IndyCar – Game, Set, Match to Franchitti

After dominating nearly every road circuit this year, Power’s lack of oval experience and skill caught up to him in the end. Dario Franchitti’s consistency all season long, as his strong performances on the oval circuits , allowed him to chase down Will Power and take the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Championship for the second year in a row. Even more impressive is to consider that Dario spent the 2008 season experimenting with NASCAR, but the year prior, 2007, Dario again won the championship. That means Dario has won the…

Read More

Rally – Loeb Cruising in France

Sebastian Loeb has started his France homecoming the only way he knows how by coming out and opening a 22sec lead after the first leg. Loeb is in prime position to take home the title this weekend and that has been the aim of Citroen the whole time. Take the C4’s last championship on home soil. Other notable happenings this weekend has been Ken Block’s return too tarmac and the overall Ford implosion that has been 2010. Fortunately for the Ford team, Jari-Matti Latvala was able to take two stage…

Read More

IndyCar – Breaking: Dario Takes Pole in Miami! *UPDATE*

IZOD IndyCar Series qualifying has just concluded down at Homestead-Miami and Dario Franchitti has struck the first blow this weekend as the championship comes down to the wire. The championship contenders were late on to the track, but Will Power would take pole position from teammate Ryan Briscoe giving him that crucial one point for pole. Not to be out done, Dario would come out and lay down a blistering pace of over 213 mph! This would give Dario the point and reduce Will Power’s championship lead to 11. The…

Read More

Episode 58 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe said last week that some pretty crazy stuff would have to happen for a podcast and well….you have downloaded it have you not? Mike and Doug fly solo this week (scary) and bring you news about HVM as well as Lotus. Doug feels bad that the new IZOD Indycar Series trophy is stacked..literally! They also cover WRC, Petit Le Mans and a number of other junior open wheel series. So sit back and enjoy the ramblings of Mike and Doug’s excellent adventure!

Read More

IndyCar – Behold, The New Champions Trophy (Gasp!)

The IZOD IndyCar Series unveiled their new champion’s trophy yesterday at a poolside party with Dario Franchitti, Will Power and a host of IZOD ladies. Dario and Will were in attendance due to winning the Oval and Road Course championship trophies respectively. The IICS had to change their champion’s trophy from the old chrome cup emblazoned with “Indy Racing League” to a more suitable object that didn’t use the now defunct moniker. But I think they may have been better off using an angle grinder on the old trophy to…

Read More

F1 – Renault Excercise Caution…Rightfully So!

Eric Boullier and the Renault Formula 1 team have worked very hard this season with driver Robert Kubica to turn around what was a joke last season. A team that nearly folded shop has seemingly been returned to prominence this year and it has had to be THE feel good story of the year for F1. Kimi Raikkonen is still on the fence for his 2011 plans and Renault said today that they would not mind meeting Kimi face to face in order to understand what Kimi actually wants. I…

Read More

Rally – Monster Offers Kimi

Kimi Raikkonen has been all the rage over the last couple of weeks. Is he staying in the WRC or heading back to Formula 1 to race for Renault? The 2007 Formula 1 World Champion has had a rough debut in his rookie WRC season, but many teams see Kimi as a potential regular points scorer and the Monster World Rally team has step forward. Along with the Citroen Junior squad, reports have Kimi getting offers from MINI and potentially Renault F1. However it is the apparent offer from Monster…

Read More

Rally – MINI Showing Positive Progress

The Prodrive/MINI project seems to be coming along just fine. The MINI Clubman WRC has undergone its first serious gravel test and is looking to step up to a more intensive program. After last weeks test that saw the likes of Kris Meeke, Marcus Gronholm and Markko Martin driving the car on gravel, the team has indicated their intention to test the car once a month up until Christmas. The team was clear that the level of technical changes and situations would be limited but they would run the car…

Read More

TV – Weekend Racing Schedule for Sept 24, 25, and 26.

Formula 1 is back on track! …well, such as the track may be. The Singapore GP is this weekend, and it really is a great spectacle, even if the racing action is junk. Being on the opposite side of the planet as the US is mitigated a bit by the fact that the race will be at night. The practice, qualifying, and race will be broadcast by Speed at sensible times of the morning. Cool! Formula 1 cars under the lights, even if the racing isn’t great, is always a…

Read More