One of the highlights of my traditional week and a half at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is Carburetion Day. …and no, not for the “Has-Been Band-of-the-Year” concert. Besides, I trashed my animal-print spandex pants long ago, so no Poison concert for me. For one, Carb Day is a day I share at the track with my Dad as we watch the Firestone Indy Lights race from the stands above the suites just to the south of the Pagoda, after which we adjourn to our favourite Irish pub, the Claddagh, and…
Read MoreAuthor: Doug Patterson
Motorsports enthusiast since ...well... always. Grew up watching Mario and AJ, took my first lap around IMS in the tour bus in 1977, fell in love with anything that went fast.
Currently, I work as a professor of astronomy and physics at a college in the suburbs of Kansas City, http://staff.jccc.edu/dpatter/, and own a photography business, Patterson Prints, with my wife. http://www.pattersonprints.com/
Episode 190 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadMr. Neely lies. This really is Episode 190. Kevin and Doug recap the wonderful race weekend at Indianapolis where we saw three outstanding and exciting races, the Firestone Freedom 100, the USF2000 race at TTFKAIRP (comment below if you get the joke), and of course the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. We briefly review the Monaco Grand Parade, and Mike Shaw previews the WRC Acropolis Rally and the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally as well as sharing some news from Global Rallycross. Show Notes for Wednesday,…
Read MoreUSF2000 Driver Blog – Portante at the Night Before the 500
The break between St. Pete and the next race at Lucas Oil Raceway has felt like an eternity. However, Lucas Oil was very much worth the wait. I mean we are racing the Night Before the 500! The whole Belardi team looked strong in the official test that took place a couple weeks ago, and we were all looking for a strong result. I was especially excited as our pace was very strong, and I was looking forward to turning my season around and gaining some momentum. Before no time,…
Read MoreIndyLights – 2013 Firestone Freedom 100 Highlights
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Read MoreIndyLights – 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 knife fight of a race. This year, he will…
Read MoreIndyCar – Qualifying Weekend in Photos
I arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Fast Friday just in time for the rains to come. Bummer. It did mean that I was set and ready to go for Pole Day and Bump Day last Saturday and Sunday as the IZOD IndyCar Series drivers attempted to qualify for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. I know I was tardy for getting these posted. Bad time for a hardware failure! Tomorrow, the Firestone Indy Lights teams and drivers come to the World’s Greatest Race Course, so…
Read MoreEpisode 189 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThe 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. Show Notes for Episode 189 – May 20th, 2013 Preview Indy qualifying, 500…
Read MoreEpisode 188 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast With Justin Wilson
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThe boys are proud to welcome Justin Wilson, driver of the #19 Boy Scouts of America car for Dale Coyne Racing, to this week’s show! Mr. Neely shares his observations from the opening weekend of practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Mr. Whitesell reviews the Spanish Grand Prix which surprisingly didn’t suck, and Mr. Shaw takes a look at the proposed revamping of the power stage and contemplates the future of stage rally. Show Notes for Episode 188 Preview IndyCar – Justin Wilson on…
Read MoreEpisode 187 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadKevin 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. Show Notes Preview IndyCar – Sao Paulo has a new Mayor, despite incumbent’s attempts to block his election, and yes Virginia, it’s May!…
Read MoreIndyCar – Sato: Blocking or Fair Play?
I don’t think you’ll find anyone who watched today’s Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 that didn’t think it was one of the best IndyCar races in a very long time. What you will find is a lot of controversy over A.J. Foyt Racing’s Takuma Sato and his driving style in the final laps of the race. While defending his position first against Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing’s Josef Newgarden and finally Andretti Autosport’s James Hinchcliffe, it appeared to many that he actively blocked and chopped in front of his competitors. To…
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