INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 3.8

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 3.8

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

Robin Miller | Posted March 08, 2012

Mailbag readers are curious to see if Rubens Barrichello will bring more viewers to the IndyCar Series. (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: Some of your mailbaggers don't have a clue what it takes, manpower-wise, to run a successful business, let alone a race series as diverse and complex as INDYCAR. I agree with you.....Randy B. could use someone like a series director, who has the knowledge
and past race team experience to guide and educate him in this area. In addition to Steve Horne and Derrick Walker, would Mo Nunn, Jim Hall or Dan Gurney fit the bill?

David in Pittsburgh

RM: Mo is playing golf every day, Dan has the Delta Wing to keep him busy and I can’t imagine Jim wanting to deal with a bunch of whiney car owners. But Horne and Walker are current and have passion and knowledge.

Q: I'm completely fed up with the never ending 'the car is ugly' commentary. We've all had months to get used to the new car look now. Personally I wasn't all that turned off when I originally saw it and seeing the Sebring testing pics with the various liveries has only made me embrace the new look even more. I've read and heard a lot of disparaging comments regarding the air box and the side pod flares. Let me raise two questions regarding those particular features.

1 - If the air box was removed, then what device would be utilized by the series to monitor the turbo boost manifold pressure...hmm...a pop-off valve? REALLY???...WOULD YOU ALL PREFER TO GO BACK TO POP-OFF VALVES??? 2 - If the side pod flares were removed, then what ad space on the car would be visible enough to satisfy the sponsors?...Yes let's reduce the amount of visible body work because that really worked out well for CART/CCWS/IRL. REALLY???...DID WE ALL FORGET THAT SPONSORS ARE WHAT KEEPS MOTOR SPORTS IN BUSINESS?...NOT ONLY DOES THE FLARE PROVIDE THAT VALUABLE AD SPACE...I BET IT EVEN SERVES AN AERODYNAMIC PURPOSE TO MAKE THE CAR MORE EFFICIENT!!!Thank God I will not have to listen to such 'genius' commentary while I'm track side because I'll be too busy enjoying the sound of turbocharged engines.

Chris M, Long Beach, CA

RM: Let me say that watching the cars go around Sebring this week has been quite a pleasant surprise. They look and sound good at speed and you can actually see the drivers making a difference.

Q: Ruben is in!!! Alesi at Indy!!! New cars!!! New engines!!! More cars than the series can handle!!! This season already has excitement written all over it and I, for one, am ecstatic! I've always rooted for the home boys and will continue to do so.....but I really want to see KV come out of the gate fast and furious! How competitive do you think they will be? See you at Indy, Detroit, Mid-Ohio and hopefully Milwaukee...

Bryan in Centerville, OH

RM: I think Rubens will push TK to his best and they’ll both win a race.
Q: I’m PUMPED about Rubens - he will truly move that needle and impact TV viewership and fans in seats. Most excited because of his talent level and watching him run at INDY this year should be awesome. I would expect or at least hope this may be a 2-year deal - any ideas on that? With Rubens in the series, that makes Helio the best Brazilian????

Mike Nicholas, Fishers, IN

RM: I think we wait and see how he likes INDYCAR but two or three years would seem reasonable. As for Helio, he looks extra motivated down here in Sebring and plenty quick so it might be a real battle for Brazilian supremacy.

Q: I’m one to typically look on the bright side of things, so the following definitely gets under my skin. Most of this stems from comments surrounding Rubens Barrichello and some “fans” stating INDYCAR doesn’t need any more foreigners. I agree it’s an American-based sport with its roots in the Midwest. I also agree that it is pivotal for INDYCAR to maintain a strong presence of American drivers. However, I do not understand a lot of the Ethnocentrism and Xenophobic-type statements from some in the open wheel community. INDYCAR has many strong, competitive, and race-winning Americans full-time in 2012. Guys with famous last names like Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal, as well as 2011 winners Ed Carpenter and Ryan Hunter-Reay, will be competing for the championship again in 2012. And JR Hildebrand, Charlie Kimball and 2011 Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden will be in action. If you want an American to cheer for, there are plenty to choose from. The American representation is strong to say the least. But, for me, one of the most interesting and incredible things about INDYCAR is its diversity. Looking across the series and the ladder program every continent (minus Antarctica of course) was represented last year. Countries most people probably can’t locate on a map like Angola, Estonia, and Belgium were all represented at some point. From a sponsor perspective this is incredible. It is one thing NASCAR certainly cannot claim, and since it could be considered INDYCAR’s biggest competitor, it is something INDYCAR can only use to its advantage. Plus, from my standpoint, the diversity only increases my love and interest in the sport. So yes, Rubens Barrichello may not make TV ratings and attendance spike in Birmingham, AL or Detroit, MI, but if it increases the success, financial security, and growth of the sport as a whole I’m all for it. Plus, that F1 fan of Rubens’ in Brazil may soon be an INDYCAR fan cheering for an American and spending his money to see the Indianapolis 500 in person.

Ross Bynum, Houston

RM: CART was always been diversified and the glory days of Indianapolis in the ‘60s were fueled by the English invasion. I haven’t heard anybody angry about Rubens coming to IndyCar, most people tell me they love it.

Q: I cannot believe Eddie Gossage’s comments about Indy-car drivers and their apparent need to constantly damage “the sport”. What planet is this guy from? How can he take the drivers legitimate concern for their safety and spout out drivel like that? All I can say is a big WTF! I have no doubt that engineers have told him that his fence at Texas is the best technology available. That’s what happens when you consult with engineers who build fences! Maybe he should consult a few risk assessment engineers! As for his anti INDYCAR rant that followed, Mr. Gossage comes across like a schoolyard bully afraid of the new kid at school that might upset the status quo. After witnessing in person the events last October with family and friends, Ed’s comments come off so cold, insensitive, and to me personally, extremely offensive! I guess it just shows that Ed knows who and what butters his bread! I know there’s no question here, but the nerve touched is still kind of raw!

Peter in Coaldale, Alberta Canada.

RM: I guess he was reacting to the story I wrote where Justin Wilson and Tony Kanaan said they would not be boycotting Texas. They voiced their concerns about pack racing and the fence but not in a threatening way.

Q: After reading Eddie Gossage’s comments that Indy car drivers “deserve where they stand now in the food chain of motorsports," is the ICONIC committee member a friend or foe? How did Randy Bernard react to those comments? What is your take on the situation and his comments?

Adrian Long

RM: My take is that Gossage would rather see his name and quotes in print than a full house and I think Randy has figured him out. I criticized his fence back in 2003 on WIND TUNNEL after Kenny Brack’s accident and it’s interesting that only those SMI tracks build fences like that.

Q: While watching the Daytona 24 one of the announcers mentioned that Ford was going to build a turbo V-6 to run in Daytona Prototypes. Then last week Penske suddenly switches from Dodge to Ford in the door-slammer league. I'm trying to make 2+2 = 4 with hopes that Ford is coming back to Indy, have you heard anything on this?

Rich, Columbia, South Carolina

RM: Haven’t heard anything but if RP got GM back in Indy cars then Ford should be the next logical step. Randy Bernard has talked to Ford the past couple years but they didn’t seem overly interested. Maybe that changes now.

Q: I understand that a business giant like Penske has affiliations with multiple manufacturers but the latest news is still a little perplexing. I understand that there certainly must be some independence between his INDYCAR & NASCAR organizations but does Chevy frown from the INDYCAR side when their flagship team uses their #1 competitor in another high profile series? How do those behind the scenes conversations go between Penske & Chevy then Penske & Ford?

Jordan, Binghamton, NY

RM: I think in most cases it would be a nasty civil war. But The Captain is the master of deals and he can come and go because manufacturers and corporations want to be associated with him and the Penske brand.

Q: What with Lotus being sold, and Danny Bahar promising ridiculous things that they do not have enough money to do, I am thinking their presence may be short-lived in INDYCAR. Maybe not even until the end of this year. Try as I might, I can't remember John Judd ever building a truly competitive engine. Why would Lotus want to spend money to be slow and unreliable?
And why in the world did they not go with Cosworth anyway? I hope I am wrong. What do you think?

Keith, Indy Baking Powder League - 2014!

RM: It appears to be on shaky footing but Keith Wiggins doesn’t seem too nervous so maybe (hopefully) it can work out. Judd has built some successful engines in sports cars but Kevin Kalkhoven (who co-owns Cosworth) and Lotus went their separate ways to it doesn’t surprise me they didn’t pair up.

Q: I'm confused ... where did this extra GM power plant come from for Rubens Barrichello? "If" Rubens had said no to INDYCAR/KV Racing, then could the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing outfit been gotten that Chevrolet engine that she was hoping to get in the first place?

Jeff, Camarillo CA

RM: KV Racing had paid for three engine leases, with or without Rubens, and that had no bearing on Sarah. Thankfully, Honda came through.

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