INDYCAR – Page 39 – OpenPaddock.net

Inside The Helmet – Jason Penix, King of the Mazda Road to Indy

February 14, 2012 Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe had the opportunity to speak with INDYCAR’s Jason Penix. Jason was instrumental in the development of the Mazda Road to Indy Program which has grown by leaps and bounds, both in participation and in popularity. Now Jason serves as Director of Grassroots Initiatives, formally, but has been dubbed by Anders Krohn as the “Mazda Road to Indy King” during this year’s WinterFest. He gives us some insight into the history of the program, how it got started, and who the major players were…

IndyCar – State of the Series Rebuttal

February 13, 2012 Shaun

It was just around an hour ago that Randy Bernard and the heads of INDYCAR delivered their State of the Series address. The event was a little bit cheesy but at the end of the day was a fan experience. The main purpose of this address was to layout the very short term goals and accomplishments the series has been able to achieve. I will say that seeing the leadership and some drivers/team owners was a breath of fresh air given the way we left them in 2011. While in…

USF2000 – Winterfest PBIR Schedule

February 10, 2012 Doug Patterson

The final three races for the 2012 USF2000 Cooper Tire Winterfest take place this weekend at the Palm Beach International Raceway. Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing dominated the first three rounds at Sebring International Raceway earlier in the week, as they swept the podium in each race. Spencer Pigot leads the mini-championship thanks to his two wins in Race 1 and 2, and his second-place finish in Race 3. Teammate Matthew Brabham is right behind him with two seconds in Races 1 and 2 and a win in Race…

IndyCar – New Blocking Rule, …no wait, it’s the same one.

February 9, 2012February 9, 2012 Doug Patterson

Well, ok. The headline is a bit misleading if I’m honest. The blocking rule in the 2012 rule book, which the teams now have, but media and fans do not as of yet, is unchanged from the 2011 rule book. The interpretation of this rule, however, looks like it will change dramatically. 9.3.Additional Provisions and Guidelines B.Blocking – A Driver must not alter his/her racing line based on the actions of pursuing Drivers or use an abnormal racing line to inhibit or prevent passing. Blocking will result in a minimum…

Mazda Road to Indy – Juncos Racing and the Chilean Connection

February 8, 2012 Doug Patterson

The way into the Mazda Road to Indy program was broadened this week by Juncos Racing team principal Ricardo Juncos. In a recent trip to Chile, he was able to secure a deal that will give the Chilean Formula 3 champion the opportunity to come to the US, fully supported, and race for Juncos Racing in the Mazda Road to Indy program. As of now, Juncos Racing participates in the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear and the Firestone Indy Lights series, and presumably the incoming driver would be placed…

USF2000 – Cape Motorsports Dominates at Sebring

February 7, 2012February 7, 2012 Doug Patterson

Looks as though Race #1 of the USF2000 Cooper Tires WinterFest was no fluke! The Cape Motorsports trio of Spencer Pigot, Matthew Brabham, and Trent Hindman swept the podium in all three races held at Sebring International Raceway! Today, Races #2 and #3 were held, and the trio performed just as strongly as they did yesterday. There was one exception, Matthew Brabham. Matthew finished Race #1 in P2, nearly three seconds adrift of race winner Spencer Pigot. During Race #2, he set the fast lap of the race with a…

USF2000 – Cape Motorsports Sweeps the Winter Fest Race 1 Podium

February 6, 2012 Doug Patterson

The Cooper Tires Winter Fest, a six-race mini-series that preludes the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, began today with qualifying for Race #1 taking place this morning and the race itself taking place late this afternoon. Cape Motorsports dominated the 20-car field with a podium sweep and Spencer Pigot leading flag to flag. In second was Matthew Brabham, son of the famous sportscar driver, Geoff Brabham, and grandson to the famous Formula 1 three-time World Driver Champion. (no pressure, though). Rounding out the podium was…

USF2000 – Former Supermoto rider Michael Johnson Joins JDC MotorSports

February 6, 2012 Doug Patterson

I’ve been slow in posting this driver announcement, and I’m sure that if you follow the Mazda Road to Indy program at all, you’ve heard of Michael Johnson’s signing with JDC MotorSports and that he’s a paraplegic. I was curious about Mr. Johnson’s story and wanted to do some digging and find out more about his story. As many of you know, I’m a big fan not only of auto racing, but also of motorcycle racing. This is why I find Mr. Johnson’s early career so fascinating. Thanks to the…

The Spike has returned…to Indianapolis!!! Can you smell what The Spike…is cooking???

February 5, 2012February 6, 2012 Mike Shaw

Well I am back—not that I really left Open Paddock. Yes, I will return for another season of Op-Ed columns for Open Paddock. Where did I go? Well, toward the end of last season I was being paid by another website to write for them. (My name not attached to the articles, but when you get paid that’s fine). I won’t name the site for the moment, it is up in the air if the site will be back. It was funded and created by a company that was…

IndyLights – Goncalvez and Yacaman On The Podium at Daytona

February 1, 2012 Doug Patterson

Last weekend, Firestone Indy Lights journeyman Gustavo Yacaman and rookie Jorge Goncalvez teamed up with stock car veteran Michael McDowell and British Formula Three Champion Felipe Nasr in the #6 Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley Daytona Prototype. McDowell qualified the car in 8th, but the squad quickly advanced and kept the car in the top-5 for much of the 24-hour race. One would expect with racers unaccustomed to multi-class endurance racing, that there would have been a mistake or three that would jeopardize the teams success. As it turned out, the…