Category: INDYCAR

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

USF2000 – Bobby Kelley Wins Scouting Combine

Doug Patterson

Below is the official press release from INDYCAR and USF2000 announcing young driver, Bobby Kelley, as the overall winner of the Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine being held at Dan Andersen’s racing complex in Palmetto, FL. For now, I’ll leave you to read USF2000’s statement, but come back later this evening as our partners from AcceleRace Motorsports will have their final thoughts and deep insights about the success of the combine and the talent that was displayed over the past few days. Official release from INDYCAR and USF2000 After…

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USF2000 – Scouting Combine Notes: Tuesday

Mike Shaw

The weather in Florida cooperated this morning (albeit much cooler temp’s) and allowed the rest of the talented field of Karting Champions to finish their practice/orientation laps at the Andersen Karting Facility by mid-morning. The drivers that weren’t able to complete laps on Monday (due to rain) had obviously been watching the other competitors on-track. The skill levels and determination had definitely stepped-up from Monday, and the buzz of competitiveness hung in the air like static electricity. Everyone seemed to have much better starts from pit lane today as sleep…

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Star Mazda – Team Pelfrey is Locked and Loaded

Doug Patterson

Both barrels for Team Pelfrey are loaded with two new drivers for the 2012 Star Mazda Championship. Jack Hawksworth was announced as the first of Team Pelfrey’s driver duo last week after a successful weekend of testing on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Open Test on the last weekend in October. Mr. Hawksworth come to the Mazda Road to Indy program from the British Formula Renault 2.0 series where he earned eight top-five finishes, four podiums, a pole…

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Indy Lights – Juncos Racing Joins Forces with Davey Hamilton Racing

Doug Patterson

Juncos Racing, joined the Star Mazda Championship in 2009 and instantly became one of the powerhouse teams fielding the winningest driver in Star Mazda history, Peter Dempsey, and in their second season they won the championship with Conor Daly. Last season they were 2nd in the team championship for the second year in a row. Not too shabby for a relatively new race team! Now, Juncos Racing is set to expand yet again and go racing in the Firestone Indy Lights series in 2012 fielding two cars for the full-season.…

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USF2000 – Scouting Combine Notes: Monday

Mike Shaw

Editor’s Note: AcceleRace Motorsports Team Managing Director, Ardie Greenamyer, has been kind enough to offer coverage and commentary of the USF2000 Scouting Combine taking place down at Andersen Race Park in Palmetto, FL. In addition to daily summary reports from the combine, he will also be sharing with us interviews with the young aspiring drivers, their parents, and league officials. We appreciate AcceleRace Motorsports’ willingness to partner with us to bring you this exclusive coverage, and we certainly hope that you enjoy Mr. Greenamyer’s insights as much as we do.…

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Contest – Earn Unique Souvenirs from AcceleRace Motorsports

Doug Patterson

Last August, we had the great pleasure of speaking with Ardie Greenamyer, Team Director and driver of the #28 F2000 machine for AcceleRace Motorsports. Since then, Ardie has made available to us a number of racing souvenirs to be given to you, the fans! First of all, we can’t thank Ardie and AcceleRace Motorsports enough for partnering with us on this fantastic program. Over the coming weeks, be sure to listen to the OpenPaddock.net Podcast to learn how you can enter to win some really unique swag! During the podcast,…

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Inside The Helmet – Josef Newgarden

Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe had the great pleasure of speaking with the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights Champion, Josef Newgarden. Josef speaks with us about his decision to transition from European racing, where he was very successful in Formula Ford and competed in the GP3 series and was offered a spot in the FIA Young Drivers Academy, to American open-wheel racing in the Firestone Indy Lights series with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. The 2011 season had its ups and downs for Newgarden, and he shares his thoughts of the…

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Star Mazda – Veach and Linares on the Podium at Infineon

Doug Patterson

We announced late last week that Andretti Autosport driver and USF2000 veteran, Zach Veach would be representing the Star Mazda series in the multi-class Formula Car Challenge Winter Series that kicked off this weekend with two rounds of racing at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. In addition to Zach was Star Mazda veteran, Carlos Linares. Zach won pole position for both races and won from that spot sweeping the weekend. Carlos Linares of Linares Motorsport also competed and placed extremely well finishing P2 in Race #1 and improving to…

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USF2000 – SCCA Formula Enterprise Permitted to Run in National Class

Doug Patterson

Good news from the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Champiomnship Powered by Mazda! The National Class will be opened up to the very popular SCCA Formula Enterprise chassis. The FE class was introduced in the SCCA in 2008 as a way to create a cost-effective entry-point for drivers and teams interested in competing in either open-wheel or prototype sports car competition. The Formula Enterprise uses a 2.3L I4 Mazda engine similar in output to the MRZ 2.0L used for the USF2000 Van Diemen chassis for the Championship Class. Unlike…

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Mazda Road to Indy – Veach to Participate in the Formula Car Challenge

Doug Patterson

Zach Veach, veteran USF2000 driver for Andretti Autosport, will compete in the Formula Car Challenge Presented by Goodyear Winter Series in the Pro Formula Mazda class at Infineon Raceway this weekend, November 12th and 13th. In addition to being a great event, this will give Zach even more time behind the wheel of a Star Mazda machine in preparation for his full-season effort in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship for Andretti Autosport. “Coming off a successful test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to…

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