MRTI – WinterFest Round 1: NOLA Motorsports Park

It seems the racing world was dominated by NASCAR news surrounding driver drama and the Daytona 500, but it wasn’t the only racing going on. February 19-20 saw all three series that comprise the Mazda Road to Indy at NOLA Motorsports Park for Cooper Tires WinterFest.  USF2000 and Pro Mazda had three races each, while Indy Lights was able to get some needed test sessions with the new IL-15. WinterFest is unique in that the races accumulate points that don’t transfer to the series’ regular seasons and a WinterFest champion…

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MRTI – Championship Battles Tighten After MidOhio

The Mid-Ohio IndyCar weekend is a special one to many of us here at OpenPaddock.net. Ok, two of us: Mr. Whitesell and myself. While we do enjoy the IndyCar action throughout the weekend, one of the true joys of the event is the variety and quantity of racing one gets to enjoy. The Mazda Road to Indy was fully represented with Indy Lights and Pro Mazda holding double-headers and USF2000 holding a triple-header. The multiple points-paying races meant that the championship standings could change dramatically, and there were indeed some…

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IndyCar – The MidOhio IndyCar and MRTI Weekend in Photos

Wow. That took a while! I bought some larger cards and felt like I needed to fill them all. Ugh. I finally sorted through and edited all the open-wheel photos and have them posted below. I also have a ton of sports car photos that I’ve sorted, but haven’t finished editing. I’ll have those later along with recaps of the Mazda Road to Indy races and championships and of the Pirelli World Challenge races. You’ve heard Mr. Whitesell and I mention this on the podcast, and I’ll say it here…

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Episode 232 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadDoug returns this week to join the Mikes in discussing the qualifying weekend for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. We also preview this weekend’s Road to Indy races on Carb Day and the Night Before the 500. Shaw recaps the news from the GCR, WRC, and Rally America, and we wrap up the show with a preview of the Monaco GP and which Mercedes we think will win. OpenPaddock.net Podcast, Episode 232 – Tuesday, May 20th, 2014 [yop_poll id=”3″] IndyCar…

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IndyCar – Road to Indy Well Represented in 500 Field

The Mazda Road to Indy has been a very successful program since it’s inception. We’ve certainly done our best to document that here at OpenPaddock.net and to follow the progress of many of the drivers that have come through the Road to Indy, but admittedly, we’re fans and a bit biased. There is objective evidence of the program’s success, and it can be seen in the list of the 33 drivers who will contest the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Although the formal program has only been…

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Episode 228 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadFearless Leader Shaun Pechin returns to the show as we preview this weekend’s IndyCar and Mazda Road to Indy event at Barber Motorsports Park, recap the week’s news in the WRC and Rally America, and review the news in Formula 1 and last weekend’s grand prix in China. OpenPaddock.net Podcast, Episode #228 – Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Misc. Pickett racing pulls out of TUSCAR — Is anyone surprised? IndyCar Saavedra on probation, fined 10k Helio’s new twitter problems Is Will Power getting kid glove…

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Episode 226 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOpenPaddock.net Podcast, Episode #226 – Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 Rally Dave Henderson – SP – Oregon Trail and Olympus – Cascadia I.R.C. Rally America on NBC Sports review Shaw’s GRC adventure GRC’s Indy Connection Barracuda Racing to GRC Andretti to promote GRC in DC Austin Cindric in GRC Lites Red Bull GRC Announces Sanctioning Agreement With USAC Reinvigorated Rhys Millen backed by Red Bull & Hyundai…again Also supporting new young talent Tyler Benson Ford / OMSE welcomes Red Bull & Bluebeam sponsors for their…

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IndyCar – Relive the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Photos

Two of our top photographers, Brian McKay of TenPesos.com and Tom Turk of PiraticalPhotography.com, were down in Florida for the season opening races for the Verizon IndyCar Series, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, and the SCCA Pro Racing Pirelli World Challenge. Yes, it was a busy weekend and a crowded race track! Brian and Tom did incredible work, and you can enjoy the fantastic racing action all over again through their photos.…

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