Autoblog

Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010

Chris Paukert — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, Celebrities

Danica Patrick No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet - Click above for high-res image gallery

The "Will she, won't she" debate is over - Danica Patrick is headed for closed-wheel racing in 2010. Patrick will race a partial schedule in next year's National Nationwide series in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, and she will also participate in one ARCA race. As a driver on the No. 7 team, she will be signed through 2011 to the JR Motorsports team that's owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Rick Hendrick, Kelley Earnhardt and Tony Eury, Jr. through 2011.

This bit of news is not to say that Danica is eschewing her open-wheel career - she will also continue to race her similarly day-glo green Andretti Autosport IndyCar, also in full GoDaddy.com regalia. The NASCAR events that she will race in will be interlaced with her IndyCar schedule, before, during, and after the open-wheel season.

Danica's first stock car race will be a February 6 ARCA race in Daytona, the day before the Super Bowl. As usual, her primary sponsors will feature Patrick in a slate of new commercials during the big NFL game, and we're willing to bet that they'll have a bit of NASCAR flavor. High-res gallery of her new ride below, official press release after the jump.

Gallery: Danica Patrick NASCAR

[Source: GoDaddy.com]

Continue reading Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010

Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Danica Patrick to race NASCAR in 2010

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

More Danica Patrick news and this time, it's actually racing related. Last week came a report that Ms. Patrick had inked a multi-year deal with the recently restructured Andretti Autosport, putting to rest the rumors that the sometime-swimsuit model was headed to NASCAR. Well, Sporting News is now reporting that the gun might have been jumped on that conclusion. It seems that the GoDaddy pitchwoman is about to announce a deal to drive for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s NASCAR Nationwide Series team in 2010.

SN is reporting that Danica will run the full IndyCar calendar and a limited Nationwide schedule, with GoDaddy sponsoring her stock car. According to the GoDaddy website, the formal announcement will come at 1 PM ET Tuesday, December 8. We'll be sure to watch for that announcement and update as needed.

[Source: Sporting News | Image Source: Streeter Lecka/Getty]

Continue reading REPORT: Danica Patrick to race NASCAR in 2010

REPORT: Danica Patrick to race NASCAR in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESPN: Danica Patrick close to two-year NASCAR Nationwide deal

Alex Nunez — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:39:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Celebrities

Rumors of IndyCar's Danica Patrick dipping a toe into the stock car racing pool have been swirling for months, but a new report suggests that an end to the rumors is near. ESPN says that Patrick is on the verge of signing a NASCAR Nationwide Series contract with JR Motorsports, the operation owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Unnamed sources that spoke to ESPN call the talks "near their final phase" and comment that it'd be a "surprise if it didn't happen." In any case, don't expect a formal announcement until sometime after the Sprint Cup chase draws to a conclusion on November 22.

The potential move to JR Motorsports was made possible when driver Brad Keslowski jumped ship to join Roger Penske's NASCAR Sprint Cup team. According to ESPN, Patrick is angling to drive the number 7 car (the same number she runs in IndyCar), which would replace the current JR Motorsports number 5 car. Since Danica will continue to run the full IndyCar schedule as well, she'd be a part-time driver for JR Motorsports, sharing the race car with Junior and another unnamed driver. If the signing happens and NASCAR gives its blessing, Danica will make her first stock car appearance in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA race on Feb. 6 during the Daytona Speedweeks, and go on to drive in 12 to 13 Nationwide Series races during the 2010 season. Frankly, given NASCAR's feel for marketing and Danica's undeniable celebrity, we see no way that she won't be in place for a debut during the February Speedweeks, assuming she does indeed ink the rumored deal.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Robert Laberge/Getty]

ESPN: Danica Patrick close to two-year NASCAR Nationwide deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IndyCar crowns its first post-reconciliation champion (Spoiler Alert)

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Firestone Indy 300 IndyCar Series finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway

Although he wanted it so bad it hurt, Ryan Briscoe just couldn't buy himself a yellow flag in the Firestone Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Team Penske driver was leading the season points battle with just seven laps remaining in this, the final race of the season at Homestead, and might have won the race and the championship had this been any other race. You see, fuel consumption became an issue and Briscoe had to pit with just seven laps between himself and the trophy for a splash and go. The reason? This was the first IndyCar race in history without a single yellow flag.

It's not as if these guys want to see crashes during the race, but up until today, they could always count on at least one incident to slow things down for a stretch, conserving fuel in the process. Not this time. As Briscoe pitted, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Dario Franchitti took the lead and never looked back. Just as in 2007, when it was Scott Dixon who had to pit and thereby relinquish the crown to Dario, Briscoe saw his hopes fade as even Dixon passed him in the race and in the final points tally. Had he been able to hold onto his lead, Briscoe would have been the sixth different IRL/IndyCar champ in the past six years.

As disappointing as it was for Briscoe, the year ended up being a good one for Franchitti, who did short stint in NASCAR before returning to IndyCar's open wheelers. Yesterday's title is Franchitti's second and the third for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. In an odd bit of meaninglessly trivial statistics, it was the 10th series win for Dario, on the 10th day of the 10th month in the number 10 car. And Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy, while Kennedy's was Lincoln. The top three in the final points tally were Franchitti (616), Dixon (605), and Briscoe (604). Due to the lack of yellows, yesterday's race at Homestead went down as the second fastest in IndyCar Series history, with an average speed of 201.420 mph.

[Photo credit: Shawn Payne/IndyCar]

Continue reading IndyCar crowns its first post-reconciliation champion (Spoiler Alert)

IndyCar crowns its first post-reconciliation champion (Spoiler Alert) originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: September Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Motorcycle, Event Alert

September brings a whole bunch of Labor Day and end-of-summer cruises, meets and concours. It also kicks off the international auto show season with the Frankfurt Motor Show.

For those of you missing our coverage of Meadowbrook, Woodward and Monterey, there are tons of classic car events in September, including include the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, Lime Rock Vintage Festival, Charlotte Autofair, All AMC Classic Car Show & Beach Cruise 2009, Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance, Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance, The Colorado Grand, 20th Annual Route 66 Rendezvous, Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles, Goodwood Revival, Colorado English Motoring Conclave, Sunriver Festival of Cars, Thunderbolt Historics (and vintage airshow), Brits on the Beach British Car Day, 16th Annual Fall Classic Car Show, Buckingham Concours, Dayton Concours d'Elegance, East Coast Boardwalk Classic Car Show, Southeastern Fall MG Gathering of the Faithful Mk XV, St. Michael's Concours, 12th Annual Coronado Speed Festival, 10th Annual Cruisin' for a Cure, Autumn in the Mountains, Bonhams Vintage New England Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia, Ironstone Concours d'Elegance, RM Auctions: Icons of Speed and Style Auction, SWEETPORT Antique & Classic Car Show, and VIVA ITALIA: Concours D'Elegance. Whew.

On the racing front, the ALMS series visits Detroit before packing up and hitting Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans. The Formula 1 circus stops in Italy and then Singapore as the series heads down the home stretch, IndyCar has races scheduled at Detroit and Motegi, Japan, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races towards the Chase, with action in Atlanta, Richmond, New Hampshire and Dover.

If none of those events appeal to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. Please use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: September Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: September Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gil de Ferran to step out of the cockpit and expand team to IndyCar

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Acura, Honda

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

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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Event Alert: August Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:37:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, Event Alert

Monterey, Meadow Brook, and Michael, oh my! This August offers plenty of action for all types of car lovers. The Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance launches the month in style, along with the SEMA Show 'n Shine half a continent away in Pasadena. For folks who are going to be near Reno, the annual Hot August Nights show hits the biggest little city in the world this month as well. The biggest events for the Autoblog crew (as well as thousands of others) will be the Woodward Dream Cruise and the week-long classic car fest in Monterey, California, capped off by the world-renowned Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

There's lots of racing action, too, most notably the return of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher to the cockpit for Ferrari in Spain. The world's premier racing series also visits Spa at the end of the month. Meanwhile, ALMS makes stops at Mid-Ohio, Road America and Mosport; IndyCar hits Kentucky, Mid-Ohio, Infineon Raceway and Chicago; and NASCAR fans can look forward to races at Pocono, Watkins Glen, MIS and Bristol.

If none of those events appeal to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. Please use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: August Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: August Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Danica Patrick nixes talk of USF1 drive for 2010, but is pondering NASCAR

Chris Paukert — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Celebrities

IndyCar starlet Danica Patrick has been rumored to be pondering a switch to Formula One even before talk of a USF1 grand prix team first surfaced many months ago. However, the 27-year-old has had opportunities to test cars from the series in the past, but she may not be interested, as she turned down the chance to demonstrate an F1 car at Indianapolis back in 2005, and she apparently didn't reply to a drive invitation extended by Honda chief Nick Fry last year.

A new interview with The Los Angeles Times quotes Patrick as saying that she's never been approached by USF1 team principals Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor, who are reportedly keen on having American drivers to go along with their U.S. made cars. Further, she seems more intrigued by the idea of switching over to the heavier, lower-tech full-bodied racers of NASCAR than she is in racing in the global open-wheel series. Some have suggested that Patrick might have difficulty adjusting to the series' vehicles as well as the demanding length of the season, but the star says she has the stuff to make a go of it:

"Of course I do, because I believe in my ability. Any time I've been tested and put in a car, in something I've never driven before. . . . I've always done really well. It's going to take some getting used to. But I can't make everyone think I'm a good driver."

Interestingly, Patrick has long been noted for her headstrong personality, but she says she would consider taking the advice of others and enter into NASCAR via one of its secondary series instead of jumping headlong into the top-draw Nextel Cup:

"At some point you have to stop being naive and stop being stubborn and listen to people, so if that's the route I go, I would be open to doing some lower-formula stuff. I would take that advice."

In any case, Patrick clearly has yet to make up her mind. What do you think - will she jump ship to NASCAR? And if so, will that be a good move for her? Drop us a line in 'Comments.' Thanks for the tip, Eric!

[Source: The Los Angeles Times | Image: Chris McGrath/Getty]

REPORT: Danica Patrick nixes talk of USF1 drive for 2010, but is pondering NASCAR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Plans under way for harborfront IndyCar Grand Prix in Baltimore

Noah Joseph — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

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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Event Alert: July Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert

As we start the second half of 2009, the automotive industry remains in turmoil but the economy is finally showing signs of recovery. And once again, we have a full calendar of events to keep our minds on the positive aspects of our industry. Show season is in full swing so you'll find plenty of concours events, cruise nights, and local shows filling July weekends. In America, Meadowbrook is the star of July, but there are also other interesting events like the GoodGuys Heartland Nationals, Hudson-Essex-Terraplane meet in Pontiac, New England Concours d'Elegance in Vermont, the First Annual Great American Car Show in Massachusetts, Micros on the Monument in Racine, International Bricklin Owners Club Annual Grand National Meet, and the Alfa Romeo Owners Club National Meet in Portland, among others.

There's lots of racing in July, too. Most Formula 1 teams will make a brief stop at Goodwood before resuming their regular racing schedule at the Nürburgring, followed by the Hungarian GP at the end of the month. IndyCar hits Watkins Glen, the Streets of Toronto, and the airport course in Edmonton. NASCAR fans can look forward to races in Daytona, Chicago, and at the Brickyard. ALMS teams can take it easy after the marathon that was the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a two-hour stint at Lime Rock Park.

There will also be plenty of other random racing action in July, with the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Portland Historic Races, Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman, and the New England Forest Rally. Green car fans can look forward to the Eco-Rally U.S.A. 2009, and bike fans can take in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix or AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio.

If none of those events appeals to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. Please use the comments section to add or modify listings. Oh, and Happy 4th of July!

Continue reading Event Alert: July Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: July Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Indy chief Tony George reportedly resigns

Noah Joseph — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

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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Danica Patrick, Alan Mullaly make the 2009 TIME Top 100 list

Noah Joseph — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

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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Event Alert: April Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Auctions, China, Europe, Misc. Auto Shows, Canada, Event Alert

This year's New York Auto Show promises a few surprises

April might be best known for its rain and resultant flora, but we hope sunshine prevails. After all, April marks the beginning of the IndyCar season with an undercard of ALMS in St. Petersburg, as well as a follow-up race for each series in the shadow of the Queen Mary from Long Beach, CA. NASCAR powers through Texas, Arizona and Alabama, Grand-Am makes stops at VIR and Thunderbolt, and Formula 1 visits Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Bahrain. We also get the New York Auto Show as well as other motor shows in Vancouver, California's Ontario, Albany, the Inland Empire, Denver and elsewhere.

There will be auctions in Palm Beach, Toronto, and Carlisle, vintage drags in Fontana, a GoodGuys stop in Del Mar, the Copperstate 1000, Top Marques Monaco, and the Street Rod Nationals up in Bakersfield, as well. If none of those events appeals to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. We've tried to list the highlights as well as a few smaller events that we hope will be of interest to you. Feel free to use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: April Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: April Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Open letter invites disgruntled F1 drivers to Indy Car

Noah Joseph — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

If you follow the political bickering in Formula One, you may have seen a heated exchange of correspondence between the F1 drivers and the regulatory body responsible for accrediting them to race. After the FIA exponentially raised the fees for a Superlicense - the certification that the FIA grants and requires of F1 drivers - the Grand Prix Drivers Association wrote an angry letter to the ever autoerotic Max Mosley, in which they compared the fee for renewing defending champion Lewis Hamilton's Superlicense - a whopping $270,000 - to the comparatively modest $4,000 that NASCAR charges its drivers. Mosley's response? So go to NASCAR, then!

Well, not exactly. Mosley responded to the drivers' objections by saying that if they can't afford the fees, they should look for more a affordable racing series. In a clever publicity stunt, a "fictitious letter" has appeared on the IRL website answering Mosley's call by inviting the disgruntled F1 drivers to move over to the newly reunited IndyCar Series where participation costs $1,000 and includes benefits. If the idea sounds ridiculous, remember that it wasn't so long ago that prominent F1 drivers like Nigel Mansell and Mario Andretti came westward to find new challenges in American open-wheel racing. It could happen again.

[Source: IndyCar.com via F1-Live]

Open letter invites disgruntled F1 drivers to Indy Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Indy engine could be delayed, three manufacturers in the mix

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Audi, Honda, Porsche, Volkswagen, Fiat

Competition is a good thing, right? If so, IndyCar racing is slated to improve within the next few years as the series branches out to include multiple engine suppliers. As it currently stands, Honda, which has been the sole engine supplier for IndyCar since 2006, will continue with its current contract through the 2010 season at least. IndyCar organizers would like to have a few new contracts in place by 2011, but the slow economy and fewer dollars earmarked for motorsports may push that date off until 2012.

In addition to Honda, which would like to stay in the series, Audi, Fiat, Porsche and Volkswagen are all currently negotiating with the racing league to offer alternative powertrain options. The current engines all displace 3.5 liters and are limited to 10,300 rpm, making about 650 horsepower running on ethanol fuel. The next contract will likely call for engines displacing 2.0 liters and feature turbocharging and direct injection. Both four cylinder and six cylinder options are being considered.

[Source: USA Today]

New Indy engine could be delayed, three manufacturers in the mix originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rahal-Letterman to quit IRL unless a sponsor steps up

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

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

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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Honda commits to remaining motorsport programs after F1 pull out

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Acura, Honda

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

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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IndyCars to go Italian? IRL in talks with Alfa Romeo

Noah Joseph — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Alfa Romeo

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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SPOILER ALERT - Detroit Grand Prix 2008: The IndyCars take to the track

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda

Click on Helio Castroneves for a high res gallery

As the first season of the reunited IndyCar series winds down, the open wheel racers took to the Belle Isle track to close out the Detroit Grand Prix weekend. Scott Dixon sat on the pole holding a slim lead over Helio Castroneves in the season standings with three races to go including this one. If the race is still sitting on your DVR and you don't want to spoil the surprise, just enjoy the gallery for now, it won't spoil your appetite. Otherwise follow the jump for the results.

Gallery: Detroit Grand Prix 08: IndyCars

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT - Detroit Grand Prix 2008: The IndyCars take to the track

SPOILER ALERT - Detroit Grand Prix 2008: The IndyCars take to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indy to go turbo by 2011

Noah Joseph — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

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.

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