SVG Rules, F1 Austria & more!
About this episode
With Kevin Harvick away racing, Will Buxton welcomes IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe to break down a wild weekend in motorsports. They dive deep into the F1 Austrian Grand Prix, analyzing George Russell's clever victory, Max Verstappen's charge through the field, and Ferrari's tire degradation struggles. The duo also previews the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone and highlights Shane van Gisbergen's road course masterclass at Sonoma, alongside updates from MotoGP and the 24 Hours of Spa.
Shane van Gisbergen
"If AJ Almondanger is our version of Tom Brady, right? SVG is in fact Patrick Mahomes."
An incredibly talented race car driver from New Zealand who shocked the American stock car world by winning his very first NASCAR race on the streets of Chicago. He is famous for his amazing car control and ability to win on twisty road courses.
A highly decorated New Zealand racing driver who won three Supercars Championship titles before transitioning to NASCAR. He made a historic debut by winning the inaugural Chicago Street Race in 2023, establishing himself as one of the premier road-course racers in stock car history.
Kevin Harvick
"Welcome to Speed with Harvick and Buxton, fuelled by poets. Except this week it's not Harvick and Buxton because Kevin went racing this weekend..."
A legendary American race car driver who won NASCAR's biggest championship in 2014 before retiring to become a TV commentator and podcast host.
The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and a future Hall of Famer who retired from full-time racing in 2023 with 60 Cup Series victories. He now co-hosts 'Speed' and works as a prominent television analyst, bringing decades of elite-level stock car experience to the microphone.
Sonoma Raceway
"...breakdown Shane Van Gidsberg and spectacular road course masterclass sweep at Sonoma."
A famous, twisty race track in California's wine country that features lots of steep hills and sharp turns, making it very difficult for heavy stock cars to race on.
A challenging 2.52-mile road course nestled in the hilly wine country of Northern California. Known for its dramatic elevation changes, off-camber turns, and lack of run-off areas, it is a staple of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
James Hinchcliffe
"Hello, my friend James Hinchcliffe. Hello, my brother. How are you doing?"
A friendly Canadian race car driver who raced in the high-speed IndyCar series for many years and now works as a popular TV commentator.
A popular Canadian former IndyCar driver who secured six career wins and the pole position for the 2016 Indianapolis 500. Following his retirement from full-time open-wheel racing, he transitioned into a prominent broadcast analyst role for IndyCar and F1.
George Russell
"George Russell took the win from Paul. But dude, there was an awful lot going on in Austria this weekend."
A fast British Formula 1 driver who races for the famous Mercedes team and is known for being incredibly quick in qualifying sessions.
A British Formula 1 driver racing for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team. A former Formula 2 Champion, Russell is highly regarded for his exceptional qualifying speed and precise racecraft.
regenerative braking
"Ultimately what that did do is it actually gave a little bit of recharge and regen. So when he came out of the next corner, turn 10, he actually made up most of the time..."
A clever system in modern race cars that captures the energy normally wasted when a driver steps on the brakes, turning it into electricity to give the car an extra speed boost later.
An energy recovery mechanism that slows a vehicle by converting its kinetic energy into electrical energy, which is then stored in a battery or capacitor. In modern hybrid racing series like Formula 1, this harvested energy is deployed to provide a significant horsepower boost.
tire degradation
"...when degradation was an issue, when it was very hot there as well. They just could not keep the tires under them."
How quickly a race car's tires wear out and lose their grip as they get hot and rub against the track. When tires wear down too much, the car slides around and goes slower.
The physical wear and thermal decline of a racing tire's rubber compound over a stint, resulting in a progressive loss of grip and slower lap times. Managing 'deg' is a critical strategic element in motorsport, dictating pit stop timing and driving style.
Silverstone Circuit
"Next up mate is Silverstone. This weekend, you won't be there. I won't be there, despite the fact that it's literally five minutes down the road..."
A historic and incredibly fast race track in England where the very first Formula 1 race was held in 1950. It is famous for its sweeping, high-speed corners.
A legendary, high-speed racing circuit in Northamptonshire, England, widely considered the birthplace of the Formula 1 World Championship. It is famous for iconic, fast corners like Copse, Maggots, and Becketts that test a car's aerodynamic downforce.
Red Bull Ring
"...was mentioned as already having a Formula one seat in the run up to the Austrian Grand Prix weekend at Racing Bulls... Anyway, multiple performance at the Red Bull Ring secured his fourth win..."
A beautiful, short race track located in the mountains of Austria, known for having long straightaways where cars can easily pass each other.
A short, picturesque racing circuit located in the Styrian mountains of Spielberg, Austria. Owned by the energy drink giant Red Bull, the track features dramatic elevation changes and three long straights ending in heavy braking zones, promoting frequent overtaking.
Trackhouse Racing
"Because obviously he's, you know, he's slipped off in the championship standings and the fight for the chase at the end of the year. But when you get to road and street courses, the focus is always on him and rightfully so."
A modern and popular race team co-owned by the musician Pitbull. They race in both NASCAR and motorcycle racing, and are known for bringing in famous drivers from all over the world.
An innovative American motorsports team competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and MotoGP, co-owned by Justin Marks and international music star Pitbull. The team is known for its disruptive marketing, global driver initiatives like Project 91, and rapid rise to competitiveness.
stock car
"It's just instrumental in how to drive a race car on a road course, especially a stock car, right?"
A heavy, powerful race car built from scratch with a steel safety cage and a loud V8 engine, designed to look like a normal sedan you might see on the street.
A purpose-built racing vehicle designed to resemble a standard production sedan but constructed with a tubular steel spaceframe chassis and a silhouette body. Primarily used in NASCAR, these heavy cars rely on powerful V8 engines and mechanical grip rather than complex aerodynamics.
silly season
"There is no real news this week in IndyCar, save for the fact that silly season has been kicked into overdrive because it was confirmed that Felix Rosenquist will be leaving Maya Shank Racing."
The time of year when race car drivers start signing new contracts, switching to different teams, and sparking lots of rumors about who will drive where next year.
A motorsports term describing the period of the year—typically during the summer and autumn—characterized by intense speculation, rumors, and negotiations regarding driver transfers, contract renewals, and team lineup changes for the upcoming season.
Meyer Shank Racing
"...save for the fact that silly season has been kicked into overdrive because it was confirmed that Felix Rosenquist will be leaving Maya Shank Racing."
A successful American race team that competes in both IndyCar and sports car racing, famous for winning the legendary Indy 500 race in 2021.
An American auto racing organization competing in the IndyCar Series and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The team achieved historic success by winning the 2021 Indianapolis 500 with Helio Castroneves and multiple IMSA sports car titles.
Scott Dixon
"But last week we spoke about Scott Dixon and might Scott Dixon be about to leave Chip Ganassi Racing as incredible and incredulous as that sounds."
One of the greatest race car drivers of all time, who has won the IndyCar championship six times and is famous for his incredible ability to save fuel and win races from almost anywhere on the grid.
A legendary New Zealand racing driver who is a six-time IndyCar Series Champion and the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner. Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, Dixon is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most consistent open-wheel drivers in motorsport history.
Chip Ganassi Racing
"But last week we spoke about Scott Dixon and might Scott Dixon be about to leave Chip Ganassi Racing as incredible and incredulous as that sounds."
A powerhouse American race team that has won many championships in IndyCar and sports car racing over the last few decades.
One of the most successful and dominant teams in American open-wheel and sports car racing history. Founded by former driver Chip Ganassi, the team has secured numerous IndyCar championships and Indianapolis 500 victories.
Watkins Glen International
"Right, Imsa now and the six hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen, which hosted a chaotic and action-packed running..."
A famous, very fast race track in New York State that has hosted some of the biggest racing events in America for over 70 years.
A historic, high-speed road course located in upstate New York, affectionately known as 'The Glen.' It features sweeping, high-grip corners and has hosted major racing series including Formula 1, NASCAR, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Porsche 911 GT3 R
"...as Fella, Praning and Boos drove the number 80 Porsche 911 GT3R to an incredible overall victory after starting the race, believe it or not, from the pit lane."
A special, race-only version of the famous Porsche 911 built specifically for professional sports car racing. It has a loud, powerful engine in the back and huge wings to help it grip the track at high speeds.
A track-only customer race car built by Porsche for global GT3-class sports car racing, based on the 992-generation 911 road car. It features a rear-mounted naturally aspirated 4.2-liter flat-six engine and highly advanced aerodynamics designed for endurance racing.
Toyota GR Supra
"Over in funny car, team owner Ron Capps parked his Toyota GR Supra in the winner's circle, defeating Jack Beckman..."
A modern two-door sports car built by Toyota in partnership with BMW. It is famous for being fast, fun to drive, and highly popular among car customizers.
A front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car co-developed by Toyota and BMW, reviving a legendary nameplate for its fifth generation (A90). It is powered by a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, delivering sharp handling and strong aftermarket tuning potential.
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