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Written by:
Robin Miller
09/03/2008 - 07:37 AM
Indianapolis, Ind.
Castroneves and Wilson: racing or blocking? (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: How did Chip pull of hiring Franchitti without you knowing? This totally came as a surprise as I figured Dario would be driving in ALMS next year. Two questions: Does this mean Chip will field an ALMS team? Where can Wheldon possibly go and make close to the money he's making this year?
Jim Doyle
RM: Chip called me around noon today and kinda felt me out, asking what was new, etc. I said I had asked Dario over the weekend if he was going to try and drive in the Nationwide series in 2009 for Ganassi because he'd been pretty competitive. Chip laughed and said: "That ain't happening, I can promise you." Then he called back a little while later and told me what was going on and I was floored, to say the least. He enjoyed the fact I had no clue (and so did Franchitti) but I never even considered it. But it's good for open wheel and I'm glad Franchitti is back. As long as Ganassi runs NASCAR, he'll be a Grand-Am guy. Wheldon is taking Meira's seat at Panther but probably at a greatly reduced price, although it won't surprise me if the IRL chipped in to make sure a recent IRL and Indy winner stayed in the series. So Wheldon might be making more than we think (but not $2.8 million like this year).
Q: I am deeply upset at the lame call at Belle Isle this weekend. Did you ever see F1 tell Schuey to move over for blocking a McLaren? Are these drivers that big of whiners that the series feels it needs to make a call to tell the leader to move over? I thought drivers were given one move -- move right to defend fine but move back left and your blocking. Helio moved right, and I didn't see him move back to the left. He used his one move. I just thought that was a really lame call by the stewards. These guys are pros and i didn't see anything but good hard driving out there. I just want to see some hard racing.
Damian Afaganis, Epsilon Motorsports
RM: It was the F1 influence that brought blocking into the USA in CART in the late '80s and I wish they'd kept it over there. Real racers don't block and that's why Senna and Schuey couldn't hold a candle to Jim Clark or Jackie Stewart or Stirling Moss. It takes no talent to block and real racing is overtaking. You saw Justin Wilson driving hard, get a run and then get blocked almost into the wall. The hell with one move, there should NEVER be blocking in an Indy car and the penalty fit the crime last Sunday.
Q: I was happy to see a driver from one of the Big 3 teams FINALLY get penalized for blocking, but what's up with the inconsistency of Brian Barnhart when it comes to blocking? At Nashville Danica has a good run on Helio and he moves down the track and get her to lift twice and she lost two spots because of it, yet no penalty, just a warning and then today he pulls that move on Wilson
Damon in Hilliard, Ohio
RM: The buzz in the paddock after the race was how refreshing it was to finally see ex-Penske employee Barnhart finally lean on RP's squad. You are correct about Castroneves' blocking Danica badly at Nashville and nothing happened. That was also for the lead. And yes, his inconsistency is exactly why Team Penske was so steamed. But, for once, he made the right call.
Q: How obvious was it that the IRL gave that race at Belle Isle to Justin Wilson? I am as big a fan of Paul Newman's as there is but would Paul have wanted to get a victory by a gift as opposed to earning it on the racetrack? I don't think so. Above all PLN is a racer and a gifted win as a tribute to an ailing man is not how he would have wanted it. No warning before the penalty makes this a NASCAR race. Determining the outcome of the race in race control is not what Indy car fans want. Shame on the IRL.
Alan Selk
RM: Do you seriously believe that? That Barnhart gave it to Newman/Haas/Lanigan as a favor to Paul Newman? I don't think that ever crossed his mind. I think he saw the only meaningful pass of the race get blocked like a linebacker and made a call that should always be made.
Q: Is it just me or am I the only one that feels that regardless if Castroneves received a blocking penalty, he had nothing for Justin Wilson after the race was declared a timed race? Justin was GONE once he turned it to full rich and would have quickly passed Castroneves if he was in front of him (providing he didn’t try blocking him again).
Keith Lee
RM: Helio said his front tires were cooked so he had nothing for Wilson at the end so, providing Justin got another good run and didn't get blocked, sure he might have been able to get by.
Q: Let me set the final laps of the IRL race at Belle Isle: On lap 58 Helio pits. By lap 63 he is leading and is 15 seconds ahead of Wilson (2nd) and 17 seconds ahead of Dixon (5th). At approximately lap 65 Wheldon has an "accident" for a full course yellow. Bunch everyone up for the restart. On lap 70 (of a timed race now) Helio is told to get out of the way for Wilson. Am I the only one that thinks Wheldon's mishap was a bit convenient for his teammate Dixon? And which ultimately helped Wilson win that race? Look at it this way, if there wasn't that yellow, Helio probably wins by 20 seconds and this whole blocking issue would not even be discussed. I feel bad for Helio, as I think he "should" have won that race. And Wheldon got thanked by Chip with his pink slip. This is why I prefer IRL oval racing over these lame road courses.
Lawrence H.. Sherman Oaks, CA
RM: Wow, it's conspiracy week here. Knowing now what we do about Ganassi/Franchitti/Wheldon for 2009, do you really think Danny Boy wanted to help Chip by hitting the tires on purpose? I'd say no. Just like at Edmonton when Cindric thought he purposely stopped six inches short in his pit box to slow Castroneves' exit. People don't think that fast.
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