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Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/03/indycar-sparks-fly-as-thrilling-indy-300-closes-season-spoiler/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/03/indycar-sparks-fly-as-thrilling-indy-300-closes-season-spoiler/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/03/indycar-sparks-fly-as-thrilling-indy-300-closes-season-spoiler/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

2010 Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Heading into the final race of the 2010 IRL IZOD IndyCar Series Championship, early championship leader Will Power clung to a 12-point lead over the fast-closing Dario Franchitti. The two drivers had each been strong on ovals or road courses, but not both. Franchitti was crowned the oval champ, earning the A.J. Foyt trophy, while Power had won the road race crown, picking up the Mario Andretti trophy. Power had shown a level of dominance through the mid-season road and street races that made his title lead look insurmountable. But Franchitti racked up more points in the latest oval races as Power struggled to get good results.

That brought the title fight down to the last race of the season at the Miami-Homestead oval: The Cafes do Brasil Indy 300. Follow the jump to see who took the 2010 IndyCar Championship and how it came to be.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Cafes do Brasil Indy 300

[Images: Chris Graythen, Nick Laham/Getty | Alan Diaz, Terry Renna/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Indy Japan 300 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Heading into Saturday, only two races remained in the 2010 Izod IndyCar Series season, and the championship is coming down to the wire. Team Penske's Will Power raced to an early lead in the standings, his dominating performances on the road and street courses earning him the inaugural Mario Andretti award as the road course champ.

Team Target Chip Ganassi teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon headed to Japan in second and third respectively and first and second in the oval championship standings. Power's lead before the green flag waved at Twin Ring Motegi was 17 points over Dario, the same lead Franchitti has over Dixon in the race for the A.J. Foyt oval champ award. This weekend's Indy Japan 300 was crucial, with the potential to end with both championships decided even though the season's final race at Homestead is still two weeks away.

Follow the jump to see how it played out.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300

[Images: Jonathan Ferrey, Chris Graythen/Jiji Press/AFP/Getty, Shizuo Kambayashi, Greg Baker/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a few years since single-seaters roared through America's Playground, but they could be back before we know it. And back in a big way, if the latest reports from the world of motorsport materialize.

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted IRL races from 1996 to 2000 and Champ Cars from 2003 to 2005, and continues to hold NASCAR races, along with a handful of racing schools and other events. The circuit's chief Bruton Smith, however, is now reportedly campaigning to get the joint open-wheel series back on track (so to speak) for next year. If successful, the Vegas oval could play host to the season finale, a slot currently held by Miami-Homestead.

The IRL is expected to announce next year's calendar on September 10 (just a few days from now), so one way or another, we'll be finding out shortly.

[Source: Autosport]

Las Vegas campaigning for Indy season closer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>indyindy car seriesindy racing leagueIndyCarSeriesIndyRacingLeagueirllas vegaslas vegas motor speedwayLasVegasLasVegasMotorSpeedwayvegasMon, 06 Sep 2010 16:27:00 EST

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2010 Kentucky Indy 300 from Kentucky Speedway - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the IRL IndyCar Series, the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 was all about the number "200." It was the 200th race in IRL history. The drivers would be running 200 laps around the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway. And the speeds would be well above 200 mph as the field of 27 cars ran inches away from each other under the lights of Kentucky. Among those 27 drivers was last year's runner-up, Ed Carpenter, who still hasn't scored a full-time ride, and Paul Tracy, the fan favorite who seems to never get rusty. Maybe we'll have to start calling him Platinum Paul.

Last week's winner Dario Franchitti was making things interesting in the race for the championship by closing the gap to points leader Will Power who hasn't done as well as some of the others - including Franchitti - on ovals. Kentucky is an oval, of course, and so are Motegi and Miami, the final two races of the season. Would Power be able to get that monkey off his back? Would Franchitti take the win and close the gap even further? Would the talented and hard luck Ed Carpenter finally head to Victory Lane? Follow the jump to see how the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 went down.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300

[Images: Chris Graythen, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images | Ed Reinke, James Crisp/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19621724 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/indycarkentucky2010med---01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/indycarkentucky2010med---01.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar: 2010 Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/29/indycar-2010-peak-antifreeze-and-motor-oil-indy-300-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/29/indycar-2010-peak-antifreeze-and-motor-oil-indy-300-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/29/indycar-2010-peak-antifreeze-and-motor-oil-indy-300-spoilers/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Racing

2010 Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 from Chicagoland Speedway - Click above for high-res image gallery

It might seem that the 2010 IndyCar championship is a foregone conclusion. After all, Team Penske's Will Power has a sizable lead in the standings and there are just four races left to run. Ah, but those four are all on ovals, and Will has never claimed the top step of the podium at an oval track. Plus, right behind Power in the race for the overall IZOD IndyCar Championship are Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon - two drivers who have considerably better luck than Power when everybody only has to turn left.

In fact, Dixon leads Franchitti in the new-for-2010 A.J. Foyt Oval Champion standings. Furthermore, Dixon basically owns this week's venue - Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois - despite never actually winning there. That might seem like a contradiction, but Scott has been the bridesmaid on five separate occasions at Chicagoland.

IndyCar's return to the ovals also means bigger fields, with 29 drivers lined up to run for the checkers on Saturday night. Among those 29 were a record five female drivers - Ana Beatriz, Milka Duno, Sarah Fisher, Danica Patrick and Simona de Silvestro. Would Dixon finally take the win in Chicago? Would Dario claim victory and close the gap on Power? Would one of the ladies break through and be the first across the stripe? Follow the jump to see how the 2010 Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 from Chicagoland Speedway played out.

Gallery: 2010 Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 from Chicagoland Speedway

[Images: Jonathan Ferrey, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images | Skip Stewart, Nam Y. Huh, Warren Wimmer/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19612217 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/indycarchicagoland2010med---1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/indycarchicagoland2010med---1.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar: 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/23/indycar-2010-indy-grand-prix-of-sonoma-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/23/indycar-2010-indy-grand-prix-of-sonoma-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/23/indycar-2010-indy-grand-prix-of-sonoma-spoilers/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - Click above for high-res image gallery

Just five races remain on the 2010 Indy Racing League IndyCar schedule, and only one of those is a road course. The final four rounds of the championship will all be contested on ovals - but this weekend the drivers will be taking on Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Last race at Mid-Ohio, series points leader Will Power saw his lead shrink a bit when second place Dario Franchitti took the win. Still, Power clinched the inaugural Mario Andretti trophy for being the road course champ. Not a lot of drivers have a shot at catching the seemingly invincible super Power, but Franchitti has a better track record at Sonoma...and on ovals.

In fact, Power had a pretty nasty crash at Infineon just last year, while Franchitti claimed victory, so it was going to be interesting to see if 2010 would bring a reversal of fortune for the duo. Heading into qualifying, Power was looking to extend his consecutive pole position record and secure enough points to give him a bigger buffer going into the ovals, which haven't been as lucky for him to date. Follow the jump to see how things played out at Infineon.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

[Images: Donald Miralle, Christian Petersen/Getty Images | George Nikitin, Rich Pedroncelli/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma2010IndyGrandPrixOfSonomadario franchittiDarioFranchittiindyIndy Grand Prix of SonomaIndy Racing Leagueindycarindycar seriesIndycarSeriesIndyGrandPrixOfSonomaIndyRacingLeagueinfineonInfineon RacewayInfineonRacewayIRLwill powerWillPowerMon, 23 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST

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19603531 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/indycarsonoma2010med---1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/indycarsonoma2010med---1.jpg <![CDATA[Monterey 2010: A century of Indianapolis 500 entrants féted at Pebble]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/monterey-2010-a-century-of-indianapolis-500-entrants-feted-at-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/monterey-2010-a-century-of-indianapolis-500-entrants-feted-at-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/monterey-2010-a-century-of-indianapolis-500-entrants-feted-at-p/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Classics, Racing

Indianapolis 500 100th Anniversary at Pebble Beach

Indianapolis 500 100th Anniversary at Pebble Beach - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 95th running of the Indianapolis 500 this May represented the 100th Anniversary of "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing." The unbroken streak halted a total of five years during our involvement with the two World Wars. It's hard to believe we've had this legendary race for that long, but the centennial was certainly deserving of recognition - and although perhaps a bit incongruous to some, it was celebrated in grand style at no less than the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. As America's premier race, why not have America's - and perhaps the world's - premier classic car event host the festivities?

A large class of past Indy winners and notable contenders gathered in Pebble Beach on Sunday. Take a look at our gallery and you will see most, if not all, of the entrants - many on rare special loan from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum:

1911 Marmon "Wasp"
1920 Peugeot 3 Litre
1928 Miller "Front Drive Special"
1934 Ringling & Henning "Wonder Bread Special"
1938 Maserati 8CTF "Boyle Valve Special"
1950 Kurtis "Cummins Diesel Special"
1953 Kurtis Kraft KK 500B "Bardahl Special" B
1961 Cooper T51 "Kimberly Cooper-Climax Special"
1961 Watson "Bowes Seal Fast Special"
1965 Lotus 38 "Powered by Ford"
1972 McLaren "Sunoco Special"

Some incredible cars with the strongest of pedigrees are in there, and the best part of this class was seeing how much things have changed while some things seem to stay the same despite the era. Take a look at the gallery below and see the evolution of Indy race cars over a century.

Gallery: Indianapolis 500 100th Anniversary at Pebble Beach

1972 McLaren

1972 McLaren

1972 McLaren

1972 McLaren

1961 Watson

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Monterey 2010: A century of Indianapolis 500 entrants féted at Pebble originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CARTchamp carChampCarIndianapolis 500indianapolis motor speedwayIndianapolis500IndianapolisMotorSpeedwayindyIndy 500indy carIndy Racing LeagueIndy500indycarIndyRacingLeagueIRLkartingmontereymonterey 2010Monterey2010open-wheelopen-wheel racingOpen-wheelRacingpebble beachpebble beach 2010Pebble Beach Concours dElegancePebbleBeachPebbleBeach2010PebbleBeachConcoursDeleganceUSACMon, 16 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EST

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19594435 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1indy500pb2010_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1indy500pb2010.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/08/indycar-2010-honda-indy-200-at-mid-ohio-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/08/indycar-2010-honda-indy-200-at-mid-ohio-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/08/indycar-2010-honda-indy-200-at-mid-ohio-spoilers/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports

2010 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio - Click above for high-res image gallery

With just six races left on the schedule, the IndyCar Series moved to its penultimate road course event: Mid-Ohio. While series leader Will Power was in position to wrap up the inaugural Mario Andretti trophy for the series road course champion, he also had a good shot at putting the overall championship out of reach as well. While that was a pretty big deal, everyone was still talking about the crazy ending to the last race at Edmonton.

To recap, Helio Castroneves was black-flagged for taking the inside line while leading into turn 1 on a restart, but he ignored the order and stayed on track just in case. When he drove into the vicinity of victory lane three laps later, he was deflected aside. Helio jumped out of his car, looking for anyone with a headset who might be able to explain why the race leader would have to give up his hard-fought lead so late in the race. He didn't get much of an answer - at least not right away. Chief Steward Brian Barnhart reviewed the tapes and stuck to his on-field call. For good measure, he fined Castroneves $60,000 for his tantrum.

While that pretty much eliminated Helio from championship contention, there was still a race to run this weekend. Follow the jump to see how things played out at Mid-Ohio.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

[Images: Chris Graythen, Rick Dole, Robert Laberge/Getty Images, Jay LaPrete/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19585076 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/2010indy200mid-ohiomed---01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/2010indy200mid-ohiomed---01.jpg <![CDATA[Helio Castroneves reportedly fined $60,000 for Edmonton tirade]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/03/helio-castroneves-reportedly-fined-60-000-for-edmonton-tirade/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/03/helio-castroneves-reportedly-fined-60-000-for-edmonton-tirade/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/03/helio-castroneves-reportedly-fined-60-000-for-edmonton-tirade/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports

The Indy Racing League has handed down its punishment in the case of the race winner who was robbed. Following the controversial end of the IndyCar race in Edmonton last week, apparent winner Helio Castroneves drove into the pits, hopped out of his car and went after anyone wearing IRL gear. We showed you the video of the incident (now removed) a few days ago and most of you seemed to think Helio was in the right. He may have had a good reason to be upset, but the IRL stood by its decision after giving it some extra thought.

Now that they've had more than a week to mull things over, they've decided that Helio's reaction was too aggressive to go unpunished. They've slapped the charismatic driver with a $60,000 fine and put him on probation for the rest of the season. The monetary fines always hurt at some level, but it's the principle behind it that matters more here. The IRL is standing up for their decision - and their employees - and saying that if a driver has a problem with a race decision they need to use the proper channels to appeal it.

[Source: The Indianapolis Star]

Helio Castroneves reportedly fined $60,000 for Edmonton tirade originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19578241 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/helio-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/helio-630.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar offers fans a chance to design 2012 aero kits]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/indycar-offers-fans-a-chance-to-design-2012-aero-kits/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/indycar-offers-fans-a-chance-to-design-2012-aero-kits/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/indycar-offers-fans-a-chance-to-design-2012-aero-kits/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Design/Style

2012 IndyCar Concepts - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Indy Racing League announced a "new"chassis for the 2012 season, but left open the possibility for other companies to design the "clothes" that chassis will wear. The hope was that some new names will enter the running if the teams only have to spend development dollars on the aero bits rather than designing and building a whole car. So far names like Boeing, Honda and Lotus have been mentioned, but there could be dozens of entries by the time the 2012 season starts. Would you like to add your own name to that list? The IRL has posted several renderings of the new Indy Safety Cell and is allowing you to post your designs in a gallery for all the world to see. The top design could make some hitherto unknown graphic artist famous.

You can click over to the IndyCar website to get more details or check out our gallery to download the renderings and get started on your 2012 IndyCar. The basic chassis will still be built by Dallara, which is going to open a new plant right alongside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It will be sold to teams for a fraction of what the current chassis costs, but the teams will also have to buy a new engine and bodywork to complete the package. The whole setup will still cost teams far less than in the past, with the hopes that more businesses will find it affordable to enter the 2012 IRL championship... and save open-wheel U.S. racing in the process.

Gallery: 2012 IndyCar aero kit concepts

[Source: Indy Racing League]

IndyCar offers fans a chance to design 2012 aero kits originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19577559 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/2012-car-cell-and-aero-kit-samples_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/2012-car-cell-and-aero-kit-samples.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Edmonton offers a view to a thrill [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/26/indycar-2010-honda-indy-edmonton-offers-a-view-to-a-thrill-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/26/indycar-2010-honda-indy-edmonton-offers-a-view-to-a-thrill-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/26/indycar-2010-honda-indy-edmonton-offers-a-view-to-a-thrill-spo/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Honda, Canada, Racing

2010 Honda Indy Edmonton - Click above for high-res image gallery

The IndyCar Series stayed north of the border after the last race in Toronto, moving from the street circuit around the CN Tower to the City Centre Airport course in Edmonton. One of the best tracks for fans, the flat circuit offers views of most of the action from virtually any vantage point. The view the drivers were seeing going into Sunday's race was all too familiar - Will Power was back to his dominating ways, with quickest times in practice and through much of qualifying. Would last year's winner hold on for the pole? Would he capture another win, distancing himself even further from the rest of the pack in the championship standings?

Follow the jump to see how the 2010 Honda Indy Edmonton played out.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Edmonton

[Images: Robert Laberge, Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images, Jeff McIntosh, John Ulan/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Edmonton offers a view to a thrill [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Edmonton offers a view to a thrill [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19567351 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010hondaindyedmontonmed---00_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010hondaindyedmontonmed---00.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Toronto [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/indycar-2010-honda-indy-toronto-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/indycar-2010-honda-indy-toronto-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/indycar-2010-honda-indy-toronto-spoilers/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

2010 Honda Indy Toronto - Click above for high-res image gallery

The IndyCar Series made a major announcement since the last race at Watkins Glen, deciding to stick with Dallara as its chassis supplier, but opening the game up a bit by allowing other manufacturers the option to supply aero packages and engines. Many think this will boil down to more of the same in IndyCar, but at least on paper, it has the potential to get more companies involved. Some of the bigger nuggets to drop from the official announcement were the new, lower prices of these 2012 IndyCar chassis and the fact that Dallara is building a plant right near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to generate a few more jobs for the state's residents and to make it quicker and easier to make chassis changes during the season. But all of that is still a couple of years off and they still had a race to run this weekend.

The 2010 Honda Indy Toronto is the second race run on this particular 1.755-mile street circuit around the Canadian city of Toronto, although there has been a major open-wheel street race in Toronto since 1967, and CART/IRL races have been held there ever since 1986. Dario Franchitti won the race in 2009 and went on to win the championship last year as well. This year, Franchitti trails Team Penske's Will Power for the points lead and after Saturday's qualifying for Toronto, the Target Chip Ganassi driver found himself fifth on the grid behind Ryan Hunter-Reay (Team IZOD Andretti Autosport) in fourth, Helio Castroneves (Team Penske) in third, Power in second and polesitter Justin Wilson of Team Z-Line Designs/DRR Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, who has posted some impressive results this year and currently stands eighth in the championship standings. Could Wilson stay out front for his first win of the season? Could Franchitti repeat from last year and possibly take the points lead for 2010? Or would Will Power place high enough to retain his lead?

Follow the jump to see how the 2010 Honda Indy Toronto played out.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Toronto

[Images: Robert Laberge, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images, Frank Gunn, Adrien Veczan/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Toronto [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy Toronto [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Honda Indy Toronto2010HondaIndyTorontoAndrettiDallaradanica patrickDanicaPatrickDario FranchittiDarioFranchittiGraham RahalGrahamRahalhelio castronevesHelioCastroneveshondaHonda Indy TorontoHondaIndyTorontoindyindy carIndy Racing Leagueindycarindycar seriesIndycarSeriesIndyRacingLeagueIRLMarco AndrettiMarcoAndrettiopen wheel racingopen-wheel racingOpen-wheelRacingOpenWheelRacingSimona De SilvestroSimonaDeSilvestrowill powerWillPowerMon, 19 Jul 2010 09:59:00 EST

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19558675 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/irltoronto2010med---15_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/irltoronto2010med---15.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Lotus to increase involvement in Indy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/report-lotus-to-increase-involvement-in-indy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/report-lotus-to-increase-involvement-in-indy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/report-lotus-to-increase-involvement-in-indy/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Lotus

Lotus is back in IndyCars, and it's there to stay. After launching its own F1 team (in name, anyway) and announcing its intentions to expand further into other forms of motorsport, the legendary British firm revealed its sponsorship - together with engine partner Cosworth - of one of KV Racing's cars in the IndyCar Series, which former F1 driver Takuma Sato has been piloting (with limited success) this season.

Now Lotus is hinting at increased involvement in the series for next season and beyond, but has not indicated just what that might entail. The car it currently fields is neither built by Lotus nor powered by Cosworth: it's a Dallara chassis and a Honda engine, as per the series regulation. In fact, Lotus doesn't even run the car itself - that it leaves up to KV Racing Technology, the team run by former Champ Car chief Kevin Kalkhoven.

The Indy Racing League just recently revealed a new formula that will take effect beginning in 2012, using a Dallara chassis open to aerodynamic development by each team. The new engine formula, meanwhile, has been opened up to any manufacturer interested in pitching in, ostensibly opening the door to a Cosworth engine package. Lotus, meanwhile, may decide to develop its own aero package, but whether it would be the Malaysia-based F1 team or the England-based automaker that would spearhead the project remains to be seen.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Nick Laham/Getty]

Report: Lotus to increase involvement in Indy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway - Click above for high-res image gallery

The IndyCar Series moved on to the plains of Iowa for the eighth round of the 2010 Championship with a new points leader - Indy 500 Champ Dario Franchitti. Ryan Briscoe had moved up in the standings too, having won the last round in Texas - the race that had seen Penske return to Victory Lane and had almost seen the immolation of Simona de Silvestro. Fortunately Simona was extricated quickly enough to avoid major injuries and was in fact back in action in Iowa.

Qualifying on Saturday had seen early season dominator Will Power at the top of the charts, but he was one of the first drivers on course and had to play a long game of sit-and-wait to see if his time would stand. Follow the jump to see how the rest of qualifying played out, and to read all about the race - the 2010 Iowa Corn Indy 250 from Iowa Speedway.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Iowa Corn Indy 250

[Images: Chris Trotman/Getty Images, Conrad Schmidt/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Indy Racing League has yet to announce the selection of its new chassis, but in the meantime has announced new engine regulations that will take effect in 2012.

The saga of engine suppliers in the series has been a convoluted one. During its inaugural season in 1996, carry-over engines from CART were allowed, but were replaced the following season by naturally-aspirated V8s provided by General Motors (under the Oldsmobile Aurora name) and Nissan (bearing Infiniti livery). Toyota and Honda came on board in 2003, while GM rebadged its program under Chevrolet as Oldsmobile was being shut down. Three years later Honda got the exclusive and has been supplying all the teams on the grid since, but that contract is nearing its end.

In its place, the IRL has issued a new open formula in the hope of drawing a diverse array of manufacturers to the series. For the first time since splitting with CART (with which it has since reunited), IndyCars will race under turbocharged power. Ethanol will continue to fuel the series, but beyond that, teams and engine suppliers will be free to use as many as six cylinders (in whatever configuration they choose), with displacements not exceeding 2.4 liters and power ranging between 550 and 700 horsepower.

The use of turbocharging and the variety of configurations allowed under the new formula should make for some interesting racing, and we'll be waiting to see which manufacturers jump - or pass - at the opportunity.

[Source: Autosport]

IndyCar goes Turbo: 2012 engine regs open to multiple manufacturers, configurations originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19501714 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/hpd-facility017_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/hpd-facility017.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar: Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway [Spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/indycar-road-runner-turbo-indy-300-at-kansas-speedway-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/indycar-road-runner-turbo-indy-300-at-kansas-speedway-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/indycar-road-runner-turbo-indy-300-at-kansas-speedway-spoilers/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

2010 IndyCar Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The IZOD IndyCar Series moved from the streets of Long Beach to the banked oval of Kansas Speedway for the fifth race of the season, the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300. It's the first oval of the year for the open-wheelers, serving as a tuneup for the series' namesake Indy 500 later this month. Qualifying even follows a similar format to Indy, with drivers ranked according to their four-lap run average. Unlike the 500 though, here in Kansas the drivers only get one chance.

This was also the first race since the announcement of a new triple championship for IndyCar, with the overall champ getting the main prize and additional crowns going to the driver who does best on the ovals and another who does the best on the non-ovals over the course of the season. Most of the drivers seemed to like the new setup, and the smaller teams in particular now have a better shot at scoring some wins by focusing on one part or the other if they can't really compete for the overall title.

Will Power (Verizon Team Penske) was still sitting atop the overall driver standings, but Helio Castroneves (Team Penske) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (Team IZOD Andretti Autosport) had shown he wasn't invincible, each winning one of the previous two races. It wasn't looking as good for anybody not driving for Penske or Andretti though, and in fact, Penske's trick suspension seemed to be holding its sizable advantage over the rest of the field in the early part of the season. But the ovals were a whole new ballgame and Andretti had finally broken through in 2010. Turning left only would probably minimize the Penske advantage too, so nobody could know exactly what the Indy 300 had in store. Follow the jump to see how it played out.

Gallery: 2010 IndyCar Road Runner Turbo Indy 300

[Photo Sources: Ron McQueeney/IndyCar | Rick Dole, Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images]

Continue reading IndyCar: Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway [Spoilers]

IndyCar: Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 May 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19461375 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/2010indycarroadrunnerturboindy300w---01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/2010indycarroadrunnerturboindy300w---01.jpg <![CDATA[Shell signs multi-series sponsorship deal with Penske Racing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/shell-signs-multi-series-sponsorship-deal-with-penske-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/shell-signs-multi-series-sponsorship-deal-with-penske-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/shell-signs-multi-series-sponsorship-deal-with-penske-racing/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising

For years Marlboro has been nearly synonymous with Penske, its racing cars (in open-wheels especially) adorned with the tobacco company's red-and-white color scheme for decades, even if their name hasn't appeared on the cars since 2005. But after 19 years in racing together, Marlboro parent company Phillip Morris ended its sponsorship of the motor racing dynasty earlier this year. Now it appears that Shell Oil could be taking its place.

The deal, which comes into effect next season, encompasses Penske Racing teams in several series, including the Indy Racing League and both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series in NASCAR, but does not appear to extend to Penske's American Le Mans Series team.

In the Sprint Cup, the Shell deal comes at the expense of Richard Childress Racing (pictured above), which brought in Shell to replace Jack Daniels sponsorship which it lost last year. The Shell and Pennzoil logos will instead adorn the #22 car of Penske's former champion Kurt Busch, while teammate Brad Keselowski's #2 Dodge will continue with Miller Lite sponsorship. In Indy, meanwhile, the sponsorship replaces Penske's longstanding deal with ExxonMobil.

[Source: Autosport]

Shell signs multi-series sponsorship deal with Penske Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>indyindy racing leagueIndyRacingLeagueirlnascarnascar nationwide seriesnascar sprint cupNascarNationwideSeriesNascarSprintCupnationwide seriesNationwideSeriespennzoilpenskepenske racingPenskeRacingshellshell oilShellOilsprint cupSprintCupThu, 22 Apr 2010 08:29:00 EST

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19448808 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/pennzoil-nascar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/pennzoil-nascar.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar: 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama [SPOILER ALERT]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/indycar-2010-grand-prix-of-alabama-spoiler-alert/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/indycar-2010-grand-prix-of-alabama-spoiler-alert/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/indycar-2010-grand-prix-of-alabama-spoiler-alert/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

Charles Barkley waves the green flag to start the 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama - Click above for high-res image gallery

Round three of the 2010 IndyCar season had the teams visiting Barber Motosports Park in Birmingham, Alabama for the first time. Well, technically the IZOD IndyCar Series was already here, as the track hosted the pre-season test sessions for the series. The 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama presented by Legacy Credit Union, however, was to be the first Indycar race held at the track.

Seeking to pick up where he left off in St. Petersburg, championship points leader, Will Power, was also aiming to set IndyCar history with the first ever three-for-three start to the season. If he managed to grab the checkered flag at the end of the race, Power would be the first to accomplish such a feat and would tie three other drivers for the most wins in a row in series history as well.

Power had already shown he could hold his own at Barber, claiming the fastest overall laps in testing and practice leading up to the race, so it didn't look good for the competition. But would Power be able to claim the pole? Would he capture that third win in three races and set IndyCar history? Follow the jump to see how the race unfolded in Birmingham.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama

[Photo Source: Ron McQueeney, Dan Helrigel / IndyCar.com]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama [SPOILER ALERT]

IndyCar: 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama [SPOILER ALERT] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19434551 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycaralabama2010---01-1271023727_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycaralabama2010---01-1271023727.jpg <![CDATA[Universal Soldier: Lola presents adaptable IndyCar proposal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/universal-soldier-lola-presents-adaptable-indycar-proposal/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/universal-soldier-lola-presents-adaptable-indycar-proposal/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/universal-soldier-lola-presents-adaptable-indycar-proposal/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Racing

Lola B12 IRL design proposals - Click above for high-res image gallery

It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings. Or so the saying goes, but while the British motorsport engineering firm may specialize in lightweight composites, make no mistake about it: In the global racing arena, Lola Cars is a heavyweight.

In addition to sports prototypes, Formula One racers and a variety of other racing machinery, Lola's history in Indy cars goes back all the way to the 1960s. Along the way, Lola has provided motivation to such notables as Graham Hill, Al Unser, Newman/Hass, Penske and Chip Ganassi, to name just a few. Now, following the competing designs unveiled by Ganassi-led upstart DeltaWing and arch-rival Dallara, Lola has announced its own bid for the new IRL chassis.

Less of a radical change certainly than the DeltaWing concept, Lola's proposal has focused on two key areas: aerodynamic stability and design adaptability. Instead of one design, the Lola package includes two alternatives, allowing teams to choose and thus imbuing the field with more variety than existing one-make series, IndyCar included. Both designs, however, have been optimized to reduce turbulence in their wake, allowing for closer following, drafting and passing - key factors in increasing the level of competition, particularly on high-speed super-speedways.

The most intriguing element of the Lola design, however, is its adaptability. The concept is designed for use - with minimal modification - in both the top-tier IndyCar series and the lower Indy Lights category, allowing junior teams to graduate to the senior series with a few simple changes. Further details are at your disposal in the press release after the jump, with high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Lola IRL B12/00 and B12/01 design proposals

[Source: Lola]

Continue reading Universal Soldier: Lola presents adaptable IndyCar proposal

Universal Soldier: Lola presents adaptable IndyCar proposal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firestone indy lightsFirestoneIndyLightsindyindy carindy car seriesIndy Lightsindy racing leagueIndyCarIndyCarSeriesIndyLightsIndyRacingLeagueirlizod indy car seriesIzodIndyCarSerieslolalola b12lola b1200lola b1201LolaB12LolaB1200LolaB1201Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:58:00 EST

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The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed

In February's first Weekender, NASCAR already has its Car of Tomorrow and now Indycar is planning its car of 2012. Dallara has designed three sample chassis, and while they might not make IRL any more fun to watch, they could make it far more interesting to look at. In other lands, the Alfabeast is what you get when you cross a 2.5-liter V6 and a hardtail motorcycle, Ford says "No" to manatees and monkeys, Bentley shows you how to make a Mulsanne, the new Porsche Cayenne interior looks hot as cayenne, and did you hear the one about the guy who ate a bowl of chili and crashed into a house? Yeah, neither had we. Follow the jump for all those stories and more...

Continue reading Autoblog Weekender: IRL, Making Mulsannes, a Russian Hummer Tractor Thingy, IRL, the Alfabeast ... and more IRL

Autoblog Weekender: IRL, Making Mulsannes, a Russian Hummer Tractor Thingy, IRL, the Alfabeast ... and more IRL originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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