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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 7.20
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
Double-file restarts continue to be a hot topic of debate. (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: This year, and especially after Toronto, I can honestly say that I am ashamed to be an IndyCar race fan. The race was embarrassing, to say the least. I'm so sick and tired of listening to these racers complain and "struggle" with things like double-file restarts. First of all, like Mike Conway and Marco Andretti said after St. Pete: they all do double-file starts at the beginning of each race, so why can't they continue to do it throughout the race? And all of them need to stop whining and grow up. Someone needs to tell them all: "Grow up, shut up, and deal with it. You're professionals at the highest level of open wheel racing in North America--deal with it!" If they don't like it, let them go someplace else, because I guarantee that there are 50 other racers out there, waiting in line to get a ride in IndyCar and who would probably race for half the pay. That being said, Race Control--which obviously needs a total house cleaning--needs to penalize any driver who is not lined up side-by-side for the restart. No waving off the restart, just take note of anyone out of formation before the Start/Finish Line and give them a drive-through penalty. I guarantee that will get their attention and reign them in. And you can't blame all the crashes in Toronto on double-file restarts because most of the cars--especially during the last third of the race--were not double-file but rather single-file for the restarts! So there! They need to change the rules on "blocking" for one thing, especially when going into turns. IndyCar is the only series in the world that interprets "blocking" and a "racing line into a turn" the way that they do. But that's TGBB and now Al Unser, Jr, who I'm quickly losing total respect for in his position. When you have clear and concise rules that are fair and logical, and a fair and consistent execution of them, it controls the drivers and keeps them inline, often causing racers to think twice about attempting a bonzai maneuver, especially if they know that they will get penalized for it if they fail. You never see crash fests like in Toronto during an ALMS race or a Grand-Am race. Gee, I wonder why........
Frank. Rochester, NY.
RM: The bitching and moaning has subsided to some degree but as Rick Mears told me in May, figure out how to use restarts to your advantage instead of complaining about it. And, yes, if you're not lined up and you're pacing the field you go immediately to the rear. It would only happen once. Don't get me started on the "racing line." That's like using consistent and TGBB in the same sentence.
Q: I've spent most of my adult life involved in motorsports in some way. From drag racing as a kid, to helping our local super modified driver at the dirt tracks of MO/IA, to attending F1 races in Europe in the '60's courtesy the US Army, to racing dirt tracks in CA, to working for short track promoters, to working for a major road course, to working for the biggest corporate sponsor in the US for 18 yrs., which included everything from sports cars to NASCAR to F1...I've been active in just about every form of racing, except Indy cars. Last year, I thought the Indy 500 was headed for oblivion and decided to start supporting the efforts of Randy Bernard to help resurrect the race and the series. In addition to corresponding with several influential people, included you, I have made initial steps to approach a major sponsor who is not involved in IndyCar at present. I worked in racing sponsorship for a long time and think I know a thing or two about it. After watching the Toronto race and later reading that IndyCar officials instructed drivers that the lead car into Turn 3 was directed to not take the inside line, but instead leave room for another car on the inside, I have decided that IndyCar is not really serious about being a professional racing series. This type of rule is used in amateur, kiddy racing, like Legends, 1/4 midgets, 5-yr-old go karters, etc. I'm sorry to see such a great tradition go by the boards, and I hope I'm wrong. Until Bernard and the owners decide to make the series a real racing series I won't be watching any more or attending any races. We will give our free tickets to Vegas to someone else and cancel plans for the suite to which we were inviting some potential corporate sponsors. Sponsors that would have been for the series or teams, whichever. I can't spend a whole race trying to explain to a CEO why the cars keep crashing in the same place all the time. It's like the PGA ruling that the person with the lowest score in a foursome must hit his ball into the rough instead of onto the green. Corporate money won't understand and will put their sponsorships elsewhere.
Duncan Lee, former Director of International Sponsorships, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
RM: I took the liberty of sending your letter directly to Randy Bernard and I'm sad to hear of your decision. But you have correctly identified the problem: telling the leader of a road course race that he or she cannot protect the inside line is lunacy. Like you said, it's not racing. And neither is blocking but there's a big difference between defending and blocking. Alex Tagliani used the outside to pass Graham Rahal and unlap himself and last year at Edmonton, Helio left the outside open for Will Power, who tried it and lost a spot. I believe that's called racing.
Q: Any chance that IndyCar will bounce that blocking rule in 2012? If these double file restarts are here to stay (and if Race Control actually starts enforcing them) then I see no need for that stale blocking rule, seems to cause more chaos than anything else and if you're good enough, you should be able to pass someone with that aid. Can't wait for the Edmonton this coming weekend.
Jake
RM: You would hope so because the double-file restarts promote plenty of passing and this insane rule about leaving the groove open is the worst.
Q: Let' see now, if you have the lead you can't defend or turn into the inside position except when you can; we require double file restarts except when we don't; one driver moves one foot inside and gets called for blocking and another makes four violent blocking moves on the same car in the same lap and nothing happens; the pole sitter is suppose to cross the start line first except when they don't but they are supposed to lead the first lap; one driver makes a great pass on a car and they lightly touch and he gets called in for a stop and go for rough driving but someone else punts a guy off the course and it is "just racin'"; I use my off throttle exhaust to help with down force and the rules people say it is okay at the beginning of the season and my engine reliability has been designed around this so they change their minds halfway through the season, then after one race, take it all back and say sorry. Everyone agrees on a 4 cylinder turbo as the new formula then one team says no, it won't sound good, the big boss says too bad you said you would and now we have V6 turbos. I guess the governing bodies of auto racing are just as fickle, stupid, and politically motivated (whatever Ferrari wants Ferrari gets) as the US government but it is all about reducing costs, right? Let's spend 10 million to prosecute Roger Clemens but we will screw it up so badly we get a mistrial on the SECOND DAY. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Tom in Waco
RM: Are you suggesting that INDYCAR and F1 might not be the pinnacle of rules, regulations and firm decisions?
Q: As much as I want to rant about the IndyCar Series turning into the WWE, I can't bring myself to do it. The hate is good. I'm happy to say you have a convert to your House Of Hate, Robin. It produces headlines and drama that some people respond to better than the product on the track. However, when a decision does need to be made about reprimanding a driver it must be done swiftly and without prejudice or bias. I think back to when Helio was black flagged for blocking Justin Wilson, a call that ultimately cost Helio the championship and when Castroneves was also called for blocking Will Power at Edmonton last year. It seems when a call needs to be made when it involves a Penske, TGBB is quick to make the call even if it’s questionable in nature. However, TGBB seems to fall asleep at the switch when a car with a bulls eye on the side is in peril of being penalized. Name one time in recent memory that either Dixon or Dario was made an example of by race control for a questionable move on the track. I know TGBB has a history with both Penske and Ganassi as an employee, but it seems the almighty TGBB has a bone to pick with the Captain rather than Chip. I know Little Al and Cotman ultimately made the call, but the omnipresent TGBB seems to disappear from existence when Ganassi is involved. Maybe IndyCar should quit bowing down to this false deity once and for all.
Travis, Reading, PA
RM: There was no doubt Helio blocked Wilson at Detroit but the call against him last year at Edmonton was a travesty because he simply held his line as the race leader. Barnhart worked for Penske, not for Ganassi, but his real problem is the lack of consistency. As one veteran driver said: "Tell us the rules and enforce them consistently. That's all we ask." That's way too much for TGBB.
Q: What is with advocating so strongly for more hate in the series?? "Hate is Great" Who really wants to see the drivers throwing punches? And how does that make INDYCAR legitimate? There are a lot of real things that INDYCAR needs to change (refer back to the first race of the season). So far none of them have happened. Don't bother saying anything about double-wide restarts because that is an inconsistent joke. (watch a NASCAR race to learn what doublewide restarts look like) Nor does the highly touted 2012 spec car, with fancy ground effects count. No changes have been made and it is so sad. I don't care if drivers hate each other or get in fistfights or like sitting naked in fields of pretty little purple flowers. I do care about consistently applying rules. I do care about seeing the most technologically advanced performance machines. I do care about seeing the world's best drivers pushing their cars to the extreme edge. If I want fake and gimmicky, I'll watch WWE. When I want real fights, I watch Friday night fights. I doubt this will make it into the mailbag because its highly critical and borders on taboo by pointing out that nothing has changed. But if by some miracle it does make it in, answer this one question... Why is driver hate and animosity more newsworthy than fixing the real problems of the series?
WC, Fairfax, Va.
RM: First off all, my stance on hate is more tongue-in-cheek because I think we all enjoy emotion in our racers and today's generation seems to rather twitter than fight. I'm not advocating brawls or punch-outs but a few threats and a shove or two is fine. The Bourdais/Tracy War was perfect. But I've been on TGBB's case about starts forever and we've had some real good restarts this season and some that should have never happened. You're right that nothing has changed in Race Control but in spite of that there's also been some damn good racing and I think you'll like what you're going to see and hear about the new cars and engines.
Q: After watching the ridiculous Toronto crash-fest, it's obvious that IndyCar needs penalties with real bite, not just slaps on the wrist. My proposal would be that the penalty for "avoidable contact" would be that you could not gain by it; you would have to take up position behind the other car involved. If the other car had to wait for a lap or two to get restarted, you'd lose those laps as well. And if the other car was unable to continue, you'd be disqualified.
John Francis, San Jose, CA
RM: Those aren't bad remedies but first we need a chief steward to enforce them. Any suggestions?
Q: I don't know how much more of this I can take! Why do drivers now think that putting their front wing alongside the car in front's REAR tire is getting along side of them? That is not being along side, and in no way should they think this entitles them to be able to pass. Get along side, or back off. Race control just makes it worse. Their lack of consistency is their only constant. Best thing would be to line them up and open fire. This whole decision by committee is bull. We need to go back to the old way, where a chief steward, like Wally Dallenbach Sr. reviewed and made the final call. Wanna argue with Wally? Fine. Someone needs to be able to quickly look at a scenario, determine what should or shouldn’t be done, and make a call-and make them consistently. In the Will Power vs Dario Franchitti take out, normally both cars would have sustained damage (broken wing for the trailing car) but that doesn’t seem to happen to the red cars. Are the Ganassi cars running stock Dallara wings, or are these made in house? If they are made in house, are they being manufactured in a way that contact is less likely to damage them? Seems odd that they never seem to get damaged when spinning someone out. Also, CART had a rule that if you screw up on a restart, you get a warning. Screw it up again, go to the back. Maybe that needs to be revisited. The entire Ganassi threesome should have been penalized for their BS on the late restart. My last complaint is about the points. Why do they feel the need to assign points to the last place car? This point system is for the birds. To be fair, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Champ Car system either. I prefer the old CART system. It had the right mix of awarding for wins and consistency
Paul in Cleveland
RM: Trade Brian Barnhart for Wally Dallenbach? Who do I call? Where do I sign up? Seriously, a veteran driver told me last week that he liked Brian but that most of the drivers didn't fear or respect him because he wants to be everybody's pal. As for why drivers feel like it's their corner when they're not even alongside somebody, I have no idea but it's a disease. My favorite point system: 1 for a win.
~Robin Miller
Q: This year, and especially after Toronto, I can honestly say that I am ashamed to be an IndyCar race fan. The race was embarrassing, to say the least. I'm so sick and tired of listening to these racers complain and "struggle" with things like double-file restarts. First of all, like Mike Conway and Marco Andretti said after St. Pete: they all do double-file starts at the beginning of each race, so why can't they continue to do it throughout the race? And all of them need to stop whining and grow up. Someone needs to tell them all: "Grow up, shut up, and deal with it. You're professionals at the highest level of open wheel racing in North America--deal with it!" If they don't like it, let them go someplace else, because I guarantee that there are 50 other racers out there, waiting in line to get a ride in IndyCar and who would probably race for half the pay. That being said, Race Control--which obviously needs a total house cleaning--needs to penalize any driver who is not lined up side-by-side for the restart. No waving off the restart, just take note of anyone out of formation before the Start/Finish Line and give them a drive-through penalty. I guarantee that will get their attention and reign them in. And you can't blame all the crashes in Toronto on double-file restarts because most of the cars--especially during the last third of the race--were not double-file but rather single-file for the restarts! So there! They need to change the rules on "blocking" for one thing, especially when going into turns. IndyCar is the only series in the world that interprets "blocking" and a "racing line into a turn" the way that they do. But that's TGBB and now Al Unser, Jr, who I'm quickly losing total respect for in his position. When you have clear and concise rules that are fair and logical, and a fair and consistent execution of them, it controls the drivers and keeps them inline, often causing racers to think twice about attempting a bonzai maneuver, especially if they know that they will get penalized for it if they fail. You never see crash fests like in Toronto during an ALMS race or a Grand-Am race. Gee, I wonder why........
Frank. Rochester, NY.
RM: The bitching and moaning has subsided to some degree but as Rick Mears told me in May, figure out how to use restarts to your advantage instead of complaining about it. And, yes, if you're not lined up and you're pacing the field you go immediately to the rear. It would only happen once. Don't get me started on the "racing line." That's like using consistent and TGBB in the same sentence.
Q: I've spent most of my adult life involved in motorsports in some way. From drag racing as a kid, to helping our local super modified driver at the dirt tracks of MO/IA, to attending F1 races in Europe in the '60's courtesy the US Army, to racing dirt tracks in CA, to working for short track promoters, to working for a major road course, to working for the biggest corporate sponsor in the US for 18 yrs., which included everything from sports cars to NASCAR to F1...I've been active in just about every form of racing, except Indy cars. Last year, I thought the Indy 500 was headed for oblivion and decided to start supporting the efforts of Randy Bernard to help resurrect the race and the series. In addition to corresponding with several influential people, included you, I have made initial steps to approach a major sponsor who is not involved in IndyCar at present. I worked in racing sponsorship for a long time and think I know a thing or two about it. After watching the Toronto race and later reading that IndyCar officials instructed drivers that the lead car into Turn 3 was directed to not take the inside line, but instead leave room for another car on the inside, I have decided that IndyCar is not really serious about being a professional racing series. This type of rule is used in amateur, kiddy racing, like Legends, 1/4 midgets, 5-yr-old go karters, etc. I'm sorry to see such a great tradition go by the boards, and I hope I'm wrong. Until Bernard and the owners decide to make the series a real racing series I won't be watching any more or attending any races. We will give our free tickets to Vegas to someone else and cancel plans for the suite to which we were inviting some potential corporate sponsors. Sponsors that would have been for the series or teams, whichever. I can't spend a whole race trying to explain to a CEO why the cars keep crashing in the same place all the time. It's like the PGA ruling that the person with the lowest score in a foursome must hit his ball into the rough instead of onto the green. Corporate money won't understand and will put their sponsorships elsewhere.
Duncan Lee, former Director of International Sponsorships, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
RM: I took the liberty of sending your letter directly to Randy Bernard and I'm sad to hear of your decision. But you have correctly identified the problem: telling the leader of a road course race that he or she cannot protect the inside line is lunacy. Like you said, it's not racing. And neither is blocking but there's a big difference between defending and blocking. Alex Tagliani used the outside to pass Graham Rahal and unlap himself and last year at Edmonton, Helio left the outside open for Will Power, who tried it and lost a spot. I believe that's called racing.
Q: Any chance that IndyCar will bounce that blocking rule in 2012? If these double file restarts are here to stay (and if Race Control actually starts enforcing them) then I see no need for that stale blocking rule, seems to cause more chaos than anything else and if you're good enough, you should be able to pass someone with that aid. Can't wait for the Edmonton this coming weekend.
Jake
RM: You would hope so because the double-file restarts promote plenty of passing and this insane rule about leaving the groove open is the worst.
Q: Let' see now, if you have the lead you can't defend or turn into the inside position except when you can; we require double file restarts except when we don't; one driver moves one foot inside and gets called for blocking and another makes four violent blocking moves on the same car in the same lap and nothing happens; the pole sitter is suppose to cross the start line first except when they don't but they are supposed to lead the first lap; one driver makes a great pass on a car and they lightly touch and he gets called in for a stop and go for rough driving but someone else punts a guy off the course and it is "just racin'"; I use my off throttle exhaust to help with down force and the rules people say it is okay at the beginning of the season and my engine reliability has been designed around this so they change their minds halfway through the season, then after one race, take it all back and say sorry. Everyone agrees on a 4 cylinder turbo as the new formula then one team says no, it won't sound good, the big boss says too bad you said you would and now we have V6 turbos. I guess the governing bodies of auto racing are just as fickle, stupid, and politically motivated (whatever Ferrari wants Ferrari gets) as the US government but it is all about reducing costs, right? Let's spend 10 million to prosecute Roger Clemens but we will screw it up so badly we get a mistrial on the SECOND DAY. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Tom in Waco
RM: Are you suggesting that INDYCAR and F1 might not be the pinnacle of rules, regulations and firm decisions?
Q: As much as I want to rant about the IndyCar Series turning into the WWE, I can't bring myself to do it. The hate is good. I'm happy to say you have a convert to your House Of Hate, Robin. It produces headlines and drama that some people respond to better than the product on the track. However, when a decision does need to be made about reprimanding a driver it must be done swiftly and without prejudice or bias. I think back to when Helio was black flagged for blocking Justin Wilson, a call that ultimately cost Helio the championship and when Castroneves was also called for blocking Will Power at Edmonton last year. It seems when a call needs to be made when it involves a Penske, TGBB is quick to make the call even if it’s questionable in nature. However, TGBB seems to fall asleep at the switch when a car with a bulls eye on the side is in peril of being penalized. Name one time in recent memory that either Dixon or Dario was made an example of by race control for a questionable move on the track. I know TGBB has a history with both Penske and Ganassi as an employee, but it seems the almighty TGBB has a bone to pick with the Captain rather than Chip. I know Little Al and Cotman ultimately made the call, but the omnipresent TGBB seems to disappear from existence when Ganassi is involved. Maybe IndyCar should quit bowing down to this false deity once and for all.
Travis, Reading, PA
RM: There was no doubt Helio blocked Wilson at Detroit but the call against him last year at Edmonton was a travesty because he simply held his line as the race leader. Barnhart worked for Penske, not for Ganassi, but his real problem is the lack of consistency. As one veteran driver said: "Tell us the rules and enforce them consistently. That's all we ask." That's way too much for TGBB.
Q: What is with advocating so strongly for more hate in the series?? "Hate is Great" Who really wants to see the drivers throwing punches? And how does that make INDYCAR legitimate? There are a lot of real things that INDYCAR needs to change (refer back to the first race of the season). So far none of them have happened. Don't bother saying anything about double-wide restarts because that is an inconsistent joke. (watch a NASCAR race to learn what doublewide restarts look like) Nor does the highly touted 2012 spec car, with fancy ground effects count. No changes have been made and it is so sad. I don't care if drivers hate each other or get in fistfights or like sitting naked in fields of pretty little purple flowers. I do care about consistently applying rules. I do care about seeing the most technologically advanced performance machines. I do care about seeing the world's best drivers pushing their cars to the extreme edge. If I want fake and gimmicky, I'll watch WWE. When I want real fights, I watch Friday night fights. I doubt this will make it into the mailbag because its highly critical and borders on taboo by pointing out that nothing has changed. But if by some miracle it does make it in, answer this one question... Why is driver hate and animosity more newsworthy than fixing the real problems of the series?
WC, Fairfax, Va.
RM: First off all, my stance on hate is more tongue-in-cheek because I think we all enjoy emotion in our racers and today's generation seems to rather twitter than fight. I'm not advocating brawls or punch-outs but a few threats and a shove or two is fine. The Bourdais/Tracy War was perfect. But I've been on TGBB's case about starts forever and we've had some real good restarts this season and some that should have never happened. You're right that nothing has changed in Race Control but in spite of that there's also been some damn good racing and I think you'll like what you're going to see and hear about the new cars and engines.
Q: After watching the ridiculous Toronto crash-fest, it's obvious that IndyCar needs penalties with real bite, not just slaps on the wrist. My proposal would be that the penalty for "avoidable contact" would be that you could not gain by it; you would have to take up position behind the other car involved. If the other car had to wait for a lap or two to get restarted, you'd lose those laps as well. And if the other car was unable to continue, you'd be disqualified.
John Francis, San Jose, CA
RM: Those aren't bad remedies but first we need a chief steward to enforce them. Any suggestions?
Q: I don't know how much more of this I can take! Why do drivers now think that putting their front wing alongside the car in front's REAR tire is getting along side of them? That is not being along side, and in no way should they think this entitles them to be able to pass. Get along side, or back off. Race control just makes it worse. Their lack of consistency is their only constant. Best thing would be to line them up and open fire. This whole decision by committee is bull. We need to go back to the old way, where a chief steward, like Wally Dallenbach Sr. reviewed and made the final call. Wanna argue with Wally? Fine. Someone needs to be able to quickly look at a scenario, determine what should or shouldn’t be done, and make a call-and make them consistently. In the Will Power vs Dario Franchitti take out, normally both cars would have sustained damage (broken wing for the trailing car) but that doesn’t seem to happen to the red cars. Are the Ganassi cars running stock Dallara wings, or are these made in house? If they are made in house, are they being manufactured in a way that contact is less likely to damage them? Seems odd that they never seem to get damaged when spinning someone out. Also, CART had a rule that if you screw up on a restart, you get a warning. Screw it up again, go to the back. Maybe that needs to be revisited. The entire Ganassi threesome should have been penalized for their BS on the late restart. My last complaint is about the points. Why do they feel the need to assign points to the last place car? This point system is for the birds. To be fair, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Champ Car system either. I prefer the old CART system. It had the right mix of awarding for wins and consistency
Paul in Cleveland
RM: Trade Brian Barnhart for Wally Dallenbach? Who do I call? Where do I sign up? Seriously, a veteran driver told me last week that he liked Brian but that most of the drivers didn't fear or respect him because he wants to be everybody's pal. As for why drivers feel like it's their corner when they're not even alongside somebody, I have no idea but it's a disease. My favorite point system: 1 for a win.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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