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Knoxville Raceway Announces 2013 Schedule

Get psyched for the 2013 at the Sprit Car Capital of the World. Couple dates to note: Saturday night, June 22 is the Saturday before the IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway. DUDE, if you are in town for the IndyCar race, you gotta go to Knoxville for their regular Saturday night program. $15 to walk in (less for kids up to age 19) and $3 beer. DO IT.

Second, Aug. 7 through 10 is Knoxville Nationals. Breath into a bag. News release and full schedule below.

Marshall Pruett, Sam Schmidt, Brandon Igdalsky Headline Trackside Tonight

"Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee" airs tonight (Jan. 29) from 7-9 pm eastern on 1070 The Fan (WFNI-AM) in Indianapolis and via the internet at www.1070TheFan.com and through the 1070 The Fan app on mobile phones.

Listen for a recap of the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona, the latest news and rumors from IndyCar and more.

Guests include Marshall Pruett of SpeedTV.com, IndyCar team owner Sam Schmidt on the expansion of his team, and Pocono Raceway President Brandon Igdalsky.

Questions, comments and topic suggestions are encouraged at [email protected] or via Twitter at @KevinLee23. A podcast will be available at www.1070TheFan.com/Trackside or via iTunes.

Also, the annual "Blogger Night" is next week - Thursday February 7th from 8-10 pm.  IndyCar bloggers interested in participating need only to send an email to [email protected].

Cyndie Allemann Set to Make TV Hosting Debut

Woman of pressdog® Cyndie Allemann will make her TV hosting debut on March 7. News release below. For more on Cyndie, check out my previous interview here.

First TV experience for auto racing star Cyndie Allemann

Bremgarten, Switzerland, January 25 2013 – Fresh off her Japanese Super GT season in 2012, and already working on future racing programs, 26-year-old Swiss race car driver Cyndie Allemann is continuing her busy schedule. She has been working on a project that will see her make her an appearance as a television show host in early March. The show (in German language) is called “Auftrag Auto” and will be presented on German TV channel SPORT1 starting Thursday March 7^th. A new show will be presented every Thursday.

Uncle pressdog's Fireside Chat -- Beau Barfield Large Attachments Edition

Welcome, homeys. Pull up a beverage. I'm having Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (or five). American Pale Ale, a category invented by, well, Americans, because we're CRAZY. Unpredictable. WHACKY rule breakers.

Speaking of, check out IndyCar's chief rule maker, Beaux Barfield. O. M. G. Beaux is tweaking the rules. Snapping necks and cashing checks. And then just announcing the new rules, like "What do you think of me now, BITCHES? Standing starts ... DEAL WITH IT."

IndyCar Announces Rules Changes

I will likely emote on some of these later, but for now, here's the news release ...

INDYCAR RELEASES 2013 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES RULEBOOK

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013) - The sporting and technical regulations that comprise the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook were released to teams today by INDYCAR.

"In 2012, the IZOD IndyCar Series saw an exciting season with an all-time high level of competition between our teams," said Beaux Barfield, Race Director, IZOD IndyCar Series. "For 2013, we have adjusted processes and regulations throughout the rulebook to build on last year's successful introduction of a new car and engine package. In addition to enhancing the on-track competition and producing rules consistency, the 2013 rulebook is focused on changes that will make the sport easier to follow for our competitors and fans."

IndyCar Changes Should Help The Show

I found two press releases from IndyCar issued yesterday highly encouraging. Both releases are below. The first changed the distances of some races to decrease (notice, "decrease" is not the same as "eliminate") the Festival of Fuel Saving that occurs at some road and street races.

Trackside Jan. 17 with Parnelli Jones and Townsend Bell

"Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee" returns from its holiday hiatus tonight (Jan 17) from 8-10 pm eastern on 1070 The Fan (WFNI-AM) in Indianapolis and via the internet at www.1070TheFan.com and through the 1070 The Fan app on mobile phones.

1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones will be in studio!  Plus, 500 veteran and NBC Sports Network announcer Townsend Bell shares his thoughts on what's needed for IndyCar to thrive and his unlikely path to racing.  Plus, the latest news and rumors including an effort to get a handle on what the driver lineup will look like and the most recent adjustment in management at IndyCar and IMS.

Questions, comments and topic suggestions are encouraged at [email protected] or via Twitter at @KevinLee23. A podcast will be available at www.1070TheFan.com/Trackside or via iTunes.

IndyCar Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay Talks about Success of 2012, Challenges of 2013

Ryan Hunter-Reay's charge to the 2012 IndyCar championship included three wins in a row -- Milwaukee, Iowa and Toronto --  another win at Baltimore and a white-knucke finish at Fontana.

Read for RHR's comments on how he really started feeling the pressure after rival Will Power hit the wall in Fontana, life as a new father, his realtionship with the Indy 500, how the DW12 went from "not the prettiest girl at the dance" to a grade of "A" in 2012, the state of IndyCar and more.

Thanks large to fans who sent in questions for RHR, which are answered below. Thanks also to Andretti Autosport's Ryann Rigsby for rigging the interview.

Questions for Ryan Hunter-Reay? Post Them in the Comments Section

I'm queued up to talk to 2012 IndyCar Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay at 2:30 p.m. Central Tuesday (Jan. 15). Got a question for RHR? Post it in the comments section and I'll try to work a few into our Q&A.