Open Wheel & Road Racing Archives - Page 5 of 5

INDYCAR: What’s Next?

December 17, 2012

For weeks I’ve been listening to every media pundit and armchair racer debate what Indycar should do next. Their TV ratings are in the tank, they just fired a semi-popular CEO without cause, they literally can’t give away tickets to a short oval race and they’re hemorrhaging cash at an appalling rate.

INDYCAR: Random Thoughts While Watching the Grand Prix of Sonoma

August 27, 2012

Sunday's Indycar race at Sonoma was enjoyable to watch and the series is still making forward strides. It was nice to see Rubens Barrichello get a top five finish (you're not in Kansas anymore, Rubens). It's good to have the series revisiting some legendary venues.

INDYCAR: Push and Use Red Tires and Make Faster Pit Stops and Save Fuel to Pass

July 8, 2012 - Banner Credit: Indcar/LAT USA

After rediscovering authentic competition via deregulation at Iowa Speedway last month, the Honda Indy Toronto event showed just how far Indycar's vastly over-regulated series has yet to go.

INDYCAR: Reflections on the Driving Career of Dr. Jack Miller, the Racing Dentist

July 5, 2012 - Banner credit: CALLAHAN PHOTOS

Twelve years ago, Dr. Jack Miller and I sat down for lunch at a crowded restaurant on the west side of Indianapolis, just minutes from the world famous 2½ mile oval. Jack seemed to be in a good mood.

INDYCAR: Texas Offers a Glimpse of What Indycar Was, Should Be

“That's the best racing I've ever had on an oval.” - Will Power

INDYCAR: Resurgent 500 Remains Pinnacle of Auto Racing

May 27, 2012

If there was ever any doubt that the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race is still the Mt. Everest of motorsports, it is gone after today's record-breaking event. Yes, I have a few gripes about the DW-12 chassis and the lame, new re-start procedures. We'll get to those in a moment. But the race itself was a sight to behold.

INDYCAR: Pippa Mann’s Courageous Effort to Return to Indycar Racing

May 22, 2012

The death of Dan Wheldon has justifiably become the overriding memory of last fall's tragic Indycar race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

But lost in the shuffle were several other serious injuries that left both physical and emotional scars on the drivers. While the media quite naturally focuses on the loss of Dan Wheldon, other drivers who suffered serious injuries are unintentionally passed over.

One of those injured parties was Pippa Mann.

INDYCAR: Post Qualifying Report

It's really hard to say whether this is a whopping awesome year for the Indy 500 or an aggravating disappointment.

INDYCAR: Practice Report from the Indy 500

The opening weekend of practice for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 is behind us and things just get weirder and weirder. Rather than dwell on headlines that are already well covered in mainstream news releases, let me dive into a few behind-the-scenes observations and some educated guesswork.

INDYCAR: Is the Dream Still Alive?

There was a day when the greatest race in the world - the Indianapolis 500 - was within reach of the average local racecar driver. Sure, it was a long shot for anyone, but it was within reach.

Larry Cannon was a barber from a small town in Illinois. He raced Indy in 1971. Long Beach hippie Jan Opperman ran Indy in 1976 after making a name in sprint cars. The dream was alive.

Roger Rager bought his first racecar at age 14. He paid $35 for it. I watched Rager drive - brilliantly - on Paragon Speedway's 3/8th's mile dirt oval in the 1970's. In 1980 he started in row 4 at Indy alongside A. J. Foyt. The dream was alive.

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