All posts by Joey Barnes

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief McLaren announced that Stoffel Vandoorne will leave following the 2018 Formula 1 season. The 26-year-old Belgian has endured a rough year that has seen him collect just eight points through 13 races, while teammate Fernando Alonso has amassed 44 points over the same span. A veteran of 34 F1 starts to date, Vandoorne first joined the Woking-based squad in 2013 as part of their Young Driver Program and went on to quickly become their test pilot the following year. After winning the 2015 GP2 Series (nowRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief One of the most crucial roles throughout each of the three NASCAR tours is the spotter. The unique position can be the difference for victory or heartbreak. The man on top of the spotter’s stand for the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, driven by Kevin Harvick, is none other than Tim Fedewa. Our friends from Mobil 1 The Grid sat down the team to discuss ‘NASCAR’s eye in the sky.’Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The step up to the next level of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder can sometimes be steeper than expected. Oliver Askew has been learning that firsthand this year during his inaugural campaign in the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires. After capturing staggering seven wins, 11 podiums and eight poles in 14 starts en route to the 2017 title in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda – the first rung of the MRTI ladder – with Cape Motorsports, the outside expectations ofRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Schmidt Peterson Motorsports have announced that it will not field the No. 6 Lucas Oil Honda for this weekend’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park. The decision comes after the horrific crash last weekend at Pocono Racway, which saw driver Robert Wickens severely injured and has since undergone spinal surgery. There are additional injuries to his lower extremities and right arm, but is currently listed in stable condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The team also confirmed that JamesRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The latest medical update from the Verizon IndyCar Series Robert Wickens is set to undergo surgery on Monday evening for a spinal injury sustained in a crash in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. “An MRI was instrumental in revealing the most appropriate surgical course and Wickens is undergoing surgery Monday evening for a spinal injury,” INDYCAR said in a statement. The previous update on Sunday evening revealed the 29-year-old Canadian was “being treated for injuries to lower extremities, right arm and spine” following theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Red Bull Racing has announced that Pierre Gasly will replace the departing Daniel Ricciardo and partner with Max Verstappen for 2019. The 22-year-old Frenchman has impressed during his first full season campaign in Formula 1. Driving for Red Bull Racing’s junior squad, Toro Rosso, he has collected three finishes in the points, including a stellar fourth-place result in the Bahrain Grand Prix. The opportunity came to light after Ricciardo elected to make a shocking move to join Renault for next season. The move became all theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Marco Andretti has signed a multi-year contract extension to remain with Andretti-Herta Autosport, with partner U.S. Concrete also signed as lead primary sponsor to stay with the team. The 2019 Verizon IndyCar Series season will mark the 14th consecutive for the 31-year-old Pennsylvanian, who will continue to pilot the No. 98 Honda entry featuring the red, grey and white colors of the Dallas-based concrete company. “It’s great to be able to announce this extension for 2019 and beyond,” said Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti. “Our companiesRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief After much anticipation on the future of Fernando Alonso, it has been confirmed that he will step away from racing in Formula 1 at the end of the season. The 37-year-old Spaniard owns 32 Grand Prix victories (sixth all-time) and two F1 championships. “After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on,” Alonso said. “I have enjoyed every single minute of those incredible seasons and I cannot thank enough the people who have contributed to makeRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Renault confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo has signed on with a two-year deal beginning with the 2019 Formula 1 season. The 29-year-old Aussie has been a fixture with Red Bull Racing since 2014, collecting seven wins over that time, including two thus far in 2018. He made his F1 debut with HRT in 2011 before spending the next two years at Scuderia Toro Rosso. Ricciardo will partner with Nico Hulkenberg and take over the seat occupied by Carlos Sainz Jr., who is coincidentally on loan from RedRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Formula 1 welcomes back one of the most coveted races to its calendar with the return of the French Grand Prix. The last coming a decade ago at Magny-Cours, the comeback is set this weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner and current pilot Daniel Ricciardo delve into what can be expected as the sport braces for the first leg of an unprecedented tripleheader in its history. Our friends from Mobil 1 The Grid sat down the duo to discussRead More