By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
He never has parallel-parked a train, but for a generation of motorsports fans Mario Andretti truly is The Most Interesting Man in the World.
Consider these accomplishments:
– Only driver to win NASCAR’s Daytona 500 (1967), Indianapolis 500 (1969) and Formula One World Driving Championship (1978).
– Along with Phil Hill, only the [...]

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
RacinToday.com
There were a lot of people in the INDYCAR paddocks and grandstands who toasted the decision to replace Brian Barnhart with Beaux Barfield as the series’ top cop. There are less people now that are continuing to toast Barfield’s hiring.
In fact, there are some out there who want Barfield gone. [...]

Graham Rahal says an IZOD IndyCar Series road-race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway would only add to the “good vibe” generated during the traditional Month of May capped by the Indy 500.
“We’re all here for the Month of May anyways, so let’s put on another good show and give the fans something else to see,” said [...]

Simon Pagenaud became a two-time IZOD IndyCar Series race-winner Sunday when he won the Grand Prix of Baltimore street race.
In picking up the victory, and because many of the series’ top points earners ran into trouble in Baltimore, Pagenaud moved up to third in the season standings.
“The car was fantastic,” Pagenaud said. “We got very [...]

RacinToday.com
Scott Dixon earned the pole position for Sunday’s IZOD IndyCar Series race in the streets of Baltimore by blitzing the 2.04-mile, 12-turn street circuit in 1 minute, 18.0838 seconds on his final lap.
The Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver’s pole was his 19th.  It broke a tie with Danny Sullivan and Dixon is now tied with [...]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
With his 212th consecutive start on Sunday, Tony Kanaan officially will take his place as “Ironman” of the IZOD IndyCar Series. Coincidentally, the guy Kanaan will replace is working to make sure that Ripkenesque streak continues.
“I know there’s a lot of speculation out there about Tony’s status with KV, his [...]

Nine different drivers have won IZOD IndyCar Series races through the first 14 events of 2013. With the season rapidly winding down, four-time series champion Dario Franchitti is aiming to become the 10th today at Sonoma Raceway.
Franchitti will chase career victory No. 32 from pole position during the 85-lap GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma after [...]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Will Power says his winless IZOD IndyCar Series season is the product of a number of factors that have relegated him to wing-man for Team Penske teammate/point-leader Helio Castroneves.
Power sits 11th in the standings and 148 points behind Castroneves heading into Sunday’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma in California’s wine [...]

Fifteen drivers, including a pair making their IZOD IndyCar Series debuts, completed a one-day manufacturer/team test at Sonoma Raceway on Tuesday in preparation for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma Aug. 23-25.
Five-time American Le Mans Series champion Lucas Luhr, who will drive for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing in Sonoma, completed 10 laps around the 12-turn, [...]

A couple of thoughts and opinions after a fairly full weekend-plus of racing:
Let’s see; 1,550 pounds or so, up to 900 horsepower, slick dirt track surfaces, walls without SAFER barriers, 140 mph open wheel to open wheel, a couple dozen cars on tracks as small as a quarter mile, and, 30-lap features that demand making [...]