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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 2.3
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
One Mailbag reader wonders what holding onto Rubens Barrichello would have done for the IndyCar Series' popularity. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
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: Saw your response to the first question in last week's Mailbag. With TV ratings being such a problem for IndyCar, were there any comparisons done with the before and after Rubens' participation in IndyCar? Common sense (based on the # of his Twitter followers) says that the International ratings saw a significant increase (and at the end of the day, aren't international ratings still ratings, especially when there's been talk of expanding to Europe?). If that was, in fact, the case, then why was there not more effort by IndyCar brass to keep him in the series? Seems a no-brainer but we all know there aren't a lot of brains at 16th and G'town so I may have answered my own question.
Derek V.
RM: I’m sure Rubens helped the ratings in Brazil but he didn’t make any difference over here and that’s what counts with the advertisers and sponsors. Doubt if anybody in IndyCar even considered trying to help keep him but I know Honda made an effort.
Q: I was heartened and relieved to read Marshall’s interview with Beaux Barfield. I am hoping that Beaux will be retained and listened to for a long time by the powers-that-be. I think he and his staff have done a competent job with the races and I like for the most part what he has lined up for 2013. I know you have been vocal about not liking the 10-grid spot penalty meted out for changing an engine. It is very difficult (okay sometimes nearly impossible) when an engine has been changed to work one’s way back up the field, especially if one is not in a top 10 qualifying spot. What could be done instead?? I am still grousing about the news that Kyle Larson did not win the Andretti trophy last night. I am not saying that Vettel didn’t have a stellar year, but Kyle has been amazing this year in several series. (It was a small consolation that he received the most first place votes). It is also a loss for IndyCar with both Kyle and Kevin Swindell going to Nationwide. I was so hoping they would find rides within IC, but there isn’t much out there for them, is there?
Deborah, South Bay (and can actually see it today)
P.S. Just saw the current Mailbag. Okay, I will take the bait. Tell us about the “I Hate Robin Miller” gear from the mid-90s! Not that I want to wear it, mind you. Just curious.
RM: If teams were stull building their own engines it would make more sense because they would have a direct hand in the performance. But this is the top line of open wheel-racing in North America and fans don’t need to watch a driver win the pole on Saturday and line up in the last row on Sunday. It’s confusing and unnecessary. Larson supposedly got the most first place votes so that’s encouraging but, in my mind, he and Swindell were the drivers of the year. My attacks on Tony George in 1996 for ruining Indy (newspaper, TV and radio show) gave cause for one “fan” to create a new line of hate wear (hats and T-shirts) at me.
Q: Last week at our local Chamber of Commerce meeting in Jackson Mi. Rodger Curtis was given an award and while giving his thank you speech he said he has a really really big announcement to make next month. Could we be getting the Indy cars back? If so what would you guess on for a date?
J Hamp
RM: I suppose it’s a possibility because Randy Bernard was talking to MIS last year but I doubt it. I imagine July would be the only slot (in between Cup races) or they could always try September like the old days.
Q: I was very much looking forward to the KV Racing car presentation on Wednesday. Both cars look pretty sharp, I've got to say. But I did notice that Tony Kanaan's car was conspicuously devoid of a main sponsor. Did Geico and Mouser bail on the team? I really hope not. Have you heard anything on the sponsorship situation for the Number 11? Tony's been my favorite driver for years and the paint jobs he ran last year were some of the best I've seen in a long time.
Kevin from Tomball, TX
RM: No, I’m told those deals with Geico and Mouser hadn’t been completed in time for the unveiling but both will be on TK’s car this season.
~Robin Miller
Q: Saw your response to the first question in last week's Mailbag. With TV ratings being such a problem for IndyCar, were there any comparisons done with the before and after Rubens' participation in IndyCar? Common sense (based on the # of his Twitter followers) says that the International ratings saw a significant increase (and at the end of the day, aren't international ratings still ratings, especially when there's been talk of expanding to Europe?). If that was, in fact, the case, then why was there not more effort by IndyCar brass to keep him in the series? Seems a no-brainer but we all know there aren't a lot of brains at 16th and G'town so I may have answered my own question.
Derek V.
RM: I’m sure Rubens helped the ratings in Brazil but he didn’t make any difference over here and that’s what counts with the advertisers and sponsors. Doubt if anybody in IndyCar even considered trying to help keep him but I know Honda made an effort.
Q: I was heartened and relieved to read Marshall’s interview with Beaux Barfield. I am hoping that Beaux will be retained and listened to for a long time by the powers-that-be. I think he and his staff have done a competent job with the races and I like for the most part what he has lined up for 2013. I know you have been vocal about not liking the 10-grid spot penalty meted out for changing an engine. It is very difficult (okay sometimes nearly impossible) when an engine has been changed to work one’s way back up the field, especially if one is not in a top 10 qualifying spot. What could be done instead?? I am still grousing about the news that Kyle Larson did not win the Andretti trophy last night. I am not saying that Vettel didn’t have a stellar year, but Kyle has been amazing this year in several series. (It was a small consolation that he received the most first place votes). It is also a loss for IndyCar with both Kyle and Kevin Swindell going to Nationwide. I was so hoping they would find rides within IC, but there isn’t much out there for them, is there?
Deborah, South Bay (and can actually see it today)
P.S. Just saw the current Mailbag. Okay, I will take the bait. Tell us about the “I Hate Robin Miller” gear from the mid-90s! Not that I want to wear it, mind you. Just curious.
RM: If teams were stull building their own engines it would make more sense because they would have a direct hand in the performance. But this is the top line of open wheel-racing in North America and fans don’t need to watch a driver win the pole on Saturday and line up in the last row on Sunday. It’s confusing and unnecessary. Larson supposedly got the most first place votes so that’s encouraging but, in my mind, he and Swindell were the drivers of the year. My attacks on Tony George in 1996 for ruining Indy (newspaper, TV and radio show) gave cause for one “fan” to create a new line of hate wear (hats and T-shirts) at me.
Q: Last week at our local Chamber of Commerce meeting in Jackson Mi. Rodger Curtis was given an award and while giving his thank you speech he said he has a really really big announcement to make next month. Could we be getting the Indy cars back? If so what would you guess on for a date?
J Hamp
RM: I suppose it’s a possibility because Randy Bernard was talking to MIS last year but I doubt it. I imagine July would be the only slot (in between Cup races) or they could always try September like the old days.
Q: I was very much looking forward to the KV Racing car presentation on Wednesday. Both cars look pretty sharp, I've got to say. But I did notice that Tony Kanaan's car was conspicuously devoid of a main sponsor. Did Geico and Mouser bail on the team? I really hope not. Have you heard anything on the sponsorship situation for the Number 11? Tony's been my favorite driver for years and the paint jobs he ran last year were some of the best I've seen in a long time.
Kevin from Tomball, TX
RM: No, I’m told those deals with Geico and Mouser hadn’t been completed in time for the unveiling but both will be on TK’s car this season.
2013 INDY 500 Practice
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