Category: INDYCAR

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

IndyCar – Some Perspective On Motegi Risks

Doug Patterson

There’s be a LOT of comments and worry about the radiation levels and the health risks that drivers and team personnel will be facing as they compete at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, Japan which is located 78 miles from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant which catastrophically failed during the Honshu earthquake and subsequent tsunami. I thought it might be advisable to bring some perspective as to just what the level of risk is compared to activities we take for granted and don’t even think about in…

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Indy Lights – Reigning Indy 500 Champ Drives Lights Car of Belardi Auto Racing

Shaun

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 7) — Dan Wheldon hopped into the Firestone Indy Lights car of Belardi Auto Racing’s Anders Krohn at Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday. No, you are not mistaken, it is not May. Wheldon was invited to test drive the three cars of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system during a media day at the famed speedway. The two-time Indy 500 winner was like a kid in a candy store; eyes gleaming at the chance to take the cars for a joyride around the former Formula 1 road course.…

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IndyCar – Hideki Mutoh Rides Again

Doug Patterson

The young Japanese driver that showed so much promise in 2007 in the Firestone Indy Lights series and as an Andretti Autosport driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2008 and 2009, ran what was thought to be his final season in lack-luster fashion with Newman-Haas Racing in 2010. After the 2010 IndyCar season, he returned to Japan to run in the 2011 SuperGT Championship, driving a Honda HSV-010 GT for Autobacs Racing Team Aguri. Now he’s set to return for an encore appearence in the IZOD IndyCar Series with…

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USF2000 – Spencer Pigot Wins Team USA Scholarship

Doug Patterson

Andretti Autosport’s Spencer Pigot, driver of their #8 Cooper Tires Presents the US F2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda entry, was selected as winner of the Team USA Scholarship and will take part in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and will have a chance to compete for the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy. Pigot earned the honor thanks to his strong performance in his rookie USF2000 efforts, coming in 2nd in the championship to Petri Suvanto. “Being selected for Team USA for a second year is a great honor…

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Star Mazda – Vautier Cruises to Victory in Baltimore, Clinches Championship

Doug Patterson

JDC MotorSports driver, Tristan Vautier, cruised to an easy win on the Streets of Baltimore this morning after qualifying on pole and leading every lap of the 21-lap event. Team Pelfrey’s Connor De Phillipi ran about a second behind Vautier during the first half of the race, but was never able to close the gap. A mistake would send De Phillipi to the lower half of the grid, one lap down, and taking him out of contention for the race and for the championship. “I felt very much in control…

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IndyLights – Yacaman’s Spin-And-Win, Newgarden Clinches Championship

Doug Patterson

It seems that the Baltimore Grand Prix is the place for securing series championships. Petri Suvanto locked up the US F2000 title yesterday, Tristan Vautier secured the Star Mazda championship this morning, and this afternoon Sam Schmidt Motorsport’s Josef Newgarden charged from the back of the grid after initiating two FCYs during qualifying to finish in P2. He lead the Firestone Indy Lights Championship by 68 points coming into the Baltimore weekend, which of course put him in a strong position, but now he heads to the last two races…

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USF2000 – Suvanto Wins Championship and USF2000 Has Largest Field Yet

Doug Patterson

After Race #1 at the inaugural Baltimore GP, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing driver Petri Suvanto clinched the Cooper Tire Presents the 2011 US F2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda by finishing in P2 behind Belardi Auto Racing’s Wayne Boyd. “We were able to get what we came here for – the championship. Maybe it wasn’t the way we wanted, but the championship is the most important thing. Today, I was a bit conservative to try to play it safe for the championship and the points. So overall, I…

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Inside The Helmet – Gustavo Menezes

Doug Patterson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe have a wonderful chat with Gustavo Menezes, full-time driver for Juncos Racing in the Star Mazda Championship and part-time driver for the Interwetten.com Junior Team in the Formula Renault 2.0 (Eurocup and Alps divisions). Gustavo revisits his action-packed weekend at the Infineon Raceway and his battle with Nick Andries, describes the challenges and benefits to racing both here in the US and in Europe, and explains the differences between the two racing cultures. We hope you enjoy listening to Gustavo’s thoughts and insights…

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