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 will likely be saved for the next week.
Q: Why is Kyle Kirkwood by no means talked about within the dialog for a Penske or Chip Ganassi seat? He appears to have probably the most upside so far as younger American drivers go.
Dave from JC
MARSHALL PRUETT: As a result of he’s beneath contract with Andretti by 2026, which is well-known within the paddock. If he was a free agent, and had no real interest in returning to Andretti, I’m certain he’d be driving for Penske subsequent season. Except Dixon decides to retire, I don’t imagine there’s something out there at Ganassi, with the attainable exception of being farmed out to the second Meyer Shank Racing entry, and whereas that might be nice for MSR, I’d must run Kirkwood by concussion protocol if he wished to depart Andretti – the place he’s the highest driver and considered one of solely three race winners this 12 months – to grow to be the second driver at Ganassi’s technical affiliate.
If Dixon’s retiring on the finish of 2026, hell sure. Signal Kirkwood instantly and have a killer combo with Palou for the following 15 years. We all know Energy’s out of contract on the finish of 2025, so there’s no match for Kirkwood with Penske in the meanwhile.
It nonetheless comes again to positioning and whether or not the perfect transfer is to depart the staff the place you’ve established your self as the highest canine, which is a rarity, or to depart and be part of groups the place it has entrenched champions and Indy 500 winners like Newgarden and Energy, and McLaughlin, who’s gained seven races since going full-time in 2021? Teammate Colton Herta is a giant downside to unravel more often than not, so it’s not like life is straightforward at Andretti, however that’s a house he is aware of and is prospering inside, so it’s onerous to seek out the upside in leaving it behind.
I’d additionally have a look at the pockets of all three groups and may’t fathom how Andretti can be outbid on Kirkwood’s providers. It’s not that Ganassi or Penske lack wealth, however new-era Andretti beneath Mark Walter and Dan Towriss has the deepest pockets within the collection. Typically the perfect transfer is to make no transfer.
Q: What’s the basic vibe within the paddock now contemplating the TV numbers exterior of the five hundred are flat to barely up (primarily as a result of airing on extra advantageous channel), a ghost city at Iowa, one other delay relating to a brand new chassis/ engine, one make/driver domination and rising unrest / apathy throughout the fanbase?
Any staff house owners prepared to place Penske Leisure on blast? Any information on Liberty Media attempting to make a run to purchase the collection, or having somebody not affiliated with sixteenth and Georgetown step in to right course?
It’s very obvious that the game wants contemporary eyes and personnel not from Indiana to run flip issues round. Doug Boles isn’t the reply
A involved fan
MP: Can’t purchase what isn’t on the market, so no on Liberty. If that have been to alter, let’s hope Liberty is first in line. No, there’s been a concerted ‘let’s all shut ranks and never communicate out in opposition to Roger/Penske Leisure’ message from the collection to its staff house owners in Could after the attenuator deal blew up, and all seem to have fallen in line. I do hear complaints – that’s solely pure – however these are virtually by no means stated for public consumption.
As of right now, Doug has held the job of IndyCar president for 23 weeks and at some point. There’s no must take the Crimson Bull strategy and pull a Liam Lawson on the man. Perhaps we wait till he has a full 12 months on the job, and may truly participate in pre-season brainstorming and planning, earlier than proclaiming he’s or isn’t the reply.
Kirkwood’s not within the foolish season conversaton as a result of he isn’t out there to signal. Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: IndyCar appears to be chasing final 12 months’s or final decade’s strategies of leisure supply. Final 12 months everybody appeared delighted that races can be on over-the-air community tv. As a cable-cutter dwelling in an space with no over-the-air FOX outlet, I used to be lower than enthusiastic. The partial season viewing numbers for FOX usually are not overwhelming.
In a New York Instances article about CBS’s cancellation of its Late Evening present, there may be this fascinating bit: “Final month (Could), streaming overtook broadcast and cable because the main distribution technique for video leisure for the primary time.” F1 is negotiating for a brand new U.S. media contract and, although ESPN is within the combine, F1 isn’t clamoring to get its races on ABC. Relatively, F1 is contemplating Netflix, Amazon and Apple as potential companions.
Isn’t the fealty to community tv a symptom of the identical considering that offers us races earlier than empty stands in Iowa? Perhaps seeking to the long run (and even the current) is a greater avenue for promotion each within the media and on the venue.
P.S. Whereas Shabral’s braveness and resilience make me inclined to belief her judgment, I just like the opossum shirt.
Tom Hinshaw, Santa Barbara, CA
MP: I feel the possum shirt must go on a tour and get mailed from mailbagger to mailbagger to put on for every week, pose and submit images with it, after which get despatched to the following individual.
I learn one thing related a couple of week in the past and it was an eye fixed opener: Broadcast Falls Below 20 Percent of TV Use for the First Time.
NASCAR’s strong scores run on Amazon Prime spoke to the long run. The common was down a couple of half-million viewers per race, from 2.6 on linear to 2.1 on streaming, however its viewers was a lot youthful, which was necessary. I assumed the common can be decrease than 2.1 million (I had no concept how many individuals use Amazon Prime; we’ve used it for no less than a decade, however I assumed it was extra area of interest than it was, after which I discovered it has 22 % of the U.S. market, forward of Netflix, and I felt silly), so there’s loads for IndyCar and FOX to consider.
FOX has its new FOX-only streaming service due out within the coming months, which is nice for many who love FOX or love IndyCar or love each, however it’s a distinct segment for-pay service like Peacock was for NBC. And a FOX+ doesn’t include a large viewers to achieve like a basic streamer within the vein of a Netflix or Apple+ or Amazon Prime and its estimated 200-250 million world subscribers. That is purely about attain and placing up the most important streaming numbers attainable. If it isn’t a far-reaching basic streamer, there isn’t any attain.
Community continues to be the best way to go to attach with older viewers, but when IndyCar actually needs to develop, it might want to discover a basic streamer with an unlimited viewers to hold its product for its latest followers.
Q: Once more, the replay of Observe 1 from Toronto just isn’t on the FOX Sports activities app on my Roku TV. Do you could have any contacts at FOX? It simply appears off that it is not out there, as that’s extra eyeballs on all of the commercials. Peacock would put the replay up an hour after the unique broadcast.
Jim Doyle, Hoboken, NJ
MP: Let’s hope the parents from FOX will take word.
Q: I’ve grow to be a giant fan of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports on the Indy 500. I want they might run extra races, and go full time, however I am certain the brand new constitution system performs a component in that not happening. Have you learnt if they are going to be collectively once more subsequent 12 months on the 500?
Additionally, I learn in one other publication that Don Cusick is hoping to broaden his program, which might embody Indy NXT, partnering with one other staff subsequent Could, and/or presumably partnering with one other staff full-time in 2026 or 2027. Have you ever by probability spoken with Don to seek out out his future plans? He is a passionate proprietor that belongs in IndyCar! Thanks very a lot for any perception.
Ted Yezman, Sonoma, CA
MP: Don’s at that large pivot level the place he both branches out and spends a ton of cash to fund racing applications, purchase or lease tools, and so forth, or proceed to companion with DRR the place there isn’t a giant monetary demand and keep away from that sizable dedication of time and funds. One is enjoyable and doesn’t place nice drags in your time and financial savings. The opposite looks like a full-time job as a result of it at all times turns into a full-time job, and I don’t know if that’s what he needs after retiring not so way back.
He instructed me about the identical plans again in Thermal that you just’ve examine, in order that has remained constant. I do must catch up and see the place issues have or haven’t gone in current months.
Typically, turning a passion right into a job is an effective factor. Typically it is not. James Black/IMS
Q: The place do issues stand with the Palou/McLaren litigation? Do you assume Palou’s dominance this season has any impression on any settlement negotiations, assuming they’re nonetheless ongoing?
Steve, Danville, CA
MP: Final I heard, informally, it was certainly headed in direction of a conclusion, and the estimated loss to McLaren of $20 million or extra that was sought by the staff might find yourself being something from zero to some million. Appears like this has grow to be outdated information. Even when it’s $5-10 million, I don’t know if that causes a crater in Palou’s life or enriches McLaren in any vital manner. If it was that $20 million-plus, that’s a distinct deal altogether.
However because the lawsuit is about cash, and never the enforcement of a contract, McLaren doesn’t get Palou when it’s over. Apart from exacting some monetary ache which could convey some pleasure, it’s not getting the massive payday with the collection’ most dominant driver, so finally, it’s about millionaires preventing over a greenback quantity to assuage egos or embarrassment, which makes me yawn.
Q: Final week you had a prolonged letter from Jah in ATL, who talked about IndyCar’s picture and historical past, stating the way it’s a lot older than F1, and is the one collection that may declare to crown a real nationwide champion.
It appeared like your reply form of blew him off, after which in your reply to the very subsequent letter, you stated that with FOX, we see the place IndyCar lives by way of nationwide consciousness and curiosity.
I agree with Jah that IndyCar ought to do every little thing attainable to play up the truth that they’re awarding the Astor Cup, which dates again to 1915. Maximize the earned significance, resembling it’s. You’ll be able to’t purchase historic provenance. IndyCar wants all the assistance it will possibly get – hopefully somebody at Penske Leisure learn that letter. I do know they did, they learn the Mailbag. Kinda spooky, however not as spooky as that Huge Possum shirt.
Invoice Bailey, Fresno, CA
MP: The individuals who find out about IndyCar’s historical past and its crowning of nationwide champions are both present followers, possible longstanding ones, or former followers. If I assumed the enjoying up of the nationwide champion angle would make the slightest distinction in attracting new followers and widening its viewers, I’d have reacted accordingly.
Provenance is necessary, little doubt. However it’s not the hook that will get the common individual concerned in sports activities, is it? It’s seeing superb individuals do superb issues with bats and balls and steering wheels and no matter else piques our curiosity. The layers to the sports activities, with the histories and legends who constructed the leagues, and the strands that join the previous to the current aren’t the frontline objects. Not in my life expertise. It’s secondary, or thirdondary (made that one up), which is why I don’t see the premise of championing the nationwide title as greater than a pleasant footnote. As at all times, I may very well be utterly flawed.
Q: Did McLaughlin’s left-rear wheel nut fail, or was it merely not connected? From the replay it seemed like there have been two items of fabric that flung off the automobile. Couldn’t inform if the nut had damaged into a number of items.
Joey
MP: Spoke with the staff and it was an error, not a failure. They thought the nut was safe, however it wasn’t, clearly.
Q: Something to report on Energy or VeeKay for contracts for subsequent 12 months? Personally, I like how VeeKay and Coyne are gelling and wish to see them collectively subsequent 12 months with extra sponsorship.
John Balestrieri, Waukesha, WI
MP: I can’t consider a staff, apart from Meyer Shank with its second automobile that sits seventh with Armstrong, that has a greater seat open than the one Rinus at the moment occupies at Coyne. The Energy seat at Penske is clearly nice, however that staff isn’t trying exterior its present workers in Energy and Malukas as options.
VeeKay’s supervisor has spoken with everybody within the paddock, and people few with paying seats to supply can be foolish to disregard him, however he’s at the moment beating all however MSR with Coyne and race engineer Michael Cannon. There aren’t quite a lot of superb alternatives for 2026, so I’d counsel holding station and exploring the market 12 months from now when a wider vary of front-running groups may have one thing higher to supply.
As for Energy, he’s received loads of curiosity. If Penske lets him go, he’ll be unemployed for nonetheless lengthy it takes to fly from Charlotte to Indy and signal a brand new contract and participate within the press convention.
If Energy have been to grow to be out there for subsequent 12 months, the flood of incoming calls can be a heck of a stress take a look at for Verizon’s cell providers in NC. Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: Query about IndyCar and yellows. Final weekend after Alexander Rossi crashed and Pato O’Ward was within the pits, the pits stayed closed for a little bit of time – seemingly to assist Pato. But final week at Iowa, Josef Newgarden pitted and it went yellow. It appeared the pits opened ASAP and hosed Josef.
Sure? No? Or am I overreacting to the occasions?
Kim
MP: I suppose we will put the “Penske suggestions the officiating scales in his drivers’ favor” factor to mattress. I didn’t see both of these selections as being deliberately accomplished in ways in which helped or hosed both driver.
Q: Good to see Linus Lundqvist within the papaya colours this weekend. I hope he does discover a extra everlasting drive for 2026. Is McLaren protecting him on as a reserve driver for the remainder of the season, or was this a one-off?
Good-looking Jo
MP: One-off. However sure, Linus has drawn new curiosity because the McLaren outreach. He must be within the collection.
Q: Why is the New Hampshire mile not appropriate for IndyCars?
John Sedlak, Venice, FL
MP: I wasn’t conscious Loudon had stopped being appropriate. IndyCar raced there as lately as 2011, which gave us the all-time nice meme of Will Energy flipping race management the double birds. It’s owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc, which additionally owns Nashville Speedway, which Penske Leisure rents from SMI to host its season finale. I’d assume Penske has the quantity for SMI president Marcus Smith to debate IndyCar’s oval choices on the vary of tracks Smith oversees. He’s a pointy man, and if there’s cash to be made, I can’t see why he wouldn’t welcome IndyCar to extra of SMI’s tracks except it could place undue stress on the corporate’s relationship with NASCAR.
Q: Your feedback have been proper on relating to the LBGP. The 2025 occasion was my forty sixth 12 months attending the race.
I feel the most important cause for the occasion’s persevering with success is that on Friday and Saturday, from 7:45 within the morning till 8:00 at night time there may be some type of racing occurring on the monitor. Then there are rock live shows on Friday and Saturday nights.
For some time I missed Indy Lights that was dropped a number of years in the past. However then they added Historic Formulation 1 vehicles, and I’m in heaven.
Ed Kelly, Los Angeles, CA
MP: Nice to listen to, Ed. I perceive that Indy NXT is a risk for 2026.
Q: One other profitable Toronto Indy weekend is within the books. A pair questions for you as follow-up, although:
In final week’s Mailbag you talked about that Toronto is probably going coming again. As an annual attendee and proud resident, this comes as a shock to me. The World Cup is going on at BMO Area in the course of the monitor from June 12 to July 2. The town has been abundantly clear that no monitor set-up can happen till after this time. It normally takes three to 4 weeks. It additionally must be taken down by mid-August for the CNE. Are we taking a look at a late July race as a risk in a schedule shuffle, or would we be taking a look at skipping 2026 and coming again for 2027? The attendance this 12 months appeared to be the very best I’ve ever seen!
My different questions are about guidelines. In regard to the usage of full course yellows and their timings, on ovals clearly the yellow comes out instantly. On street programs, they provide the driving force time to drive off. Why have been they so fast to throw yellows on Sunday? Some have been apparent wants for medical consideration or blocked monitor, however the Rossi incident, for instance, was a wall kiss. Why did that have to be an instantaneous yellow? It utterly modified the outcomes of the race (and perhaps the championship), too. For a minor incident, would not it make extra sense to carry off for everybody to have an opportunity to pit like NASCAR does? I’ve no situation with the luck of yellows, that is racing, however that felt a bit excessive and avoidable.
Lastly, late-race yellows. Typically we red-flag it, generally we let it go to the top. On Sunday it was too late for a purple, however is there an unwritten rule about once they would throw a purple or let it go? And if not, ought to there be? Or ought to we add the choice of a purple flag adopted by an additional lap or two to pit, and get a lap or two to complete beneath inexperienced (or attempt to)? Only a thought. Not the entire randomness of race distance like NASCAR does however no less than have an opportunity to complete beneath inexperienced.
Perhaps if there are 4 to 10 laps to go on ovals or 4 to seven on street and avenue, we red-flag it as an alternative of yellow and arrange for a restart. If there are three to go, purple flag and add a lap. If two to go, purple flag and add two. If it’s on white flag lap, we’re accomplished.
Ben, Toronto
MP: IndyCar president Doug Boles instructed us he expects Toronto, Portland and Laguna Seca to return. If that wasn’t the case, he’d have declined to reply the query – I led with asking about Toronto – which might have been revealing. Now, issues might change, in fact, however the arrival of the World Cup is in no way a brand new battle to think about, so sure, I’d assume a return to Toronto would contain steering away from the opposite type of soccer. And if the race goes away for 2026, I’d assume it will likely be again in 2027 as a result of it’s a cool and widespread staple courting again to 1986.
Why did the Rossi crash with all types of automobile elements exploding off the automobile and littering the racing line want an instantaneous warning? I’d hope the reply is apparent. You sometimes see judgment calls made when race management feels a full-course warning is the precise resolution, however it’s for one thing that isn’t precisely pressing or scary – a automobile sitting lifeless in the course of the street versus one which’s parked 50 ft astray – and so the circulate of the race is considered as to keep away from killing the chief’s day. Doesn’t occur each time, and that’s why it’s a judgement factor.
You’re proper on the race ending beneath warning. That’s grow to be a unicorn in IndyCar. It was as soon as a considerably regular and unremarkable manner for a race to finish. However as a result of it occurs so few occasions lately, I suppose there’s a sense {that a} formal course of or structured chart on when it ought to or shouldn’t be allowed, and when a purple flag needs to be launched involves thoughts as a factor to do. I don’t. I’d slightly let race management learn the scenario and make a judgment name.
Doesn’t imply I’ll love all of their selections, however I don’t need them locked into some necessary matrix to comply with. Typically the sport ends with the quarterback taking a knee and working out the clock.
No arguing the necessity for a yellow after Rossi’s crash. Joe Skibinksi/IMS
Q: I ponder what Mailbag readers would consider this radical concept: No tire adjustments throughout yellow flags. You’ll be able to are available and refuel however except you could have a puncture, you alter that tire and that is it.
I feel most followers don’t like when their favourite driver will get snookered by a badly timed yellow flag. I am curious to know what others assume.
Jim Doyle, Hoboken, NJ
MP: I simply pictured the massive groups having drones warmed and able to fly over the circuit beneath warning, wait for his or her vehicles to veer to at least one facet of the monitor, and have the drone drop a bunch of small nails to puncture their tires and get the free passes to pit lane.
Q: What’s the take care of Newgarden these days? Unhealthy seasons do occur, however it looks like he has not been his regular self this 12 months of taking adversity with grace. The handful of occasions when he has given interviews have been very brief and, for lack of higher phrases, appear very un-Penske like. I am not saying that he’s (to cite Seinfeld) not Penske materials, however, wow. I worry that the Newgarden of the previous that all of us beloved is gone, and we’re left with whom looks like a misplaced soul. I am certain many individuals will agree that all of us miss the enjoyable and jovial “Who’s Josef Newgarden” model from the SFHR days.
Alan Bandi, Sarver, PA
MP: Inform me you didn’t learn final week’s 99-percent-Newgarden-questions Mailbag with out telling me you didn’t learn the Mailbag.
The playful child who drove for Sarah and Ed, and Roger the primary few years, is all grown up and treats life in no matter manner he chooses, in comparison with attempting to please individuals as he did for the primary half of his profession. He appeared on digital camera final weekend when every little thing went flawed, once more, and whereas he didn’t have a lot to say, it certain appeared like somebody at Penske despatched the message that speaking to FOX was not non-obligatory.
Q: We’re at the moment jetting in direction of race 14 of the 17-race IndyCar season and there has but to be a single (non-Indy solely) substitute driver entered into an occasion. For these of us who thrive on driver-change paddock-chaos rumors, that is perilously quiet – and maybe unprecedented within the fashionable IndyCar collection. I went again to 2010 and yearly there had been no less than one driver change sooner than this. (Who can neglect Giorgio Pantano’s one-off for CGR in 2012?)
Please inform me there’s going to be one fill-in by the top of the season? Or that Foolish Season hasn’t been cancelled completely but?
PP
MP: To my information, the entire paying drivers are assembly their cost schedules. That leaves drivers who’re being paid, or convey a partial funds, and the schedule is definitely the most important barrier to creating late-season adjustments. It was simpler when the championship ended with runs from Portland to Laguna Seca, two street programs the place plugging in a Felipe Drugovich or Dennis Hauger would make sense.
However not when the 12 months closes at Milwaukee and Nashville the place an embattled veteran would give the staff and its sponsors a a lot larger probability of delivering a powerful outcome. So, sorry Giorgio.
Q: I attended the Toronto IndyCar Grand Prix this previous weekend and am glad I did. I hadn’t been again to this race since 1994, and loads has modified. The race weekend was enjoyable, and the grandstands have been full, which received me questioning what number of followers attended the race? Doing a couple of fast calculations primarily based on my Flip 11 grandstand (instantly reverse Alex Palou’s pit field), I got here up with a tough determine of about 18,500 seats, together with the premium seating alongside pit lane, and at pit out. That determine doesn’t embody basic admission ticket holders.
Have you learnt what number of followers attended the Toronto Grand Prix? Is that quantity, or an in depth estimate, revealed? The rationale I ask is that we noticed at Iowa estimates of 6,000 followers per race over the two-race weekend. It dawned on me that 18,500 followers just isn’t a big determine for a significant sporting occasion, even when it was offered out. In fact it did not assist that the Toronto Blue Jays have been on the town on each Saturday and Sunday on the similar time.
Kevin P., Los Angeles, CA
MP: I don’t. Most basketball arenas maintain round 18,000 seats, so if that’s what a motor race will get, and no one is mad on the Knicks or Fever once they have sellouts at MSG or Gainbridge, perhaps the mathematics tracks at Toronto. I’d assume the Iowa determine was 3k on Saturday and 3k on Sunday. If you happen to take each Iowa races and add Thermal, it has been a tough one for occasions with report lows in attendance.
Torontonians confirmed up in pressure. Chris Owens/IMS
Q: In my view, it is time for IndyCar to give up chasing ovals and give up worrying about having a specific amount on the schedule. Time after time, they’re usually failures in right now’s racing world. There are two or three exceptions not together with the five hundred. It appears the road programs and street programs are much better enterprise selections lately. Folks present up for these within the six figures for a weekend. It is time to add a couple of extra of these to the schedule and construct the collection and model that manner.
Sure, there’s a onerous core of followers that need ovals and extra ovals, and I’m largely in that camp, however that enterprise mannequin simply doesn’t work. Be within the main cities, be at street programs and avoid tracks owned by NASCAR. The 30-year-old imaginative and prescient has not labored and exhibits no indicators of ever working.
As I prefer to say, there may be proper, flawed, and the best way it’s, and the best way it’s doesn’t embody a balanced schedule of ovals. If and when IndyCar builds up its model and demand, then the ovals can come to them.
Mark, Milford, OH
MP: I listened to an influential staff proprietor right now who instructed me to anticipate Iowa 2.0 at Nashville Speedway to shut the season after Huge Machine departed as its promoter. I hope that isn’t the case, however to your level, we’ll see what the Penske-promoted ovals at Milwaukee and Nashville generate for grandstand ticket gross sales.
Hy-Vee unplugged itself from Iowa and the outcomes have been as anticipated. Milwaukee was higher than anticipated on its doubleheader return in 2024, so I’ve to imagine Penske and the parents on the Fairgrounds can fill the stands for the only race subsequent month. I do know Huge Machine spent a ton and went actually onerous to advertise the return to the speedway, and the group was bigger than something I anticipated whereas leaving an honest quantity of room for enchancment. Like Hy-Vee, we’ll quickly learn the way the lack of Huge Machine will impression the turnout for IndyCar’s season finale.
Q: Andretti’s right-front failures have to be setup associated. I understand nobody goes to indicate you their setup sheets, however I would like your ideas on a few observations:
From your article I perceive IndyCar mandated a most tire strain for Iowa. Do they mandate a minimal strain as properly? What about most adverse camber? Are there specs on that?
I’ve seen from in-car cameras a major distinction in steering wheel place on the straights of oval races from staff to staff, particularly at IMS. Some setups end in a good quantity of “proper hand down,” whereas different staff’s steering wheels appear extra impartial, like a street course setup. My guess that is from completely different caster leads settings. Do you assume this has something to do with extreme right-front tire put on?
Ron, Lakeland, MN
MP: Sure, there’s no manner a single staff had the identical failure on all three vehicles with out it being a typical root trigger. Caster is a crucial suspension setting, extra so for some drivers than others, however at a brief oval like Iowa with banking and fixed turning, I’d be stunned if anybody was going onerous on caster.
Firestone offers advisable strain and camber ranges, however IndyCar isn’t like some collection that dictate fastened numbers that have to be adopted or threat being penalized.
Q: Doug Boles has confirmed to be a wonderful promoter of IMS and its occasions (not that they want that a lot promotion), however as collection president, are you aware how a lot he intends to work with the opposite tracks and promoters to make their race promotions higher? It appears Penske Leisure has, for all sensible functions, saved its distance from the opposite venues. Once you hear followers who reside within the cities the place races are held speak concerning the ignorance and promotion surrounding an occasion, it makes you marvel who’s chargeable for what.
Scott C., Greenwood, IN
MP: They signal agreements to pay to host races at venues and deal with all promotions (like Iowa) and are paid to placed on a present at venues like St. Petersburg or Barber the place the promoters are chargeable for such issues.
The evolution we’re seeing extra of with Penske Leisure is strictly what you’ve described by taking a extra lively function, wherever attainable, within the shared promotional efforts at occasions the place the promoters welcome the help or enter. It’s not a factor at each occasion, however it’s rising.
Q: Relating to Tim’s question a couple of weeks in the past the place he requested if anybody tried a mid-engine automobile on dust in the course of the USAC Championship period. Sure, a couple of occasions. Al Unser Sr. DNQ’d the Eisert for 2 dust races in 1965. George Morris put the obscure Taylor into the sector at DuQuoin in 1965, and Invoice Sullivan DNQ’d the identical automobile at Sacramento a month later.
In 1966, Ronnie Duman certified the Eisert for the Springfield race, however probably the most notable “mid engine” was Lloyd Ruby in a Mongoose in 1968. Ruby certified fifth at Nazareth (which was dust then. Extra trivia – it was the primary night time race). His crew chief John Laux was quoted in Competitors Press & Autoweek: “We modified the steering, slowing it down a bit, jacked up the suspension and put a dust guard on the nostril. The remaining was all Ruby.”
The race, with Ruby experiencing turbo lag, and being seated a lot decrease on a dusty monitor, did not go as properly. Ruby clipped the wall on lap 13 and retired. Ruby and Laux tried, however failed, to qualify for 2 additional dust races on the schedule (Springfield and the Hoosier Hundred). Additionally bear in mind the usual beginning area for the mile dust ovals was 18.
Jim Thurman, Mojave Desert, CA
MP: Thanks, Jim.
Q: What ever occurred with the DeltaWing undertaking? There have been talks of that being the IndyCar of the long run.
Kev-o, Sartell, MN
MP: It raced at Le Mans in 2012 as the unique Storage 56 invite and went on to race within the American Le Mans Collection after which IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship by 2016.
Perhaps it nonetheless is the IndyCar of the long run. Brian Cleary/Getty Photographs
Q: I wished to again up the letter you revealed final week from Mike in Cincinnati re the difficulty he’s experiencing with the audio in the course of the race. I’m experiencing precisely the identical situation the place the engine noise is simply too loud, and the commentary is blocked to a big extent. Curiously, it means I now take heed to the radio commentary while watching the occasions on the IndyCar web site and have turned the quantity to zero on the TV.
This was not a problem final week as I attended the Iowa doubleheader. Coming over from the UK, I at all times go to the doubleheader for apparent causes, so please can we at all times have one on the schedule?
Oliver Wells
MP: Do as Oliver says, FOX and IndyCar.
Q: I’ve attended Iowa up to now when the tickets have been $20 every and youngsters received in free. I even ate the associated fee the primary 12 months of the live shows, however it was 100 levels and I missed the Saturday race to keep away from warmth stroke. Watching on TV this 12 months my son (now 12) requested if we might return subsequent 12 months. My response was, “perhaps.” The present ticket costs and the mid-July warmth usually are not on my to-do checklist. I might reside with a type of two issues, however not each.
FOX has a nationwide MLB sport of the week on Saturday nights at 7pm. Use that as a lead into an precise Saturday night time race that begins at 10pm jap, 9pm native. Activate the lights and let’s rip. For followers on the monitor, you’ve received NXT and perhaps one different lead-in and it’s day of racing. What do you assume? Believable?
Ryan in West Michigan
MP: I wouldn’t change a factor.
Q: I preserve studying how IndyCar groups insist that they don’t have sufficient monetary assets to put money into a very new automobile and engine method, and but all of them appear to have sufficient cash to construct new manufacturing unit/storage services across the Indianapolis space. As they are saying on Sesame Road, “Certainly one of these items just isn’t like the opposite.” What do you attribute this to?
Steve Summers, Ann Arbor, MI
MP: Yeah, it’s a type of straightforward issues to identify that feels like a gotcha second, however it doesn’t take a lot to grasp they aren’t like one another.
Funding a big brick-and-mortar constructing undertaking: Not onerous for a well-established staff/enterprise to get loans and use financial institution funding to make occur. Or for a significant new investor to partially or utterly fund, understanding it’s an asset they may personal that has sustained worth.
Funding the acquisition of latest vehicles at an estimated $1.2 million apiece: Not one thing most banks will present loans to make occur, which implies groups want to attract from money reserves, traders, or income – if slim income are made – to pay for between 4 and 10 new vehicles.
Funding every IndyCar entry for a season to the tune of $8-11 million apiece: Not straightforward as a result of no financial institution will mortgage you that cash, so it requires fixed chasing of a number of sponsors to contribute slices of the budgetary pie, or discovering a paying driver to cowl anyplace from 25-100% of the funds.
Aside from the handful of actually rich entrants, the remainder of the groups function on tight budgets the place summoning $5 million-plus to get new vehicles will contain ache.
Q: I’ve some information for you that perhaps you’re or aren’t conscious of. My final message was New 12 months’s Day, to which you posted my ideas about online game presence… very type of you. What I am undecided you are conscious of is that IndyCar has been very quietly launched again into the Forza Motorsports portfolio.
This information got here to my consideration after doing an replace to my Xbox at some point late in late June. After the replace, to my shock the 2025 Honda IndyCar in addition to the 2025 Chevy IndyCar have been out there to race in each freeplay in addition to on-line multiplayer. I hate to be the one to bitch about this, however it has been a full month since this replace has been launched and never a single phrase has been posted from IndyCar to my information, on their web site or on RACER.com.
I can not assist however assume this needs to be one thing IndyCar ought to promote, or no less than make a press launch about. NASCAR and F1 have diecast/Legos, F1 has a film simply launched. I am completely satisfied for the child steps as a result of it is a lot better than nothing, however let’s get with it.
That being stated, driving the automobile till my shoulders damage was refreshing. If the automobile is consultant of what an precise DW12 can do, these guys are complete badasses.
I hope you may shed some mild on this or no less than assist market it/nudge the IndyCar Collection a bit.
Tom, Blue Bell, PA
MP: Thanks, Tom. I’m certain IndyCar is aware of about it. It’s their job to advertise their collection.
Q: What ever occurred to the helmet cams ? They have been such a cool characteristic that I feel new followers can get into. Did FOX drop the ball on this, or have been there glitches in them? The views at Street America and Mid-Ohio would have been spectacular. Even Iowa would have been cool, with the surprising facet by facet racing.
Douglas Wright
MP: I imagine FOX introduced they might be used at 4 races. Unsure which race(s) are left on the checklist.
We do not have a photograph of a helmet cam so you may must accept a shot of a helmet. Nolan Siegel’s Indy 500 helmet, to be exact. Chris Jones/IMS
Q: Exhausting to imagine as I write this on July 16, there are solely 5 races left within the IndyCar season.
I’ve seen of us point out doubling up on locations like Street America. I reside one hour up the street from RA, camp the whole weekend, and go all-out for the occasion. It’s the finest weekend of the 12 months, sure even higher than Memorial Day weekend in Indy.
That stated, I do not assume doubling up with one other race weekend can be possible. A whole lot of the campers come from across the Midwest, and asking them to make the trek twice is a tricky ask. Regionally, it would be onerous for me to financially afford one other four-day IndyCar extravaganza.
Particularly with my annual journeys to Indy, Milwaukee, and the occasional journey to St. Pete/Iowa/Barber. Unsure my pockets or spouse can take way more, even regardless of her turning into a full-blown fan!
I worry including a second race at a spot like RA would merely present two barely smaller crowds, and make the June weekend an entire lot much less particular. Particularly when IMSA is one more nice choice.
I like your concept of a one or two-day present in Iowa. Saturday night time race, with qualifying that afternoon. If large FOX cannot put it on TV, throw it on FS1. With solely 500k tuning in on the community, it is not just like the TV quantity will dip any decrease.
Any time I see the empty grandstand and low TV numbers it hurts my soul, however I simply inform myself, “nothing you are able to do.” I’ve taken almost 40 individuals to their first race, transformed 1 / 4 of them into common followers, and run two TVs in my home to double my very own TV viewership.
Guess this is not a query, however extra so a therapeutic journal entry as a result of I like this sport so dang a lot.
Dust Observe Dave (Nickname courtesy of Robin Miller)
MP IMSA out-drew IndyCar at Street America final 12 months, which was a shock, however to your level, we all know a ton of followers will present up for each collection, no less than yearly, and now with Milwaukee again, that’s three large occasions inside two months in the identical space.
I’ve heard IMSA’s ticket gross sales are manner up this 12 months, which is insane, contemplating how full the place was in 2024, so perhaps it might deal with two visits there a bit simpler than IndyCar. I in all probability didn’t assume my authentic response during.
Q: I ponder if the doubleheader at Iowa needs to be lowered to a single race? The doubleheader format could also be forcing followers to select one or the opposite. Maybe a single race will see all these followers present up for a single race.
Doug Mayer
MP: Actually attainable. It had robust attendance as a single race again within the day.
Q: Mailbaggers’ critiques of the IndyCar Iowa Speedway occasion weren’t optimistic by a longshot. Low attendance was talked about quite a few occasions, for legitimate causes.
I would not drive 60 minutes to sit down beneath a scorching solar solely to see an IndyCar race, a lot much less drive 5 – 6 hours. Whoever’s planning these occasions wants an perspective adjustment, protecting the followers within the stands in thoughts 100% of the time.
- They’re coming to be entertained with vehicles on monitor, with open entry to the paddock the place the vehicles are being prepped.
- Align with Classic IndyCar to showcase race vehicles and former racers from previous many years.
- Attain out to SCCA, Mazda, classic sports activities automobile teams, street racing kart golf equipment like AKRA, to refill monitor time, utilizing the street course if sensible. In 1981 SCCA nationwide races have been a part of the CART IndyCar race at Watkins Glen. I took half that weekend in a 60+ a number of showroom inventory area.
- Run beneath the lights in the event that they’re out there. It is cooler temperature-wise for the followers and drivers too.
Like baseball’s area of goals, race attendance will rise with aggressive IndyCar racing, and associated on monitor actions which preserve followers and entertained.
David, Pittsburgh, PA
MP: Thanks, David.
IndyCars, at Iowa, beneath lights. Similar to they’re purported to be. IMS Picture
Q: Hypothesis has it that Audi and Crimson Bull energy items could wrestle to be as aggressive as different producers in 2026. I perceive Crimson Bull haven’t produced a racing engine earlier than, however they’ve a brand new facility, technical help from Ford, and certainly they employed individuals that may do the job. Why would they not be capable to produce a aggressive energy unit?
As for Audi, they’ve a few years of expertise producing turbo hybrid energy items with nice success profitable Le Mans and Sebring quite a few occasions. So why would pundits counsel Audi will wrestle as properly?
David, Danville, CA
CHRIS MEDLAND: The primary reply is expertise. They are going up in opposition to established F1 energy unit producers who’ve been by greater than a decade of the challenges and hurdles of the turbo-hybrid laws, and they’re extraordinarily advanced. Whereas hiring individuals and investing in services is a given, getting all of that working collectively effectively and successfully, whereas increase the flexibility to react shortly doesn’t occur in a single day.
If you happen to take Mercedes for instance, it has a longtime and profitable program that was capable of begin exploratory improvement on the brand new energy items from the primary trace of what the laws can be again in the summertime of 2022. At that time, Audi had but to announce it could enter, and Crimson Bull was nonetheless attempting to construct its facility. That naturally places each behind, and for all of the personnel you wish to rent, you even have to attend for lengthy gardening go away occasions to be adhered to so as to keep away from an excessive amount of crossover of IP.
Crimson Bull has by no means constructed an engine in its historical past, and solely partnered with Ford on battery know-how, whereas Audi may need success at Le Mans and Sebring however that was a decade in the past, pulling out of the WEC on the finish of 2016. That was a really completely different engine to the F1 one as properly – a 4.0L turbodiesel in comparison with a 1.6L gasoline– so whereas it has some useful expertise, it is restricted.
It is not that both is not succesful, however they only needed to begin later than everybody else on the grid. Take a look at Honda coming into F1 in 2015 with new know-how – it struggled massively, however you be taught by the R&D. That is what each Crimson Bull and Audi are focusing on, slightly than anticipating to be on the entrance from the phrase go.
Q: The F1 film begs the next query: What does Sylvester Stallone take into consideration Brad Pitt’s remake of “Pushed”?
Josh, Louisville, KY
CM: Ooooh, harsh Josh! Whereas there was a lot within the F1 movie that I did not like (you may learn my preliminary impressions of it from the primary viewing here) I additionally felt it was simply sensible sufficient to make sure anybody who watches it after which checks out a race for the primary time will see similarities. I do not assume it’s too far faraway from actuality to make that hyperlink, even when there are many Hollywood-style takes on many elements.
However it’s a film in any case, not a documentary. And it is designed to try to enhance curiosity within the sport, so has to attraction to individuals who would by no means have given the game an opportunity earlier than. To that finish, I assumed the hyperlinks again to the previous and the inclusion of present drivers/staff bosses have been good nods to try to give a bit extra depth to anybody discovering the game for the primary time.
I am certain you are still going to disagree with me on a few of that stuff. However hopefully we will discover frequent floor that no less than the crash physics have been based in actuality and Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pierce did not steal a few F1 vehicles from an occasion to race by London…
Q: Will the CW begin streaming Xfinity Collection race broadcasts on the CW app anytime quickly like what is completed for follow and qualifying periods? Is it of their contract that races are solely to be accessible by broadcast tv? Whereas I’ve not seen a lot on this situation because the starting of the season, this could be a giant assist to followers that reside in areas the place their native CW associates present different programming. It’s fairly ridiculous that one thing as straightforward as placing a race livestream on an app, which has been accomplished with FOX and NBC for years, and now with TNT MAX, can’t be accomplished in 2025.
Josh
KELLY CRANDALL: The CW doesn’t have any plans to start out streaming the races, and I did verify in to substantiate that since they’re solely doing follow and qualifying proper now. The frustration is comprehensible as a result of although the CW does attain quite a lot of properties, there are occasions when the native associates usually are not displaying it and I’ve seen that stated on social media rather a lot. However the app does even have reside in-car cameras in the course of the race if that’s one thing that pursuits you.
THE FINAL WORD
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, July 25, 2018
Q: Your piece on Morris Nunn is a delight to learn; very well accomplished. Components of Dale Coyne. Any good facet story you may inform?
Ron Ford, Muskego, WI
ROBIN MILLER: Bernie referred to as Morris for the F1 pre-season press convention and he declined as a result of he didn’t come up with the money for for the airplane ticket (I feel it was in Paris). So Ecclestone despatched his non-public jet to ship Mr. Nunn. Within the press briefing, Mo was requested concerning the coming season and stated it was trying shaky as a result of he had no sponsor and no prospects. Afterwards, Bernie learn him the riot act and stated: “Don’t ever inform individuals you don’t have any cash or any future. Simply lie till we will determine one thing out.” Then I imagine he gave Mo two new engines and $50,000. However I can inform you that Morris and Invoice Finley got here from the identical material – self-made racers that might do every little thing.
