Swift Engineering spices up IndyCar concept battle with "mushroom buster," SwiftLights
by Tony Johns on Feb 8, 2010 3:26 PM EST
in Feature Stories
1 comment
The 2012 IndyCar bidding war is getting interesting. In the past week, after months of no news whatsoever, no less than four companies have jumped into the ring to be the winning manufacturer for the next-generation IndyCar.
The latest to release concepts into the wild, Swift Engineering, Inc. upped the ante by including not only images of concept cars, but also representations of potential innovative features designed to mitigate aerodynamic issues which complicate the kind of close racing the IndyCar series boasts as well as a unique idea for improving the viewing experience for fans.
1 comment | 0 recs |
Hyperbole on the high banks: Danica's Daytona debut
by Tony Johns on Feb 8, 2010 12:09 PM EST
in Blog Posts
3 comments
The attention given two similar on-track incidents during Saturday's ARCA race told the whole story about Danica Patrick's stock car debut.
One incident involved Patrick herself. The other involved Joey Coulter, an ARCA regular. Both drivers were victims of side impacts that sent them through the Daytona infield grass. Both drivers escaped with very little to no damage to their race cars.
One driver's incident was given multiple replays and breathless fawning praise from the SPEED announcers. The other was given a perfunctory second look and comments about being "lucky."
I don't really have to connect the dots for you, do I?
3 comments | 0 recs |
Lola joins race for IRL chassis deal
On the heels of Dallara Automobili's release of 3D concept art for the 2012 IndyCar chassis - and hours before Swift Engineering, Inc. plans to do the same - former CART and Champ Car chassis supplier Lola is expected to present a "dual body style" proposal to the Indy Racing League. Details to follow.
A 2012 revolution is worth embracing
by Tony Johns on Feb 5, 2010 3:27 PM EST
in Blog Posts
2 comments
...And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes...
David Bowie, "Changes"
Have you ever worked at a company that has gotten bought out by or has merged with a new parent business? If you have, then you know the feeling of panic and unrest that settles in when the new overlords show up with ingratiating smiles, chintzy corporate gifts with your new logo, and a medium-sized novel filled with new rules and office procedures that you must accept on pain of termination.
Some of that feeling has trickled into the IndyCar fan community with the news that the IndyCar folks are planning on a new chassis for 2012.
Why? Because they've heard some things about the so-called Delta Wing, which will be unveiled next week at the Chicago Auto Show. They've seen concept images from Dallara Automobili, the company that builds the current chassis. And some of the concepts are so revolutionary that many long-time IndyCar fans can't seem to wrap their minds around them.
2 comments | 0 recs |
IndyCar Series details 2012 chassis criteria
A interchangeable road/street course-oval race car that would cost about half of the current model, be lighter and more fuel efficient are among the objectives the Indy Racing League has relayed to potential manufacturers for the next IZOD IndyCar Series chassis.
Officials of the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series, have been in ongoing discussions with Dallara Automobili, DeltaWing, Lola and Swift about manufacturing and supplying the new chassis scheduled to debut for the 2012 season.
Dallara, which has supplied the third generation of IZOD IndyCar Series chassis since 2003, and longtime Indy car chassis manufacturers Lola and Swift have provided design concepts based on the league's objectives. The DeltaWing project will be unveiled Feb. 10 at the Chicago Auto Show.
4 days ago
Tony Johns
1 comment
0 recs
The Earl Ma Collection: The Making of the Unser Racing Museum
by Tony Johns on Feb 4, 2010 11:12 AM EST
in Multimedia
1 comment
Pop Off Valve remembers Earl Ma with a retrospective of some of his video work.
Today's video is The Making of the Unser Racing Museum, featuring interviews with Al, Bobby, and Al Unser Jr. at the 2005 opening of their facility. Earl was a great fan and friend of the Unser family and this work is one of his more extensive treatments.
1 comment | 0 recs
The Paddock Pulse: Feb. 3 Edition
by Tony Johns on Feb 3, 2010 1:50 PM EST
in Paddock Pulse
0 comments
Nothing at all happened over the past week. Trust me.
Seriously, folks, enjoy the veal.
This week's Paddock Pulse is just gonna be chock-full of references to two Big Events - and I'm not talking about Danica being on CSI: NY, either. First, the shuttering (and the defying-the-odds appeal to fans and Letters of Reference campaign) of Vision Racing sent the blogosphere all a-Twitter (pun intended - you should have seen the tweet-valanche). Then the Indy Racing League sparked off the largest bull-riding-related-title-pun contest in the history of the Internet by hiring PBR exec Randy Bernard as the new league CEO. After that, well... there wasn't really a whole lot to talk about other than Dreyer & Reinbold hiring Justin Wilson away from Dale Coyne.
So let's get all of this out of the way now with a sampling of some of the blogsplosion:
- Vision Racing shuts down, plus the fan letter outreach: A Man Without a Vision is Blah Blah Blah [Is It May Yet?], A significant loss of Vision [My Name Is IRL], Tony George’s Free Fall [Oilpressure], Vision ... Dimmed [pressdog.com], Vision Racing Will Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night [The Silent Pagoda], Ed Carpenter speaks out about Vision Racing [Planet-IRL].
- New Indy Racing League CEO Andy... er, Randy Bernard: We have a new leader [My Name Is IRL], Bernard Saddles up a Truly Bucking Bull of a Job [pressdog.com], IRL Hires New CEO [16th And Georgetown], On the new CEO of the IRL, Randy Bernard [Planet-IRL], A Quick Word on Randy Bernard [The Silent Pagoda].
We do have a couple of links to content on topics other than these two for your perusal:
-
A verbose retrospective of the Tony George era [My Name Is IRL]
Jeff Iannucci of My Name is IRL is our favorite fellow blogger here at POV, not just because he's a fellow resident of the Grand Canyon State. In this rather lengthy entry (for him, anyway), Jeff ruminates on the legacy of Tony George and takes issue with some of the parting shots levied at George following his resignation from the Hulman-George companies. -
Travel [Drive Hard, Turn Left]
In the midst of the TG resignations, Vision Racing's suspension of operations, and our new "No Bull" CEO, Drive Hard, Turn Left was still able to post a normal blog not related at all to any of those issues. SPOILER ALERT: There is advocacy for a Las Vegas night race in there. -
Where Is Loyalty Today? [Oilpressure]
George over at Oilpressure has a bone to pick with today's racers - the lack of loyalty. It seems to be a commodity that most folks can't afford, even though it has no ties to the recession. I wasn't going to post this link but I felt I had to out of loyalty for George. (Actually, I was just going for a stupid joke, George. You're still the man!) -
A yardstick for Danica? That sounds like a good swap! [My Name Is IRL]
Another entry from ol' Jeff, and the epic title is only topped by the awesomeness of the article below it. It concerns Danica Patrick's ARCA debut, because really, what other storyline is there to promote in that race? Read, be amazed and entertained, and tell him I sent you because I get an M&M every time I give Jeff a page view.
Final thoughts
Please remember to go write a letter for Vision Racing's Letters of Reference campaign. Why? Because this team works harder than any other in racing to reach out to and incorporate the fans. And even in the face of adversity they aren't asking for your money - only your recommendation as they apply for a job as a sponsor representative. That's class, folks.
Also of note, you may notice that we have a new Multimedia section at POV. Against their better judgment, the IRL has decided that I should have permission to access their IndyCar audio and video, and who are the beneficiaries of this? YOU. Oh, and FYI - I'll also be posting some of my late friend Earl Ma's videos in this section from time to time. You'll get a kick out of them, I promise.
Lastly, I should remind you that we have a Pop Off Valve Store that has all sorts of cool stuff in it, including T-shirts like this one and this one. Why am I pimping this? Because all of the proceeds from the store go to charity. So buy stuff. Please?
0 comments | 0 recs |
Randy Bernard saddles up, takes reins of IZOD IndyCar Series
by Tony Johns on Feb 2, 2010 4:07 PM EST
in Feature Stories
4 comments
A professional bull rider needs to stay on his mount at least eight seconds for a full ride. It's called the "most dangerous eight seconds in sports."
With all due respect to bull riders, eight seconds on a bucking bull may seem like child's play to Randy Bernard after spending some time trying to rein in the disparate factions of the Indy Racing League.
Bernard was announced today as the new CEO of the IRL, IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights Series at a press conference in Indianapolis.
4 comments | 0 recs |
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
