INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 2.1

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 2.1

Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.

Robin Miller | Posted February 01, 2012

Hello open-wheel types and thanks for all your questions. I intend to answer your questions every week during the season, so just email me at . Don’t feel left out if I didn’t directly respond. I appreciate your interest and passion.

~Robin Miller

Q: I’ve just read the SPEED article on Rubens Barrichello and his test at Sebring. I think he would be an outstanding addition to Indy Car. I firmly believe Formula 1 is the pinnacle of open wheel road racing, but I’d put IndyCar right there behind it. Right now IndyCar is trying to grow its fan base and what better way to do that than with Formula 1’s iron man? Barrichello has more Grand Prix starts than any other Formula 1 driver in history and is respected by many, but ultimately age cost him a seat in Formula 1. With IndyCar there are plenty of promising young drivers who deserve a shot as much as Barrichello, but I would argue that IndyCar is trying to grow the sport and Barrichello will probably sell tickets or generate TV ratings. That makes him right for Indy Car. If he likes Indy just don’t let him near anything with a roof on it. We don’t need to lose another talented Indy Car driver to NASCAR.

Ryan in West Michigan

RM: As I wrote last week, he’s the same age as Nigel Mansell was when he left F1 for CART and certainly appears to still have the fire. Rubens is also a delightful person and, as you pointed out, a very big name in global motorsports so, yes, it would be a nice addition for INDYCAR.

Q: What are the chances of Rubens joining the series and do you believe he could help by proving it’s more of a professional series and bring more awareness? Do you think he’d be successful like many F1 drivers before him? What's new on Newman/Haas, have they decided to join ALMS like Conquest? Can Hinchtown pull a Jacques Villeneuve and win Indy and championship? It’s like history repeats itself since they both had similar rookie season and now same number and both Canadians.

Kevin, East Hanover, N.J.

RM: If the funding can be found I’d say it’s 100 percent but not sure if he’ll run the ovals (promised his wife he wouldn’t) but I can’t imagine him not being in the Indy 500. Somebody wrote last week and said did I think Barrichello would come over here and I said no because of the ovals but maybe he’ll do what Seabass did last season. Newman/Haas is currently assembling Jay Penske’s Indy cars in their shop but haven’t heard of any other plans as yet. Hinch could be a factor everywhere with Andretti.
Q: Haven’t heard any more news about Jean Alesi driving in the Indy 500 is that still happening and now with Rubens Barrichello testing could we have (2) former F1 Ferrari drivers in the 500?

Tony, Mamaroneck , NY

RM: It appears that Alesi is definitely coming to Indy with Lotus and, as I said in the answer above, if Rubens drives an Indy car I can’t imagine him passing up Indianapolis.

Q: Just wondering what INDYCAR and the Speedway are doing during all the Super Bowl excitement? Are they taking advantage of all the people in town? Events at the track to draw in tourists in town for the game. Did they manage to get an opportunity to place a new Dallara outside the entrance to Lucas Oil Stadium? Get Franchitti, Power, Kanaan, Castroneves and some of the old timers in town for a Speedway themed party in conjunction with the NFL? That would all be pretty cool.

Dave Long

RM: There was a big media bash at IMS last night and every NFL team has an old Indy car painted in its colors and on display around the city. Steve Shunck of INDYCAR took Marco Andretti to the track with Jimmy Fallon for a little feature and Graham Rahal is doing something with CBS in addition to his visit Sunday morning on ESPN’s NFL Countdown.

Q: What is the expected life of the new car? Not, how long will a car last, race after race but how long until a new formula is announced allowing anyone to build a car and submit it for testing and used for racing? Will we have to watch the current 'new' car for the next 10 years or will there eventually be more than one manufacture (allowed to be) involved in more than just aero kits? Also, why can't INDYCAR just announce that they are open to anyone building a car as long as it meets the requirements for safety and formula? And the same for an engine supplier? Why must the engines only be Honda, Chevy or Lotus? Why can't Joe Racer build his own one off engine and run it as long as it meets the formula. I am sure there are enough smart people out there that can put together a package of chassis and engine without a major manufacturer backing them. I say, allow the innovators and thinkers back into racing.

Paul S., Tempe, AZ

RM: From Tony Cotman, director of the new car project for INDYCAR: “The life of the new car is five years. Anyone could build a car provided it meets the requirements but it's currently too cost prohibitive. The requirements are quite restrictive. Same for engines, anyone can build them provided they are partnered with a manufacturer. An independent builder does not add any value to the series. For example, Cosworth would need to team with a manufacturer as there is nothing to sell in just the Cosworth name but if they partnered with Ford, there would be.”

Q: With a lot of teams switching drivers, and of course moving away from Honda, are you getting any news of good, new marquee sponsors coming into the series? I think we’ve all seen that a good livery design can help the DW12, and I’m curious what’s on the horizon, especially at Dragon, Coyne (although I assume Boy Scouts and/or Z-Line are back), Shank, RLL? Any word on progress for teammates for either Simona or Servia? For all of the whining and complaining, surely the Rolex 24 and Sebring testing has everyone ready to go racing…and soon!

Andy, Nashville, TN

RM: Not sure about Coyne’s sponsors (Z Line reportedly was so mad after the Kyle Busch meltdown it was getting out of racing) and I don’t know of any Fortune 500 companies but I think Bryan Herta and Jay Penske have secured some decent backing. Looks like only one (full-time) car for HVM and Dreyer & Reinbold.

Q: We all know that INDYCAR still has major - and complicated - problems to overcome (overall league profitability, lack of mainstream media interest, declining oval count) but for the first time in a long time, I'm actually really excited about the upcoming season. With the new chassis and engine competition, I sense a buzz that hasn't existed in over a decade. Look at who will be driving. You've got the Penske and Ganassi contingent (Franchitti, Dixon, Power, Castroneves, Briscoe); an American crop that is stronger than it's been since the mid-90s (Marco, Graham, RHR, JR, Kimball, Ed Carpenter, Josef Newgarden) and the real wildcard - drivers with F1 and sports car pedigrees that can pay huge dividends in the first year of the new car (Wilson, Bourdais, Pagenaud, Sato, and maybe even Barrichello?!). Throw in contenders like Kanaan, Servia, Simona, Hinch, and I think you've got an outstanding field and a series that is just bursting with potential storylines. Is my yearning for the old days get the best of me here? Or is INDYCAR turning (or has it turned) the corner?

Jeff Castellano, Carmel, NY

RM: I don’t know that it’s turned the corner but at least it’s pointed in the right direction. The hope with a new car is always that competition levels out and good drivers with sharp engineers can win races (like Champ Car in 2007) and, for sure, the field has great depth so your optimism is warranted.

Page 1 of 3

12 3

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin Miller

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

INDYCAR: Series Stands Firm On Lotus Boost Level For Indy
The two cars with Lotus engines are woefully under-powered and they…
MILLER: Help Or Heave Lotus At Indy?
There's some major hand wringing going on right now about Lotus,…
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 5.17
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A…