Episode 242 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOpenPaddock.net Episode #242 for Tuesday, July 29, 2014 Preview unintelligible ‘malgamation of motorsport musings – F1 Hungary review, a brief review of the madness of Bernie E, and a wee bit o nascar Indy – Mid O preview, hinch in free agency, lights chassis testing, and some good/bad news for the lights series Rally – GRC charlotte, WRC 2017 tech changes, and a yumptastic preview of finland UMMM F1 – Hungaroring review Qualifying – Hamilton has a BBQ for Hungary fans in Q1 &…

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Episode 211 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadDoug, Mike, and Mike debate who should fill the #10 seat at TCGR, and review a bevey of driver signings and tests. Doug gives us a MRTI silly season summary, Whitesell leads us through a recap of the USGP, and Shaw brings us up to speed on Rally GB. OpenPaddock.net Podcast – Episode 211, Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 IndyCar IndyCar legend Dario Franchitti retires from racing who replaces him? #10 or #8 car? Penske, Sam Hornish part ways after decade together IndyCar Series outlines…

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Episode 210 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhitesell, Shaw, and Patterson are at it again! Not much news this week in IndyCar, but we talk about some driver announcements in MRTI and announce that OpenPaddock and Belardi Auto Racing will continue their partnership in 2014. Max is back in the news while the new 2014 F1 regulations result in a near obscene nosecone. Kimi is out and Alonso is in for the support race to the Longhorns football game. In rally, Shaw previews Rally GB, gives Gymkhana 6 a “meh” rating,…

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Formula 1- A Fan’s Perspective on the USGP

Editor’s Note: John Olsakovsky attended the inaugural USGP at the Circuit of the Americas this past weekend, and he has returned with some good things to say about the event and some places where COTA could improve. Many thought it wouldn’t happen, and despite lawsuits, work stoppages and an extremely tight deadline, Bernie’s circus came to Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas for the return of Formula One to the United States after a seven year absence. Many have said that Austin is an odd locale for a date…

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OpenPaddock Podcast – Episode 165

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock Podcast, we have a packed show and a full house! Mike, Doug, and Kevin are joined by our new Rally reporter Mike Shaw and friend of the show John Olsakovsky. We begin with analysis from Mike Shaw on Petter Solberg’s future in rally and the sad sorry state of M-Sport. Whitesell and Patterson get excited about the addition of GT3 cars in the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge, for our money, some of the absolute best sports car racing to…

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Formula 1 – Miracle on Congress Avenue

Merry Christmas, US Formula 1 fans! After learning that the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) actually had the money, or so was the claim, and that the breakdown between their group and Formula One Management (FOM) was a result of a disagreement on the details of the contract offered to COTA, we wrote optimistically about the potential of the USGP returning to the 2012 Formula 1 calendar. We knew that it was a long shot renegotiating a contract at the 11th hour with a master of manipulation in Bernie Ecclestone,…

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F1 – COTA’s Last Struggle to Make the 2012 Schedule

Christmas come yet for the Circuit of the Americas and all American Formula 1 fans! We reported earlier that it seemed that the inaugural Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) was all but off the schedule. Even in a press release made by COTA, the organizers were convinced that they weren’t going to be making the 2012 season and were instead already setting their sights on the 2013 season. In a release today, it seems that may have changed! COTA has…

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F1 – The Austin GP Might Be A Bit Late

When the plan was announced last year that Tavo Helmut wanted to create a world-class road racing circuit in Austin Texas and host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, we were rather skeptical. Mike was raising questions about the project as early as June of last year when he asked How Can Austin Succeed Where Indy Failed. Mike again expressed the skepticism that we all were feeling as he looked at 2012 Venues Under Threat. While he took a bashing from many, I couldn’t see any inherent errors in his reasoning…

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F1 – Thoughts on the Austin Track Map

One more step has been taken toward having a Formula 1 grand prix race in Austin, Texas. The proposed Tilke-designed track map including elevations has been released. My first thought is that this can’t be a Tilke track. There’s no chicane in front of the hairpins. (tongue firmly planted in cheek) 3.6 miles in 20 turns with 133 feet of elevation change, hairpins, high-speed sweepers, medium-speed technical sections, the circuit really does seem to have everything you need in a quality grand prix track. It is interesting to me that…

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F1 – How Can Austin Succeed Where Indy Failed

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh recently made his feelings known about the return of the USGP to Austin, Texas in a phone interview with Autosport. His most poignant statement was “I think Formula 1 is used to being poured into markets that want us badly there…. North America frankly doesn’t need Formula 1, so I think it’s for us to go and prove to North America that this is an interesting sport and spectacle and something that it’s worthwhile them taking an interest in.” The US is a stick and…

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