The Firestone Indy Lights series is a dangerous time for young drivers. Many come to the series after having experienced success in the lower formula, be it in Europe, South America, or in the USF2000 and Pro Mazda championships that are part of the Mazda Road to Indy. When they get to compete in the Firestone Indy Lights series, they are so close to their goals of being an IZOD IndyCar Series driver, that bravado and excitement can often take control of their thoughts, pushing rational thinking and all the…
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IndyCar-Turning Laps With Ease: Sato Takes Long Beach
After many near misses, Takuma Sato finally took his maiden victory in the IZOD IndyCar Series on the Streets of Long Beach this past Sunday, holding off Graham Rahal in his best result to date for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Justin Wilson captured his first podium of the season in Third Position for Dale Coyne Racing. The win is AJ Foyt Enterprises’ first win since Airton Dare finished first at Kansas Speedway on July 7, 2002. The last Road/Street course victory for the team came at the Silverstone Circuit in…
Read MoreGrand Am – Round 4: Visual Studio Ultimate Grand Prix of Atlanta Preview
What: Visual Studio Ultimate Grand Prix of Atlanta Where: Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA When: Saturday, April 20 4:30pm EDT Who: The Grand Am Rolex Series makes its first visit to Road Atlanta. Max “The Axe” Angelelli and Jordan Taylor took home First Place at Barber for the Velocity Worldwide team and look to continue their success on Grand Am’s southern swing this weekend. Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas in the #01 Telmex Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Riley-Dinan/BMW are contenders in every Grand-Am event alongside Jon Fogarty and Alex…
Read MoreIndyLights – Peter Dempsey Blog: St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park Review
Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog entry for OpenPaddock.net! My name is Peter Dempsey and I am competing in the Firestone Indy Lights series this season driving for Belardi Auto Racing in the #5 car. I will be writing weekend review blogs after each of my FIL races this season. With a busy start to 2013, this first blog consists of both my St. Petersburg review and my Barber Motorsport review. The Streets of St. Petersburg The first race of the year is always one of the most…
Read MoreGrandAm – Southern Swing
Grand-Am Road Racing continues its march through the southern U.S. Following the season-opening 24 Hours At Daytona, and races in Elroy, Texas and Birmingham, Alabama, Grand-Am rolls into scenic Braselton, Georgia. As Open Paddock’s “southern photographer” I have foregone a cross-country trek to see the American Le Mans and IndyCar races in Long Beach, California in favor an easy drive to Road Atlanta Raceway in Braselton. I’ll share photographs of practice, qualifying, and racing of Grand-Am Road Racing’s Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge. This is…
Read MoreEpisode 184 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s Rally Week! Mike Shaw gets top billing this week with his review of Rally Portugal and some news from Rally America. Jeremy Salenius joins us to talk about the Kansas City SCCA Solo season, and Kevin and Doug wrap up the show with all things open-wheel including a wrap-up of the Chinese GP, and a preview of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races on the Streets of Long Beach. Pace Notes Lead-In Ogier and VW win 3rd straight rally Kansas…
Read MoreIndyCar – Round 3: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Preview
What: 39th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Where: Streets of Long Beach, California Who: Defending race winner Will Power of Verizon Team Penske looks to get back to his winning ways despite early season dominance by Andretti Autosport drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe. Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing leads the Honda charge along with impressive rookie Tristan Vautier and the much-improved Chip Ganassi Racing Teams driver, Charlie Kimball. When: 1:45pm Pacific Daylight Time (4:45 Eastern Daylight Time) on Sunday, April 21. Storylines Ryan Hunter-Reay is…
Read MoreSCCA – Photos From KCRSCCA Solo Event 2
I’m getting quicker at turning around these photos. …now if I could just get quicker in the car. If you were running this past weekend and don’t see your car, let me know. These were the sharpest and best images, but Jeremy and I took over 2000 images over the weekend! I’m sure we have at least one shot of everyone somewhere. Look for Jeremy’s article recapping the Novice School and Event #2 later this week. Kansas City Region SCCA Solo Event #2
Read MoreIndyCar – Audi Hints Possible Engine Supply Role
The FiA World Endurance Championship kicked off this weekend and Audi flexed its muscle by taking a 1-2 at Silverstone. It was what Audi was saying off the track that should make IndyCar fans at least smile. In an article on Autosport.com, Audi’s head of research and development Wolfgang Durheimer indicated a number of North American possibilities including becoming an engine supplier to IndyCar. Clearly I think the most likely option at the moment would be an entry into the United Sportscar Racing championship series that is set to kick…
Read MoreBreaking News – Aussies Return to Oregon Trail
Once again the Oregon Trail Rally gets the opportunity to host some of our friends from down under. Just announced this evening WRC Academy driver Brendan Reeves along with his co-driver sister Rhianon Smyth will get reunited with an R2 Ford Fiesta like the drove in the Academy. This time the young Australians will get to drive a Fiesta R2 courtesy of Team O’Neal, one of two top level rally schools in America. Back home Brendan and Rhianon have been competing in the ECB Australian Rally Championship in a RallySchool.com.au…
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