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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 2.22
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
The plight of Sarah Fisher, middle, team co-owner Wink Hartman, left, and their driver, 2011 Firestone Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden, struck a nerve with Mailbag readers. (Photo: IndyCar Series)
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 can't believe that Sarah Fisher can't get an engine after doing all the right things. WTF is going on in INDYCAR that Randy can't get her team an engine? Road to Indy my ***. I'm usually pretty positive about things when I write and I understand I'm a new fan to INDYCAR but this sucks out loud. It's like she was told "Hey! Good for you, now eff off because we have more important teams to setup."
Sean Costello
RM: The devil is in the details of the contracts with the manufacturers and I’m not sure INDYCAR has any recourse because GM and Honda met the original requirements. Lotus dropped the ball, for sure, but there needed to be some kind of provision to make sure every team with a car was assured of an engine. The good news is that after speaking with Sarah this morning I think Honda may come to her rescue.
Q: You seem to have hit a few nerves with your missive. BUT I for one see where you are coming from. INDYCAR needs a "feel good" story AND an all American team to go along with the international drivers. The PR alone is worth the price and as a taxpayer and thus part owner of GM - dammit step up and reap the good PR benefits! In my mind this is a make or break year for INDYCAR - the interest is there and the story is being written.
John Boltik
RM: I understand there’s not a lot of incentive to build extra engines since it’s a losing proposition (financially) but, as you state, this is a PR nightmare for INDYCAR that could into a PR home run for General Motors (which, by the way, already has 11 engines to Honda’s 10 so I apologize for not being able to add).
Q: Your article on Sarah hit home big time. A former most popular driver, a smart woman who owns a team that beat the big dogs and she is having trouble getting an engine for her car? Man, if there was ever a reason to change the rules this is it. Innovation is the key and not just at Indy. If the lease on an engine for the season is supposed to be 40% less than before that still makes it about $650K, right? Are you telling me there are not shops out there that could produce an engine for 20K per race if you leveled the field and allowed bigger displacement without turbos? Cut back on the revs, beef up the torque and see those babies slide in the corner when you hit the pedal and that would put the skill in the hands of the drivers for sure and it might be the first step away from SPEC RACING. Sixteen races make that about half the cost of a lease from the corporate world and get the grass roots innovators back in open wheel racing. Give me that block from a school bus and let me go racin'!
Tom in Waco
RM: In the 44 years I’ve covered Indy car racing I’ve never heard of a team with a current car that couldn’t get an engine. If the rules were more open at least Sarah could get a motor from WOO, USAC or sports cars. And it wouldn’t cost her twice as much as it did the big dogs. But the insanity is having three manufacturers and not enough engines.
Q: There always seems to be one or two stories a year that don't seem believable and your article on Sarah Fisher being currently engine-less until the Indy 500 is one of those. How can this be? A team owner winning Kentucky last year, with a new driver for this year Tennessee’s Josef Newgarden, a personable, home grown, all-American ambassador to Indy-car racing with a race shop right next door to Dallara. Someone needs to produce an extra engine. Take your own advice Chevy. If Chevy "runs deep" than "dig deep" and produce one more engine! Honda, this is exactly the kind of team you want to represent you. Lotus you have disappointed so you can't even be a candidate. It’s embarrassing INDYCAR is in this situation. How can they not have enough engines? I know the field is turning out to be more robust than originally thought but this is bad. Honda supplied the whole field last year. Can the time frame producing crankshafts really cause such a big f-up? Shouldn't have this been expected?
Dan Loken
RM: It’s easy to play Monday Morning QB but in this case some of the little teams have been hollering for months that they couldn’t get any responses from the engine manufacturers so this wasn’t a last-minute thing. That is why I suggested INDYCAR step up and apply some pressure, if not some money, to aid Fisher’s cause. GM has done more than its allotted share and one more than Honda so it’s not like they’re the bad guys but the Bow Tie is such a natural fit for her team. GM made it work for Ed Carpenter so I guess my thought was what’s one more engine?
Q: You said Sarah Fisher can't get an engine before Indy because Honda already has committed to 12 leases. I thought they had only signed 10 cars (Franchitti, Dixon, Rahal, Kimball, Conway, Pagenaud, Wilson, Jakes, Sato and a second Rahal). Who is getting engines 11 & 12? It seems if Honda is upping to 12, then the likes of Fisher & Conquest should be able to get an engine. Shouldn't the likes of Fisher, Shank & Conquest get engines first before existing teams start adding more cars? If some teams want to add more cars, that's fine, but let those cars be added from Indy so ALL teams get the chance to START the season at St.Pete.
Graeme, County Durham, U.K.
RM: Good catch, too bad I can’t count. Yes, Honda has committed to 10 and GM has 11 and Lotus 5 at the moment. But the fact Sarah has the all-American team seems a good fit for GM and that’s who she wanted (and is willing to pay more). I think there needs to be more of a free market. But if she gets the second Rahal engine, it will be No. 10.
Q: What a black eye for the dawn of Indy’s second century. But rather than carve a piece of everyone else’s Leader’s Circle pie the extra golden pennies need to pry an extra engine from Chevy’s tight orifice should come straight from Lotus’ pocketbook. INDYCAR should fine them for breach of contract in failing the 40% terms whatever exorbitant amount Chevy’s wants above the original agreed-to lease deal. Hell… make it $2m! That’ll go a long way toward paying good ol’ fashion American overtime to get one more engine package prepped for the start of the season. What the hell good is a Mazda Road to Indy if the road dead-ends in siege warfare at the gates of Georgetown & 16th?
David Kirschke
RM: Several people agree with you that Lotus needs to face some kind of fine but it’s that ‘blood out of a turnip’ thing. With what appears a shaky financial future, faced with a hefty fine, they might just walk away.
Q: Detractors are at it again saying RB/INDYCAR has failed if Sarah Fisher Racing doesn't obtain an engine for 2012. Yahoos on forums seem to start a thread daily saying how unfair it is that she isn't guaranteed an engine over RLR's "third car" or [insert team name here]. I have been seeing rumors that Lotus actually offered her team a contract late 2011 and SFR turned it down. Is there any truth to that? I'm all for having her team in the series, but I honestly can't feel bad for SFR if they turned down someone who had already come to the table. Why would Lotus want to spend money on a team after previously being turned down? That's like turning down a date to prom holding out for one of your two crushes to come along only to have them not and expect the first offer to come back willingly.
I also saw the pit board picture of you from the 70's or so...let's hope someone on the Speed or NBC team doesn't get ahold of that...!
Adam P., Michigan
RM: Sarah talked to all three but she never refused from a contract from Lotus. She did request a meeting and never got a response.
Q: I was all set to enjoy my day off work, kids are off from school, just hanging out, I went on-line and just read your article on SPEED.com. Sarah's situation does not set a good tone for the day. I understand there are more cars, engines are blowing up, and the manufactures are losing money, but Sarah not getting an engine is inexcusable. I find it hard to believe between all the Honda teams, they cannot come up with one engine for the first few races. It is my understanding Sarah has the potential to earn some more money if Newgarden starts all of the races this year since he was the Indy Light champion. Is that affected if she cannot get an engine?
Jamie A. Carr, Lebanon, Ohio
RM: Honda has evidently had an inordinate amount of engine issues and that put them way behind but it sounds like Rahal may be able to do a deal with Sarah to lease his second car’s engine until May when her personal deal with Honda begins.
Q: I read your piece on Sarah Fisher's engine problems and that she most likely won't be able to get one until Indy unless the Rahal/Filippi deal falls through. This begs the question about backup engines seeing as there were problems at the Sebring test and turbo engines historically are not the most reliable. Is there enough engines or spare parts in case one grenades itself in one of the first races or will a team be sidelined until Indy as well?
Mad Max
RM: It sounds like GM is well stocked but Honda is a little thin because of some early failures so I would imagine Honda Performance Development is working flat-out to make sure it’s covered. Not sure about Lotus but we’ve heard they only had 10 engines total.
Q: I just read your rant about Sarah not being able to get an engine until Indy. That is a bunch of crap. Why isn't someone like Penske or Ganassi helping? They both are loaded. They should help the little guy (or in this case girl). She deserves respect and shouldn't be treated like a "red headed step child." Surely someone must have an engine lying around somewhere that they are not using. And by the way Paul Tracy deserves one last full time ride in Indy car. I want to see him go out a winner and in style. I like the idea of Rubens Barrichello racing in INDYCAR. Maybe Indy car will get more exposure that way. It’s about time standing starts came back and double file restarts work better then single file, because everyone has a fighting chance to get in the lead. With single file, might as well get out a few parade floats while you’re at it.
Cindy B. (Tacoma, WA)
RM: I’m not sure any team is “loaded” with engines right now and it’s not their responsibility anyway. It would be more on INDYCAR’s shoulders. But it sounds like Bobby Rahal may have saved the day. It’s sad that P.T. won’t be going out in style and I just hope he gets run to Indy one more time. Rubens has an international presence, no doubt, and might even sell some tickets. As for standing starts, they are long overdue and double file should have stayed everywhere for my money.
~Robin Miller
Q: I can't believe that Sarah Fisher can't get an engine after doing all the right things. WTF is going on in INDYCAR that Randy can't get her team an engine? Road to Indy my ***. I'm usually pretty positive about things when I write and I understand I'm a new fan to INDYCAR but this sucks out loud. It's like she was told "Hey! Good for you, now eff off because we have more important teams to setup."
Sean Costello
RM: The devil is in the details of the contracts with the manufacturers and I’m not sure INDYCAR has any recourse because GM and Honda met the original requirements. Lotus dropped the ball, for sure, but there needed to be some kind of provision to make sure every team with a car was assured of an engine. The good news is that after speaking with Sarah this morning I think Honda may come to her rescue.
Q: You seem to have hit a few nerves with your missive. BUT I for one see where you are coming from. INDYCAR needs a "feel good" story AND an all American team to go along with the international drivers. The PR alone is worth the price and as a taxpayer and thus part owner of GM - dammit step up and reap the good PR benefits! In my mind this is a make or break year for INDYCAR - the interest is there and the story is being written.
John Boltik
RM: I understand there’s not a lot of incentive to build extra engines since it’s a losing proposition (financially) but, as you state, this is a PR nightmare for INDYCAR that could into a PR home run for General Motors (which, by the way, already has 11 engines to Honda’s 10 so I apologize for not being able to add).
Q: Your article on Sarah hit home big time. A former most popular driver, a smart woman who owns a team that beat the big dogs and she is having trouble getting an engine for her car? Man, if there was ever a reason to change the rules this is it. Innovation is the key and not just at Indy. If the lease on an engine for the season is supposed to be 40% less than before that still makes it about $650K, right? Are you telling me there are not shops out there that could produce an engine for 20K per race if you leveled the field and allowed bigger displacement without turbos? Cut back on the revs, beef up the torque and see those babies slide in the corner when you hit the pedal and that would put the skill in the hands of the drivers for sure and it might be the first step away from SPEC RACING. Sixteen races make that about half the cost of a lease from the corporate world and get the grass roots innovators back in open wheel racing. Give me that block from a school bus and let me go racin'!
Tom in Waco
RM: In the 44 years I’ve covered Indy car racing I’ve never heard of a team with a current car that couldn’t get an engine. If the rules were more open at least Sarah could get a motor from WOO, USAC or sports cars. And it wouldn’t cost her twice as much as it did the big dogs. But the insanity is having three manufacturers and not enough engines.
Q: There always seems to be one or two stories a year that don't seem believable and your article on Sarah Fisher being currently engine-less until the Indy 500 is one of those. How can this be? A team owner winning Kentucky last year, with a new driver for this year Tennessee’s Josef Newgarden, a personable, home grown, all-American ambassador to Indy-car racing with a race shop right next door to Dallara. Someone needs to produce an extra engine. Take your own advice Chevy. If Chevy "runs deep" than "dig deep" and produce one more engine! Honda, this is exactly the kind of team you want to represent you. Lotus you have disappointed so you can't even be a candidate. It’s embarrassing INDYCAR is in this situation. How can they not have enough engines? I know the field is turning out to be more robust than originally thought but this is bad. Honda supplied the whole field last year. Can the time frame producing crankshafts really cause such a big f-up? Shouldn't have this been expected?
Dan Loken
RM: It’s easy to play Monday Morning QB but in this case some of the little teams have been hollering for months that they couldn’t get any responses from the engine manufacturers so this wasn’t a last-minute thing. That is why I suggested INDYCAR step up and apply some pressure, if not some money, to aid Fisher’s cause. GM has done more than its allotted share and one more than Honda so it’s not like they’re the bad guys but the Bow Tie is such a natural fit for her team. GM made it work for Ed Carpenter so I guess my thought was what’s one more engine?
Q: You said Sarah Fisher can't get an engine before Indy because Honda already has committed to 12 leases. I thought they had only signed 10 cars (Franchitti, Dixon, Rahal, Kimball, Conway, Pagenaud, Wilson, Jakes, Sato and a second Rahal). Who is getting engines 11 & 12? It seems if Honda is upping to 12, then the likes of Fisher & Conquest should be able to get an engine. Shouldn't the likes of Fisher, Shank & Conquest get engines first before existing teams start adding more cars? If some teams want to add more cars, that's fine, but let those cars be added from Indy so ALL teams get the chance to START the season at St.Pete.
Graeme, County Durham, U.K.
RM: Good catch, too bad I can’t count. Yes, Honda has committed to 10 and GM has 11 and Lotus 5 at the moment. But the fact Sarah has the all-American team seems a good fit for GM and that’s who she wanted (and is willing to pay more). I think there needs to be more of a free market. But if she gets the second Rahal engine, it will be No. 10.
Q: What a black eye for the dawn of Indy’s second century. But rather than carve a piece of everyone else’s Leader’s Circle pie the extra golden pennies need to pry an extra engine from Chevy’s tight orifice should come straight from Lotus’ pocketbook. INDYCAR should fine them for breach of contract in failing the 40% terms whatever exorbitant amount Chevy’s wants above the original agreed-to lease deal. Hell… make it $2m! That’ll go a long way toward paying good ol’ fashion American overtime to get one more engine package prepped for the start of the season. What the hell good is a Mazda Road to Indy if the road dead-ends in siege warfare at the gates of Georgetown & 16th?
David Kirschke
RM: Several people agree with you that Lotus needs to face some kind of fine but it’s that ‘blood out of a turnip’ thing. With what appears a shaky financial future, faced with a hefty fine, they might just walk away.
Q: Detractors are at it again saying RB/INDYCAR has failed if Sarah Fisher Racing doesn't obtain an engine for 2012. Yahoos on forums seem to start a thread daily saying how unfair it is that she isn't guaranteed an engine over RLR's "third car" or [insert team name here]. I have been seeing rumors that Lotus actually offered her team a contract late 2011 and SFR turned it down. Is there any truth to that? I'm all for having her team in the series, but I honestly can't feel bad for SFR if they turned down someone who had already come to the table. Why would Lotus want to spend money on a team after previously being turned down? That's like turning down a date to prom holding out for one of your two crushes to come along only to have them not and expect the first offer to come back willingly.
I also saw the pit board picture of you from the 70's or so...let's hope someone on the Speed or NBC team doesn't get ahold of that...!
Adam P., Michigan
RM: Sarah talked to all three but she never refused from a contract from Lotus. She did request a meeting and never got a response.
Q: I was all set to enjoy my day off work, kids are off from school, just hanging out, I went on-line and just read your article on SPEED.com. Sarah's situation does not set a good tone for the day. I understand there are more cars, engines are blowing up, and the manufactures are losing money, but Sarah not getting an engine is inexcusable. I find it hard to believe between all the Honda teams, they cannot come up with one engine for the first few races. It is my understanding Sarah has the potential to earn some more money if Newgarden starts all of the races this year since he was the Indy Light champion. Is that affected if she cannot get an engine?
Jamie A. Carr, Lebanon, Ohio
RM: Honda has evidently had an inordinate amount of engine issues and that put them way behind but it sounds like Rahal may be able to do a deal with Sarah to lease his second car’s engine until May when her personal deal with Honda begins.
Q: I read your piece on Sarah Fisher's engine problems and that she most likely won't be able to get one until Indy unless the Rahal/Filippi deal falls through. This begs the question about backup engines seeing as there were problems at the Sebring test and turbo engines historically are not the most reliable. Is there enough engines or spare parts in case one grenades itself in one of the first races or will a team be sidelined until Indy as well?
Mad Max
RM: It sounds like GM is well stocked but Honda is a little thin because of some early failures so I would imagine Honda Performance Development is working flat-out to make sure it’s covered. Not sure about Lotus but we’ve heard they only had 10 engines total.
Q: I just read your rant about Sarah not being able to get an engine until Indy. That is a bunch of crap. Why isn't someone like Penske or Ganassi helping? They both are loaded. They should help the little guy (or in this case girl). She deserves respect and shouldn't be treated like a "red headed step child." Surely someone must have an engine lying around somewhere that they are not using. And by the way Paul Tracy deserves one last full time ride in Indy car. I want to see him go out a winner and in style. I like the idea of Rubens Barrichello racing in INDYCAR. Maybe Indy car will get more exposure that way. It’s about time standing starts came back and double file restarts work better then single file, because everyone has a fighting chance to get in the lead. With single file, might as well get out a few parade floats while you’re at it.
Cindy B. (Tacoma, WA)
RM: I’m not sure any team is “loaded” with engines right now and it’s not their responsibility anyway. It would be more on INDYCAR’s shoulders. But it sounds like Bobby Rahal may have saved the day. It’s sad that P.T. won’t be going out in style and I just hope he gets run to Indy one more time. Rubens has an international presence, no doubt, and might even sell some tickets. As for standing starts, they are long overdue and double file should have stayed everywhere for my money.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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