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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 11.25
We've got a fever, and the only thing that'll satisfy it is More Mailbag. Here's the latest batch of Q&A items from the best Indycar scribe on the planet.
Mad Dog's Dallaras will soon resurface in the hands of Alex Tagliani's unfortunately named IndyCar team. (LAT)
Hello open wheel types and thanks for all your questions. I intend to answer your questions every week during the season, so just . Don’t feel left out if I didn’t directly respond. I appreciate your interest and passion.
~Robin Miller
Q: Your WIND TUNNEL report said: Tony George buying IRL? After all of the problems he’s back? Can’t Penske/Rahal get a group of investors (Letterman anyone) please. A fresh owner could at least institute the changes voiced by so many true open wheel fans. Do an IPO, we can all own it, works for Green Bay. Let NASCAR run it as a companion series until economy improves.
Robin Williams
RM: That's what I'm hearing, TG is working on taking over ownership and, like I said on WT, that would undoubtedly make his sisters happy since the IRL is a money pit. Penske and Rahal don't have the time or interest so maybe if TG reclaims what he founded, we'd get somebody besides Jack Long, Leo Mehl or Bob Reif.
Q: We haven’t heard much about what is going on with Tony George these days. Last I heard he was going to sell his mansion. What do you know? Also, what do we make of the rumors his family intends on selling the Speedway? Any news on that front?
Tim Shaughnessy, Knoxville, Tn.
RM: TG is scrambling to find sponsorship to keep Vision Racing up and running and he laid off about a dozen mechanics and one engineer a few weeks ago. He wants to run Ed Carpenter and James Davison (in Indy Lights). He may also be pursuing IRL ownership but the Speedway is not his to sale. Only his mother could do that and she's always maintained it is for her grandchildren (four of which are currently working at IMS or IRL).
Q: Just read that Ben Bowlby, who is the lead engineer for TCGR, is heading the design team that is creating what could potentially be the next generation ICS chassis. Much of the work is being done in Ganassi’s secret aerodynamic testing facility in a tunnel off the PA Turnpike. Anybody see a MAJOR conflict of interest with this if his design is chosen over the evolution of the Dallara?! Enlighten us.
Todd L. Whitehurst
RM: Well, first of all I have seen the car and the plans but I signed a confidentiality agreement so I cannot comment except to say that the said chassis is NOT being designed in that Pennsylvania tunnel. And, no, it's not a conflict of interest but I'll explain more in a couple weeks.
Q: I read that staring in 2010 the top four in the final ICS standing will get a FIA Super License. I was just wondering if the USF1 team would consider any of the top four in the ICS from the previous season? Ryan Briscoe has tested for the now defunct Toyota F1 team, Dario left after a championship for NASCAR, why not try F1? Granted the difference between an Indy car and an F1 car but if USF1 would consider a kid like Jose Maria Lopez who has been driving Touring Cars in Argentina for the past few years they should at least consider the best the ICS has to offer.
Ray Hando
RM: Reading between the lines, I would assume they're all too old for Peter Windsor's taste and I think he wants an F1 vet to tutor some young, hot Euro shoe. We had heard that Jonathan Summerton was in line for one of the seats but Windsor said recently no Americans in 2010.
Q: I know the IRL announced their 2010 schedule, but as with anything in the IRL I won't believe it until I see it. Will they open in Rio? And why in the hell is it rumored to be on that crappy street course with a nice road course next door? I have also heard rumors of the IRL wanting to add a second race in Brazil and the China double-header. Will these happen? It's nice to see the IRL keep their commitment to be "American made" (but I'm glad they broke it).
Crabby Chris
RM: All I know is that Terry Angstadt and Tony Cotman are in Brazil (again) as we speak, trying to nail things down. I would surmise that money is the likely hangup. The layout is by the ocean and it's not going to be a Cleveland or Edmonton but probably a typical street circuit. The old road course that CART ran in Rio has been leveled. China is on the radar, just like it was in Champ Car I imagine.
Q: Do you think we’ll ever see Paul Edwards or Patrick Long in an Indy Car? It seems like Long has a great relationship with Roger Penske but doesn’t seem to help get him to the next level.
Sue Daven
RM: No, despite their open wheel talent and good showings in Europe, both seem destined to spend the rest of their racing days in sports cars.
Q: Sorry for the short question, but why did Kyle Krisiloff stop racing. He ran Atlantics and some NASCAR events. I assume it was not funding.
Ralph, Indianapolis
RM: Never apologize for short questions, we need more of them. Kyle is going to IUPUI full-time and working part-time at the Speedway. He showed flashes of having the right stuff in Atlantics and ARCA but opted to get out after trucks (where I don't think he had much fun). He's a smart kid and he loves IMS so he and brother Jarrod will be running the show some day.
Q: I don't have a problem when the fastest car doesn't win the race. I do however have a problem with the pitting process. I hate how the first few pit boxes have such an advantage over those that are in the back. Logistically, it probably wouldn't be feasible to move boxes after qualifying - but at the very least, can they order them on the previous race results? I feel at minimum three races were decided in '09 based solely on the "holeshot" pit box location. I would love it if they copied a horse racing type format where they have a post draw, but in this case it would be a pit draw. To me it's a cheap way to make the racing more exciting.
Troy from Albany, NY
RM: I couldn't agree more. Briscoe dominated Texas this year but lost the race because Helio had that first pit stall. It should be rotated every race (every team should get it once) and I'd like to see a random drawing for pit position. The deck is already stacked and this is like piling on.
~Robin Miller
Q: Your WIND TUNNEL report said: Tony George buying IRL? After all of the problems he’s back? Can’t Penske/Rahal get a group of investors (Letterman anyone) please. A fresh owner could at least institute the changes voiced by so many true open wheel fans. Do an IPO, we can all own it, works for Green Bay. Let NASCAR run it as a companion series until economy improves.
Robin Williams
RM: That's what I'm hearing, TG is working on taking over ownership and, like I said on WT, that would undoubtedly make his sisters happy since the IRL is a money pit. Penske and Rahal don't have the time or interest so maybe if TG reclaims what he founded, we'd get somebody besides Jack Long, Leo Mehl or Bob Reif.
Q: We haven’t heard much about what is going on with Tony George these days. Last I heard he was going to sell his mansion. What do you know? Also, what do we make of the rumors his family intends on selling the Speedway? Any news on that front?
Tim Shaughnessy, Knoxville, Tn.
RM: TG is scrambling to find sponsorship to keep Vision Racing up and running and he laid off about a dozen mechanics and one engineer a few weeks ago. He wants to run Ed Carpenter and James Davison (in Indy Lights). He may also be pursuing IRL ownership but the Speedway is not his to sale. Only his mother could do that and she's always maintained it is for her grandchildren (four of which are currently working at IMS or IRL).
Q: Just read that Ben Bowlby, who is the lead engineer for TCGR, is heading the design team that is creating what could potentially be the next generation ICS chassis. Much of the work is being done in Ganassi’s secret aerodynamic testing facility in a tunnel off the PA Turnpike. Anybody see a MAJOR conflict of interest with this if his design is chosen over the evolution of the Dallara?! Enlighten us.
Todd L. Whitehurst
RM: Well, first of all I have seen the car and the plans but I signed a confidentiality agreement so I cannot comment except to say that the said chassis is NOT being designed in that Pennsylvania tunnel. And, no, it's not a conflict of interest but I'll explain more in a couple weeks.
Q: I read that staring in 2010 the top four in the final ICS standing will get a FIA Super License. I was just wondering if the USF1 team would consider any of the top four in the ICS from the previous season? Ryan Briscoe has tested for the now defunct Toyota F1 team, Dario left after a championship for NASCAR, why not try F1? Granted the difference between an Indy car and an F1 car but if USF1 would consider a kid like Jose Maria Lopez who has been driving Touring Cars in Argentina for the past few years they should at least consider the best the ICS has to offer.
Ray Hando
RM: Reading between the lines, I would assume they're all too old for Peter Windsor's taste and I think he wants an F1 vet to tutor some young, hot Euro shoe. We had heard that Jonathan Summerton was in line for one of the seats but Windsor said recently no Americans in 2010.
Q: I know the IRL announced their 2010 schedule, but as with anything in the IRL I won't believe it until I see it. Will they open in Rio? And why in the hell is it rumored to be on that crappy street course with a nice road course next door? I have also heard rumors of the IRL wanting to add a second race in Brazil and the China double-header. Will these happen? It's nice to see the IRL keep their commitment to be "American made" (but I'm glad they broke it).
Crabby Chris
RM: All I know is that Terry Angstadt and Tony Cotman are in Brazil (again) as we speak, trying to nail things down. I would surmise that money is the likely hangup. The layout is by the ocean and it's not going to be a Cleveland or Edmonton but probably a typical street circuit. The old road course that CART ran in Rio has been leveled. China is on the radar, just like it was in Champ Car I imagine.
Q: Do you think we’ll ever see Paul Edwards or Patrick Long in an Indy Car? It seems like Long has a great relationship with Roger Penske but doesn’t seem to help get him to the next level.
Sue Daven
RM: No, despite their open wheel talent and good showings in Europe, both seem destined to spend the rest of their racing days in sports cars.
Q: Sorry for the short question, but why did Kyle Krisiloff stop racing. He ran Atlantics and some NASCAR events. I assume it was not funding.
Ralph, Indianapolis
RM: Never apologize for short questions, we need more of them. Kyle is going to IUPUI full-time and working part-time at the Speedway. He showed flashes of having the right stuff in Atlantics and ARCA but opted to get out after trucks (where I don't think he had much fun). He's a smart kid and he loves IMS so he and brother Jarrod will be running the show some day.
Q: I don't have a problem when the fastest car doesn't win the race. I do however have a problem with the pitting process. I hate how the first few pit boxes have such an advantage over those that are in the back. Logistically, it probably wouldn't be feasible to move boxes after qualifying - but at the very least, can they order them on the previous race results? I feel at minimum three races were decided in '09 based solely on the "holeshot" pit box location. I would love it if they copied a horse racing type format where they have a post draw, but in this case it would be a pit draw. To me it's a cheap way to make the racing more exciting.
Troy from Albany, NY
RM: I couldn't agree more. Briscoe dominated Texas this year but lost the race because Helio had that first pit stall. It should be rotated every race (every team should get it once) and I'd like to see a random drawing for pit position. The deck is already stacked and this is like piling on.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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