Category: Indy Lights

news and commentary on the direct feeder series to the IndyCar Series.

Episode 193 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThe whole crew is back again! But with less ranting this time, promise. Kevin and Shaun take us through the IndyCar race at Milwaukee, Doug recaps the Pro Mazda and Indy Lights action from Milwaukee, Mike Shaw leads us through the news from the rally world, Whitesell and Pechin look at the silliness surrounding Pirelli and Mercedes GP, and we all enjoy looking forward to the 24 Hours of LeMans. Show Notes for OpenPaddock.net Podcast, Episode 193 Preview IndyCar & MRTI – IndyCarMilwaukee Mile…

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IndyLights – Peter Dempsey: Winning at Indianapolis

Doug Patterson

The month of May is always special in Indianapolis. All the IndyCar teams are flat-out testing and developing their race cars. I was fortunate to get to attend Pole Day this year for the first time, and what a day that was! Ed Carpenter lit up the field with his impressive pole run, and also to see Carlos Munoz qualify 2nd for the 500 was great. This really was amazing by him to out-qualify his seasoned teammates. Practice and Qualifying The FIL cars weren’t on track until Thursday with one…

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IndyLights – Peter Dempsey: Thoughts and Insights from Long Beach

Doug Patterson
Start of the Firestone Indy Lights race on the Streets of Long Beach -- Photo by John Cole, INDYCAR

It’s been a while since my last blog entry for OpenPaddock.net, and a lot has happened since then! Long Beach ended before it started, an amazing four wide finish win in the Freedom 100, and a trip back to Ireland to get my visa extension and to see some family. I am going to fill you in on how I made it through all this crazy stuff over the past few weeks. Let’s start off with the race weekend on April 24th at one of my favorite streets courses, the…

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Episode 192 – OpenPaddock.net

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadFearless Leader Shaun Pechin returns to the show and brings a new level of sketch to the joint! Shaun lets loose with six months worth of saved up rants and diatribes about …well… everything! Neely, Whitesell, Shaw, and Patterson try to get in word in edgewise as we talk about the IndyCar infomercial from Texas and Team Penske’s penalty, we preview the Mazda Road to Indy action this weekend in Milwaukee, and review the Kansas City Region SCCA Solo Event #6. Whitesell leads us…

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IndyCar – Indianapolis Race Weekend in Photos

Doug Patterson

Wow, what a long an exciting week and a half at the World’s Greatest Race Course! Although we didn’t beat the rain to IMS on Fast Friday, we were there for Pole Day, Bump Day, Community Day, Media Day, Carb Day, the Night Before the 500, and of course Race Day. It was great meeting up with old friends and seeing some twitter folk for the first time. Best of all, I got to show off our new baby girl on Carb Day! 😀 I shared the qualifying weekend photos…

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IndyLights – Best. Finish. EVER!

Doug Patterson

One of the highlights of my traditional week and a half at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is Carburetion Day. …and no, not for the “Has-Been Band-of-the-Year” concert. Besides, I trashed my animal-print spandex pants long ago, so no Poison concert for me. For one, Carb Day is a day I share at the track with my Dad as we watch the Firestone Indy Lights race from the stands above the suites just to the south of the Pagoda, after which we adjourn to our favourite Irish pub, the Claddagh, and…

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Episode 190 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadMr. Neely lies. This really is Episode 190. Kevin and Doug recap the wonderful race weekend at Indianapolis where we saw three outstanding and exciting races, the Firestone Freedom 100, the USF2000 race at TTFKAIRP (comment below if you get the joke), and of course the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. We briefly review the Monaco Grand Parade, and Mike Shaw previews the WRC Acropolis Rally and the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally as well as sharing some news from Global Rallycross. Show Notes for Wednesday,…

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How Sweet it is for TK to Taste Milk!!!

Mike Shaw

While we can never have Dan Wheldon back, his hard work and brilliance lives on in these DW12 cars. He really shaped the series back to its glorious past—great racing, competition, excitement. Many of us (myself included) feared a single chassis series was the wrong direction. Considering what Dallara had produced before was less than great. I was upset the Swift concept was not picked. For now, people like myself can eat humble pie, and I’ll gladly take seconds. The DW12 is great at IMS. And perhaps the best is…

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IndyLights – Firestone Freedom 100 Preview

Doug Patterson

As has been the case all season, and really the last couple of seasons, car counts continue to be low. There are only eleven entries for this year’s Firestone IndyLights Freedom 100, but among those eleven entries, there is some serious talent. At the top of the list is series veteran Carlos Muñoz. After a rocky start in the first three events of the 2012 season, he scored a P2 finish on Carburetion Day last year in what was an absolute knife fight of a race. This year, he will…

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