Road to Indy – Night Before The 500 Summary and Photos

Summary and Quotes Saturday night, the Night Before the 500, saw the first visit to an oval for the US F2000 National Championship presented by Cooper Tires powered by Mazda and the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Unlike the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race the next day which was brutally hot, the weather was perfect. We sat in the Turn 1 grass and enjoyed the mild temps and the gentle breeze as we watched the future of open-wheel racing do battle on the 5/8-mile paved oval at the O’Reilly Raceway…

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IndyCar – Grading to the 500

Just like that it is all over. The cleaning crews are clearing the soda and beer cans, Dario has won, and we all wait until next year to see what surprises the race holds. This year was one of the most controversial five hundred mile races in a long time because of the setup of the month. The month of May has always been a month and not just a two week event. So how did it fair? Lets take a look and grade the 94th Indianapolis 500. Practice: B+…

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IndyCar – Pippa Mann Brings the A-Game!

Sam Schmidt Motorsports pilot, Pippa Mann, made history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday by becoming the first female pole winner in Firestone Indy Lights history, and in the history of the Speedway. Her pole winning time was 1:35.7505 over the two laps for an average of 187.989 mph, just ahead of teammate Wade Cunningham’s 187.742 mph. This is a fantastic turn around for Pippa who’s had a frustrating mid-pack season thus far starting last at St. Pete and running only six laps at St. Pete, starting and finishing…

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Episode 40 – Open Paddock Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and I as we recap all of the time trials from Indy and look ahead to the 94th Indianapolis 500. We also get into Rally Portugal and F1 in Turkey. We also sit and heap scorn at the Austin GP…I mean USGP. Sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy the show and hopefully we will see you this weekend!

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F1 – USGP Returns in 2012

The United States Grand Prix is set for yet another return as the traveling circus trades in their glitz in glamour for cowboy hats. The event was announced to day by Formula 1 and will be held in Austin Texas from 2012 to 2021. The race is slated to be held on a new fixed circuit that will be purpose built for the event. This is the first time since 1980 that the race will be held on a purpose built, fixed road course and the first time ever a…

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IndyCar – Indianapolis 500 Memories: Birthdays, Radios, and Radioactive Coolers

As part of our continuing series of short talks recalling favorite memories of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I had a great conversation with Dr. Dana Grove from Johnson County Community College (Go Cavs!) over lunch earlier in the week. Dana is quite literally a life-long fan of the Memorial Day Classic, who’s first birthday, and his upcoming birthday, falls on Race Day. What better way is there to celebrate your birthday than by singing Back Home Again in Indiana with 300,000 of your best…

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