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[Indy 500 oozes drama, takes no prisoners on 100th Anniversary [spoilers, video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/29/100th-indy-500-oozes-drama-takes-no-prisoners-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/29/100th-indy-500-oozes-drama-takes-no-prisoners-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/29/100th-indy-500-oozes-drama-takes-no-prisoners-spoilers/#commentsFiled under:

2011 Indy 500
2011 Indianapolis 500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The crowd at the Brickyard for today's 100th Annoversary Indianapolis 500 certainly got their money's worth. Once all the pre-race pageantry and fanfare was out of the way, the 2011 Indy 500 provided a spectacle full of drama, lead changes, and a shocking, exciting finish. Click past the break to see how the race shook out, right up to the final corner.

Gallery: 2011 Indianapolis 500

Continue reading Indy 500 oozes drama, takes no prisoners on 100th Anniversary [spoilers, video]

Indy 500 oozes drama, takes no prisoners on 100th Anniversary [spoilers, video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 May 2011 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500bertrand baguettedan wheldondanica patrickgraham rahalindianapolisindianapolis 500indyindy 500indycarizodizod indy car seriesjr hildebrandscott dixonSun, 29 May 2011 18:12:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19953111/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/29/100th-indy-500-oozes-drama-takes-no-prisoners-spoilers/19953111/article-detail.xml 19953111 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/2011-indy-500-6franchitti_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/2011-indy-500-6franchitti.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Helio Castroneves loses his head at Edmonton]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/video-helio-castroneves-loses-his-head-at-edmondton/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/video-helio-castroneves-loses-his-head-at-edmondton/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/video-helio-castroneves-loses-his-head-at-edmondton/#commentsFiled under: ,

Helio Castroneves tangles with security - Click above to watch video after the jump

IndyCar got a little more exciting this weekend. Turns out there was a bit of a mix-up during a restart at Edmonton with just a handful of laps to go that caused Helio Castroneves to incur a penalty from the powers that be. Officials were of the mind that the Brazilian driver intentionally blocked Penske teammate Will Power and ordered Castroneves to pull through the pits as punishment. By this time, Castroneves has secured first place and was within spitting distance of nabbing the checkered flag. But the driver didn't feel like cooling his heels on pit road, opting instead to finish out the race.

Officials stripped Castroneves of his checkers and handed the win to Scott Dixon instead, which had the effect of setting the penalized racer off like a powder keg. After a lengthy tirade, Castroneves marched himself over to the winner's circle with the intent of tying Dixon and anyone else who got in his way into a bow. Security intervened, but not before the Brazilian took to shaking a guard by his shirt collar. How's that for racing? Hit the jump for the video. The action starts at about four minutes in.

[Source: YouTube via Yahoo Sports]

Continue reading Video: Helio Castroneves loses his head at Edmonton

Video: Helio Castroneves loses his head at Edmonton originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Edmondtonhelio castronevesHelioCastronevesIndyCarPenskescott DixonScottDixonWill PowerWillPowerTue, 27 Jul 2010 12:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19570247/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/27/video-helio-castroneves-loses-his-head-at-edmondton/19570247/article-detail.xml 19570247 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/helio-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/helio-630.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar crowns its first post-reconciliation champion (Spoiler Alert)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/indycar-crowns-its-first-post-reconciliation-champion-spoiler-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/indycar-crowns-its-first-post-reconciliation-champion-spoiler-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/indycar-crowns-its-first-post-reconciliation-champion-spoiler-a/#commentsFiled under:


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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CARTchamp carChampCarDario FranchittiDarioFranchittiindycarindycar racing leagueindycar seriesIndycarRacingLeagueindycarsIndycarSeriesIRLRyan BriscoeRyanBriscoeScott DixonScottDixonTarget Chip Ganassi RacingTargetChipGanassiRacingSun, 11 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19191774/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/11/indycar-crowns-its-first-post-reconciliation-champion-spoiler-a/19191774/article-detail.xml 19191774 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/indycarfinalehomestead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/indycarfinalehomestead.jpg <![CDATA[92nd Indy 500 ends with pole-sitter Dixon taking checkered flag]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/92nd-indy-500-ends-with-pole-sitter-dixon-taking-checkered-flag/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/92nd-indy-500-ends-with-pole-sitter-dixon-taking-checkered-flag/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/92nd-indy-500-ends-with-pole-sitter-dixon-taking-checkered-flag/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Indy 500

New Zealand's Scott Dixon led the field at this year's 92nd Indianapolis 500 going into turn 1 of Lap 1 and, after surviving 200 laps of open wheel mayhem at the Brickyard, crossed the finish line first, 1.75 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Vitor Meira. Unfortunately, no one on the Autoblog team witnessed the win, the allure of barbecues and time spent with family this past Memorial Day weekend being too strong to resist. Perhaps that says something about the popularity of open-wheel racing in the U.S., though we suspect the 250,000 in attendance and larger television audience of the Indy 500 this year would disagree.

While Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing took the win, all eyes were still on Danica Patrick to see if she could pull out the first win for a woman at the Brickyard coming off her victory in Japan last month. Unfortunately, a win for Danica was not meant to be, as her left-rear tire was tagged by Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe coming out of the pits. The contact spun out Patrick and did mortal damage to her rear axle. She was more than a bit miffed (wouldn't you?) and began a determined walk down pit row towards Briscoe's pit box, but a track security officer stopped her and prevented what could've been the race's biggest spectacle.

So the IndyCar Series' most famous race is in the bag, and it was the first since the IRL and Champ Car series reunited. Things are looking up for open-wheel racing in the U.S. despite our own disinterest, and the 92nd running of this year's Indianapolis 500 sounds like it was enjoyable to watch. Maybe we'll sit down for it next year.

If like us you didn't catch the race on TV, check out SpeedTV's recap video after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Indianapolis 500


[Source: IndyStar.com]

Continue reading 92nd Indy 500 ends with pole-sitter Dixon taking checkered flag

92nd Indy 500 ends with pole-sitter Dixon taking checkered flag originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 May 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 indy 5002008Indy50092nd indy 50092ndIndy500breakingdanica patrickDanicaPatrickindianapolis 500Indianapolis500indy 500Indy500scott dixonScottDixonTue, 27 May 2008 12:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1206000/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/05/27/92nd-indy-500-ends-with-pole-sitter-dixon-taking-checkered-flag/1206000/article-detail.xml 1206000 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/004_indy5002008_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/004_indy5002008_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Scott Dixon grabs Indy 500 pole]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/13/scott-dixon-grabs-indy-500-pole/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/13/scott-dixon-grabs-indy-500-pole/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/13/scott-dixon-grabs-indy-500-pole/#commentsFiled under:



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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chip ganassichip ganassi racingChipGanassiChipGanassiRacingindyindy 500indy racing leagueIndy500indycarIndyRacingLeaguepolepole positionPolePositionscott dixonScottDixonTue, 13 May 2008 17:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1192482/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/05/13/scott-dixon-grabs-indy-500-pole/1192482/article-detail.xml 1192482 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/dixon_pole_indy08_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/dixon_pole_indy08.jpg <![CDATA[Montoya to return to Daytona for Rolex 24]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/montoya-to-return-to-daytona-for-rolex-24/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/montoya-to-return-to-daytona-for-rolex-24/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/montoya-to-return-to-daytona-for-rolex-24/#commentsFiled under: ,

Juan Pablo Montoya has been a busy boy since leaving F1. After working his way up the American stock-car racing ladder - and winning the NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year award for his troubles - the Colombian driver is still planning on making a return to Daytona to defend his title in the Rolex 24.

Montoya made his Grand Am debut behind the wheel of a Daytona Prototype at the event last year, taking the checkered flag to become the first driver in the history of motorsport to win the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona. At the next race in January, Montoya will be sharing driving duties in the #1 Chip Ganassi Racing car along with his NASCAR team-mate Dario Francitti, as well as Scott Pruett (with whom he shared victory last year) and Memo Rojas.

This year at Daytona, Ganassi will be fielding two cars. The second Daytona Prototype will be driven by Salvador Duran (who shared victory with Montoya and Pruett last year), IRL IndyCar champions Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon, and Indy Pro Series champ Alex Lloyd.

Altogether Ganassi is heading to Daytona in January with a star-studded line-up of drivers in pursuit of their third consecutive win at the famous race.

[Source: Autosport]

Montoya to return to Daytona for Rolex 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24alex lloydAlexLloydchip ganassi racingChipGanassiRacingdan wheldonDanWheldondario francittiDarioFrancittidaytonahoursjuan pablo montoyaJuanPabloMontoyamemo rojasMemoRojasrolexsalvador duranSalvadorDuranscott dixonscott pruettScottDixonScottPruettTue, 11 Dec 2007 17:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1060005/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/12/11/montoya-to-return-to-daytona-for-rolex-24/1060005/article-detail.xml 1060005 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/montoya-daytona24-07-win_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/montoya-daytona24-07-win.jpg <![CDATA[Spoiler Alert: IndyCar Series races in the rain, chaos ensues]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/06/spoiler-alert-indycar-series-races-in-the-rain-chaos-ensues/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/06/spoiler-alert-indycar-series-races-in-the-rain-chaos-ensues/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/06/spoiler-alert-indycar-series-races-in-the-rain-chaos-ensues/#commentsFiled under:

The series formerly known as the IRL held its first-ever race in the rain on Sunday, in an eventful (and definitely TiVo-worthy) race at the famous Watkins Glen road course.

Details after the jump...

Continue reading Spoiler Alert: IndyCar Series races in the rain, chaos ensues

Spoiler Alert: IndyCar Series races in the rain, chaos ensues originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jun 2006 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>indy carindycarirlmarco andrettiMarcoAndrettiscott dixonScottDixonwatkins glenTue, 06 Jun 2006 10:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/625047/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/06/06/spoiler-alert-indycar-series-races-in-the-rain-chaos-ensues/625047/article-detail.xml 625047 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/indycarlogo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/indycarlogo.jpg -1 2