The NASCAR ‘Chase for the Cup’ playoff system has been heavily criticised and blamed for a significant drop in spectator numbers. But it could be the perfect solution for F1’s perennial ‘two horse race’. Lewis Hamilton’s fifth World title and his elevation to a position among the absolute greats of F1 has temporarily distracted the…
Tag: NASCAR
Why Honda should run Alonso in IndyCar
Rather than compounding the misery and embarrassment of the failed McLaren-Honda F1 project, allowing a Honda-backed IndyCar team to run Fernando Alonso in 2019 only has upsides for the Japanese brand. Fernando Alonso’s decision to take a sabbatical from F1 in 2019 has raised the real prospect of the two-time champion returning to IndyCar. The…
Next Generation: Toyota rookies Suarez and Jones talk graduating to the NASCAR Cup
Next Generation: Toyota rookies Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones talk graduating to the NASCAR Cup Kyle Busch has monopolised the NASCAR headlines for Toyota since his surprise Monster Energy NASCAR Cup championship win in 2015. But now the next generation of Cup stars are emerging and for the Japanese brand, rookies Daniel Suarez and Erik…
Brickyard 400 preview – Mobil 1 The Grid
Indy Pride – Patrick & Harvick preview the Brickyard 400 Former Brickyard 400 winner Kevin Harvick and former IndyCar driver Danica Patrick share their thoughts ahead of the NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Harvick talks to Mobil 1 The Grid about his childhood ambition to race at the fabled Brickyard and what…
Trading paint: a look at the Stewart-Haas’ Racing switch from Chevy to Ford for 2017
Trading paint: Stewart-Haas Racing On The Team’s Switch To Ford For 2017 When Stewart-Haas Racing decided to switch from Chevrolet to Ford during the NASCAR off-season, the team entered a race just to make it to the start line at Daytona. Despite building chassis in-house and running a completely new car, SHR won the ‘Superbowl…
In (partial) defence of Jenna Fryer
AP correspondent Jenna Fryer’s recent article – so what if Alonso is doing the Indy 500? – caused a storm of controversy amongst fans, drivers and media. Fervent criticism plus a tidal wave of completely unacceptable abuse took away from the simple fact Fryer had put together a good critique of the situation – up to a…
IndyCar can benefit from a NASCAR decline
IndyCar has been making positive progress in recent seasons. In particular the championship has been bucking a trend that has seen NASCAR experience a decline in race attendance and viewing figures. In a recent article, IndyCar blogger George Philips proposed that the decline of NASCAR is ultimately bad for IndyCar and all forms of motor sport in…
IndyCar: end of the road for Andretti/Andretti?
With only 5 races remaining on the 2016 IndyCar schedule Marco Andretti is in a familiar position: winless, trailing teammates and languishing in the point standings. Is it time for the end of the Andretti and Andretti partnership? Rookie sensation… back in 2006 Marco – in 17th place – is the lowest of the Andretti Autosport drivers…
IndyCar: lessons from NASCAR part 2
In the second part of this series I’m looking at the lessons IndyCar can learn from NASCAR and how those lessons could help replicate the success of stock car racing. Catch up with part 1 here. 4. Brand the drivers Granted they have more sheet metal to play with but the manner in which drivers…
IndyCar: lessons from NASCAR part 1
The infighting that split Indy racing in the 1990s was a gift to NASCAR but that alone cannot account for its elevated position in US sport. At a time when IndyCar seems to take two steps forward and one back, I’m looking at what open wheel racing can learn from their stock car cousins in…
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