‘Road to Indy,’ Clean and Green

Underachiever, Daly,
only won half of his races

The IZOD IndyCar Series’ ladder system, designed to help junior open-wheel talent successfully ascend through the lower formula to Indycars, will be on full display this week.

Thanks to multi-series competitors, Andersen Racing, the respective USF2000 and Star Mazda champs will have the chance to test the waters at the next level by lapping around legendary Sebring Raceway in Florida.

Sage Karam (USF2000) who, by the way, POUNDED his competitors by winning a mere 75% of the races run this season, will be testing a Star Mazda ride, while Conor Daly—fresh from a multi-week GP3 test across The Pond—will trade in his regular Star Mazda drive for Andersen’s Firestone Indy Lights car.

Props to Andersen, the respective series, and sponsors involved for making it happen. Cool to see champs rewarded for their accomplishments and get the opportunity to try and take it to the next level.

BONUS. Both of these young soldiers just happened to grow up saluting Old Glory, “so we’ve got that going for us... which is nice.”

Make the best of it, boys.

—JM

Strap on, F1, it’s GO TIME

Eddie, Danny, Mikey, and Speed... peculiar little amusements, no? Well, Formula One, the ol’ U.S. of A. is stripping off the red nose and oversized shoes, because we’re tired of looking like clowns.

That’s right. We’re done dickin’ around. It’s been three decades since the almighty Mario [angels softly sing out, “ahhhhhhh”] brought you to your knees, and it’s high time those snotty pukes you have spewing champagne all over Qatar, and the rest of creation, get some serious competition.

Yes, we’ve identified the threat and, no, they’ll be no names—you can just call him “O’Shaughnessy.” And there’s no need for a CV, either. Suffice it to say, O’Shaughnessy is napalm in Nomex, the WMD of motorsport, and Special Forces of formula cars all wrapped up into one barely-humanlike form. 

He’s a Levi’s wearin’, Marlboro smokin’, ‘Beam swillin’ sh*t storm of AWESOME, and he’s coming to a twisty near you.

O’Shaughnessy has already conducted reconnaissance at your beloved Monza and will be infiltrating your lower formula, posthaste.

For now, he’s in training: pulling coal cars out of the West Virginia mines—with his teeth—while only on respite from skinning Florida ‘gators—with his wheel-crushing bare hands.

How will you know when he has arrived? Oh, there will be no confusion. Look skyward. Behold the mushroom cloud, projectile vomit-inducing bright light, and unmistakable stain in Herr Vettel’s lederhosen. 

You have been warned, Formula One. He. Is. Coming. And may God help you... may the Almighty help you.  

Uhhh... we got this, Conor, right??

—JM

IndyCar Drivers Storm the 'Castle

Think you’re 171 days from seeing your favorite IndyCar drivers in action? Not so fast…

October 9th and 10th (that’s this weekend), former IndyCar driver Mark Dismore hosts the 2010 RoboPong 200 Presented by Bridgestone kart race at his totally awesome New Castle Motorsports Park.

IndyCar drivers scheduled to get back to their roots include: Ed Carpenter, Dan Wheldon, Graham Rahal, Will Power, Alex Tagliani, and [wait for it] Milka Duno—just to add that old familiar feeling.

Look for several Firestone Indy Lights upstarts, also, as well as my boy Conor Daly, 2010 Star Mazda Champion. 

Where else will you have the opportunity to see such racing superstars in this sort of setting? If you're lucky, maybe you can snag an autograph or quick pic, if you like.

Can’t make it in person? Thanks to RaceFanRadio.com, you can watch the LIVE stream from the comfort of your own castle.

Gonna be a long off-season—catch them while you can…

—JM