OpenPaddock.net Awards

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadYes it is the end of 2010 and so with it we will offer our awards! This is not your mom’s award show…so sit back and enjoy as we honor those who were brilliant and those who were not so!

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Episode 70 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin Shaun, Kristi, and Doug as we make something out of nothing. The week in motorsport was slow because of the holidays, so what better time than now to take a look back at what has happened so far this offseason. The crew breaks down all the information to this point on the two disciplines and projects forward somethings that could be around the corner. Sit back and enjoy the last show of 2010! We will see you next year!

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Episode 69 – Openpaddock.net

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJoin the usual crew as they welcome Kristi to the fold. Our new IZOD IndyCar writer stops by the show and talks Graham and TK. We also get into a healthy amount of rally news as the season starts in just a couple short weeks. We also make fun of Luca and Ferrari as well as the rest of the F1 circus. Enjoy and never mind the talk of Ferrari vs. Lambo betting as Shaun and Mike start to hash out this season’s race…

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OpEd – The Knob

Throughout the past several years in IndyCar racing, the fuel knob has been a contentious point for fans, teams, drivers, and league officials. The cars had been run without the luxury of a fuel mixture knob until 2008, when it was reinstated. That lasted two years until in 2010 the league removed the knob in favour of a system where the cars could run full-rich, or leaned down for yellow-flag conditions. This ultimately put the job of fuel conservation into the hands (and feet) of the drivers. Those of us…

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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…

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Episode 68 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

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…

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IndyCar – 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…

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Road to Indy – Weekly Wrapup: 12/6-12/10

Once again, we had a jam packed week of mostly cool news for the now Mazda Road to Indy program. Yes, I said MAZDA. They’re now the official title sponsor of the program, and they bring some other benefits as well. However, I say mostly cool news because there was one downer for the week. Dan Andersen’s racing operations via Andersen Racing will cease in 2011. Andersen Racing had fielded entries in both the Star Mazda Championship and the Firestone Indy Lights series. Andersen will still run the US F2000…

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Episode 67 – Openpaddock.net Podcast

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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IndyCar – Panther Secures an American Driver

I don’t have much in the way of details here, but I was so excited that I couldn’t wait. Al Unser, Jr., announced the good news via twitter this evening that the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights champion, J.R. Hildebrand, will be piloting the #4 National Guard car for Panther Racing. Hi Everyone! JR Hildebrand is in the car for Panther. He tested all day and did a GREAT JOB! He is going to be one too watch in 2011!!! — Al Unser, Jr. via Twitter. This is fantastic! Ever since…

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