As the week goes on, we are given one reminder after another that the FIA prefers to rule F1 as a bloated parliamentary bureaucracy instead of as race directors. Flashback to the Australian GP during the last safety car period. Hamilton passed Jarno Trulli when his car went off course, despite a very respectable effort of starting from pitlane and bringing his car up to 3rd position. Hamilton passed him since he was off circuit, and then later slowed down so much that Jarno thought he was having problems, so…
Read MoreTag: 2009
Plato to Run Lacetti in Opener
Jason Plato has decided just days prior to the BTCC opener on 5 April, that he will run a spec 2008 Chevrolet Lacetti at Brands Hatch. Plato has gone jobless since Seat left the series at the end of last year. The deal at this point is not covering the whole year, however if results can be put together and funding made available Plato says he will remain. The 2008 Lacetti will be run under the RML squad. The team had been running the Seat works program since 2004. Plato…
Read MoreTagliani and Manning In for St. Pete
As we reported earlier, Dreyer and Reinbold prepared a second car for St. Petersburg but had not yet officially announced a driver or submitted it to the entry list for this weekend’s festivities. While we here at Open Paddock surmised that Tomas Scheckter would most likely get the nod since he has been toting bags of cash looking for somebody to help him overcome his half-shaft habit, we also suggested that Milka Duno couldn’t be ruled out. In both cases, we were wrong. Darren Manning has been tapped to fill…
Read MoreFrantic F1
The Economy & IndyCar
The entry list for this weekend’s St. Petersburg race has just been released. At least 21 cars will contest the seson opener for the IndyCar series this weekend, which is down from the 26 cars that we routinely saw last year after the merger. In this world of new realities, especially in the automotive industry and in motorsport, any loss has to be viewed with grave concern. But, lets look at the good and bad of the offseason as far as momentum for the series goes. All through last season…
Read MoreSt. Pete Entry List
The entry list for this weekend’s race has been posted on IndyCar.com with 21 participants. Team Driver A.J. Foyt Enterprises Vitor Meira Andretti Green Racing Danica Patrick Andretti Green Racing Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green Racing Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing Tony Kanaan Conquest Racing TBA – Most likely Alex Taglianni CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G Stanton Barrett (R) Dale Coyne Racing Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Mike Conway (R) HVM Racing E.J. Viso KV Racing Technology Mario Moraes Luczo Dragon Racing Raphael Matos (R) Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Robert Doornbos…
Read MoreKen Block from Rally America on Dirt 2
What Went Wrong
The first round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship has come and gone. The hype is over and what was thought to be a dream has now settled into reality. Jenson Button and Brawn GP are for real and the top teams are left asking themselves what is next. They however should not be the only ones asking that question. The radical rule changes that were put in place for this year’s championship were seen every time a car flashed past the camera. The idea to radically change the…
Read MoreButton Wins, FIA Annoys
The 2009 Australian GP is in the books and the F1 world stands amazed at the efforts of Brawn GP. With Jenson taking the win and Rubens taking 2nd, the team has pulled out to an unexpected early lead in the constructors championship. And while some may contend that Australia isn’t the best test of their true pace, Jenson’s car was pulling away from the field at all stages of the race. Rubens had a bit more trouble though, “It was really tough for me at the start as the…
Read MoreSato Eyeing IRL Seat
There was rumor floating about within the last couple weeks that perhaps Takumo Sato would come to the U.S. and give the IRL a try. Autosport has run an article confirming Sato’s desire to run in the American open wheel series and could be in a seat come Motegi. Sato’s commercial manager was quoted as saying: “It’s a long way from happening yet,” But if Taku could do Motegi that would be great. If he could do more IndyCar races that would be even better. He still wants to get…
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