In the first installment in this series, I broke down what I considered storied 6-10 of the 2012 IZOD Indycar Series. We talked about Rubinho, Mike Conway, the Detroit Pothole, Hinch’s fast start and Ed Carpenter winning the final race yet again. Now it’s time to wrap up the top 5 stories of the 2012 season. Story #5-The finish of the Indy 500 As the laps counted down during the 2012 Indianapolis 500, Tony Kanaan found himself in the lead late in the race. Unable to hold off Franchitti, Dixon…
Read MoreMonth: December 2012
Indycar-Top 10 Stories of 2012 Part 1
This past season may have been one of the best seasons Indycar has experienced in many years. An unexpected champion, engine competition, a bold new chassis and famous fresh faces all made 2012 a season for the record books. But, like most things Indycar, stupidity in the background overshadows good on the track. I’ve been giving some thought on the 2012 season and how it played out. In this two part series, I’ll break down what I felt were the top ten stories of the 2012 IZOD Indycar Series season.…
Read MoreF1 – “Continuity” Helps Grosjean Keep Lotus Ride
Lotus Renault team boss Eric Boullier says that continuity is the reason Romain Grosjean will stay on with the team for 2013 according to an article at Speedtv.com. In what appears to be a solid endorsement from the man calling the shots at Lotus, I think the team actually had to settle on Grosjean for a couple reasons. Now don’t get me wrong, Grosjean showed very quick pace when he was actually on track. The Lotus Renault was one of the best cars on the grid for 2012. Taking that…
Read MoreOpEd-Twas The Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas and at Open Paddock All the writers were dining on freshly caught Haddock The stockings were hung on the mantle with twine Cause all of the budget was spent on FCC fines Shaun was snuggled all cozy in bed As visions of Ken Block raced through his head Then Doug with a T-Shirt and Mike with House Shoes Passed Mike Shaw as we all went for a snooze When out in the drive there arose such a noise I instantly knew it had to be…
Read MoreRALLY AMERICA, USAC TEAM FOR 2013 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Williston, VT (December 21, 2012) — Rally America, Inc. and USAC will partner in 2013 to present the Rally America National Championship, a seven- event series spanning the country between January and October.The one-year agreement announced today expands USAC’s diverse calendar of motorsports entities which has included various sanctioning partnerships.Since its inception in 2004 Rally America has been considered the premiere rally sanctioning body in the United States. For the 2013 season Rally America members will hold both a Rally America license and a USAC membership receiving many new benefits…
Read MoreVideo – INDYCAR’s #TheOffseason, Ep 2
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Read MoreF1 – McLaren Announce 2013 Launch Date
McLaren has announced today that it will launch its 2013 challenger on the 31st of January. This gives us now two confirmed launch dates as we get ready for the holidays and the frenzy that follows. Think back to last season, McLaren was the only team that opted to not run a step nose on its machine. The car was one of the better if not the best looking one in the paddock because of it. The interesting point of this launch will be the start of the Button/Perez era.…
Read MoreEpisode 169 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock.net Podcast Kevin, Mike, & Mike dissect new CEO of Hulman & Co. Mark Miles’ comments on the future direction IndyCar should take, recap the testing action at Sebring, and reexamine the prospect of Hoosier or Continental replacing Firestone. They also spend some time looking at developments in the Pro Mazda Championship as Andersen Promotions is already beginning to evolve the series, and they weigh in on Doug’s comments on the potential future direction of the series. Lastly, the trio…
Read MoreF1 – Force India to Launch 1st of February 2013
Force India has announced they will launch their 2013 challenger on the 1st of February. The Indian team is the first to make such an announcement. Paul di Resta is thought to be the primary driver for 2013. However, the team has not officially confirmed its lineup with one seat still available. It is thought that Pedro de la Rosa is in the mix as well as newly cleared to drive Adrian Sutil. Regardless, I look forward to the launch of the 2013 cars. It will be very interesting to…
Read MoreF1 – Driver Market News
It has been a busy couple of days for the Formula 1 paddock this week. Two more drivers have confirmed their seats while another has given up on his 2013 race seat. Here is a quick look at the news. Romain Grosjean Confirmed at Lotus Renault – The French driver is having a great start to his holiday. After winning the Race of Champions gala race, the 2012 King of Crash (pictured airborne right) was confirmed to partner with Kimi Raikkonen yet again at the Lotus Renault team. Grosjean has…
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