How much of a “buzz” is a bad thing?: While having a buzz generating for the Indianapolis 500 could be a good thing. The current situation with Donald Trump has quickly become a “bad buzz” not seen in the series since the days of Scott Harrington. Even Harrington’s three DUI arrests in eight months did not cause as much outrage as the current choice for driving the pace car. Trump, since being named has quickly become a highly polarizing figure. I honestly found it in poor choice to pick a…
Read MoreAuthor: Mike Shaw
Indy Humpday Report: Que up some Adoniran Barbosa*
Short column this week since I am about to start finals week, and the overwhelming subject still dominating discussions is Helio. (Will he punt someone yet again?) I would just like to point out that Helio has plenty of eyes on him this week. Not only are the fans in America and the Series officials watching Helio closely—the fans in Brazil are really watching. Should Helio do anything to Tony Kanaan, be ready for a borderline riot in the streets of Brazil. Also should Will Power be “shafted” due to…
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: Race Control, we make things up as we go
Where are the rules and procedures written?: Ah yes consistency, an act the men of INDYCAR Race Control seem to be lacking of late. One has to wonder if the reason rule books are so hard to find, is they write every seasons rules on an “Etch A Sketch”. Only to find parts missing when ever Helio has committed a violation. What really gets me is the excuses they have been giving today on why Helio did not get the same treatment as Tracy. According to Al Jr.; Helio was…
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: PT, parties like the Dude in Long Beach
It is the rule now, so deal with it kids! So Barber was an unexpected eventful race. Aside from the dominance of the leader up front (Will Power) it was an event with plenty of passing. Mainly due to a crazy little thing called “double file re-starts”. While one writer from a national McNewspaper tries his hardest every week to craft “anti-double file re-start” quotes from the drivers, it is clear the action fans see of this new on-track product is working. I don’t get why Tony Kanaan keeps complaining,…
Read MoreFlying Lizards Going for Long Beach Hat Trick
The Flying Lizard Porsche team heads into Long Beach as one of, if the not favorite in the GT field. Drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long have won the last two years and hope to score the hat trick this year. While Sebring is unlike any other circuit on the ALMS calendar, the Porsche teams seemed a bit off the pace. A few tweaks to the IMSA Regulations between races and the Porsche’s should be mixing it up with BMW, Ferrari and Corvette teams at Long Beach. Thomas Blam, Flying…
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: Sweet Home Alabama Edition
Bia out for Barber: Wednesday morning Ipiranga/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing officially announced that Ana “Bia” Beatriz will not be racing this Sunday at Barber. The 26 year old Brazilian fractured her scaphoid bone (wrist) on the fifth lap at St. Pete, in turn five when she made contact with Graham Rahal. Bia went on to still finish 14th with the wrist injury. Last Tuesday she had surgery to assist in her speedy recovery. For Barber former Champ Car driver; 26 year old Simon Pagenaud, the reigning LMP1 champion from ALMS…
Read MoreIt’s About the Content, Not the Medium: The ALMS Gamble
Readying for Long Beach, the brain trust at ALMS are still wringing their collective hands over the negative fan backlash and media criticism of the ABC-ESPN3.com Sebring coverage. Even some of the teams are questioning the series organizer. After all, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. They, the ALMS, hyped their new ABC-ESPN Network package and world-wide, live coverage of their races via the web as groundbreaking. They were venturing into an exciting new digital medium, with a major network partner and opportunities to tap a fresh audience…
Read MorePescarlo Team Wins Le Castellet 6 Hours
The LMP1 Pescarlo Team of Emmanuel Collard, Christophe Tinseau and Julien Jousse win the opening round of the Le Mans Series in the Le Castellet 6 Hours at Paul Ricard. The Pescarlo-Judd started last on the grid following a technical infraction after qualifying second Saturday. It was the first race for Team Principal Henri Pescarlo’s team after being away from racing for a year. Rebellion Racing’s Lola B10/60 Toyota of Andrea Belicchi and Jean-Christophe Boullion finished second, a lap down. The Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN-Nissan of Ojjeh, Chalandon and Kimber-Smith…
Read MoreRebellion Racing Lola on Pole for LMS Paul Ricard
Neel Jani put the Rebellion Racing Lola B10/60 Toyota on pole for Sunday’s 6-Hours of Le Castellet at Paul Ricard for round one of the Le Mans Series. The TDS Racing Oreca 03 Nissan took top honors in LMP2 class. GTE-Pro field did not disappoint. AF Corse’s Gimmi Bruni repeated his Sebring pole, this time in AF’s Ferrari 458. Bruni’s pole was more dramatic as the car barely made qualifying following a serious crash earlier. Four out of the top five GTE positions were claimed by Ferrari 458’s. Tomas Enge split the…
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: A star is born, and meeting Cheerleaders is easy
2,789 miles; that’s how long it took me to travel by car, to and from St. Pete Florida and the Poconos. That is the number of miles traveled to get sunburned, meet a childhood hero, flirt with the captain of the Tampa Bay Bucs Cheerleader team, and get totally confused who was in the lead. I left for Florida the Monday before the race, first having to clear four inches of wet slushy snow. My car has an exhaust leak, so I had to drive with my window open a…
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