All posts by Joey Barnes

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Verizon IndyCar Series and Pocono Raceway have agreed on a two-year extension that will keep its relationship going through the 2018 season. The announcement comes in preparation for the fourth running of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, which is set for next weekend on Aug. 20-21. Although the 2.5-mile known as “The Tricky Triangle” has hosted events in both July and August throughout its return, future race dates for the extension are still to be determined. “We are thrilled to share this greatRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Esteban Ocon is set to make his Formula 1 debut in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Franchorchamps after being tabbed to replace Rio Haryanto at Manor for the remainder of the season. A winner of both the FIA European F3 championship (2014) and GP3 Series title (2015), Ocon has spent this year in a reserve role with Renault Sport F1 Team while also competing with Mercedes-AMG in DTM. “I’m thrilled that I’ll be making my Grand Prix debut with Manor Racing later this month, and atRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Martin Truex Jr.’s hopes to return to Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway evaporated in the early stages of the Pennsylvania 400. The polesitter’s No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota hit the wall on lap 20, moments after a restart following the competition caution. After leading the opening 16 laps, Truex’s right front tire went flat due to a lug nut during the scheduled pit stop cutting off the valve stem for the inner liner. “Just blew a right front (tire),” said Truex. “A lug nut bouncedRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief NEWTON, Iowa – Ryan Hunter-Reay’s chances for a third consecutive win at Iowa Speedway came to an abrupt end after blown engine forced him to retire. The No. 28 DHL Honda driver came into the weekend with high expectations. Andretti Autosport had won seven of the previous nine races, including the last six-in-a-row. However, it became evident in practice sessions and qualifying on Saturday that a win would be a tall order for the 35-year-old American. After starting the Iowa Corn 300 from 20th, Hunter-Reay struggledRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Ferrari has re-signed Kimi Raikkonen for the 2017 Formula 1 season, partnering him with Sebastian Vettel for a third consecutive year. The 36-year-old Finn’s future had been the pillar of speculation, but the Italian team announced Friday morning ahead of the British Grand Prix, the site of Raikkonen’s 100th race with Ferrari. The 2007 world champion has yet to win in his second stint with the Italian squad, but a rise in performance has him tied for third in the standings with Vettel. Ferrari was seenRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Following an investigation, Pirelli have come to the conclusion that Sebastian Vettel’s tire failure at the Austrian Grand Prix was due to debris. The four-time Formula 1 champion suffered a right-rear blowout along the main straightaway at roughly 200 mph while leading race before  hitting the inside wall and coming to a stop in the middle of the track near the entrance of Turn 1. Ferrari was running Vettel with the supersoft tire compound and had completed 27 laps when it failed, but the Italian tireRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Sauber F1 Team has elected to skip the in-season test at Silverstone next week immediately following the British Grand Prix. The two day test has seen a number of teams put in development drivers. However, the Swiss team will decided it would be more sensible financial decision to miss it, having also been a no-show at the in-season test in mid-May at Barcelona as well. Silverstone: As we introduce the #C35 aero package at a later stage, testing in Silverstone is cancelled considering cost effectivenessRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Brett Moffitt will pilot the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing in Thursday night’s Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. The 23-year-old former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year is subbing for Matt Tifft, who recently underwent brain surgery. “Obviously, we’re thinking of Matt and can’t wait for him to return, so we’re sending him our best wishes and we hope to see him back at the track soon,” Moffitt said in a statement. “I hate that it’s underRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Pierre Gasly will run in both days of the post-British Grand Prix test next week for Red Bull Racing. The Frenchman is one of the drivers on the shortlist for a Toro Rosso seat at 2017, if the team elects to move away from Daniil Kvyat. Carlos Sainz has already been confirmed to return to the Franz Tost-led squad for next year. Gasly currently sits eighth in the GP2 Series standings with PREMA Racing and had a chance to test for Toro Rosso at Barcelona earlierRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Haas F1 Team will put development driver Santino Ferrucci to work in the post-British Grand Prix test at Silverstone next week. The 18-year-old American is currently racing in the GP3 Series with DAMS and will get his first crack at the VF-16 in the two-day test, splitting duties with Charles Leclerc. “Becoming a Formula One driver is my ultimate goal and I can’t thank Haas F1 Team enough for this opportunity,” Ferrucci said.”Nothing beats seat time, and the experience of driving a Formula One carRead More