Sky aren’t showing this evening’s Indy Car race live again, and once again it’s because they’re showing live NASCAR instead. On their many other sports channels at the same time they appear to be showing non-live events and even one non-sporting event (wrestling). When I got a SKy subscription a few years ago it was … Continue reading I will drop Sky if they don’t put Indy Car on live
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.
Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win an Indy Car race
Posted onAs this site has been down for a couple of days due to a server move I’ve not had chance to write about a remarkable weekend for Indy Car racing in America (however I did write about it in my weekly column for Auto Trader). It was always going to be strange with half the … Continue reading Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win an Indy Car race
Sky drop live Indy Car for NASCAR
Posted onTurned on Sky Sports looking forward to watching the second race of the re-unified Indy Car series… and found they’re showing NASCAR instead. It’s a disappointing choice because I expect the more F1-like Indy Car to be a lot more comprehensible to British fans and therefore more popular. I’m certainly not interested in watching NASCAR … Continue reading Sky drop live Indy Car for NASCAR
Kanaan loses win to Dixon at Miami
Posted onA new era in Indy Car racing began as the re-unified series assembled for its first race in Miami. Fear of a crash-strewn race as the Champ Car converts got up to speed on the ovals were not realised as the race saw only three safety car appearances. But the last was by far the … Continue reading Kanaan loses win to Dixon at Miami
F1 blogs review: Champ Car and IRL merge
Posted onThe Champ Car World Series and Indy Racing League have ended their 12-year feud and joined back together, a move that could have interesting consequences for Formula 1. Also in the F1 blogs this week, video of Juan Pablo Montoya wrestling, Spyker describe Formula 1 as a ‘massive bleeder’, F1 Racing gets a new editor … Continue reading F1 blogs review: Champ Car and IRL merge
Champ Car and IRL end war and confirm merger
Posted onThe Champ Car World Series and Indy Racing League have ended a rift that has lasted over a decade and issued a statement that the two championships are to merge. The full details of the merge are not yet known, including what the series will be called, how many teams will participate, and what races … Continue reading Champ Car and IRL end war and confirm merger
IRL-Champ Car merger announcement expected
Posted onAccording to Speed’s Robin Miller the long-awaited IRL Indycar / Champ Car World Series merger is a done deal and an announcement is due soon. Such a thing has been promised several times before and I’m won’t believe it until I see Newman-Haases and Penskes sharing the tarmac at Long Beach, but I think even … Continue reading IRL-Champ Car merger announcement expected
IRL-Champ Car reunion: it’s looking good
Posted onMore promising news today that not only might the IRL and Champ Car finally re-unify, but they might even do it in time for the 2008 season. This can only be good news for open wheel racing in America. The prospect of Justin Wilson, Graham Rahal, Paul Tracy et al taking on Dan Wheldon, Marco … Continue reading IRL-Champ Car reunion: it’s looking good
IRL vs Champ Car: the end game?
Posted onIt’s the time of year when the terrible state of open wheel racing in America makes everyone start to ask why the IRL and Champ Car can’t kiss and make up and form a unified series. Champ Car has lost Sebastien Bourdais to F1. His former team, Newman-Haas, is threatening to defect to the IRL … Continue reading IRL vs Champ Car: the end game?
IRL Chicagoland: Franchitti wins race and title
Posted onDario Franchitti won the Indy Racing League championship at the final corner of the final round at Chicagoland. Scott Dixon was poised to win the race and take the title with it until he ran out of fuel on the final tour. Franchitti, who spent the final laps sat behind Dixon, dodged the slowing Target … Continue reading IRL Chicagoland: Franchitti wins race and title
IRL Detroit: Title rivals in controversial clash
Posted onA controversial collision between title rivals Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti overshadowed Tony Kanaan’s win in the IRL race at Michigan. Dixon was knocked into a spin by a slowing Buddy Rice on the penultimate lap and appeared to deliberately steer his car into Franchitti’s. Franchitti managed to limp home sixth to take a three … Continue reading IRL Detroit: Title rivals in controversial clash
IRL Infineon: Dixon takes title lead
Posted onWhat had been a pedestrian Indy Racing League round at Infineon Raceway came alive in the final laps when runaway leader Dario Franchitti clashed with team mate Marco Andretti. That let rival Scott Dixon in to snatch the win and the lead of the championship in dramatic style. Franchitti clung on to take third after … Continue reading IRL Infineon: Dixon takes title lead
IRL Kentucky: Deja vu for Kanaan and Franchitti
Posted onThe IRL race at Kentucky had a lot in common with the last round at Michigan – Tony Kanaan won, and Dario Franchitti had a huge shunt. Kanaan’s victory from pole position means the Brazilian has a realistic shot at the title with three rounds remaining. He beat Scott Dixon across the line by 1.7s … Continue reading IRL Kentucky: Deja vu for Kanaan and Franchitti
IRL Michigan: Kanaan survives race of carnage
Posted onThe final open wheeled race at Michigan will be remembered for a spate of crashes, above all a violent incident on lap 145. Championship leader Dario Franchitti and fellow Briton Dan Wheldon made contact at 220mph on the back straight, causing Franchitti’s car to fly into the air. It landed on title rival Scott Dixon’s … Continue reading IRL Michigan: Kanaan survives race of carnage
IRL Mid Ohio: Dixon seals his hat-trick
Posted onScott Dixon won his third consecutive IRL race and closed to within 24 points of championship leader Dario Franchitti with five rounds remaining. The New Zealander moved to the front in a processional race at the Mid Ohio road course by playing a canny strategic game. But Franchitti minimised the damage by following him home … Continue reading IRL Mid Ohio: Dixon seals his hat-trick
No IRL at Michigan next year
Posted onThis year’s IndyCar race at Michigan will be the last at the superspeedway for the foreseeable future. Michigan will hold two NASCAR events next year but failed to find a suitable slot for an IRL race. The IndyCar series expanded its roster of road courses this year while the rival Champ Car World Series moved … Continue reading No IRL at Michigan next year
IRL Nashville: Two in a row for Dixon
Posted onScott Dixon won his second consecutive race of 2007 – and once again it was championship leader Dario Franchitti who followed him across the line. The rain-delayed race suffered a brief interruption due to further rain but it was a largely incident-free event.
IRL Watkins Glen: Dixon’s hat trick
Posted onScott Dixon completed a hat-trick of IRL victories at Watkins Glen with a measured and tactically shrewd drive. But there were unpleasant scenes after the race as a confrontation between Tony Kanaan and Sam Hornish sparked a pit lane brawl. It began after the pair twice made contact during the race.
IRL Richmond: Dominant Dario doubles up
Posted onDario Franchitti held the Richmond round in a stranglehold for the start. He led all bar nine laps at the short oval to win the second race in a week and stretch his championship advantage. It was a far more low-key race after the dramas of the Iowa encounter last week. But the Penske drivers … Continue reading IRL Richmond: Dominant Dario doubles up
IRL Iowa: Franchitti triumps through chaos
Posted onIndy Car’s first race at Iowa was a spectacular with most of the leading drivers eliminated in big crashes. Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish, Danica Patrick and Tony Kanaan were among those whose races were ruined or ended. It left Dario Franchitti to take his second win of the year – and a 51 point lead … Continue reading IRL Iowa: Franchitti triumps through chaos