Category: Featured

All of the latest stories from your favorite series located here!

F1 – Mercedes GP Losing in Development

Shaun

The signs at the end of winter testing all seemed positive. Both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg were topping the time sheets as it looked like Mercedes GP had finally found its rhythm. Once the season began in Australia however, it all came apart at the axle. While many could imagine that Red Bull would be the car to beat, you would have to think that Mercedes would at least be able to challenge Ferrari or McLaren at some point. We are now half way through the season and that…

Read More

IndyLights – Andretti Autosport Strikes Back

Doug Patterson

So far the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights Championship has been dominated by Sam Schmidt Motorsports. In past years, Andretti Autosport, when they were in partnership with AFS Racing, had fielded back-to-back championship winners with Raphael Matos (2008) and J.R. Hildebrand (2009). Up until the Toronto race, SSM drivers had won five of the six races, only losing the Barber race to Team Moore’s Victor Garcia (who may have been running with an illegal suspension). While there’s no doubt that the SSM staff is extremely talented, and they have been working…

Read More

INDYCAR – Toronto Street Fight

Shaun

This weekend marked the first of two Canadian rounds on the championship as the IZOD IndyCar Series traveled to the streets of Toronto. The circuit has always been known for passionate fans and chaotic races that usually end with a decent attrition rate. Well this weekend went over the top as all hell broke loose Sunday afternoon. Not only did Dario further his title lead, but a lot of drivers let their feelings hang out more than usual and that has fans buzzing. While I would love to do a…

Read More

Spikeday: INDYCAR back to California, could Pocono be next?

Mike Shaw

The INDYCAR Series is “ going, going,…back, back…to Cali”! Yes, I never thought I would love to see the day I referenced the Notorious B.I.G. . Then again, how many INDYCAR fans never thought the series would return to California Speedway?  However we learned earlier in the week the series came to an agreement to race again at the 2 mile oval. For fans of ovals this is a welcome announcement, not only a oval is added to make up for the loss of the Twin Ring from the schedule.…

Read More

IndyLights – Q & A with Andretti Autosport’s Peter Dempsey

Doug Patterson

Peter Dempsey started out the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights season with O2 Racing Technology, and got off to a great start finding the podium in the first two races and leading for a time at Long Beach. If you’re a regular reader here at OpenPaddock, or a regular listener of our podcast, you already know what happened to Peter and his team during the David Hobbs 100 at the Milwaukee Mile. Peter had already sat out of the entire 2010 racing season here in the US after becoming the winningest…

Read More

INDYCAR – AFS/Schmidt Driver Speculation

Shaun

It was announced today via IndyCar.com that Sam Schmidt had secured AFS as a primary sponsor for a second full time car in the IZOD IndyCar Series. There have been a number of names tossed around looking for a full time effort, so let the speculation begin! Here are a few people with a shot at the ride as well as our pick for the second seat. Katherine Legge: Former Champ Car/DTM driver Katherine Legge has been mentioned a few times this year already in her search for a ride.…

Read More

Indy Hump Day Report: Toronto Fantasy Picks

Mike Shaw

So Americans and Canadians have had a few days to recover from their independence parties. Now it is that time of the week for us fantasy racing geeks to make our Toronto picks. The 2011 stop at the beautiful gem of Canada looks to give us great racing as always.   Yet again we find ourselves making decisions for a street race. Yes if you can afford to use some obvious picks, do it. However with the ability to pick drivers for 6 races at IndyCar Nation, you may want…

Read More

IndyLights – Influx of New Drivers

Doug Patterson

As we head into the coming race weekend on the Streets of Toronto, we have a few driver announcements. Two new drivers from the Formula 3 ranks and a change of team by a third. While this still doesn’t swell the ranks beyond the low- to mid-teens, its better than nothing. Right now the Firestone Indy Lights Series is in a bit of crisis with the specter of inequity haunting it, rightly or wrongly, and car counts barely making it into the double-digits. Seeing new drivers come to the series…

Read More

INDYCAR – California Dreamin

Shaun

All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray when it comes to INDYCAR and the ISC. The bridges have been damaged but not completely burned as many of the ISC tracks found their way off of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar schedule. However, a little ray of California sunshine has perhaps given us an opportunity to repair some of the damage and the dream of having a more robust calendar and better ISC relationship going forward. The Auto Club Speedway and INDYCAR announced on Tuesday that a night race would…

Read More