Category: IndyCar Series

News and commentary on the highest level of American open-wheel racing.

Episode 185 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIndyCar leaves the Streets of Long Beach littered with bent metal and shards of carbon fiber from both the big cars and the Lights cars! Kevin and Mike Whitesell review the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Doug goes on his yearly rant about unrestrained aggression and reviews the Indy Lights race, Mike and Mike review the Formula 1 Bahrain GP, and Mr. Shaw wraps up the show with a review of the Global Rallycross event at the Brazil X-Games. Show notes and outline OP…

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IndyCar-Turning Laps With Ease: Sato Takes Long Beach

John Olsakovsky

After many near misses, Takuma Sato finally took his maiden victory in the IZOD IndyCar Series on the Streets of Long Beach this past Sunday, holding off Graham Rahal in his best result to date for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Justin Wilson captured his first podium of the season in Third Position for Dale Coyne Racing. The win is AJ Foyt Enterprises’ first win since Airton Dare finished first at Kansas Speedway on July 7, 2002. The last Road/Street course victory for the team came at the Silverstone Circuit in…

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IndyCar – Round 3: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Preview

John Olsakovsky

What: 39th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Where: Streets of Long Beach, California Who: Defending race winner Will Power of Verizon Team Penske looks to get back to his winning ways despite early season dominance by Andretti Autosport drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe. Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing leads the Honda charge along with impressive rookie Tristan Vautier and the much-improved Chip Ganassi Racing Teams driver, Charlie Kimball. When: 1:45pm Pacific Daylight Time (4:45 Eastern Daylight Time) on Sunday, April 21. Storylines Ryan Hunter-Reay is…

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Episode 183 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe review the amazing weekend of open-wheel racing at Barber Motorsports Park, Doug gives a quick recap of the KCRSCCA’s first event of the year, Mike Shaw previews Rally Portugal, and Mike Whitesell previews the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. Open Paddock – Monday, April 8th, 2013 Preview IndyCar – Barber wrap up and all the indycar news MRTI – ? Rally – wrc protugal preview F1 – China preview, mocking Mr. E IndyCar Barber Quali Race Results – Standings Next race – Long…

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IndyCar-Neely’s Nine: Field Rankings After HIGPA

John Olsakovsky

So we’re back! Here’s my field rankings after 2 rounds of the IZOD IndyCar Series Championship. This week we see some new faces as some of the existing players had a rough week. More importantly, who wins the Mario Moraes Parking award? 1. Helio Castroneves #3 AAA/Turbo Team Penske Chevrolet (previously 2nd) A 2nd place finish in St. Pete, followed by a Firestone Fast Six appearance and a 3rd place result at Barber, Helio Castroneves leaves two of his better tracks on a hot streak. Helio also leaves Barber as the…

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Indycar-Barber From A Fan’s Perspective

John Olsakovsky

While riding the tram around the track at Barber Motorsports Park this past Sunday, I met two young fans wearing matching Dario and Dixon shirts. I struck up a conversation with them to discover these two young female fans were from Birmingham, and one of them has an interest in becoming a writer. I gave them my card and asked them to send me their experiences from the weekend. Well, Annika Reitenga did exactly that. Here’s the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama in her words…. Race Weekend By Annika…

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IndyCar-Post Race Party: The Drivers Own Words

John Olsakovsky

Exclusive statements from drivers taken post race at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama IndyCar event. Tristan Vautier #55 Schmidt Peterson Racing  Honda “It’s a little disappointing to finish tenth when you start third and run second but we showed good pace today. As a decision by the team, we did many changes between qualifying and the race to try and save the tires, but it didn’t work out that well, so it’s a good lesson to remember for next time. I made some mistakes and there was quite…

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IndyCar-Wire to Wire: Hunter-Reay Takes Barber Win

John Olsakovsky

Defending IZOD IndyCar Series Champion Ryan-Hunter Reay took the first victory by a non Team Penske entry at the immaculate 2.3 mile Grand Prix course at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, AL today in a very exciting event. Scott Dixon took the runner up spot for the fourth consecutive time in the Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Helio Castroneves completed the podium with a strong run all day, but using up the tires late in the race to drop from the lead to third place. All this happened in front…

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IndyCar-Hunter-Reay Puts Number One in P1

John Olsakovsky

BIRMINGHAM,AL-  In a most surprising qualifying session, defending IZOD IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay beat out Verizon Team Penske driver Will Power for the Verizon P1 Award at the 2.38 mile Grand Prix course at Barber Motorsports Park. Will Power completes the front row with a lap of 1:07.3304. All of today’s qualifiers ran under the previous track record of 1:09.82. Group 1 was the “Death Group” this time. In fact, by the end of Round 1, every car with the exception of Ana Beatriz would have been fast enough…

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IndyCar-Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama: Practice 1

John Olsakovsky

A mostly uneventful S1 ended with chart-topper Tristan Vautier sliding off in Turn 2, across the gravel trap and into a rather muddy fence area. Vautier ends the session atop the speed charts at 1:09.0120 after 15 laps of running. Honda made a strong showing during the first session with Vautier finishing P1, Scott Dixon in P2, Charlie Kimball in P3 and Will Power as the fastest Chevy in p4. Dario Franchitti rounds out the Top Five with a 1:09.3202. The top 10 times were evenly split between Chevrolet and…

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