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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 4.25
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
Mailbag readers have had overwhelmingly positive things to say about Josef Newgarden's performance and demeanor from Long Beach. (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: I can understand Bryan Herta Autosport and Dreyer-Reinbold Racing being put out with Lotus enough to want to cancel their contracts. However, I'm not sure about the logic of canceling with no Plan B. It seems to me they must already have something lined up, but aren't talking until they can only see Lotus in their rear view mirror. What do you think?
Don Hopings, Corning, NY
RM: Maybe that tells you something about how bad it really is with Lotus? And don’t think Jay Penske hasn’t been or isn’t contemplating the same move. Herta with Honda is a natural and he’s been talking with them for several weeks.
Q: What the heck is the deal with not just one or two of the Lotus engines, but all 5? Can’t they get their head out of their exhaust ports and figure the damn things out yet? We all know Sebastien Bourdais is a proven winner, but yet, other than at Barber, where he finished 9th and literally drove his butt off for that finish, he hasn’t done much. You drop a Chevy engine in that #7 car and I would pretty much guarantee that he would be giving Power and Helio a run for their money up front. Every week it seems like one problem after another for most of these 5 Lotus cars and A LOT of the fans are getting tired of these cars being the grid back markers, not because of the teams, not because of the cars, but that damn engine. Not enough engines to go testing, one excuse after another. Lotus just needs to fold up and step down, with Chevy and Honda stepping up and filling the void.
David J, Redding, Ca.
RM: If you think the fans are upset how about those teams? The fact Herta and Reinbold are leaving should be a help for everyone involved but Honda and GM can’t just add five cars the rest of the season. They’ve already stepped up for May and will likely rescue the Lotus defectors.
Q: I think I see what's going to happen in May. Honda continues to fight for more changes while taking a beat down at the early season road and street courses, knowing all along their single turbo is designed for Indy. They then come to Indy and smoke down those straightaways while Chevy says: "I told you guys that wasn't fair."
John, Indianapolis
RM: I imagine that could be the conversation in Thursday’s protest hearing in Indianapolis.
Q: I have to say I'm stunned that people are calling for the series to allow the Lotus engines to run at a higher boost level. This is not an engine that is built to a different configuration and would therefore need an equivalency formula (like in ALMS). The fact that the series is allowing Honda to use a new turbo is not relevant to the lotus situation. It is my understanding that it will be a redesigned part but that the boost limits will remain the same. If Lotus was to submit a redesigned part (or parts) in order to close the performance gap, I would be all in favor of allowing that.
Rollin, Hollywood, FL
RM: On one hand, you are right. Just because the other two manufacturers are miles ahead of Lotus doesn’t mean they should be punished. But neither should the teams and drivers who were forced to take Lotus. That’s what bothers me and obviously Bryan Herta and Dennis Reinbold feel the same way.
Q: Are you still a fan of engine competition from a racing standpoint and not from what's best for the series? As a long time Champ Car fan, I am actually disgusted with the different engines that INDYCAR has this year. Not seeing amazing drivers like Tagliani, Servia, and Bourdais fighting for the podium each week is a disgrace. I'd rather see all the drivers in equally prepared cars so the fans can truly see who the best drivers are, but I guess that just wouldn't be open-wheel racing now would it.
Chris, Phoenix, AZ
RM: Getting General Motors back to compete with Honda is good in terms of competition and marketing and status. Having a third manufacturer that’s not up to snuff is part of racing but I think we all hate to see good teams and drivers suffer with an inferior product.
Q: If there was ever a time for a weekend at home, I'm thinking the "premier line" Ganassi team, especially Dario's group, are relishing the time they're home. I have watched every race this season and outside of growing pains with the new package, I cannot find a reason that a champion driver of Dario's experience is struggling. He's keeping the car on the circuit, pit work has been OK if not good (and I'm just recalling from memory here,) but SOMETHING is missing. I haven't checked who is engineering this machine for the Target boys but it seems that behind the wall there's a discord in the group, much like a bad spark plug upsets an engine. Tell me what I haven't seen here. WHERE in the chain of the team has the change happened that's got them unbalanced??
John Corbin, Columbia City, IN
RM: Franchitti has admitted several times he’s not felt comfortable in the new car but finally made some progress at Long Beach. Then he got eaten up by some mechanical problems. But he and engineer Chris Simmons are two of the best and they’ll find their stride.
Q: I notice on the 500 entry list that the driver for the Newman/Haas Lotus is TBA. I thought that entry was reserved for Jean Alesi. With all of Lotus' problems, there may not be a team at all, but if there is, that would seem like a good opportunity for a couple of former NH drivers, Paul Tracy and Bruno Junqueira. Obviously, neither one would have a snowball's chance in you know where of winning, but it would be nice to see one or the other at least participate and finish the race. I think some people are being too hard on Lotus. Of course, that is easy for me to say, since I don't have any money involved. But expecting them to jump right in as a new manufacturer and compete with Honda and Chevy is like asking an expansion baseball team to jump right in and defeat the Yankees and Red Sox. I hope for the good of the series and the teams involved that things will work out.
Charles T.
RM: Other than the money, I think P.T. and Bruno would rather watch Indy than drive something that had no chance. If Alesi is smart, he’ll remain a spectator as well.
Q: I've asked this before, but you said to hold it until it was more time-appropriate. So with the release of the entry list, what are some of the more unbelievable (or bizarre) rumored rides you've heard over the years that were in the works but didn't come to fruition? Are there any that were close, but never materialized and became public?
Will McCarty
RM: Parnelli coming back to place Al Unser in 1969 after he broke his leg on a motorcycle and Senna in the fourth Penske car are the two that come to mind. Rufus admits he considered it but instead hired Bud Tinglestad and, after Senna’s test at Firebird in Emmo’s car, the Indy rumor got some legs.
Q: Great race in Long Beach this year Robin! It was my first time back since re-unification. Plenty of action and Penske proved that “will power” and Chevy can win races in the face of adversity. Here’s my beef with INDYCAR this year – only 34 entries for the 500. Yes, I understand that the new engines and chassis are in short supply. Why not bring some of the old crap wagons, or maybe even Champ Car Lolas out of retirement for the Big Race? I’d even suggest the DP-01, but my understanding is that it was not designed for ovals. I know there would be safety issues, but my suspicion is that the prospect of embarrassment would be THE overriding factor. In any event, bump day needs DRAMA and 34 cars and drivers simply won’t provide it.
Michael McGill, San Diego, CA
RM: The drama was provided on Pole Day last year with Tag upstaging Ganassi and Penske but this won’t be the first time we haven’t had a lot of last day dramatics. The IRL years had a few Mays where all you needed was four laps so one more time won’t be fatal. There are plenty of cars, but by 2013 there should be enough engines to have the traditional one-offs and some bumping.
~Robin Miller
Q: I can understand Bryan Herta Autosport and Dreyer-Reinbold Racing being put out with Lotus enough to want to cancel their contracts. However, I'm not sure about the logic of canceling with no Plan B. It seems to me they must already have something lined up, but aren't talking until they can only see Lotus in their rear view mirror. What do you think?
Don Hopings, Corning, NY
RM: Maybe that tells you something about how bad it really is with Lotus? And don’t think Jay Penske hasn’t been or isn’t contemplating the same move. Herta with Honda is a natural and he’s been talking with them for several weeks.
Q: What the heck is the deal with not just one or two of the Lotus engines, but all 5? Can’t they get their head out of their exhaust ports and figure the damn things out yet? We all know Sebastien Bourdais is a proven winner, but yet, other than at Barber, where he finished 9th and literally drove his butt off for that finish, he hasn’t done much. You drop a Chevy engine in that #7 car and I would pretty much guarantee that he would be giving Power and Helio a run for their money up front. Every week it seems like one problem after another for most of these 5 Lotus cars and A LOT of the fans are getting tired of these cars being the grid back markers, not because of the teams, not because of the cars, but that damn engine. Not enough engines to go testing, one excuse after another. Lotus just needs to fold up and step down, with Chevy and Honda stepping up and filling the void.
David J, Redding, Ca.
RM: If you think the fans are upset how about those teams? The fact Herta and Reinbold are leaving should be a help for everyone involved but Honda and GM can’t just add five cars the rest of the season. They’ve already stepped up for May and will likely rescue the Lotus defectors.
Q: I think I see what's going to happen in May. Honda continues to fight for more changes while taking a beat down at the early season road and street courses, knowing all along their single turbo is designed for Indy. They then come to Indy and smoke down those straightaways while Chevy says: "I told you guys that wasn't fair."
John, Indianapolis
RM: I imagine that could be the conversation in Thursday’s protest hearing in Indianapolis.
Q: I have to say I'm stunned that people are calling for the series to allow the Lotus engines to run at a higher boost level. This is not an engine that is built to a different configuration and would therefore need an equivalency formula (like in ALMS). The fact that the series is allowing Honda to use a new turbo is not relevant to the lotus situation. It is my understanding that it will be a redesigned part but that the boost limits will remain the same. If Lotus was to submit a redesigned part (or parts) in order to close the performance gap, I would be all in favor of allowing that.
Rollin, Hollywood, FL
RM: On one hand, you are right. Just because the other two manufacturers are miles ahead of Lotus doesn’t mean they should be punished. But neither should the teams and drivers who were forced to take Lotus. That’s what bothers me and obviously Bryan Herta and Dennis Reinbold feel the same way.
Q: Are you still a fan of engine competition from a racing standpoint and not from what's best for the series? As a long time Champ Car fan, I am actually disgusted with the different engines that INDYCAR has this year. Not seeing amazing drivers like Tagliani, Servia, and Bourdais fighting for the podium each week is a disgrace. I'd rather see all the drivers in equally prepared cars so the fans can truly see who the best drivers are, but I guess that just wouldn't be open-wheel racing now would it.
Chris, Phoenix, AZ
RM: Getting General Motors back to compete with Honda is good in terms of competition and marketing and status. Having a third manufacturer that’s not up to snuff is part of racing but I think we all hate to see good teams and drivers suffer with an inferior product.
Q: If there was ever a time for a weekend at home, I'm thinking the "premier line" Ganassi team, especially Dario's group, are relishing the time they're home. I have watched every race this season and outside of growing pains with the new package, I cannot find a reason that a champion driver of Dario's experience is struggling. He's keeping the car on the circuit, pit work has been OK if not good (and I'm just recalling from memory here,) but SOMETHING is missing. I haven't checked who is engineering this machine for the Target boys but it seems that behind the wall there's a discord in the group, much like a bad spark plug upsets an engine. Tell me what I haven't seen here. WHERE in the chain of the team has the change happened that's got them unbalanced??
John Corbin, Columbia City, IN
RM: Franchitti has admitted several times he’s not felt comfortable in the new car but finally made some progress at Long Beach. Then he got eaten up by some mechanical problems. But he and engineer Chris Simmons are two of the best and they’ll find their stride.
Q: I notice on the 500 entry list that the driver for the Newman/Haas Lotus is TBA. I thought that entry was reserved for Jean Alesi. With all of Lotus' problems, there may not be a team at all, but if there is, that would seem like a good opportunity for a couple of former NH drivers, Paul Tracy and Bruno Junqueira. Obviously, neither one would have a snowball's chance in you know where of winning, but it would be nice to see one or the other at least participate and finish the race. I think some people are being too hard on Lotus. Of course, that is easy for me to say, since I don't have any money involved. But expecting them to jump right in as a new manufacturer and compete with Honda and Chevy is like asking an expansion baseball team to jump right in and defeat the Yankees and Red Sox. I hope for the good of the series and the teams involved that things will work out.
Charles T.
RM: Other than the money, I think P.T. and Bruno would rather watch Indy than drive something that had no chance. If Alesi is smart, he’ll remain a spectator as well.
Q: I've asked this before, but you said to hold it until it was more time-appropriate. So with the release of the entry list, what are some of the more unbelievable (or bizarre) rumored rides you've heard over the years that were in the works but didn't come to fruition? Are there any that were close, but never materialized and became public?
Will McCarty
RM: Parnelli coming back to place Al Unser in 1969 after he broke his leg on a motorcycle and Senna in the fourth Penske car are the two that come to mind. Rufus admits he considered it but instead hired Bud Tinglestad and, after Senna’s test at Firebird in Emmo’s car, the Indy rumor got some legs.
Q: Great race in Long Beach this year Robin! It was my first time back since re-unification. Plenty of action and Penske proved that “will power” and Chevy can win races in the face of adversity. Here’s my beef with INDYCAR this year – only 34 entries for the 500. Yes, I understand that the new engines and chassis are in short supply. Why not bring some of the old crap wagons, or maybe even Champ Car Lolas out of retirement for the Big Race? I’d even suggest the DP-01, but my understanding is that it was not designed for ovals. I know there would be safety issues, but my suspicion is that the prospect of embarrassment would be THE overriding factor. In any event, bump day needs DRAMA and 34 cars and drivers simply won’t provide it.
Michael McGill, San Diego, CA
RM: The drama was provided on Pole Day last year with Tag upstaging Ganassi and Penske but this won’t be the first time we haven’t had a lot of last day dramatics. The IRL years had a few Mays where all you needed was four laps so one more time won’t be fatal. There are plenty of cars, but by 2013 there should be enough engines to have the traditional one-offs and some bumping.
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