John Barnes, the owner of Indy Racing League team Panther Racing, reckons the series would be better off as a support series to NASCAR: We would make it where we would race on Saturday to replace a Busch or ARCA race, and they (Nextel Cup) would race on Sunday. I have no problem being second … Continue reading IRL boss wants NASCAR alliance
IndyCar articles archive
The most famous IndyCar race is the Indianapolis 500, held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of huge crowds. However American open-wheel racing has a chequered history.
The championship reached its peak in the late eighties and early nineties under the sanctioning body CART. It attracted huge international attention as Formula 1 champions including Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti competed in it.
However the creation of the rival Indy Racing League in 1996 created a split which badly damaged the championship. CART, which rebranded as Champ Car, fell into decline. By 2008, with Champ Car on the bring of collapse, the two series finally merged, but the damage had been.
Nonetheless today’s IndyCar championship retains a reputation for spectacular racing with its single-specification chassis and features a broad range of circuits including road, street and traditional American oval courses.
IRL St Petersburg: Castroneves triumps for Penske
Posted onHelio Castroneves gave his Penske team a much needed shot in the arm with his victory on the streets of St Petersburg, following the Ganassi team’s rout at Homestead last weekend. Castroneves led most of the race much as Dan Wheldon did last week, winning from pole. It means the two drivers have won the … Continue reading IRL St Petersburg: Castroneves triumps for Penske
IRL: Crushing win for Wheldon
Posted onDan Wheldon got his 2007 Indy Car title campaign off to the best possible start with an utterly dominating win at Miami-Homestead. Only a fumbled pit stop by the Ganassi team that briefly dropped him to ninth threatened to spoil his day. But the ease with which Wheldon breezed ahead of the others and back … Continue reading IRL: Crushing win for Wheldon
This weekend: A1GP Mexico & IRL Homestead
Posted onThe 2007 Indy Racing League season kicks off at the Miami Homestead oval this weekend. Reigning champion Sam Hornish Jnr seeks to defend his crown from 2005 title winner Dan Wheldon. Wheldon won this round last year but then didn’t win again until the end of the season. Meanwhile A1 Grand Prix moves on to … Continue reading This weekend: A1GP Mexico & IRL Homestead
Superstars with super names
Posted onIn American racing the names Andretti and Rahal command instant respect. So it’s no surprise that Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal – teenagers both – are being touted as the next two drivers that could make it all the way to F1. Have they got what it takes?
Racing for Britain
Posted onThe committed followers of British racing have suffered a blow recently with the news that that Darren Manning has lost his IRL drive and that Adam Carroll is facing a sponsorship crisis if he is to continue his GP2 season. Both are key representatives of Britain in International Motorsport and to see them relegated to … Continue reading Racing for Britain
Wheldon to F1?
Posted onDan Wheldon’s victory in the Indy 500, his fourth win in the first five roudns of the 2005 Indy Racing League, has led to inevitable speculation that he will switch to F1. He has denied that he would be willing to make the switch with anything other than a front running team. The Briton has … Continue reading Wheldon to F1?
Flying the flag in the States
Posted onIt is perhaps a sad state of affairs that there are currently more British drivers enjoying successful careers in the Indy Racing League (IRL) and Champ Car than there are in the upper echelons of European single seater racing. Coupled with the ever-growing number of Brits in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and other … Continue reading Flying the flag in the States