“The best we get is fuzzy internet and (a) highlight show at the same time as an Indy broadcast. Come on man, that’s (expletive) shit” says one ALMS Team Manager on condition of anominity. A business/media manager for a front-running GT team tells me “you can’t sale it, none of us can now, they (expletive) tied are hands”. The “can’t sell” is there’s no high-dollar sponsor value for the current ESPN3.com and ESPN2-ABC offers. “We’re already studying GrandAm for next year. We may not finish this season. We can’t resign…
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Rally – Hirvonen Holds Third in Sardinia
FROM: Abu Dhabi Ford: Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen won three speed tests en route to third place after today’s opening leg of Rally Italia Sardegna. The Finns, driving a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car, lost time with a puncture after hitting a bank, but a high rate of attrition means they remain in a strong position with two more tough days remaining. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila retired this morning after damaging the suspension of their Fiesta RS WRC when…
Read MoreRally – Volkswagen to WRC in 2013
Finally, after two years of speculation and rumors concerning Volkswagen and the World Rally Championship, VW officially announced today their entry into the 2013 season. Vehicle of choice you ask? The Volkswagen Polo as pictured. This is supposedly no small entry as Volkswagen is rumored to be putting close to 100 million euros into the program. There has yet to be an announcement on who will pilot the machines as it is still 20 months away from competing. Word in the service park is that a young German driver will…
Read MoreRally – Introducing the VW Polo WRC
Episode 87 – Openpaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadShaun and Mike discuss all of the happening in the world of motorsport! Lots to talk about including aero kits and 2012! Sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy the show! As always, thank you for the download!
Read MoreF1 – Bernie/Ferrari: No World Engine…I Agree
Bernie Ecclestone has for sometime disapproved of Formula 1 adopting the FiA’s “world engine”. You know, the one that is a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine to be used in racing. I mean why not? A four cylinder that is green and pushes the FiA’s green initiative would be perfect. The engine is already used in the World Rally Championship and it runs well. Even sounds good for the rally cars. Compare that to the loud and over stressed naturally aspirated 2.0 used by IRC and SWRC (that sounds like a…
Read MoreVirtual 500 – Vote for Openpaddock.net!
INDYCAR has afforded motorsport writers with a unique chance to compete against their peers. The Virtual 500 is used via iRacing and will see the top 10 writers as voted on you the fans, compete with a shot at racing IZOD IndyCar drivers. Openpaddock has been submitted as a possible entrant into this amazing event. Along with the entry, INDYCAR will work with each blog/website to bring unique coverage to its fans and readers! Head on over to the link posted below and give a Facebook “like” or post a…
Read MoreEpisode 86 – Openpaddock.net Podcast
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis is whats on tap for tonight’s recording! A pretty light schedule as the weekend was rather quiet. So as always, sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy the show! OP #86 – April 26th, 2011 Everybody is on 3 week breaks, so the news is contrived…. IndyCar Vasser seeking to delay body kits til 2012 -Why Jimmy? Is Lotus now saying they aren’t making one? -Why is IndyCar forcing everyone to buy a Dallara body kit? -Wrong message to new partners and…
Read MoreOP-Ed – Pennywise and Pound Foolish: Why delaying the aero kits is a bad idea
There’s been a significant rumbling from the owners, most notably from Jimmy Vasser, co-owner of KV Racing Technologies. What they see is the $75k price tag on new aero kits and rate that as a cost they’d rather not pay. Truth is, they DON’T have to pay it. The Dallara chassis that they’ll need to buy in order to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2012 come with the Dallara aero kit. If they have a relationship with another engine manufacture such as Chevrolet or Lotus, they’ll of course…
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