Category: Featured

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MRTI – 2014 Event Schedules Are Here!

Doug Patterson

The 2014 schedules are out for the entire Mazda Road to Indy: USF2000, Pro Mazda, and Indy Lights. This will be the fifth year for the Mazda Road to Indy Program and for the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, the second year of operation under Andersen Promotions for the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, and will be the first year for the newly retitled Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. Firestone, who had been a long-standing supporter and title sponsor of the Indy…

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WRC Rally de Espana – Preview and On-Air Times

Mike Shaw

Rally de Espana, or the Rally of Spain is the penultimate round of the WRC and the only mixed surface event on the calendar.  The first two day swill run on fast smooth tarmac outside of the seaside resort of Salou on Spain’s Costa Daurada.  The stages are so fast that it is largely compared to circuit racing, but with much more picturesque surroundings.  Sunday’s final stages will be on gravel which adds a bit of controversy as the running order will not be in reverse order when they hit the…

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Episode 208 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week Doug, Mike, and Mike review the IndyCar and IndyLights finales at Fontana and begin looking at the silly season news and rumors. Mr. Whitesell leads us through the news in Formula 1 and we preview the final Indian Grand Prix. Wrapping up the show, Mr. Shaw recaps the glorious event that was LSPR and gives us a preview of the WRC Rally de Espana. OpenPaddock.net Podcast: Episode 208 – Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 IndyCar Fontana Review IndyCar title rivals get grid penalties…

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Missing Our Friend Kevin Neely

Doug Patterson

As some of you may already have heard, IndyCar Reporter, Podcast Host, and most importantly our friend Kevin Neely passed away Tuesday morning from medical issues. Kevin joined the OpenPaddock crew in the Spring of 2012 as our primary IndyCar guru. When Shaun was deployed, he stepped up and brought his remarkable skills as an audio artist to the OpenPaddock.net Podcast hosting and coordinating the show in Shaun’s absence and creating the new intro theme for the show. His insight into what was happening in IndyCar was astounding as was…

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Question of the Week – What New Driver Will Most Help IndyCar?

Doug Patterson

A new feature that we’re hoping to make a regular part of our off-season coverage is a round-table style of Q&A. Regular op-ed contributor John Olsakovsky will pose a question to those of us here at OpenPaddock, and we’ll all with our own style, option, and perspective provide a response. Once compiled, we’ll post those responses and the debate will begin! Agree with any one of us? Think we’re all off our nut? Share your opinion with us in the Comments section below! QUESTION OF THE WEEK We’re all aware…

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SCCA – Autocross at Ft. Riley

Doug Patterson

At least once a year, the Salina Region of the Sports Car Club of America holds a Driving School and Solo Racing event on the huge landing pad for the 1st Infantry Division’s Combat Air Brigade. On Saturday of the two-day event, soldiers and the public are invited to participate in a Solo Novice School in which the students learn the basics of the sport of Solo Racing, vehicle dynamics, and how to identify proper racing lines. Students are paired up with experienced veterans of SCCA Solo Racing, and, while…

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BREAKING NEWS – Brendan Reeves Takes 2wd Rally America Championship!

Mike Shaw

After what has to have been one of the best championship battles in Rally America history, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino pulled off the win and with it the 2013 2wd Rally America National Championship crown!     At the end of Day 1, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino piloted their Team O’Neil Ford Fiesta R2 into 13.4 second lead over Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy Wimpy’s Scion XD.  Both drivers pushed as hard as possible in Saturday’s drier conditions.  Reeves’ lead didn’t last though as ACP clawed back to a…

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BREAKING NEWS – David Higgins 2013 Rally America Champion

Mike Shaw

BREAKING NEWS – Confirmed reports are saying that Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino rolled their HFHV Fiesta on Special Stage 12 about a mile from the finish.  That means Subaru Rally Team USA’s David Higgins and Craig Drew are the 2013 Rally America champions.   It was a great battle while it lasted with Ken Block clawing back about 5 seconds from a 13 second deficit.  I think the visiting former British Rally Champion – Guy Wilks – said it best “…Better to go going hard than…

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LSPR Day 1 – Rally America Championship Still Too Close To Call

Mike Shaw

If you don’t follow rally racing, then this would be a good time to start.  These are the events that rally fans dream about.  A final championship battle that wages between great competitors who are willing to go flat out and not conserve anything to be crowned champion.  Mother nature threw a bit of a curve ball preventing top speeds, but the battle continues with leaders barely ahead of their rivals.   Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block and Craig Drew started first on the road in wet slippery, or as he put…

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Episode 207 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOpenPaddock.net Podcast: Episode 207 – Tuesday, October 7th, 2013 IndyCar Houston Review Standings Local viewer video of Grand Prix of Houston crash Franchitti ruled out of Fontana race Fontana Preview 2014 IndyCar schedule set to be revealed Penske confirms Allmendinger for Fontana Alex Tagliani tabbed to replace Dario Franchitti in IndyCar season finale National Guard switches IndyCar allegiance to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing from 2014 – Racer.com Chip Ganassi Racing confirms Kanaan and Chevrolet engines for 2014 Honda: IndyCar needs third supplier MRTI Lights…

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