As some of you may have already heard, we have started a new segment at OpenPaddock.net called Garage 36 in which we cover the news and happenings of Indy Downforce, the official fan club of the IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights, and the Road to Indy. The name comes from the fact that the fan club takes over Garage 36 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Month of May. As part of our introduction to the new segment, I thought perhaps some background on the origins of the…
Read MoreCategory: INDYCAR
The latest news from the IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, and USF2000!
IndyCar – Calendar Benefiting Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and Racing for Kids Now Available
Its that time of year again! The 2011 IZOD IndyCar calendar is ready! When you purchase your new 2011 calender full of IndyCar goodness, you are also helping out two great charities, the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and Racing for Kids. To order, click on the image below, or go directly to http://www.umponline.com/calendar/. Be sure to put OpenPaddock.net in the “Instructions” box. THE 2011 IZOD INDYCAR OFFICIAL WALL CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE The Calendar That Excites Race Fans Every Day of the Year On behalf of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation…
Read MoreIndyCar – No Joy in Edmonton
Last night, it was announced that the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races at the Edmonton City Centre Airport will not happen for 2011 in spite of its being on the confirmed schedule and an agreement between INDYCAR, Octane Racing, and the City of Edmonton. In an article from the Edmonton Sun, it was revealed that negotiations between Octane and the city had reached a terminal end. What caused the breakdown was the City of Edmonton’s late and unilateral move to alter the deal agreed to by all…
Read MoreOpEd – Indy Downforce Banquet Exceeds Expectations
Every year in October, after the end of the IZOD IndyCar Series season, the official fan club of the league, Indy Downforce, has their year-end banquet and celebration. Every year that I’ve been a member of the club, I’ve read the comments by others about how much they’ve enjoyed the banquet, but unfortunately I was never able to attend. Well, this year I made it a priority to go, and wow did I ever pick the right year. This year’s event was much more than just an evening banquet. INDYCAR…
Read MoreVideo – Randy Bernard Discusses the USAC Scholarship to FIL
IndyCar – USAC Champ Gets Oval Ride in Firestone Indy Lights
I don’t normally do this, but it so interesting that I’m going to post the press release from IndyCar in its entirety. I’ll have some commentary regarding this scholarship for the USAC Champion to race the ovals in Firestone Indy Lights afterward. FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS SCHOLARSHIP ADDED TO USAC NATIONAL DRIVERS CHAMPION’S PRIZE Wednesday Oct 20, 2010 INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010) – INDYCAR, the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, will award the winner of USAC’s inaugural National Drivers Championship with a scholarship to…
Read MoreALMS – Wiggins to Field an ALMS Prototype Entry for 2011
Racer Magazine released an article today announcing that Kieth Wiggins through his HVM Racing team intends to field a prototype entry in the American LeMans Series in 2011. Already having a relationship with Lola that started back in 1997, the team plans on running a Lola chassis with an engine manufacturer that is yet to be announced. Apparently, they are currently in negotiations with an engine producer and are not yet ready to make an announcement regarding their potential partnerships until all the contracts are signed. Good thinking, if you…
Read MoreIndyCar – Hinchcliffe Interviews Randy Bernard
IndyCar – Cross-Pollination Is a Good Thing!
Highcroft Racing, the team that has won back-to-back titles in the ALMS LMP2 class and still seeks an LMP2 class win at Le Mans, will be coming to the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2011! This first year, they will be competing at select events only in preparation for launching a full-season effort in 2012 when the new chassis and engine come to the series. This is fantastic news, if you ask me. Its exciting enough that we’re getting another quality team coming to IndyCar Racing, but seeing that team come…
Read MoreIndyCar – Highcroft Looking to IICS
So what do you do when you have won two American Le Mans series titles? Take your program IndyCar racing of course. The back to back champions Highcroft Racing are preparing for a select program for the 2011 season. While nothing is wrote in stone, the team has the ambition and will look at a couple of rounds for next year. Who said that all of the news after the finale had to be bad? Duncan Dayton had this to say in a SPEED article posted yesterday: “We are aware…
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