is lucky enough to have been granted privileged behind-the-scenes access to this American phenomenon throughout the race weekend. While Tiff Needell gets behind the wheel of one of the 200mph race cars, Jonny Smith talks to some of the fans, team owners and competitors – including ex-Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya – ahead of the big event.

The episode is now available.

EDIT: Whoops, post title changed. Tiff will be in a stock car next week, not this week.

The Scene is being slow with their release of today’s Fifth Gear (so far they’re 30-45 minutes behind). We’ll have it as soon as they put a rip out.

This week, Tiff feasts his eyes on the new V8 Lexus IS F. Tom ventures to the Arctic Circle to try out the Volvo XC70. Vicki test drives the new electric Smart car, before staging a shoot-out between two hot hatchbacks. And Jason sets a tough off-road challenge for England rugby skipper Phil Vickery.

Today’s Fifth Gear is now available.

If you’re having your doubts about Adam Carolla and his recent announcement about being involved with NBC’s Gear (presumably hosting it), then you should listen to this podcast of his radio show from last year.

He talks about a trip he took to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans in person, the Paris airshow he attended, and lots of other things including a rant about American cops. Listening to this should put to ease any concerns you’re having about him hosting it. He is a bona fide car nut.

Props to sporteknik for finding the MP3.

The Top Gear boys will be doing a special for Sport Relief on March 14th, spoofing the television show Ground Force.

If you’ve got Top Gear TV withdrawal symptoms, then tune into BBC Two at 10pm on Friday March 14 to watch Alan Clarksmarsh, Jamesy Dimmock and Handy Hammond resurrect Ground Force for a Sport Relief special.

They’ll be taking over a top celebrity sportsman’s garden for the day to dispense advice on creating a zero-maintenance lawn, installing an impressive water-feature and getting rid of unwanted plants.

So that’s Top Garden Ground Gear Force, BBC Two at 10pm on Friday March 14.

Expect swearing.

Should be hilarious.

[Source: TopGear.com]

Adam Carolla mentioned today on his morning radio show that he is going to be involved in the American version of Top Gear. This stemmed from a comment he made on yesterday’s show about his upcoming projects (just a tiny mention about 11:45 in).

You can listen to today’s segment where he semi-announces it via his podcast. He’s asked a question about his comment yesterday and answers it early in the show.

Personally, I thought for sure he wouldn’t be one of the hosts due to his morning show, but I was obviously proven wrong. He is going to be one busy, busy man soon with doing his radio show, Dancing with the Stars, and now Gear.

Discussion about this is taking place on our forums.