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RHR, Manning and Kanaan on the Glen podium: feel-good stories aplenty. (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: We continue to hear how IRL teams are struggling to find sponsors and there are a few teams that have concerns about next year’s sponsors. It only makes sense to me that sponsors would be bailing out of the over priced and extremely boring NASCAR scene and jumping into the IRL. I know the NASCAR audience is a lot larger, but I wouldn't say the IndyCar fan base is small by any means. At what point do you think sponsors will start realizing they are paying too much for NASCAR and jump back on board Indy cars? I would imagine a primary sponsor on a NASCAR could have numerous cars for the same money in the IRL.
Justin Cocanower, Lafayette, Ind.
RM: I think that's what the open wheel owners are hoping, that companies get tired of spending $15 to $20 million a year to run 25th when they could spend a third of that and be competitive in Indy cars. Obviously, the television ratings need to improve substantially but it appears the paying customers are slowly starting to forgive and forget, based on some of the venues so far this season.
Q: Given that we saw RHR’s first win for Rahal-Letterman this past weekend at the Glen, Darren Manning finishing second for Foyt’s under-funded team, and Tony Kannan finishing third with a broken wrist, as fans, we had three compelling “feel good” stories for that race. Personally, I would have been happy if any of those three guys had won the race because of what they had to overcome. Who do you think had the drive of the race (I’m leaving Bruno out of this one, but that was also a feel-good story too)?
Racy Richard
RM: Kanaan drove through the pain and Manning did a nice job all weekend and I still think Hunter-Reay was the best story because of where's he come from the past couple years. But the best drive had to be Buddy Rice, who came from 17th to finish fourth.
Q: Just curious to know if you think Buddy Rice will ever drive for a big three team in the coming years (such as AGR if Kanaan goes to Penske to replace Briscoe over the off season)? He's showing great results and showing that
Steven O
RM: You would think so because, as you said, Buddy is still a damn fine racer and I'd love to see him get a chance. I think he was in the AGR picture until Honda went with Mutoh but he probably isn't on Chip's or RP's radar. Maybe go back to Rahal/Letterman as teammates with Hunter-Reay if sponsorship could be found?
Q: If NASCAR doesn't want Dario, and there is no sponsorship for him, why not simply go back to open wheel, beat everybody in the unified series, help rebuild it's stature and then in a couple years get a sponsor, good equipment go win Daytona in a one-off run a be done with it. He'll prove that he can drive anything and win. After all isn't that the point? There is more to this story so what is it really????
Ron H
RM: I don't think you'll see Franchitti back in open wheel, he accomplished what he set out to do and survived the mayhem of those mile-and-a-half tracks. But NASCAR doesn't want or need him so he'll never get a sniff of a decent ride. Dario is much better suited for ALMS with his precise driving style.
Q: Since the IndyCar Series has hosted the engine forum, realistically, what engine manufacturers do you think will actually emerge as future competitors to Honda in the Indycar Series? Also I know you have talked about how great it would be for the Indycar Series to bring back the "Triple Crown" by having a big sponsor to pay a driver a large purse if they could win three 500 mile races in the year such as Indy, Michigan and Fontana. Is that a realistic possibility any time soon? And lastly what are the chances of the California Speedway in Fontana being put back on the schedule if so when would you think it would be back? I live about half hour from that track and miss seing real racing in Fontana, (not that NASCAR excuse for a race).
John Baadilla, Norwalk, Calif.
RM: Hard to say but obviously Audi, BMW or Alfa would all be great additions because they would spend money on teams and advertising. Same for Volkswagen and maybe Mazda. It all depends on what the rules will be and nobody can say right now what they will be but turbos seem appetizing to many at the forum. The triple crown would be great at those tracks but the IRL needs a title sponsor before it worries about restoring the TC. And Fontana is doubtful now that Indy cars are back at Long Beach.
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