All posts by Christopher DeHarde

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer The final step on the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires might have the smallest field, but top to bottom the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires has an extremely stacked field going for a one million dollar scholarship package to move to the Verizon IndyCar Series. First, let’s look at the schedule. The 2018 schedule is identical in layout to 2017 except for two changes. The final race weekend is now at Portland International Raceway and it’s also a doubleheader weekend instead ofRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer The 2018 Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires kicks off on the streets of St. Petersburg and with the strongest field from top to bottom since 2015, this year promises to be a special one. Before getting to the teams and drivers, let’s first look at the tracks. Barber Motorsports Park returns to the schedule after a 2017 hiatus and Mid-Ohio only has two races this year instead of three like it had last year. Gone is the single oval race date and instead thereRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer The 2018 season for the Cooper Tires USF2000 powered by Mazda begins on the streets of St. Petersburg with a 25 car entry list. This year’s championship looks to be a tough one on paper so let’s look at what will make up the 2018 USF2000 season. First, the tracks. USF2000 has had some venue changes for 2018. Gone is Barber Motorsports Park and Iowa Speedway but returning is the third race at Mid-Ohio, the Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway and the doubleheader atRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer With the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season rapidly approaching, Motorsports Tribune is previewing each of the teams competing on the tour. The site’s IndyCar staff will break each team down, laying out their results from the previous season while previewing the year to come for the organization and their driver(s). Team: Team Penske (@Team_Penske) Drivers: Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power What Happened Last Year: Josef Newgarden was the new guy for Roger Penske’s IndyCar squad. But the Hendersonville, Tennessee native immediately showed everybody why he wasRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer SPEEDWAY, Indiana — Conor Daly will have a new partner in an entry for the Indianapolis 500 on May 27th. The second generation racer announced plans to race with Thom Burns Racing in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing with backing from the U.S. Air Force. Daly will have a Honda engine behind him in the No. 17 red white and blue entry that will be in a partnership with Dale Coyne Racing. “We’re very happy to have Conor Daly back with us for the Indy 500,”Read More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer With the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season rapidly approaching, Motorsports Tribune is previewing each of the teams competing on the tour. The site’s IndyCar staff will break each team down, laying out their results from the previous season while previewing the year to come for the organization and their driver(s). Team: Schmidt Peterson Motorsports  Drivers: James Hinchcliffe, Robert Wickens What Happened Last Year: The 2017 season gave Hinchcliffe his first victory since New Orleans 2015 when the likable Canadian won at Long Beach. That plus two third-placeRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer With the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season rapidly approaching, Motorsports Tribune is previewing each of the teams competing on the tour. The site’s IndyCar staff will break each team down, laying out their results from the previous season while previewing the year to come for the organization and their driver(s). Team: Harding Racing Drivers: Gabby Chaves  What Happened Last Year: The 2017 season was a year of feeling out the Verizon IndyCar Series for Harding Racing. The team bought a couple of new cars and someRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer Colton Herta has been signed to a test and reserve role for BMW Team Rahal Letterman Lanigan in the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. The 17-year-old Californian pilots the No. 98 Mazda/Dallara IL-15 with Andretti Steinbrenner Racing in Indy Lights. Now entering his second season, Herta is coming off a rookie campaign that saw him capture two wins, seven podiums and a series-high seven poles en route to third in the championship. In addition, he was also signed to the BMW Motorsport Junior program whichRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer A Team Canada theme is the word in the most recent announcement in the Mazda Road to Indy as the connection extends with Exclusive Autosport completing their 2018 Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires lineup by signing Antonio Serravalle to partner fellow Parker Thompson. Serravalle hails from Unionville, Ontario and has an extensive karting background, scoring two karting championships in 2017. “I’m extremely excited about joining Exclusive Autosport in Pro Mazda for the 2018 season,” said Serravalle in a team statement. “It’s an all-Canadian teamRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer January 23, 2008. I was in my dorm room at Louisiana State University visiting speedtv.com to look up the motorsports news from the day. A Robin Miller headline immediately stopped my scrolling. CHAMP CAR: Tony George Makes an Offer for Unity Eyes widened, I clicked and read, finding numerous quotes that were smile-inducing. “We’ve got to find a way to make a deal with Tony George,” said 1996 CART champion Jimmy Vasser. “I was never consulted on anything that had to do with the Speedway butRead More