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Written by:
Robin Miller
07/23/2008 - 08:42 AM
Indianapolis, Ind.
Milka vs. Danica: it just won't go away... (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos
Hello open wheel types and thanks for all your questions. I intend to answer your questions every week during the season, so just e-mail them to openwheelmailbag@gmail.com. Don’t feel left out if I didn’t directly respond. I appreciate your interest and passion.
~Robin Miller
Q: Just got back from Mid-Ohio, and I agree that it was a good crowd, despite having nasty thunderstorms that morning. I wonder how big it would have been with better weather? I'm a little disappointed that they delayed the race for a half hour. The track at the scheduled start time would have been nice and soaked and it could have been a very interesting first quarter of the race as the drivers drove around on a drying track. As it was, we only had a few laps of excitement before the track was dry. After that, the race was a boring parade, with the only exception being watching Justin Wilson. I don't know how much the TV viewing audience got to see, but first we got to watch him gain three seconds a lap on the drivers on the opposite fuel strategy (who were caught in traffic, I admit), and then we got to watch him pass everyone in sight while he unlapped himself and fought his way back up the field as far as he could. Wilson came into the pits that first stop leading, and he came out in third. Does he need a new pit crew? Is it a factor of not having a good pit location? Or do they just need to practice more with the new car?
Guy Schalnat
RM: We were all praying for more rain or to have that storm last longer because by the time the race started, as you said, the track was nearly dry. Justin has had some awful luck this year and run much better than his results show but Sunday's race was a screwy as I've ever seen. Briscoe gets hung out to dry on the first stop, falls to 17th and wins because all the yellows fell his way (he was due for a break by the way) and guys like Meira, Power and Wilson all looked like winners at one point because of their strategy and pace. Pit location is key sometimes because a team will short fill when they see the opposition coming. But Justin didn't lose because of a pit stop.
Q: With Danica's latest blowup at Mid-Ohio (she was right to be upset, but did it in the wrong fashion.......AGAIN) and you mentioning on the SPEED Report about Kanaan wanting some stipulations in his next contract if he were to stay at AGR, am I crazy to think that one of those stipulations would be that AGR doesn't re-sign her when her contract is up after 2009?
Damon in Hilliard, Ohio
RM: I think AGR would be crazy since she brought $21 million from Motorola, but she might want to go somewhere else and her dad might shop her to NASCAR (the IRL would have to intervene and make sure she doesn't leave). But don't get on her for doing what every driver has wanted to do to Charo.
Q: I have never had to endure a race with so many completely useless laps of full-course yellow. At least half of them could be eliminated by the simple change of adding a starter motor to the next-generation Indy Car. Simple spins that the SCCA corner workers could have easily cleared under a local yellow required two vehicles full of the IRL safety crew to drive (often counter race) to the incident, create a further hazard by where they parked and stick a starter in the stalled car to get it going then clear the scene of the incident. Then if the leader has pitted under the yellow they waste another three laps or so sending the cars which did not pit around so the safety car can again pick up the leader. Total idiocy. Does the IRL realize that they're not still racing Watson roadsters on ovals? Any chance of them fixing this mess or will they continue to rob us of race laps?
Mike Grove, Copley, Ohio
RM: Come on Mike, they had eight laps of yellow for
Q: Do you believe that Danica should (or will) be punished for her behavior at Mid-Ohio? The video clearly captures Danica using inappropriate language on (at least) two times during her conversation with Milka Duno. Was her behavior in violation of IndyCar Series rule 8.3.A?
Glenn Watts, Pompano Beach, Fla.
RM: If a driver ever gets fined for cussing, we have more problems than I even imagine. Cussing and racing are synonymous. Milka didn't like the salty language and none of the drivers appreciate her lack of talent and awareness. No, DP should not get fined – she should actually be thanked.
Q: As I sat in front of the wonderful HDTV on Sunday great racing was being covered. F1 on FOX, Sports cars from Mid-Ohio, and then the IRL on ABC. All were great to watch, and that brings me to the question. Is there any word if any if and when the IRL will go for another broadcaster other than ABC/ESPN? I thought the NBC coverage was great. Any word on when ABC's coverage of the 500 is going to be up and is anyone going to try for it? Plus why wouldn't the commentators talk about the numbers at yesterday's race when it looked like there were more than Watkins Glen?
Shawn, Anderson University
RM: If the IRL could start getting 1.5-2 ratings it could have a little more bargaining power, and it's possible CBS or NBC could be interested. The crime for the IRL is that ABC/ESPN is the perfect outlet for specialty shows, but there are none. Just "NASCAR Now."
Q: When should drivers solve their issues with the delivery of a knuckle sandwich? Obviously, getting cut-off in practice at a low-speed corner wasn't worthy of a Danica/Milka boxing match. But, what situations in recent memory were worthy of fisticuffs? Also, what is proper fight etiquette? Obviously, the most desirable is to have both drivers take their helmets and gloves off... But what if one driver doesn't want to fight and so elects to keep his or her protective coverings on? Is this a proper choice? Also, what drivers of the old guard were fighters in their prime? I can't imagine Mario fighting, but I can't imagine A.J. not fighting...Big Al, Uncle Bobby, the Bettenhausens, etc.?
Clint Costa, Chicago
RM: In midget and sprint racing, if somebody gets you upside down with a stupid move, a shove followed by a right hook is certainly understandable. Tags was smart enough to leave his helmet on when he confronted Tracy at San Jose a couple years ago and "that damn Coogan" always kept his helmet on when A.J. was after him. Foyt smacked a guy in IMCA and whacked Johnny White once in USAC. Steve Kinser has probably punched Sammy Swindell a 100 times in 20 years. Jimmy Spencer hit Kurt Busch once. Lloyd Ruby and Foyt wanted to whip Mario a few times in the mid-'60s but the Unsers were lovers, not fighters. Whatever happens, no bi*ch slapping like A.J. did to Luyendyk.
Q: I’m really glad to see Tracy back in the cockpit, but wouldn’t you agree that Jacques Villeneuve has been a more “successful and popular racer”?
Phil McKown, Nashville Ind.
RM: No, much rather see P.T. Sure, Villenueve won Indy, CART and F1 titles but threw it all away by getting greedy in 1998. Hasn't won a race since 1997 and has zero personality unless he's trying to open a restaurant or sell a CD.
Q: Two comments on Indy cars at Mid-Ohio. One, the cars did a lot of squirming around in the corners, suggesting that the current balance of power and downforce is not so far off on the road courses. Second, does Danica need to make a habit of challenging some other driver every week? I know, Milka may be a special case, but Danica’s act is wearing a little thin.
Tony Infante
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