Q: With the trouble that FOX has put forth for the reason that starting of the partnership with IndyCar, how critically are Roger, Mark Miles and the entire of Penske Leisure taking how essential this 12 months is for the brief and long run success of the collection?
I’m not knocking the nice issues which have come up to now years for the reason that sale to Penske, however there are going to be so many eyes on the collection with the promotion that FOX has offered already, and their dedication to the whole championship. Considering again to controversial gadgets such because the crimson flag within the 2023 Indy 500, the push to cross scandal final 12 months, and the danger of shedding Honda and having no public curiosity from new OEM’s, I actually am each cautiously optimistic that the errors of the previous have been discovered from to make sure that this 12 months goes on with none points, however I’m additionally cautious that complacency nonetheless exists from how shut the sector sometimes is.
Like all of us, I need to see the collection taken to the extent it deserves to be held on outdoors of the fanbase, however I’m additionally frightened that this 12 months may very well be extra of the identical and find yourself stagnant amongst informal followers and racing followers that don’t sometimes observe the collection outdoors of the five hundred.
Alan Bandi, Sarver, PA
MARSHALL PRUETT: Roger is among the biggest enterprise minds in racing, so I’m assured he’s absolutely conscious of how a lot is at stake together with his collection in 2025.
Like several sporting league, IndyCar has its issues. Greater than I’d like, for certain, and greater than the individuals within the paddock need, as properly. However nothing that I do know of will stop wonderful racing from going down over the subsequent 17 occasions. Assuming the product stays at a excessive degree and new and present followers tune in a ton on FOX and switch as much as purchase plenty of tickets to observe dwell, what occurs in 2025 needs to be wonderful.
It’s within the stuff past 2025, with engine provide contracts ending after 2026, and getting a brand new automobile going, which looks like it’s fallen from 2027 to 2028, and reducing prices with nice immediacy, the place the continued considerations do fall.
However in the event you simply need to watch the racing and revel in a distraction from actual life, I’m critical after I say to disregard the entire inside-baseball stuff that’s worrying, delight within the wonderful skills of the Patos and Newgardens and Palous and Hertas, and let time and nature deal with the remainder.
What number of extra sleeps till we’ve got IndyCars again on observe once more? Joe Skibinski/IMS Photograph
Q: I’m having some issue discovering the reply to this query. How will broadcast conflicts between IndyCar and NASCAR be dealt with by FOX? For example, on March 2, IndyCar will go first on Sunday adopted by NASCAR later within the afternoon. If for some motive IndyCar runs late, will FOX end the IndyCar race after which transfer over to NASCAR, or would it not minimize to NASCAR earlier than the top of the IndyCar race? There are quite a lot of permutations as to how any Sunday may play out. What’s going to the overall coverage be at FOX?
Spencer
MP: Spoke to FOX Sports activities they usually instructed us there’s an hour-long buffer between Sunday’s IndyCar race and the beginning of the Cup race. In addition they mentioned will probably be a case-by-case foundation on any future wants to change from IndyCar to NASCAR, and if a change is critical, will probably be made plain by its announcers and on the ticker on the backside of the display with information on the place to go inside FOX’s myriad channels.
My very own enter could be that with NASCAR rating as FOX’s prime racing collection by a large margin, and with a deep want to transform as many NASCAR viewers into IndyCar viewers, the one option to kill that idea is by making Cup followers miss what they tuned in to see on FOX. So if there’s a time crunch, I’d anticipate FOX to serve its bigger Cup-loving viewers and transfer IndyCar to a different vacation spot.
Additionally, we’re solely speaking about March, April and Might earlier than streamers and NBC take the NASCAR baton from FOX, so there’s a smaller variety of alternatives for this running-late situation to play out.
Q: What’s your opinion on what impression the newly-cancelled Honda-Nissan merger could have on Honda’s resolution to both go away or keep after its IndyCar contract expires in 2026?
Let’s face it, Nissan is a large number, having the final quarter’s earnings fall from $2.1 billion to solely $33 million and a inventory worth lack of 25% within the final 12 months. However Honda is just not significantly better off, struggling a inventory worth lack of 15% within the final 12 months. In my view it not going to be a few new automobile, IndyCar’s worth or enlargement plans, however about what Honda has to do to financially survive. It wanted this merger, and it seems to be like me that leaving IndyCar is the odds-on favourite.
So, the follow-up query stays. What’s your tackle Penske’s contingency plan if this most definitely scenario happens?
Glenn, Palos Verdes Property, CA
MP: Zero impression. I’ve by no means heard the Nissan factor talked about in any of the various conversations I’ve had with Honda Racing US individuals for the reason that begin of the 12 months. Not as soon as.
If Honda leaves, Roger Penske’s engine firm Ilmor Engineering, the place he’s co-founder and co-owner, is the plain alternative to provide engines to the whole subject. Or, if there’s a want, he can search bids from Cosworth and another specialist racing engine builders to do a spec motor, however since Ilmor makes the motor for Chevy that’s received the previous couple of Producers’ championships, it looks like there’s a simple answer to pursue.
