The Blocking Problem Blocking is certainly nothing new in motorsports, or racing in general for that matter. As soon as two people raced each other on foot, I’m sure that the leader blocked the person behind and probably violently. In various types of horse racing, we see blocking and crowding a competitor against the rail, and given that automobile racing is simply an extension of horse racing, its no surprise that we see blocking in modern motorsports. The challenge of the various sanctioning bodies of modern motorsports series is to…
Read MoreTag: F1
Episode 49 – Openpaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Doug and I as we talk all things blocking and team orders. Was the block right or wrong? Find out with this latest installment. We toss around ideas on Ferrari could have done better and not been so obvious as well as what the points look like in both Indy and F1. We make mention to something we have been following with MINI announcing their joint effort with Prodrive in the WRC as well as this weeks XGames. So as always, sit back…
Read MoreChassis Edition – Open Paddock Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin me this week as me and Doug hash the chassis decision. We know it is a Dallara rolling chassis but will it work? Doug and I present opposing view points on the topic as well as cover other news that came out of the press event. We cover some rally as our own John Cassidy prepares this week for the New England Forest Rally. We also cover Bulgaria and Ogier/Ford talks. A brief mention to Silverstone as we look at the Red Bull…
Read MoreEpisode 46 – Open Paddock Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and I as we rehash the Armco at the Glen, I mean the IZOD IndyCar race at Watkins Glen. We also get into some of the statements made over the weekend by one Randy Bernard. There are close to a million statements. We cover rally and prepare for the WRC round in Bulgaria as well as announce a German manufacturers future in the Dakar Rally. Last but not least we get into some Formula 1. We are slightly nicer to the series…
Read MoreF1 – Audi Says No Means No
Recent reports have linked the Volkswagen family of auto manufacturers to a potential move to Formula 1 in the near future even perhaps assisting the likes of HRT. One brand name that was tossed into the circle was that of Audi. The ringed brand has told Formula 1 that they will not compete in the “pinnacle of motorsport” because it is not relevant to road car development. Wolfgang Ullrich had this to say in regards to the situation. “We believe formula one and Audi do not fit, so long as…
Read MoreF1 – Ferrari…Seriously??
Once again the FiA was able to make a dull pathetic race exciting by adding in the trump card of all F1 Grand Prix. The race steward. This card is a controllable means to making a race interesting when there is no chance of rain. So it happened this weekend in the bright sun of Valencia on a race weekend that even the most die-hard fans live to forget. Let’s face it, the race track itself is silly and the on track action is even worse. Yet that race has…
Read MoreEpisode 44 – Open Paddock Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and I as we address the great race that was Iowa as well as talk rally news and all of the new Formula 1 regulations as well! Sit back and have a beverage as we ramble on about all things hot in motorsport this week and some things World Cup related.
Read MoreF1 – Fourth Team Would Hurt Mercedes
Simply put, 2010 has not been the year that Mercedes was hoping for. The team that was once Brawn GP, a team that took both the drivers title and the constructor’s title received a huge boost when they signed Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, but both drivers have struggled up to this point. Along with trying to field their own manufacturer effort, Mercedes has supplied McLaren and Force India with power plants for their challengers over the last couple years. Speculation had the German team also perhaps supplying Red Bull…
Read MoreEpisode 43 – Open Paddock Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and I as we discuss the weekend that was the Canadian GP. We also cover a little Le Mans as there was the greatest sports car in the world last weekend. We talk a little Rally and a little IndyCar as well. So as is standard operating procedure, sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy the random gripes and complaints that make up this weeks show!
Read MoreF1 – How Can Austin Succeed Where Indy Failed
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh recently made his feelings known about the return of the USGP to Austin, Texas in a phone interview with Autosport. His most poignant statement was “I think Formula 1 is used to being poured into markets that want us badly there…. North America frankly doesn’t need Formula 1, so I think it’s for us to go and prove to North America that this is an interesting sport and spectacle and something that it’s worthwhile them taking an interest in.” The US is a stick and…
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