Category: OP-Ed

Check out the opinions of the guys on the site and you the fans!! Post your own article here!

Episode 179 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWith rednecks revving their engines outside Mr. Neely’s hotel room and the soft, but ominous, purring of what sounds like a velociraptor every now and then in the background, we present Episode 179 of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast! Kevin Neely and our photographer Brian McKay report from Day 1 of the IndyCar pre-season open test at a very wet and soggy Barber Motorsports Park. Mike Shaw gives us a recap of this weekend’s WRC Rally Mexico in which Ken Block put in a surprising performance.…

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Episode 178 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadA little delayed this week, but Episode 178 of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast is now available for your aural pleasure. Dr. Patterson and Mr. Whitesell cover the sobriety spectrum as Doug is stuck recording the show late night at the shop drinking potentially decaffeinated black tea while Mike enjoys a growler full of a fine local IPA. Mr. Neely is recovering from the plague and Mr. Shaw wonders why the hell he ever joined this sorry band of misfit motorsports fans! On this week’s show,…

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Indycar-Zen and the Art of Relevance

John Olsakovsky

Hooray for sinus infections. I’ve had one for the better part of this week. Instead of suffering through another day at the office, I elected to stay home and rest up a bit. On the tube right now is a replay of the Daytona 500. Undoubtedly, NASCAR is the benchmark of motorsports here in the United States. I can remember a time not so long ago when Indycar drivers were the household names and NASCAR was pretty much a regional series. Now things are pole shifted; NASCAR drivers are widely…

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Episode 177 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadTonight we’re happy to welcome to the show Peter Portante who will be piloting the #41 Intercity Lines/B&S/California Scents racing machine in the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda for Belardi Auto Racing. Peter won the Skip Barber Race Series Championship Shootout and the MAZDASPEED Scholarship to compete for a full-season in USF2000, and chose to join Belardi Auto Racing after heavy recruitment from a number of teams. What is truly unique about Peter’s entry into formula car racing in general, and…

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Episode 176 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOn Episode 176 of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast, the OpenPaddock quartet of Kevin, Mike, Doug, and Mike are joined by a surprise guest, Shaun Effin Pechin! We congratulate Danica on her pole, and banter about the latest F1, Grand-Am, and IndyCar rumors. Mike Shaw previews the upcoming Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, and Doug rants about INDYCAR’s decision to postpone the new Indy Lights chassis and engine. Oh, and with Shaun back on the show, there are firings all around!

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Episode 175 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThe whole crew, save for Shaun as we await his safe return from deployment, are on this episode of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast. Mike Shaw recaps the amazing Rally Sweden and the dominance Sebastian Ogier in his new Volkswagen Polo, and one of the best photos ever in the history of the WRC (of course it’s of Petter). Kevin Neely and Mike Whitesell share their opinions on the latest news from IndyCar, including the proposed tax incentive the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is seeking from the…

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Episode 174 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadKevin Neely, Mike Shaw, and Doug Patterson review the week’s news in IndyCar, the Mazda Road to Indy, Rally, and Formula 1. Kevin keeps trying to throw AMA Supercross into the mix, but so far he’s not found much traction. The USF2000 Winterfest has started! Doug leads us through Tuesday’s activities and looks at the results as a foreshadowing of how the regular season will shape up. Kevin leads us through the silly season news in IndyCar and how Jay Penske may have pissed…

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Episode 172 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s rally time!! Mike Shaw takes us through a recap of the opening round of the World Rally Championship, the legendary Monte Carlo Rally, and gives us a preview of the opening round of the Rally America series, the always slippery Sno*Drift Rally. Kevin, Doug, and Mike Whitesell finish out the show with news from Formula 1, IndyCar and a brief look at the upcoming 24hrs of Daytona. We’re also giving more stuff away this week! To one of our Twitter followers, we will…

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OpEd-Twas The Night Before Christmas

John Olsakovsky

Twas the night before Christmas and at Open Paddock All the writers were dining on freshly caught Haddock The stockings were hung on the mantle with twine Cause all of the budget was spent on FCC fines Shaun was snuggled all cozy in bed As visions of Ken Block raced through his head Then Doug with a T-Shirt and Mike with House Shoes Passed Mike Shaw as we all went for a snooze When out in the drive there arose such a noise I instantly knew it had to be…

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Episode 169 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock.net Podcast Kevin, Mike, & Mike dissect new CEO of Hulman & Co. Mark Miles’ comments on the future direction IndyCar should take, recap the testing action at Sebring, and reexamine the prospect of Hoosier or Continental replacing Firestone. They also spend some time looking at developments in the Pro Mazda Championship as Andersen Promotions is already beginning to evolve the series, and they weigh in on Doug’s comments on the potential future direction of the series. Lastly, the trio…

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