IndyLights – Firestone Freedom 100 Preview
As has been the case all season, and really the last couple of seasons, car counts continue to be low. There are only eleven entries for this year’s Firestone IndyLights Freedom 100, but among those eleven entries, there is some serious talent. At the top of the list is series veteran Carlos Muñoz. After a rocky start in the first three events of the 2012 season, he scored a P2 finish on Carburetion Day last year in what was an absolute... [Read More...]
Episode 189 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
The whole gang preview the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race as Doug gets sauced on Fuzzy’s Vodka, Mr. Shaw goes on a rant about the epic failure of Global Rallycross to deal with a bit of rain, Mr. Patterson finally has Mazda Road to Indy news as we look forward to the Firestone Freedom 100 and the Night Before the 500, and Mr. Whitesell and Mr. Neely preview the Monaco Grand Prix. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Show Notes for Episode... [Read More...]
Episode 187 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Kevin has the plague this week, so Mike, Doug, and Mike are given free reign of the controls! Whitesell and Patterson debate Sato’s driving and Barfield’s non-call, we recap Indy Lights testing at IMS, BRIEFLY preview F1′s return to Europe, and Shaw brings us all the gory details of the Oregon Trail Rally and Loebs return and dominance at Rally Argentina. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Show Notes Preview IndyCar –... [Read More...]
Episode 185 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download IndyCar leaves the Streets of Long Beach littered with bent metal and shards of carbon fiber from both the big cars and the Lights cars! Kevin and Mike Whitesell review the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Doug goes on his yearly rant about unrestrained aggression and reviews the Indy Lights race, Mike and Mike review the Formula 1 Bahrain GP, and Mr. Shaw wraps up the show with a review of the Global Rallycross... [Read More...]
Indy Lights – Unfettered Aggression and the Failures It Causes
The Firestone Indy Lights series is a dangerous time for young drivers. Many come to the series after having experienced success in the lower formula, be it in Europe, South America, or in the USF2000 and Pro Mazda championships that are part of the Mazda Road to Indy. When they get to compete in the Firestone Indy Lights series, they are so close to their goals of being an IZOD IndyCar Series driver, that bravado and excitement can often take control... [Read More...]
IndyLights – Peter Dempsey Blog: St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park Review
Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog entry for OpenPaddock.net! My name is Peter Dempsey and I am competing in the Firestone Indy Lights series this season driving for Belardi Auto Racing in the #5 car. I will be writing weekend review blogs after each of my FIL races this season. With a busy start to 2013, this first blog consists of both my St. Petersburg review and my Barber Motorsport review. The Streets of St. Petersburg The first... [Read More...]
Episode 184 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download It’s Rally Week! Mike Shaw gets top billing this week with his review of Rally Portugal and some news from Rally America. Jeremy Salenius joins us to talk about the Kansas City SCCA Solo season, and Kevin and Doug wrap up the show with all things open-wheel including a wrap-up of the Chinese GP, and a preview of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races on the Streets of Long Beach. Pace... [Read More...]
Episode 183 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download We review the amazing weekend of open-wheel racing at Barber Motorsports Park, Doug gives a quick recap of the KCRSCCA’s first event of the year, Mike Shaw previews Rally Portugal, and Mike Whitesell previews the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. Open Paddock – Monday, April 8th, 2013 Preview IndyCar – Barber wrap up and all the indycar news MRTI – ? Rally – wrc protugal preview F1... [Read More...]
USF2000 – Thoughts on St. Pete from Belardi Auto Racing’s Peter Portante
Coming off a disappointing weekend at Sebring I was very eager to get back on the track. St. Pete is one of the most challenging tracks on our calendar, as well as our first street circuit. The Indy Car races here have been fantastic and I knew that it would be a fantastic race in USF2000, especially with 31 cars! First practice was underway early in the morning. We got good laps in, and it was nice to get a feel of the track. We ended Practice... [Read More...]
USF2000 – Carnage on the Streets of St. Pete
The entire Mazda Road to Indy contingent was present for the IZOD IndyCar Series season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg this past weekend, the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, and the Firestone Indy Lights series. The Pro Mazda drivers were the only one to escape the carnage that plagued every other series on the track that weekend. For Pro Mazda and USF2000,... [Read More...]
