Category: INDYCAR

The latest news from the IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, and USF2000!

MRTI – USF2000 and ProMazda Get A New Driver Coach

Doug Patterson

The first two steps on the Mazda Road to Indy now have a new driver coach, Joel Miller. Joel has been involved open-wheel racing since 2004 when he moved from karts to the Pacific F2000 series. In 2008 and 2009, Joel raced with JDC Motorsports in Star Mazda, finishing in 2nd and 5th in the championship, respectively. He moved up to drive part-time in the Firestone Indy Lights series in 2010 for Andersen Racing and in 2011 for Team E Racing. Needless to say, he knows the cars the young…

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Episode 174 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadKevin Neely, Mike Shaw, and Doug Patterson review the week’s news in IndyCar, the Mazda Road to Indy, Rally, and Formula 1. Kevin keeps trying to throw AMA Supercross into the mix, but so far he’s not found much traction. The USF2000 Winterfest has started! Doug leads us through Tuesday’s activities and looks at the results as a foreshadowing of how the regular season will shape up. Kevin leads us through the silly season news in IndyCar and how Jay Penske may have pissed…

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USF2000 – Winterfest Sebring Wrap-up

Doug Patterson

The racing season is upon us! The Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda ran the first three races of it’s six-race Winterfest series at Sebring International Raceway this past Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, twenty-two new and returning drivers to USF2000 took to the famously bumpy Sebring circuit for a morning practice, an early afternoon qualifying, and a late afternoon race. Races 2 and 3 were held on Wednesday following an early morning warm-up session USF2000 Winterfest – Tuesday Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing looked strong right…

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Indycar-Silly Season 2013 Update

John Olsakovsky

For once, the lineup for the IZOD Indycar Season seems to be pretty much set well before the first race. Usually we find teams scrambling around just prior to the green flag in St. Pete looking for drivers with funding to fill out the field. This year, there have already been plenty of lineup announcements with only a handful of possible seats remaining. Here’s how things currently shape up. Team Penske Helio Castroneves and Will Power are both confirmed for the 2013 season for all events. Penske filed an application…

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Episode 173 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this week’s OpenPaddock.net Podcast, Kevin, Mike, and Mike recap an exciting Rolex 24 at Daytona and the opening round of the Rally America National Championship, the Sno*Drift Rally. They also go through the week’s news in Formula One and IndyCar including a look at the recently released 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series rule book. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to like us on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/OpenPaddock, and follow us on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/OpenPaddock, for a chance to win some sweet swag from MAZDASPEED…

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Episode 172 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s rally time!! Mike Shaw takes us through a recap of the opening round of the World Rally Championship, the legendary Monte Carlo Rally, and gives us a preview of the opening round of the Rally America series, the always slippery Sno*Drift Rally. Kevin, Doug, and Mike Whitesell finish out the show with news from Formula 1, IndyCar and a brief look at the upcoming 24hrs of Daytona. We’re also giving more stuff away this week! To one of our Twitter followers, we will…

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Indycar-E.J. Viso to Andretti

John Olsakovsky

Sources report this morning that Venezuelan driver E.J. Viso has signed a contract with Andretti Autosport to pilot its 4th entry in the 2013 IZOD Indycar Series.  Viso had initially approached the Andrettis about his desire to start his own team, but it appears a ride with Andretti developed instead. Terms of the contract are currently unknown. Viso has 84 Indycar Series starts with one podium, 2 Top 5s, 18 Top 10s, one Fastest Lap and a best series finish of 17th in 2010. Viso is previously the 2003 British…

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Episode 171 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe are happy to have on this week’s show, Dan Andersen. Mr. Andersen talks with us about his journey in motorsports from drag racer, to series owner of USF2000, to team owner and back to running the USF2000 series again. We also talk about how he came to take over the Star Mazda series now renamed the Pro Mazda Championship. In addition to our conversation with Dan, Mr. Shaw gives us the run-down on Dakar and a preview of Monte Carlo, Doug goes over…

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Indycar-IMS, Indycar Leadership Changes

John Olsakovsky

Indianapolis, IN: Interim INDYCAR CEO Jeff Belskus named Doug Boles as Chief Operating Officer of IMS and Robby Greene Interim COO of INDYCAR. These moves take effect immediately, and are believed to be at the recommendation of Boston Consulting Group, a team of advisers hired by Hulman & Company to analyze the structure and efficiency of INDYCAR and IMS management. Doug Boles, who had been serving as IMS Communications VP, has also been involved in Indycar as a co-owner of Panther Racing in the series’ early days. His background as an attourney,…

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Pro Mazda – Spencer Pigot Formalizes His Position With Team Pelfrey

Doug Patterson

Team Pelfrey entered the Star Mazda Championship in 2011 and immediately found success, winning the team championship in their rookie year and narrowly missing the driver championship. This season, they brought three drivers to the fight including Petri Suvanto, the 2011 USF2000 Champion, and hot shoe Jack Hawksworth. Jack and Team Pelfrey walked away with both the 2012 Team and Driver Championship titles. In two short years, Team Pelfrey has established itself as the team beat in Star Mazda, now the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Headed into…

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