Here is the rundown on driver changes/additions since Sao Paulo: Alex Lloyd will again be in the Boy Scout car for Dale Coyne Racing for St. Petersburg. While the team has sent out press releases about their involvement with the Scouts at racing events throughout the season, we have yet to see from the team an official announcement that the #19 car is a full season effort with Alex Lloyd as its driver. Before Sao Paulo they indicated that there would be more news to come in the lead up…
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IndyCar – St. Petersburg Practice 1
Will Power picked up right where he left off by setting the top time during this morning’s first practice session for the IZOD IndyCar Series on the Streets of St. Petersburg. Will won the season opener on the new street circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and this morning continued to display his mastery of the art of street racing. On Trackside With Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee, Mr. Cavin predicted that Will Power was so good on the street courses that he would sweep the season. Its still very early…
Read MoreIndyCar – St. Petersburg Preview: Story Lines
Last Year: Much like any street circuit, Turn 1 of Lap 1 was brutal with abundant contact. The 2008 race winner and 2009 pole setter, Graham Rahal, was punted into the grass inside Turn 1 effectively ending his drive for back-to-back victories. He was able to battle back and claim a top ten, but it certainly wasn’t the finish he was wanting. The surprise performers of the race wer Ryan Hunter-Raey and Justin Wilson. The talent of the two drivers were never in question, but with Ryan driving for Vision…
Read MoreIndyCar – St. Petersburg Preview: History and Track Analysis
Introduction: This weekend represents the home opener for the IZOD IndyCar Series, and the first race of the season for the Firestone Indy Lights and US F2000 National Championship, on the Streets of St. Petersburg. The IZOD IndyCar Series began the 2010 season the weekend before last on the Streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, but this weekend represents the series first race of the year on US soil. Historically, the St. Petersburg race has one of the best races of the season, which is a bit surprising given that its…
Read MoreEpisode 30 – Open Paddock Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and myself this week as we recap Bahrain and the IndyCar season opener from Sao Paulo Brazil. Interesting topics will also include Virgin F1’s CFD claim, Ferrari’s impressive display, and why the media is all over Schumacher after Nico Rosberg outpaced him for one race. Mario Moraes riding shotgun with Marco Andretti through the first corner, Ryan Hunter Reay’s awesome performance as well as Fantasy IndyCar results for the Openpaddock.net team. Sit back with a leftover pint of your Irish favorite and…
Read MoreVideo – IndyCar Sao Paulo Highlights
IndyCar – Sao Paulo Wrap Up
The IZOD IndyCar Series opened their season this weekend on the brand spanking new Sao Paulo street circuit. Despite the short amount of time that Tony Cottman and his team had to bring this track from napkin sketch to sold out event, the race weekend looked to be a very successful coup in the heart of Brazilian racing madness. Granted though, there were a few hitches in this weekend’s giddyup. The first major problem of the event occurred during practice sessions when the IndyCar drivers discovered that the Brazilian National…
Read MoreEpisode 29 – Open Paddock Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Mike and myself this week as I call in from Washington DC and we discuss the Carl Edwards drama (make fun of it is a better description) and recap Rally Mexico. We also touch on the IRC and another victory for Kris Meeke. We also talk Rahal to Fisher for a short stint as well as offer our insight into Brazil and Bahrain for the grand kickoff of open wheel racing.
Read MoreIndyCar – São Paulo Preview
Introduction: This year, the IZOD IndyCar Series does something that many fans thought was a no-brainer for several seasons. They’re going to Brazil! This year, more than ever, it makes total sense for IndyCar to venture down to South America. There are a number of drivers from South America and especially Brazil, and a major sponsor and partner of the league APEX Brazil, so there will is strong support for the series which will hopefully translate to a strong attendance. The race will be held in the streets of Sao…
Read MoreIndyCar – The BAT Project
Bruce Ashmore, Alan Mertens and Tim Wardrop, all with serious design and engineering credentials in IndyCar racing, have put together a concept for the 2012 IndyCar Chassis. Calling themselves BAT Engineering, BAT for Bruce, Alan, and Tim, the trio have created a concept that started not with a discussion amongst aerodynamicists, but with Dr. Trammell and and other Indy Racing League safety officials. The first goal of the chassis was to be safe, which leads the concept to have very wide sidepods and closely protected wheels. The second objective was…
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