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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Drivers Weigh In On Media Relationships
After the latest Kurt Busch controversy in NASCAR, SPEED asks a selection of IndyCar drivers why things rarely get ugly with the open-wheel media.
All 6' 4" of Justin Wilson, left, believes size has something to do with IndyCar drivers being less bold with the media than the larger pilots in NASCAR. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Kurt Busch's aggressive response to Bob Pockrass from The Sporting News last weekend at Dover caused a media firestorm, and also led to the 2004 Sprint Cup champion receiving a one-race ban from NASCAR.
It also helped to highlight the differences between how top NASCAR drivers like Busch, and Tony Stewart, who voiced his support for Busch's actions, occasionally interact with the media.
In the IZOD IndyCar Series, threats and terse exchanges between drivers and the media are a rarity, and other than SPEED's Robin Miller getting slapped by A.J. Foyt in 1981, no one can recall a Busch-like incident in the decades that have followed.
Asked why IndyCar drivers don't pick fights with the open-wheel media, a group of drivers offered a range of funny and thought-provoking answers.
"They're all Sato-sized," said Justin Wilson, IndyCar's tallest driver at 6' 4", referring to Japanese driver Takuma Sato who, on a good day, hits 5’ 4” and 117 pounds.
With far too many IndyCar drivers falling short of 5’ 10” and somewhere south of 150 pounds, Wilson thought self-preservation might have something to do with the difference between drivers in both series.
Compared to their taller, heavier counterparts in NASCAR, Wilson might have struck upon the real reason IndyCar drivers tend to be so polite to the media.
France's Simon Pagenaud, who drives the No. 77 Hewlett-Packard car for Schmidt Hamilton motorsports, supported Wilson's theory.
"You guys are too strong," he said, referring to the size disparity between many IndyCar journalists and the diminutive drivers they cover.
Three-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti hit upon another aspect that plays a significant part in the peaceful interactions between IndyCar drivers and reporters.
"It's a pretty friendly environment,” he said. "I think we all tend to get on pretty well with each other, and most of the full-time [reporters] know us personally, or at least have worked with us long enough that things are pretty easy both ways."
Andretti Autosport's James Hinchcliffe echoed Franchitti's sentiments, and also offered a secondary reason why he's never gone down the Kurt Busch route.
"I think things are positive between the IndyCar drivers and the media, but I also think we can't afford to have that kind of situation happen here," he said, pointing out IndyCar's more fragile position in the market place.
"And, to be honest, I've yet to have a reporter ask me a question that’s made me want to act out like that..." he said with a laugh.
Hinchcliffe's teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay joked "None of us own jets...," drawing attention to the income disparity between NASCAR and IndyCar drivers, which could also play a role in why open-wheelers do their best to avoid behavior-related penalties and fines.
"Seriously though, I think you have to look at the economic differences," RHR explained. "It's just not worth it."
If most IndyCar drivers tend to lean towards the passive side of things, one took umbrage with the notion that he’d shy away from conflict.
“Who says I wouldn’t want to fight?...” said two-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, who lit up with an ear-to-ear grin when he was asked the question.
After learning to defend himself against much bigger foes in his native New Zealand, the scrappy 2008 Indy 500 winner would be a great ally in an altercation, but says he prefers to keep his pugilistic skills to himself.
“Yes, and to be clear, I wouldn’t get in a fight with a journalist…” he confirmed.
It also helped to highlight the differences between how top NASCAR drivers like Busch, and Tony Stewart, who voiced his support for Busch's actions, occasionally interact with the media.
In the IZOD IndyCar Series, threats and terse exchanges between drivers and the media are a rarity, and other than SPEED's Robin Miller getting slapped by A.J. Foyt in 1981, no one can recall a Busch-like incident in the decades that have followed.
Asked why IndyCar drivers don't pick fights with the open-wheel media, a group of drivers offered a range of funny and thought-provoking answers.
"They're all Sato-sized," said Justin Wilson, IndyCar's tallest driver at 6' 4", referring to Japanese driver Takuma Sato who, on a good day, hits 5’ 4” and 117 pounds.
With far too many IndyCar drivers falling short of 5’ 10” and somewhere south of 150 pounds, Wilson thought self-preservation might have something to do with the difference between drivers in both series.
Compared to their taller, heavier counterparts in NASCAR, Wilson might have struck upon the real reason IndyCar drivers tend to be so polite to the media.
France's Simon Pagenaud, who drives the No. 77 Hewlett-Packard car for Schmidt Hamilton motorsports, supported Wilson's theory.
"You guys are too strong," he said, referring to the size disparity between many IndyCar journalists and the diminutive drivers they cover.
Three-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti hit upon another aspect that plays a significant part in the peaceful interactions between IndyCar drivers and reporters.
"It's a pretty friendly environment,” he said. "I think we all tend to get on pretty well with each other, and most of the full-time [reporters] know us personally, or at least have worked with us long enough that things are pretty easy both ways."
Andretti Autosport's James Hinchcliffe echoed Franchitti's sentiments, and also offered a secondary reason why he's never gone down the Kurt Busch route.
"I think things are positive between the IndyCar drivers and the media, but I also think we can't afford to have that kind of situation happen here," he said, pointing out IndyCar's more fragile position in the market place.
"And, to be honest, I've yet to have a reporter ask me a question that’s made me want to act out like that..." he said with a laugh.
Hinchcliffe's teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay joked "None of us own jets...," drawing attention to the income disparity between NASCAR and IndyCar drivers, which could also play a role in why open-wheelers do their best to avoid behavior-related penalties and fines.
"Seriously though, I think you have to look at the economic differences," RHR explained. "It's just not worth it."
If most IndyCar drivers tend to lean towards the passive side of things, one took umbrage with the notion that he’d shy away from conflict.
“Who says I wouldn’t want to fight?...” said two-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, who lit up with an ear-to-ear grin when he was asked the question.
After learning to defend himself against much bigger foes in his native New Zealand, the scrappy 2008 Indy 500 winner would be a great ally in an altercation, but says he prefers to keep his pugilistic skills to himself.
“Yes, and to be clear, I wouldn’t get in a fight with a journalist…” he confirmed.
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