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5dollarpromo_160x600 Simcraft

February 2012

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M T W T F S S
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iRacing TV

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The Team

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  • David Phillips
    Editor and Chief
    David Phillips is a long-time contributor to print and electronic publications in the U.S. and abroad, including Racer, Autosport, AutoWeek, Motor Sport and SPEEDtv.com, oversees the daily updating of news stories and assigns, edits and contributes feature material for inRacingNews.com.
  • Chris Hall
    iRacing.com Series Writer
    Chris Hall has been writing since the nineties and moved into motorsports reporting in 2005, covering series such as ALMS, British GT, FIA GT, Le Mans and 2CV racing for Full Throttle magazine, Motorsport.com, The-Paddock.net, GTGateway.com, L' Endurance and, of course, inRacingNews. During 2008 and 2009, he worked with the RSS Performance Porsche Carrera Cup Team (and former British GT(C) champions) as a data engineer for a variety of drivers and models of 997s.
  • Jameson Spies
    Contributing Writer
    19 years old, Jameson Spies lives in Quartz Hill, California. He grew-up surrounded by racing. His mother raced late models throughout Southern California while his father built and setup the car. Not surprisingly, Jameson began racing go-karts at the age of 13, and is now racing Spec Trucks at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. He has a passion about all forms of racing and hopes to make a career out of it.
  • Jason Lofing
    iRacing.com Series Writer
    Jason is 21 years old and was born and raised in Elk Grove. California. A big time NASCAR fan, he hasn’t missed a race on Sunday in years. Lofing is also a huge San Fransisco Giants fan and tries to take in at least a couple games a year. Other than sim racing, his biggest (and far more expensive!) hobby is photography. Although he is rather new to sim racing, Lofing has already accomplished some pretty impressive results, qualifying for the 2011 iRacing Oval Pro Series in Season 1, 2011, winning the inaugural Landon Cassill Qualifying Challenge and finishing runner-up in the second one.
  • Ray Bryden
    Technical contributor
    Ray grew up in Nova Scotia, which means he’s a hockey nut, but in Nova Scotia’s two non-winter months he had to find other diversions, which meant watching F1 racing on weekends with his dad and brothers. Without the resources to get started in racing, he gravitated to computer versions of racing – first Atari games like Pole Position, followed by PC racing games like Indianapolis 500: The Simulation. Dozens of others came and went, until Grand Prix Legends came along and he decided sim-racing was his official hobby. Years were spent enjoying this both offline and online until a few years of fatherhood took priority. When free-time reappeared he heard about iRacing and signed up in 2008 and became so involved in the service that he wrote one of the first books on the subject of sim-racing, iRacing Paddock. When not writing for inRacingNews.com, his main occupation is as a research associate with Saint-Gobain working on advanced ceramic materials.
  • Patrick Atherton
    Contributing Writer
    Patrick Atherton, originally from Adelaide in the state of South Australia, currently resides just outside of Melbourne, Victoria with wife of 17 years and 3 kids. A business manager by profession, but also dabbles with blogging, cartooning and fine art, having been published both as a writer in a short-lived South Australian motorsport yearbook and later as a cartoonist in a niche trade magazine. At the age of 19 he competed in club circuit events in an Austin Healey Sprite, later indulging in sprint karts between 1994 and 2000. Following the move to the State of Victoria he raced Road Race Karts (“Superkarts” as they are known in Australia) in the popular Rotax class, competing at Phillip Island, Oran Park, Mallala, Wakefield Park, Eastern Creek, Calder Park, Sandown and Winton. It was during this time he met former Australian F2 champion and inventor of Australia’s first, and most prolific race simulator rig, Jon Crooke. This culminated in an introduction to Papyrus’ legendary NR2003 simulation, and the subsequent sim racing addiction which brought him to iRacing.
  • Tim Terry
    Contributing Writer
    Tim Terry, aka the voice of Maritime stock car racing, fell in love with sim racing in 2004 after he joined the Sim Racing Network crew as a pit reporter. From October 2004 to SRNtv’s closure in June 2007, he’s covered prestigious races and leagues such as the Online 500, FLM Fall 400, Real Racing Online and the DMP Racing League – each as the lead broadcaster for the company. At the same time the wheels started to turn in another direction as he began announcing stock car racing locally. Terry became the assistant announcer at Scotia Speedworld in May 2007 and took over full duties in May 2009 when long-time voice Mike Kaplan retired from the track. Terry also became the series voice of the Parts For Trucks Pro Stock Tour in ’09 and continues to hold down both posts in 2011. He has also announced races for the Pro All Stars Series, Atlantic Open Wheel and Maritime League of Legends tours and has called races at six different Atlantic Canadian tracks. Terry can be heard online at WebRacingNetwork.com, RLMtv.com and OLRtv.com covering sim races. He also makes occasional appearances on PSRtv.com. In addition to inRacingNews, his articles and columns can be read on ScotiaSpeedworld.ca, MaritimeProStockTour.com and his own website at timterryonline.com.
  • David Allen
    Contributing Writer
    North Carolina born and raised with over 15 years of computer/IT experience, I combine two of my biggest hobbies -- racing and technology -- here at inRacingNews. In my spare time I run a Nascar fan site and cure my own need for speed riding atvs. If it involves technology or racing I'll be there, but combine the two and I'll be looking a front row seat. Stop by and say hello anytime!
  • Allen Krier
    Contributing Writer
    Allen was born in West Palm Beach, Florida but grew up in Atlanta and attended Georgia College and State University where he received a BS in Information Systems. Currently a resident of Albany, GA, he started sim racing in 2008 while in college when iRacing was first released to the public. Since then, Krier has been a two time iRacing Pro Series driver (2009 and 2010), picking up one Pro Series win at Daytona in ‘09. Besides sim racing, Allen’s other hobbies include RC Car racing as well as “attending and watching any sporting event that I can including going to the local dirt track.

Sato seals Rahal IndyCar drive

February 3rd, 2012

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Sato seals Rahal IndyCar drive

Takuma Sato will lead Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s return to full-time racing in the IndyCar Series this year, the team has announced. The ex-Formula 1 racer has switched from KV Racing, where he has spent the past two seasons since joining the series at the start of 2010. “I’m very proud, motivated and excited to be chosen by Bobby [Rahal, team boss] to join his big project,” said Sato, who has two pole positions and a best finish of fourth in his IndyCar career

Barrichello extends IndyCar test

February 2nd, 2012

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Barrichello extends IndyCar test

Rubens Barrichello extended his maiden IndyCar test with KV Racing into a third day at Sebring on Wednesday. The 39-year-old Formula 1 veteran was scheduled to finish his running on Tuesday

Barrichello not ruling out Indy 500

February 1st, 2012

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Barrichello not ruling out Indy 500

Rubens Barrichello has hinted that he could enter the Indianapolis 500, despite having vowed in the past to never race on ovals. The most experienced driver in the history of Formula 1 was speaking after his second day of testing with IndyCar outfit KV Racing at Sebring on Tuesday. Prior to that test, Barrichello had always been adamant about refraining from oval racing

Barrichello keen on IndyCar move

January 31st, 2012

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Barrichello keen on IndyCar move

Rubens Barrichello is considering racing in the IndyCar Series following his maiden test run with KV Racing on Monday. The Formula 1 veteran completed 94 laps of the Sebring short course on the first day of a test, and he said that he now has to seriously consider if he wants to be on the grid for the IndyCar season opener in St Petersburg on March 25. “If you go purely from joy, it wouldn’t be a problem,” said the 39-year-old

Barrichello makes IndyCar test debut

January 30th, 2012

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Barrichello makes IndyCar test debut

Rubens Barrichello got his first taste of an Indycar at Sebring on Monday as the Brazilian began his two-day test programme with KV Racing. The F1 veteran, whose last hope of racing in Formula 1 this year was dashed when Williams opted to sign Bruno Senna instead, took up the invite to try out an Indycar after conversations with close friend Tony Kanaan. Barrichello has no commitments beyond this week’s outing, but told a Brazilian newspaper over the weekend that a switch to the category could be a possibility.

Briscoe: Three-car attack an advantage

January 30th, 2012

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Ryan Briscoe believes that Penske’s three-driver IndyCar team will give it an early advantage as the series introduces its new car package for this season. Teams have been permitted to carry out more testing this winter as they get up to speed with the Dallara DW12 chassis and new engines from Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus.

Coyne confirms Wilson’s return

January 26th, 2012

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Coyne confirms Wilson’s return

Justin Wilson’s long-expected return to Dale Coyne Racing for the 2012 IndyCar season has finally been confirmed. The Briton delivered Coyne’s first win at Watkins Glen in 2009, but left at the end of the year to spend two seasons with Dreyer & Reinbold. His return coincides with that of engineer Bill Pappas, who worked with him in his previous stint with the team.

Barrichello to test with KV Racing

January 26th, 2012

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Barrichello to test with KV Racing

Rubens Barrichello will test an IndyCar single-seater at Sebring next week as he explores his racing options for 2012. The Brazilian’s last chance to remain in Formula 1 ended last week when Williams announced that it was not renewing a deal with him, and instead opted to sign his compatriot Bruno Senna. But with Barrichello seemingly keen to continue racing, sources close to the Brazilian have confirmed that he is now seriously looking at options in IndyCar

Patrick rules out 2012 Indy 500

January 23rd, 2012

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Patrick rules out 2012 Indy 500

Danica Patrick has ruled out contesting the 2012 Indianapolis 500, but says she remains open to returning to IndyCar’s premier event in future seasons. When Patrick announced her full-time switch to NASCAR last year, she expressed a strong desire to still fit in the Indy 500 alongside her stock car programme.

Servia confident in Lotus engine

January 23rd, 2012

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Servia confident in Lotus engine

Oriol Servia says he has no concerns about Lotus’s IndyCar engine programme, despite the manufacturer running several months behind its rivals in terms of preparation. A Lotus-powered car hit the track for the first time just over a week ago, with Simona de Silvestro and HVM Racing undertaking the early test duties. Rival engine suppliers Chevrolet and Honda have been testing on track since late September last year.

Legge expected easier US return

January 20th, 2012

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Legge expected easier US return

US single-seater returnee Katherine Legge has admitted that she never expected to find it so hard to secure a full-time ride in IndyCar.

Lotus pleased with engine progress

January 19th, 2012

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Lotus pleased with engine progress

Lotus has declared itself pleased with the results of the first two tests of the engine that it will take into this year’s IndyCar season.

IndyCar sure of DW12′s oval pace

January 18th, 2012

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IndyCar sure of DW12′s oval pace

IndyCar officials believe that the new DW12 chassis can ‘easily’ reach similar speeds to its predecessor on ovals following a two-day windtunnel test last week.

Servia moves to Dreyer and Reinbold

January 17th, 2012

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Servia moves to Dreyer and Reinbold

Oriol Servia will move to Dreyer & Reinbold for the 2012 IndyCar Series season. The 37-year-old Spaniard finished fourth in last year’s standings with Newman/Haas – which subsequently closed its IndyCar operation – in his strongest year since taking the runner-up spot in the 2005 Champ Car World Series with the same squad.

Bourdais returns with Dragon Racing

January 12th, 2012

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Bourdais returns with Dragon Racing

Sebastien Bourdais and Katherine Legge will both make full-time returns to American single-seater racing this year after being announced as the drivers for Dragon Racing. The Jay Penske-owned team, which ran selected races last year with Paul Tracy and Ho-Pin Tung, will use Lotus engines. Claudio Berro, Group Lotus Director of Motorsport, said: “We are very pleased to be able to announce this new and exciting partnership with Dragon Racing today, a team which has demonstrated its potential and which we believe will achieve great success thanks to the Lotus IndyCar engine and the security of a major backer.” Bourdais, a four-time champion in Champ Car, made nine appearances with Dale Coyne Racing last season, but has not competed full-time in the US since joining Toro Rosso in Formula 1 in 2008, and then moving on to become a member of Peugeot’s sportscar line-up

Hinchcliffe secures Andretti seat

January 10th, 2012

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Hinchcliffe secures Andretti seat

James Hinchcliffe has been signed as Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick’s replacement in the Go Daddy-backed Andretti Autosport entry for the upcoming IndyCar season. Wheldon had originally secured a deal to take over the NASCAR-bound Patrick’s seat for 2012 on the morning of his fatal accident in last year’s season-finale at Las Vegas. Hinchcliffe told USA Today that taking the place originally earmarked for the Indy 500 winner was a huge responsibility

Tagliani joins Herta’s team

January 9th, 2012

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Tagliani joins Herta’s team

Alex Tagliani will race for Bryan Herta Autosport this year as the team expands to run a full-time IndyCar programme. Team boss Herta, whose outfit won the Indianapolis 500 with the late Dan Wheldon last year, had previously competed in selected races in collaboration with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, the squad for which Tagliani raced in 2011.

Barfield promises transparency

January 5th, 2012

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Barfield promises transparency

Newly-appointed IndyCar race director Beaux Barfield has promised clarity and transparency in the way that rules are applied in the series in future. Barfield, who was hired from a similar role with the ALMS to replace controversial series official Brian Barnhart, has been tasked with rewriting the rule book ahead of the new season, and will then be responsible for enforcing those rules at the races. He said that his aim was to make both the regulations and their application as clear as possible

Barfield named IndyCar race director

January 4th, 2012

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Barfield named IndyCar race director

IndyCar has appointed Beaux Barfield as its race director for the 2012 season. Barfield, who has served as race director of the American Le Mans Series since 2008, fills the role vacated by Brian Barnhart, who was removed in November 2011 after a series of controversial decisions during the season. Barfield previously worked as a Champ Car race steward from 2003 to 2008, and was also chief steward for the USF2000 National Championship for the two previous years.

Ganassi praises IndyCar chief

January 2nd, 2012

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Ganassi praises IndyCar chief

Champion IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi has praised the job done by series CEO Randy Bernard during a testing 2011 season. Bernard, had no previous motorsport experience when he was appointed to the role in early 2010, and was faced with challenges including Dan Wheldon’s death at Las Vegas, the introduction of a new car, engine and rules package, poor TV figures and near-constant criticism of former race director Brian Barnhart during the past 12 months. But Ganassi, who has won the past four series titles with Dario Franchitti (2009-2011) and Scott Dixon (2008), said that Bernard has learned to navigate motorsport politics quickly