Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers will 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: Any phrase on when the Dan Gurney books shall be obtainable? I’ve heard it was two volumes, and that Dan’s widow, Evi, completed writing years in the past. It is getting near the vacations; looks like an excellent time.
Ray Schmudde
MARSHALL PRUETT: The hope is by subsequent July’s All American Racers Reunion at Highway America. It’s being held on the identical date on the Nashville IndyCar occasion, and I really feel like there’s no want to clarify the place you’ll discover me that weekend.
Q: So 23XI desires to get Roger Penske and Rick Hendrick underneath oath about no matter subject they like within the NASCAR lawsuit. [ED: And it looks like they will.] What are some questions you desire to Penske to be requested and for him to reply underneath oath? For me, I begin with the finishes of 2002 and 2023 within the Indy 500, after which go full Tom Cruise on him about the entire P2P scandal.
Mark, Milford, OH
MP: First, my thoughts went straight to Chappelle Present with Roger going full Tron Carter and pleading “the FiF.”
So, with the Fifth Modification as an choice, I doubt a lot would get answered, however I’d like to know the sale worth of IndyCar and IMS, why the Will Energy relationship resulted in such an unlucky approach, and why the Jay Frye relationship resulted in such an unlucky approach.
The 2002 and 2023 Indy 500s don’t curiosity me as a lot.
Doesn’t imply I agree with the 2002 ruling; that win has all the time belonged to Barry Inexperienced and Paul Tracy, however I don’t take umbrage with Penske for doing every thing in his energy to get the end result he searched for his staff and driver. Large-time racing is all about partisan pursuits, waged by large firms and the rich staff homeowners they’re related to, to win at any price. Selections like 2002 violate my sense of honest play, however I’m not a child who’s shocked by such issues.
On 2023, I’ve by no means believed that was a Penske-related deal.
Q: What occurred to Beth Paretta’s plan to begin a staff, or at the very least companion with somebody? Simona De Silvestro was probably the most fashionable drivers within the collection however she by no means appears to search out the precise scenario. Do you suppose she’s going to resume her racing profession, maybe in Europe, after her Olympic journey is over?
Patrick, Brownsburg, IN
MP: Simona had an excellent factor going with HVM Racing till the staff was unable to get a Chevy or Honda lease in 2012 and had to make use of a season-killing Lotus engine. The Keith Wiggins- and Shane Seneviratne-led staff punched properly above their weight by means of 2011, died after 2012, after which she did an awesome job at KV Racing in 2013, taking 13th within the standings whereas teammate and 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan positioned 11th.
On her future, until a staff or producer desires to revive her professional profession, no, I don’t see it. Careers for veterans like Simona require consistency and momentum, and along with her flip to bobsledding, her identify hasn’t been referred to as a lot lately for four-wheel obligation.
On Beth, her final co-entry was with Ed Carpenter Racing in 2022 and I don’t recall why plans to return in 2023 with ECR or one other staff fell by means of. We spoke on the season finale and he or she was bullish about returning with one other part-time deal. With few exceptions, she was handled poorly by too many individuals whereas making an attempt to get a foothold within the collection. [ED: Paretta’s day job as VP of Sporting at Formula E might not leave much spare time to field a team right now].
Paretta Autosport final fielded Simona de Silvestro for six races in 2022. James Black/Penske Leisure
Q: Loved watching a few of the HSR Basic 24 at Daytona this weekend, and couldn’t assist noticing that just a few vehicles had some fairly heavy hitters onboard as second drivers.
Are the Le Mans winners and former IMSA champions simply on the market for the enjoyable of it, or can they nonetheless command a good payday at occasions like this?
Brad
MP: The outdated professionals undoubtedly receives a commission. Driving classic vehicles on check days, serving to groups with chassis setup, teaching non-pros/automotive homeowners, and racing in HSR occasions is how these you’ve referenced assist themselves.
Q: One more reason for Kyle Kirkwood to signal an extension with Andretti might be that he would grow to be the primary selection when Cadillac F1 is able to have two American drivers. What do you suppose?
Ray Schumin
MP: Kirkwood’s all about IndyCar. As I wrote just a few months in the past, if TWG Motorsports needed to carry its greatest American to F1, based mostly off of Andretti World’s 2025 IndyCar outcomes, it might have finished so with Kirkwood. If it was 2024, Colton Herta was the clear No. 1 American within the staff. The choice to go together with Colton says so much, specifically that if that is one thing Kyle needed they usually needed, it might already be taking place with an F2 seat and chasing Tremendous License factors.
I’d additionally wish to consider the TWG people are too clever to repeatedly strip the IndyCar staff and take its greatest expertise for the F1 program.
Q: Why not contemplate an excellent outdated American V8 for IndyCar? The NASCAR guys have loads of motors. Chevy, Ford, Toyota and now Dodge. These engines sound nice. Need to be approach cheaper than the turbo V6 at the moment getting used and we all know they may simply do 750 hp for 600 miles.
Sure, I do know the chassis would want some redesign however in the long term it might be far cheaper with 4 engine producers. Plus, an awesome buy-in to Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge vs Toyota wars. The parity within the motors is already there so no worries in regards to the steadiness of efficiency. The extra engines that Roush, Hendrick, Childress, TRD and Penske construct the cheaper for everybody.
NASCAR appears to be doing positive with out the expense of a hybrid system. In all honesty, does any race fan actually care a couple of hybrid system in a race automotive? The added weight of the V8 could be offset by deletion of the hybrid system. NASCAR makes use of Sunoco gasoline/ethanol whereas IndyCar use a Shell renewable, however I can’t see that being any sort of a technical roadblock. Are you able to think about 33 vehicles with non-turbo V8s from 4 totally different producers thundering down the entrance stretch at Indy?
Gary, Anza, CA
MP: It was two or three as a substitute of 4, however sure, we had 33 naturally aspirated V8s at Indy from 1997 (35, really, that yr) by means of 2011, so sure, been there, seen it, heard it. And at the very least throughout the early Indy Racing League V8 days the place the vehicles have been deafening like Cup V8s, no person cared and nearly no person confirmed up exterior of Indy. As soon as the swap to flat-plane crankshafts occurred for 2001 (I believe it was 2001), the pitch rose and the sound was much less throaty and conventional circle observe, for certain.
Previous to that change, historical past proved the romanticism behind making Indy vehicles sound like Cup vehicles was a business failure and a loser within the recreation of recognition. (The flat-plane change didn’t carry the crowds, both, however the timing was coincidental with a lot of the greatest CART IndyCar Collection groups leaping over to the IRL beginning in 2001.)
Quick ahead to right now, and with NASCAR persevering with to be way more fashionable than IndyCar, why would these producers spend the cash to race the identical engines in a collection with a smaller fan base and TV viewers? They’re already on the high with the vehicles and engines they use in Cup.
I’d quite see IndyCar develop a cool V8 of its personal to make use of than simply copying and borrowing NASCAR’s defining merchandise.
Q: When will IndyCar be at Sebring for testing earlier than St. Petersburg?
Rob
MP: February, particular dates TBD.
Q: Now that Caio Collet has been introduced because the second driver at A.J. Foyt Racing, what are your ideas on Collet as a driver, and what does his addition imply for the staff? Is he extra Malukas or Kirkwood, or is he extra a Benjamin Pedersen or Sting Ray Robb?
Tom Knisely, Blaine, MN
MP: He’s a unicorn within the sense that he’s capable of finding vital sponsors to pay for the seat and he’s a rocket. If Collet was in an Andretti NXT automotive final season, I don’t know if Hauger romps to the championship. Undoubtedly a quick and polished driver popping out of NXT. He’s acquired a heck of an oval tutor in Ferrucci and will greater than maintain his personal all over the place else. He’ll do dumb issues like each rookie, however I do anticipate him to face out extra typically than most would anticipate to see from somebody with no profile.
Quick cash. James Black/Penske Leisure
Q: Glad to see RLL keep in IMSA. Who do you suppose the drivers shall be? Any likelihood we see Graham Rahal get within the automotive for Daytona? Do suppose that this partnership will result in RLL again within the high class sooner or later?
For enjoyable, how a couple of second automotive at Daytona with Paul Tracy, Robby Gordon, Max Papis and Helio? I wager they win.
David
MP: Unsure if Graham would match. He’s 6’3” and that automotive’s roof comes as much as his hip. I perceive the one-car GTD Professional effort for 2026 may grow to be two in 2027, so that may be cool. Supplied McLaren does add IMSA GTP to its packages, you’d hope RLL would get an opportunity, however Zak Brown owns United Autosports which is working the WEC Hypercar effort, which makes me marvel if anybody apart from Zak’s UA USA outfit would get the American deal.
I’d like to see the outdated timers you point out, however they’d get destroyed. The 24-hours-of-maximum-attack that Daytona has grow to be within the professional courses is a unique factor.
Q: Absent from the announcement of Collet to Foyt was any point out of whether or not the alliance with Penske continues. Was {that a} one-year Malukas particular collaboration? Or does that proceed?
Fred, Indiana native dwelling in Missouri
MP: Tried connecting with Workforce Penske president Jonathan Diuguid final week however he was within the air to the Bahrain WEC finale. I’ll strive once more when he’s again in North Carolina.
Q: Since IndyCar and NASCAR appear to be getting nearer and nearer, like each being on FOX, how lengthy do you suppose it will likely be earlier than NASCAR races at Lengthy Seashore?
Mike Latino
MP: I can’t see it. They’ve shared broadcasters many instances earlier than…like final yr when each have been on NBC. Roger Penske and Penske Leisure personal the Lengthy Seashore GP the place Roger’s IndyCar Collection is the marquee race and IMSA is the co-headliner with a vastly diminished grid in an effort to slot in a secondary paddock.
NASCAR would want to kick IndyCar out of the primary paddock to suit its 36-40 vehicles, and that ain’t taking place. Solely approach NASCAR hits the LB is that if Roger and town resolve to carry a second occasion only for NASCAR, and I don’t know why Roger would do this until he needed to make the IndyCar race much less particular and fewer worthwhile.
Q: The primary few turns of the Mexico Metropolis F1 race kinda stunk. Fingers have been pointed all over the place. Max Verstappen knew what he did wouldn’t be overruled. Good for him.
However… A driver who’s taking approach too loopy an opportunity ought to have a worth to pay. If bollards have been positioned in these run-off areas, the penalty could be served – on the spot. No stewards’ intervention. Why not?
BoxsterBob, Monterey, CA
CHRIS MEDLAND: I do not suppose bollards could be a nasty factor in any respect, Bob, however I additionally do not suppose they essentially repair the issue. We have seen them utilized in run-off areas in various locations, and typically drivers cannot get throughout to go spherical them, or do not actually get penalized both (I am pondering Sochi as an analogous nook up to now, and even Barcelona now).
I believe it is clear one thing must be finished at Flip 1 in Mexico simply because it is a difficulty that happens typically, however I do not see why a gravel lure wouldn’t be a good suggestion there – it’ll gradual a automotive rather more than grass would. And I believe that may nonetheless meet your standards of serving the penalty there after which.
Verstappen was one of some drivers who discovered detours by means of the primary corners in Mexico. Mark Thompson/Getty Photographs
Q: In Brazil, Max Verstappen had three enhancements between qualifying and the race – setup modifications, a recent PU, and many new unused tires. What share of enchancment would you attribute to every?
Ken
CM: The setup was clearly a giant enchancment given how unhealthy the automotive was previous to the race, however so too was the ability unit. At altitude (second highest behind Mexico Metropolis) and on a observe that basically requires robust efficiency on the run to Flip 1, to have the ability to run the ability unit aggressively could have paid off, so I might go 90% throughout these two facets (maybe 60% set-up, 30% PU).
The one new set of tires he used within the race that he won’t have had have been the softs within the last stint, and if he hadn’t had the early puncture on the hards then I believe he won’t have used these anyway. He nonetheless theoretically may have completed in the identical spot with out that final pit cease (though I believe he was pushing so arduous all race the drop-off would have been actually large), so I would even be being beneficiant saying 10% is all the way down to the tires.
THE FINAL WORD
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, November 13, 2013
Q: You confuse the heck outta me typically. It looks like nearly each week a fan writes in to the Mailbag asking for extra innovation, velocity, new aero kits, and new engine producers. But, you retain saying “I do not suppose these modifications would make a distinction in TV viewers figures.” Nicely, I utterly disagree. IndyCar must be listening and embracing what the followers are desirous to see of their sport.
I do know, I do know: “Hearken to the followers and you will find yourself being one,” proper? Sorry, however on this case, I believe it is time the IMS board listens to the followers as a substitute of a advertising and marketing agency who counsel a highway course firstly of Could! We desperately want innovation. I like when the Chipster acquired Ben Bowlby to design the DeltaWing. And kudos to Ben, he was progressive, however he forgot the automotive wanted to be open-wheeled automotive in an open-wheel racing collection. Whoops!
As for velocity. I noticed Sneva hit 200 mph and it was a BIG deal. That was 36 years in the past. As a child, I believed for certain I would see the 250 mph mark by the point I used to be an outdated man. Nicely, I am 48, and the very best we will do is a 237 in 1996? Why are we going backwards? Pitiful!
Here is the deal… we want a game-changer, rapidly. Velocity, innovation and know-how are COOL! It is what IndyCar needs to be about 12 months a yr! Heck, I am extra excited in regards to the FIA Components E developments occurring, and that makes me mad! I would like IndyCar to be on the forefront in racing! Why aren’t we the premier collection? I’ve watched extra F1 races this yr…and I do not like highway/road programs. However these vehicles are badass, they usually’re enjoyable to look at.
So… what do you REALLY suppose will transfer the needle? The one factor I’ve seen you write about is to open up the rulebook. Are you able to and Marshall Pruett put your heads collectively and provides us your high 5 concepts to enhance IndyCar?
Mike Mammoser
ROBIN MILLER: Individuals cannot inform the distinction between 200 and 220 on the observe, not to mention on tv, and I am simply making an attempt to have a look at this as a non-fan. What would make me drive to a observe? The velocity may, adopted by totally different vehicles, however I need to watch passing and arduous driving and IndyCar has that, nevertheless it does not make any distinction.
Individuals hold assuming observe data and 6 totally different sorts of vehicles will instantly have folks flocking to races or their TV units, and I am saying the one individuals who appear to care about this stuff are already watching IndyCar. Certain, if the principles opened up and also you had Ford, Audi and Dodge coming to city, it might generate extra advertising and marketing and extra curiosity. And if the Indy 500 purse paid $1 million to begin and $10 million to win, perhaps McLaren or Pink Bull would construct a automotive. I liked the outdated days and I stooged for the final roadster to make the present with my hero Herk, however these days are gone. No one desires to construct a automotive until they’re assured there will not be any competitors. It is unhappy and it sucks however I am afraid that is the truth. At the very least for now.
