Five Minutes With former IRL Driver John Hollansworth

  by Stephen Cox
It was May 30, 1999 and John Hollansworth, Jr. had his hands full. Early in the 83rd running of the Indianapolis 500, his Oldsmobile-powered Dallara picked up a massive understeer condition. A car passed him on the inside. Caught up in the dirty air, Hollansworth's mishandling car brushed the wall hard in Turn 3. He rejoined the race after a quick pit stop. Sam Schmidt spun in front of him and Hollansworth barely missed the wreck. The field slowed under caution. Coming up through the gears on the backstretch as the race went green again, the shifter froze in fourth gear.

Indy 500 Pole Day Press Conference

  IndyCar
An Interview With:
Row 1: 1st E. Carpenter  2nd C. Munoz 3rd M. Andretti
Row 2: 4th EJ Viso 5th AJ Allmendinger 6th W.Power
Row 3: 7th R. Hunter-Reay 8th H.Castroneves 9th J. Hinchcliffe

Ed Carpenter surprise pole winner for Indy 500

  by Tim Wohlford
Underdog car owner/driver Ed Carpenter from Indianapolis driving a single car entry won a surprise pole position for the Indy 500.  Carpenter was the big winner in the 2013 Fast Nine shootout for the Indy 500 Pole, moving up from the provisional 5th position.  Joining him on the front row is rookie sensation Carlos Munoz and Marco Andretti.  Second row features EJ Viso, AJ Allmendinger and Will Power.  Power fell from a provisional pole, and Castroneves fell from the 4th spot to middle of the third row.

Dallara DW12: The 'Ugly Duckling' sure does race well

  by Brian Carroccio
She's beautiful on the inside. I presume you've all heard the expression, which immediately brings to mind a woman, who for whatever sterling qualities she happens to boast, aesthetically speaking, doesn't exactly impress. And when someone notes the fact said woman is "beautiful on the inside," they are telling us to look beyond the immediate, the superficial; to find some greater quality that maybe isn't apparent to the naked eye.

The Indy Lights Series is dying, and here's why!

  by Stephen Cox
Imagine you’re in a McDonald’s restaurant. You order a Big Mac. The cashier plops your sandwich on the counter and says, “That’ll be six hundred and twelve dollars, sir. Uh… excuse me. Did you actually say six hundred and twelve dollars?  Yes, sir. Our Big Macs come with special sauce, lettuce and cheese. They’re really good.  You would probably respond, “They’re not that good!” and walk out of the restaurant.

Foyt Mixes Ingredients For New Recipe For Success

  Entering the Indy 500
For the past 50 years at the Indianapolis 500, there has been little dispute that A.J. Foyt was “The Man” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was the hero of heroes and the definition of a legend. As the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Foyt had established himself as the “grand champion” of the Indianapolis 500 and was the measuring stick by which all future legends would be compared.

Busch Pumped After Successful Indy Car Test

  IndyCar
Check off one more motorsports' bucket list for Kurt Busch. The 2004 NASCAR champion and driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet SS in the Sprint Cup Series drove an Andretti Autosport Indy car Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) where he completed 83 laps on the famed 2.5-mile oval and reached a top speed of 218.210 mph.

It's time to again make Indy an IndyCar Mecca

  by Brian Carroccio
Once upon a time, I may have gotten on board with the tradition thing. But I'll be honest: glorified taxi-cabs running at the Holy Grail of IndyCar, 33 becoming "just a number," and the great Indianapolis 500 used as a political pawn in a sickening power struggle for control of Indy car racing, sort of soured me on tradition. Jaded, skeptical, and no longer dreaming about the moonlight on the water, I've moved on to a cold reality.

5-Minutes with Hoosier Hundred Promoter Bob Sargent

  by Stephen Cox
The 60th running of the most prestigious dirt track race in the world is slated for Thursday, May 23rd at the Indiana State Fairgrounds where the USAC Silver Crown cars will compete in the 2013 Hoosier Hundred. Yup, I am openly promoting this race and nope, they don't pay me. I grew up attending the Hoosier Hundred with the greatest man I ever knew – my Dad – in the 70's and 80's, back when it was a September event. It was among our favorite events each summer.

Hinchcliffe races to win in Sao Paolo

  IndyCar Street race
Before an enthusiastic Brazilian crowd on the streets of Sao Paolo, Brazil, James Hinchcliffe drove his Andretti Autosport Chevy to victory over Takuma Sato.  Hinchcliffe passed Sato, who was fighting to hang on with worn tires, in the final turn of the final lap to win by 0.343 sec. Marco Andretti completed the podium much to the delight of his Andretti Autosport crew.  Oriol Servia and Josef Newgarden rounded out the top-5.

Sao Paolo IndyCar Sunday Press Conference

  Indycar
Drivers:
1st. James Hinchcliffe
2nd Takuma Sato
3rd Marco Andretti

Hunter-Reay wins pole in Sao Paolo

  IndyCar
Defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay has won the pole position for the Grand Prix of Sao Paolo, Brazil IndyCar race posting a track-record lap of 1 minute, 20.4312 seconds in the Firestone Fast Six.  Hunter-Reay won the pole by a rather comfortable 0.3 sec over his Andretti Autosport teammate EJ Viso.  Dario Franchitti will start 3rd.  Tony Kanaan, James Hinchcliffe and Scott Dixon rounded out the top-6.

IndyCar Sao Paolo GP Saturday Press Conference

  IndyCar
Drivers
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Dario Franchitti
E.J. Viso

Q and A with Marco Andretti

  IndyCar
IZOD IndyCar Series driver Marco Andretti participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season and preview the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on May 5th. Marco is the driver of the No. 25 RC Cola Chevrolet and is currently fourth in the IZOD IndyCar Series points standings after posting three top-10 finishes to start the season, including a season-best third at St. Petersburg in the season opener. He'll make his fourth start on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, this weekend

Trying to make sense out of Audi and IndyCar

  by Brian Carroccio
I suppose, anything is possible. After all, an A.J. Foyt owned car was driven to victory lane on a street course, last week. Still, the thought of executives at a board meeting in Ingolstadt, Bavaria giddy over the prospect of competing in the Iowa Corn 250? While I'm as intrigued as anyone about the possibility of the legendary racing marque Audi coming to IndyCar, I'm having a lot of trouble wrapping my head around this one.

Long Beach Postscript

  by Brian Carroccio
We just couldn't contain ourselves. Whether it was jokes about A.J. Foyt eating sushi, wisecrack questions over Speedway's Dallara factory being adequately staffed, or simple amusement at the potentially unlimited supply of comedic ammunition, we laughed hard and laughed often. Heck, we never even got around to asking whether Takuma Sato cut his teeth racing sprint cars and midgets like Kenny Brack, Airton Dare, Vitor Meira, and Eliseo Salazar.

Sato wins Long Beach GP for AJ Foyt (Updated)

  INDY
While his legendary team owner AJ Foyt watching from home as he prepares for surgery this week,  Takuma Sato drove the greatest race of his career to win the 39th running of the Toyota GP of Long Beach before a huge sun-drenched crowd. It was the first big-time open wheel win for the Japanese driver who came from F1 and the win came in his 52nd start.  Graham Rahal was 2nd ahead of Justin Wilson and Dario Franchitti to give Honda a 1-2-3-4 sweep.

Long Beach Sunday Press Conference

  IndyCar
Drivers
Takuma Sato
Graham Rahal
Justin Wilson

Franchitti nips Hunter-Reay for pole in Long Beach

  by Mark J. Cipolloni
Dario Franchitti was the last driver to record a fast lap and he made it count by winning the pole position for Sunday's 39th running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach IndyCar race. Franchitti's lap of 1m07.2379s in his Ganassi Honda nipped defending race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay's Andretti Chevy by just 0.06s. Will Power will start in his Penske Chevy ahead of Takuma Sato and Mike Conway.

Long Beach GP: Saturday Press Conference

  IndyCar
Drivers:
Dario Franchitti
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Will Power
Takuma Sato
Mike Conway
Helio Castroneves

Q and A with Charlie Kimball

  INDYCAR Conference Call
IZOD IndyCar Series driver Charlie Kimball participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season and preview the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 21. Charlie drives the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen Honda and is ranked sixth in IZOD IndyCar Series points after finishing a season-best fourth at Barber Motorsports Park on April 7. He'll make his third start on the streets of Long Beach this weekend, which is essentially a home race for Charlie as he's from Camarillo, California.

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Preview

  by Brian Carroccio
Although quite long, the list is not terribly impressive.  It includes events previously run on airport circuits, casino and football stadium parking lots, numerous layouts winding through downtown business districts, countless stories of failed promotional efforts, and quite a few checks that didn't clear.  Often marketed as three-day "festivals of speed," the viability and wisdom of "street races," is often debated.

When it comes to RHR, IndyCar missing the boat again

  by Mark J. Cipolloni
Ryan Hunter-Reay (RHR) has won five of the last ten IndyCar races (50%) and Andretti Autosport has won six of the last ten IndyCar races (60%). The reversal of fortune for Andretti Autosport since Ryan joined the team has been nothing short of stunning as they had not won a race since June of 2008 (Tony Kanaan Richmond) before Michael signed Hunter-Reay. How the IndyCar series is not promoting and heralding this American champion at the height of his career as he fights to retain his championship, the first time an American has won the championship in a unified series since Al Unser Jr. in 1994, is as bewildering as it is maddening to many supporters of IndyCar.

Maybe there's something to this 'IndyCar U' idea

  by Brian Carroccio
AutoRacing1.com caused something of a stir last week with an "exclusive" April Fools' Day column advocating a "university tie-in," concept for IndyCar and Indy Lights. While the column was of course, a joke, the idea presented was a rather intriguing one, which garnered a fair amount of discussion. Predictably, some loved the concept, whereas others dismissed it as preposterous. In short, AR1's proposal to connect IndyCar to universities, offers countless, immeasurable ways to broaden IndyCar's scope and reach.

AJ Allmendinger: "No Hacks in IndyCar"

  INDYCAR Conference Call
IZOD IndyCar Series driver AJ Allmendinger participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call. The last time Allmendinger raced in open-wheel racing, Champ Car in 2006, it and the IndyCar Series were two fragmented factions. Allmendinger won five races but admitted although some competitors from that year are still in the 2013 IndyCar field, it’s a much tougher mountain to climb this time around. “It’s been tough, and especially in the IZOD IndyCar Series, there’s no hacks out there,” Allmendinger said Tuesday in a conference call. "The two series were split, so you had some of the best drivers split amongst two series, and now that it’s one series and everybody in the series is so fast, it’s competitive."

IndyCar scenes from Barber - Sunday

  by Scott Morris
Andretti Autosport remained perfect on the year Sunday when defending IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay snapped Penske Racing’s winning streak at Barber Motorsports Park. Hunter-Reay proved to be a credible threat for the victory when he beat both Power and Castroneves for the pole, raced both hard for the lead during a middle portion of the race, then held off Scott Dixon.

Hunter-Reay outduels Dixon to win in Alabama

  by Mark J. Cipolloni
Polesitter Ryan Hunter-Reay driving for Andretti Autosport used his Chevy power and held off Scott Dixon's Ganassi Honda to win the Honda GP of Alabama at the 17-turn, 2.38-mile permanent road course east of Birmingham called Barber Motorsports Park.  Hunter-Reay pulled away from the field at the start but fell behind Helio Castroneves in the middle portion of the race.  But he bid his time and with 15 laps to go passed Castroneves under braking in Turn 5.

Honda GP of Alabama Sunday Press Conference

  IndyCar
An interview with:
RYAN HUNTER-REAY
SCOTT DIXON
HELIO CASTRONEVES
CHARLIE KIMBALL

Johnson wins for 8th time at Martinsville

  NASCAR Sprint Cup
Jimmie Johnson pulled away on a late-race restart to continue his Martinsville Speedway mastery Sunday afternoon, prevailing in the STP Gas Booster 500 for his second victory of the season. The victory was Johnson's eighth at the 0.526-mile track and 62nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He led 346 of 500 laps and regained the lead in the series standings from teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was 24th, two laps down.

IndyCar and Grand-Am scenes from Barber - Saturday

  by Scott Morris
Ryan Hunter-Reay earned his first Verizon P1 Award of the 2013 season by capturing the pole position for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 7. The reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion recorded a lap of 1:07.0871 in the No. 1 DHL Chevrolet to earn his third pole of his Indy car career. In Grand-Am Max Angelelli drove the No. Corvette to victory over the No. 99 Gainsco Corvette.

Hunter-Reay beats Power to take pole in Alabama

  by Scott Morris
Andretti Autosport ace Ryan Hunter-Reay set a new track record to win the pole position for the Honda GP of Alabama Saturday. Hunter-Reay's sensational lap of 1m7.0871s lap around the undulating Barber Motorsports Park beat Penske's Will Power to give Chevy a 1-2 start for tomorrow's race. Rookie sensation Tristan Vautier will start third in his No. 55 Honda.

Honda GP of Alabama Saturday Press Conference

  IndyCar
An interview with:
RYAN HUNTER-REAY
TRISTAN VAUTIER
HELIO CASTRONEVES
SCOTT DIXON
WILL POWER
CHARLIE KIMBALL

Scenes from Honda GP of Alabama - Friday

  by Scott Morris
Helio Castroneves won the inaugural Honda Grand Prix of Alabama in 2010 but has been shut out of victory lane at Birmingham ever since by teammate Will Power. Castroneves topped the charts in both practice sessions on Friday afternoon at Barber Motorsports Park with a fast time of 01:08.5540 at 120.781 mph.

Racing Royalty - Maybe, the problem isn’t them, but us

  by Brian Carroccio
Maybe, the problem isn’t them, but us. Who is the “them,” I speak of, you may ask? Second and third generation racing drivers; currently men such as Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. See, with such individuals we seem to be constantly waiting for them to "break out.” We forecast when they are finally going to justify their supreme genetic composition, and “live up” to the family name. If said break out doesn’t occur, we willing label them "underachievers," or suggest they are products of nepotism. And understandably, we’re not inclined to sympathize with those we believe to be products of privilege and nepotism.

Q and A with Scott Dixon

  IndyCar
IZOD IndyCar Series driver Scott Dixon participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the start of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series and preview the April 7 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Scott is a two-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion and drives the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. He's coming off a fifth-place finish in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and will be making his fourth start at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

Universities to design IndyCar Body Kits, Race in Lights

  by Mark J. Cipolloni
In an AR1.com exclusive, IndyCar will make two major announcements today: 1) Each IndyCar team will team up with a university to design its body kit starting in 2014 and, 2) IndyCar has received commitments from four of the nation’s most prominent universities to serve as the first-year competitors in a class of competition within the Indy Lights Championship with team run by the universities and staffed by students, including the driver.

Thank Heavens, Bob Jenkins is Announcing Again

  by Stephen Cox
I had just ordered a Bison Burger with bacon and cheese and frankly, I was concerned. We were at Ted’s Montana Grill just outside of Colorado Springs. It was said to be the best burger joint within shouting distance of Pike’s Peak International Speedway. This was important to me because I take food seriously. It was late 1999. Our broadcast crew was in Colorado to televise the USAC midget race that would serve as the opening event for the brand new Pike’s Peak facility.

Q and A with Tony Kanaan and Simona de Silvestro

  IndyCar Conference Call
Earlier today, IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Tony Kanaan and Simona de Silvestro participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the start of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series and preview the April 7 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Simona finished sixth in her debut race with the team at St. Petersburg after running as high as third in the late stages of the race. Tony finished fourth.

IndyCar St. Petersburg postscript

  by Brian Carroccio
After what can best be described as a trying off-season, the Izod IndyCar Series got back to racing this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida.  In an action-packed, thrilling race, popular 26 year-old Canadian James Hinchcliffe held off three-time St. Petersburg winner Helio Castroneves in the closing laps to score his first career win.  Of course, the self-appointed Mayor of Hinchtown, famous for his marketing savvy, seemingly endless reservoir of self-confidence and spot-on Kimi Raikkonen impersonations, was far from the only story.

INDYCAR: Who Cares Who Was the Worst?

  by Stephen Cox
What a great way to kick off the IndyCar season. So I’m sitting here browsing articles and I run across a piece that attempts to name the “worst drivers in IndyCar history,” as if such a determination was possible. It figured it was a waste of time, so I passed. I continue browsing. Surely, I thought, there is no cosmic miracle sufficient to cause two or more equally disturbed authors to write on such a topic. I was wrong.

Hinchcliffe gets first IndyCar win in St. Petersburg

  by Brian Carroccio
Taking advantage of a lap 85 restart mistake by Helio Castroneves, Canadian James Hinchcliffe moved into the lead of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. From there, the popular 26-year-old Hinchcliffe, driver of the #27 Go-Daddy Chevrolet, would hold off an ambitious charge by the Brazilian to score his first IndyCar victory in 32 career starts. Three-time St. Petersburg winner, Castroneves, piloting the #3 Team Penske Hitachi Chevrolet finished second.

St. Petersburg GP: Sunday Press Conference

  IndyCar
Drivers
1. James Hinchcliffe
2. Helio Castroneves
3. Marco Andretti

Power nips Sato for pole in St. Petersburg

  de Silvestro to start in first start for KV Racing
It was a day of surprises in St. Pete.  The fact that Will Power won the pole in his Verizon sponsored Penske Chevy was no surprise on Saturday for the Honda IndyCar GP of St. Petersburg.  What was a surprise, however, were others in the top-6.  Takuma Sato was 2nd in an AJ Foyt Honda (yes, you read that right) and Simona de Silvestro was third in her first race with KV Racing.

St. Petersburg GP: Saturday Press Conference

  IndyCar
An interview with:
WILL POWER
TAKUMA SATO
SIMONA de SILVESTRO
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE
HELIO CASTRONEVES
TRISTAN VAUTIER

Q and A with IndyCar boss Mark Miles

  by Mark J. Cipolloni
IMS CEO and IndyCar acting CEO Mark Miles met with the media gathered in St. Petersburg, Florida Saturday morning to answer questions about future direction of the sport. It was the first opportunity AR1.com had to meet Mark Miles in person, but it's clear he is very smart and asking all the right questions.  Our initial impression was excellent and in Miles IndyCar may finally have a leader that can indeed move the needle up.

Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Ready for 2013 Season-Opener

  IndyCar season starts this weekend
Chevrolet’s return to the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2012 was extremely successful: the Bowtie Brand captured the Manufacturers' Championship on the strength of 11 wins in 15 races; Ryan Hunter-Reay crowned the Overall Driver Champion as well as the Oval Track Champion and Will Power named the Road Course Champion. But, that was last year. The focus quickly turned to the 19-race 2013 schedule beginning with the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Fla.) March 24, 2013.

Q and A with Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power

  INDYCAR Conference Call
IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season opener, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Hunter-Reay will drive the No. 1 DHL Chevrolet in 2013, using the No. 1 as the defending IZOD IndyCar Series champion. He has two podium finishes in six starts at St. Petersburg, including a third-place finish last year, and will be looking to give Andretti Autosport its second win on the streets of St. Petersburg.

Honda Ready as 2013 IndyCar Season Opens

  IndyCar
Seven teams and a dozen full-time entries will lead the Honda effort as the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series opens Sunday with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The manufacturer and its Honda Performance Development racing arm are seeking their seventh competitive manufacturers' championship and 10th consecutive Indianapolis 500 victory.

2013 IndyCar Season preview - Part 2

  by Brian Carroccio
Last week, AutoRacing1.com previewed the 2013 Izod IndyCar Series season. Using Vegas-style odds, we handicapped the 2013 field, looking at the contenders for the Astor Cup, drivers with the potential to surprise, and those who will struggle to find their way to the front. Although the 2013 field is a strong one, and the action on track expected to be close, we all know news in the world of IndyCar is rarely, if ever, confined to the track.

Q and A with Helio Castroneves

  IndyCar
Team Penske's Helio Castroneves participated in the conference call to discuss next week's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the 2013 season. Castroneves is the defending champion of the event and has won on the streets of St. Petersburg three times (2006, 2007 and 2012). Helio is driver of the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet for Team Penske. It's the 14th season he has driven an Indy car for Roger Penske and his team. Helio finished fourth last year in the IZOD IndyCar Series with two wins, one of them coming at St. Petersburg.

Scenes from Barber - Wednesday

  by Scott Morris
For the second consecutive day, Will Power behind the wheel of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet topped the leaderboard at the end of the second day of the Barber Open Test for the IZOD IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park.  Power, who has won two of the three races, held to-date at the road course, just outside Birmingham, Alabama, set the fastest lap with a time of 01:07.1329, and a speed of 123.337 m.p.h. Giving Chevrolet V6 IndyCar the top-two in the final order was James Hinchcliffe, No. 27 GoDaddy.com Andretti Autosport Chevrolet with a lap time of 01:07.3839 at 122.878 m.p.h.

IndyCar Scenes from Barber - Tuesday

  IndyCar
Will Power set the record of 1 minute, 9.8524 seconds in Round 1 of qualifications last April. Driving the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, he was quickest in the chilly morning session with a lap of 1:08.4984 and lowered it to 1:07.8625 in the afternoon -- 2 seconds quicker than his record. Teammate Helio Castroneves was second (1:07.9388) in the No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske car, while James Hinchcliffe was third (1:07.9869) in the No. 27 GoDaddy.com car for Andretti Autosport.

IndyCar 2013 Season Preview - We rank the drivers

  by Brian Carroccio

Allmendinger/Penske IndyCar announcement Q & A

  Allmendinger to drive only two IndyCar races
Q and A with:
TIM CINDRIC
AJ ALLMENDINGER
MIKE KELLY

Q and A with Graham Rahal

  INDYCAR Conference Call
Earlier today, IZOD IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal, who joins the team co-owned by his father for the 2013 season, participated in the conference call to preview the 2013 season. Graham will drive the No. 15 Midas / Big O Tires Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2013 after spending the last two seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing. He made one start for Rahal Letterman Lanigan, which is co‑owned by his father Bobby Rahal, but this will be his first full season working with his dad and his dad's team.

Q and A with James Hinchcliffe and Zach Veach

  IndyCar
Earlier today, IZOD IndyCar Series drivers James Hinchcliffe and Firestone Indy Lights driver Zach Veach participated in the conference call to preview the 2013 season. James will drive the No. 27 GoDaddy Chevrolet and is entering his third season in the IZOD IndyCar Series.  Zach will move up to Firestone Indy Lights in 2013 with Andretti Autosport, and driver of the No. 12 K12 for the team.  A full transcript follows.

IndyCar can succeed overseas.  Really.

  by Brian Carroccio
I’m curious. The prevailing wisdom within IndyCar regarding the series racing overseas seems to be less than favorable.  Many prominent figures within IndyCar, such as Roger Penske have long spoken out against the idea, citing a host of reasons. And to be clear, I don’t necessarily dispute their validity.  For one, we are told by those who attempt to lure corporate support, that races overseas (outside North America) are of little interest to North American based sponsors. Also, for a sport desperate to increase its television audience, overseas races often take place at less than favorable television times in North America, and inevitably drag down the already lagging TV numbers.

Does Katherine have a 'Legge' to stand on?

  by Brian Carroccio
Danica Patrick winning pole for the Daytona 500 yesterday, is clearly dominating headlines today in the world of motorsport.  However, last week another female driver, Katherine Legge, made news in the world of IndyCar with her less than cordial split with Dragon Racing.  As you probably know, Legge was dropped from Jay Penske's team last month in favor of Colombian Sebastian Saavedra with news of this decision became public last Tuesday. Of course, the likable 32 year-old Brit, was instrumental in bringing TrueCar sponsorship to Penske's team before the start of last season.

Politician Wants To Return Money Taken From IMS

  by Stephen Cox
National Football League teams have a long-standing tradition. Whenever a franchise wants a new stadium, they simply threaten to move to another town. City officials, terrified at the thought of losing the bread and circuses they promised to Doofus Joe Sixpack, duly pass a new tax on millions of victims who don't give a rat's rump about football and force them to fund a new stadium. Presto. Works every time.

"Let's Split Indy Car"

  by Brian C. Mackey
Everyone has an opinion. This is my version taken from numerous ideas I've heard and added to over the past several seasons. I don't claim to resolve all that is wrong with Indy car, but it is intended to move the needle a bit forward toward finding better solutions to very complicated and long simmering problems.

The 2013 IndyCar class is one of best ever

  by Brian Carroccio
Let us begin by taking a brief look at two extremes.  On May 24, 1992 ten former winners of the Indianapolis 500 took the green flag. Three of these ten men, Rick Mears, Al Unser, and A.J Foyt so happened to be the only four-time winners in the history of the race. They would be joined by Bobby Rahal, Mario Andretti, Arie Luyendyk, Gordon Johncock, Tom Sneva, and Danny Sullivan. Sadly, that iconic class of 1992 would quickly fade from the scene.

Farewell Phil Remington

  by All-American Racers
All American Racers is sad to announce that Phil Remington passed away in his sleep Saturday morning, February 9th, just 2 weeks after his 92nd birthday. "Rem” joined AAR in the fall of 1968 after an already stellar career in the motor racing world. He was universally admired and recognized as the greatest fabricator of his time. Until his health started failing last summer Phil never missed a day of work, he was an example both professionally and personally to legions of young people who studied under him and who worked by his side.

Ride-Buying isn't going away anytime soon

  by Brian Carroccio
“Look, we’re all paying our way somehow,” were the words of an Izod IndyCar Series driver a few years ago during the Mid-Ohio IndyCar weekend. Generally speaking, we don't like "ride-buying." Certainly, on the surface, the practice seems a rather unsavory one. However, "Ride-buying" is a reality of racing; a complicated reality that exists at all levels; a complicated reality that likely will not change until the sport's economics change.

There is only one person who can save IndyCar

  by Brian Carroccio
"We need a face," were the words uttered by 2004 Izod IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan about two weeks ago. The outgoing Brazilian was of course, referring to the current leadership vacancy in the world of IndyCar, and the uncertainty it is creating for the sport. To say the sport has reached new lows is an understatement, backed up by the facts. To turn the sport around, the next leader of IndyCar will need a track record of success in not only racing and business, but arguably more.  Remember, this person will have to do business with not just those within the IndyCar paddock, but manufacturers, promoters, racetrack operators, sponsors, and a variety of other constituents.

INDYCAR: Who's Qualified and Who's Not

  by Stephen Cox
Here's what you're supposed to believe: Franchitti, Kanaan and Castroneves enjoy a special Divine Blessing. They are qualified to drive Indycars. Milka Duno, Hiro Matsushita and Dennis Vitolo were not. Neither was Danica, but she gets a free pass because she's hot and brought lots of money. That's what you're told to believe by the motorsports press. Legions of impressionable armchair fans have jumped on the same bandwagon and now anyone who doesn't buy into the propaganda is considered a looney.

IndyCar needs to revamp its schedule

  by Brian Carroccio
As we've outlined the prior two weeks, there aren't too many people watching IndyCar races these days. TV ratings are king and if anyone tells you otherwise, they're just making excuses.  Amongst the issues facing IndyCar are the sport's lack of brand awareness, the poor production on ABC/ESPN, and the limited reach of NBC Sports Network.  However, there is something IndyCar can do to raise its television audience.  To start, I'm going to take you back three days to this past Saturday.

IndyCar announces schedule tweaks, TV times

  IndyCar
INDYCAR and its television partners today announced IZOD IndyCar Series television windows for consistent blocks of network coverage and new race distances at selected events. Live coverage of all 19 IZOD IndyCar Series events - including ABC's first prime-time race and three doubleheaders (one on ABC and two on NBC Sports Network) - highlight the 2013 ABC and NBC Sports Network programming schedule. Race distances were changed at four events to discourage fuel-mileage racing.

Q and A with Michael Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay

  IndyCar
Earlier today, Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti and 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss a variety of topics heading into the 2013 season.

Part 2: A look at IndyCar's horrid TV deal

  by Brian Carroccio
Judging from your reaction, Part 1 of our article discussing IndyCar's television deal, fulfilled its intended goal.  In what undoubtedly elicited the most voluminous response of any article I have written for AR1, many of you expressed shock at the extent of the problem facing the Izod IndyCar Series. And to be clear, let the record show our intent was not to shock, or sensationalize for the mere sake of shocking or sensationalizing.  Simply put, we believed the facts spoke for themselves, and if you happened to come away shocked, then so be it. Now, if Part 2 serves its purpose, you will probably come away slightly more upbeat than you did after Part 1.

The failed Barrichello experiment and what it means

  by Stephen Cox
The most experienced driver in the history of Formula 1 has been sent packing after just one mediocre year in IndyCar. Instead of returning to dominate America's most prestigious open wheel series, Barrichello will spend next year driving in the Brazilian Stock Car Series. Yes, there is such a thing. I've seen their web site.  There are two big lessons to take away from the Barrichello story, and in a bizarre sort of way, they both bear wonderful tidings for every aspiring race car driver on the continent. Lesson Number One – the car makes the driver, not the other way around.  Lesson Number Two – If Rubens Freaking Barrichello needs money to get a ride, so do you.

Part 1: A look at IndyCar's horrid TV deal

  by Brian Carroccio
With apologies to Mark Miles, I'm going to talk about the past. Ironically, an idea I initially dismissed, has resulted in this two-part piece, which I believe, is the most important article I have written for AR1.  Sadly, the following will reveal a sobering reality regarding IndyCar's television package. The most worrisome concern is not simply IndyCar's putrid television ratings.  No, television ratings are merely a symptom of a much larger problem: the possibility that IndyCar is maximizing its potential on the fledgling network.  Yes, the evidence suggests there is more room to the downside regarding IndyCar's performance on NBCSN than the upside.