Episode 178.1 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast: SCCA Edition

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOur SCCA Reporter, Jeremy Salenius, is headed down to Georgia to compete in the first SCCA Solo Match Tour event of the year. He gives us an overview of what the unique Match Tour format is and how it’s different from a regular Solo event. Be sure to also check out Jeremy’s article, 2013 SCCA Solo Season is Almost Here. Jeremy will be reporting on all things SCCA Solo for us in addition to competing at both the local and national levels. Over the…

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Indy Lights – Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Signs Sage Karam for 2013

As if the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports stable wasn’t already stacked with talent, the juggernaut team in Firestone Indy Lights announced the signing of a third supremely talented driver, Sage Karam. To be honest, I and many others just took it as a given that Sage would be with Zach Veach at the Andretti Autosport team, the team he’s been with ever since joining the Mazda Road to Indy in the USF2000 Championship back in 2010. As we saw Andretti sign Zach and Munoz, I thought perhaps they would expand to…

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Formula 1 – Another Beautiful Letdown?

Mercedes-Benz AMG is riding the wave of momentum into Australia for the Formula 1 opener. After topping the time sheets over the final two days of testing last week, expectations for the team are beginning to change. Mercedes were originally set to just survive the 2013 season with Lewis Hamilton making the switch over from McLaren. The interesting thing about it is the top teams now believe Mercedes could be the favorite as we are just a week out from Australia. The question is will 2013 be beautiful letdown sequel…

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Episode 178 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadA little delayed this week, but Episode 178 of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast is now available for your aural pleasure. Dr. Patterson and Mr. Whitesell cover the sobriety spectrum as Doug is stuck recording the show late night at the shop drinking potentially decaffeinated black tea while Mike enjoys a growler full of a fine local IPA. Mr. Neely is recovering from the plague and Mr. Shaw wonders why the hell he ever joined this sorry band of misfit motorsports fans! On this week’s show,…

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Formula 1 – Preseason Driver Power Rankings

After showing you how I feel the teams stack up for the start of 2013, I now give you all 22 drivers in the preseason driver power rankings. Please note that during the season we will only give the top 10 ranked drivers as it is frankly a pain the ass to do this for 22 drivers. Especially when we will forget half of them exist in about two weeks’ time! I will give a full update during the three week summer break and will have a full roundup at…

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Formula 1 – Honda Rumor Shows V6 Promise

The big gossip over the last day or so is a BBC story linking Honda with McLaren for 2014 or 2015 at the latest. Honda whom used to run a team in the series (now the Mercedes AMG team) is strongly rumored to be making a comeback in the engine department as F1 moves to the turbo V6 for 2014. The Japanese manufacturer has made no official statement regarding their F1 plans, but the McLaren rumor isn’t going away. I think even the rumor shows there is a lot of…

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Sports Car – Home field advantage for CJ Wilson Racing

CJ Wilson Racing completed a memorable weekend of Grand Am racing at Circuit of the Americas by taking it’s maiden victory in the ultra competitive ST class of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge on Saturday afternoon. Stevan McAleer and Marc Miller took the checkered flag after an intense battle in the final minutes of the two and a half hour race. After a late full course yellow tightened the 36 car field, the race to the flag became a frenetic twenty five minute sprint race. Both CJ Wilson cars…

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Pro Mazda – Race 2 at COTA Recap

Race 2 this afternoon for the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires at the Circuit of the Americas started out much like Race 1, with a giant furball headed into T1 and two drivers coming out worse for it. Yesterday’s winner, Juncos Racing’s Diego Ferreira, set the fast lap during Race 1 and earned pole position for Race 2. He would lose that spot to Andretti Autosports’ duo of Matthew Brabham and Shelby Blackstock as they would take advantage of Diego’s overshooting the T1 apex. Diego would fight all…

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SCCA – RallyCross Season Is Here!

Ever since the first Kansas City Region SCCA rallycross event last October, I’ve been anxiously awaiting our second. Yesterday, registration was opened for the first of four rallycross events the region has planned for 2013. The event will be at the same location as last year’s event, at a member’s property south of Garnett, Kansas. The field has some elevation change which makes for a challenging course as for half of the circuit you’re trying desperately to find grip as you climb uphill, and then you’re desperately trying to keep…

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Pro Mazda – COTA Day 1 WrapUp

The Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires completed it’s first day of competition for the 2013 season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX, and became the first INDYCAR-sanctioned series to race at the new world-class facility. Andretti Autosport’s Matthew Brabham looked poised to take an early hold of the series championship showing dominating pace in pre-season testing, but Juncos Racing’s Diego Ferreira was never far behind and claimed pole position for Race #1. This may come as a surprise for some, but those who were paying…

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