Author: Mike Shaw

ALMSChicks – Sebring: THINGS WE LEARNED AT SEBRING THE DAY BEFORE THE 12 HOURS

Mike Shaw

Beware of traffic in the Paddock between morning practice and the autograph session: And we do mean traffic. Racecars, golf carts, pedestrians, trash trucks, cars, vans, pit carts: you name it, it will be trying to get from Point A to Point B between the hours of 11 am and 12 pm. Our suggestion? Get to a side and stay there! It gets very crowded and frustrating for everyone! Tiki Tea: A new discovery of ours this year. 20 oz of Sweet Tea for $1 – no way you can…

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The Spike has returned…to Indianapolis!!! Can you smell what The Spike…is cooking???

Mike Shaw

Well I am back—not that I really left Open Paddock. Yes, I will return for another season of Op-Ed columns for Open Paddock. Where did I go? Well, toward the end of last season I was being paid by another website to write for them. (My name not attached to the articles, but when you get paid that’s fine).   I won’t name the site for the moment, it is up in the air if the site will be back. It was funded and created by a company that was…

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USF2000 – Scouting Combine Notes: Wednesday

Mike Shaw

Wednesday morning arrives with a cool chill in the air for Florida, and the drivers entered the race shop walking lightly on their feet. The knowledge that all their competition efforts were behind them seemed lost on the young faces, while the gravity of the results yet to be announced distorted both time and space as the 10 hopeful karters mingled about. The herd of cars and vans departed by 9:30AM and headed to a Star Mazda team race shop across town. The fact that race car drivers were unleashed…

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USF2000 – Scouting Combine Notes: Tuesday

Mike Shaw

The weather in Florida cooperated this morning (albeit much cooler temp’s) and allowed the rest of the talented field of Karting Champions to finish their practice/orientation laps at the Andersen Karting Facility by mid-morning. The drivers that weren’t able to complete laps on Monday (due to rain) had obviously been watching the other competitors on-track. The skill levels and determination had definitely stepped-up from Monday, and the buzz of competitiveness hung in the air like static electricity. Everyone seemed to have much better starts from pit lane today as sleep…

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USF2000 – Scouting Combine Notes: Monday

Mike Shaw

Editor’s Note: AcceleRace Motorsports Team Managing Director, Ardie Greenamyer, has been kind enough to offer coverage and commentary of the USF2000 Scouting Combine taking place down at Andersen Race Park in Palmetto, FL. In addition to daily summary reports from the combine, he will also be sharing with us interviews with the young aspiring drivers, their parents, and league officials. We appreciate AcceleRace Motorsports’ willingness to partner with us to bring you this exclusive coverage, and we certainly hope that you enjoy Mr. Greenamyer’s insights as much as we do.…

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Spike Day: Wag of the Finger, and Vegas predictions

Mike Shaw
Carpenter taking after practice. Photo via INDYCAR.com

So this week allow me to steal a bit from Stephen Colbert, Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger! First, Wag of the Finger to: Dollar General! So we got a great treat two weeks ago from Ed Carpenter, Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) is for real. Then we got the worst news minutes later from owner Sarah Fisher, Dollar General is leaving to just focus on NASCAR. I can’t say I am shocked by this move, it has NOTHING to do with SFR. It has everything to do with the…

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Spike Day: IndyCar has a problem, and its name is Brian Barnhart (Part 2)

Mike Shaw

So where to even begin this week? Okay, for starters—penalties for open and frank views. The IZOD IndyCar Series has had a well documented problem in Race Control—it is run by a bumbling buffoon.  Brian Barnhart ( TGBB for Robin Miller fans), has done just an awful job at his role this season. His right-hand man (Tony Cotman) has had some questions of his integrity with the O2 debacle in the Firestone Indy Lights Series earlier this year. What has been consistent in 2011 is not the rules enforcement during…

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Spike Day: IndyCar race in China–Awful idea, Mexico City–Awesome idea

Mike Shaw

So as we have recently learned, there is a 90% likelihood the IZOD IndyCar Series will be racing in China during the 2012 season. The upcoming race at Motegi will be the final time the IZOD IndyCar Series will visit Japan for some time. While I will be the first to admit, Twin Ring Motegi was not a very good oval track layout—Japan is a fan base who deserve more respect. From the early days of the “IRL” to today, Japanese makes have supplied engines for teams in the IZOD…

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Spike Day: Free Simona!

Mike Shaw

Apologies for the quiet week, our semester started Monday. As always the school was totally disorganized, and the bookstore was inept as usual causing me to have many things to deal with. I give a quick summary of fantasy picks at the bottom of the column. There is some more pressing news to discuss first. Don’t let that Simona back in, she is keeping Americans from having a job… Is this the logical fallacy the United States government has with Simona de Silvestro? She is not alone either, this problem…

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Will Power, flips out, and flips off, Barnhart jumps over shark infested waters

Mike Shaw

Sunday I found myself working as a pit road spotter for Jake Query of IMS Radio. This was my first time ever doing this, what a wild race to start out. What seemed like another dull Dario run away, all went out the window on lap 118. On the TV broadcast Sato took full blame for the crash. However on pit road it seemed like the 10 also came down a little to initiate contact. “What the hell just happened?” was all Dario said on the radio after. Chip Ganassi…

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