Part IV:New Direction Needed for IMSA-ALMS

Mike Shaw

The 2011 American Le Mans Series season will (likely) widely be remembered as the one with two very successful events, Sebring and Petit Le Mans, a very questionable television/broadcast package with ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com that fans and some media are very critical of and other than the ALMS serious fan, some other races.   What’s this you say?  Have you lost your mind? The season is only two races old, we’re in the Le Mans break, Lime Rock is but a month away, we got bunch a great races leading…

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Op-Ed: Spike Rogan picks the 2011 Indy 500 winner, and gives credit where it is deserved

Mike Shaw

This is a special night before the 500 Op-Ed, about the 2011 Indianapolis 500.  I sadly will not be at IMS for the race this year, ask any blogger how much the track loved us in 2011. So I like many of you reading this will be forced to watch on ABC. Although I have XM and can listen to IMS radio to avoid Marty Reid making me put a golf wedge into the TV. Here are some thoughts about this year’s race, very unlikely thoughts for some. Women have…

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INDYCAR – TCGR Will Keep Honda

Shaun

It was announced this weekend that Target Chip Ganassi racing will be supplied by Honda next season once engine competition is aloud. There was heavy speculation that perhaps given Ganassi’s efforts in NASCAR, he would switch to Chevrolet power next year. The announcement is huge for Honda and seems as yet another hit to Andretti Autosport who was thought to be Honda’s ‘anchor’ team in 2012. Ganassi has been supplied by Honda dating back to the team’s days in the ChampCar World Series. The manufacturer backed the team to four…

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IndyLights – 2011 Firestone Freedom 100 Recap

Doug Patterson

Carburetion Day brings with it the final day of practice prior to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, thus its name. Yes, I know the engines have been injected for a long time, but its still a cool name and we like tradition, here. For the past eight years, this year being the ninth, in addition to the traditional final practice session for the IndyCars, its also been the day of the Firestone Freedom 100 Indy Lights race, a 40-lap sprint race around the 2.5 mile circuit. The Firestone Freedom 100…

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F1 Soap Box – Everybody Loves the 2013 Engines…. Right?

mike

Jean Todt’s FIA has been getting pushback from some of the teams and the current commercial rights holder regarding the plan to introduce 1.6L 4-cylinder power plants in F1 for 2013.  Bernie Ecclestone has made claims that the unique noise generated by the current V8 is one of the prime things that keep people coming back for more, while Ferrari has taken every opportunity to indicate that 4-cylinder engines do not fit F1 or Ferrari’s DNA.  So, why the disgruntlement with the new engines?  And what are the implications of…

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Episode 90 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

Shaun

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the boys this week as they rehash all of the excitement of qualifications. They also debate the 20,000 pound elephant in the room and interestingly enough…there is a disagreement. Sorry for those looking for all of the motorsports we usually cover but the 500 takes the cake this week as tornadoes in the area forced the show to break and restart after track drying. Sit back as always and enjoy the show!

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Indy Hump Day Report: Its the end of the 500 as we know it (and I feel fine)

Mike Shaw

So how have all the fans suddenly become shocked? Is this idea of buying rides new in INDYCAR? Do I really need to go down the list? Milka, Moraes, royalty, doctors, I think the 500 has seen a fair share of ride buying. What about 1995 with Penske? Really I find it more shocking how “shocked” fans are. I seriously find it laughable more anger is aimed at Ryan Hunter-Reay and not the rules. Remember how most of you the INDYCAR fans lobbied to “Dump Trump”? He didn’t pass to…

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INDYCAR – Jim Clark and The Wood Brothers Win in 1965

Shaun

FROM: Ford Racing As part of Ford Racing’s continuing celebration of its 110-year anniversary, we present one of the most unique moments in open-wheel history. In 1965, Ford Racing combined one of the world’s greatest drivers with one of NASCAR’s top crews to make Indianapolis 500 history. Jim Clark’s win with the Wood Brothers was so memorable that when Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrates its Centennial event on Sunday, Clark’s No. 82 Lotus-Ford will run and be driven by Al Unser, Sr. as part of pre-race festivities representing the decade of…

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Mazda Road to Indy – Preparing for the Ovals

Doug Patterson

All of the various series that are part of INDYCAR and the Mazda Road to Indy program have opened their seasons with road and street courses. Beginning next weekend, though, everyone switches to oval tracks! Racing on an oval is not as easy as going fast and turning left as those who attended the USF2000 Oval Clinic earlier this month learned. This past weekend, the Star Mazda Championship, in preparation for their coming sequence of three oval races, held an open test at the Milwaukee Mile. For many drivers in…

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