The Mazda Road to Indy program continues to gain strength! On Sunday of this week, the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear revealed that the April TBD slot on their previously released 2011 schedule will be an event on the 10th at the Barber Motorsports Park along with the IZOD IndyCar Series, and the Firestone Indy Lights. Any time that a feeder series can compete on the same weekends and at the same venues as the teams higher up on the ladder, its a good thing. Drivers, engineers, sponsors, and…
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Road to Indy – Weekly Wrapup: 12/13 – 12/17
Once again, it’s been a good week for the newly titled Mazda Road to Indy program, although perhaps not AS packed as last week. We can’t always expect banner weeks like we’ve had recently, but still there are some big positives from this week’s news. We have the signing of a driver in Firestone Indy Lights, a couple of Firestone Indy Lights drivers graduating to the IZOD IndyCar Series, and some testing opportunities. Let’s start with the official driver announcements. Driver Announcements Charlie Kimball This Thursday, in a move we…
Read MoreINDYCAR – An American Revolution, Rahal and Kimball to Drive for Chip
This morning, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams announced that Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimball would be their drivers in 2011. As has been rumored, this will be a satellite team in addition to Target Chip Ganassi Racing which will continue to field Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon as their drivers. Don Prudhomme’s former NHRA shop out of Brownsburg, Indiana will play host to this newly formed team. Rahal Graham Rahal found himself in utter turmoil last offseason, as his McDonald’s sponsorship at Newman Haas completely disappeared. But almost immediately, rumors started spreading…
Read MoreINDYCAR – “It’s a New Track Record”, PR Bluff or Potential Reality?
Nothing tends to stir up a gaggle of Indy 500 fans more than hearing a recording of Tom Carnegie’s iconic pipes announcing another amazing feat of man and machine. Well, except that no new speed records have been set at Indy since 1996 maybe. Arie Luyendyk set the single lap record at 237.498 mph and the four lap average record at 236.986 that year. And since then, there has been a constant dialog between fans, series officials and media about whether 237+ is safe at IMS for the drivers and…
Read MoreEpisode 68 – Openpaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and I as we talk about all the American open wheel drivers coming out of the freakin wood work! First JR to Panther and we then discuss tomorrow’s Chip Ganassi announcement that should see Graham Rahal and hopefully Charlie Kimball announced to a satellite team. Shaun commits numerous 151c violations by forgetting his lines and barely survives an attack by Champ Car fans on the OP headquarters. There is some rally, F1, and Le Mans thrown in there too as well as…
Read MoreIndyCar – JR Hildebrand Officially Announced for Panther
The 2009 Firestone Indy Lights champion, JR Hildebrand, was announced today as the driver for the #4 National Guard car for Panther Racing. This comes after a testing session at the Phoenix International Raceway where JR impressed the team, and Al Unser Jr. Some of you may remember my overly exuberant reaction to Little Al’s tweet from Phoenix. Well, although I might have been a bit premature, it looks like my faith in Al’s nature to tell it like it is wasn’t misplaced. “I couldn’t be more excited to be…
Read MoreRoad to Indy – Mazda Sponsors the Road to Indy Program
Yes, you read the title right! The Road to Indy program now has a title sponsor, Mazda. Late last off-season, INDYCAR put the final pieces together for a four-tier development system which clearly marked out a path for young open-wheel drivers to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. The US F2000 National Championship presented by Cooper Tires and powered by Mazda was the last element to come into place. Dan Andersen of Andersen Racing revived the old F2000-based series with sanction from INDYCAR. Drivers would then graduate to the Star Mazda…
Read MoreRoad to Indy – Veach Returns to USF2000 for Andretti
While I can’t say that it comes as a surprise, it is good to hear the official confirmation. Zach Veach, the young Ohioan who joined the team at the last minute last year after the Atlantics Championship dissolved, has resigned with Andretti Autosport for 2011 to run in the US F2000 National Championship with sponsorship from Zakosi Data Backup. “I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work with this great team and be a part of the ‘Road To Indy’ program again next year. I can’t describe what an…
Read MorePodcast – Next Week is Fan Night!
The title says it all! Next week you could record an episode of the podcast with Shaun and Mike. Since the fans are what drive our site and sites like it, we are going to open it up and have YOU on the show to talk motorsport. A small holiday way we can try and give back to those who read and listen to our stuff! The rule is simple…send an email to wfp@openpaddock.net with your name and favorite series that we cover. Also download the free skype program and…
Read MoreEpisode 67 – Openpaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the Paddock boys this week as we talk Toyota and Le Mans, Solberg in Mote Carlo, and wrap up Penske’s sponsorship shopping spree. We stay clear of 151c violations for the most part but Paris Hilton nearly ruins that. Sit back as always and enjoy the show!
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