Next time you want free parking have Marco Andretti break the gate for you. (photo credit: Lehigh Valley Live)

Oh yay, Marco Andretti is in the news today and I must defend him.  Why?

Well, because I love him and he’s adorable as idiotic as he may seem at times.

Today is no exception to the rule out of Lehigh Valley, PA as it was revealed this morning that IndyCar driver (and hottie) Marco Andretti broke a city parking garage gate instead of paying parking dues late Thursday night.

According to police reports, the incident was reported as a “theft” and employees at the district judge’s office said no charges had been filed against Andretti.

The incident caused $1,000 worth of damage to the parking garage’s electronic payment system when the gate was broken which had just been installed last month according to news reports. 

Marco is no stranger to driving violations as he’s been cited prior in 2005, 2005 and 2009 for failing to abide traffic signals and was even cited for driving the wrong way on the road AND driving down the sidewalk in 2005.

Way to go, Marco.  I still love you, honey.

Want some good vibrations in the form of racing news? Join Lipstick and Lugnuts!

Good morning, fans!  Looks like we all survived another Monday, not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing but it’s good for you because that means you get to catch up on your racing news with me!

Nothing overly major in the news this week as we’re focused on the last two races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup but we have updates on Kyle Busch, Rick Hendrick and Jeremy Mayfield.

We also have IndyCar news as well today in the form of a race being held in Dan Wheldon’s honor and some big name drivers participating along with news about Andretti AutoSport as well.

So stick around because I’m sending good vibrations your way in the form of news in the world of racing that we all know and love.

» Continue reading “Garage Gossip: Kyle’s Warning, Dan’s Memorial Race & Jeremy’s Charges”

Ed Carpenter bests Dario Franchitti by a nose for his first win.

Race Fans, I have tears streaming down my face.  Lots and lots of tears.  Yes, I already knew the results of this race, but it didn’t stop me from feeling all the emotions that racing has to offer when watching it.  So, excuse me for just a moment while I lose my head and just be a fan.

OMG!  ED CARPENTER WON HIS FIRST RACE BY 0.0098 SECONDS OVER DARIO FRANCHITTI!  SARAH FISHER RACING TO VICTORY LANE FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!

I’m better now.  *deepbreath*

» Continue reading “IZOD IndyCar- The Cherries For One, The Pits For All The Rest”

Um, I hope this makes you want to watch racing. If not, you must have no pulse. (photo courtesy of www.indycar.com)

Okay, so I’m not going to lie:  I’ve been very excited about writing on Marco Andretti’s career.  He’s an amazing, young driver with so much talent and racing background that it’s only fitting we feature him this week coming fresh off his win at Iowa Speedway on June 25, 2011.  I’ll also be honest and tell you it’s so hard NOT to stare at him when you see him as well. 

Not only does he come from a long line of racing family tradition, he’s got the goods to back it up.  So many times you see children of drivers trying to make it big in racing only to fall short in utter failure.  I won’t name names but there are a few out there and Marco is NOT one of them.

Just for giggles, here are some of his famous, overly talented racing family members:  Mario Andretti (Marco’s grandfather), Michael Andretti (Marco’s dad), John Andretti (Marco’s cousin), Aldo Andretti (Marco’s great uncle), Adam Andretti (Marco’s cousin) and Jeff Andretti (Marco’s uncle). 

So as you can see, racing has ALWAYS ran deep in the Andretti family and Marco is carrying the torch through to the next generation in style.  But most of all, he’s doing it successfully.  Let’s take a look and get to know Marco a little bit more, find out how this young gun got his start in racing and how he’s done so well so quickly.

» Continue reading “In the Spotlight: IndyCar driver (and hottie) Marco Andretti”

Aaaand, it's Monday, kids. You know what that means....

Respect is a word that has been tossed about quite freely this weekend in racing.  I’m sure that Max Papis and Brian Scott wish that Jacques Villeneuve had it before he stupidly pulled the bonsai move in the grass that wrecked them.  Tony Stewart seems to think that no one gives it and he should command it.  Just as fast as Ron Fellows lost my respect for trying to steal the win, Tony Kanaan gained it for being a great sport.

So, who or what decides the level of respect given to a driver?

» Continue reading “Motormouth Monday: Some Cheese with that Whine?”

What a fight to the finish! Congrats, Marco, on snapping that winless streak!

I started my love of racing as an open-wheel fan.  I have found myself more affiliated with NASCAR in the past ten years, but the IndyCar series always holds a special place in my heart.  The race Saturday night at Iowa Speedway is the perfect reminder of why race fans need to watch IndyCar for more than just the Indianapolis 500.

» Continue reading “IZOD IndyCar Series: Things That Go Bump in the Night”

So word is there’s some kind of race going on in Indiana tomorrow they’ve been doing for the past hundred years, I guess. So I thought I’d get in my car (my best friend’s actually) and head down there to see what the big stink is about. Actually, I can’t be more excited to be heading down to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 tomorrow for the first time in about fifteen years.

Let’s take a look at what will make this day a special day to remember in racing not only because it’s the 100^th anniversary of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” but because it’s Indianapolis. What more is there on Memorial Day weekend?

» Continue reading “Centennial Sweetness: 100th Indianapolis 500 Preview”

So what happens when owners strike deals between each other behind closed doors? Bruno Junqueira loses his Indy 500 ride (not by choice), Ryan Hunter-Reay is handed a spot in the most coveted race in all of motorsports and he (understandably) and his boss (who initiated the deal) are both pissed.

Here’s what went down just TWO days ago on Monday – observe:

Bruno Junqueira qualified the car 19th on Bump Day Sunday for the Indianapolis 500 in the A.J. Foyt Racing #41 car. This is totally acceptable and legit. Yay, for Bruno.

On the other hand, Hunter-Reay was “bumped” from the field in the same day by teammate Marco Andretti which gave him no time or chance to fight back because Bump Day ran out of time. In a nutshell, Ryan ran out of luck and time all in one shot. Too bad, that’s life.

» Continue reading “Why the Indianapolis 500 really hates Michael Andretti…”

What better way to end Indianapolis 500 Bump Day than with a little bit of drama. C’mon, this is the 100th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, right? Let’s take a look at what happened in Indy today.

For starters, the weather was a constant pain in the neck today. Rain off, rain on. Track dry, track wet. Will Bump Day ever end? Maybe, maybe not. Well, it did. The track was finally dried after what seemed like the millionth time and Bump Day 2011 was finally finished and in the books. » Continue reading “Bump Day Insanity: Four female drivers make 100th Indy 500″