Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[High Speed, High Fashion: Izod secures deal as IndyCar title sponsor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/08/high-speed-high-fashion-izod-secures-deal-as-indycar-title-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/08/high-speed-high-fashion-izod-secures-deal-as-indycar-title-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/08/high-speed-high-fashion-izod-secures-deal-as-indycar-title-spo/#commentsFiled under: ,



New beginnings demand new threads, and that's just what the reunited IndyCar Series has gained with the announcement that clothing label Izod has become the league's new title sponsor.

The deal, which runs through 2015, is reportedly worth in the neighborhood of $10 million per year. Renaming the racing league as the Izod IndyCar Series, it forms part of a broad sports sponsorship initiative by parent company Phillips-Van Heusen which recently secured naming rights to the New Jersey Nets arena and the NFL Pro Hall of Fame. Last year, Izod began making inroads into Indy racing by sponsoring driver Ryan Hunter-Reay while securing a deal to become the official clothier for the IRL and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Izod's partnership with the league marks the first time the open-wheel series has had a title sponsor since search engine Northern Light withdrew in 2001. The clothing label is planning an aggressive advertising campaign, which promises to help both parties increase their visibility, an element that IndyCar desperately needs in order to step out of NASCAR's shadow and back into prominence as a premier racing series. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: IZzod IndyCar Series]

Continue reading High Speed, High Fashion: Izod secures deal as IndyCar title sponsor

High Speed, High Fashion: Izod secures deal as IndyCar title sponsor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gil de Ferran driving his Acura AXR-02a - click above for a high-res image gallery

Shortly after grabbing the overall pole position for Saturday's American Le Mans Series Race at Mid-Ohio, Gil de Ferran announced that he would again hang up his helmet at the end of the 2009 season. Instead of driving, de Ferran intends to expand his race team, adding a second sports car in ALMS as well as a two-car effort in the IRL IndyCar series.

This is not the first de Ferran has walked away from competitive driving. He retired from the Penske IndyCar team in 2003 to take up a slot as Sporting Director of the Honda F1 team. Early in 2008 he announced his return to the cockpit with the formation of de Ferran Motorsports and took advantage of his long-time association with Honda to get a third Acura LMP2 car in 2008. This year his team, along with Highcroft Racing, lead Acura's move to LMP1. Gil and team-mate Simon Pagenaud have won the last three ALMS races and are currently second in the championship.


Gallery: Mid-Ohio 2009: De Ferran Acura ARX-02a


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Gil de Ferran to step out of the cockpit and expand team to IndyCar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Racing fans looking for that Monaco or Long Beach-style harbor-front open-wheel racing experience on the East Coast of the United States will be pleased to learn that plans are under way to bring an IndyCar street race to Baltimore's picturesque Inner Harbor. The plan, still being assessed by local officials, would involve a four-day event at the end of the summer (book-ending the season started by the Indy 500) for at least five years starting in 2011.

Baltimore Racing Development is bringing in consultants, including two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr., to evaluate the prospect, which would be based around a track running through downtown Baltimore, past Camden Yards and Oriole Park, along the Inner Harbor by the National Aquarium and past the Maryland Science Center. Organizers are looking at Indy races in St. Petersburg, Toronto and Long Beach as their model, projecting some $100 million in tourism revenue from 150,000 visitors during an four-day event that would eclipse the Preakness Stakes horse race as the biggest racing event in the area. Thanks to hoov23 for the tip!

[Source: The Baltimore Sun | Image: Stephen Munday/ALLSPORT/Getty]

REPORT: Plans under way for harborfront IndyCar Grand Prix in Baltimore originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's the end of an era for open-wheel racing in America as Indy chief Tony George has stepped down from his post. The long-time president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, George was widely seen as the impetus for the 1996 split in Indy racing that created the Indy Racing League (IRL) and the rival Champ Car series (formerly known as CART), but he was also instrumental in fostering the merger of the two championships into the new IndyCar Series over which he's presided.

During his nearly two-decade tenure as the head of the famous race track, George also brought NASCAR, Formula One and MotoGP to the speedway for the first time, vastly expanding the calendar of events at the iconic venue. However, elements within the Hulman-George company that controls the business were concerned with the amount of resources their chief executive put into the reintegrated IndyCar Series and recently asked him to reorganize the company, but Tony evidently decided to step down instead. He'll be focusing his energies on the Vision Racing team which he fields in the series, while the job he vacates will be split into two: CFO Jeffrey G Belskus will take the reins at the speedway, while chief legal counsel W Curtis Brighton will oversee the operation of the series.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty]

BREAKING: Indy chief Tony George reportedly resigns originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The car above is the pace car for this year's Indianapolis 500, a special edition 2010 Camaro. If you want to see it in action, then you'll need to watch the race -- Chevrolet says it won't be making a pace car replica for people who don't drive on the oval. Chevy copied and sold the four previous iterations of Camaro Indy 500 pace cars thousands of times.

This time, though, a spokesman said, "In order to keep special editions special, we can't go to that well too often." Which means someone decided that a rare trip to the well would be better served by producing a Bumblebee Camaro than an Indy pace car edition, even though the original Camaro Indy 500 pace car editions still attract collectors 42 years after the fact...


Gallery: 2009 Chevy Camaro Indy Pace Car



[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: Chevy won't be offering Indy 500 Camaro Pace Car replicas originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 May 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camarochevroletchevrolet camaroChevroletCamarochevy camaroChevyCamarocoupeindianapolis 500Indianapolis500indyindy 500indy 500 pace carIndy500Indy500PaceCarmotorsportspace carPaceCarspecial editionSpecialEditionSun, 24 May 2009 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Danica Patrick, Alan Mullaly make the 2009 TIME Top 100 list]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/danica-patrick-alan-mullaly-make-the-2009-time-100/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/danica-patrick-alan-mullaly-make-the-2009-time-100/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/danica-patrick-alan-mullaly-make-the-2009-time-100/#commentsFiled under:



Every year, TIME magazine publishes its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The list is typically comprised of government leaders, business titans and high-profile celebrities, and this year's, which just hit the shelves, is no different. Among those included in the ranking for 2009 are Ford CEO Alan Mullaly and perennial IndyCar favorite Danica Patrick.

Lauding Mullaly for forgoing government handouts - a decision that has increased Ford's popularity - Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer highlights Mullaly's career in guiding Boeing Aerospace through the tumultuous post-9/11 period and ushering Ford into a new era. Danica Patrick, meanwhile, earned the citation for braking through the sound barrier glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race, earning the respect of her male colleagues in the process. London Mayor, part-time automotive journalist and all-around friend of the automobile and motorist Boris Johnson also made the list among the other decision-makers and opinion-shapers mentioned on the Time list. Follow the link to view the list in full.

[Source: TIME | Photo (left) by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty]

Danica Patrick, Alan Mullaly make the 2009 TIME Top 100 list originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 May 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click for a gallery of shots from the 2008 Detroit Grand Prix

Roger Penske once said "the quickest way to make a small fortune in racing is to start with a large fortune." Bobby Rahal is a racer, but he's no fool, and he appears to be taking Penske's sage words to heart. Unless a company steps up in the next couple of months with a truck-load of cash, Rahal-Letterman Racing won't be fielding a car in the 2009 IRL season. Rahal has seen plenty of other teams soldier on without a sponsor over the years only to finish at the back of the pack (if they finish at all) until they go bust. Rahal doesn't plan to be in that spot now that the ethanol company that sponsored his IndyCar team has pulled out. He and his partner David Letterman want to run in IndyCar, but if no one steps up before the the season opener on April 5, they won't be fielding a team. Rahal is confident the crew can at least line up something for the Indy 500 and the firm plans to remain in business regardless of what happens on the IRL front. The team has operations in Indy Lights, Formula BMW Americas and its factory ALMS GT2 program with the new BMW M3.

Gallery: Detroit Grand Prix 08: IndyCars


[Source: TSN]
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Rahal-Letterman to quit IRL unless a sponsor steps up originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click on the Highcroft Acura for a high res gallery from the Detroit Sports Car Challenge

The current economic climate has only just started to wreak havoc in the motorsports world, with last week's announcements that Honda is pulling out of F1 and Audi is leaving the American LeMans Series. Things are likely to get worse before they get better as other automakers, including those based in Detroit, will almost certainly cut racing programs and budgets.

What won't be affected - at least for now - are Honda's non-F1 endeavors, including its motorcycle programs, the Indy Racing League and the American Le Mans Series. The ALMS and IRL programs are both operated by Honda Performance Development out of Torrance, CA. Unlike the F1 program, the IRL engine program generates revenue from the teams that lease these engines. The Acura ALMS program will definitely continue in 2009 as the team moves up from the LMP2 to the LMP1 class. The big bummer is that Acura won't have any competition from the Audi R10, which is leaving the ALMS next year.

Gallery: Detroit Sports Car Challenge 08


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: F1-Live]

Honda commits to remaining motorsport programs after F1 pull out originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IndyCar teams and fans have grown accustomed to the proliferation of Italian racing car chassis as Dallara has been supplying them for the past eleven seasons, now all but exclusively. But with Honda's engine supply contract coming to a close, series organizers have been discussing new powertrain options with a number of manufacturers. Among them is Alfa Romeo, the Italian automaker widely anticipated to make a return to the North American market in the near future.

This wouldn't be the first time Alfa Romeo has provided motivation for the largely American racing series, having participated in the late 80's and early 90's with a project adopted from Ferrari. However, despite the company's deep racing heritage, Alfa Romeo does not currently compete in any major form of motorsport since the N.Technology team stopped campaigning race-prepped 156 Super Turismos in the World Touring Car Championship. The responsibility for developing the IndyCar engines - 3.5-liter V8s under the current regulations, tipped to be replaced by turbocharged fours - would presumably fall to Fiat Powertrain Technologies, headed by Paolo Martinelli, formerly head of Scuderia Ferrari's engine program. Nothing's certain, however, since IRL organizers are also rumored to be discussing a renewal with Honda as well as with Audi, Porsche and an undisclosed fifth automaker.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

IndyCars to go Italian? IRL in talks with Alfa Romeo originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officials have confirmed that the newly reunified IndyCar series is contemplating a move to turbocharged engines by 2011. The move could entice more automakers - aside from Honda, which is the only engine manufacturer currently participating in the series - to join on as well. In a meeting held this past June, IRL officials spoke with a dozen automakers about joining the series, and several sounded enthusiastic at the prospect of switching from the current naturally-aspirated V8s to smaller turbocharged engines. The new formula would call for either four or six cylinders and either one or two spools, producing as much as 750 horsepower instead of the current 650. Officials expect three or four manufacturers to sign on to the new formula, which could be announced as early as December to give the manufacturers enough time to develop the new engines.

Turbochargers had been common in American open-wheel racing, but after the IRL and Champ Cars split, the former switched to non-boosted V8s while the latter continued with turbos. The bulk of the formula for the reunited series, however, was based on the IRL regulations. Many of the drivers competing in the series have been pushing for the switch, and responded enthusiastically to the news.

[Sources: Autosport and The Indianapolis Star, Photo by Jon Ferrey/Allsport/Getty]

Indy to go turbo by 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cartchamp carsChampCarsicsindyindy racing leagueindy turboindycarindycar turboIndycarTurboIndyRacingLeagueIndyTurboirlturbochargersMon, 25 Aug 2008 07:57:00 EST<![CDATA[IndyCar Series signs new television deal with Versus]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/indycar-series-signs-new-television-deal-with-versus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/indycar-series-signs-new-television-deal-with-versus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/indycar-series-signs-new-television-deal-with-versus/#commentsFiled under:

If you're keen to follow the reunited IndyCar Series, you may want to call up your cable or satellite provider and add Versus to your package. The channel has secured the rights to broadcast the series, moving the races over from ESPN.

Although the lesser-known Versus reaches some 20 million fewer homes than ESPN, the network is expected to offer extended coverage, with pre- and post-race shows and the possibility of Indy-related programming in between races, as well. Meanwhile, ABC has renewed its contract with IRL officials to broadcast five races - including the Indy 500 - each season. While the deal with Versus might seem like a step backwards from ESPN, the stability of consistent and extended coverage could help put open-wheel racing in America back on the map.

[Source: Autosport]

IndyCar Series signs new television deal with Versus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scott Dixon, racing for the Target Chip Ganassi IRL team, is your pole sitter for the upcoming Indy 500. Scott took the front spot with a 4-lap average of 226.366 MPH, about 0.5 MPH faster than last year's pole sitter. Slotting in behind Dixon is his teammate, Dan Wheldon, just a fraction slower at 226.110 MPH.

The first 22 slots in the 32-car field have been decided. Dixon and Wheldon will be followed by Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, Tony Kanann and Marco Andretti as the top six. The final 11 slots will be decided this Saturday and Sunday. The 92nd Indy 500 takes place on Sunday, May 25.

[Source: AP]

Scott Dixon grabs Indy 500 pole originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 May 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The drivers after receiving traditional didgeridoos in Australia

Fans of open-wheel racing awaiting the results of today's season-finale Brazilian Grand Prix had something to keep them busy in the meantime, as the results of the Champ Car race Down Under came in with this season's champion one race early.

If you didn't tape the race to watch later, click through to the SPOILER ALERT to find out who won and who's champion this year in Champ Cars.

[Source: Autosport.com]

Continue reading Champ Car champ and rookie crowned Down Under

Champ Car champ and rookie crowned Down Under originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indianapolis 500 winner, current IndyCar points leader and husband of actress of Ashley Judd (rank those however you want) Dario Franchitti was involved in a spectacular airborne crash during this weekend's Firestone 400 at Michigan International Speedway, though fortunately he walked away with nary a scratch. Franchitti was doing his best to hold off Dan Wheldon, currently 4th in points, on Lap 144, when his rear end touched wheels with the front of Wheldon's car. Franchitti's car turned sideways in front of Wheldon, which instantly created a giant wing and a ramp from which his car was launched high into the air at over 200 mph. At one point the car was pointing straight down at the pavement. Franchitti eventually landed upside down on top of Scott Dixon's car, narrowly missing the head of the man who is currently chasing him in points. In addition to those three drivers and their cars, Sam Hornish Jr., Tomas Scheckter, Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV were also involved in this 7-car crash/aerial display. Though no one was seriously injured, A.J. Foyt IV was showing everyone his helmet, which reportedly featured tire marks from Franchitti's car. Wheldon was absolved of any responsibility for the crash by Franchitti, who said after the race, "It's not Dan's fault and I don't believe it's my fault. We're just out there trying to get an advantage."

It's thought Franchitti was on pace to win the race, having led the most laps despite not finishing with 56 left to go. Tony Kanaan took the checkered flag instead, though Franchitti remains the season's points leader.

Check out the crash from every possible camera angle after the jump.

[Source: IndyCar.com, ESPN]

Continue reading VIDEO: Franchitti's harrowing airborne crash during Firestone 400

VIDEO: Franchitti's harrowing airborne crash during Firestone 400 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're shooting from the hip this week for Podcast #71. Rather than prepare, we're going with gut reactions. Starting it off, we mull over the loss of the USGP from Indianapolis, and postulate on where else F1 may pop up in the US. An F1 race on the Vegas strip would be the bomb. Staying with motorsports, we marvel at how Team SARD spanked everyone extremely hard at Tokachi with a hybridized Supra GT. We're sure that racing will improve the hybrid breed at a much steeper pace than conventional powerplants. In other racing news, Dale Junior has split from Budweiser, so he'll have new livery to plaster all over his left-turn machine.

Moving on from racing, we ponder the leakage and eventual announcement of the Porsche 911 GT2. It's as unassuming as a Porsche can get, but it packs 530 horsepower and uses the rear wheels to push top speed to the 200 MPH realm, while being a docile everyday car. While Porsches always make us giddy little schoolboys, Subaru's recent model line revisions have us alternating between cheers and jeers. The good: the Legacy SUS, or whatever the heck they call their Outback sedan is kaput. The bad: so is the straight Legacy wagon. We devolve into a styling review of Subaru's new corporate language for a while before surfacing again to discuss the inanity surrounding presidential candidates and hybrid vehicles. Idiocy, 'nuff said.

On a lighter note, we discuss the rumored sequel to Disney/Pixar's "Cars." Not surprising when you consider how lucrative the tie-ins usually are. Off entertainment and on to entertaining cars, we ogle the leaked pictures of the FPV Falcon, and discuss the future plans of that platform here in the US. It does look mean, so thanks to that janitor who picked these renderings out of the trash. Our pithy cavalcade keeps rolling along, and we chew over Bob Lutz's latest comments about the future of diesel powerplants in the US. It's odd that Bob is cool on diesel just as GM is poised to roll out new oil-burners. Wrapping up, we put out the call to action again for the Reader Ride - add your pix to the Flickr pool and include details! The hour duration of Podcast #71 will give you enjoyment to and from work, enjoy!

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Autoblog Podcast #71 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastAutoblogPodcastbudweisercandidateclintondale juniorDaleJuniordisneyearnhardtescapefalconfpvgt2hybridindianapolisindylegacymotogpobamaorionoutbackphotospixarpodcastporschepresidentsardsequelspy shotsSpyShotssubarutokachiusgpWed, 18 Jul 2007 15:20:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #71Dan Roth55:11autoblog podcast, podcast, sard, toyota, supra, indy, indianapolis, usgp, motogp, lutz, diesel, gm, falcon, orion, australia, spy shots, subaru, styling, legacy, outback, earnhardt, nascar, budweiser, disney, sequel, pixar, cars, candidate, hybrid, obama<![CDATA[Indianapolis loses F1, gains MotoGP in 2008!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/16/indianapolis-loses-f1-gains-motogp-in-2008/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/16/indianapolis-loses-f1-gains-motogp-in-2008/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/16/indianapolis-loses-f1-gains-motogp-in-2008/#commentsFiled under:



By now most have heard that F1 will not hold a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2008, meaning that the fate of F1 in the U.S. is in question. Don't shed a tear for Indy, though, as it's just been announced that MotoGP will bring the new Red Bull indianapolis GP to the Brickyard on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Incredibly, this will be the first time in almost 100 years that motorcycles have raced at Indy. The last time was August 14th, 1909, according to Indy.

For the event, Indy is constructing a new 16-turn, 2.601-mile motorcycle road course on which riders will travel counter-clockwise, which is rare for a road course event at Indy. The event organizers promise lots of passing and side-by-side racing, as well. Like any big motorsport event, the Red Bull Indianapolis GP will be a three-day affair with supporting races and qualifying that begin on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.

Together with the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix that's held at Laguna Seca, MotoGP now hosts two big races in the U.S. The current defending champion, Nicky Hayden, is also from the U.S., Owensboro, KY to be specific, so MotoGP's arrival at Indy is both appropriate for the motorsport and extremely exciting. While losing F1's USGP was a hit to Indianapolis, the storied track has recovered nicely with the announcement of MotoGP's pending arrival, and we'll be eager to see how it goes.

Thanks for the tip, Thor!

[Source: IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com]

Indianapolis loses F1, gains MotoGP in 2008! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>F1HaydenIndianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolisMotorSpeedwayIndyMotoGPmotorcyclemotorcycle racingMotorcycleRacingmotorcyclesRossiUSGPMon, 16 Jul 2007 16:09:00 EST<![CDATA[My dad can beat up your IRL driver]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/09/my-dad-can-beat-up-your-irl-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/09/my-dad-can-beat-up-your-irl-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/09/my-dad-can-beat-up-your-irl-driver/#commentsFiled under:



Scott Dixon won the Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix this past weekend. Who cares? There was another altercation in the pits following the one between Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon after the Milwaukee race in early June. This weekend's tangle, however, had a twist. In one corner we have Andretti Green Racing driver Tony Kanaan, the Vin Diesel of IRL we like to say. In the other corner we have... Sam Hornish Jr.'s dad, Sam Hornish Sr. Whaa?

Here's the run up. Early in the race Hornish Jr. and Kanaan made contact in a corner. Hornish got the edge there, which prompted Kanaan to attempt pushing him into the wall going into the pits after the race. With cars parked, Hornish Jr. approached Kanaan before the Brazilian had even gotten out of his car. Clearly words were said, but both drivers still had their helmets on. Hornish Jr. backs off, but after exiting his car Kanaan follows. Before you know it, Hornish SENIOR, who had begun restraining his son, turns around and plants a nice two-handed shove on Kanaan. Kanaan is literally stunned and stands there with what must be the look to end all looks hidden under his helmet.

Had Kanann and Hornish Jr. been left to work it out with words, most agree it would have gone no further, but the shove invited a whole mess of bystanders to enter the ensuing fray, which somehow resulted in Hornish Sr. hitting the ground.

Kanaan was quoted after the race saying, "That's why dads should be in the grandstands, not in the pits." BURN! Seriously, after watching the video, we had to wonder what the hell this guy in a short-sleeve button-down shirt from Sears was doing amongst the crowd of racing professionals.

The video is embedded after the jump, and a great write up of the action with quotes from each driver can be found by clicking the Read link.

[Source: Indy Car and ESPN]

Continue reading My dad can beat up your IRL driver

My dad can beat up your IRL driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last weekend's ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 Indy race at the Milwaukee Mile saw Tony Kanann take the checkered flag, but a confrontation after the race between Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon is getting more media attention than who stood atop the podium after the race concluded. On Lap 88, Danica Patrick was running fifth when her car made contact with Dan Wheldon's in Turn 1. Wheldon was ahead and on the outside and Patrick wasn't give him much room while coming up on left. The exchange forced Patrick to lose control for a split second, though she saved her car from going into the wall. Wheldon went on to finish third behind Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti and race winner Tony Kanaan. Patrick scrambled back up to eighth place. After the race, Patrick confronted Wheldon in the pits, grabbed his arm and gave him a shove. Worse things have happened after a race in which two competitors have gotten into it on the track, though Wheldon provided some choice quotes after the incident, including "She's messing with the wrong person if she wants to get feisty. I'm a lot tougher than she is on track,." and "She's just feisty. There's a lot of pressure on her because she has not won a race, and her teammates are (winning)."

[Source: Paddack Talk and AutoWeek]

Danica Patrick gets "fiesty" with Dan Wheldon after Milwaukee race originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Linux is pretty good at harnessing processor speed, and Chastain Motorsports is hoping to snare some of that effect to propel their Panoz/Honda to victory. The distinctive Penguin logo, "Tux," has been affixed to the nose of the 200+ MPH car in anticipation of meeting a donation goal. The famously open-source OS is applying that philosophy to sponsorship. The Tux 500 is an effort to raise $350,000 in exchange for those high-speed chilled fowl on the race car. There are perks for large donation amounts, but there is no shame in collecting lots of $1 gifts, either. It is an interesting concept, and we will be looking for the distinctive blue car when the checkered flag drops at the Indy 500. As long as the effort secures $25,000, the decals will stay on the car. Currently, donations total $7,600, and the organizers are confident that they'll at least make it to that $25K figure.

[Source: Wired]

Honda hearts Linux, wants cash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500hondaindianapolisindianapolis 500Indianapolis500indyindy 500indy racing leagueIndy500IndyRacingLeagueIRLleaguelinuxopen sourceOpenSourcepanozracingtux 500Tux500Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Indy 500 features record 3 female drivers, but struggles to fill rest of grid]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/indy-500-features-record-3-female-drivers-but-struggles-to-fill/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/indy-500-features-record-3-female-drivers-but-struggles-to-fill/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/indy-500-features-record-3-female-drivers-but-struggles-to-fill/#commentsFiled under: ,

Equal rights activists note that, with few exceptions, motor racing is an almost entirely male-dominated sport. In fact, the vast majority of racing drivers are white men, with only a handful of pioneers like Narayan Karthikeyan, Danica Patrick and Lewis Hamilton breaking through the grid. But this year, the Indianapolis 500, one of the most prominent races in the world (certainly in America) will feature, for the first time in motorsport history, three female drivers.

Lynn St. James and Sarah Fisher made history in 2000 when they became the first two women to line up together at the event, but this year Citgo-sponsored Milka Duno (pictured, right) of Venezuela will be driving a Dallara-Honda for the Samax team, along with Patrick and Fisher. Duno becomes the fifth woman to compete in the Indy 500.

The Indy Racing League is struggling, however, to fill the rest of the field. At the last reporting, only 27 entries have been received for this year's race, and seven of those don't even have drivers assigned to them yet. That's a far cry from the traditional starting grid of 33. Among the 27 currently registered for the race are five from Andretti-Green Racing, four from Vision Racing (owned by Indy chief Tony George), three from AJ Foyt, and three cars from Penske. It has not yet been revealed who will drive the third Penske car, and similar question marks loom over drivers from Vision, Foyt, Beck and Sam Schmidt's Indy Pro Series team. Meanwhile, although neither the Cheever nor Fernandez teams competed in the Indy Racing Series this season, insiders were still surprised the neither filed entries for the Indy 500.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Indy 500 features record 3 female drivers, but struggles to fill rest of grid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500CitgodriverdunofemalegridindianapolisindymilkavenezuelawomanFri, 06 Apr 2007 14:28:00 EST