The IZOD IndyCar series headed out west to the city streets of Long Beach this weekend. The Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix is the most prestigous street course race in America and one that every driver has on the checklist of must wins. Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power were the odds on favorites after qualifying on the front row, but some late race drama ensured that Mike Conway would take his first career win in the IICS at this historic venue. Instead of giving a lap by lap rendition of…
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News and commentary on the highest level of American open-wheel racing.
Indy Hump Day Report: PT, parties like the Dude in Long Beach
It is the rule now, so deal with it kids! So Barber was an unexpected eventful race. Aside from the dominance of the leader up front (Will Power) it was an event with plenty of passing. Mainly due to a crazy little thing called “double file re-starts”. While one writer from a national McNewspaper tries his hardest every week to craft “anti-double file re-start” quotes from the drivers, it is clear the action fans see of this new on-track product is working. I don’t get why Tony Kanaan keeps complaining,…
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: Sweet Home Alabama Edition
Bia out for Barber: Wednesday morning Ipiranga/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing officially announced that Ana “Bia” Beatriz will not be racing this Sunday at Barber. The 26 year old Brazilian fractured her scaphoid bone (wrist) on the fifth lap at St. Pete, in turn five when she made contact with Graham Rahal. Bia went on to still finish 14th with the wrist injury. Last Tuesday she had surgery to assist in her speedy recovery. For Barber former Champ Car driver; 26 year old Simon Pagenaud, the reigning LMP1 champion from ALMS…
Read MoreOP-Ed – Standing vs. Flying Starts
If you listened to this last week’s episode of the Openpaddock.net Podcast, you will know there was intense debate between the crew on standing and flying starts. I was all for implementing a standing start for the IZOD IndyCar Series, while my partners in crime were against it. I was also having the same debate with Mr. Dalbey from More Front Wing. The only other person that I have read who agrees with my stand is Robin Miller. That is a small victory though because he said he could go…
Read More#IndyCar – A Tribute to Sato at St. Petersburg
Indy Hump Day Report: A star is born, and meeting Cheerleaders is easy
2,789 miles; that’s how long it took me to travel by car, to and from St. Pete Florida and the Poconos. That is the number of miles traveled to get sunburned, meet a childhood hero, flirt with the captain of the Tampa Bay Bucs Cheerleader team, and get totally confused who was in the lead. I left for Florida the Monday before the race, first having to clear four inches of wet slushy snow. My car has an exhaust leak, so I had to drive with my window open a…
Read MoreINDYCAR – St. Pete post race wrap up
The 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series started out much like the 2010 season; with a massive pile up into the first turn, taking out Marco Andretti. The crash would involve Andretti, Oriol Servia, Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon, and Mike Conway. Andretti and Conway would both DNF from the incident, the others would continue on with scares of the event. Right as the crash happened in turn one, Mario Andretti grandfather of Marco was exiting the two seater he had just pulled onto pit road. He (Mario) shook his…
Read MoreWill Power takes the pole for St. Pete 2011
After a long cold wait, the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR season has officially begun. With the temperature reaching a sunny 80 degrees; the first qualifying session of 2011 looks very much like one from 2010, Will Power is P1. Power took the top spot with a speed of 104.579 MPH, just beating out 2010 Champion Dario Franchitti who ran a 104.021 MPH lap. Followed by Dixon in P3, Mike Conway will start P4 with an impressive debut for Andretti Autosport being the only from Andretti in the “Fast 6”. Rounding…
Read MoreINDYCAR – ORECA Aero Kit for 2012?
See what happens when you win the 12 Hours of Sebring? Ok, maybe that is not entirely true, but there is very strong speculation that ORECA will join the growing list of companies that will produce an aero kit for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series. The French company has already discussed the plan with INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard and remains very interested in producing the components. The kits if produced will of course be available to all of the teams for use on the new generation car. ORECA has been…
Read MoreIndy Hump Day Report: Live from St. Pete
A very brief “Hump Day Report” since I have spent the last two days driving to the St. Pete area. First, glad to see Tony Kanaan will have a full time ride for 2011, and glad he will be teammate to bot Viso and Sato. (I suspect he will work out better than “First lap wreck” Mario) Next, it is cool that Paul Tracy will at least have a ride for Indy with Dreyer & Reinbold. Last season at Watkins Glen PT and Justin Wilson seemed to enjoy…
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