The RACER Mailbag, August 27

Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers could be despatched to mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters that embody a query usually tend to be revealed. Questions acquired after 3pm ET every Monday shall be saved for the next week.

Q: When AJ Foyt Racing had the wheel gun failure on David Malukas’ gun, is that this the conventional time to get one other gun?  Or is that the distinction between Foyt Racing and say Penske or Chip Ganassi Racing, the place a man on the opposite aspect of the wall would have one prepared handy to the tire changer?

On Andretti. I noticed them as soon as once more take a possible top-five end for Colton Herta and bury him again out of the highest 10 by not coming for tires early on the penultimate cease (the one earlier than the rain sprinkles). Simply don’t perceive what that group is doing. They seemingly unload a six shooter in their very own foot at nearly each race.

Jeff Smith, State Faculty, PA

MARSHALL PRUETT: It had a really Abu Dhabi 2021 F1 really feel to it. Made no sense for the leaders to pit for tires on Sunday, having just lately stopped earlier than the warning, however made all of the sense for everybody else to take new tires and see if they might discover themselves with a tire benefit.

Palou, McLaughlin and Newgarden pitted between laps 195-196, and the warning for rain hit on lap 209. New tires had been giving peak grip for about 20-25 laps, which meant the highest three would have spent the second half of the final stint at a grip drawback with out the warning. What actually helped the scenario for the Rasmussens who stopped for tires when the pits opened on lap 213 was the period of the warning, which ran via lap 221 of 250 as IndyCar despatched the sweepers out to wash the monitor.

These sluggish laps behind the tempo automotive had been helpful for Palou, McLaughlin and Newgarden, who prolonged the lifespan of their tires, however the warning via lap 221 actually performed into the arms of those that stopped. With solely 29 laps left to go, and most new units being superior for 20-25 laps, they had been ready to run arduous to the checkered flag with no considerations about important drop offs in adhesion.

The leaders, with 13-14 arduous laps on their new tires earlier than the prolonged warning, had been on a countdown clock till their tires had been carried out. Palou, main out of the warning, stayed in entrance of Rasmussen for 13 laps – 26 racing laps on his tires – when Rasmussen flew by into first place. If the warning had been shorter, it’s potential Rasmussen would have reached that drop-off level with 5 to seven laps to go, and who is aware of if Palou would have been in a position to do something. However the way in which it performed out with going inexperienced on lap 222 all however assured we’d have risers and fallers, which led to an exciting end.

On Foyt, sure, I used to be shocked the right-front changer needed to bounce up and go get a alternative gun on their very own. Concerning Andretti, Herta pitted from fourth on lap 195, and once more on lap 213 whereas in eighth. Right here’s what Colton needed to say: “This was a reasonably up-and-down day. We didn’t actually do an excessive amount of. I feel the race was fairly stagnant as soon as you bought carried out with the restarts. So, it’s unlucky. Hopefully, we will perform a little bit higher subsequent 12 months.”

Q: Questioning when and the place Tim Cindric may resurface, post-Penske? I’ve not come throughout anything-speculative on this matter elsewhere.

I’m guessing some type of contractual time-passage could be occurring (e.g. non-compete clause, if these are nonetheless authorized).

Tom Fitzgerald, Las Vegas, NV

MP: I noticed and briefly spoke with Tim two weeks in the past at Laguna Seca whereas I used to be on the grid for the IROC race. He seemed effectively and has been having fun with being a father and husband. Coming off of 30ish straight years of working main racing organizations, and having been fairly profitable, I can think about he’d need to take pleasure in life with out fixed strain and journey for the primary time in ages.

Q: IndyCar fan for the reason that early ‘70s so I do know I am not the goal demographic, however I am nonetheless passionate concerning the sport at the same time as somebody within the ignored northeast.

I do know Mark Miles stated they don’t seem to be returning to tracks they have been to earlier than and failed, however 2026 is a golden alternative to return again to Watkins Glen! NASCAR screwed up by shifting the Cup race to Might (Mom’s Day no much less)… Penske and Fox must snag that open date in August and promote the hell out of it.

Hear me out. IndyCar did not draw nice in 2005-10, however most of these years had been nonetheless IRL with 17 automotive fields and fixed date adjustments. In 2016 the Glen stuffed in last-minute for the Boston fiasco and drew effectively sufficient; the climate in 2017 was dreadful as was the gang… these there noticed an excellent race.

My thought: A doubleheader. Friday, one follow and qualifying on the quick course. Saturday, late morning 90-lap race on the quick course. Saturday afternoon, change to the lengthy course for a follow and qualifying classes. Sunday, 60-lap race over the lengthy course.

Identical with Indy NXT, and add Trans Am as one other assist sequence. Have a Saturday night time live performance, a B-list nation rock act would do. (I am a blues man myself however this space is into nation pop/rock).

So long as I am throwing a Hail Mary, Watkins Glen might additionally assist out by chopping its tenting costs by 50% for this race… they had been loopy excessive for previous couple of years.

Penske and Fox, make this occur!

Scott Wallace, Endicott, NY

MP: I’d be there in a heartbeat.  

Q: I knew there was in depth dialogue about Malukas and Energy, however I’m questioning what the urgency is to maneuver Malukas to Penske?

My understanding is Malukas has a multi-year contract with Penske, so what would the hurt be in retaining him with Foyt yet another 12 months to realize seasoning? No different group can signal him away, appropriate?

Concerning the fast driver adjustments F1 groups have made this 12 months – Liam Lawson, and so forth. –  what driver(s) do you are feeling IndyCar groups had been too fast to maneuver on from which impacted any profession hopes in IndyCar?

Lastly, watching Paul Tracy on Racer Community, I ponder if sim racing has impacted this era of drivers to take extra dangers/drive over their heads in races as a result of in sim racing there are not any penalties? No accidents, no automotive harm, no finish to your day. Your ideas?

Rick, Miami

MP: Just about all the pieces I’ve written within the Mailbag in current weeks when responding to Energy/Malukas questions has been about not understanding the urgency…

Theo Pourchaire seemed like he was going to be one thing particular, however acquired lower when a greater enterprise deal got here alongside. Linus Lundqvist was the one main piece of collateral harm with the introduction of the constitution system and misplaced his seat for no cause apart from the group wanted to downsize and he was paid to drive, fairly than being a funded driver with cash to purchase a seat at one other group. 

No, sim racers don’t take extra dangers. In that case, they’d be crashing on a continuing foundation. It’s the whole reverse, truly. However they’ve realized to drive in very completely different ways in which aren’t tied to the 100-percent bodily sensory strategies used for a century earlier than simulators turned the norm.

Q: Nashville, Firestone brings a giant tractor tire to position in Flip 1 & 3 for the beginning of follow. No working the low line.

Let’s make it enjoyable. Final race of the 12 months, drivers or crew members begin low within the turns, flip the large azz tire into the low groove. Successful group has a prize from RACER. Penske Leisure CEO Marky Mark Miles at all times stated tracks will crawl to IndyCar to have a race. Thanks Fox, and say we’ll attain out to tracks.

Ron, Speedway, IN

MP: This sounds just like the present Wipeout! Which is a tremendous mashup to contemplate for IndyCar.

Q: I like the brand new Corvette idea vehicles. Perchance to dream. Would not or not it’s nice for the Corvette to go up towards Porsches at Le Mans as a Hypercar? What would it not take financially, politically, and from the GM entrance workplace to make it occur?

Additionally I see that Roger Penske drove his private Porsche 963 RJP. Fortunate bastard. That was only a reward from Porsche? My query is how good of a race automotive driver was he? Do any of his contemporariess converse in hushed tones about his skills? All through all of the years, did he drive any of Penske’s race vehicles? I would accept a experience within the simulator.

A suggestion. You do a historical past of the in-car digicam. [ED: We did something along those lines just a couple of weeks ago]. I’ve develop into a giant fan of Australian Supercars (on RACER). I feel they began it again in the usual definition days. How would race followers stay with out it right now?

Peter Malone

MP: GM goes up towards Porsche in Hypercar at Le Mans with Cadillac and towards Porsche in LMGT3 with Corvette. They may change badges, I’d think about. Sure, Roger’s 963 was a present from Porsche. His initials are on the automotive. I’ve heard his contemporaries converse respectfully about his driving expertise. He drove a Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 automotive a number of years in the past.

I’ve carried out tales about in-car cameras earlier than. I ponder in the event that they’re nonetheless obtainable on the innernets.

Q: I feel IndyCar has a brand-new villain in Christian Rasmussen. He angered me, the way in which he knocked Conor Daly out of the race at Portland, however he had me on the sting of my seat when he handed Alex Palou and nearly threw the race away when he simply brushed the wall with three laps to go making an attempt to lap a automotive.

I see a whole lot of Paul Tracy in him that might be each good and typically dangerous for the sequence. By the way in which I might hardly bear in mind seeing that many individuals on the Milwaukee Mile race and barely heard the engines since you might hear the roar of the race followers cheering for Rasmussen. 

Alistair, Springfield, MO

MP: I’m reminded of younger Sage Karam, who was Rasmussen a decade in the past, and his drawing the wrath of Ed Carpenter for overly aggressive strikes on ovals.

And now Ed has a wild stallion in his steady who belongs to the identical membership. And as Ed stated within the post-race press convention at Milwaukee, “Folks speak about they do not like all the pieces he does. We have not requested him to vary one factor. He is attacking and being aggressive, not settling for something. That is the mentality we need to have as a group. Actually happy with the trouble and he manner he completed right now.” 

Q: Concerning Scott Dixon, I do know all the pieces you stated is true about drivers as they get outdated dropping a little bit of their unimaginable 10/10ths skill in qualifying. 

However in a current podcast with Paul Tracy, [ED: And a story on RACER.com over the weekend], Scott talked about how a lot the burden of the hybrid system has affected his skill to drive on the restrict… i.e. qualifying.  I discovered this very attention-grabbing that along with his unimaginable expertise he’s nonetheless wrestling with this relative to different drivers. 

Ed Kelly

MP: I don’t doubt a phrase Dixie stated. However how does the hybrid weight, which appeared in its first race on July 7, 2024, clarify away the zero poles within the 9 races previous to Mid-Ohio on July 7, the zero poles in 2023 with out the hybrid, and the one pole from 17 races in 2022?

No query the rearward weight has made issues worse for Dixie’s choice for automotive steadiness to be tipped in direction of the automotive’s nostril, nevertheless it’s not just like the hybrid weight abruptly turned a lot of poles right into a shortage of outcomes. 

Q: Please let the Fairgrounds know that they did a improbable job so far as TV look and an excellent racetrack and race! I hope to be there subsequent 12 months – ask them to offer loads of mobility-impaired parking and seating.

Dave

MP: I’ll get proper on it. 

Q: May IndyCar survive with a spec engine with no producer involvement?

Michael Veretta, Ontario, Canada

MP: In fact. But when all the producer cash was gone, Penske/Fox would wish to resolve on how they transfer ahead with out Chevy- and Honda-sponsored races, and with out the foremost promoting spends from the manufacturers on TV, on-line, in print, and on radio. Groups with shut relationships with the manufacturers would wish to chop again or discover new cash to cowl the prices of engine leases since some groups aren’t given invoices whereas others pay some or all the charge. Groups would wish to work out issues like simulator time, since producers make their multi-million-dollar driver-in-the-loop sims obtainable to groups and their drivers forward of each race, and pay some to conduct engine testing and canopy wind tunnel visits, and so forth. Some even have private service contracts with a number of drivers, which both provides to their general wage or covers a number of the base wage to offset what the group spends.

Numerous methods producers operate as major monetary arteries in a racing sequence that go effectively past the easy provide of engines.

Q: I attended the Milwaukee race and thought it was improbable. The climate was nice, the racing was thrilling, the gang was massive, and enthusiastic.

It exhibits that ovals will not be lifeless in any respect, they simply want correct promotion. There was heaps to do within the State Truthful Fan Zone, loads of locations to eat and drink, and good stay music. The race did not require costly nation music stars, only a gifted native cowl band and nice ambiance.

Though the state fairgrounds make Milwaukee considerably distinctive, there isn’t any cause their success can’t be repeated elsewhere, like Iowa. What do you estimate the Milwaukee attendance was?

Kevin P., Los Angeles, CA

MP: I spent a bit little bit of time within the fan zone on Sunday morning and couldn’t see any clear stretches of walkway behind the grandstands, which was wonderful. Guessing there have been 15-20 thousand people, all in.

Q: If Will Energy will not be re-signed by Penske, I feel he could be an ideal match at Arrow McLaren. Siegel might develop into a high-quality IndyCar racer in a 12 months or two, however his season so far has been woeful. I can’t perceive why there hasn’t been any discuss of Energy being provided his seat at Arrow McLaren. Your ideas, please?

David Lind, Alexandria, LA

MP: The rationale for the shortage of discuss is as a result of the group stated it’s persevering with with its present driver line-up. 

Q: Why was Rasmussen in a position to cross Palou and McLaughin and not one of the others with recent tires might get it carried out?

Paul, Indianapolis, IN

MP: His automotive was dealing with higher and he was extra aggressive.

Q: I need to get your ideas on the ultimate “keep out or pit”determination for the IndyCar race at Milwaukee. From a strategist’s perspective, what sort of thought course of do they undergo when deciding whether or not to return in or keep out in that sort of scenario?

As to the outcomes of the technique, it looks like the one actual winner in that trade was Rasmussen, whereas Palou and Newgarden had been the strategic losers. Everybody else appeared to complete roughly the place they had been earlier than the solar bathe. Did the ten group make a nasty technique name, or did they make the suitable name for them and simply get crushed by another person? Palou was undoubtedly nonetheless quick; he was eight seconds away from McLaughlin in third.

Did circumstances merely set Rasmussen up in order that his talent set was precisely what was wanted to win the race, equally to Dixon in fuel-save races and Palou in nearly all the pieces else? Figuring out the way it all performed out, do you assume the ten group would change their determination?

Steven, Las Cruces, NM

MP: Basic hindsight race. The drivers behind the highest three or 4 had nothing to lose – they weren’t going to get previous the leaders – so that they pitted and had been rewarded. Palou pitted 13 laps earlier than the warning, and was able to go to the top. In hindsight, positive, similar to Lewis Hamilton, whereas main Abu Dhabi, ought to have pitted, however giving up monitor place whereas main on a chance isn’t what involves thoughts because the good or pure factor to do. The one half for the ten group that involves thoughts is nothing, apart from the win, was at stake. The championship is gained, so if ever there was a time to strive one thing loopy and pit from the lead on 13-lap-old tires, it was at Milwaukee. However in every other circumstance, no, they did the suitable factor.

Q: Nothing towards Nolan Siegel, nevertheless it nonetheless irks me that Theo Pourchaire acquired such a uncooked take care of McLaren. “Teddy Porkchops” confirmed some actual promise and was enjoyable to look at. Siegel appears to be in over his head a bit bit, and I am questioning if McLaren is regretting their determination now? Any probability of seeing Teddy again within the sequence, or has that ship sailed?

Steve, Michigan

MP: I feel it has sailed, which is just too dangerous.

Q: I’ve at all times been a giant fan of Alexander Rossi, nevertheless it seems like Rasmussen’s wonderful win at Milwaukee was the ultimate nail within the coffin of his profession. The place do you see him going from right here?

Paul, Glasgow, Scotland

MP: I don’t see it that manner. He’s cherished by the group, cherished by Rasmussen, and completed fourth. Greatest mixed day for ECR in ages. Rossi might simply win this weekend in Nashville. Now, does he scare folks the identical manner he did at his rocket-fast peak with Andretti? No. However this isn’t a binary scenario. The group has its next-generation rocket in Christian and an elite veteran in Alexander. I wouldn’t change a factor. Let’s revisit on the finish of 2027 and see the place issues are at with Rossi. He’ll be 35, and I’m projecting a bit right here, but when he’s , I can see a future for him in group management with ECR at no matter level he desires to step again from driving.

An excessive amount of data and smarts and affect on all the vital issues that deliver excellence to a group for ECR, or one other group, to lose out on his post-driving contributions.  

Q: I perceive Honda is contemplating their choices to proceed with IndyCar. In the event that they don’t renew, how does that have an effect on Chevy? I assume one producer doesn’t have the sources to assist all of the groups?

Mark Suska

MP: Chevy has all the sources to assist the whole area. You’d simply see revs and energy come down to advertise longevity, leases lowered from 4 engines to 2 or three to assist unfold the engine pool to cowl all vehicles. I’d additionally think about lease costs would go up; producers subsidize every engine lease, which is simpler to justify after they’re in competitors with different producers, but when Chevy is just racing towards itself, I’m unsure GM dedicates the identical excessive degree of funding for this system, and if that had been to occur, the payments often get handed on to the purchasers when the subsidies are gone.

Q: Sunday‘s race at Milwaukee was top-of-the-line of the 12 months, and top-of-the-line I’ve seen shortly! Christian Rasmussen’s driving was completely wonderful! Early on I assumed one thing was both fallacious along with his automotive, or he’s going to be placing it within the wall. His hanging it out, on-the-edge driving type on an oval was enjoyable to look at, and that was when he was working good, however not a risk to win.

His cross of Alex Palou was epic! And kudos to Palou, who didn’t simply permit him to cross, however fought arduous for the win! Rasmussen’s drive jogged my memory of a number of drivers early of their careers that I loved watching. Jody Scheckter in Porsche 917 and System 5000 (1973), Gilles Villeneuve in System Atlantic (1976-77) and Camaro grasp Carl Shafer (1970-80s)… All guys whose comparable type of racing thrilled at Highway Atlanta within the 70s. Christian has a shiny future. I’m so glad Ed Carpenter noticed the potential! I’m a brand new fan!

Tim, Germantown, TN

MP: Good outdated “Razzle Dazzle” has been precisely who you noticed on Sunday all all through his march up the USF Championships ladder and in Indy NXT. Pure, uncooked, and unapologetic velocity. Very Gilles, certainly.

Q: I noticed a rumor that Alex Palou is on Purple Bull’s radar for its second F1 seat… is there any tooth to that? Whereas that could be a prime tier automotive, would Alex have any curiosity in play second to Max Verstappen and the F1 careers that has destroyed?

Additionally, simply floating this concept on the market: If Penske drops Energy, what if he takes Verizon to PREMA? They want the funding and have the services and he has the data of how you can win. Can be fairly the story for him to deliver them to the entrance.  

Ideas?

Joey, Florida

MP: No clue what Purple Bull might or might not be curious about. However one one that isn’t curious about making his driver obtainable to an F1 group is Chip Ganassi, and he doesn’t want Purple Bull’s cash. Verizon is signed to Workforce Penske, not Will Energy. In the event that they select to signal elsewhere with him, I’d need to think about their contract with Penske would permit for such issues, nevertheless it isn’t his cash to take. Verizon loves him, so persevering with at one other group could be a heartwarming factor.

Q: Aside from Will Energy, are there every other drivers whose seats are up for brand new contracts in 2026?

James

MP: Simply those we’ve written about in our recent silly season story.

Q: Did Will Energy really feel slighted by Kyffin Simpson earlier than/resulting in his wreck? I am uncertain if Will selected the fallacious aspect trying to lap him a number of instances or if he was being blocked.

Atilla Veyssal, West Allis, WI

MP: No. 

Q: So, Honda gained’t decide to IndyCar – will the brand new 3.4L twin-turbo Gibson V6 destined for LMP2 match into the subsequent era IndyCar chassis?  Can or not it’s tuned to 700 or so horsepower?

We maintain listening to all of the the reason why IndyCar wants Honda and GM to remain, however I’m simply not seeing it. They (Honda, primarily) insisted on the pricey hybrid models, which have been an excellent massive zero at finest, and after getting their manner, they’re nonetheless not comfortable. Simply rip the band-aid off already.

Perhaps the Nissan-based Gibson V6 is bigger and heavier than the present 2.2L engines, however minus the unneeded hybrid models, I guess it’s a wash. With out the price of the hybrids, one other engine additionally turns into extra economically possible. Time to go in one other route.

Oh, and big props to Katherine Legge for ignoring the haters, working arduous, and handing over some good efforts in probably the most under-funded automotive within the NASCAR Cup Collection storage.

Mike, Marietta, GA

MP: IndyCar provided hybridization to its producers. Honda stated sure. It was written into the provision contract. Honda held IndyCar to its written and legally-binding phrase. IndyCar is chargeable for hybridization coming into IndyCar.

The brand new Gibson engine is bigger than the brand new IndyCar engine and isn’t designed to mount to the brand new automotive. If somebody wished to bankroll a bunch of adjustments to it, I’m positive it might be wedged in there. 

Q: Has anybody spoken to race management concerning why the rain in Flip 4 warning was known as?  My buddy and I had been sitting in Flip 4 and it was an entire lot of nothing. We felt it, seemed up, and it was over. As quickly as yellow was known as and the sweepers had been deployed, I knew it was over for the frontrunners that didn’t pit.

You may see from the sky it was a single small cloud cluster that may blow out rapidly. I’d assume the mixed monitor temp and robust northwesterly wind would have negated moisture on the monitor. We joked that they closed the roof briefly on the Brewers’ baseball recreation (simply east of The Mile) so race management needed to copy them. 

On a extra critical observe, are the principles for rain and moisture completely different for various monitor sorts? I’ve famous the subject of one thing much like F1’s digital security automotive for IndyCar has been lined every now and then in Mailbag questions. Maybe this was a time when one thing comparable would have been an choice? I’m all for driver and crew security. IndyCar excels on this. If the actual cause for the yellow was the well-known David Hobbs “clag” then that’s comprehensible. Simply want we’d get a extra plausible clarification.

Everett, Milwaukee, WI

MP: It’s not a kind of issues the place you are taking time to weigh whether or not it’s one small cloud or two…if drops of rain are seen hitting the aeroscreen on an oval, you cease racing. Sure, the principles are completely different for various kinds of tracks. Highway and avenue programs are handled otherwise than ovals.

Q: When will IndyCar get a brand new chassis? Along with a brand new chassis, can we now have them open the rulebook extra?  I cherished it when there was multiple chassis and there was extra freedom. The present vehicles are boring.

P.S.  Pato O’Ward is appropriate concerning the Detroit monitor. 

Steve, Rockford, MI

MP: Welcome again to IndyCar! New chassis in 2028. Open it extra… how? You’ll be dissatisfied to be taught it’s a single-supplier plan with the brand new automotive similar to the present automotive. 

Q: Once I first found CART from my Catalan aspect of the world in 1997-98, protection right here was very restricted. One of many issues that helped me be taught concerning the sport as a teen had been the Autocourse CART yearbooks led by Jeremy Shaw. They had been superbly carried out they usually function lovely mementos of these years. I’ve all of them, in fact. (They usually even acquired translated into Spanish for a few years!)

As somebody loopy for the historical past of the game, I am now making an attempt to purchase older yearbooks. Simply acquired “The Males and Machines of IndyCar Racing, 1991-92,” and undoubtedly trying to get extra of them. However why aren’t there IndyCar yearbooks anymore? Champ Automotive’s yearbooks led to 2006, and I do not assume IRL acquired something going. F1 a minimum of has a pair going annually.

I do know the publishing scene will not be the identical as 30 years in the past, however I feel there needs to be an IndyCar yearbook occurring. What do you assume?

Jordi Domènech

MP: I learn an attention-grabbing article in a newspaper earlier this week which stated there’s been a current drop of 40 p.c with printed supplies (books, magazines) being bought, which is why no person is dashing to make IndyCar annuals or NASCAR annuals or IMSA annuals like we as soon as had.

The IRL had its Indy 500 annual which doubled as season-long annuals. I’ve most of them. And a lot of the Autocourses for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, most of IMSA’s, and most all the CART/Champ Automotive annuals. I’d love for annuals to develop into a factor once more, however worry that custom is gone. 

Q: I worry the worst – even worse than Michael Schumacher: Any information on Alex Zanardi? It looks like years since he has even been talked about within the information.

Please advise. Thanks!

Pineapple Head/ DFW

MP: It’s not a subject I chase. Alex’s spouse Daniela has been sort sufficient to offer updates when she feels they’re warranted, which I respect and hope others will observe go well with. 

Q: With the speak about a necessity for extra ovals and crowd attendance dwindling, it delivered to thoughts one thing that I am positive has been kicked round earlier than. How wanting an oval is just too quick?

The racing at Richmond appeared to have been fairly stable previously, Iowa could be fairly first rate as effectively. Would a shorter monitor such because the 5/8 mile IRP be possible? A Saturday night time 300 lap affair with Silver Crown and midgets because the undercard would pack the home. Or, presumably pair the high-banked half-mile Kern County monitor in Bakersfield after Lengthy Seashore or earlier than Laguna Seca? They may run it with NXT on the undercard together with one other regional touring sequence, maybe.

It might possibly even be seen as technically far sufficient away to be a distinct market from the others, and never as small as some on the schedule already. However would they be too quick?

Mike, Brownsburg, IN

MP: Nice query, nice concepts, and I don’t know on size. But when IndyCar noticed the monitor, felt it was lengthy sufficient to run 27 vehicles with out being on prime of one another, and the protection requirements met their standards, I’d need to imagine they’d be open to the idea. 

Q: Do you’ve got any perception into how promoters assume? That is concerning the Iowa IndyCar race and its low turnout.

Since NASCAR stuffed the place a number of weeks later, I do not assume it is the afternoon begin time. I seemed into ticket costs for the current race and the grandstands ranged from $70 to $130 in six increments. (You may save 10% shopping for a number of months earlier.) That did not appear to work, so would a promoter ever think about promoting each seat in the home for $30 if they arrive again? That may doubtless be within the vary of native dust monitor racing on a Saturday night time.

If it does not generate a minimum of the identical income, then you recognize they are not within the product, and time to search out one other venue. 

Rick Navratil

MP: I do know numerous race promoters and converse with them every time potential, so I may need a imprecise thought. On the cut-rate pricing, all of it is determined by the sequence and whether or not a monitor like Iowa is paying a racing sequence to return to city with NASCAR, or if a sequence like IndyCar is paying to hire the Iowa monitor like in July, does its personal promotions, and units ticket costs to try to recoup its bills and hopefully flip a revenue. 

Q: Why do not the quick six qualifiers get an additional set of tires to make use of solely within the remaining qualifying session? It might alleviate any tire drawback within the race because of being within the Quick Six.

Mike, Houston, TX

MP: Little bit of an uninteresting reply, however they get what they pay for from Firestone, and the present contracts don’t embody the allotment of an additional set of tires. Again within the day when tires had been free and totally funded by the Goodyears and Firestones, it wouldn’t have been a giant deal. However with actual budgets in place to work inside, making a gift of unpaid tires isn’t a part of the enterprise mannequin. 

Q: CGR shared a video clip of its vehicles testing at Nashville Superspeedway on Aug. 19. How does this work by way of IndyCar’s guidelines? Do “closed” testing alternatives rely solely on a group’s skill to afford it, together with monitor rental? Are there restrictions on how typically, how lengthy, or the place such closed testing can happen? Is it widespread for a single group to check at a venue prematurely of an upcoming race? Do technical alliance companions usually be part of these testing classes?

Ok. Campbell, Nashville, TN

MP: You might have official sequence exams, that are open to all groups, and you’ve got non-public exams, the place groups decide which authorised tracks to make use of to try to be taught no matter they really feel could be helpful. Andretti went to Portland with its three vehicles proper after Laguna Seca and used considered one of its non-public days, for instance. Identical with Ganassi at Nashville. My guess is the group picked Nashville effectively forward of time, considering it might effectively be the location of a championship showdown the place its vehicles had been good in 2024, however not nice. Makes excellent sense when choosing venues prematurely, however as we now know, the one worth from this take a look at shall be for Dixon, who’s third within the championship, to try to distance himself from Lundgaard in fourth; catching O’Ward in second could be a giant stretch.

Sure, there’s every kind of restrictions on the when and the place, and with so few non-public take a look at days, groups are extremely intentional about the place they’re used. On technical alliances, sure, for positive. Inside Ganassi and Meyer Shank, you’ve got a cross-team plan that had their 5 mixed vehicles going to particular tracks to check and be taught issues to learn the 5. Identical with Penske and Foyt and their 5 mixed vehicles.

Q: Together with the Mailbag and different nice articles from RACER, right now’s e mail inbox included a press launch on Penske Media Company (PMC).

I understanding that that is Jay Penske’s wheelhouse and that it’s not any a part of Penske Leisure, however being a loyal IndyCar fan since ’63, Jay’s hyperlink to print media and him being a Penske member of the family actually shocked me in that I had by no means heard of this cross media/leisure connection earlier than.

That is particularly so if he’s in actual fact on the very quick listing of heirs to the two-thirds possession left at IndyCar, IMS and Penske Leisure. With this revelation, it frankly provides me a pause for all the reasons given now and sooner or later as to Penske Leisure’s skill (or lack there of) to advertise an occasion like Iowa, or every other IndyCar race for that matter.

PMC is on the coronary heart of the leisure print world and would seemingly have a wealth of contacts from that area that understands how you can promote nearly something if solely requested to take action. (This helped me to higher perceive how Gene Simmons, Mr. “I AM INDY,” was as soon as a part of the pre-Penske IndyCar/IMS period with the IRL in 2006.)

Steve, Bonner Springs, KS

MP: Since Jay and Dragon Racing left IndyCar greater than a decade in the past for System E, I haven’t seen him or heard of his involvement in IndyCar, a lot much less since his father purchased the sequence and Speedway. His PMC enterprise has been going robust, and there’s lengthy been the flexibility to mix each worlds, however that’s one other space the place I haven’t seen the exterior proof of PE and PMC collaborating. If they’ve or accomplish that at the moment, I’m simply unaware of it.

Previous to Fox’s buy-in, sure, I’d see PMC as a probably highly effective media ally for IndyCar. With Fox’s new funding, a way more highly effective media entity is within the constructing. 

Final week, we invited readers to answer a letter asking about ovals that had elevation adjustments. Here is a pattern of a number of the responses:

Re: ovals with elevation. I imagine the Nazareth monitor had some elevation change the place the excessive level was popping out of Flip 3 and the low level was in the midst of Flip 2. (It was a trioval) So that you went down downhill via begin/end and the dogleg (Flip 1) on the entrance aspect, after which uphill from the center of Flip 2 right through the center of Flip 3. It wasn’t so much, nevertheless it was there.

Brad, Yorktown, IN

To the query from Janis in final week’s Mailbag, the one one which instantly involves my (outdated) thoughts is the defunct Ontario Motor Speedway. I appear to do not forget that the backstretch was designed to be greater earlier than Flip 3 for simpler viewing from the entrance stretch. I could be fallacious.  

Mark, Colorado Ski Nation

Does the climb onto the banking at Monza (or AVUS) rely? I’m a lot too younger, however did Trenton have a little bit of an elevation change within the kidney half? What about counting The Hole at Langhorn? North Flip transition from seashore to pavement at Daytona? 

Abraham Zimroth

Nazareth had some elevation adjustments. ESPN Speedweek had a digicam automotive that took a lap and it confirmed the elevation adjustments. Satan’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas had a again stretch that was a lot greater than the entrance stretch. This made it a lot simpler to see from the grandstand.  

Mike, Houston, TX

I can consider three that hosted IndyCar races. Ontario Motor Speedway, Twin Ring Motegi’s oval and Walt Disney World Speedway. All three had again straightaways that had been elevated greater than their entrance straights to advertise higher sight strains.

Jeff , Sherrills Ford, NC

The Dover Mile is on flat-as-a-pool-table Delaware land. However, it’s actually a bowl form. The surface wall is nearly a constant rim, however the turns are 24 diploma banking. Watch onboard cameras to see how the vehicles drop into every finish and climb a hill again on the straights. I’m not a NASCAR man however have been to a couple races and the 2 IRL races. Watching Richard Petty run the wall all the way in which round whereas smoking his tires once I was 12 years outdated is one thing I’ll always remember.

Dave 

Janis from Florida requested if there had been ovals with elevation. Sure! There have been, and nonetheless are. We’re not speaking elevation the likes of Highway America or Laguna Seca, however there have been ovals comparable to Ontario Motor Speedway which had a again straight elevated greater than the entrance straight for higher viewing. This meant the quick chute between Turns 1 and a couple of went uphill, and the quick chute between Turns 3 and 4 went downhill.

Then there’s North Wilkesboro Speedway that has a pronounced downhill on the entrance straight and uphill on the again straight. Oval haters do not appear to know the wonderful number of ovals, regardless of the stereotypical NASCAR cookie-cutter. There have been quick tracks with banking on one finish and flat on the opposite, completely different levels of banking or various kinds of banking on every finish, completely different radiuses in turns (egg formed, D-shaped, diamond formed, and so forth.). Add in dust tracks, with variable surfaces that change as situations do, and it ought to clarify why quick monitor oval racing was/is common. They’re hardly all the identical.

Jim Thurman, Mojave Desert, CA

Q: How a lot advance discover do NASCAR groups get on the schedule launch? As of once I checked at 10:00am ET Aug. 20, each Marriott resort room within the larger Dover space is bought out race weekend…

Shawn, MD

KELLY CRANDALL: It doesn’t sound like they get a lot advance discover. From my understanding, by the point NASCAR begins circulating it to the groups, it’s just a few minutes earlier than it will get despatched out publicly. The drivers have stated the identical factor: they’ve heard about it when everybody else does, they usually see it on social media.

Q: Will we ever see a NASCAR Conflict or All-Star race on a street course?

Chris Fiegler, Latham, NY

KC: I’ve realized to by no means say by no means on this enterprise. Since each of these are Fox Sports activities races, it might be a collaboration of what they and NASCAR need, and what they really feel fits them finest.

Q: If NASCAR is to proceed having playoffs, this is my loopy thought: :et’s take away playoffs factors altogether. As a substitute, let’s copy baseball and use strikes.

• Any driver that claims a number of wins qualifies to the playoffs with no strikes.
• Any driver with a win and 5 prime fives qualifies to the playoffs with one strike.
• The 16-driver playoff grid is accomplished with the perfect positioned drivers in factors, with two strikes.
• Every other driver will get three strikes, and is provisionally out of the playoffs.
• Each race:
• The race winner will get a strike eliminated.
• The most effective positioned driver with three strikes additionally has a strike eliminated. 
• The three worst positioned drivers get a strike, besides to make sure a minimal of 4 drivers not struck out.
• As soon as there’s 5 or 6 drivers left, all drivers with strikes are completely struck out.

Ignacio, Uruguay

KC: There are a ton of concepts and a whole lot of discussions from the committee that NASCAR put collectively. However in the long run, TV goes to get a say as effectively. I used to be hopeful that one thing was going to be carried out for 2026, however I’m getting the impression that NASCAR isn’t going to try this as they discuss with their TV associate. However, once more, I can guarantee you there are a whole lot of conversations throughout the business round potential adjustments. Personally, I’d like to only take the primary 10 or 12 drivers in factors after the common season and do it that manner – a model of the unique Chase format from 2004.

Q: I’ve attended each main racing occasion at Watkins Glen since I used to be two years outdated (28 now) even regardless of shifting to Michigan a number of years in the past. I can’t assist however be discouraged as through the years, the grass and gravel has been taken out and the asphalt runoffs expanded out to the wall.

I perceive the need to restrict yellows with vehicles buried to the axles, however I feel NASCAR having no monitor limits has actually deteriorated the standard of racing on the monitor for the sequence. Certain you’ll be able to nonetheless cross in Flip 1, however evidently the vehicles at the moment are in a position to drive 100m deeper and considerably shorten the brake zone earlier than letting the automotive hop the curb out to the wall on exit, actually limiting pure passing and motion on this nice nook.

Curious if I’m the one one which feels this manner and if there’s any dialogue about enforced limits or ‘self imposing’ monitor updates? (That really work.) 

Jared

KC: NASCAR is an intriguing case examine as a result of they like to not be concerned in making rulings about monitor limits and telling drivers what they’ll do, they usually accomplish that solely in sure corners on the Circuit of The Americas. I’d say that opinions are cut up between drivers who don’t imagine that monitor limits needs to be a factor and those that imagine they need to be pressured to remain heading in the right direction as a result of it’s a course for a cause.

Q: I see NASCAR has moved the race at Watkins to Mom’s Day for 2026. Are they critical?

Being a lifelong resident of upstate New York, and having a camp about 20 miles from the monitor, I can inform you, Might is commonly the wettest month of the 12 months.  And whereas it does not snow that always, snow on Mom’s Day will not be extraordinary. Did NASCAR take the unpredictable climate into consideration with this transfer? If we do get our regular moist Might, then the infield, the place 90% of the followers are, goes to be a mud pit by Saturday morning.

On prime of that, one of many massive issues that drive the great attendance numbers the race enjoys is that it has most likely probably the most trackside tenting of any NASCAR monitor. I do not see how there’s going to be that a lot tenting when the faculties are nonetheless in progress and the common low temperatures in Might is within the higher 40s.

I do know that NASCAR owns the power and might do no matter they need, however have they thought this via?

Wealthy Carpenter, Wayne, NY

KC: Properly, I’d assume they’ve thought it via, and they might inform you that they’ve. Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR managing director of competitors operations, stated after the schedule announcement that NASCAR checked out climate information factors, and for that point of 12 months, it’s a mean of the decrease 70s through the day, and the possibility of rain is comparatively low in comparison with August. Hamilton additionally stated that college remains to be in session throughout that point of 12 months, so that they imagine that the inhabitants of central New York is far greater then, and “you’ve got the chance to probably attain a fan demographic up there that’s usually not round through the summer time.”

Q: Will we see Kathrine Legge get a full-time experience within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Collection or the NASCAR Cup Collection in 2026?

Kurt Perleberg

KC: I’ve not heard something. All of it comes right down to funding, and what she brings to the desk. At present, it appears she’s been placing collectively offers to run a handful of races, nevertheless it’s going to take much more to deliver to a group for a full-time experience.

THE FINAL WORD
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, August 29, 2018

Q: All the time love your driver tales from the previous. In comparison with a few of your readers from the ‘60s or ‘70s, I am a lesser old-timer from the ‘80s, with my first introduction as a youngster being the 1985 Indy 500. Naturally Danny Sullivan immediately turned my favourite driver. I do know he did TV commentary in late ‘90s CART. Are you aware what he’s as much as these days, and any good tales? On a aspect observe, I will need to have been a devoted fan as I imagine I used to be one of many few that truly loved his performing on Miami Vice!

Doug Sohn, North Richland Hills, TX

ROBIN MILLER: Lately Danny performs a whole lot of golf by his Pebble Seashore residence, travels the world making private appearances, does a bit F1 stewarding when requested, and just about enjoys being Danny Sullivan. I feel his finest story is the perseverance he confirmed to make it as a race driver towards steep odds, and sure Garvin Brown helped him so much, however Danny had a drive beneath these Hollywood appears and made all of it the way in which to the highest. He’s a superb man, and a superb ambassador for IndyCar.