Author: 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/

Inside The Helmet – Team Viso at the Iowa Speedway

Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe had the amazing opportunity to speak with EJ Viso, driver of the #5 KV Racing Technologies machine in the IZOD IndyCar Series, Ricardo Juncos, Team Principal for Juncos Racing, and Diego Ferreira and Bruno Palli, drivers of the #57 and #15 Juncos Racing machines in the Star Mazda Series, about the Team Viso project. EJ Viso in partnership with Ricardo Juncos have started a recruitment program to bring young, talented drivers form Venezuela into the Mazda Road to Indy program. Diego and Bruno…

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IndyCar – Iowa Corn 250 in Photos

Doug Patterson

The low-aero formula once again produced magnificent racing! While my pick this week, Mayor Hinchcliffe, ended up with a busted hot rod at the entrance to pit road, the racing action all through the evening was fantastic. It was a little iffy whether we were going to get the race in given the twin deluges that struck the Iowa Speedway Saturday afternoon, but with the Firestone Indy Lights race postponed until after the IZOD IndyCar Series race, the big cars took the green flag right on schedule. …or at least…

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Mazda Road to Indy – Iowa Star Mazda and Indy Lights Photos

Doug Patterson

What a long weekend! Friday was brutal hot, and Saturday was stormy and wet. Unfortunately, we were not able to stay for the Firestone Indy Lights race which was delayed due to the afternoon thunderstorms. It started after the IZOD IndyCar Series race around midnight. Since we had to be back in Kansas City by 8am for another photo gig, the FIL race was a write-off. It’s a shame, since it sounds like it was a great race that few actually got to see. The Star Mazda race ended just…

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Indy Lights – Same-Day Airing of Iowa Sukup 100 This Saturday

Doug Patterson

That’s right SAME-DAY COVERAGE! NBC Sports has done a good job giving the Firestone Indy Lights air time this season by broadcasting every event, whether the IZOD IndyCar Series race was on NBCSN or ABC. Sure, the races were tape-delayed and usually shown on the following Thursday at a less-than-convenient time, but that’s what DVRs are for. However, those of us who are really thirsty for our Mazda Road to Indy action are loathe to wait so long and have been longing for the return of live, or at least…

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Star Mazda – Iowa Preview

Doug Patterson

This weekend, INDYCAR returns to the 7/8-mile oval at Iowa Speedway, an event that has always seen great crowds and has been the first taste many young drivers in the Mazda Road to Indy program have of high-banked, high-speed oval racing. This year, we will again see the Star Mazda Series and the Firestone Indy Lights series take to the track along side the IZOD IndyCar Series and the USAC Midgets and Silver Crown cars. If you love oval racing, it hardly gets better than this! It’s been a while…

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Indy Lights – A Follow-the-Leader Affair at MKE

Doug Patterson

While the Firestone Indy Lights cars and drivers put on a fantastic show at some venues with some outstanding racing action, that doesn’t seem to carry over to the Milwaukee Mile. Historically, there has been very little action at the world’s oldest racing circuit, and this year’s Firestone Indy Lights 100 at the Milwaukee IndyFest with practice, qualifying, and the race all held on single day, this past Friday, was no exception. The race was by and large a follow-the-leader affair with Sam Schmidt Motorsport with Curb-Agajanian’s driver of their…

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IndyCar – Photos from the 2012 Milwaukee IndyFest

Doug Patterson

Andretti Sports Marketing helped bring INDYCAR back to the oldest motor racing circuit in the world, The Milwaukee Mile. The schedule was VERY condensed so we only saw the Firestone Indy Lights and IZOD IndyCar Series compete as opposed to the full Mazda Road to Indy program and USAC that we saw last year, but the organization, promotion, and execution of the event was far more effective than last year’s event. What a great two days of racing, in spite of the rain that delayed Saturday’s start to the IZOD…

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IndyLights – Photos from the 2012 Milwaukee IndyFest

Doug Patterson

Andretti Sports Marketing helped bring INDYCAR back to the oldest motor racing circuit in the world, The Milwaukee Mile. The schedule was VERY condensed so we only saw the Firestone Indy Lights and IZOD IndyCar Series compete as opposed to the full Mazda Road to Indy program and USAC that we saw last year, but the organization, promotion, and execution of the event was far more effective than last year’s event. What a great two days of racing! Here are the photos from the Firestone Indy Lights practice, qualifying, and…

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GRC – Event 2 Review: Texas

Doug Patterson

Another excellent contribution from rally fan and fan of OpenPaddock.net, Mike Shaw (@oregonwings). Do you love motorsports as much as us? Why not contribute your thoughts and opinions? We’d love to post and share them! Round 2 of the GRC takes place at Texas motor speedway in conjunction with the IndyCar event. A little bit longer course is laid out this time vs. the one in Charlotte. It is still 100% tarmac, but the one thing everyone is talking about is the return of the large jump. This time it…

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