Race Weekend Central

Pace Laps: Jimmie Johnson Success, First Time Nationwide Winners and Powers’ Power

2014 Michigan Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Car Cia

Sprint Cup: A normal race at Michigan for Jimmie Johnson usually means that he runs out of fuel in the final laps after leading for most of the day and having the best car.  Johnson, however, did the other Jimmie Johnson thing at Michigan.  That usually means falling way back in the field and then seemingly arriving …

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IndyCar Breakdown: 2014 Milwaukee IndyFest

2014 Indycar Milwaukee Power On Track

In a Nutshell: Will Power made the field look silly at a track he was supposed to struggle at, and in doing so inherited the championship points lead. Key Moment: The key moment of the race was perhaps on Friday afternoon when Will Power won the pole for the race. Power was hardly challenged during …

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IndyCar Preview: ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest

2014 Indycar Iowa Ryan Hunter Reay

It’s the beginning of the end. After a weekend off, the IndyCar Series is primed to resume – and in doing so will bang out three weeks of rather varied kinds of racing.  When looking at the schedule and some of its silliness (double race weekends, double points for select races), it’s easy to question …

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Open Wheel Wednesday: Building Momentum and the Final Stretch Run

2014 Indycar Iowa Kanaan Leading

Welcome to the IndyCar Round Table! Several times throughout the season, your favorite writers will get together to discuss the latest IndyCar news, rumors, and so much more! This Week’s Participants: Toni Montgomery Frontstretch IndyCar Editor/NHRA Pace Laps) Matt Stallknecht(Frontstretch IndyCar Writer/NASCAR’s Four Burning Questions) Huston Ladner (Frontstretch IndyCar Writer/Happiness Is) Toni: Is there a …

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Championship Gimmicks: When Is it An Enhancement?

2014 Indycar Midohio Simon Pagenaud On Track

I’m not a big fan of gimmicks. Which is why, when the announcement came down from INDYCAR that the three Triple Crown races would be worth double points, I wasn’t particularly keen on the concept. It seemed manufactured, among other issues. “Adding more weight to the 500-mile events rewards teams and drivers that continually rise …

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IndyCar Breakdown: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

2014 Indycar Midohio Scott Dixon Woohoo

In a Nutshell: The race began with a bang as drivers eager for the green flag got a bit excited as they hit the gas.  The wreck brought about a rare caution for IndyCar at Mid-Ohio.  Scott Dixon cruised home for the win, his fifth at the track in the last eight races.  Polesitter Sebastien …

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Pace Laps: Pocono Oddity, Iowa Adventures, Ohio Excellence, and More

Cup: Strange Results from Pocono It’s not a surprise that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won at Pocono.  He raced with the leaders all race long and his crew chief, Steve Letarte, made a brilliant strategy call that put him in the best position to win. But what about the rest of the field? Kyle Busch completed …

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IndyCar Preview: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

2014 Indycar Iowa Tony Kanaan

What’s News? The biggest news is the encouraging upswing in the television ratings, covered by our Matt Stallknecht in this week’s Open Wheel Wednesday column. “INDYCAR is definitely on the upswing, whether it’s ratings or putting buns in the seats,” defending series champion Scott Dixon said. “(This season) has been up and down with so …

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Happiness Is… A Storybook Career, Sigh of Relief & Those Open Wheelers

2014 Indianapolis Cup Jeff Gordon Woohoo Ii Cia

Jeff Gordon celebrates after winning the 2014 Brickyard 400. (Credit: CIA)

Sigh of relief. Everyone can thank Jeff Gordon for putting a stop the Ford juggernaut.  The win streak, of four in a row, was getting out of hand and some other manufacturer needed to be represented in victory lane. There’s a couple interesting things about the string that Ford had just put together, with the …

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Increased TV Ratings Finally Match INDYCAR’s Momentum

2014 Indycar Toronto 1 Bourdais Leading

Anyone who reads my contributions to this column on a regular basis knows that I am something of a pessimist when it comes to the world of IndyCar racing. As much as I do love this sport, I have never been afraid to point out the multitude of flaws and missteps that the leaders of …

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IndyCar Breakdown: The Honda Indy 2 in Toronto

2014 Indycar Toronto 2 Bourdais And Conway

In a Nutshell: On what was easily the craziest race weekend of the year for INDYCAR, Sebastien Bourdais and Mike Conway usurped the usual suspects by each winning one of the two doubleheader races in the Streets of Toronto. Bourdais did it via sheer dominance, while Conway did it via cunning strategy and a little bit …

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