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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 8.10
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
Except for an on-track pass for the lead, Mailbag readers were mostly pleased with the Mid-Ohio race. (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: Don't let a bunch of IRL hangers-on write into the mailbox this week that Mid-Ohio was "boring" because there wasn't any passing. I was there, and can attest there was a ton of overtaking, especially going into Turn 4. There were passes for position constantly. I haven't watched the TV broadcast yet, but if it didn't get captured, that's the fault of the broadcast (which I doubt, since they had the NBC Sports crew), not the cars, the league, or the racing. Great race. The track could use an extra mile or so to be longer, but that might be asking a little much. And I may have mentioned this to you before, but to all the constant complainers out there, I suggest they actually attend a race. I brought a buddy of mine from college, he'd never been to a race in his life, didn't even really know what he was going to actually see, but he loved it, and walking through the paddock and watching the cars scream down the back straight definitely gave him the "wow" factor I'm sure is exactly what the series wants. So, that's my tip ... go check it out before these knuckleheads start crying about how it "used to be." Get over it. Wooden tennis rackets ain’t coming back either.
Scott T.
RM: Heard from several people it was the best Mid-Ohio race they’d attended in several years because of all the dicing and passing – especially in your corner. NBC did its usual good job of showing the racing all through the pack.
Q: Did someone forget to tell the drivers you can't pass on that circuit? :)
Bill Jurasz
RM: I’d still like to see the Keyhole lengthened and a wide braking zone but between the drivers and new car it was another good show on a road course that was built 60 years ago for sports cars.
Q: I spent both Friday and Saturday wandering the pits, garage and all the fan areas at Mid-Ohio, which is fan friendly. You can buy almost anything automotive. It is more like a "happening" than a race weekend. I watched as the practice sessions began, and what I was amazed by is the lack of interest. People continued to wander and few went to get a good view of the cars. So they actually came to enjoy a weekend drinking, buying, and wandering. Maybe that is what racing has become … an afterthought to a party. The track sucks for IndyCar … the racing was boring, (passing for the lead is what racing fans want, nobody gives a poop if TK passes Carpenter for 17th!!) … the party was fun! The most exciting thing in the race was only available on TV (Ganassi fueler inserting probe before Penske's guy), and that sure will be a best sports moment on ESPN. OH, ESPN never mentions IndyCar unless there is a crash … but being positive one pass done anywhere is better than none...right???
Ted Wolfram
RM: There was no pass for the lead on the track (unlike every other race this season) but there was plenty of passing from fifth to 15th most of the afternoon. Justin Wilson carving through the field before his first, disastrous pit stop was good stuff and I understand it’s much better to have a duel at the front. But for all the parades I’ve witnessed at Mid-Ohio, this wasn’t one of them.
Q: Another fantastic race. Who says you can’t pass on road and street courses? My question though is as much as I like the 30-minute show before the race, why do we never see the National Anthem and fly by on TV? As much as I hate the four-hour taxi races, they always show it and it is the most exciting part of their marathon. It’s patriotic, builds excitement and is one of my favorite highlights at races I attend.
CAM in LA
RM: Not sure because I know NBC Sports Network ALWAYS tries to show both (and I know because my Grid Run is usually positioned around them).
Q: Typical race for Mid-Ohio … and a lot of fans were unhappy with no passing for the lead on the track …I explained, the track doesn't allow for much and that there was a lot back in the pack … they said … "Who cares? We want passing for the lead!” Ed Carpenter isn't a real racer … he is fearless but with the new environment, "fearless" doesn't cut it. Simona has talent, but unless she gets an engine … how much is the question? IndyCar needs Danica to come back for 500 … a lot will booooo her, but they'll come to booo, and watch on TV hoping she fails. I hear Chevy is working with her reps to get her a ride with (fill in the name … I doubt if it'd be Andretti) maybe Hendrick/Penske/Stewart? Crowd hurt by rain …and price increase???
Ted
RM: Ed’s not much of a road racer, true, but he always runs well at Indianapolis and on most ovals so it’s not fair to say he isn’t a real racer. He came up in USAC midgets, sprints and knows how to race. Simona will have a competitive engine next season and I would assume the GO DADDY/Stewart/Chevy/Danica connection would be a natural for Indy. Didn’t know about the price increase at Mid-Ohio but the all-morning downpours obviously didn’t help
Q: Please pass on note to Jeff Belskus, the Hulman-George family and the Frances to take note from Mid-Ohio what constitutes a real "Super Weekend." This was my first time attending a race at a road course and I was beyond impressed with the racing and being able to move between the Keyhole, the Esses and Thunder Valley relatively easily and quickly. And the accessibility in the pits was second to none.
Alan Bandi
RM: The Grand Am race was easily the best race of the IMS Super Weekend and the ticket prices were certainly fair but the combo of ALMS, IndyCar, World Challenge and F2000 made for a lot of good racing.
Q: After watching this weekend's race, all I can say is WOW! A lot more passing then I could have ever imagined possible in an Indy car race, especially for Mid-Ohio. Besides that, I was wondering, since Penske is switching to Ford in NASCAR next year, what are the possibilities of Ford supplying engines for Indy car teams?
Todd R. in Michigan
RM: Randy Bernard has been talking to Ford for a couple of years but, so far, no movement although it would be big to renew that Ford/Chevy rivalry in open wheel.
Q: I had hoped that the DW12 would do for Mid-Ohio what it did for Barber: make a competitive & lively race. I was NOT disappointed!! I know you contend that Barber & Mid-Ohio need to make course changes (like Sonoma did) Can't wait for that race!), but have you changed your mind based upon this year's races? Scuderia Coloni: do you see them partnering with Conquest seeing as Eric Bachelart always farmed for Euro talent OR is Conquest strictly sports cars at this point? Is Coloni all just talk or are they on the way?
Gordon/Dallas TX
RM: Yes, still like to see the Keyhole lengthened and a wide braking zone established but between the new car and push-to-pass last Sunday was one of the better Mid-Ohio races I’ve seen in 30 years. Will have to wait and see if Coloni’s for real.
Q: Miller … Are people really enthused by IndyCar adding five seconds worth of “Push to Pass” to the cars? Is this what American open wheel racing has been relegated to? “Push to Pass?”
Charlie Nichols, Imperial, CA
RM: Agreed, it’s a gimmick for the road courses built in the Dark Ages but let’s not forget there was no PTP in the first nine races and they were all damn good except for Belle Isle.
~Robin Miller
Q: Don't let a bunch of IRL hangers-on write into the mailbox this week that Mid-Ohio was "boring" because there wasn't any passing. I was there, and can attest there was a ton of overtaking, especially going into Turn 4. There were passes for position constantly. I haven't watched the TV broadcast yet, but if it didn't get captured, that's the fault of the broadcast (which I doubt, since they had the NBC Sports crew), not the cars, the league, or the racing. Great race. The track could use an extra mile or so to be longer, but that might be asking a little much. And I may have mentioned this to you before, but to all the constant complainers out there, I suggest they actually attend a race. I brought a buddy of mine from college, he'd never been to a race in his life, didn't even really know what he was going to actually see, but he loved it, and walking through the paddock and watching the cars scream down the back straight definitely gave him the "wow" factor I'm sure is exactly what the series wants. So, that's my tip ... go check it out before these knuckleheads start crying about how it "used to be." Get over it. Wooden tennis rackets ain’t coming back either.
Scott T.
RM: Heard from several people it was the best Mid-Ohio race they’d attended in several years because of all the dicing and passing – especially in your corner. NBC did its usual good job of showing the racing all through the pack.
Q: Did someone forget to tell the drivers you can't pass on that circuit? :)
Bill Jurasz
RM: I’d still like to see the Keyhole lengthened and a wide braking zone but between the drivers and new car it was another good show on a road course that was built 60 years ago for sports cars.
Q: I spent both Friday and Saturday wandering the pits, garage and all the fan areas at Mid-Ohio, which is fan friendly. You can buy almost anything automotive. It is more like a "happening" than a race weekend. I watched as the practice sessions began, and what I was amazed by is the lack of interest. People continued to wander and few went to get a good view of the cars. So they actually came to enjoy a weekend drinking, buying, and wandering. Maybe that is what racing has become … an afterthought to a party. The track sucks for IndyCar … the racing was boring, (passing for the lead is what racing fans want, nobody gives a poop if TK passes Carpenter for 17th!!) … the party was fun! The most exciting thing in the race was only available on TV (Ganassi fueler inserting probe before Penske's guy), and that sure will be a best sports moment on ESPN. OH, ESPN never mentions IndyCar unless there is a crash … but being positive one pass done anywhere is better than none...right???
Ted Wolfram
RM: There was no pass for the lead on the track (unlike every other race this season) but there was plenty of passing from fifth to 15th most of the afternoon. Justin Wilson carving through the field before his first, disastrous pit stop was good stuff and I understand it’s much better to have a duel at the front. But for all the parades I’ve witnessed at Mid-Ohio, this wasn’t one of them.
Q: Another fantastic race. Who says you can’t pass on road and street courses? My question though is as much as I like the 30-minute show before the race, why do we never see the National Anthem and fly by on TV? As much as I hate the four-hour taxi races, they always show it and it is the most exciting part of their marathon. It’s patriotic, builds excitement and is one of my favorite highlights at races I attend.
CAM in LA
RM: Not sure because I know NBC Sports Network ALWAYS tries to show both (and I know because my Grid Run is usually positioned around them).
Q: Typical race for Mid-Ohio … and a lot of fans were unhappy with no passing for the lead on the track …I explained, the track doesn't allow for much and that there was a lot back in the pack … they said … "Who cares? We want passing for the lead!” Ed Carpenter isn't a real racer … he is fearless but with the new environment, "fearless" doesn't cut it. Simona has talent, but unless she gets an engine … how much is the question? IndyCar needs Danica to come back for 500 … a lot will booooo her, but they'll come to booo, and watch on TV hoping she fails. I hear Chevy is working with her reps to get her a ride with (fill in the name … I doubt if it'd be Andretti) maybe Hendrick/Penske/Stewart? Crowd hurt by rain …and price increase???
Ted
RM: Ed’s not much of a road racer, true, but he always runs well at Indianapolis and on most ovals so it’s not fair to say he isn’t a real racer. He came up in USAC midgets, sprints and knows how to race. Simona will have a competitive engine next season and I would assume the GO DADDY/Stewart/Chevy/Danica connection would be a natural for Indy. Didn’t know about the price increase at Mid-Ohio but the all-morning downpours obviously didn’t help
Q: Please pass on note to Jeff Belskus, the Hulman-George family and the Frances to take note from Mid-Ohio what constitutes a real "Super Weekend." This was my first time attending a race at a road course and I was beyond impressed with the racing and being able to move between the Keyhole, the Esses and Thunder Valley relatively easily and quickly. And the accessibility in the pits was second to none.
Alan Bandi
RM: The Grand Am race was easily the best race of the IMS Super Weekend and the ticket prices were certainly fair but the combo of ALMS, IndyCar, World Challenge and F2000 made for a lot of good racing.
Q: After watching this weekend's race, all I can say is WOW! A lot more passing then I could have ever imagined possible in an Indy car race, especially for Mid-Ohio. Besides that, I was wondering, since Penske is switching to Ford in NASCAR next year, what are the possibilities of Ford supplying engines for Indy car teams?
Todd R. in Michigan
RM: Randy Bernard has been talking to Ford for a couple of years but, so far, no movement although it would be big to renew that Ford/Chevy rivalry in open wheel.
Q: I had hoped that the DW12 would do for Mid-Ohio what it did for Barber: make a competitive & lively race. I was NOT disappointed!! I know you contend that Barber & Mid-Ohio need to make course changes (like Sonoma did) Can't wait for that race!), but have you changed your mind based upon this year's races? Scuderia Coloni: do you see them partnering with Conquest seeing as Eric Bachelart always farmed for Euro talent OR is Conquest strictly sports cars at this point? Is Coloni all just talk or are they on the way?
Gordon/Dallas TX
RM: Yes, still like to see the Keyhole lengthened and a wide braking zone established but between the new car and push-to-pass last Sunday was one of the better Mid-Ohio races I’ve seen in 30 years. Will have to wait and see if Coloni’s for real.
Q: Miller … Are people really enthused by IndyCar adding five seconds worth of “Push to Pass” to the cars? Is this what American open wheel racing has been relegated to? “Push to Pass?”
Charlie Nichols, Imperial, CA
RM: Agreed, it’s a gimmick for the road courses built in the Dark Ages but let’s not forget there was no PTP in the first nine races and they were all damn good except for Belle Isle.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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