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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 6.28
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
The IndyCar Series is coming off a great stretch of oval racing. (Photo: LAT)
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: Once again we have an oval race that brings back everything good from Indy car racing of the past. The race was totally unpredictable with constant lead changes, cars breaking, and drivers losing control. You don’t have to worry about filling time during a rain delay when you can have really interesting interviews with any one of the 25 drivers in the field. They all have engaging personalities, which I suppose is a requirement in the tenuous days of finding a sponsor to have a ride. Also Dario doing commentary in the booth was a nice bonus adding to the usual excellent race coverage. I was especially impressed with Will Power watching the crash replay and only then realizing he had come down on E.J. Viso. It was kind of ironic but Power still said he owed him an apology. He has become my favorite driver over the last year not just because of his driving talent, but how he genuinely speaks his mind without sounding like a whiner. Finally with everything good that happened at Iowa, don’t you think Indy Car could easily have a second race there? For the past two years Indy Car has been trying to find its hard core fans. Obviously the corn people get it.
Rick Schneider, Charlotte
RM: Iowa might have been as good as Texas from the passing standpoint and props to Will Phillips for nailing the less downforce package. Randy Bernard suggested a Saturday/Sunday doubleheader for Iowa but nobody seemed too keen to try it (among the owners) but I think it makes good sense. The Iowa fans are the best to sit through two thunderstorms and wait for a 9:45 pm start.
Q: How long has it been since an American won back-to-back Indy car races? Also with Ryan Hunter-Reay sitting second in points, what do you think this does for the series momentum? I remember when the Dinger won lots of Champ Car races it got a lot of press since we had an American contender for the title and similar effects with Sam. With a unified series, I would hope for even more coverage.
Stephanie Willerth
RM: Sam Hornish was the last in 2006 and it should help IndyCar get more press, although you certainly couldn’t tell it by reading USA Today.
Q: Why do the drivers want to ruin the great restarts? Why did they complain about the former Barnhart and now want to re-instate his stupid policies? Do they want the pace car to go away a lap before the restart again (the stupidest rule ever)? Why is the new Race Director even considering this? Tell me it's not true (I did read it in The Star). The drivers can restart anytime they want.
Ken Reighard
RM: Beaux Barfield moved the acceleration zone back out of Turn 4 at Iowa and the drivers seemed pleased. But the starts and restarts have been as exciting as anything I’ve seen in 20 years and Barfield is aware of that so not to worry – the drivers will not be calling the shots.
Q: I can’t believe the awesome racing we have been seeing this year on ovals. First, at Indy, were they swapped the lead I don't know how many times (35 times among 10 drivers) and then Texas, where the drivers may have been slower but in control of the car and having to drive the car. Milwaukee and Iowa, where the drivers where on the edge of control the whole race. My question actually is about other 1.5-mile tracks do you think Indy cars could race there safely with the way the cars are now?
Jared Chown
RM: Absolutely, Texas was the litmus test and the drivers all said they’d gladly come back with that aero package.
Q: I'm glad to hear that IndyCar has decided to extend the season finale to a 500- mile race. I used to attend every race in Fontana since it opened in 1997 and always thought it was better as a 500 miler. I can't wait to see how the new car will race there. So far all the ovals this year have been awesome. This will be the first time since the IRL there be a 500-mile race at somewhere other than Indy. What are the chances we see a Michigan or Pocono get added to the schedule and we see a triple crown in 2013?
John Baadilla
RM: I’d say at good chance for at least one of them (Pocono) and restoring the Triple Crown would be fine if there could be a big sponsor and a nice payday. If Fontana could somehow be a winner then that rotation could be just like the old days of Ontario/Pocono/Indy and it sounds like MIS and Phoenix are interested as well. Watching this year’s races it’s easy to see why they would be.
Q: Regarding Detroit, what a holy joke … too many good drivers and to watch an afternoon procession on a track meant for chariots. I know you hear this all the time, but what the hell is the matter with these people, when you have Road America screaming for Indy cars to race there and a tremendous amount of talent wasting away at a track like Belle Isle. Common sense, initiative, and some team effort should re-introduce RA to the schedule. What do you suggest we do? I would travel from Long Beach to visit the best track in North America. I grew up in Waukesha, and it hurts to see this beauty of a track wasting away!!
Cameron from Long Beach
RM: IndyCar and Road America tried to do something this season but the only date was the ALMS weekend (and that was China) and I really believe Randy and the track will try to put that doubleheader together for next year. Milwaukee and Elkhart Lake co-existed for a long time and it can happen again.
Q: I've got to say the oval racing right now in IndyCar is second-to-none. After Indy, Texas, Milwaukee, and Iowa, fans must be clamoring for more. With that said, can we expect to see more oval racing for the 2013 IndyCar season? If so, what ovals can we expect to be added for next season?
Jay Matheny, Mayfield, KY
RM: Pocono, Michigan and Phoenix (maybe in that order) would be the logical candidates but probably not Richmond, Kentucky or Loudon.
Q: I do not understand why IndyCar management insists on all the street courses. It can't be cheaper to set up a temp course than running at an established road course. And the racing is generally better on a road course than a street course. Any insight as to why all the road courses? This is not going to happen any time soon if ever but one way for Indy to grow fans would be to actually share a weekend at a track with NASCAR. Once all those fans saw how good the racing is they might start watching both series.
John, Carlisle PA
RM: Before The Split in 1996, crowds were capacity at Milwaukee and Phoenix and there were 70,000 at MIS but the war took its toll and by 2002 attendance at those three tracks was pathetic. People quit going to ovals and even the IRL finally stole CART’s playbook and started having street races and road courses. Taking your product to Long Beach, Alabama, St. Pete, Baltimore, Brazil, Mid-Ohio and Toronto at least gives the promoter a fighting chance – unlike most ovals.
Q: If the series chooses to do heat races again, will the winners of the first two heat races be allowed to participate in the final heat?
Kyle Lantz
RM: Oh yeah, if it happens again I’m sure the heat winners will transfer to the race for the pole and I believe there would be points paid as well (and hopefully some money). Considering they raced for nothing, it was better than I expected except for the first heat.
~Robin Miller
Q: Once again we have an oval race that brings back everything good from Indy car racing of the past. The race was totally unpredictable with constant lead changes, cars breaking, and drivers losing control. You don’t have to worry about filling time during a rain delay when you can have really interesting interviews with any one of the 25 drivers in the field. They all have engaging personalities, which I suppose is a requirement in the tenuous days of finding a sponsor to have a ride. Also Dario doing commentary in the booth was a nice bonus adding to the usual excellent race coverage. I was especially impressed with Will Power watching the crash replay and only then realizing he had come down on E.J. Viso. It was kind of ironic but Power still said he owed him an apology. He has become my favorite driver over the last year not just because of his driving talent, but how he genuinely speaks his mind without sounding like a whiner. Finally with everything good that happened at Iowa, don’t you think Indy Car could easily have a second race there? For the past two years Indy Car has been trying to find its hard core fans. Obviously the corn people get it.
Rick Schneider, Charlotte
RM: Iowa might have been as good as Texas from the passing standpoint and props to Will Phillips for nailing the less downforce package. Randy Bernard suggested a Saturday/Sunday doubleheader for Iowa but nobody seemed too keen to try it (among the owners) but I think it makes good sense. The Iowa fans are the best to sit through two thunderstorms and wait for a 9:45 pm start.
Q: How long has it been since an American won back-to-back Indy car races? Also with Ryan Hunter-Reay sitting second in points, what do you think this does for the series momentum? I remember when the Dinger won lots of Champ Car races it got a lot of press since we had an American contender for the title and similar effects with Sam. With a unified series, I would hope for even more coverage.
Stephanie Willerth
RM: Sam Hornish was the last in 2006 and it should help IndyCar get more press, although you certainly couldn’t tell it by reading USA Today.
Q: Why do the drivers want to ruin the great restarts? Why did they complain about the former Barnhart and now want to re-instate his stupid policies? Do they want the pace car to go away a lap before the restart again (the stupidest rule ever)? Why is the new Race Director even considering this? Tell me it's not true (I did read it in The Star). The drivers can restart anytime they want.
Ken Reighard
RM: Beaux Barfield moved the acceleration zone back out of Turn 4 at Iowa and the drivers seemed pleased. But the starts and restarts have been as exciting as anything I’ve seen in 20 years and Barfield is aware of that so not to worry – the drivers will not be calling the shots.
Q: I can’t believe the awesome racing we have been seeing this year on ovals. First, at Indy, were they swapped the lead I don't know how many times (35 times among 10 drivers) and then Texas, where the drivers may have been slower but in control of the car and having to drive the car. Milwaukee and Iowa, where the drivers where on the edge of control the whole race. My question actually is about other 1.5-mile tracks do you think Indy cars could race there safely with the way the cars are now?
Jared Chown
RM: Absolutely, Texas was the litmus test and the drivers all said they’d gladly come back with that aero package.
Q: I'm glad to hear that IndyCar has decided to extend the season finale to a 500- mile race. I used to attend every race in Fontana since it opened in 1997 and always thought it was better as a 500 miler. I can't wait to see how the new car will race there. So far all the ovals this year have been awesome. This will be the first time since the IRL there be a 500-mile race at somewhere other than Indy. What are the chances we see a Michigan or Pocono get added to the schedule and we see a triple crown in 2013?
John Baadilla
RM: I’d say at good chance for at least one of them (Pocono) and restoring the Triple Crown would be fine if there could be a big sponsor and a nice payday. If Fontana could somehow be a winner then that rotation could be just like the old days of Ontario/Pocono/Indy and it sounds like MIS and Phoenix are interested as well. Watching this year’s races it’s easy to see why they would be.
Q: Regarding Detroit, what a holy joke … too many good drivers and to watch an afternoon procession on a track meant for chariots. I know you hear this all the time, but what the hell is the matter with these people, when you have Road America screaming for Indy cars to race there and a tremendous amount of talent wasting away at a track like Belle Isle. Common sense, initiative, and some team effort should re-introduce RA to the schedule. What do you suggest we do? I would travel from Long Beach to visit the best track in North America. I grew up in Waukesha, and it hurts to see this beauty of a track wasting away!!
Cameron from Long Beach
RM: IndyCar and Road America tried to do something this season but the only date was the ALMS weekend (and that was China) and I really believe Randy and the track will try to put that doubleheader together for next year. Milwaukee and Elkhart Lake co-existed for a long time and it can happen again.
Q: I've got to say the oval racing right now in IndyCar is second-to-none. After Indy, Texas, Milwaukee, and Iowa, fans must be clamoring for more. With that said, can we expect to see more oval racing for the 2013 IndyCar season? If so, what ovals can we expect to be added for next season?
Jay Matheny, Mayfield, KY
RM: Pocono, Michigan and Phoenix (maybe in that order) would be the logical candidates but probably not Richmond, Kentucky or Loudon.
Q: I do not understand why IndyCar management insists on all the street courses. It can't be cheaper to set up a temp course than running at an established road course. And the racing is generally better on a road course than a street course. Any insight as to why all the road courses? This is not going to happen any time soon if ever but one way for Indy to grow fans would be to actually share a weekend at a track with NASCAR. Once all those fans saw how good the racing is they might start watching both series.
John, Carlisle PA
RM: Before The Split in 1996, crowds were capacity at Milwaukee and Phoenix and there were 70,000 at MIS but the war took its toll and by 2002 attendance at those three tracks was pathetic. People quit going to ovals and even the IRL finally stole CART’s playbook and started having street races and road courses. Taking your product to Long Beach, Alabama, St. Pete, Baltimore, Brazil, Mid-Ohio and Toronto at least gives the promoter a fighting chance – unlike most ovals.
Q: If the series chooses to do heat races again, will the winners of the first two heat races be allowed to participate in the final heat?
Kyle Lantz
RM: Oh yeah, if it happens again I’m sure the heat winners will transfer to the race for the pole and I believe there would be points paid as well (and hopefully some money). Considering they raced for nothing, it was better than I expected except for the first heat.
2013 INDY 500 Practice
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