Big Jim's Garage podcast with Jim O'Brien

Defending Detroit Grand Prix winner Kyle Kirkwood joins Big Jim to talk about returning to the streets of downtown Detroit later this month for one of the biggest races of the IndyCar season. After winning in Detroit last year, Kirkwood explains why the city, the fans, and the challenging downtown circuit have become one of his favorite stops on the schedule.

We also talk about:

• His incredible pass on Alex Palou in Arlington
• Why Detroit’s bumps and tight corners create great racing
• How he’s evolved as a driver in his fifth IndyCar season
• The mental chaos of the final laps of the Indy 500
• Why Detroit feels different from every other race weekend

Kyle also talks about how much he enjoys coming back to the Motor City and why racing fans in Detroit bring a unique energy to the IndyCar calendar.

Get tickets and race info now at Detroit Grand Prix

#KyleKirkwood #DetroitGrandPrix #IndyCar #Detroit #Indy500 #AndrettiGlobal #Motorsports #BigJimsHouse #WCSX #Racing #DetroitGP #AlexPalou #IndyCarSeries #Michigan

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May is the biggest month in IndyCar, and this episode of RPM leans all the way into it, with Big Jim sitting down with two of the sport’s most talked-about drivers—David Malukas and Santino Ferrucci—as the intensity ramps up toward the Indianapolis 500 and the streets of the Detroit Grand Prix (DetroitGP.com for tickets)

From the mindset drivers carry into the month of May, to the physical and mental demands of running at Indianapolis, to the completely different challenge of racing through tight city streets in Detroit, both Malukas and Ferrucci give real insight into what separates good drivers from great ones when everything is on the line.

And in between the racing conversation, Jim also takes a look at where the SUV market is heading right now, breaking down three completely different approaches to what a modern SUV can be—from efficiency and daily usability, to luxury and presence, to lifestyle and driving feel—with the Hyundai Tucson PHEV Limited AWD, Genesis GV80 Coupe 3.5T e-SC MHEV, and Mazda CX-50 Meridian Edition.

It’s a full-circle episode that connects performance on the track with performance on the road, right as IndyCar hits its most important stretch of the season.

#IndyCar

#MonthOfMay

#Indy500

#DetroitGrandPrix

#DavidMalukas

#SantinoFerrucci

#Motorsports

#CarReviews

#SUVReview

#RPMPodcast

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Caught up with #IndyCar driver Santino Ferrucci after he'd thrown out the first pitch at the Detroit Tigers game. We talked about the #Detroit Grand Prix (tickets www.detroitgp.com) - also previewing the #Indy500 and his love of the RV lifestyle

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The car industry is shifting faster than people realize—and this week, we’ve got a Chinese SUV that could change everything.

This week on RPM, we hit four completely different lanes—and all of them matter.

First, the conversation everyone in Detroit should be paying attention to: Chinese automaker Geely and the Galaxy M9 SUV. After talking with Edmunds, this isn’t hype—it’s real. A three-row SUV with massive range, strong tech, and a price point that doesn’t exist in the U.S. market right now. The bigger story? Geely already owns Volvo and Polestar, and that could be the back door into America.

Then we shift gears with Jeff Dunham and his insane car collection—130 vehicles deep—and the stories behind the cars that actually shaped his life.

From there, we get into the Cadillac Escalade and why it still owns its lane in the full-size SUV world, even as competition keeps trying to catch up.

And finally, a Spin Doctors story that takes a turn you probably didn’t see coming—because sometimes the best stories in music and cars live in the same lane.

Bottom line: the car industry is changing fast, the global players are getting closer, and the stories behind the machines still matter.

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Formula One is about more than lap times and podiums.

In this episode, Big Jim talks with Lily Herman, host of the F1 culture podcast No Grip and writer of the Engine Failure newsletter, about the personalities, rivalries and weird cultural corners that make Formula One such a fascinating sport.

They get into why F1 feels like a global shared experience, how driver personalities shape the sport beyond the track, why Daniel Ricciardo remains such a compelling figure, the tension between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, what Oscar Piastri’s future could look like, and why the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix Diamond episode is one to watch.

If you love Formula One for more than just the racing, this is a fun conversation about the soap opera, fandom and psychology that keep people talking between races.

00:00 Introduction to F1 and Astrology

03:13 Cultural Significance of Formula One

06:00 The Personalities Behind the Drivers

08:52 The Dynamics of Team Rivalries

11:51 The Future of Drivers and Teams

15:06 Reflections on F1's Dramatic Stories

18:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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This week on RPM — Reviews, Performance & Motorsports, Jim takes a look at one of the most practical vehicles on the road today… and why it might be the smartest family vehicle you can buy.

The 2026 Toyota Sienna continues Toyota’s hybrid-only minivan approach, delivering impressive fuel economy, surprising driving refinement, and the kind of everyday usability most SUVs simply can’t match. Jim breaks down what it’s like behind the wheel, why the Sienna drives more like a car than a traditional van, and why the minivan may be making a quiet comeback.

Then we shift gears into global motorsports.

With the Formula 1 season kicking off this weekend, Jim revisits his conversation with Mario Andretti from the moment Cadillac was officially approved to join the F1 grid. Andretti talks about the significance of an American manufacturer entering Formula 1, what it means for the sport, and why this could be a major turning point for American racing fans.

Two very different machines… one big automotive conversation.

On this episode:

• 2026 Toyota Sienna driving impressions

• Why minivans are quietly making a comeback

• Hybrid performance and real-world usability

• Mario Andretti on Cadillac entering Formula 1

• What the Cadillac F1 entry could mean for American racing

#RPMPodcast

#ToyotaSienna

#MinivanReview

#ToyotaHybrid

#MarioAndretti

#Formula1

#CadillacF1

#Motorsports

#CarReview

#AutomotivePodcast

#F1

#IndyCarLegend

#HybridVehicles

#CarCulture

#AutoIndustry

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The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series kicks off at Daytona — and Parker Kligerman joins Jim to break it all down.

Parker talks about:

🏁 Jesse Love’s championship mentality

🏁 Why Daytona is impossible to “practice” for

🏁 How superspeedway racing has evolved

🏁 Why the moves look wider — but smarter

🏁 The underdog driver to watch

🏁 The weirdest stat of his career: winning twice at Daytona in one year… and only one of them counting

🏁 Should NASCAR end its season at Daytona?

Plus — Days of Thunder as a documentary, Talladega Nights takes, and the one car Parker would drive if he could choose anything.

Saturday at 5 PM on The CW, the O’Reilly Series starts its season at Daytona. After this conversation, you’ll watch it differently.

If you’re watching superspeedway racing this weekend, this is your insider prep.

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If you're a fan of #f1 - this season is one of the most compelling in years. The new set of rules harkens back to 2014 - so how are the teams dealing with - what have we learned about the new cars. #F1TV Chris Medland joins me to talk about the pre-season, how our friends at #Cadillac are doing and what type of driver we can expect excel in these new rules.

#formula1 #f1 #Cadillac #RedBull #Ferrari #Schumacher #Mercedes

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Welcome to the our new RPM (Reviews, Performance and Motorsports) podcast: This week we're talking #Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter, #Volkswagen Taos and Tiguan - then we shift (see what I did there?) to interviews with #IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson and #IMSA legend and #Cadillac driver Jack Aitken.

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Welcome to RPM #reviews #performance and #motorsports in Big Jim's Garage - something new for 2026. This episode we talk with #RAM Trucks CEO Tim Kuniskis about their truck program and Tony Stewart driving for them at Daytona. Then our focus turns to three #Stellantis vehicles from 2025 that really made an impression. The RAM 1500 Rebel Crew Cab 4x4 - the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe and the Alfa Romeo Tonale AWD.

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