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Filed under: IRL, Danica Patrick

The joke goes -- in several variations -- that if former Professional Bull Riders CEO Randy Bernard can hang on more than 8-seconds in his new job as CEO of theIZOD IndyCar Series, he will have some serious potential.

He grabbed the IndyCar reins officially March 1 and gets his first true ride this weekend as the series opens Sunday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Loaded with Brazilian drivers, sponsored by many Brazilian companies in a country that adores auto racing, it's fair to say the IndyCar series will get a larger and warmer reception in Sao Paulo this weekend than at many other stops on its expanded 17-race schedule.

And that goes to the heart of Bernard's greatest and most pressing challenge: Promotion! Promotion! Promotion!

Now unified as the country's premier open-wheel circuit, the IZOD IndyCar Series has exciting racing, close finishes and the top championship dramas of any major racing series.

But it's the best racing show people aren't watching enough of.

 

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Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, IRL, Danica Patrick

All the speculation about Danica Patrick's future has both amused and frustrated her, she said Tuesday, a day after confirming she has re-signed a contract to stay in the IZOD IndyCar Series full-time for at least the next two years.

After months of managing rumor and playing coy, Patrick used New York City's Times Square to announce Monday that she signed a two-year deal with an option to remain with what is now Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series. But it's still NASCAR that everyone wants her to talk about.

Despite her new contract, Patrick has left open the door to a possible part-time foray into stock cars for the 2010 season. "I've made no mystery that I'm curious about NASCAR, '' said Patrick, the only woman to have won an IndyCar Series race. "We've been working on this and talking to people since the summer. We are serious about this. ... There's no contract and there's no deal right now, but as I said, if I could do both, I'd like to do that."

 

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Danica Patrick

INDIANAPOLIS -- The timing of the latest round of Danica Patrick-to-NASCAR reports isn't lost on those in the IndyCar world, where Thursday's major announcement that IZOD will be the IndyCar Series' first title sponsor in a decade has been forced to share headlines with its most famous driver's likely part-time foray into stock cars.

Recently crowned 2009 IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti -- a former Andretti Green Racing teammate of Patrick's -- said Thursday he's still confident she's staying in IndyCar next season.

"I believe she'll be back in IndyCar next year and that will help her with her goal of winning the Indianapolis 500,'' Franchitti told FanHouse. "If she does drive in NASCAR, I think it will be difficult to do both.''

Timing Crucial in Danica Patrick Move originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: IRL

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- It was as if Dario Franchitti never left.

The 36-year old Scot returned from a don't-look-back 2008 NASCAR experiment to reclaim the IndyCar Series championship trophy he took with him, sealing the deal on his second title Saturday night in nearly identical fashion to how he earned the first in 2007.

While Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe and Franchitti's Target Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon traded the race lead and led the most laps in the Indy 300 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Franchitti laid back in third position, saved just enough fuel and inherited the lead when Briscoe and Dixon was forced to pit for fuel in the waning laps of the series' first ever caution-free race.

Back from NASCAR: Franchitti Wins IndyCar Championship originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: IRL

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The Indy 300 -- the IndyCar Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway -- is Saturday. For the fourth consecutive season the last race on the schedule will decide the drivers championship.

New Zealander Scott Dixon leads his Target Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti by four points in the standings. Australian Ryan Briscoe, of Team Penske, is eight points behind Dixon. The three dominated the practice speed charts and will start in front of the grid today -- Franchitti on pole position, Dixon next to him and Briscoe on the second row.

The three men have accounted for 12 wins in 14 races and traded the championship lead 14 times. This is the second closest championship battle in the series history.

IndyCar Championship to be Decided in Saturday's Finale originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: IRL

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves stopped by for a live chat with FanHouse Friday, while he was track-side at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The former winner of the television hit Dancing With the Stars is ranked fourth in the IndyCar Series championship, which wraps up its season Saturday night.

Castroneves, who drives the No. 3 Team Penske entry, took your questions on everything from racing to dancing to whether he could ever see himself in NASCAR. Oh, and he also answered a question about Danica Patrick's phone number.

Check out what Helio had to say after the jump.

Helio Castroneves on Driving, Dancing and Danica's Digits originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: IRL

IndyCar Series championship contender Ryan Briscoe will join FanHouse for a live chat on Thursday at 11:30 AM ET.

Briscoe, 28, who drives the No. 6 car for Team Penske, is one of three drivers who will decide the IndyCar championship Saturday night in the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Only eight points separate third place Briscoe from leader Scott Dixon. Dario Franchitti is five points behind Dixon in the series' second closest three-man battle for the season title.

Join Briscoe as he takes your questions and discusses the biggest opportunity of his career in one of racing's most exciting championship scenarios.

Chat Live With IndyCar's Ryan Briscoe originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, IRL

Danica Patrick has signed a multi-year deal to stay in the IndyCar Series, according to a pair of published reports on Friday.

According to the Indianapolis Star and SI.com, Patrick signed a three-year contract extension with Andretti Green Racing (AGR). Patrick, nor the team, have confirmed the deal. There is nothing on her personal website addressing the situation.

"I think we'd all welcome her (to NASCAR), but I'm really happy for Michael (cousin Michael Andretti) and for his team,'' said NASCAR driver John Andretti. "That is great for them and maybe Danica can still try some of this stuff too and see what she thinks."

Reports: Danica Patrick Signs 3-Year IndyCar Extension originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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