Category: Featured

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Indy Lights – St. Pete Entry List and Preview

Doug Patterson

Not too long ago, we were looking at a mere seven confirmed car-driver combinations for the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights grid. When we talked with the King of the Mazda Road to Indy, Jason Penix, he reassured us that there would be at least 16 cars by time the first race on the Streets of St. Petersburg came around, and he turns out to have been absolutely right. Seventeen cars have been entered for this weekend’s race, including some cars from familiar teams and some from some newcomers. The juggernaut…

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Star Mazda – St. Petersburg Starting Grid and Preview

Doug Patterson

The Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear begins its 2012 season on the Streets of St. Petersburg this weekend, and it looks like they will start with a pretty healthy grid. While not the 30+ cars they used to have, its still nice to see that 21 cars will take laps in anger around the hybrid airport/street circuit in St. Petersburg, Florida for two races this Saturday and Sunday. Juncos Racing looks to be very strong this season with the addition of Connor Di Philippi and the resigning of Martin…

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USF2000 – AcceleRace Motorsports Returns to the Track

Doug Patterson

Our friends at AcceleRace Motorsports will be returning to competition on the Streets of St. Petersburg this coming weekend. As if the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda didn’t have a large enough field already, AcceleRace will be adding at least one more car to the grid. It’s uncertain right now just what type of car they will enter. The team does have a Championship class car as well as FC and FE cars. Which they run, I think, will depend upon the driver they sign.…

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Episode 130 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Shaun

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the Paddock trio as they are joined by Conquest Racing ALMS driver Martin Plowman. Martin discusses the differences and similarities between the LMP2 car and IndyCar. We also talk about the bone crunching bumps at Sebring and what it is like being passed by an Audi R18… We review the events from Melbourne in Formula 1 and look ahead to Malaysia. The IZOD IndyCar Series kicks off from St. Petersburg and the crew offer their choices for champions and a few things that…

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Star Mazda – Returning Drivers and a Spring Training Recap

Doug Patterson

The season-opener for the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear takes place this weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg, but before we get to the race, there’s still some business to settle and shake out first. Drivers are still being added to the grid, and it looks like the field is shaping up quite nicely. Twenty-two drivers set times during the two-day Spring Training open test at Barber Motorsports Park including the two newest additions to the Juncos Racing stable, Connor Di Philippi and Martin Scuncio. Martin ran with…

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Constable’s Corner: 2012 St. Pete picks to watch

Mike Shaw

Well, we are now just a few days away from the 2012 season opener in St. Petersburg. After a highly publicized pre-season test at Sebring some things are very clear. Most notably, Lotus is light years behind Chevrolet and Honda. While some real fan favorites are with Lotus for 2012; Servia, de Silvestro, Tagliani, Bourdais, and series rookie Katherine Legge—The best time in testing was Servia who was only the 19th fastest out of 27 drivers.   This is the return of Chevrolet to the IndyCar series after many years…

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ALMSChicks – Sebring: Race Day Wrap-Up

Mike Shaw

There is just something about watching the sun come up over the track race day at Sebring International Raceway. You have the best technology that Audi, Corvette, Porsche, and Lotus can offer, practicing at speed with bright sun breaking the horizon. It’s breathtaking! We were able to watch the morning warm-up from the Gurney Terrace Pit Box Seats right behind Dyson Racing. If you are planning on attending the morning warm-up, remember to arrive very early. It took us almost 45 minutes to find a parking spot in the infield.…

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ALMSChicks – Sebring: THINGS WE LEARNED AT SEBRING THE DAY BEFORE THE 12 HOURS

Mike Shaw

Beware of traffic in the Paddock between morning practice and the autograph session: And we do mean traffic. Racecars, golf carts, pedestrians, trash trucks, cars, vans, pit carts: you name it, it will be trying to get from Point A to Point B between the hours of 11 am and 12 pm. Our suggestion? Get to a side and stay there! It gets very crowded and frustrating for everyone! Tiki Tea: A new discovery of ours this year. 20 oz of Sweet Tea for $1 – no way you can…

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USF2000 – Sebring Race 2 Recap

Doug Patterson

Two races are now in the books for the 14-race Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda 2012 season. Race 2 at the Sebring International Raceway took place this morning right before lunch with all 36 entries from yesterday taking to the track again today. The starting line-up for Race 2 was determined by the fastest race laps in Race 1. Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing driver and Race 1 winner Matthew Brabham (@MattyBrabs) started on pole alongside his teammate Spencer Pigot (@SpencerPigot). ArmsUp Motorsports pilot…

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