We here at Open Paddock have been pretty shy about jumping on the F1 media train for the last couple months since the politics of F1 have overshadowed the racing. But this situation has finally come to a head, so let’s discuss. Is this a page out of Max’s handbook of extreme bargaining tactics, or is that FOTA’s final word? Max has become a broken record when it comes to negotiations. He comes out with a monstrously extreme position that is only intended to make the other bargaining party enter…
Read MoreTag: 2009
F1 – FOTA Missile Crisis
In what seems to be straight out of the 1960s history books, we are again faced with two rival powers who are hell bent on changing the face of motorsport as we know it. Autosport Magazine has published a story that has FOTA forming a breakaway championship. Well Shaun…what are you talking about? It is simple to be honest, the war of words between FOTA and the FIA has blown into all out chaos as only the F1 circus can bring it to you. As we have followed for the…
Read MoreIndyCar – Sad Entry List for Iowa
The IndyCar series has taken many hits this year, from the down economy to the poor racing at Kansas, Indy and Texas. But the most telling indicator of the health of the series remains the unstable car counts from race to race. At Texas, we had a season high of 24 cars (apart from Indy) which followed the season low of 21 at Milwaukee. Well, this weekend for Iowa appears to be more of the same. Only 20 cars showed up on the entry list. No part time entries were…
Read MoreF1 – Lola Withdraws Bid
Max Mosely attempted to dazzle the world by announcing that no less than 15 bids for entry into the 2010 F1 Championship were lodged, all as a result of his amazing new plan to reshape F1. Nevermind the fact that the last time the FIA opened up the entry process, 22 teams bid to enter, but not a single one ended up making the grid the following season. Further tarnishing Max’s excitement is the potential departure of the eight FOTA teams, including Ferrari and McLaren. In the midst of heated…
Read MoreRally – Loeb’s Huge Accident
IndyCar – Tracy To Drive at The Glen
Things keep looking better and better for Paul Tracy. KV Racing Technologies announced today that veteran driver Paul Tracy would return to the team, and the Geico sponsorship, for the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen over the July 4th holiday weekend at the historic Watkins Glen International Raceway. “I am pleased to announce that Paul Tracy and GEICO Insurance will be joining KV Racing Technology for the race at Watkins Glen,” said KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser. “Running Paul at The Glen with Mario gives us the opportunity to…
Read MoreF1 – Kimi Buy Out?
According to an article in the American publication National Speed Sport News by Dan Knutson, Ferrari has offered to buy out the remaining year on Kimi Raikkonen’s contract. NSSN’s sources close to the Scuderia tell them that Kimi declined their offer stating that he would like to remain with the team through the remainder of his contract. The source also divulged that Fernando Alonso is under a lucrative first option contract with Ferrari this season and will be paid a full salary for 2010, reportedly in the 30 million dollar…
Read MoreIndyCar – RHR: I Am Moving!
Chalk this one up as something out of left field! It has been announced this afternoon that Ryan Hunter-Reay will be moving from the #21 Vision Racing car to the #14 AJ Foyt car to replace Vitor Meira for the remainder of the season. Vitor broke his back after heavy contact with the wall at Indy after he was bumped by Raphael Matos in the closing laps of the race. His back did not need surgery to correct and the recovery process may wrap up before the end of the…
Read MoreF1 – FIA Make Debacle of Entry List
The FIA today released the somewhat official entry list for the 2010 championship as follows: Team Constructor Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari Scuderia Toro Rosso STR TBA Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing TTBA At&T Williams Williams Toyota Force India F1 Team Force India Mercedes Campos Grand Prix Campos Cosworth Manor Grand Prix Manor Cosworth Team US F1 Team US F1 Cosworth Vodafone McLaren Mercedes* McLaren Mercedes BMW Sauber F1 Team* BMW Sauber Renault F1 Team* Renault Panasonic Toyota Racing* Toyota Brawn GP Formula One Team* Brawn TBA * These five…
Read MoreIndyCar – On Danica Patrick
Whether you love Danica or not, she has been good for the IndyCar series in many ways. She has brought media attention, sponsorship interest and scores of fans into following her exploits in the series. But now, she may become one of the most hotly contested assets in all of motorsport. With parties as varied as IndyCar, NASCAR and eve USF1 expressing interest in cashing in on her popularity, she is in a wonderful position to negotiate her next contract. Per her contract with AGR, she is now able to…
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