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Episode 218 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

February 17, 2014 Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOpenPaddock.net Podcast, Episode #218 – Tuesday, February 11th, 2014 IndyCar IMS announced no news whatsoever this week with country concert announcement and reveal of graphical representation of what the GP Indy trophy will look like… (Why not flying cocksman?) Tags announces canadian tin top plans, still waiting on IndyCar announcements National Guard sponsorship officially going to RLLR Resons why Panther bid failed Schmidt Peterson Hamilton 2 Dogs and a Pet Monkey gets Hamilton back under their roof February testing Another Dragon Defection! Saavedra joins…

INDYCAR – A Trophy and a Concert

February 13, 2014February 13, 2014 Mike Shaw

I must commend IMS and INDYCAR for the bold design of the trophy for the new Grand Prix of Indianapolis. The trophy, although not a physical creation as of yet, looks to be another polished silver beauty that has come to define Indycar championship hardware. The futuristic look for the trophy dazzles me; high-tech and aspirational were the two words that come to mind as soon as I saw the hardware. Plus, the trophy has absolutely no historical connections, and I feel that was the correct decision, and important to…

Pro Mazda – Juncos Completes Its 2014 Quartet with Spencer Pigot and Kyle Kaiser

February 13, 2014 Doug Patterson

Juncos Racing returns to a four-car outfit for the 2014 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires after signing Spencer Pigot and Kyle Kaiser. This will be both Spencer’s and Kyle’s 2nd year in the Pro Mazda Championship. Spencer spent 2013 with Team Pelfrey after battling for the 2012 USF2000 Championship to the last race with his then Cape Motorsports teammate and eventual 2012 champion Matthew Brabham. In 2013, Spencer, and Team Pelfrey as a whole, failed to achieve the pace and success they had showed in previous seasons finishing…

Pro Mazda – Jose Gutierrez Joins Juncos Racing

February 13, 2014 Doug Patterson

Juncos Racing continues it’s tradition of recruiting and developing young South and Central American talent, bringing them to the US open-wheel racing scene. The team continues to build it’s 2014 Pro Mazda Championship roster with their signing of Jose Gutierrez from Monterrey, Mexico will be joining the team for the full 2014 season. Like his new teammate Julia Ballario, Jose had raced for the team at Mid-Ohio in 2013. This will be his first full season in the Mazda Road to Indy. Last season, in addition to his occasional outings…

Pro Mazda – Juncos Racing Signs Argentina’s Julia Ballario

February 11, 2014February 11, 2014 Doug Patterson

As we approach the Mazda Road to Indy Winterfest, the driver announcements are starting to come in! Juncos Racing, a stalwart in the Pro Mazda Championship, has announced the first member their 2014 team. Julia Ballario will join the team beginning in March on the Streets of St. Petersburg. Ms. Ballario is be the first Argentinian woman to race in the US, and comes to the Pro Mazda Championship with a significant amount of experience in both open-wheel formula cars and in touring cars, and competed with Juncos in Pro…

SCCA – BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour at NOLA Wrap-Up

February 11, 2014 Doug Patterson

The SCCA Mid-States Conference Majors Tour had their second event and Rounds 3 and 4 of racing this past weekend at the relatively new NOLA Motorsports Park just outside of New Orleans, LA. The new facility opened for business late in 2011 and is already starting to attract attention from many of US racing leagues including INDYCAR. The opening rounds of the Mazda Road to Indy Winterfest are coming up next weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park. The venue is a perfect place for club racing, and the warm climate makes…

SCCA – Q&A with MX-5 Cup Competitor, Joey Bickers

February 11, 2014February 11, 2014 Mike Shaw

Joey Bickers at the 2013 Mazda Club Racer Shootout, credit Mike Ditz

Newcomer Joey Bickers will be racing as the MAZDASPEED driver in the 2014 Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich. Bickers, from Moorpark, Calif., comes to the series after earning his spot by winning the 2013 Mazda Club Racer Shootout. The successful 21-year-old started his racing career at the beginning of 2012 and has since competed in the Mazda Club Racer Shootout, the Team USA Scholarship program and the NASA Teen Mazda Challenge. In addition, he has participated in karting and F1600 formula car racing. Having been interesting in cars throughout…

IMSA – Old Tech Versus New, Who Has the Edge at Sebring?

February 9, 2014 Doug Patterson

As with the elimination of the split in North American open wheel racing, the joining of Grand-Am and ALMS is anything but a smooth merger. The open-wheel racing scene didn’t have the equivalency issues that the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship is facing as the Panoz DP-01 that the Champ Car World Series was using never saw use in the Indy Racing League, now known as the IndyCar Series. Both CCWS and IRL teams were mandated to use the same Dallara chassis, and still are. By contrast TUSCC teams may use…

SCCA – Formula F 45th Anniversary Highlights Barber Festival

February 9, 2014 Doug Patterson

I know we talk a lot about the big cars whether it be IndyCars, Le Mans or Daytona Prototypes, or WRC rally cars, but let’s not forget the little machines that can! One of the things that attracts me to the Mazda Road to Indy is the raciness of the smaller formula cars especially on a tighter and more technical circuit like Barber or Mid-Ohio. They’re just a lot of fun to watch! This year is the 45th anniversary of the SCCA’s Formula F class and they’re throwing a party…

Episode 217 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

February 6, 2014 Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadYour host Shaun, his co-host Mike and his other co-host Mike lead you through this week’s news in motor racing. The trio look at how the IndyCar grid is shaping up, and comment on the National Guard deal with Rahal that we all knew was all but complete. Shaw previews Rally Sweden and the first round of the Canadian Championship. Rally America officially announces it’s deal with NBCSN and the WRC will air on MAVTV. Bernie slams the F1 farce, and Whitesell brings us…