Robert's Takes
The racing of the day, the week and the month, from a fan's point of view. Newest first.
Kimi Antonelli Is Champion at 20. Will It Change Him?
Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 F1 title in Mexico City at 20. What the title settles, what it changes around him, and what to watch in 2027.
Best Seats at COTA: Grandstand and Paddock Club Guide (2026)
Where to sit at COTA for the 2026 US Grand Prix, Oct 22 to 25: every grandstand from Main to Turn 19, shade, views, 2026 face-value prices, and Paddock Club.
Where to Sit at Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500
A seat-by-seat guide to Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500: the frontstretch towers, how the egg-shaped oval changes the view, and how to plan the Labor Day weekend.
Where to Sit at the Daytona 500
A seat-by-seat guide to Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500: the rebuilt frontstretch grandstand, why you sit high at a superspeedway, and how to plan the week.
Where to Sit at the Las Vegas Grand Prix
A grandstand-by-grandstand guide to the Las Vegas Grand Prix: the Strip straight and start-finish, the Sphere backdrop, the heavy-braking zones, and why the cold decides your seat.
Where to Sit at the Rolex 24 at Daytona
Where to sit and where to watch the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The road course changes everything: grandstand, infield, and roaming, day and night, from someone on the ground.
Bristol Night Race: Where to Sit Under the Lights
Where to sit at the Bristol Night Race under the lights. Allison, Earnhardt, Kulwicki tower seating compared, plus the high-rim view that defines this venue.
Homestead Championship Sunday: What the Broadcast Doesn't Show
The broadcast covers four drivers at NASCAR Championship Weekend. The Homestead venue delivers a fifth race the cameras never show.
Hospitality Decoded: Premium Tiers Across Motorsport
Premium hospitality across F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and IMSA explained. Paddock Club, suites, terraces, infield access compared from a 27-year veteran.
Carb Day Is the Friday Most First-Timers Skip
Carb Day at the Indianapolis 500 is the Friday before the race. Final practice, Pit Stop Challenge, Snake Pit, and why first-timers shouldn't skip it.
Las Vegas Grand Prix: Balcony and Hotel Viewing
Strip-side hotel balconies, casino terraces, and rooftop viewing of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. How to choose hotel-side viewing for the Saturday night race.
Singapore Grand Prix Night Race: Heat and Humidity Realities
Singapore GP night race heat and humidity realities. What to expect at the Marina Bay circuit, how to handle the conditions, what to pack for the weekend.
Through the Night at the Rolex 24
What the Rolex 24 at Daytona is like in the middle of the night. The hours the broadcast skips and the rhythm that defines the race.
Triple Crown of Motorsport: Indy 500 + Monaco
The Triple Crown of Motorsport is the Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only one driver has ever won all three. Plan two.
What to Pack for the Indianapolis 500
A 27-year veteran's packing list for the Indianapolis 500. Memorial Day weather, sun protection, race-day essentials, what to leave at the hotel.
When Should I Book My 2027 Monaco Grand Prix Trip?
Monaco Grand Prix booking windows explained. When inventory tightens, what to book first, and the eighteen-month conversation for the 2027 race.
Where Are They Now: The 33 Dreams Tracking Format
33 Dreams of Indy tracks driver journeys through the Road to Indy ladder. The where-are-they-now format and what we have learned tracking these drivers.
Where Should I Stay for the 2027 Indianapolis 500?
Where to stay for the 2027 Indianapolis 500. Speedway-adjacent, downtown, airport corridor, Carmel zones compared from a 27-year veteran.
2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza: Race Week Preview
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza runs September 4-7. Tifosi, slipstream chicanes, parkland setting, the Ferrari home race. What to expect at race week.
Brickyard 400 at IMS: A NASCAR Cup Weekend Guide
Planning a 2026 Brickyard 400 trip from a 27-year IMS veteran. NASCAR Cup at the same speedway as the 500. Hotels, gates, weekend rhythm, what to expect.
How to Plan a Rolex 24 at Daytona Trip
Planning a 2027 Rolex 24 at Daytona trip. The 24-hour endurance race, where to stay, how to sleep, pit lane access, grid walk and Victory Lane.
2027 Indy 500 Hospitality Packages: What's Actually Included
2027 Indy 500 hospitality packages explained by a 27-year veteran. Pagoda Penthouse, Tower Terrace, Paddock Penthouse, Pit Road Terrace tiers compared.
Indy 500: Pagoda vs Tower Terrace vs Paddock Penthouse
Pagoda Penthouse, Tower Terrace Penthouse, Paddock Penthouse compared from 27 years inside the speedway. The three premium seats at the Indianapolis 500.
Is the Indianapolis 500 Worth the Trip?
Is the Indianapolis 500 worth the trip? Yes, and here is the full answer from a 27-year veteran. First-timers, families, F1 fans, NASCAR fans, weather, budget.
Rolex 24 vs Daytona 500: Which Daytona Trip Should You Book?
Rolex 24 or Daytona 500 in 2027? Same speedway, three weeks apart, two completely different weekends. A side-by-side from a motorsport veteran.
The Transistor Radio That Started 27 Years at the Indy 500
How a grandfather's transistor radio tuned to the IMS Radio Network broadcast became the foundation of twenty-seven years at the Indianapolis 500.
The transistor radio that started it all.
Race day is not the best day at the Indianapolis 500.
Monaco is not selling racing.
What Is F1 Paddock Club and What Does It Actually Include?
What F1 Paddock Club includes, what it costs, how it differs from Champions Club, and when it is worth it, explained plainly.
The 2027 Indianapolis 500 Buyer's Bible
Plan your 2027 Indianapolis 500 trip with a 27-year veteran. Where to stay, where to sit, which days, and how to spend the weekend.
Where Are They Now: Prescott Campbell at Williams F1
Prescott Campbell sat with 33 Dreams in 2019 chasing USF2000. Today he is a Structural Engineer at Atlassian Williams F1. Different door.
How to Plan a Miami Grand Prix Trip
Planning a Miami GP trip at the premium tier. South Beach hotels, Hard Rock Stadium, Paddock Club, the Florida and Caribbean extension.
How to Plan a United States Grand Prix Trip
Planning a United States Grand Prix trip at the premium tier. Austin hotels, COTA, [Paddock Club](/blog/f1-paddock-club-explained/), the Hill Country extension.
How to Plan a Las Vegas Grand Prix Trip
Planning a Las Vegas GP trip at the premium tier. Strip hotels, the Saturday night race, Paddock Club, balcony viewing, the American extension.
How to Plan a Monaco Grand Prix Trip
Planning a Monaco GP trip at the premium tier. Hotels, yacht hospitality, Paddock Club, helicopter transfers, the French Riviera extension.
How to Plan a Premium Formula 1 Trip
Premium Formula 1 travel planning. Paddock Club, hotel zones, race weekend rhythm, and the decisions a first-time premium F1 traveler faces.
How to Plan a Singapore Grand Prix Trip
Planning a Singapore GP trip at the premium tier. Marina Bay hotels, the night race rhythm, Paddock Club, the Southeast Asia extension.
How to Plan an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Trip
Planning an Abu Dhabi GP trip at the premium tier. Yas Island hotels, the season finale, Paddock Club, transfers, Dubai and beyond.
How to Plan an Italian Grand Prix Trip
Planning an Italian Grand Prix trip at Monza. Milan as base, Lake Como extension, Paddock Club, the tifosi atmosphere.
Gateway to the Last 7 Years
Seven years ago at World Wide Technology Raceway I covered my first IndyCar weekend as media. Kirkwood, Askew, Sting Ray Robb, Malukas.
Three Drivers You Will One Day Wish You Saw Race in Person
Lewis Hamilton, Alex Palou, Denny Hamlin. Three drivers you will one day wish you saw race in person. Why the window closes faster than you think.
Indy Is Life
Felix Rosenqvist. David Malukas. 0.0233 seconds. What the 110th Indianapolis 500 reminded me about why this place is unlike anything else.
Indy 500 Race Weekend 2027: Carb Day, Legends Day, Race Day
The 2027 Indy 500 race weekend day by day. Carb Day, Legends Day, race day, and what each day of a complete Indianapolis 500 weekend looks like.
Indy 500 Tickets and Seating: A Veteran's Guide for 2027
Indy 500 tickets and seating from Robert Earl, who has attended every Indianapolis 500 since 2000. Where to sit for the 2027 race.
Indianapolis 500 Hotels: Where to Stay for the 2027 Race
Where to stay for the 2027 Indianapolis 500. The four hotel zones around IMS, the trade-offs of each, and how the hotel choice shapes the trip.
He Was a Cool Guy
A conversation with Sebastian Wheldon at the Ocala Karting Grand Prix in 2017. He was almost nine years old and had his father's eyes.