Welcome to the racer’s mail bag. Any questions from the racer writer are: mailbag@racer.com. We love hearing your comments and opinions, but letters containing questions are likely to be published. Any questions received every Monday after 3pm will be saved the following week.
Q: When AJ Foyt Racing loses a wheel gun failure with David Malukas’ gun, is this the normal time to get another gun? Or is the difference between Foy Racing and Pensuke or CGR, is that the guy on the other side of the wall ready to hand it over to a tire changer?
About Andretti. I’ll fill him from the top 10 by taking the possibility of Colton Hertha’s top 5 finish again and not coming to the tire early on at the penultimate stop (the one before the rain sprinkles). I just don’t know what that team is doing. They appear to drop six shooters on their own feet in almost every race.
Jeff Smith, Penn State University
Marshall Pruett: It had a very Abu Dhabi 2021 f1 feel. It didn’t make sense for the leader to pit the tires on Sunday. I’ve stopped before the attention recently, but it all makes sense to see if everyone else can take a new tire and realize they have the advantages of the tire.
Note that the rainfalls at Lap and Lap 209 in 195-196 was that Paloo, McLaughlin and New Garden were raining at Lap 209. The new tires were giving peak grips at around 20-25 laps, so the top three spent the second half of their final stint on a grip disadvantage without warning. What really helped was Rasmussen’s situation when the pits opened on lap 213, when Indycar sent out a sweeper to clean up the truck, so he ran through 250 lap 221.
These slow laps behind the pace car were beneficial to Palou, McLaughlin and New Garden, who extended the tire lifespan, but ended up in the hands of those who stopped through lap 221. With only 29 laps left, most new sets were fantastic with 20-25 laps, and there was no concern about a major drop-off of the glue and I was in a position to run hard on the checkered flag.
Leaders were on the countdown clock until the tires were completed, with 13-14 hard laps on new tires before extended attention. Parow, who had been paying attention, stayed before Rasmussen with 13 laps – 26 races laps on tires. If the attention was short, Rasmussen could have reached that drop-off point in 5-7 laps. However, the way he played by going green on lap 222 ensured that Riser and Forerrs were there, leading to a thrilling finish.
At Voyt, I was surprised that the changer on the bottom right had to jump and get his own replacement gun. As for Andretti, Harta pitted from fourth on 195 laps and again at eighth on 213 laps. Here’s what Colton had to say: “This was a pretty up-and-coming day. We didn’t do much. I think once we had the reboot, the race was pretty stagnant, which is a shame.
Q: Do you wonder when and where Tim Sindrick will resurface? I have not come across anything specifically about this issue anywhere else.
I speculate that there may be some kind of contractual time passage (e.g., non-competitive clauses, if they are still legal).
Tom Fitzgerald, Las Vegas, Nevada
MP: I briefly spoke to Tim at Laguna Seca two weeks ago. He looks good and enjoys being a father and husband. He has been so successful after running a major racing organization for 30 years in a row that he wants to enjoy life without a certain amount of pressure or travel for the first time.
Current status: Cold. James Black/IMS
Q: I’ve been a fan of IndyCar since the early ’70s, so I know that I’m no longer in the target demographics, but I’m also passionate about sports as someone in the Northeast.
I know Mark Miles said they haven’t returned to the trucks they’ve been to before, but 2026 is a great opportunity to return to Watkins Glen! NASCAR was screwed by moving the cup race to May (not inferior to Mother’s Day)…Pence and Fox need to get that open date in August and promote it.
Please listen. IndyCar was not a great attraction between 2005 and 2010, but most of those years were still IRL with 17 car fields and constant date changes. In 2016, Glenn was filled with the last minute of the Boston fiasco and was drawn to the full. The weather in 2017 was as scary as a crowd…the people there saw a very good race.
My idea: Double header. Qualifications on Fridays with one practice and a short course. Saturday morning, there will be a short course of 90 lap races. On Saturday afternoons, we will change to a longer course for practice and qualifying sessions. On Sunday, there was a 60-lap race on a long course.
Just like the Indy NXT, we’ll add Trans Am as a separate support series. B-list country rock acts will be doing it with a Saturday night concert. (I am a blues guy myself, but this area is in country pop/rock).
As long as I’m throwing Hale Mary, Watkins Glenn could also help with a 50% reduction in camp prices in this race… They’ve been crazy for the past few years.
Pensuke and Fox, make this happen!
Scott Wallace, Endicott, New York
MP: I’ll be in the heartbeat.
Q: I knew there was a widespread debate about Marca and power, but what do you think is the urgency to move Marca to Pensk?
My understanding is that Malukas has a multi-year contract with Penske. So, what is the harm in keeping him with Voyt for another year to acquire the seasoning? Other teams cannot sign him, is it correct?
Regarding the Quick Driver Changes made by the Formula 1 team this year – Liam Lawson, etc. – Do the IndyCar team feel that the drivers who influenced their career hopes at IndyCar are too fast?
Finally, looking at Paul Tracy on the Racer Network, I wonder if Sim Racing has influenced this generation of drivers and Sim Racing has no results, so have they driven more risk/drives in races? There’s no injuries, no damage to the car, no end to the day. Your thoughts?
Rick, Miami
MP: Responding to Power/Malukas questions is something I’ve written in MailBag in recent weeks about not understanding the urgency…
Theo Pourchaire looked like he would be something special, but it was cut when a better business deal came. Linus Lundqvist was one of the collateral losses from the introduction of a charter system, losing his seat for the reasons necessary to reduce the team and was paid to drive, not a funded driver to buy a seat on another team.
No, Sim Racers don’t take any more risks. If so, they’ll be constantly crashing. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. But they learned to drive in a very different way that is not tied to the 100% physical sensation methods used in the first century before simulators became standard.
Q: Nashville, Firestone will place large tractor tires in 1 and 3 in order to start practice. No low line is being performed.
Let’s have fun. In the final race of the year, the driver or crew members will be lowered on the turn, turning the big Az tires into low grooves. The winning team has won awards from racers. Penske Entertainment CEO Marky Mark Miles has always said that the tracks craze around Indycar and race. Thank you Fox and we say we’ll reach out to the truck.
Ron, Speedway
MP: This sounds like a show wipeout! This is a great mashup to consider for IndyCar.
Q: I love the new Corvette concept car. A close look into your dreams. Isn’t it great that the Corvette plays against Le Mans Porsche as a hypercar? What do you need from the GM front office financially, politically and what do you need to do to make that happen?
We also see that Roger Pensuke drove his personal Porsche 963 RJP. A lucky bastard. Was it a gift from Porsche? My question is how good the race car drivers were. Does any of his modern times speak of his abilities in a quiet tone? Has he been driving a Pensuke race car for years? I settled on riding the simulator.
suggestion. Record the history of the camera in the car. (ed: We did Something along those lines (Just a few weeks ago). I have become a huge fan of Australian supercars (racers). I think they started it in the standard definition era. How will race fans live without it today?
Peter Malone
MP:GM will go up against the Cadillac and Le Mans hypercar Porsche, and against the Corvette and the LMGT3 Porsche. I think they can change the badge. Yes, Roger’s 963 was a gift from Porsche. His initials are on top of the car. I have heard his contemporaries speak with respect about his driving skills. He drove a Porsche RS Spider LMP2 car a few years ago.
I’ve talked about the in-car camera before. Can they still be used on the Inside Internet?
This is the Porsche RS Spider, and that is the captain of the wheels. Getty Images
Q: I think Christian Rasmussen has a new villain in Indycar. He pissed me off, he knocked out Connor Daly from a race in Portland, but he left me to the edge of my seat as he passed Alex Pallow and polished the wall three times to try and rap the car.
I don’t remember seeing a lot of people in the Milwaukee Mile races and I can hear the screams of race fans cheering for Rasmussen, so I see a lot of Paul Tracy, which is good and sometimes bad for the series, by not remembering listening to the engine.
Alistair, Springfield, MO
MP: I recall drawing the rage of Ed Carpenter, who was Rasmussen ten years ago, and Ed Carpenter due to the overly aggressive movement of his egg.
And now Ed has a wild stallion in his stable, which belongs to the same club. And Ed said at a post-race press conference in Milwaukee: “People talk about things they don’t like everything they do. We don’t ask him to change one thing. He’s attacking, aggressive, and restless about anything.
Q: As for Scott Dixon, I know everything you said is true, as everything you said is lost a bit of their incredible 10/10 ability in qualifying.
However, in a recent podcast with Paul Tracy, (ed:and Weekend racer.com stories),, Scott mentioned how much the weight of the hybrid system affected his ability to drive to the limits…that is, qualifications. With his incredible skill, I found it very interesting that he still struggles with this compared to other drivers.
Ed Kelly
MP: I don’t doubt what Dixie said. But how would the hybrid weight that appeared in the first race on July 7, 2024 describe one pole of 17 races in 2022, with the 9 races before Midohio on July 7, the 2023 zero pole, and no hybrid?
There is no doubt that the rear weight has worsened because the rear weight prefers to tilt the car’s balance towards the car’s nose, but the hybrid weight has not suddenly turned many poles into a lack of results.
Q: Let the fairgrounds know that they did an amazing job when it comes to television appearances and great racetracks and race! I hope to be there next year – ask them to provide a lot of mobility disordered parking and seating.
Dave
MP: I’ll get it right.
Q: Can IndyCar survive on a spec engine without manufacturer involvement?
Michael Veretta, Ontario, Canada
MP: Of course. But if all the manufacturers’ money is gone, Pensuke/Fox will have to decide how they will move forward without a race hosted by Chevy and Honda, without major ad spending from brands on television, online, print and radio. Teams with close ties with the brand will need to find cuts or new money to cover the cost of the engine lease, as some teams are not given an invoice and others will pay some or all of the rates. The manufacturers can use millions of dollars of loop-in drivers and millions of dollars of driver sims that drivers can use prior to all races, so teams need to solve something like simulator time.
The manufacturer serves as the main financial arteries in the race series, far beyond the simple supply of engines.
Q: I took part in the Milwaukee race and thought it was amazing. The weather was great, the race was exciting, the crowd was big and enthusiastic.
The eggs indicate that they are not dead at all and require proper promotion. There was a state fair fan zone, plenty of places to eat and drink, and plenty of live music. The race didn’t require expensive country music stars, talented local cover bands and a great atmosphere.
The state fairs make Milwaukee a bit unique, but there’s no reason why they can’t repeat their success elsewhere like Iowa. What do Milwaukee attendees estimate?
Kevin P., Los Angeles, California
MP: I spent a bit of time in the fan zone on a Sunday morning, but I couldn’t see any clear sidewalk behind the grandstand. I think there were 150,000 to 20,000 people.
Milwaukee has got a full house worthy of it. Chris Owens/IMS
Q: If Will Power is not re-signed by Penske, I think he’s a perfect fit for Arrow Mclaren. Siegel could become a great IndyCar racer in a year or two, but his season has been miserable up until now. I don’t know why there was no talk of the power being offered his seat to Aroma Claren. Can you give me your thoughts?
David Lind of Alexandria, Louisiana
MP: The reason there is no talk is because the team said they are continuing their current lineup of drivers.
Q: Why did Rasmussen get past Palou and Scottie? No one else with fresh tires could have accomplished it?
Paul, Indianapolis
MP: His car was better treated and he was more aggressive.
Q: I would like to get your ideas on the final “Stay Out or Pit” decision for the IndyCar race in Milwaukee. From a strategist perspective, what thought processes do they go through when deciding whether to come to or be outside in such a situation?
As for the outcome of the strategy, the only real winner in that exchange was Rasmussen, and Paloo/Newgarden appeared to be a strategic loser. It seemed like everyone else was more or less finished in the place they were in front of the sun shower. Did the 10 teams call a bad strategy or did they just make the right call to them and get beaten by someone else? Palou was definitely still fast, he missed 8 seconds from McLaughlin in third place.
The situation was almost everything else, just like fueling races and Dixon in Parow, as he set Rasmussen simply to Rasmussen? Knowing how everything unfolds, do you think 10 teams will change their decisions?
Stephen, Las Luces, New Mexico
MP: Classic hindsight race. The drivers behind the top three or four had nothing to lose – they weren’t going to get over the leader – they pitted and were rewarded. Palou pitted 13 laps before attention and was ready to go all the way to the end. In hindsight, like Lewis Hamilton, he should have fought for the pits while leading Abu Dhabi, but it’s not something that comes to mind as clever or natural, giving up on track position while leading gambling. The only part of the 10 teams that came to mind was nothing but victory. I was in Milwaukee if I had the time to try crazy and pit from the lead on a 13-lap tire. But in other circumstances, no, they did the right thing.
Q: There’s nothing against Nolan Siegel, but it’s still bothering me that Theo Pourchaire made such a raw deal with McLaren. “Teddy Porkchops” showed a real promise and was fun to watch. Siegel seems a bit above his head, and am I wondering if McLaren now regrets their decision? Is there a chance that Teddy will return to the series, or did the ship sail?
Steve, Michigan
MP: I think we sailed, but that’s a shame.
Q: I’ve always been a huge Alexander Rossi fan, but I feel like Rasmussen’s amazing victory in Milwaukee was the last nail in the co-op of his career. Are you looking at where he goes from here?
Paul, Glasgow Scotland
MP: It doesn’t look like that. He was loved by the team and loved by Rasmussen, and finished in fourth. The perfect day for age ECR. Rossi managed to win easily in Nashville this weekend. Now he’s scaring people the same way he did on his rocket fast peak with Andretti? no. But this is not a binary situation. The team has the next generation of Rockets for Christians and the elite veterans for Alexander. I won’t change anything. Let’s revisit at the end of 2027 and see where things are with Rossi. He’s 35 years old and I’m projecting a bit here, but if he’s interested, you can see his future with team leadership with ECR, at the point where he wants to retreat from driving.
Knowledge and intelligence and influence of all the important things that bring excellence to ECR and another team’s team will affect too many important things, losing your post-driving contributions.
Rossi’s work with ECR is nowhere near. Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: We understand that Honda is considering options to continue with IndyCar. If they don’t update, how will that affect Chevrolet? Do you think a single manufacturer doesn’t have the resources to support all your teams?
Markska
MP: Chevy has all the resources to support the entire field. Just watching Revs and Power come down to promote lifespan, and the lease will be reduced from four engines to two or three, helping to widen the engine pool to cover all cars. I think the lease price will also go up. Manufacturers will subsidize each engine lease. This is easy to justify when competing with other manufacturers, but if Chevrolet competes with itself, it’s not clear whether GM will give the same high level of funds for the program.
Q: Sunday’s race in Milwaukee was the best race of the year and one of the best races after a while! Christian Rasmussen’s driving was absolutely amazing! Early on, I thought something was wrong with his car or he was going to put it on the wall. He hangs it and the oval edge driving style was fun to see.
Alex Paulow’s pass was epic! And praise for Palou. He not only allowed him to pass, but also fought hard for the victory! Rasmussen’s drive reminded me of a few drivers early in my career that I enjoyed watching. Jody Shacker from the Porsche 917 and Formula 5000 (1973), Formula Atlantic (1976/77), Gill’s Villeneuve from the Camaro Master Carl Schaefer (1970s-80s)… There are all those who had similar styles of races on the Atlanta roads in the 70s. Christians have a bright future. I’m so glad that Ed Carpenter saw the possibilities! I’m a new fan!
Tim, Germantown, Tennessee
MP: The good old “Razzle Dazzle” was exactly who you saw on Sunday through the USF Championship Ladder and the Indy NXT march. Pure, raw, and non-apology speed. Certainly very Jill.
Q: I saw rumours that Alex Palou is on the Red Bull radar for the second F1 seat…Does it have teeth on it? It’s a top-tier car, but is Alex interested in playing second only to Max Verstappen and his destroyed Formula 1 career?
Also, I just have this idea floating there. What happens if Penske takes Verizon to Prema when he loses power? They need funds, have facilities, and he has knowledge of how to win. It would be quite a story for him to take them straight to the front.
thought?
Joey, Florida
MP: I don’t know what Red Bull is interested in or may not be interested in. However, anyone who is not interested in making drivers available to F1 teams is Chip Ganassi and doesn’t need Red Bull money. Verizon is signed by Penske Team Penske. If they choose to sign another place with him, I will need to image a contract with Penske, but I will have to allow such a thing, but that is not his money. Verizon loves him, so it’s not like he’ll continue on with another team. Something heartwarming.
Q: Aside from Will Power, are there any other drivers who have seats up in 2026 due to a new contract?
James
MP: Only what we wrote The recent silly seasonal stories.
Q: Did Keefin Simpson feel a slight power before/guiding him to his wreck? I don’t know if he chose the wrong side after trying to rap him many times, or if he’s been blocked.
WIS, West Allis, Atilla Veyssal
MP: No.
Q: So Honda won’t commit to IndyCar. Will the new 3.4L twin-turbo Gibson V6, directed by the LMP2, fit the next generation IndyCar chassis? Can I adjust it for about 700 horsepower?
I’ve been hearing all the reasons IndyCar needs Honda and GM, but I haven’t seen it. They (Honda, mostly) claimed expensive hybrid units, which were at best large zero, and after going their way they are not happy yet. Already rip the band aid.
Maybe the Nissan-based Gibson V6 is bigger and heavier than the current 2.2L engine, but with the exception of the unnecessary hybrid units, I think it’s the laundry. Without the cost of a hybrid, another engine would be economically viable. Time to go in a different direction.
Oh, and with ignoring hatred, working hard, and making some great efforts in the NASCAR Cup Series garage, Katherine Reguet has huge props.
Mike, Marietta, Georgia
MP: IndyCar provided hybridization to the manufacturer. Honda said yes. It was written in the supply agreement. Honda kept Indycar in a written, legally binding word. IndyCar is responsible for hybridizing to IndyCar.
The new Gibson engine is bigger than the new IndyCar engine and is not designed to mount on a new car. I’m sure if someone wants to bankroll a lot of changes to it, they’ll slurp in there.
It’s an IndyCar hybrid. Stickers never lie. Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: Has anyone spoke to Race Control regarding the reason why the four warnings were called in order? My friend and I sat on 4 turns and it was nothing at all. We felt it, looked up, and it was over. As soon as the yellow was called and the sweeper was unfolded, I knew it had ended for the front runner who didn’t pit.
It was a single small cloud cluster that was quickly blown away from the sky. I think the total truck temperature and strong northwest winds have neutralised the truck moisture. We joked that they closed the roof for a brief time at a Brewer baseball game (just east of the miles) so Race Control had to copy them.
More seriously, do rain and humidity rules differ depending on the type of truck? I noticed that topics similar to IndyCar’s F1 virtual safety car are sometimes covered in MailBag questions. Perhaps this was a time when similar options were made? I’m all for the safety of the driver and crew. Indycar is excellent at this. If the real reason for the yellow was the famous David Hobbs “Krag,” then that’s understandable. I hope there’s more incredible explanations.
Everett, Milwaukee
MP: It’s not one of the weights of whether you’re one small cloud or two over time… If you’re seen raining hitting an Aeroscreen in an oval shape, you’ll stop racing. Yes, the rules vary for different types of trucks. Road and street courses are treated differently from oval shapes.
Q: When will IndyCar get a new chassis? Can I open more rulebooks in addition to the new chassis? When there were multiple chassis, I loved it and had more freedom. My car is boring today.
PS Patooward is correct about Detroit trucks.
Steve, Rockford, Michigan
MP: Welcome to IndyCar! New chassis for 2028. Open more… how? You’ll be disappointed to find out that it’s a single supplier plan with a new car, just like your current car.
Q: When I first discovered carts from the Catalan side of the world between 1997 and 1998, the coverage here was very limited. One of the things that helped me learn about sports as a teenager was the Auto Course Kart Yearbook, led by Jeremy Shaw. They were done beautifully and served as beautiful memorials for those years. Of course, I have them all. (And they even translated it into Spanish for several years!)
As someone who is obsessed with the history of sports, I am now trying to buy an old yearbook. I just got the men and machines from Indycar Racing between 1991 and 92 and definitely try to get more of them. But why don’t you have an IndyCar yearbook anymore? The Champ Car yearbook ended in 2006, but I don’t think IRL has progressed at all. F1 has at least a couple every year.
I know that the publishing scene is not the same as 30 years ago, but I think the IndyCar Yearbook is supposed to happen. What do you think?
Jordi Domènech
MP: I read an interesting article in the newspaper earlier this week. This said there was a recent 40% decline in printed materials (books, magazines) being sold. So we are not in a hurry to make IndyCar’s first year, NASCAR, or IMSA.
The IRL had Indy 500 years, doubled the year during the season. I have most of them. And most auto courses since the 1970s, most of IMSA, and almost all of the cart/champion car 1st. I hope to become an item again annually, but I fear that tradition will disappear.
Q: I’m afraid of the worst – even worse than Michael Schumacher: Is there any news about Alex Zanardi? It seems that he’s been years since even the news was mentioned.
Please let us know. thank you!
Pineapple Head/DFW
MP: That’s not the topic I’m following. Alex’s wife Daniela is kind enough to provide an update when they feel guaranteed, and I respect that and hope others follow suit.
Q: With the talk of the need to reduce more ovals and crowd attendance, it reminded me that I’m sure I’d been kicked before. How short is the oval shape?
The race at Richmond looked pretty solid in the past. Iowa could also be pretty decent. Are short tracks like 5/8 mile IRPs possible? Saturday night’s 300 lap will be with the silver crown and midget as the silver crown and midget pack the house. Or perhaps pairing up a Half Mile Khan County truck in High Bank in Bakersfield after Long Beach or before Laguna Seca? They were able to do it on Undercard on NXT, along with a perhaps another regional tour series.
Technically, the more different the markets it is from other markets, it may seem technically farther. But are they too short?
Mike, Brownsburg
MP: Great questions, great ideas, and I don’t know the length. But if Indycar sees a truck, if they are long enough to run 27 cars without putting them on top of each other and feel that safety standards meet the standards, I have to believe they are open to the concept.
This is where your journey to the IndyCar schedule in Kern County begins. Jonathan Moore/Getty Images
Q: Do you have any insights into how promoters think? This is about the Io Wine Dicar race and its low turnout.
I don’t think it’s the afternoon start time as NASCAR filled the place a few weeks later. I looked up ticket prices for recent races and the grandstand ranged between $70 and $130 for six. (You can buy 10% a few months ago.) It doesn’t seem to work. So, if the promoter returns, would you consider selling all the seats in the house for $30? It will probably be within the range of a local dirt track race on a Saturday night.
If it’s not generating at least the same revenue, you know that they are not interested in the product and time to find another venue.
Rick Navratil
MP: I know a lot of race promoters and I’ll talk to them as much as possible so there may be some vague ideas. In cut rate pricing, it all depends on the series and whether trucks like Iowa are paying for the racing series to come to town with NASCAR, or whether series like IndyCar are paying for Iowa trucks like in July.
Q: Why don’t you get 6 fast qualifiers with an additional set of tires for use only in the final qualifying session? It reduces the disadvantages of racing tires as it is fast six.
Mike, Houston, Texas
MP: The answer is a bit less interesting, but they get what they pay from Firestone and the current contract does not include additional tire set allocations. It wouldn’t have been a big deal in the old days when tires were free and fully funded by Goodyear and Firestone. However, as there is a real budget, distributing unpaid tires is not part of the business model because we work internally.
Q: CGR shared a video clip of the car’s testing at Nashville Super Speedway on August 19th. How does this work with regard to the rules of IndyCar? Do opportunities for “closed” testing rely solely on the abilities of the team, including truck rentals? Are there any restrictions on how often, how long or where such closure tests occur? Is it common for a single team to test it at the venue before future races? Do technical alliance partners usually take part in these test sessions?
K. Campbell, Nashville, Tennessee
MP: There is an open series test for all teams, a private test, and choose the team that has approved the track to use to try and learn what the team thinks it is beneficial. Andretti went to Portland in three cars shortly after the Laguna Seca, using, for example, one of the Private Days. Same as Ganassi in Nashville. My guess is that the team pre-selected Nashville and could be a place for a championship showdown in 2024, although the car was good, not great. It makes perfect sense when choosing a venue in advance, but as we know, the only value of this test is that third Dixon in the championship distances from Lundgaard in the fourth. The second thing that catches O’Word is a big stretch.
Yes, there are very intentional limitations on when, where, where, and with fewer personal test days, the team has very intentional restrictions on where they are being used. As for technical partnerships, yes, certainly. Within Ganassi and Meyer Shank there is a cross-team plan where five combined cars arrive at a particular truck and test and learn to get five benefits. It’s the same as a five-combined car with Penske and Foyt.
Q: Today’s email inbox included a press release from Penske Media Corporation (PMC) along with other great articles from MailBag and Racer.
I understand that this is Jay Pensuke’s wheelhouse and not part of Pensuke Entertainment, but a loyal IndyCar fan since 63.
This is especially true when he is actually on a very short list of two-thirds of ownership heirs left in IndyCar, IMS and Penske Entertainment. This revelation will give us a candid pause on all the excuses given now and in the future regarding Penske Entertainment’s ability to promote events like Iowa and other Indy Car racing.
PMC is at the heart of the world of entertainment prints and appears to have a wealth of contacts from that domain. (This helped me to better understand how “I’m Indy” Gene Simmons was once part of the Penske Indycar/IMS era in 2006 at IRL.)
Steve, Bonner Springs, KS
MP: Jay and Dragon Racing left Indycar for Formula E more than a decade ago, so we’ve never seen him or heard of his involvement in Indycar since his father bought the series and Speedway. His PMC business has become stronger and has been able to blend both worlds for a long time, but that’s another area where I have never seen external evidence of PE and PMC cooperation. If they have or do now, I just don’t know it.
Before Fox’s buy-in, yes, PMC considers IndyCar a potentially strong media ally. Fox’s new investment brings a much stronger media entity in the building.
It’s been a while since I had the excuse to run a Dragon Racing Indy Car shot. Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Last week we invited readers to respond to a letter asking about eggs that had changed elevation. Here are some examples of the response:
Re: An oval shape with an altitude. I think there’s a change in elevation in the Nazareth Track where the high point came out from turn 3 and the low point was in the middle of turn 2.
Brad, Yorktown, Indiana
To a question from Janis on MailBag last week, the only thing that immediately comes to my (old) mind is that Ontario’s Motor Speedway is being abolished. It appears that I remember that the backstretch was designed to be higher before turn 3 to make it easier to see from the front stretch. I might be wrong.
Mark, Colorado Ski Country
Is it important to climb into Monza (or Avus) banking? I’m too young, but did Trenton change a little in the kidneys? How about counting hollows on a rangone? The North Turn Transfer from Daytona Beach to Pavement?
Abraham Jimross
There were several elevation changes in Nazareth. ESPN SpeedWeek has a lap-on camera car, showing changes in elevation. Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas had a backstretch that was much higher than the front stretch. This makes it much easier to see from the grandstand.
Mike, Houston, Texas
You can think of the three that hosted the IndyCar race. Ontario Motor Speedway, Twin Ring Motegi oval, Walt Disney World Speedway. All three returned straight, rising higher than the front straight, to promote better gaze.
Jeff, Sherylsford, North Carolina
The Dover Mile is located on flat Delaware land on pool tables. But it really is the shape of a bowl. The exterior walls are almost consistent rims, but the bank has a 24-degree turn. Look at the boarding camera and see how the car falls to both ends and climbs the hill straight up. I’m not a NASCAR guy, but I’ve been to a few races and two IRL races. Watching Richard Petty all the way down the wall while I was 12 years old is something I will never forget.
Dave
Janis, from Florida, asked if there was an oval shape at an altitude. yes! It exists, but there is still. I’m not talking about elevations like Road America or Laguna Seca, but the fact that there are ovals like Ontario Motor Speedway and the rear is higher than the front is for better viewing. This meant that the short shot between turns 1 and 2 went uphill, and the short shot between turns 3 and 4 went downhill.
Next is the North Wilkesboro Speedway, with a prominent downhill on the front straight and an uphill on the back. The oval hatred doesn’t seem to understand the surprising kind of egg, despite the stereotypical NASCAR cookie cutter. There was banking on one end, and flat banking on the other end, with different degrees of banking, or different types of banking, different radii (e.g., oval, D-shaped, diamond-shaped). Add dirt tracks with different surfaces that change as the conditions do. I need to explain why short track oval races were so popular. They are almost not the same.
Jim Thurman, Mojave Desert, California
Nazareth was part of the “altitude change ellipse” club. David Taylor/Getty Images
Q: How many advance notifications will my team receive for schedule releases? As of 10am on August 20th, it was checked at 10am. All Marriott hotel rooms in the Greater Dover area are sold out race weekends…
Sean, Maryland
Kelly Krandoall: It doesn’t sound like they’ll get too much notice. From my understanding, by the time NASCAR starts to send it to the team, it’s only a few minutes to be sent publicly. The driver says the same thing. When everyone else does, they’ve heard about it and see it on social media.
Q: Will you ever see NASCAR collisions or All-Star races on the road course?
Chris Feigler, Latham, New York
KC: I’ve learned to never say anything in this business. Since both are Fox Sports races, it’s a collaboration of what they and NASCAR want, and what they feel best suited to them.
Q: If NASCAR is to keep up the playoffs, this is my crazy idea::ET removes playoff points completely. Instead, copy baseball and use strikes.
- Drivers who claim multiple wins are eligible for the playoffs without strikes.
- A driver with a victory and five top five will qualify for the playoffs on one strike.
- The 16-driver playoff grid is completed in two strikes with the best placement drivers.
- The other drivers have been on three strikes and have been provisionally out of the playoffs.
- All races:
- The winner of the race will remove the strike.
- The best placed driver with three strikes has also been removed from the strike.
- The worst three drivers will be struck, except that at least four drivers are not hit.
- If five or six drivers remain, all drivers with strikes will be hit forever.
Ignacio, Uruguay
KC: There are many ideas and many discussions from the committee compiled by NASCAR. But in the end, television also gains a voice. I was hoping something would be implemented in 2026, but when NASCAR talks to its TV partners, I get the impression that NASCAR is not going to do that. But again, we can guarantee that there will be a lot of conversations within the industry about potential changes. Personally, I would like to get the first 10 or 12 drivers in points after the regular season and do that, which is the 2004 original Chase format version.
Q: Despite moving to Michigan a few years ago, I have been attending all major racing events at Watkins Glen since I was 2 (28). Over the years, grass and gravel were removed and asphalt spills expanded into the walls, so I have to peel off.
I understand the desire to limit cars buried in axles, but I think NASCAR, which has no truck restrictions, has really made the quality of racing on tracks in the series. Certainly you can still pass 1, but the car is now able to drive 100m deep and have a much shorter brake zone.
Are you curious if I’m the only one who feels this way, and if restrictions are enforced, or if there’s any debate about updating the “self-enforcement” track? (It actually works.)
Jared
KC: NASCAR is an interesting case study because it does not like to be involved in making rulings on truck restrictions and not being involved in telling drivers what they can do. I think there is a divide between drivers who don’t believe that truck restrictions should be an object, and those who believe that they should be forced to stay on the course because that is the course for a reason.
Q: I think NASCAR has moved the 2026 race at Watkins for Mother’s Day. Are they serious?
I would say that I am a lifelong resident of upstate New York and can have camps about 20 miles away from the truck, but May is often the rainy month of the year. And while there isn’t much snow, Mother’s Day snow is not unheard of. Did NASCAR consider the unpredictable weather with this move? When we get our usual wet May, there’s an infield where 90% of our fans will be muddy by Saturday morning.
On top of that, one of the big things driving the good attendance that the race enjoys is probably having the most trackside camp of the NASCAR track. When schools are still in progress and the average cold temperatures in May are in the late 40s, I don’t know if there are so many camps.
I know that NASCAR owns the facility and can do anything they want, but did they think through this?
Rick Carpenter of Wayne, New York
KC: Well, I think they’ve been thinking about it, and they’ll tell you what they have. Jusan Hamilton, managing director of NASCAR’s competitive operations operations, said NASCAR looked at weather data points after the announcement of the schedule, and that it was averaged in the 70s at the time, and that the chances of rain were relatively low compared to August. Hamilton also said the school is still in meeting at that time, so they believe that Central New York’s population is much higher and that “you could reach a non-typical fan demographic over the summer.”
Q: Will Kathrine Legge be riding full-time in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Parts series or NASCAR Cup series?
Kurt Perberg
KC: I haven’t heard anything. It all comes down to funding and what she brings to the table. Currently, she appears to be putting together a deal to run a handful of races, but it will take more time to bring her to the team for a full-time ride.
The final words
August 29, 2018, from Robin Miller’s mail bag
Q: I love the stories of past drivers. Compared to some of my ’60s or ’70s readers, I was the old-fashioned ’80s, and my first introduction as a teenager was the 1985 Indy 500. I know he gave TV commentary in the late 90s. Do you know what he’s been doing lately and what good stories are you talking about? As a side note, I believe I was one of the few people who actually enjoyed acting on Miami Vice, so I’m sure I was a dedicated fan!
Doug Thorne, North Richland Hills, Texas
Robin Miller: Recently, Danny has played a lot of golf at his Pebble Beach home, traveled the world with personal appearances, played a bit of Formula One steward when asked, and enjoys being Danny Sullivan. I think his best story is the patience he showed to make it as a race driver with a sudden odds. He is a good man and a good ambassador for IndyCar.
