All posts by Joey Barnes

Joey Barnes is the Founder of Motorsports Tribune. He has covered auto racing since 2013 that has spanned from Formula 1 to NASCAR, with coverage on IndyCar. Additionally, his work has appeared on Racer, IndyCar.com and Autoweek magazine. In 2017, he was recognized with an award in Spot News Writing by the National Motorsports Press Association.

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Marco Andretti’s No. 27 Honda will get a new look for four races this season as United Fiber & Data return to Andretti Autosport. The company announced during the offseason that it was returning to the team as an associate sponsor and will now officially serve as a co-primary sponsor for Verizon IndyCar Series races at Phoenix, Long Beach, Pocono and Boston. A major sponsor for former Andretti Autosport driver James Hinchcliffe during both the 2013 and 2014 seasons, United Fiber & Data now joins SnappleRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief In a report from GPUpdate.net, Monza officials have restated their belief that the Italian circuit will strike a new deal with Formula One Management as they strive to remain on the calendar beyond the 2016 season.  Negotiations have been going on for several months, with reports surfacing out of the Italian media that a deal had not been reached and that Formula 1 would likely move to Imola or Mugello in 2017. Monza dismissed the surfacing reports and insists that they are focused on finalizing aRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Pirelli has revealed that their new ultra-soft tire compound will debut at this season’s Monaco Grand Prix. The ultra-soft tire is designed to be used at all streets circuits, beginning at the famous Monte Carlo race. Formula 1’s main tire supplier since the 2011 season, Pirelli will also have super-soft and soft compounds available to choose from. 13 sets in all are available to the teams. One of each compound will be set aside by Pirelli, which will see the super-soft and soft tires set asideRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Force India is handing Alfonso Celis Jr. the keys and allowing the young Mexican to make his official Formula 1 debut at the opening free practice session during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. Celis, 19, will replace fellow countryman Sergio Perez at the Sakhir International Circuit, in what will be his first of seven scheduled outings for the 2016 season. The development driver took part in a Pirelli tire test at the end of last season at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, and alsoRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief For decades drivers from all around the world have been enamored with the Indianapolis 500, more specifically, NASCAR drivers. Many of whom grew up hoping one day to compete in the historic event. Cale Yarborough, Donnie Allison, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch are just some of the notable names that have competed in the Indy 500. Busch made his IndyCar debut two years ago in the 2014 race at the Brickyard, starting 12th and finishing an impressive sixth en route to winning Indianapolis 500Read More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief It was a wild afternoon at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, which saw Jimmie Johnson surge past Kevin Harvick on a late restart to win the Auto Club 400. Here are the five takeaways from Sunday’s race at the 2-mile oval. 1) Kevin continues Auto Club collapse Heading into Sunday’s Sprint Cup race the driver that led the most laps failed to win five of the last six races, Harvick made it six of seven after failing to find Victory Lane in Fontana. It isRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Max Verstappen was left frustrated at his Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. and the team’s strategy following the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Dutchman had a promising start to the race, maintaining fifth after a frantic start. However, the 18-year-old’s afternoon took a wrong turn following a restart after the red flag on lap 18. Verstappen endured a slow stop on lap 33, dropping in the running order and falling in behind Sainz. From there Verstappen was slowed by his teammate, which led toRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The new qualifying format that Formula One implemented for the start of the 2016 season has been scrapped after teams and the FIA met following a horrendous qualifying session on Saturday for the Australian Grand Prix. The live-elimination system has been ditched in favor of the previous format that will be used for the next round in Bahrain. The rule change will still need to be approved by the Strategy Group and F1 Commission before it can be sent to the World Motor Sport Council, asRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief AVONDALE, Ariz. – There may not be an easy answer as to why Joey Logano struggled on Sunday in the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Last year’s Daytona 500 champion came to the 1-mile oval with momentum on his side following a runner up result at Las Vegas last weekend. Logano qualified ninth for Sunday’s race and at one point ran as high as third, but once the 313 laps ticked off he crossed the finish line 18th. “We just didn’t quite get theRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief AVONDALE, Ariz. – The Good Sam 500 has been one for the ages and gave Phoenix International Raceway its closest finish ever in the track’s history and seventh closest all-time in the history of NASCAR. With that said, it is time to break down some of the biggest stories from Sunday’s race. 1) Harvick continues his reign in the desert There may not be anyone more automatic at a race track like Kevin Harvick is at Phoenix International Raceway. The NASCAR on FOX group have labeledRead More