OP-Ed – Support Your Local Tracks

As fans of IndyCar racing, Formula 1, MotoGP, WRC, we constantly hear about these fantastic venues. Who doesn’t want to go to Indianapolis to see the IndyCars, or to Spa to see Formula 1, or to Phillip Island to see the MotoGP race, or to Cyprus to the WRC? Many of us live cheap and save up over the off-season, giving $5 McDonald’s gift certificates as Christmas presents just so we can afford those big trips to those exotic venues. While doing this, though, we often overlook the true gems…

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MotoGP – Race Day at Indianapolis

Race day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2nd running of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, the twelfth stop on the MotoGP schedule. There was no way the weather could have been worse than last year as the remnants of Hurricane Ike slammed into the Speedway shortening the 125cc and GP races, and canceling the 250cc race, but no one expected the weather to be as absolute gorgeous as it was. Sunrise on Sunday morning found many fans shivering and wrapped up in blankets and jackets as temperatures…

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MotoGP – Saturday Qualifying

The weather during morning warmup was unseasonably cool, again. However, this is likely a good thing since Race Day will be even cooler. It gave the teams perhaps a chance at guessing the grip level correctly for the race and qualification. Tyre degradation was an issue all morning long, and during qualifications. Neither the tyres or the cool weather seemed to phase Dani Pedrosa in the slightest, as he set a new track record of 1’40.271″ during FP2 in the morning. During qualifications, he set a new track record again…

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MotoGP – Friday Practice at IMS

The MotoGP circus returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the second time. Last year, rain engulfed Friday’s practice sessions, and this year started out no different. Although the day started out dry, near the end of the 125cc practice, the skies opened up and the rain continued for the rest of the day. It wasn’t a driving rain, just a steady light rain that soaked the track and many fans. Fortunately, the forecast for Saturday and Sunday look MUCH different than last year when the track was…

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IndyLights – Mid-Ohio Review

The general fan reaction around the blogs, forums, and twitter streams to the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course have all been about the same, and in my opinion, completely off the mark. I can hear the detractors now, “So, Doug, what makes you think that you’re right in the face of so many who say that the races were boring.” I have two comments to that: I was actually there, and I paid attention to more than just the leader. Listen to the…

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IndyCar – Mid-Ohio Review

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a beautiful race track, and the morning sun on Race Day made it look even more fantastic. Even at 7:30 in the morning, the hills along the Esses were filling up fast. Qualification on Saturday was amazing to watch, especially with Justin Wilson doing so well. Briscoe earned the pole, but Wilson was right along side him qualifying P2 for Sunday’s race. In the previous road race at Watkins Glen, Wilson scored Dale Coyne Racing’s first ever win in any major open-wheel series. It…

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Moto – AMA Tornado Nationals in Topeka

I know that motorcycle road racing isn’t our main thing here at Open Paddock, but this weekend I’m at Heartland Park Topeka watching the AMA Tornado Nationals. If you’ve not been hooked on motorcycle road racing yet, then watch this video of the Rossi/Stoner battle at Laguna Seca last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPM77TsGaA Like what you see? Ok, now go and listen to two of the most entertaining gentlemen in the podcasting business, Bob and Jules, at MotoGPod. Great stuff! Ok, back to Topeka. Its not MotoGP, or even World Superbikes, but…

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