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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 8.15
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
The late Jerry Grant, Dan Gurney and the All American Racers team. (Photo: Courtesy of AAR)
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: How about some stories on Jerry Grant?
Dave Thurston
RM: As Dan Gurney correctly stated in the obit I wrote for SPEED.com, Jerry was vastly under-rated and could drive anything with four wheels. But he was such a great character and always a pleasure to be around. However, he was lucky to live through a few adventures and here’s one of them as told by Robert Unser. “We were learning Mosport with our rental cars and I had mastered putting it into reverse at speed so Jerry slammed into me and it killed his engine and transmission. Mosport had those skinny roads with deep ditches and there was also a lake at the end of a straightaway so I started pushing him, figuring that when he backs off I’ll just shove him in the lake. He didn’t have any power steering but Jerry was pretty strong and somehow he managed to keep it out of the lake. The car was in a ditch and still upright so after Jerry got out I hit it with my front bumper and turned it over. Then we drove back to town and Jerry was trying to figure out what HE was going to tell the rental car company. He reported it was stolen but he couldn’t lie very well so they caught him immediately. I think it cost him $3500.”
Q: I watched with great interest the popularity that Rubens Barrichello brought to IndyCar because of his success in F1. Like everyone else, I thought he would be a great addition to the series and I think we’d all agree that having Rubens has been everything the series could have asked for! My question now is I would assume there has to be some NASCAR drivers that may have that same interest that Rubens did? I realize a NASCAR covert would have to virtually “start all over,” in driving an IndyCar because they are more technically difficult to drive than a NASCAR. Are you aware of anyone in that series that has ever expressed an interest, or, would be a good fit to do it? I’m not talking about bringing former drivers back (Allmendinger, Hornish, Montoya, etc), but, some pure NASCAR “only” guys who are either out of a ride/contract, or, just looking to try another series because they’ve gotten “bored” with doing NASCAR for so long? It seems many go over to NASCAR, not none come from NASCAR?
Ken, Elgin, IL
RM: Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne have always expressed an interest in running the Indianapolis 500 someday but they’re not about to quit NASCAR and take a major pay cut to move to Indy cars. No, I don’t see anybody of note in stock cars making that career change.
Q: I figured it would only be a matter time before Rubens blamed other people, for his performance. It was reported a top-level team wants him. Really? What top teams have openings? Bobby has said that Graham needs to pave his own way, would dad sign him given he is a free agent?
Paul Erie, Pa
RM: I interviewed Rubens for SPEED at Mid-Ohio and he didn’t blame anybody, per se, he admitted he hadn’t figured out cold tires or bumpy tracks as quickly as he’d hoped but also said the team had yet to find what he consistently wanted in the car. Yes, I think there’s a very good chance the Rahal’s team up.
Q: With the word out that Rubens will leave KV, it's impossible to avoid asking “What's wrong at KV?” With the money "K" brings and the experience "V" brings, the results should have been better, and certainly should show an upward trend. They've changed drivers, engineers, mechanics and sponsors with no improvement in results. It's easy to put it off on the several moneyed crashers they've had behind the wheel, but that doesn't explain it consistent mediocrity, particularly this year when Rubens and TK have produced so little. Their record is even more bleak when compared to real underdogs like Sarah Fisher and Bryan Herta. I hate to admit it, being a long-time Vasser fan, but I conclude that the top management just isn't up to the challenge. What insights do you have??
Web Beadle, Northern Calif.
RM: Marshall Pruett’s story on Kanaan today on SPEED.com talks about their problems in qualifying but, as Vasser pointed out last week in a story I wrote on Barrichello, TK is still fifth in the point standings with a chance to win the oval-track title so it’s not been that bad (except for qualifying) for him. Rubens has been honest and realistic about his rookie season while Viso has shown flashes of good things and really cleaned up his act. But nobody at KV is happy with their season and it’s a head scratcher.
Q: I understand Graham Rahal wanting to be the #1 guy wherever he goes, but his arrogance is starting to turn me off. He hasn't exactly set the open-wheel-racing world on fire. He bitches on the radio at his crew all the time and threw them under the bus after a poor qualifying effort this past weekend at Mid-Ohio. Would you want to work with someone like that or go the extra mile for him? It seems like this guy is more prima donna than team player. If he wants to be the #1, then his job is simple. WIN! Statistics don't lie, and while they don't always tell the truth, his are simply average at best. Five-plus years between Champ Car and IICS and he has 1 win, 11 podiums and 2 poles over 88 races. In 6+ years Marco has 2 wins, 14 podiums and 1 pole. Very similar statistics. I, too, would love to see both of these guys elevate their games but it looks like IndyCar's next generation is just not as good as they think or they need a dose of humble-pie. Perhaps both of them should just "shut up and drive."
Scott St. Clair, Erie, PA
RM: Clearly, there’s plenty of frustration with Rahal and this lost season and I guess it boiled over at Mid-Ohio. But Graham has always been good with the fans, media and team so not ready to stamp him as a malcontent. He was plenty quick everywhere last year with this group so some disconnect happened and it’s time for a change.
Q: It’s interesting to see that young Rahal is on the market. While he lacks some of the petulance of Marco, I still put him on my "all hat/no cattle" team. Here's my question … take out the SC sponsor dollars, American preference, etc. … all things considered equal in terms of ride quality, engineering, and crew, would you take Rahal or Briscoe as your driver?
Andy, Nashville, TN
RM: Since Dario and a couple of my bosses at SPEED refer to me as Graham’s PR man this answer won’t surprise them but I’d take the 23-year-old kid over the 30-year-old veteran. Rahal has the chops to win on any track – just like Briscoe – but let’s give him a ride in one of those red cars and see how he does before passing judgment. I believe the kid will be a champion some day with the right team.
Q: Now that Graham Rahal is a free-agent and not a Ganassi B Team driver do you see a scenario where Ganassi will try and get Rubens Barrichello in that ride? My other question is about Sebastien Bourdais and the Jay Penske situation. When I asked Marshall Pruett via twitter if he thought the situation would leave Legge and Bourdais in the lurch for the last three races he stated "It shouldn't” and that “Katherine brought the TrueCar deal to the team." While that's so, given the issues with Lotus and Dragon suing to get out, not enough Chevy engines to run both cars, and now this wouldn't a former champion like Bourdais be eager to cut his losses and bail for 2013? If so, where would he likely end up?
Geoff Roberts
RM: I wrote a story last week that said Rubens was being courted by three Honda teams and I think Sam Schmidt/Davey Hamilton or Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan have more interest than Chip. I’m sure Seabass would love to go with one of the Big 3 but don’t see any openings and he’s run well lately with Jay’s squad and he said he’d like to stay if things can be worked out. Of course that was before PissGate.
~Robin Miller
Q: How about some stories on Jerry Grant?
Dave Thurston
RM: As Dan Gurney correctly stated in the obit I wrote for SPEED.com, Jerry was vastly under-rated and could drive anything with four wheels. But he was such a great character and always a pleasure to be around. However, he was lucky to live through a few adventures and here’s one of them as told by Robert Unser. “We were learning Mosport with our rental cars and I had mastered putting it into reverse at speed so Jerry slammed into me and it killed his engine and transmission. Mosport had those skinny roads with deep ditches and there was also a lake at the end of a straightaway so I started pushing him, figuring that when he backs off I’ll just shove him in the lake. He didn’t have any power steering but Jerry was pretty strong and somehow he managed to keep it out of the lake. The car was in a ditch and still upright so after Jerry got out I hit it with my front bumper and turned it over. Then we drove back to town and Jerry was trying to figure out what HE was going to tell the rental car company. He reported it was stolen but he couldn’t lie very well so they caught him immediately. I think it cost him $3500.”
Q: I watched with great interest the popularity that Rubens Barrichello brought to IndyCar because of his success in F1. Like everyone else, I thought he would be a great addition to the series and I think we’d all agree that having Rubens has been everything the series could have asked for! My question now is I would assume there has to be some NASCAR drivers that may have that same interest that Rubens did? I realize a NASCAR covert would have to virtually “start all over,” in driving an IndyCar because they are more technically difficult to drive than a NASCAR. Are you aware of anyone in that series that has ever expressed an interest, or, would be a good fit to do it? I’m not talking about bringing former drivers back (Allmendinger, Hornish, Montoya, etc), but, some pure NASCAR “only” guys who are either out of a ride/contract, or, just looking to try another series because they’ve gotten “bored” with doing NASCAR for so long? It seems many go over to NASCAR, not none come from NASCAR?
Ken, Elgin, IL
RM: Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne have always expressed an interest in running the Indianapolis 500 someday but they’re not about to quit NASCAR and take a major pay cut to move to Indy cars. No, I don’t see anybody of note in stock cars making that career change.
Q: I figured it would only be a matter time before Rubens blamed other people, for his performance. It was reported a top-level team wants him. Really? What top teams have openings? Bobby has said that Graham needs to pave his own way, would dad sign him given he is a free agent?
Paul Erie, Pa
RM: I interviewed Rubens for SPEED at Mid-Ohio and he didn’t blame anybody, per se, he admitted he hadn’t figured out cold tires or bumpy tracks as quickly as he’d hoped but also said the team had yet to find what he consistently wanted in the car. Yes, I think there’s a very good chance the Rahal’s team up.
Q: With the word out that Rubens will leave KV, it's impossible to avoid asking “What's wrong at KV?” With the money "K" brings and the experience "V" brings, the results should have been better, and certainly should show an upward trend. They've changed drivers, engineers, mechanics and sponsors with no improvement in results. It's easy to put it off on the several moneyed crashers they've had behind the wheel, but that doesn't explain it consistent mediocrity, particularly this year when Rubens and TK have produced so little. Their record is even more bleak when compared to real underdogs like Sarah Fisher and Bryan Herta. I hate to admit it, being a long-time Vasser fan, but I conclude that the top management just isn't up to the challenge. What insights do you have??
Web Beadle, Northern Calif.
RM: Marshall Pruett’s story on Kanaan today on SPEED.com talks about their problems in qualifying but, as Vasser pointed out last week in a story I wrote on Barrichello, TK is still fifth in the point standings with a chance to win the oval-track title so it’s not been that bad (except for qualifying) for him. Rubens has been honest and realistic about his rookie season while Viso has shown flashes of good things and really cleaned up his act. But nobody at KV is happy with their season and it’s a head scratcher.
Q: I understand Graham Rahal wanting to be the #1 guy wherever he goes, but his arrogance is starting to turn me off. He hasn't exactly set the open-wheel-racing world on fire. He bitches on the radio at his crew all the time and threw them under the bus after a poor qualifying effort this past weekend at Mid-Ohio. Would you want to work with someone like that or go the extra mile for him? It seems like this guy is more prima donna than team player. If he wants to be the #1, then his job is simple. WIN! Statistics don't lie, and while they don't always tell the truth, his are simply average at best. Five-plus years between Champ Car and IICS and he has 1 win, 11 podiums and 2 poles over 88 races. In 6+ years Marco has 2 wins, 14 podiums and 1 pole. Very similar statistics. I, too, would love to see both of these guys elevate their games but it looks like IndyCar's next generation is just not as good as they think or they need a dose of humble-pie. Perhaps both of them should just "shut up and drive."
Scott St. Clair, Erie, PA
RM: Clearly, there’s plenty of frustration with Rahal and this lost season and I guess it boiled over at Mid-Ohio. But Graham has always been good with the fans, media and team so not ready to stamp him as a malcontent. He was plenty quick everywhere last year with this group so some disconnect happened and it’s time for a change.
Q: It’s interesting to see that young Rahal is on the market. While he lacks some of the petulance of Marco, I still put him on my "all hat/no cattle" team. Here's my question … take out the SC sponsor dollars, American preference, etc. … all things considered equal in terms of ride quality, engineering, and crew, would you take Rahal or Briscoe as your driver?
Andy, Nashville, TN
RM: Since Dario and a couple of my bosses at SPEED refer to me as Graham’s PR man this answer won’t surprise them but I’d take the 23-year-old kid over the 30-year-old veteran. Rahal has the chops to win on any track – just like Briscoe – but let’s give him a ride in one of those red cars and see how he does before passing judgment. I believe the kid will be a champion some day with the right team.
Q: Now that Graham Rahal is a free-agent and not a Ganassi B Team driver do you see a scenario where Ganassi will try and get Rubens Barrichello in that ride? My other question is about Sebastien Bourdais and the Jay Penske situation. When I asked Marshall Pruett via twitter if he thought the situation would leave Legge and Bourdais in the lurch for the last three races he stated "It shouldn't” and that “Katherine brought the TrueCar deal to the team." While that's so, given the issues with Lotus and Dragon suing to get out, not enough Chevy engines to run both cars, and now this wouldn't a former champion like Bourdais be eager to cut his losses and bail for 2013? If so, where would he likely end up?
Geoff Roberts
RM: I wrote a story last week that said Rubens was being courted by three Honda teams and I think Sam Schmidt/Davey Hamilton or Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan have more interest than Chip. I’m sure Seabass would love to go with one of the Big 3 but don’t see any openings and he’s run well lately with Jay’s squad and he said he’d like to stay if things can be worked out. Of course that was before PissGate.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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