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.
Ed’s note: Chris Medland has been taking a few days off this week, but I saved my F1 questions for him to answer next week.
Q: When did your practice session become a “free” practice session? FP1, FP2. etc? Why don’t I see free practice sessions in my event calendar?
We’ve reached a big milestone in case you missed it. After one of the most recent articles, the comments section went all the way to the fourth comment before it became negative. This beats an old record of three comments before it gets negative. It’s an amazing thing that “fans” can complain about everything.
DA, Chicago
Marshall Pruett: February 29, 1999. Love yourself more and don’t read comments.
Q: With Malukas leaving Foyt, is there still a technical alliance between Foyt and Pensuke still in place? If it is still in place, will James Schnabel still be in Voith and he will return to his 14 cars? Maybe the engineering shuffle isn’t perfect and there’s a season so far. We hope that 14 cars will have top engineers. Maybe it’s Armbrester, but 2025 suggests that Santino benefits from Schnabel more than 2025’s Armbrester in 2024.
I have a rather negative view of Voith in 2026, based on the lack of technical relationships in place. This is a recipe for Foyt to return to the back of the grid. With the mix, Daly rejoining the team and adding all the rumours that come with it among the drivers, I rarely get excited. I hope my imagination is doing tricks on me.
Oliver Wells
MP: I asked Team Pensuke’s President Jonathan Diwgid about the continued technical alliance last month, but he refused to provide an answer. That doesn’t mean the answer is no, but if so, there’s no reason to obscure the facts.
Schnabel and Ferrucci were magic in 2024, and Schnabel had the same effect on Marcus in 2025. We hope that one of Pensuke’s veteran race engineers will be promoted to a higher role, promoted from the timing stands, and Schnabel will step into that stand as a race engineer. Is that the same as Marcus, number 12? With McLaughlin in number 3?
Ferucci really liked the transition to Adam Kolsar as a race engineer when Armbrester was promoted to technical director, and Kolesar was used to his role as of June, giving him time to develop. Without Pensuke’s involvement, the team will retreat. I hope that the Technical Alliance will continue.
Q: Ten years ago, I went with my now husband to my first IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway. My husband’s first race was his first year on the track after getting free tickets from his college peers. I was immediately hooked when I saw the cars flying around during the qualifying rounds. We never forgot how happy his friend Bill was when Ryan Hunter Lee won the race. Since then we have traveled to Road America, St. Louis, Nashville, 500. All of these events were special in their own way, but you miss the race in your hometown (I live about 45 minutes from Newton).
There was always a fair amount of heat exhaustion, but we always had a KOA pool and the races have been great for years! From hatred of the year of concert to the final partial pavement of the track, it was painful to see all the negative comments about the track over the past few years. With that gone, we feel like we’ve driven the old dog out of its misery.
When dealing with pain, it’s useful to remember good times, right? One of my favourite memories was watching New Garden destroy the field in 2016 with plates and broken hands on his collarbone. What a show! What were your favorite memories of IndyCar at Iowa Speedway?
Liz, the proud Iowa transplant
MP: I love your perspective here, Liz. You are right, and the longer you are a fan, the bigger the cemetery will be with the beloved events and trucks that have left us. Ryan Hunter Ray owns Iowa, and amid his victory there, the real thriller was dominated by Tony Canaan in 2014, but RHR and some others rolled the dice with slow attention and ripped the field with new tires. RHR took the lead from TK on two laps. This was wild.
It also solidified its move as a go-to decision to follow all the short-sights of the future when faced with similar circumstances. Christian Rasmussen’s victory in Milwaukee last month was a perfectly executed Iowa 2014 playbook.
Q: I am extremely encouraged by the cooperation of NASCAR and INDYCAR in the Phoenix doubleheader race next March. That made me think about other possible doubleheaders that could enhance IndyCar’s schedule.
I think Indycar can bring back the Iowa Speedway race by doing double headers with NASCAR.
The geographical area in which IndyCar can improve is located in the northeast, which is not currently present. If IndyCar teams up with NASCAR over the weekend, is it possible to either Watkins Glen and/or New Hampshire?
In your opinion, what was it that Fox suddenly said it opened the door to NASCAR’s cooperation with IndyCar?
Kevin P., Los Angeles, California
MP: Fox is extremely important to NASCAR. There is a strong voice of influence as they host the first 16 events of the season, including the Daytona 500 (12 races and qualifying and All-Stars).
I keep hearing that the Phoenix Mashup will not be invaded much over NASCAR weekend. If what I was told is correct, Saturday’s Indy Car Race is not a feature, and the warm-up before the Xfinity race (renamed the O’Reilly Auto Parts series in 2026) might have the look and feel of a USF Pro 2000 running the USF Pro 2000 before the Indy Nxt. And if that’s the case, IndyCar will come and go in and out immediately. This can be an interesting experience for a series that is new to being an opening act.
NBC will air the Iowa NASCAR event, so it’s hard to imagine how it will work.
I hope that Phoenix’s double headers are the beginning of something good. Chris Greiten/Getty Images
Q: Is it wrong to think that David Malukas could potentially become Kevin Cogan 2.0 on Penske? Disrespectful doesn’t make sense, but it appears there are multiple similarities.
Vincent Michael, Richmond, Virginia
MP: You may need to do AJ completely to pronounce Malooooooooooooooo, as he did with Cooooooooogan.
Davy could be an unwinning experiment like Pensuke’s Kogan in 1982, but I don’t think the separation between Marca and Newgarden/McLaughlin would be something seen between Rick Mears (Pensuke’s champion with four wins from 11 races) and Kogan (6th place with one pole and two podiums).
At the same time, that season from New Garden/McLaughlin can’t think of any more time to help the team get out of the wilderness by introducing wild cards like Marca. If this were the late 2010s when New Garden and Pageno and Power were molly flooring for everyone, Marcus would have been eaten alive.
But will a team that appears to have lost some of its identity in 2025 search for a new identity with new leadership? The best time to try out new streaking talent and see if he can add anything new and dynamic. And if he goes on the cooooooooo route, lord, some heavy batters have been in the free agency since 2027.
Q: As someone who has followed races for most of my life and hasn’t been able to watch the race, why was Dr. Jack Miller so bad in the early days of what we call the NTT IndyCar series?
Kurt Perberg
MP: He was a human who usually gets taller in the form of a race where no humans were found. I raced for several years with junior open wheels and touring cars when I was in my early 20s. I can say with total confidence that Dr. Jack will destroy me and almost everyone on the planet of motor racing.
But between Indylight and IndyCar purebred racers, he stood out as a human being among most of the elite talents. He participated in three Indy 500. I will ponder that for a moment. For everything Dr. Jack “Racing Dentists” was lacking, it wasn’t the ball.
Also, consider him working full-time. And family. And there was no iracing. Or a simulator. Or pitfit. Make everything that humans use today, become an IndyCar driver with potential non-stop training and data, review the endless onboard for reviewing and living with SIMs with engineers during the race, and make it endless onboard. It did not exist in Dr. Jack’s time.
The older I get, the more I appreciate what he accomplished. He was reflected by fans, media and other drivers, as there weren’t many people like Miller at the time. The rise of professional am racing – mainly in sports cars – Dr. Jacks today is not at all unusual in the racing world. But in his time, Miller was a misfit. (ed: If you want to hear about the career of a racing dentist yourself, please check it out An interview with him For several years. )
Q: I’ll just jump here to say my wife and our three boys are traveling to Arizona for the IndyCar race in March. We make it a week’s trip. I just bought all 5 tickets and they are very reasonably priced. For all fans in the Phoenix area, access those seats so you can keep Phoenix on a schedule! I would definitely think the lace is great in the short oval packaging. I look forward to seeing my first race in Phoenix.
Lake in Paul, Hills, Illinois
MP: IndyCar’s short oval race was the best race every year, so we can’t wait to see what we have at Phoenix. Before the race weekend arrives, off-season testing will need to be done to set aero and tire specifications. The event marks its 50th year of visiting Phoenix Raceway for the IndyCar event. I don’t know if it’s cool or gloomy…
Q: I had some questions after the IndyCar 2026 schedule was released.
Will the Mexican race win another shot? What is the possibility that it is happening in 2027?
Iowa is definitely dead and went to IndyCar? Or will you see them come back like you did in 2022?
Conversely, will Phoenix stay here? How strong is the deal between IndyCar and NASCAR on the weekend of shared races at this particular venue? Also, as we are holding the second race on our 2026 schedule, have you heard of any test dates that will happen soon?
Is it still a requirement to finish the IndyCar season before the NFL season begins? If so, I remember there was talk about starting the season earlier this year a few years ago to avoid the six-month offseason. Has this been taken into consideration now? So, what is preventing IndyCar from spreading other races in the middle or early February or accordingly?
Finally, can INDYCAR adjust the schedule, like F1, to arrange a schedule to try to minimize travel distance between races in the future? If the new 2028 car is more expensive than the current DW12, isn’t this a smart way to save your team money? This is just an example, but let’s take a look at the first five 2026 races in St. Pete, Phoenix, Arlington, Barbour and Long Beach. Isn’t it theoretically possible to switch between Phoenix and barbers?
Xavier
MP: Mexico gets another shot. (There’s a 43.7% chance that it happens… why would I know the odds, brother?)
Iowa is dead. (There’s a new grocery story chain called Vy-Hee coming up and don’t pay stupid money to sponsor that.)
Phoenix stays here. (For at least one race in 2026. The marriage must be completed before predicting how long the union will last.)
A test date will occur. (When should I ask.)
Yes, it’s still a requirement. (But that’s not the case if no one wants to see it.)
The longstanding issues, including 2025, were the first race following the next race. (This was resolved over three consecutive weekends to open the season in 2026, so go back to spreading things?)
Yes, IndyCar can schedule your trip to minimize travel distance. (However, NASCAR hasn’t changed Phoenix weekends for this, so yes, but no.)
Also, if the IndyCar team needs to save diesel fuel to buy a new car in 2028, the series is doomed. (No, seriously.)
Iowa was fun while it continued. Travis Hinkle/IMS
Q: 1. Why doesn’t IMSA have a local yellow? (I was at Watkins Glenn and for three hours of the race it was fcy).
2. It seems like no one can pass the Pensuke Porsche without hitting another car (please ask Grosjean).
3. Do you feel like someone else was holding “Mr. Zoomy,” his hands, a pit lane camera bouncing off the crew and others?
David, Pennsylvania
MP: 1: IMSA has local yellow. 2: That’s what it is, right? 3: Seven people feel annoyed, but Mrs. Zoomy loves it.
Q: I’ve just reviewed an article about the new schedule and wondered why Indycar events are in demand. One comment said the Indy 500 was the only profitable race on the schedule.
Weekend events like Long Beach and Road America both attract large crowds, but aren’t they useful? Does that sentiment about the series not require enough demand to manifest or is the promoter unable to make money?
As much as I hate losing a short oval like Iowa, it was no venue other than a sponsor other than a local Hy-Vee. I went to Baltimore for the Grand Prix years ago and it felt like Long Beach with a great crowd. I was shocked that the event was discarded.
Finally, I read the mention that the Washington DC race is checking the checkbox to cover the northeast. Can someone read the map already? Racing in that area is great, but it’s awkward that IndyCar can’t attract a decent crowd to one of our most legendary venues, Watkins Glen.
Wildman, Missouri
MP: You believe that my parents will raise me, raise me, send me into the world and find my way. Kill me now.
Q: When the 2026 IndyCar schedule was announced, there were clearly important social media comments. The ones that thrust me were a few people in Detroit smacking dogs. Now I openly admit that I wasn’t a fan of the first Downtown Street Race. But I have changed my opinion ever since.
To me, Detroit is an interesting race. It’s street race, but not like St. Pete or Long Beach. For Detroit, it appears that drivers don’t race with other drivers as much as they race the track. Essentially, you survive the track and compete with others for positions when possible. It’s like 50% races on the track, 30-40% races other drivers, 10-20% Mario Kart.
What are the drivers’ feelings about Detroit?
John Balestrieri, wait, Wisconsin
MP: That’s a great perspective, John. The drivers I enjoy most tend to thrive there. Since my first visit in the 1990s, I have loved the town. I’ve also lived for years in the really rough parts of San Francisco, the really great parts of SF, and the rough/nice parts of Oakland, so I’m comfortable in both environments.
I appreciate those experiences. But that’s not something that many IndyCar drivers have experienced, so I understand why they don’t see appeal in Detroit. I’m mentioning all of that because feelings about the place can certainly affect my views on race and events. I have never heard many flowery comments from the majority.
Q: Is there a possibility that DRR will have more IndyCar races besides the 500? They seem to always post novels that make you wonder.
Casey
MP: I asked DRR a few months ago and there was a familiar expression of interest, but there is no wise path as an entry that is not guaranteed. With 27 grid caps, the DRR must qualify someone to perform the race. It’s difficult to do without constantly tracking.
Q: With the desired Mexico City race being suspended from the 2026 schedule, were you wondering if consideration was paid elsewhere in Mexico? It’s all Indycar is expanding its fanbase, but plans to host this event at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez are doing the same thing that Formula 1 does every year, so it’s a bit flattering with me. Rather than following other series in the wake of it, I’d like to see IndyCar differentiate itself.
I understand the perks of the AHR circuit – I assume it is the highest quality venue in the country and at the largest population center. I am not underestimating the importance of these factors. But are there other legitimate venues that can support the IndyCar race?
I’m clearly new to what other options might exist. Pat is from Monterrey and I think the cart/champion cars were doing street racing in the early 2000s. The main goal of this may not be to attract American vacationers, but to run street circuits in tourist destinations like Cancun and Puerto Valerta. Are there any ovals with the right facilities? I think that Indycar can really introduce the new population as something different.
Tom, lemon,
MP: I’m sure other venues are being discussed, but I only know that Mexico City is the main focus. Unless there is a sudden change in tone, IndyCar wants a turnkey event in Mexico, and it’s Autodromo Hermans Rodriguez. This year, we host F1, Formula E and NASCAR, and we will be showing up outside of the Racing Series and need races. Every other place requires a lot of heavy lifting and I have not seen the series go into making their own new, large productions somewhere in Mexico.
Autodromo is like IndyCar’s Airbnb. I walked into a lovely rental for 3 days and 2 nights in Mexico City before heading home.
Airbnb review: No bit noise and private bathrooms, but still highly recommended. 5 stars, I’ll stay here again. Zak Mauger/Getty Images
Q: I have a desire to race in Mexico City. Are you considering returning to Monterrey, where Kurt and Champion cars competed in, despite being the most populous city in Mexico?
First of all, it is Pat’s hometown, so the crowd is probably even more wild and cheers on the boy from his hometown. But on top of that, it’s different from simply running on an F1 track that’s likely to see people comparing lap times between IndyCar and F1.
Alan Bundy, Salvar, Pennsylvania
MP: See above.
Q: I don’t understand the lack of Northeast races. If IndyCar can partner with NASCAR (enemy No. 1), why can’t they partner with IMSA in Glen to race Saturday six hours ago?
And this whole thing avoiding the NFL is a joke. With the NFL on, the world of sports is not stopping. It’s just stupid. NASCAR, NHRA and IMSA will continue through October. Indycar looks like a scary little kid about this. Thank you, Boston Consulting.
Derek, Rochester, New York
MP: All the validated data showing that IndyCar will be killed in TV ratings if he opposes the NFL… fake news? NASCAR has been more popular than IndyCar many times, so it has posted strong numbers. That’s an exception. There are enough fans to lose some in the NFL without getting any big ratings. That’s not the case with Indycar. IMSA is hammered if it goes against the NFL. The same goes for NHRA. If the debate going on is that Indycar should ignore what’s best for the team and sponsors and charge in September and October, then while football owns the airwaves, it’s a great way to harm the series.
Also, as we entered September, we ignored the fact that Fox was dedicated to college football and the NFL. I write this on a Saturday morning. It was a pre-match show all morning before 11pm or five straight college games. With Big Fox. The same happens on similar Sundays, but all mornings and afternoons before moving on to the Simpsons and the rest of the nights of non-sports programming. But yes, if you ignore that there is absolutely no weekend space available at Fox during the football season…
IMSA does not want an IndyCar race on one of Marque Endurance’s weekends at Sahlen’s 6-hour Glen. The Michelin Pilot Challenge Series is a feature of Saturday’s races.
Q: One of the things I have a tendency to grind my gear about racing across the board these days is that I’m always looking for teams and series to find more ways to improve my race, but I rarely see any fundamental changes in the tracks other than resurfaced, or the tracks themselves other than the occasional corner repriling.
With all the advancements in data and analysis, teams will come out knowing exactly how to navigate each circuit, unless it’s a whole new track or not in use for years.
My question is, other than cost, why do circuit layout changes rarely occur, especially on tracks with multiple possible configurations? I understand that it is expensive, but cars tend to race on tracks and make racing more predictable if the track doesn’t change. I’m not saying I do this every year, but I think we should require the circuit to keep up with the car to keep things fresh. NASCAR appears to be the only major series that tends to lean towards this philosophy (Cota Short Course, Bristol on Dirt, etc.).
I would like to get your ideas on this.
Paul, New York
MP: You answered your question with the question “I understand it is expensive.”
It is also worth sharing that the track does not direct the racing series. If a short or long course is used wherever you are, it is a series and a truck call, and a series is a series with the power to reject anything you don’t like because Indycar, NASCAR, or IMSA brings the product with you.
The comprehensive idea here is the fixed environment for trucks, fields and courts to play by cars and athletes. Players and machines are evolving. So, predictability isn’t an issue every year, at least in the three series I mentioned.
Iowa Speedway, 2024. Team Pensuke is the dominant force of that track. Scott McLaughlin wins in the first race, with Will Power winning in the second race. Are there any of the same trucks, new pavements this year? Pat O’Ward wins the first, while Alex Pallow wins the second. The wild occurs in two races in a fixed environment.
Q: After the announcement of the IndyCar schedule, Long Beach sent an annual email regarding ticket renewals and general sales. Usually they have a complete summary of the support series that already exist, but this year they just said, “There’s a support series that’s coming soon.” Their schedule hasn’t been posted yet, so we are us Finally Will NXT be returned to Long Beach?
Jacob, Southern California
MP: I heard it might be 2027.
Q: I have a question about the offseason. While being safe, thinking about your new car and your goals of losing weight and gaining horsepower. Are you thinking of removing the air pressure jack system inside the car from your car? The system is probably a low CG system, but not too light. Maybe 20-30 pounds? Most seater series use the front and rear of the manual jack to raise the car. The pit stop may be slow, but that’s the same for everyone. thought?
Andy R, Detroit
MP: Interesting thoughts. The pneumatic cylinder is not heavy, so it doesn’t save much weight. The problem here is the pit stop. F1 CARS PIT SOLO, with a ton of space front and rear for using the manual jack. IndyCar usually has multiple cars with tails from the nose, where everything, if not most, can be holed at the same time, with little or no space left to enter or exit without a long lever-based manual jack. The F1 jack operators know that it’s in itself getting in the way and out of the way, but there’s more open space to get back to them, and no pit walls to block them either. For now it’s much easier to stick to what works.
Q: One of the items thrown out of the Maipenske catastrophe was the establishment of an independent authorization body. Maybe I missed it but I haven’t heard any more about this since. Are there any updates you know?
Larry Miller, Key West
MP: Just What I wrote on Racer.com.
Q: Why is Rinus announcing the world that he is leaving DCR, unless he has a landing spot?
Gary from the road
MP: Yes.
Q: Simple question: Why don’t you have an app? Or am I an idiot?
Tom
Mark Glendenning: If it means “Why don’t you have an app on Racer.com,” the answer is that we do. Racer + app (Available here) It is intended to stream racer network content, but requires a news feed from Racer.com. Its content is only accessible in a rather rudimentary format, but there is ongoing debate about building a more fully functional news element.
The final words
September 23, 2014, from Robin Miller’s mail bag
Q: Do you remember Senna was undecided in 1992 whether he would drive for McLaren, and he tested one of Pensuke’s indie cars with Firebird? Just guessing, how do you think Senna did with Indy?
Late vertices
Robin Miller: Emerson Fittipaldi was trying to convince him to come to the race at a kart, which is at least an Indy 500, so he seemed keen on the idea after the test. Driving for Pensuke with his talent, I think he was doing well. Can you imagine Mansell, Senna and Fittipaldi in Indy?
