IndyCar News

With nearly four months having passed since the final chequered flag of the 2008 season, those with confirmed or anticipated drives in this year's IndyCar Series are counting the days to the time they can get back behind the wheel.

Tampa real estate tycoon Jamie Rand has revealed that he has purchased the entire inventory of an undisclosed race team with an eye toward competing in the 2009 Cooper Tires presents The Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda.

Former Toyota Atlantic standout and race winner Tony Ave has revealed that he is considering a return to the category in 2009, and would be doing so with his own team.

After her widely appreciated debut in 2008, Danica Patrick once again graces the pages of the famous Sports Illustrated magazine swimsuit edition although, this year, she swaps sandy beaches for a silver Shelby Cobra 427 and New York studio.

Davey Hamilton is far from ready to give up on his own on-track career, but has taken the first step towards keeping himself involved in racing once the day finally comes to hang up his helmet.

Helio Castroneves insists that he would be ready to jump back into the cockpit of his #3 Team Penske entry at any point should the outcome of his pending tax evasion trial go in his favour.

Sarah Fisher expects to be back at the Indianapolis 500 this season, having done enough to convince sometime 2008 sponsor Dollar General to back her, not only for the blue riband event, but also three others on the forthcoming IndyCar Series schedule.

Penske Racing has confirmed speculation that it had chosen former KV Racing Technology driver Will Power as its replacement for Helio Castroneves, at least in preparation for the forthcoming season.

Guthrie Meyer Racing has announced the signing of British driver Ali Jackson for the 2009 Indy Lights season.

IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon has been honoured by the British Racing Drivers' Club as the recipient of the 2008 Bruce McLaren Trophy.

Conquest Racing driver Alex Tagliani took a podium finish alongside sportscar racer Joey Hand and Gatorz sunglasses owner Kerry Lynch in an end of season endurance karting event held at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Formula One's decision to end its relationship with the city of Montreal could open the door for the IndyCar Series to take up residence at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Walker Racing looks set to appear in the Firestone Indy Lights series before too long, having been tabbed by an ambitious talent spotting programme to provide the basis for driver development.

Atlantic Championship runner-up Jonathan Bomarito may be poised to spearhead an influx of runners to the Firestone Indy Lights series after enjoying a successful first outing with the RLR/Andersen team at Sebring.

With little opportunity apparently on the horizon in either the Indy Racing League or NASCAR ranks for 2009, Paul Tracy could be looking to the Middle East for a regular fix of motorsport action.

Team Australian co-owner Craig Gore has rubbished reports claiming that he has decided to turn his back on motorsport following recent emergency surgery, insisting that what he considered to be a private conversation has been taken out of context.

The future of the Formula Atlantic category has been assured following an outstanding 35th anniversary season with the confirmation that Atlanta-based businessman Ben Johnston had purchased Atlantic Racing Series LLC from Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe.

The teaming-up of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti at Target Chip Ganassi Racing in the 2009 IndyCar Series will see the pairing 'bring out the best in each other' and has the potential to become the most successful partnership in the history of the multiple championship-winning outfit.

RLR/Andersen Racing has announced that its two-car Firestone Indy Lights team will relocate to Rahal Letterman Racing's IndyCar headquarters in Ohio, bringing the two operations closer together.

Dario Franchitti admits that a lack of championship points at the Nikon Indy 300 could lead to a better race for fans, and has said that it is a race that all drivers will want to win despite its non-championship status.

The crash helmet featuring a design based on the films of the late Paul Newman has raised nearly $41,000 for a charity close to the actor's heart after a successful internet auction closed this week.

Possibly the strongest field ever assembled for the streets of Surfers Paradise has been confirmed for next weekend's Nikon Indy 300, with all of the IndyCar Series' familiar faces making the trip 'down under'.

The quest for the 2008 IndyCar Series championship was one of the most difficult in series history, something that Indy Racing League president of competition and operations Brian Barnhart puts down, in part, to the unification of US open-wheel motorsport.

The drivers, teams, partners and officials of the Formula Atlantic Championship have gather at the Chateau ?lan in Braselton to pay tribute to the 2008 season at the annual end of season awards banquet.