All posts by Joey Barnes

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Nico Hulkenberg is expecting the tire management situation to make a big impact amid the hot temperatures that will be endured for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix. Usually on the schedule at the early part of the Formula 1 season in April, the Sepang International Circuit had its date moved to September to accommodate a major renovation, but the combination of track and date changes add a new and unknown element to the mix for drivers and teams. “It feels strange to be going to SepangRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Less than a week after becoming the Verizon IndyCar Series’ newest champion, it has been confirmed that Simon Pagenaud will carry the No. 1 on his Team Penske Chevrolet next season. Although automatic in some racing circles throughout the world, the ability to move to the No. 1 is at the champion’s discretion in North America’s top open wheel series. The last driver to make the switch was Pagenaud’s teammate, Will Power, in 2014. Tim Cindric, president of Team Penske, confirmed through Twitter that the 32-year-oldRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief SONOMA, Calif. – Helio Castroneves nearly found the top spot in Firestone Fast Six qualifying on Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, but his chance at starting on pole for Sunday’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma evaporated at the hands of Team Penske teammate and Verizon IndyCar Series championship leader Simon Pagenaud. The 41-year-old Brazilian, who will start second, has witnessed firsthand the dominance that Pagenaud has displayed – scoring what is now seven poles to match seven podiums and four wins. Castroneves, driver of the No. 3Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Alexander Rossi has enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign in the Verizon IndyCar Series, and recently stated he has taken to it better than originally expected. Entering this season, the 24-year-old Californian was hoping for a full-time race seat in Formula 1, but various circumstances didn’t allow that to happen and he found himself signing with Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian and competing in North America’s top open wheel series. During that time the 2015 GP2 Series runner-up went on to win the 100th Indianapolis 500 presentedRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief MONTEREY, Calif. – Nicolas Dapero took his first career Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires win in the second of a three race tripleheader at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The 18-year-old Argentinian inherited the lead when championship combatants and Team Pelfrey teammates Aaron Telitz and Pato O’Ward made contact in the Andretti Hairpin. Telitz started on pole and led the field to green. As they headed down to Turn 1, O’Ward charged to the outside of his teammate before the duo made contact at theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief According to Racer.com, Sebastien Bourdais looks to be headed to Dale Coyne Racing for the 2017 Verizon Indycar Series season. The 37-year-old Frenchman admitted to having conversation with several people due to the uncertain direction of KVSH Racing. “I’m talking to a lot of people because Kevin (Kalkhoven, co-owner) cannot tell me what the plan is for 2017,” Bourdais said. “Dale and I have been talking since January about what we could do but I have not signed anything.” When Bourdais returned in 2011 after aRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko slammed rumors suggesting Daniil Kvyat will be replace by GP2 driver Pierre Gasly at the Singapore Grand Prix. Kvyat has endured a rough season that has seen him demoted from the senior Red Bull Racing team to Toro Rosso back in May, in favor of Max Verstappen. Having struggled for the majority of races since, speculation began that his days in Formula 1 are coming to a close, with Gasly favored as the replacement. “It’s absolute rubbish,” Marko said. “Kvyat willRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief It has been an eventful rookie year for Max Chilton in the Verizon IndyCar Series, and Motorsports Tribune’s editor-in-chief, Joey Barnes, sat down with him to discuss the experience, the goals for the final two rounds and more. Driving the No. 8 Gallagher Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Chilton qualified sixth for Sunday’s INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen presented by Hitachi at the historic Watkins Glen International. The Brit continues to show progress through the second half of the season, with three of his four topRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Formula 1 season returned from summer break last weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, and once again Ferrari was hit with a rough Sunday drive. Despite strong showings throughout the weekend, in which Kimi Raikkonen led FP3 and qualified a close third to polesitter and eventual race winner Nico Rosberg, the Italian squad had its race unravel at the opening corner of the Belgian Grand Prix. Expectations were high for both Raikkonen and teammate Sebastian Vettel, four-time and two-time winners of the event, but a controversial collision withRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Kevin Magnussen has passed medical checks, but will require one final assessment on Thursday prior to racing in the Italian Grand Prix. The 23-year-old Dane lost control on lap six of the Belgian Grand Prix at Eau Rouge before suffering heavy impact into the barrier at Raidillon. The Renault driver sustained a heavily bruised left ankle, which have forced him to undergo a series of checks to indicate that he is fit to race at Monza this weekend. Doctors from the FIA will make the finalRead More