The first manufacturer has jumped into the 2012 body kit fray. Lotus which had indicated that they would think about creating a kit for the series has confirmed that they will develop a kit for purchase when the new rules come into affect. Lotus brass cited this as a continued evolution of the brands involvement in the sport. The team has given a large amount of financial backing to KV Racing Technologies and even put their name and logo on the car piloted by Takumo Sato. This now means that a…
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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 MoreEpisode 48 – Open Paddock Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Doug and I this week as we hash out the crash filled Toronto IndyCar race. We also break down some more on the chassis decision and discuss driver’s futures. We then turn our focus to rally for NEFR and some Bulgaria talk. We have not talked ALMS for a long time and we check in on the series. So as always, grab your favorite beverage and sit back and enjoy another serving of motorsport mumblings.
Read MoreOpEd – Selling 2012 IndyCar aero kits, can it really be profitable?
Ever since the Indy Racing League’s much anticipated announcement sketching out the strategy for the 2012 IndyCar chassis last Wednesday, the IndyCar community has been split. …again. …still. …whatever. There have been many that claim that the recipe of having a spec rolling chassis from Dallara and open development of the aerodynamic elements of the body work by teams and third-party manufacturers would lead to great innovation and involvement. Then there are those that think this is the worst type of policy that could have been proposed giving Dallara a…
Read MoreIndyCar – Facts and Opinion About the 2012 Chassis
Introduction Wednesday, Indy Racing League announced the decision by the ICONIC committee regarding the direction for the 2012 chassis. We posted an initial reaction to this announcement yesterday, and Shaun and I debated the pros and cons of the future chassis proposal in Podcast Episode 47. Today, I’d like to look at the proposal in a bit more detail and first I’ll present the facts and details that are clearly known and highlight areas that are yet to be fully fleshed out. Following the clear facts, I’d like to dive…
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 MoreIndyCar – 2012 Chassis Revealed!
This afternoon, the Indy Racing League announced their plans for the 2012 season of the IZOD IndyCar Series. There’s been a lot of buzz about what the new chassis spec would be for a number of years now. The speculations have run from a completely wide-open, run-whatcha-brung, regulation to a completely spec, single-manufacturer car. For the past year, most of the money was on the spec type of formula, but in recent weeks, comments by the league officials and especially by Randy Bernard have led many to think that perhaps…
Read MoreIndyCar – New Chassis Prognostication
Well, the day has finally arrived. Today at 1100 CDT, we will finally discover the new chassis and strategy for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series. You can watch the event live via IndyCar.com if you were not lucky enough to get an invite and have the ability to act on it. In another gesture that shows that the leadership is beginning to understand the importance of fans, early invitations were given to the Crew Level members of the official fan club Indy Downforce. Good on them for that! Sadly, I…
Read MoreIndyCar – OpenPaddock.net @ Future Car
That is correct folks! Be sure to have your Facebook and Twitter ready today as OpenPaddock.net will be at the Future Car Announcement later at the Indianapolis Art Museum. We will be celebrating the historic day with tweets, Facebook photos, and hopefully some video that will be located on YouTube right after the announcement. Rumor has it that CEOs from Lola and Dallara will be present, but as Randy Bernard said at Watkins Glen, you won’t know for sure until it is announced. Be sure to visit Openpaddock.net all day…
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…
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