This coming weekend represents the IZOD IndyCar Series’ and Firestone Indy Lights’ season opening event, although it will represent the second race weekend for both the Pro Mazda Series Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda. This will also be one of four weekends over the season in which all four INDYCAR-sanctioned series race at the same venue on the same weekend. Maybe call it four and a half with Indianapolis even though the USF2000 and Pro Mazda drivers will be at Lucas…
Read MoreTag: INDYCAR
IndyCar-2013 Social Media Guide
Here we are at the start of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Season, so it’s time to make sure all your social media bookmarks and follows are up to date. I’ve put together this handy 2013 Season Social Media Guide to help you all Twitter your Facebook and Instagram your Pinterest. As always, you’ll want to start your Social Media bookmarking with us! Open Paddock on Facebook Open Paddock on Twitter And hows about giving me a follow on Twitter as well! Kevin Neely on Twitter Indycar Website Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr…
Read MoreUSF2000 – Season Opener at Sebring Recap
The regular season for the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda has begun! The first rung of the Mazda Road to Indy held it’s first two races of the championship season last Thursday and Friday at Sebring International Raceway. The grid size was huge for the opener with 31 cars entered for competition. The odd thing that stood out to me is that only three of those entries were in the SCCA Enterprises National Class, the rest were in the Championship Class. I’m not sure whether this is…
Read MoreIndyCar-Round 1: Honda Grand Prix of St. Pete Preview
What: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Where: Albert Whitted Airport Circuit, St. Petersburg, Florida When: 12:30pm EDT on Sunday, March 24 (TV: NBC Sports Network) Who: Helio Castroneves, defending race champion, looks to defend his race title on the Streets of St. Pete against 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Champion Ryan-Hunter Reay, four-time series champ Dario Franchitti, perrenial road and street course ace Will Power and the rest of the IZOD IndyCar Series field. Storylines Ryan Hunter-Reay begins his title defense on a very hit-or-miss track. Even though he finished…
Read MoreInside the Helmet – Sage Karam
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode of “Inside The Helmet” we talk with Sage Karam, driver of the #8 Comfort Revolution Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Dallara in the Firestone Indy Lights series, about his move from Andretti Autosport to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. We also discuss the upcoming 2013 Firestone Indy Lights season, his relationship with his former Star Mazda rivals and now teammates, and how to overcome the deficit of tracktime experience he and his teammates will face as compared to competitors such as Andretti Autosport’s Carlos Munoz…
Read MoreIndyCar – Barber Test Wrapup
Any shock at who finished at the top of the speed charts? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Once again, Verizon Team Penske’s Will Power was the machismo of the circuit by dominating all sessions at the magnificent 2.3 mile Barber Motorsports Park circuit. Will finished the two day testing session with a fast time of 1:07.1329 (123.337 mph for you speed junkies.) Power turned a total of 128 laps in two days in the #12 Verizon Chevrolet. Second in combined testing was James Hinchcliffe in the #27 GoDaddy Andretti Autosport Chevrolet with…
Read MoreEpisode 179.1 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast Barber IndyCar Test Special
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOn Episode 179, you heard Kevin Neely give a run-down of the happenings during the Media Day portion of the IZOD IndyCar Series’ Open Test at the Barber Motorsports Park. On this special supplemental episode of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast Kevin fills us in on the on-track action from Tuesday and Wednesday.
Read MoreIndyCar-Preseason Test Day 2: Driver Talk
Sebastien Bourdais, driver of the #7 McAfee Dragon Racing Chevrolet Open Paddock: Sebastien, how’s the car feeling to you today? Sebastien Bourdais: We’re slowly starting to get some direction, but it’s been a challenging test so far. It’s a really different animal than last year. The track is about three seconds faster. Whether it’s the track, the tires or the combination, I really don’t know what’s going on. It really is a different game and we’re struggling. I’ve never experienced high levels of grip like that, ever! OP: Actually everybody…
Read MoreEpisode 179 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWith rednecks revving their engines outside Mr. Neely’s hotel room and the soft, but ominous, purring of what sounds like a velociraptor every now and then in the background, we present Episode 179 of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast! Kevin Neely and our photographer Brian McKay report from Day 1 of the IndyCar pre-season open test at a very wet and soggy Barber Motorsports Park. Mike Shaw gives us a recap of this weekend’s WRC Rally Mexico in which Ken Block put in a surprising performance.…
Read MoreIndyCar-Preseason Test Day 1: Driver Talk
Interviews recorded on the first day of IZOD IndyCar Series testing at Barber Motorsports Park Will Power, driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet OpenPaddock: You were fastest in the morning session today. What have you gathered from the track today? Will Power: I’ve got unbelievable grip right now. These cars are so…. I’ve never felt so much grip in my life. It’s phenominal! I hope they (the photographers) get some good outside shots because I’m sure these things look so fast in the corners. OP: What are you looking for in…
Read More