Podcast
Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy
Hosted by RACER Podcasts · EN
”Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy” is an interview show hosted by IndyCar champion Paul Tracy. With 31 career victories and a reputation for intensity both on and off the track, Tracy brings his signature no-holds-barred approach as he sits down with top names from motorsports and beyond, pulling back the curtain on the moments fans never got to hear – until now. Each episode delivers insider access and candor that only a racer like Tracy can provide, exploring the sport’s past, present, and future with his trademark candor and curiosity.
21episodes
Episodes
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Stefan Johansson on Senna, Ferrari, and the Wildest Era of Formula 1 | Racers Unchained
2d ago00:44:37Tap to summarizeStefan Johansson joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most fascinating careers in motorsport. From racing in Formula 1 alongside legends like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda and Gilles Villeneuve’s era, to winning at Le Mans and competing at the sharp end of IndyCar, Johansson reflects on the moments that shaped his journey through the sport’s most dangerous and innovative years. In this episode, Johansson shares what it was really like to race in the turbo era, when Formula 1 cars were producing staggering horsepower and qualifying laps felt almost out of control. He also tells the story of how he got the call to drive for Ferrari, what he learned from being Senna’s teammate at Toleman, and why that generation of racing still stands apart for its freedom, intensity, and raw speed. It’s a deep dive into F1 in the 1980s, Ferrari politics, legendary teammates, and a career that stretched across Formula 1, sports cars, and IndyCar. #StefanJohansson #Formula1 #F1 #Ferrari #AyrtonSenna #LeMans #IndyCar #Motorsport #PaulTracy #RacersUnchained
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Romain Grosjean: Chasing Speed, and Starting Over | Racers Unchained
2w ago00:44:35Tap to summarizeRomain Grosjean joins Racers Unchained for an open and candid conversation about one of the most extraordinary careers in modern motorsport. From dominating the junior ranks on his way to Formula 1 to rebuilding his career after setbacks, Grosjean reflects on the victories, disappointments, and defining moments that shaped him as a driver. The discussion revisits the horrific Bahrain crash that nearly took his life and the split-second decisions that helped him escape the flames. Grosjean shares what he remembers from those 28 seconds inside the fire, the role the Halo played in his survival, and how the experience changed his perspective on racing and life. #RomainGrosjean #Formula1 #F1 #PaulTracy #IndyCar #Motorsport #Racing #BahrainGP #Motorsports #RACERPodcast
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Mark Blundell: From Formula 1 to Le Mans — The Untold Stories Behind a Wild Racing Career | Racers Unchained
Jun 100:44:32Tap to summarizeMark Blundell joins Racers Unchained for a fast-moving conversation covering the highs, risks, and realities of life at the top levels of motorsport. From battling through the Formula 1 paddock in the 1990s to winning at Le Mans and racing in IndyCar, Blundell shares stories from an era when drivers pushed the limits every weekend and personalities were just as big as the machinery. He reflects on racing against legends, adapting across multiple disciplines, and what it took to survive in one of motorsport’s toughest generations. The episode also dives into the business side of racing, the politics behind driver careers, and the moments that shaped Blundell both inside and outside the cockpit. With firsthand insight into F1 team dynamics, endurance racing strategy, and the evolution of modern motorsport, this conversation delivers a candid look at a career built on resilience, speed, and experience. Whether you're a longtime Formula 1 fan or love hearing untold stories from racing’s golden era, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. #MarkBlundell #PaulTracy #Formula1 #f1 #LeMans #IndyCar #motorsport #sportscars #RacersUnchained
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Simon Pagenaud from Small-Town France to Indy 500 Glory | Racers Unchained
May 1800:44:36Tap to summarizeSimon Pagenaud joins Racers Unchained for a raw conversation about the moments that shaped his career — from terrifying crashes and career-defining pressure to leaving France behind in pursuit of a future in racing. Simon reflects on the accident he barely remembers, the sacrifices it took to keep climbing the motorsports ladder, and how close he came to walking away from racing entirely. The Indy 500 winner and IndyCar champion also shares stories from his early years growing up in a small French town, idolizing Ayrton Senna, and trying to break into Formula 1 without money or connections. He talks openly about learning hard lessons in Europe, getting help from Sébastien Bourdais, and arriving in America with everything riding on a single Formula Atlantic season. This episode is packed with insight into the mindset, discipline, and resilience it takes to survive at the highest levels of motorsport. #SimonPagenaud #RacersUnchained #IndyCar #Indy500 #Motorsports #RACERPodcast #FormulaAtlantic #Daytona24 #PaulTracy #IMSA
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From Red Bull to Roulette: Robert Doornbos’ Wild Vegas Debut | Racers Unchained
May 400:44:31Tap to summarizeHe Was Beating Vettel's Lap Times. Then It All Fell Apart — Robert Doornbos | Racers Unchained He went from tennis prodigy to Formula One in four years. Then Sebastian Vettel took his seat. Robert Doornbos joins Paul Tracy on Racers Unchained for one of the most fascinating career stories in motorsport — from a chance lunch with Jacques Villeneuve at the Belgian Grand Prix that changed everything, to racing alongside Vettel at Red Bull, to the €10 million lawsuit that ultimately derailed one of IndyCar's most exciting careers. Oh, and somewhere in the middle of all of it, he won $36,000 at a roulette table in Las Vegas on his first night in the city — and spent every cent before the sun came up. Bobby D covers it all: the Red Bull junior program's ruthless culture, learning ovals from Ari Luyendyk at Indianapolis, his daughter's cancer battle, and why he now calls Dubai home. This one's got everything. Check out racer.com/bundle for an exclusive RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer_network/ Follow host Paul Tracy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial/
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Derek Daly: The Wild Sebring Story, F1 in 14 Months, and Racing on the Edge
Apr 2000:44:27Tap to summarizeDerek Daly joins Racers Unchained and wastes no time getting into one of the most unbelievable stories in motorsport history—how he managed to finish both first and second in the same 12 Hours of Sebring. From brutal endurance stints in 1,000-horsepower machines with no power steering to pushing through exhaustion and heat, Daly walks through the kind of racing that simply doesn’t exist anymore. It’s raw, physical, and at times downright dangerous. But Daly’s journey is just as remarkable as his race results. Growing up in Ireland and starting from humble beginnings, he climbed from Formula Ford to Formula 1 in just 14 months—a rise that still feels almost impossible today. Along the way, he shares stories of risk, resilience, and the moments that defined his career, including terrifying crashes and the reality of racing at the limit. This episode is packed with insight, perspective, and the kind of firsthand experience that only comes from living it. #DerekDaly #RacersUnchained #Motorsports #Formula1 #IndyCar #Sebring12Hours #RacingLegends #IMSA #Racing
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Marco Andretti on Risk, Grip, and Walking Away: Why Racing Still Pulls Him Back | Racers Unchained
Apr 200:49:33Tap to summarizePaul Tracy sits down with Marco Andretti. Marco opens up about the fine line between control and chaos behind the wheel, breaking down the split-second decisions that define a driver. From gambling on slicks in unpredictable weather to explaining why too much grip can be more dangerous than not enough, Marco gives a raw, technical look at what drivers actually feel in the car—and why “predictability” matters more than outright speed. It’s an inside-the-cockpit perspective you don’t usually hear, where instinct, experience, and risk all collide. The conversation goes deeper as Marco reflects on a career that spans nearly every discipline in motorsports—IndyCar, stock cars, prototypes, and even Formula 1 testing. He talks candidly about expectations, missed opportunities, and the reality of growing up in one of racing’s most iconic families. Now stepping away from full-time competition, Marco shares what led to that decision, the pressures that come with the sport, and why the pull to race never really goes away. This is a grounded, honest look at a driver rediscovering the pure love of racing—on his own terms. #MarcoAndretti #RacersUnchained #IndyCar #Motorsports #RacingLife #Indy500 #PaulTracy #RACERPodcast
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Mika Salo: Racing Through a Collapsed Lung and Still Landing on the Podium | Racers Unchained
Mar 1900:46:57Tap to summarizeMika Salo joins Racers Unchained and proves just how far a driver will go to compete. On race day in Miami, Salo was driving down from Fort Lauderdale when his lung collapsed—a recurring issue that had followed him since his Formula 3000 days in Japan. Struggling to breathe and unsure if he could even start, he made the call to race anyway. The result? A podium finish. From freezing winters in Finland to wheel-to-wheel battles across Formula 1, sports cars, and beyond, Salo reflects on a career that spans nearly every discipline in motorsport. He shares stories from his early karting days—starting at just five years old—through dominating Finnish and Scandinavian championships, to his rivalry with fellow Finn Mika Häkkinen as they climbed the ranks in Formula Ford and British F3. The conversation covers the realities of racing before the internet era, the challenges of losing a full year to military service, and the pivotal decision to race in Japan during a time when it was packed with top-tier talent. Salo also looks back on his endurance racing success, including wins at Le Mans, Sebring, and Spa, and what it takes to adapt across so many different types of race cars. This episode is a deep dive into resilience, old-school racing grit, and a career built on doing whatever it takes to stay in the fight. #MikaSalo #RacersUnchained #Motorsport #Formula1 #LeMans24 #RacingLife #PaulTracy
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Tony Stewart Unfiltered: Crashes, NASCAR Politics, & Life After Racing Full-Time | Racers Unchained
Mar 500:49:31Tap to summarizeTony Stewart joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about the biggest moments of his legendary career — from terrifying crashes and IndyCar speeds to NASCAR politics and life after racing full-time. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, 1997 IndyCar champion, and NASCAR Hall of Famer reflects on the wildest stories from his career, including the most violent crash he ever experienced, the brutal sprint car injury that changed his life, and the behind-the-scenes reality of racing at the highest levels of motorsport. Stewart also opens up about his transition from IndyCar to NASCAR, the business and politics behind the sport, and how his perspective has changed now that he’s a team owner, husband, and father. 00:00 Tony Stewart’s Most Violent Crash 01:12 Tony Stewart’s Legendary Racing Career 02:42 How Tony Stewart Got Started Racing 08:39 First IndyCar Test at Indianapolis 12:45 Why Tony Stewart Chose NASCAR Over IndyCar 15:05 The Crash That Broke “Everything” 22:52 IndyCar vs NASCAR: “Jetsons to Flintstones” 24:06 NASCAR Politics Behind the Scenes 31:34 Championship Formats & The Playoff Debate 37:06 Tony Stewart’s Fix for NASCAR’s Playoffs 38:48 Life After Racing Full-Time 43:16 The Scariest Cars to Crash Check out racer.com/bundle for an exclusive RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer_network/ Follow host Paul Tracy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial/
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From Joyriding at 13 to 5-Time Trans-Am Champ Paul Gentilozzi | Racers Unchained
Feb 1900:49:34Tap to summarizeThis week on Racers Unchained, Paul Tracy sits down with legendary Trans-Am icon Paul Gentilozzi for one of the wildest origin stories you’ll ever hear. Before the championships. Before the Daytona wins. Before the Hall of Fame. There were midnight “borrowed” cars, 4-speed joyrides, and a 13-year-old kid who couldn’t wait to drive anything with wheels. Paul Gentilozzi takes us through: * The rainy race where he grabbed the lead… only to spin multiple times and end up six feet off the ground in a tree 🌧️🌲 * The heated on-track rivalry (and championship battle) with Tommy Kendall * Why being “just a driver” matters more than labels * His early drag racing days at Onondaga Dragway * The moment his dad caught him red-handed at McDonald’s with shoe-polish race numbers on the windshield With: 🏆 5 Trans-Am championships 🏁 31 Trans-Am wins 🏎 11 IMSA victories ⏱ 2 overall wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona 🏅 Hall of Fame Trans-Am status Paul Gentilozzi proves that racing greatness isn’t manufactured — it’s wired in from the beginning. Raw stories. Real rivalries. Zero filters. This is Racers Unchained. #RacersUnchained #PaulGentilozzi #TransAmRacing #IMSA #MotorsportsLegends #RoadRacing #Daytona24 #RacingStories #PaulTracy
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