Race Weekend Central

Open-Wheel Wednesday: Confounding Fontana

Ryan Briscoe flips after contact with Ryan Hunter-Reay at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA

Photo Credit: Chris Jones, IndyCar Media

Early this past Saturday morning, the first race of the Formula E championship weekend started under a yellow flag. The event, held on the tight streets of a make-shift road course at London’s Battersea park  brought some elevated concern from the drivers, especially about the first turn. Many drivers believed that the tight confines would …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Wrapping Up IndyCar’s Last Month

Indycar 2015 Indy Montoya On Track Credit Mark Reed

Photo Credit: Mark Reed

Toni Montgomery: Can we have a quick refresh – what races have they run since our last chat? Toronto and Texas. Did we chat after Detroit last?  Wait – it was before Indy, wasn’t it? OK, that helps – got my bearings. Huston Ladner: I thought we hit upon Indy, but perhaps not. I’d say go with …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Dear IndyCar Fans, Stop Trying to Define Good Racing

Indycar Texas Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer, Frontstretch)

What exactly is good racing? That is the elusive question that every racing series on the planet wrestles with at all times. The answer to that question of course varies wildly depending on who you ask. Is good racing watching a driver use expert race craft and knowledge of the air, all to create speed …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Checking in at Halfway

Indycar 2015 Indy Montoya On Track Fist Pump Credit Mark Reed

Photo Credit: Mark Reed

With the conclusion of the Chevrolet Duel in Detroit this past weekend, the IndyCar series has reached its season midpoint. That’s right, the season is already half over, which is both surprising and not. Consider that Formula 1 started a couple weeks prior to IndyCar and that they’re only one-third of the way into their …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: How the 2015 Indy 500 Fared on the Crowd-o-Meter

Indycar 2015 Indy Montoya Victory Sign Credit Chris Owens

(Photo: Chris Jones/INDYCAR Media)

You could maybe make an argument that social media reflects mainly the opinion of the squeaky wheels and in some cases this could be true. People are more apt to go online to post a bad review than a good one. There are some exceptions to this though I think, and a huge event like …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Roundtable Discussion of the Goings-On at Indy

2015ims13442 3 4

Photo Credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Matt Stallknecht: Can I just say how excited I am to be going to Indy this weekend?! Huston Ladner: I hope you’re going as a paramedic, looks like you might have work. Toni Montgomery: I’d be excited though, too. Aaron Bearden: I’m happy for you! If things don’t get worked out, the race could be tragic, though. It’s been …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Can IndyCar Learn from Boxing’s Recent Success?

Indycar 2015 St. Pete Green Flag Credit Chris Jones

(Photo: Chris Jones)

One day after the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Season started, I boldly professed that I would not criticize and/or overtly highlight IndyCar’s ever-present issue of declining popularity. I professed this in hopes that I and other IndyCar beat writers would focus on the positives of the sport instead of the negatives, because, put simply, the racing …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Fingers Crossed for the GP of Indianapolis

2014 Indycar Belle Isle Castroneves Leading

Photo Credit: IndyCar

It’s May, which can mean only one thing. Ha, whatever, it can mean lots of things. Mother’s Day is just about upon us.  College graduations are set to unleash a new flood of graduates into the world. Music festivals. Season finales for numerous TV shows. Playoffs. But for motorsports, the month of May has traditionally …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: American Pride a Shot in the Arm for IndyCar

Indycar 2015 Barber Josef Newgarden And Firehawk Credit Chris Jones

(Photo: Chris Jones)

American driver Josef Newgarden drove to his first career victory at Barber Motorsports Park last weekend with fellow American Graham Rahal in hot pursuit in second. It was a stellar closing segment as Rahal dashed furiously through the field, getting by Scott Dixon on the final lap and set to reeling in Newgarden, who was …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Taking Stock of the 2015 IndyCar Season After 3 Races

Indycar 2015 St. Pete Juan Pablo Montoya Will Power Racing Credit John Cote

(Photo: John Cote/INDYCAR)

Open-Wheel Wednesday – This week is a group chat with Matt Stallknecht, Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner, and Aaron Bearden.   Huston: What you got to start us off with? Anyone‏? Toni: Well let’s see there’s the new aero kits.‏ Matt: I’d say the aero kits have been a modest success thus far‏. Toni: I’d say …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: A Moratorium on Racing in the Rain

Indycar 2015 Nola James Hinchcliffe On Track Credit Chris Owens

Photo Credit: Chris Owens

I’m not sure when or why it happened, but it seems that motorsports fans have developed a strange affinity for racing in the rain in recent years. And to be quite frank, the fascination confuses me. With the exception of Formula 1 and select sports car series, no series on the planet is currently capable …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Bunny Ears & Razor Blades

Indycar 2015 Chevrolet Aero Kit For Road And Street Top View Courtesy Indycar Media

Photo Credit: IndyCar Media

Clearly one of the biggest storylines to follow for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series is the new aero kits that have been introduced. Both manufacturers, Honda and Chevy, were tasked with developing the kits, which are made up of aerodynamic bits and pieces that can be added to the car in any combination a team …

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