Author: mike
F1 – Car Launch Dates – RBR and STR to Launch on Track – 1/26/10
Torro Rosso and Red Bull have both announced that their car launch will be held on track. STR will start testing on February 1st in Valencia at the Ricardo Tomo Circuit with the majority of the other teams. Big brother Red Bull however will launch at the following test at Jerez on February 10th. We already knew that both cars would have their first test on these dates, but until now the team had not revealed if they were going to have a formal car launch, or just pull the…
Read MoreF1 – 2010 Driver Lineup – Lopez Confirmed as non-US USF1 Driver
We are just a few steps away from having a complete driver grid for 2010. Jose Maria Lopez was confirmed yesterday as a driver for USF1. But while most driver announcements are fairly low key affairs, that is not the case with Lopez. He was announced last night in Argentina with the country’s president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in attendance. This was at the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires. As can be seen by the state involvement in the announcement, there is major Argentinian money behind his placement at USF1,…
Read MoreVideo – Ken Block Livery for 2010 Rally America & WRC
IndyCar – IZOD Dumps Cash on Advertising
I was pleasantly surprised this weekend to see IZOD IndyCar Series commercials air during both the AFC and NFC league championship games this weekend. Short of the Superbowl, there is hardly any other advertising buy that would attract the attention of more eyes. The commercial used was the same bit that IndyCar fans were treated to all season last year (‘everything gonna be all right’) but ended with an advertisement for the Sao Paulo race and the phrase ‘The Fastest Race on Earth’. While this is the first time I…
Read MoreIndyCar – Belskus is Searching for New IRL Leader
Word is on the street (and in the Indianapolis Star) that the IRL is looking for a new CEO. Jeff Belskus took over for Tony George last year after his mom, his sisters and the consigliori voted him out of his positions of leadership within the family business. At this time, Jeff serves as the CEO of Hulman & Co., IRL, IMS, IMS Productions and the radio network. Busy man, but he is looking for help, especially since Joie Chitwood (IMS CEO) and Charlie Morgan (IMS Productions CEO) left for…
Read MoreF1 – 2010 Driver Lineup – Alguersuari Confirmed at Torro Rosso
Torro Rosso announced today that Jaime Alguersuari will return to the team for the 2010 season as Sebastian Buemi’s teammate. No big shock in this one, since Red Bull’s motor racing consultant Helmut Marko said earlier this week, “It will be Alguersuari. It’s just some contractual details that have to be solved, but generally it’s Alguersuari” Marko was at the time shooting down rumors that Nick Heidfeld or Bruno Senna were lined up for the seat. “In our considerations, Nick Heidfeld plays no role. That has nothing to do with…
Read MoreRally – Last Ditch Racing Interview
John Cassidy from Last Ditch Racing was recently interviewed by Gearbox Magazine. John is a frequent contributer here at Open Paddock so we want to give him all the love we can. Step on over to Gearbox and take a look, the interview is very good and the photography is excellent as well. John has competed in several different rally series including Rally America, the Canadian Rally Championship and even WRC and has won the Rally America Eastern Regional Championship for the last two years. The whole Open Paddock crew…
Read MoreIndyCar – Tony George Completes Separation From IMS
Mari Hulman George today announced that Tony Hulman George has resigned his position on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and for Hulman and Company, completing the separation that was started earlier this year. The remaining board of directors is comprised of Tony’s mother Mari Hulman George, Tony’s sisters Nancy George, Josie George, Kathi George-Conforti and family attorney Jack Snyder. Tony previously served as chairman of the board and president of the IRL, IMS and Hulman and Company, but back in June the remainder of the board…
Read MoreF1 – 2010 Driver Lineup – Sauber Signs Pedro de la Rosa
The Sauber team has signed 38 year old Pedro de la Rosa to partner with Kamui Kobayashi for their 2010 season. Pedro dropped off the face of the F1 map some 7 years ago when he signed up as McLaren’s test/reserve driver. During that time he competed in 9 races for the silver arrows. Famously, 8 of those 9 races were in the 2006 season after the USGP where Juan Pablo Montoya ran over teammate Kimi Raikonnen and then retreated to NASCAR. Before signing with McLaren in 2003, Pedro had…
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