Many were quick to post Andersen’s announcement, and by now I’m sure you’ve read the release that we’ve included below. I wanted to spend some time mulling over the implications of Andersen’s direction for the evolution of the Firestone Indy Lights chassis, a platform that is over a decade old. As I read and reflect on the announcement, there’s a couple of things that strike me: first, there isn’t really any new information that we didn’t have after the Toronto weekend, second, chassis applications have been made once already and…
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IndyCar – Twin Turbo mandatory for 2014
INDYCAR announced today that all engines supplied to IZOD IndyCar Series teams will utilize only twin turbocharger systems beginning with the 2014 season. The decision, which was confirmed after consultation in an INDYCAR Engine Committee meeting, will further strengthen engine parity. It also dovetails with the manufacturers’ first homologation update cycle for the 2.2-liter, direct-injected V6 engines supplied by Chevrolet and Honda. “In an effort for parity throughout the turbocharger range, mandating only a twin turbo system simplifies our efforts to ensure even closer competition,” said Derrick Walker, president, competition…
Read MoreInside The Helmet – Danilo Estrela
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadDanilo Estrela, driver of the #11 USF2000 machine for Belardi Auto Racing, joins us all the way from his hometown in Brazil for this edition of Inside the Helmet. We begin our conversation talking about Danilo’s late start in motorsports, not getting into a kart until the age of 14, and immediately breaking all the rules laid down for him. We then turn our attention to his transition into cars and why he chose to pursue open-wheel racing over touring cars. Danilo spent a…
Read MoreProMazda – MattyBrabs Continues His Domination
Just give the man his trophy now and be done with it. Andretti Autosport’s Matthew Brabham sweeps the weekend’s two races. …again! After finishing as low as third in the opening race of the season at the Circuit of the Americas, Matthew “Matty Brabs” Brabham hasn’t lost a race since, and in the last four races he’s been absolutely perfect. As he did at Lucas Oil Raceway on the Night Before the 500 and again at the Milwaukee Mile, Brabham won the pole for both races on the Streets of…
Read MoreEpisode 196 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadShaun and Kevin lead us through the IndyCar 2inTO. Barnhart is back & there’s drama in Race Control. Coincidence? The Mazda Road to Indy is back in full swing, and Doug has a recap of this weekends races and championships. We discuss Andersen’s vision for the future of Indy Lights. Shaw takes us through the world of Global Rallycross as they come back to the states after a long stint overseas, the FIA looks into the mess that is timing and scoring in the…
Read MoreUSF2000 – Two-fer in Toronto
The Mazda Road to Indy was fully represented in Toronto this weekend with the USF2000 National Championship back in action for the first time since the Night Before the 500 in May, and the Pro Mazda Championship racing after it’s last event in Milwaukee. They shared the weekend with the Firestone Indy Lights series and of course the IZOD IndyCar Series with everyone except Lights doing a double-header. After five events, Cape Motorsports driver and championship leader, Scott Hargrove had accumulated three poles, four podiums, three fastest race laps, and…
Read MoreEpisode 195 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week, we review the triumphant return of the IZOD IndyCar Series to Pocono and look ahead to Toronto, Doug recaps the Indy Lights race at Pocono, and gives us a rundown of where all three of the Mazda Road to Indy series stand as they all head to Toronto, Mike and Shaun look at the tyre failures at Silverstone and point their fingers squarely at the teams, and they review the German Grand Prix, and Mike Shaw runs through the latest news and…
Read MoreIndyCar – The Pocono Weekend in Photos
In addition to our own native of the Poconos, Constable Spike Rogan, giving us great updates and insights over the weekend as the IZOD IndyCar Series finally returns to the Pocono Speedway, Tom and Brenda Turk if Piratical Photography have been creating some magnificent images of the events. With Tom behind the lens and Brenda behind the laptop editing, we now have two new wonderful galleries of images of the Firestone Indy Lights and IZOD IndyCar Series races. Enjoy! Firestone Indy Lights – Pocono 100 IZOD IndyCar Series – Pocono…
Read MoreIndyCar OP-Ed: Three Wide For the Triple Crown? No thanks!
Editor’s Note: This piece has been generously donated by John Olsakovsky. These are his views on the three-wide announcement for the remainder of the Triple Crown. This views are of his opinion only. That being said, this is not a page where we insult folks for having an opinion. Keep the comments respectable or they will be deleted upon moderation. Recently, our buddy Beaux Barfield announced that IndyCar Triple Crown events at Pocono Raceway and Auto Club Speedway will start the race three-wide, just like at the Indianapolis 500 Mile…
Read MoreIndyCar – Three-Wide at Pocono? Nothing New There.
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