Episode 131 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week we welcome Jenna Fryer to talk about the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. She talks not only about the weekend, but some of the things IndyCar should be thinking about going forward. Doug is here this week as well and we talk Mazda Road to indy, Formula 1, and this weekend’s round of the WRC in Portugal. Thank you for the download and we really hope you enjoy the show!

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MRTI – St. Pete Qualifications Summary

As Mr. Bob Varsha is famous for saying during the Formula 1 broadcasts on SpeedTV, “Before you can race, you must qualify!” As of this morning, all three of the Mazda Road to Indy series have qualified for their respective races on the Streets of St. Petersburg. The USF2000 National Championship and the Star Mazda Championship both qualified yesterday afternoon, and the Firestone Indy Lights series just finished their qualifying session this morning. Let’s take a look at the results series-by-series. Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by…

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Indy Lights – St. Pete Entry List and Preview

Not too long ago, we were looking at a mere seven confirmed car-driver combinations for the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights grid. When we talked with the King of the Mazda Road to Indy, Jason Penix, he reassured us that there would be at least 16 cars by time the first race on the Streets of St. Petersburg came around, and he turns out to have been absolutely right. Seventeen cars have been entered for this weekend’s race, including some cars from familiar teams and some from some newcomers. The juggernaut…

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Star Mazda – St. Petersburg Starting Grid and Preview

The Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear begins its 2012 season on the Streets of St. Petersburg this weekend, and it looks like they will start with a pretty healthy grid. While not the 30+ cars they used to have, its still nice to see that 21 cars will take laps in anger around the hybrid airport/street circuit in St. Petersburg, Florida for two races this Saturday and Sunday. Juncos Racing looks to be very strong this season with the addition of Connor Di Philippi and the resigning of Martin…

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USF2000 – AcceleRace Motorsports Returns to the Track

Our friends at AcceleRace Motorsports will be returning to competition on the Streets of St. Petersburg this coming weekend. As if the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda didn’t have a large enough field already, AcceleRace will be adding at least one more car to the grid. It’s uncertain right now just what type of car they will enter. The team does have a Championship class car as well as FC and FE cars. Which they run, I think, will depend upon the driver they sign.…

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Episode 130 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the Paddock trio as they are joined by Conquest Racing ALMS driver Martin Plowman. Martin discusses the differences and similarities between the LMP2 car and IndyCar. We also talk about the bone crunching bumps at Sebring and what it is like being passed by an Audi R18… We review the events from Melbourne in Formula 1 and look ahead to Malaysia. The IZOD IndyCar Series kicks off from St. Petersburg and the crew offer their choices for champions and a few things that…

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Star Mazda – Returning Drivers and a Spring Training Recap

The season-opener for the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear takes place this weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg, but before we get to the race, there’s still some business to settle and shake out first. Drivers are still being added to the grid, and it looks like the field is shaping up quite nicely. Twenty-two drivers set times during the two-day Spring Training open test at Barber Motorsports Park including the two newest additions to the Juncos Racing stable, Connor Di Philippi and Martin Scuncio. Martin ran with…

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USF2000 – Sebring Race 2 Recap

Two races are now in the books for the 14-race Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda 2012 season. Race 2 at the Sebring International Raceway took place this morning right before lunch with all 36 entries from yesterday taking to the track again today. The starting line-up for Race 2 was determined by the fastest race laps in Race 1. Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing driver and Race 1 winner Matthew Brabham (@MattyBrabs) started on pole alongside his teammate Spencer Pigot (@SpencerPigot). ArmsUp Motorsports pilot…

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USF2000 – Sebring Race 1 Marred by FCYs

A record-setting field, 36 cars in all, took to the grid to contest the opening round of the 2012 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda took place this afternoon at the Sebring International Raceway. As Mike and I discussed on the podcast (Ep 129) last night, dealing with traffic and the congested track was going to be key to success, and we were not wrong. ArmsUp Motorsports Luigi Biangardi took the pole position in this morning’s qualifying and lined up along side Cape Motorsports with Wayne…

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