Jean Todt’s FIA has been getting pushback from some of the teams and the current commercial rights holder regarding the plan to introduce 1.6L 4-cylinder power plants in F1 for 2013. Bernie Ecclestone has made claims that the unique noise generated by the current V8 is one of the prime things that keep people coming back for more, while Ferrari has taken every opportunity to indicate that 4-cylinder engines do not fit F1 or Ferrari’s DNA. So, why the disgruntlement with the new engines? And what are the implications of…
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Episode 90 – Openpaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the boys this week as they rehash all of the excitement of qualifications. They also debate the 20,000 pound elephant in the room and interestingly enough…there is a disagreement. Sorry for those looking for all of the motorsports we usually cover but the 500 takes the cake this week as tornadoes in the area forced the show to break and restart after track drying. Sit back as always and enjoy the show!
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: Its the end of the 500 as we know it (and I feel fine)
So how have all the fans suddenly become shocked? Is this idea of buying rides new in INDYCAR? Do I really need to go down the list? Milka, Moraes, royalty, doctors, I think the 500 has seen a fair share of ride buying. What about 1995 with Penske? Really I find it more shocking how “shocked” fans are. I seriously find it laughable more anger is aimed at Ryan Hunter-Reay and not the rules. Remember how most of you the INDYCAR fans lobbied to “Dump Trump”? He didn’t pass to…
Read MoreINDYCAR – Jim Clark and The Wood Brothers Win in 1965
FROM: Ford Racing As part of Ford Racing’s continuing celebration of its 110-year anniversary, we present one of the most unique moments in open-wheel history. In 1965, Ford Racing combined one of the world’s greatest drivers with one of NASCAR’s top crews to make Indianapolis 500 history. Jim Clark’s win with the Wood Brothers was so memorable that when Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrates its Centennial event on Sunday, Clark’s No. 82 Lotus-Ford will run and be driven by Al Unser, Sr. as part of pre-race festivities representing the decade of…
Read MoreMazda Road to Indy – Preparing for the Ovals
All of the various series that are part of INDYCAR and the Mazda Road to Indy program have opened their seasons with road and street courses. Beginning next weekend, though, everyone switches to oval tracks! Racing on an oval is not as easy as going fast and turning left as those who attended the USF2000 Oval Clinic earlier this month learned. This past weekend, the Star Mazda Championship, in preparation for their coming sequence of three oval races, held an open test at the Milwaukee Mile. For many drivers in…
Read MoreINDYCAR – Hunter-Reay to Replace Bruno
Business is business right? Who says that qualifications for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 have to end on bump day? Well if you are in the Andretti Autosport camp who had two drivers fail to make the field, then qualifications do not stop until all of your cars are in the show. If your cars cannot do it on speed, then you bring out the biggest weapon of all….the wallet. It was announced today that Ryan Hunter-Reay who was bumped at the last possible moment by Andretti Autosport…
Read MoreThe Ally Becomes a Rival
Part III of IV on the ALMS Rocked by a sour economy, decimated by manufacturer defections and a TV deal that has been panned by fans and the media (“It’s About the Content Not the Medium”) the American Le Mans Series is in damage control mode. Yet the biggest blow to the ALMS may end up being the one thrown by its partner, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The ACO are the organizers of the 24 Hours at Le Mans, and partners with the European Le Mans Series (LMS) and North America’s…
Read MoreINDYCAR – Tagliani Storms to Pole!!
Pole position for the Indianapolis 500 has always been a big deal. The toughest four laps in motorsport to claim the honor of leading the field is on everyone’s radar. The day started very sunny and warm. Things would not be so sunny for Ryan Briscoe who would trash his car in turn 2 during morning practice. The team would scramble to get the backup car ready in time for their qualifying run. Luckily for them the 6T car was scheduled to qualify 34th. So there was plenty of time…
Read MoreF1 Soap Box – Changing the Goalposts
The world of F1 has an interesting argument brewing. The FIA is reinterpreting their rulebook and is now in the process of banning some of the exotic engine mapping techniques that the teams are using to gain downforce in the corners. Last year, Red Bull stunned the paddock by venting their engine exhausts directly onto their rear diffuser. In qualifying, they would use a different engine map that would keep engine revs high, even when the driver was not applying throttle at all. This allowed the car to gain additional…
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: Who will be on the Pole this weekend?
So we are just days away from Pole Day at IMS. I myself will be driving out to finally experience Pole Day in person. I will be doing everything from; obsessively searching the venue for every possible Tim Richmond related item, to seeing how Indy fans party compared to Pocono fans, and all while working on new exclusive material for INDYCAR Nation and Open Paddock. The next week will have a great increase in exclusive coverage here at Open Paddock, so keep checking in often. Are you crying?!?! There’s no…
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