Category Archives: racing

IndyCar Iowa Speedway – Palou’s Seventh Honda Win

Posted on 14 July 2025 by Ken Zino

Alex Palou has been a strong driver in NTT IndyCar Series 2025. However lady luck [an old, outdated CART term] played a role in his victory at Iowa Speedway yesterday. Palou was running in third place late in the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup when time came for the final round of pit stops. Josef Newgarden and David Malukas brought their Chevrolet-powered cars in for fuel ahead of Palou. However, Palou’s Honda, in perhaps an over-cut move, stayed out. However, a caution flag waved because of Colton Herta’s wall contact on the backstretch. Advantage Palou, – he was able to stop under yellow while the other front runners did under green. The race resumed with 11 laps remaining, and the driver of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda kept the lead and held on for his seventh race win of the season. Continue reading →

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BMW Motorrad Days – 40,000 Visitors in the Alps

Posted on 9 July 2025 by Ken Zino

BMW Motorrad in Munich today said that 40,000 visitors attended Motorrad Days 2025 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It is the world’s largest BMW Motorrad gathering, which is held in the Bavarian Alpine Mountains.

“For the 20th anniversary in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the Hausbergbahn – overall the 23rd BMW Motorrad Days – the international BMW Motorrad community celebrated with product innovations, exhibitors, shows, test ride opportunities, and not least with rustic Bavarian lifestyle and great party atmosphere,” Motorrad said. Continue reading →

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IndyCar – Cunning Scott Dixon wins at Mid-Ohio

Posted on 7 July 2025 by Ken Zino

Veteran IndyCar driver Scott Dixon was  the third different winner in the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season, in the number 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to the win in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport yesterday. Dixon scored his record seventh win at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He made completed all 90 laps on just two pit stops using his considerable “lift and coast” racing skills. His other Mid-Ohio victories were in 2019, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2009 and 2007. Continue reading →

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Ford Updates Nascent WEC Hypercar Program

Posted on 13 June 2025 by Ken Zino

Today Ford Motor (NYSE: F) during opening events prior to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans announced its chassis partner, ORECA, and its program lead, Dan Sayers. The Ford WEC Hypercar program will debut at the season-opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in less than two years.

“Bringing Ford back to the top class at Le Mans has always been a dream for many of us including our Executive Chair Bill Ford,” said Ford Motor Company President and CEO, Jim Farley. “To be able to partner with ORECA is a proud moment for Ford. We are coming back to Le Mans to win, and we aren’t making that a secret. On Sunday, it will be exactly 56 years since we last took the top step of the overall podium here. That is long enough. In 2027, we are coming with the same level of expectation, and we are entrusting ORECA to help us take on Ferrari and the other top-class teams as we did back in the 1960s.” Continue reading →

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Toyota Gazoo Racing Shows Hydrogen-Fueled Racing Car

Posted on 12 June 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Gazoo Racing unveiled the GR LH2 Racing Concept at le Mans yesterday, a liquid hydrogen fueled test car for the potential use of advanced technology in motorsports.

“The presentation of the forward-looking GR LH2 Racing Concept completes a celebration of past, present and future which marks the 40th anniversary of Toyota’s first participation at Le Mans, following the introduction of a unique combination of livery designs. The #7 GR010 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries carries a red and white tribute livery inspired by the iconic TS020 which participated in 1998. The #8 GR010 Hybrid, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, represents the team’s present determination to win. Its matt black livery is built around a GR logo, capturing the team’s “Hate to lose” spirit and the “Prototype” concept of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and continuous evolution,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Hilfiger Joins Cadillac Formula 1®

Posted on 3 June 2025 by Ken Zino

“Two icons. One vision. A bold new era of American motorsport,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “We’re proud to continue our Formula 1® story alongside TWG Motorsports and Cadillac. We share a vision to honor the heritage of F1® while pushing it forward – celebrating where we come from, and re-imagining where we can go. As the sport’s presence around the globe continues to soar, there’s never been a better time to dream big, and show the world what an American team can bring to the grid.” Continue reading →

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Detroit Joins Rising List of IndyCar Cheating Events

Posted on 3 June 2025 by Ken Zino

IndyCar said late yesterday that a post-race technical inspection penalty occurred for entry No. 14 of A.J. Foyt Enterprise (Santino Ferrucci with an ahem, Chevrolet engine) following Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear after it was found to be under the required driver ballast weight following the 100 lap run through a concrete barrier race downtown. Also during inspection, IndyCar found the weight of car No. 14, itself, was 10 pounds over the minimum weight for road and street circuits of 1785 pounds and competed over the minimum weight requirement on-track. These are the latest examples of an IndyCar technical inspection process that violates the rules of integrity and fairness in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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More IndyCar Cheating Penalties Coming to Detroit

Posted on 30 May 2025 by Ken Zino

IndyCar this morning announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Sunday, 1 June on the Streets of Detroit. Ironically the violations are both on Honda powered cars. Continue reading →

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Palou Wins the Indy 500 Ways to Cheat

Posted on 27 May 2025 by Ken Zino

What’s sometimes billed as the greatest spectacle in racing has turned from the drama high-speed oval racing to farce as rampant cheating has emerged in the Indy500 and the IndyCar Series. On Sunday Three-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou earned the first oval victory of his career winning the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.*

“Best milk I’ve ever tasted,” Palou said on the Victory Podium after a gulp from the traditional winner’s bottle of milk. “It tastes so good. What an amazing feeling.” In AutoInformed’s view the milk is sour. Both the IndyCar series and the Indianapolis Motor Speed are owned by Roger Penske via Penske Entertainment. Penske cars have participated in the cheating for more than one year. Moreover, there is no independent review organization to deal with the inherent conflict of interest of Penske, or what has emerged as rampant cheating that is endemic in IndyCar. Both Chevy and Honda powered teams are involved in modifying the Dallara supplied race cars. Continue reading →

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Newgarden Leads Final Indy 500 Practice

Posted on 23 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Josef Newgarden led the final practice for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with a top lap of 225.687 mph in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden is trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indy 500s. However, due to the Team Penske Cheating Scandal, he’ll need to do it from the 33rd starting spot. Newgarden and Team Penske teammate Will Power were moved to the rear of the field Monday due to a modified attenuator on their respective cars that violated IndyCar rules Sunday during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. The record for the deepest starting spot of a “500” winner is 28th, by Ray Harroun in the inaugural race in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936. Continue reading →

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IndyCar – Penske Fires Senior Leadership Team

Posted on 21 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Team Penske announced today the departures of IndyCar Team President, Tim Cindric, IndyCar Managing Director, Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar General Manager Kyle Moyer from the organization. The move comes from the turbulence created by an aerodynamic cheating scandal during qualifying for the 119th Indianapolis 500.

“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams. We have had organizational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes. I apologize to our fans, our partners and our organization for letting them down,” said Roger Penske, who owns the IndyCar Series and the Speedway. Continue reading →

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Mobil 1 is Le Mans Sponsor of Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing

Posted on 20 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Cadillac Racing* said today that the Mobil 1™ brand is its primary sponsor of the No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R** for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Cadillac will contest the 93rd edition of the twice-around-the-clock race on the 8.467-mile course with a four-car factory lineup with drivers who have accumulated 21 Le Mans podiums. The livery has the Mobil 1 logo across the sides and front of the blue and white Hypercar in the top class in endurance racing. Earlier this year, the Mobil 1 team announced an extension of its technical alliance with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), now making it the Official Motor Oil of Cadillac Racing. Continue reading →

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Autonomous Racing League Season 2 Opens at Yas Marina

Posted on 19 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) via Aspire today announced the return of its flagship event, the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL). The 2025 edition will take place on 15 November at Yas Marina Circuit with a $2.25 million prize pool and the launch of a global virtual racing series. The announcement was made during the Make it in the Emirates Forum in Abu Dhabi.

“The Emirates Autonomous Vehicle (EAV 24), A2RL’s upgraded autonomous racecar, represents a significant leap in performance and engineering. Assembled and autonomized in the UAE, the vehicle reflects the nation’s growing capabilities in AI, robotics, and high-performance mobility. Built on the proven Super Formula SF23 platform, the EAV-24 has been reengineered to incorporate enhanced sensor arrays, upgraded compute systems, and refined control logic, optimized for the demanding conditions of autonomous racing,” said Aspire. Continue reading →

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Rookie Robert Shwartzman in a Chevy on Indy 500 Pole

Posted on 19 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Robert Shwartzman posted  a four-lap average speed of 232.790 mph in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet during the Firestone Fast Six yesterday at the Indianapolis brickyard in Speedway Indiana. PREMA  joined the NTT IndyCar Series this season after years of success in European racing, became the first team to claim the 500 pole in its first attempt since Mayer Motor Racing with driver Tom Sneva took  the pole in 1984. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato (Honda) and Pato O’Ward (Chevrolet) will join Shwartzman on the front row for the 109th running of the race this Sunday 25 May.* Continue reading →

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Indy 500 Broadcast Local Delay Lifted for Fox

Posted on 16 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Penske Entertainment said today that the upcoming broadcast of the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will not have the usual broadcast delay for the first ever airing of the race on Fox Sports. Right now it appears that all reserved seating for Race Day will be sold out for the first time since the 100th edition of the race in 2016. Right now, a few tickets remain in the IMS grandstands, with a full reserved seating sellout likely to occur by the checkered flag for Monday’s practice and possibly before the end of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend, which starts tomorrow. Expanded coverage of the inaugural  Indy 500 on FOX starts on Sunday 25 May at 10 a.m. ET across the country, with the green flag drop  at ~12:45 p.m. ET.

“This year, the greatest race on Earth will host one of its biggest and most memorable crowds in many decades,” said Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles. “This is a terrific showcase for the NTT IndyCar Series and a great milestone to supercharge our relationship with FOX Sports. It is also absolutely a fitting tribute to the continued leadership and investment of Roger Penske.” Continue reading →

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