So today, Curt Cavin broke the news on Twitter, and the press release from IndyCar followed not too long after, that the new chassis that we’d been expecting in 2014 will have to wait a little while longer. The current chassis and engine spec was originally laid out in 2002 when the series was reincarnated as the Menard’s Infinity Pro Series after the CART version of Indy Lights terminated at the end of the 2001 season. The series at the time was designed to provide a platform to develop drivers…
Read MoreIndyLights – Does the Signing of Gabby Chaves Cinch the Title for SPM?
That giant groan of despair that you heard was the rest of the Firestone Indy Lights grid finding out that they’re all just competing for 2nd in the championship this year as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) signs Gabby Chaves to join his formal Star Mazda rival Jack Hawksworth for 2013. With Chaves and Hawksworth as teammates on the outfit that has won six Indy Lights championships, more than any other team, including winning the championship for the past three years running, the rest of the field is looking at pretty…
Read MoreInside the Helmet – Lisa Noble
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s been a while since we’ve had a stand-alone Inside the Helmet feature, but I promise this episode is well worth the wait! We are happy to introduce Lisa Noble, 2013 Chairman of the Board for the Sports Car Club of America, long-time member of the SCCA, and National-caliber race-winning Formula Vee driver. Lisa shares with us her journey in motorsport beginning with her epiphany as a teenager that motor racing was something that she wanted as part of her life, through her time…
Read MoreEpisode 175 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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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…
Read MoreUSF2000 – Alberico and Cape Motorsports Dominate Winterfest
After the dominance that Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing displayed last season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, it’s really no surprise to see them dominate this year’s USF2000 Winterfest. The six-race mini-series that started with three races at the Sebring International Raceway last Tuesday and Wednesday, concluded this weekend with three races at the Palm Beach International Raceway. Californian Neil Alberico won all three of the races, followed immediately by his teammate Canadian Scott Hargrove in P2. That gave Alberico a strong lead headed…
Read MoreIndycar-Mugello added to schedule
The website for the Mugello Circuit in Mugello, Italy confirms a much rumored date for the IZOD Indycar Series has indeed come to fruition. It appears that American Open Wheel Racing returns to Europe for the first time in a number of years on September 15. There are currently no other details available. Keep checking back with us at OpenPaddock.net for more details as they become available. Information on the Mugello Circuit is available on their website, Mugellocircuit.it
Read MoreGrand Am – Photos from the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona
Our first new photo gallery of the year courtesy of one of our fantastic photogs, Brian McKay. It’s my fault that they were slow making it to the site, so don’t send Brian hate mail, send it to me.
Read MoreMRTI – USF2000 and ProMazda Get A New Driver Coach
The first two steps on the Mazda Road to Indy now have a new driver coach, Joel Miller. Joel has been involved open-wheel racing since 2004 when he moved from karts to the Pacific F2000 series. In 2008 and 2009, Joel raced with JDC Motorsports in Star Mazda, finishing in 2nd and 5th in the championship, respectively. He moved up to drive part-time in the Firestone Indy Lights series in 2010 for Andersen Racing and in 2011 for Team E Racing. Needless to say, he knows the cars the young…
Read MoreEpisode 174 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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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…
Read MoreUSF2000 – Winterfest Sebring Wrap-up
The racing season is upon us! The Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda ran the first three races of it’s six-race Winterfest series at Sebring International Raceway this past Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, twenty-two new and returning drivers to USF2000 took to the famously bumpy Sebring circuit for a morning practice, an early afternoon qualifying, and a late afternoon race. Races 2 and 3 were held on Wednesday following an early morning warm-up session USF2000 Winterfest – Tuesday Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing looked strong right…
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