IZOD IndyCar Series, Indianapolis 500, Indy Lights and "Road to Indy" news http://www.openwheelworld.net?lg=us us 2004-2012, OpenWheelWorld.net info@openwheelworld.net Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:12:47 +0100 60 Takuma Sato, long-rumored to have signed with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, officially signed with the Bobby Rahal led outfit. Sato, whose highlights from 2011 include a pair of poles, will join the team after competing with KV Racing Technology each of the last two seasons. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10531&lg=us&r Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:02:48 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 944498530 Justin Wilson and Bill Pappas, the driver/engineer combination that brought Dale Coyne it's maiden victory, have resigned with the Plainfield, Illinois-based outfit. To date, the pair brought Coyne his only victory in American Open Wheeling Racing (Watkins Glen, July 2009). Additionally, the group will utilize Honda engines, becoming the most recent signee with the Japanese auto maker. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10522&lg=us&r Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:05:36 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 536772131 Oriol Servia announced today that he has joined Dreyer and Reinbold Racing for the 2012 season. The open wheel veteran spent the 2011 season with Newman Season Racing. However, though he finished fourth in the series standings, he was left without a ride after Newman/Haas announced it would not field an entry in the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series. However, in Dreyer and Reinbold, Servia has claimed his spot on the grid. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10514&lg=us&r Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:34:45 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 1447165417 Though an official announcement directly from Andretti Autosport has not yet been released, it appear that 2011 Rookie of the Year James Hinchcliffe will pilot the team's Go Daddy sponsored machine in the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series season. "Hinch" replaces the outgoing Danica Patrick, who joins the NASCAR Nationwide Series on a full-time basis and Sprint Cup Series on a part-time basis, as well the late Dan Wheldon, who had reportedly signed with the Andretti outfit. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10486&lg=us&r Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:47:16 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 471579668 Alex Tagliani has been officially announced at Bryan Herta Autosport for the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series season. Tagliani, who contested the 2011 season with Sam Schmidt Motorsports after Schmidt bought into Tagliani's FAZZT outfit, raced with Herta's group in Las Vegas in the team's No. 98 entry. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10485&lg=us&r Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:40:02 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 323779682 Beaux Barfield, most recently the Race Director with the American Le Mans Series, has accepted the vacated post of Race Director for the Izod IndyCar Series. Barfield assumes the role Brian Barnhart held with INDYCAR since 1996, when it was then known as the Indy Racing League. Barnhart was removed from the position following season filled with inconsistent calls and non-calls. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10477&lg=us&r Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:37:16 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 60559532 The release of INDYCAR's 49-page investigation into the fatal 15-car crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which took the life of Indy 500 winner, series champion, and perennial fan favorite Dan Wheldon, has reignited the debate and fervor surrounding the fateful event that was supposed to be a showcase for INDYCAR. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10461&lg=us&r Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:15:03 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 350092285 Josef Newgarden, the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights champion, has signed on with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing for the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series season. Newgarden, a 20-year-old native of Nashville, Tennessee, claimed five wins on his way to winning the Lights crown in his first season there. Fisher's operation has also added businessman Wink Hartman to bolster the team's ownership. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10445&lg=us&r Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:58:07 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 442030387 Newman/Haas Racing has elected to forego its involved in the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series Season, citing financial and economic issues. "The economic climate no longer enables Newman/Haas Racing to participate in open wheel racing at this time," said Carl Haas, owner and co-founder of Newman/Haas Racing. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10438&lg=us&r Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:18:06 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 690274800 After a long period of silence out of the Lotus camp, plans for the British automaker are finally out in the public eye. Earlier this month, they announced the addition of Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, HVM Racing, and Bryan Herta Autosport to the Lotus family, joining Michael Shank's MSR Indy operation. This marks the first major update from the Lotus camp in several months, after a worrisome period when many thought they may not answer the bell. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10428&lg=us&r Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:07:51 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 1486929957 Though they haven't field a full-time IndyCar effort since 2008, Bobby Rahal and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing have made some key additions in a push to once again grace the grid on a full-time basis next season. The first of those moves came in the form of Tom Anderson, hired as the team's President of Racing Operations. Anderson is a veteran of more than 40 years helped Target Chip Ganassi rise to prominence in the 1990's, leading the team's charge to four consecutive CART championships between 1996 and '99. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10396&lg=us&r Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:21:12 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 590304901 Ed Carpenter has announced the formation of his own team, Ed Carpenter Racing, with Fuzzy's Vodka on board as primary sponsor. Carpenter's step-father, Tony George, who Carpenter previously drove for with Vision Racing, will assist Carpenter in the day-to-day operations of the team. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10395&lg=us&r Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:17:31 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 947529231 Despite a two-year partnership with incoming manufacturer Lotus, KV Racing Technology will utilize Chevrolet engines in 2012, joining such teams as Team Penske, Andretti Autosport, and Panther Racing, among others. Co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven is optimistic about the new partnership. "I am very pleased to announce that KV Racing Technology has reached an agreement to compete with Chevrolet power during the 2012 IndyCar season," she said. "Chevy has a proven history of innovation and success in motorsports and we look forward to continuing that legacy." http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10394&lg=us&r Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:29:13 +0100 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 1100691635 It is with tremendous sadness and regret that we report that driver Dan Wheldon, 33, died after a lap 11 crash in turns one and two. A 15-car pileup ensued when Wade Cunningham spun in front of J.R. Hildebrand. Wheldon was one of four drivers who got airborne, the other three Will Power, Pippa Mann, and Hildebrand. Those three suffered minor injuries. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10353&lg=us&r Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:55:37 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 387038250 A terrifying crash has halted the INDYCAR World Championships in Las Vegas and, though specifics have yet to be confirmed, Dan Wheldon appears to have seriously injured as a result. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10352&lg=us&r Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:56:10 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 514900699 With the championship already secured, Josef Newgarden went out with just one mission for the season finale of the Firestone Indy Lights season: win yet again. With one lap to go, it looked like Newgarden would be able to take home yet another victory for himself and his Sam Schmidt Motorsports team. Coming out of Turn 2, though, it all went wrong and another Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver snuck past as Newgarden slowed with an apparent cut tire. Polesitter Victor Carbone took a close victory over fellow SSM teammate Esteban Guerrieri, with Jorge Goncalvez completing the podium for the second race in a row. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10348&lg=us&r Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:14:00 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (B. Ewer) 1462812212 Tony Kanaan turned in a surprise performance in qualifying to snag his second pole of 2011 (his first coming in the draw for the second race at the Twin 275's in Texas). His average speed of 222.078 bettered Oriol Servia, also a pleasant surprise on the front row, by one one-hundredth of a second. Servia held the pole for much of the session before Kanaan, the second-to-last driver to go out, pipped him for the top spot. "It feels awesome. It has been awhile," said an excited Kanaan. "I guess I've got to do more Ironmans on my weekends off. I'm extremely happy. I can't thank the GEICO-KV guys enough. We had such an awful race at Kentucky that we needed to turn it around. They went back to the shop to massage that car as much as they could and it paid off." [IMG1]Servia was still pleased with the effort is optimistic going forward. "We got a two today so hopefully we get a one tomorrow," quipped the Spaniard. "The Telemundo car was awesome. We were up there in every session and it just shows the car was good. Front row is the best place to start for a race as crazy as this one is going to be so I am very happy with our position and I think we have a great shot at it (win) on Sunday." Ed Carpenter kept up his form from Kentucky by qualifying third, with Alex Tagliani and Ryan Briscoe completing the top five. "It felt good out there," said Carpenter. "I was really confident in our race car and qualifying car yesterday in practice, but we had a lot of issues in practice today and really didn't have a good idea of where we were going to be in qualifying. I almost wondered if we'd even be top ten after the first practice session today. I feel pretty good now knowing that the car still does have speed because I was worried we were maybe losing a little speed, but it came back and we ran about what we thought we could run, so that's good." http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10332&lg=us&r Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:42:16 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 548167670 Victor Carbone captured his maiden pole in the Firestone Indy Lights on Friday, bettering Stefan Wilson by about two one-hundredths of a second the snag to the top spot on the grid. Esteban Guerrieri continued his strong qualifying pace by taking third in the session, with Rusty Mitchell and Gustavo Yacaman rounding out the top five. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10330&lg=us&r Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:48:14 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 1646019995 Coming into Kentucky, it was "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride", but as the checkers waved it was "third time's the charm" Before the race, Ed Carpenter said he felt he could win this race, but he wanted to do it legitimately. Not with strategy or due to attrition, but via a wheel to wheel dog fight to the end. Today he did just that. After two consecutive years finishing in the runner up position at Kentucky Speedway, Ed Carpenter narrowly edged out Dario Franchitti to capture his first IZOD IndyCar Victory. Making the moment even sweeter was the fact that he also gave Sarah Fisher Racing their first win as a team, and Sarah her first win as an owner. Here's how the race unfolded. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10312&lg=us&r Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:23:11 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (M. Beer) 441042305 On a cool Kentucky afternoon, Josef Newgarden took the green flag and clinched the championship. On the racetrack, though, Newgarden had no challenge for Stefan Wilson, who battled Newgarden and then streaked away for his second career victory. Wilson, who started from the pole position, eventually was able to overtake Newgarden and cruise to a three second margin of victory. Jorge Goncalvez ran a smart race to finish third, followed by Brandon Wagner and Bryan Clauson concluding the top five finishers. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10309&lg=us&r Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:01:47 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (B. Ewer) 712850724 Only a couple months after securing his first career win, Stefan Wilson secured his first career pole, this time at Kentucky Speedway for the Firestone Indy Lights' Kentucky 100. A jubilant was relieved to finally capture this milestone. "I'm just so pleased to get my first pole," said the Briton. "This is definitely one I have been shooting for. I have to thank everyone that made it happen, including my whole team. They worked so hard. We're just so pleased to come to the oval so strong and grab the pole. It was a pretty good lap we put down." http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10300&lg=us&r Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:38:30 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 842849527 Though he wasn't high on the speed charts in practice, Will Power focused on running in clean air to prepare for qualifying. It paid off in spades, with points leader capturing his eighth pole of the season and was the only driver above 219 mph on his run (219.283 mph to be exact. "It was a great result for Verizon Team Penske today," said Power. "We've been working really hard and the team has done a lot of work on the car to get the absolute most out of it. This is a really good start to the weekend and it's good to get the point for the championship. The Verizon car was definitely fast today. We've also been working hard since our test here last week on getting our car better in traffic and hopefully we'll keep it going tomorrow and get a good result in the race." http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10299&lg=us&r Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:30:52 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (K. Lavigne) 1610231443 The Chip Ganassi Racing teams are out to make the championship a fight down to the last second, and Scott Dixon again did his part by pacing the second practice session in Kentucky. Dixon was joined by different company at the front, though, as this time Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and James Hinchcliffe pushed Andretti Autosport and Newman-Haas Racing into the top six after a mediocre first practice session for both teams. Ed Carpenter showed his superspeedway magic and posted the third fastest time of the session, ahead of championship contender Dario Franchitti. Will Power, much like in the first practice, stayed with his rivals by being the seventh fastest man during the hour-long practice. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10295&lg=us&r Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:59:32 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (B. Ewer) 97242966 Bryan Clauson has only had a partial season in the #77 Sam Schmidt Motorsports entry in Firestone Indy Lights this year, but he has made the most of the races he's had. Sharing the car with Conor Daly, Clauson has one pole, three top fives, and four top tens in the four oval races he has competed in. With two more races left on his agenda, Clauson is set to continue his excellent form after being fastest in both FILS practice sessions this afternoon. In the second session, Clauson topped Gustavo Yacaman, Jacob Wilson (no relation to Stefan or Justin), Stefan Wilson, and Anders Krohn. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10291&lg=us&r Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:46:37 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (B. Ewer) 396949259 The battle for the IZOD IndyCar Series championship is down to just two races to go, and Scott Dixon is determined to insert himself into the season-long battle between Will Power and teammate Dario Franchitti. With a quick lap in the draft during Saturday's first practice session in Kentucky, Dixon posted the fastest speed in the session at 220.486 mph, well ahead of Vitor Meira's second-quickest lap of 219.203 mph. Rounding out the top five were rookie Wade Cunningham, Franchitti, and KV Racing's Takuma Sato. Will Power was in touch with his championship rivals by slotting into sixth place with a lap of 218.391 mph. http://www.openwheelworld.net/pages/news.php?id=10290&lg=us&r Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:17:10 +0200 info@openwheelworld.net (B. Ewer) 243206148