OpEd – Will the real Lotus please stand up?

Group Lotus, Team Lotus, Lotus Racing, Lotus Motorsports, Lotus Cars, Lotus Engineering… we have a whole field of Lotus and its downright confusing to us fans! To add to the confusion Group Lotus is suing Lotus Racing over the rights to use the name Team Lotus. …er? what? Yeah, that’s how I felt at first to. It would be simpler if one group was the production car wing of the larger parent company and the other group the motorsports wing. However, that’s not exactly how it is. Group Lotus has…

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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…

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Episode 57 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin all three of the Openpaddock boys this week as we review Motegi. We also talk a little F1 as we get ready for Singapore. Rally has some interesting news as well as information on a MINI test video that you can view on our main page.

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TV – Weekend Racing Schedule for Sept. 11 and 12

This weekend is MONZA! The Formula 1 circus hits the superfast Monza circuit and there’s lots of drama as usual, but this time its good drama. Technical drama. Racing drama. There are definitely two schools of thought regarding the clever ducting systems that have arisen this season. To F-Duct or not to F-Duct is the top question in the paddock, and teams used the practice sessions today to make their final assessments. Red Bull are running no duct and a thin slip of a rear wing, while Renault are using…

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Episode 55 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and I as we discuss Kentucky! A lot happened in quali and during the race and we break it all down. We also discuss some MINI rumors as well as the tire situation in the WRC. We also discuss a lot of F1 news as we go into th eMonza weekend. Sit back and enjoy another great bit of motorsport discussion!

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OpEd – Thoughts on FLD’s Most Influential Drivers

You’ve already seen this video, because you already watch Fast Lane Daily religiously, right? RIGHT? Well, if you don’t you should! In their latest episode, they go through the history of motorsport and select the top five most influential drivers. If you missed it, here’s the vid. In summary, the top five most influential according to FLD: Aytron Senna Rodger Penske Dale Earnhart, Sr. Dan Gurney James Garner as Pete Aaron I think they make some compelling arguments, but I also think they got it a bit wrong if we’re…

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F1 – Thoughts on the Austin Track Map

One more step has been taken toward having a Formula 1 grand prix race in Austin, Texas. The proposed Tilke-designed track map including elevations has been released. My first thought is that this can’t be a Tilke track. There’s no chicane in front of the hairpins. (tongue firmly planted in cheek) 3.6 miles in 20 turns with 133 feet of elevation change, hairpins, high-speed sweepers, medium-speed technical sections, the circuit really does seem to have everything you need in a quality grand prix track. It is interesting to me that…

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Episode 54 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and myself as we review Chicago and a great race at Spa! We also have PT at DRR and Sarah Fisher taking Graham Rahal for Kentuckey, as well as a number of manufacturers wanting to go rally. So as always, sit back with a beverage of your choice and enjoy our humble ramblings on all things motorsport…and some things not!

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F1 – Could Spa Switch to Every Other Year?

To paraphrase the stunned and dismayed youngster who confronted Shoeless Joe Jackson after the infamous 1919 Black Sox incident, “Say it ain’t so, Spa!” The president of the Spa-Franchorchamps circuit, Etienne Davignon, admitted to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that the Belgian Grand Prix would likely become a once-every-other-year event. “We have already been congratulated by F1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone. The facilities we have here are perfect. I have said in previous years though we will look at the figures and examine them year-on-year. We have certain overall targets in…

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TV – Weekend Racing Schedule for August 27, 28, and 29th

FORMULA 1 RETURNS! MOTOGP RETURNS! INDYCAR OVAL RACING RETURNS! Its a great weekend to be a racing fan with access to cable TV. At long last, the Formula 1 returns from holiday to compete at one of the most epic racing circuits on the planet: Spa-Francorchamps! Spa is always a good show, especially if the rains come as forecasted. The shorter MotoGP break is also over and the riders return to Indianapolis. Sadly, I will be watching on TV this year, rather than being at the track. I’m gutted about…

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