Q: I’m curious what occurred to the ultimate three episodes of the 2025 season of 100 Days to Indy (Season 3). The primary three episodes aired earlier than the five hundred. The ultimate three episodes have been purported to run on the finish of the season and canopy the ultimate championship run. Did Palou’s dominance and early clinching trigger Fox to cancel the ultimate three episodes?
Fred (Indiana native now dwelling is St. Louis)
MARSHALL PRUETT: Thriller solved… the confusion comes from altering the title of the ultimate three episodes to ‘Highway to the INDYCAR Championship’. They’ve aired and can be found on FOX Nation.
Q: When ought to we anticipate to see some idea drawings of the brand new chassis? I bear in mind IndyCar having a number of completely different idea designs from producers years in the past, roughly 2010. An entire two years earlier than the DW12 rolled out to the monitor. It saved me engaged with the game.
I do know the chassis has been delayed. With the lengthy low season and a lot of the main foolish season items having fallen already, Penske Leisure ought to at the least give us a glimpse of the longer term. I’m curious if it could look something just like the latest Blackbird Mk 66.
Your ideas?
Not that superior supervisor of Scott Dixon, Stefan Johansson
MP: I’m advised it appears to be like like an evolution of the DW12, with F1-style wings, and never a revolutionary design. I’m additionally advised to be looking out for the rendering in 2026.
Q: Any ideas on the Palou and McLaren lawsuit?
Evidently either side have some culpability. Now, I do not know the events personally so I am unable to touch upon the reality. However you guys at RACER have some entry to this story. So what’s the fact because it stands right this moment?
Steve
MP: My ideas: It’s unhappy, wasteful, and vengeful. I’ve heard the mixed prices with attorneys and all the related cash spent on their circumstances with analysis and professional witnesses and whatnot is north of $20 million, which is rattling near what’s being sought in damages. That’s the wasteful and vengeful half, and silly.
The unhappy half is how this was mishandled from the start by Palou and his former managers. If he’d gone to Zak Brown, mentioned he’d misplaced the desire to drive for the group, was principally impressed by the prospect to get to F1, and simply wouldn’t be motivated to step all the way down to Arrow McLaren, which was a major step down on the time, I’ve to consider Zak would have listened.
I’m positive it could have angered him, and I’m positive it could have value Palou a number of million as a buyout, however Zak’s sensible sufficient to know that one factor you possibly can’t purchase in a contract is the center and can of a driver to offer all the pieces to the group. It’s a crappy state of affairs, however we’ve seen it loads of instances lately in a wide range of sports activities. A participant has misplaced religion within the group, has a multi-year contract, and desires out. Forcing the driving force – Palou on this case – to honor their contract was going to be unhealthy for each events.
A depressing driver, even a two-time champion like Palou at that stage, wouldn’t ship what the group wanted to stage up. Once more, Zak’s finished this lengthy sufficient to know {that a} pleased and impressed Palou would rework his IndyCar group, and a pissed and disinterested Palou would waste the his time and the group’s time whereas ready to expire his contract. As a substitute, the poking-the-giant-bear method was taken and a McLaren group with inexhaustible monetary sources is alleged to be burning mountains of money to make sure its wrath is felt.
The Ganassi group has his again, and seems to be fronting the prices to wage the counter struggle, however what sort of monetary smash will likely be visited upon Palou in damages to pay McLaren and to Ganassi for the authorized help? I don’t faux to know the depth of the Palou-Ganassi authorized protection deal, nevertheless it’s wild to think about how this might have been resolved way back, in a person-to-person dialogue, and even when it took some time to get to that time, and got here with a stiff price ticket for Palou, as an alternative of this nonsense that’s been going for 2 years.
Looks as if the true winners within the McLaren/Palou lawsuit to this point are the attorneys. Alastair Staley/Getty Photos
Q: Stoked to see Mick Schumacher so passionate about this IndyCar alternative. He would immediately turn out to be a star if he makes the change. Two issues:
First, I seen a conspicuously giant Honda brand on his helmet (together with different Honda branding parts). Is that this a sign that if he have been to change, Honda could be supplying free engines/paying his wage?
Second, why isn’t IndyCar/IMS productions reside streaming or at minimal producing a 30 min testing recap ? Looks as if a straightforward solution to drive engagement within the offseason . Each check ought to have at the least some kind of immediate recap to feed the content material machine
Jah within the soiled south
MP: Mick’s a professional. Honda Racing Company US made its prized driver-in-the-loop simulator obtainable to him and the RLL group final Friday to study the Indy highway course, and that’s the sort of gesture which comes with a brand, in sort, on one’s helmet. HRC additionally despatched a movie crew to doc the DIL go to and Mick’s run on Monday, which provides one other layer of funding from the model within the check.
It speaks to the potential seen by Mick’s facet and the group and producer for 2026. There was intent behind the check, which ought to be apparent by all the added parts and investments by RLL and Honda, and Mick appeared to take pleasure in himself and the automobile. Mick’s mother flew out for the check! Met the group, noticed the grand RLL store, and so forth. It’s the sort of factor that occurs once you’re 26 and severe about making a significant life change, proper?
If he needs to turn out to be a full-time IndyCar driver, the door seems to be open at RLL. Now we’ll have to attend and see what Mick decides.
On IMS/IndyCar, they don’t have a vast price range. This wasn’t an official collection check day, as in, a check organized by the collection for the complete subject. It was a non-public day, organized by RLL, and joined in by another groups, so apart from administering the check, this wasn’t the collection in motion on Monday. However, the collection did ship a shooter to seize some pictures and put collectively a b-roll bundle and posted some social content material. F1 doesn’t ship movie crews to do what you say IndyCar ought to do with 30-minute personal testing options and reside streaming. IMSA doesn’t do it. NASCAR doesn’t do it.
I want all of them did, however because it isn’t the norm, I can’t take difficulty right here with IndyCar.
Q: Do GTP and LMP2 groups have spare automobiles as backups like IndyCar and different collection, or do they simply carry a crap ton of spare elements and hope the primary tub survives? I’ve seen the movies of groups thrashing to make repairs to break throughout observe and it hit me that I simply do not know what they do if it is broken past in a single day repairs.
The GTP automobiles are fairly costly to construct so I can’t see groups wanting to construct greater than are wanted.
John Balestrieri, Waukesha, WI
MP: Each group is completely different, so there’s no single reply. Sure, many have spare automobiles, however not all. For GTP producers and ORECA, maker of the 07 LMP2 chassis, there’s at the least one spare tub and sufficient spares to constructed a brand-new automobile, if no more.
Q: Tens of millions of individuals tuned into to School Gameday this Saturday and noticed the Oregon Duck mascot take a shot on the Indy 500 and the state of Indiana as an entire. Indiana proceeded to thump Oregon 30-20. What would it not take for Firehawk and The Duck to satisfy within the octagon on the Portland GP subsequent 12 months?
Max S
MP: This was hilarious. Firehawk is just too pleasant to scare anyone. Murderhawk? It scares everyone. However I simply noticed the man behind the Murderhawk social account is retiring the account, so the duck is secure.
Q: I might prefer to know in regards to the rumors round Nick Tandy. There’s some followers throughout the BTCC fanbase that noticed his drive with the MINI facet of NAPA racing as a entrance for a drive within the full BTCC seat in 2026, given Porsche scaling again (sure, nonetheless in IMSA, however I am guessing Penske will enhance funding for that group) and that Dan Rowbo is anticipated to depart the group for Jason Plato’s new group. For me, that is wishful pondering and unrealistic, however what are the vibes round that camp?
Whereas we’re on sports activities automobiles racing, do you assume 2027 will see a return of WEC to the UK? Heard rumors it’s a sure. (Positively after how packed ELMS was in September).
Dan Mayhew, UK
MP: Why would Nick have to do a one-off drive as a entrance for what he’s doing subsequent 12 months? Wouldn’t he simply do the BTCC subsequent 12 months if that’s what he needed to do? Nick advised me he completely liked the run within the Mini. I advised him to do extra of these forms of races – only for enjoyable – and he mentioned he needed to. He’s one of many biggest sports activities automobile drivers of the century. If his present employer is tired of his companies, he’ll be snapped up by a rival producer instantly. If he needs to downsize his life and take an enormous pay lower, he’ll go from GTP to BTCC, which I wouldn’t advocate.
I’ll by no means perceive why the WEC doesn’t have a everlasting race within the UK, however because it’s a fleeting or fluctuating factor, I maintain restricted hope that the oversight will likely be corrected in 2027.
Q: I do not wish to get my tin foil hat on too tight, however the information that Porsche is ending its WEC Hypercar program on the finish of the 12 months will get a man questioning and hoping that possibly they could possibly be reallocating sources to develop a 2.4L twin turbo V6.
Add to that the rumors of AO being considering increasing into IndyCar, in addition to their relationship with Porsche, it actually has me doing a little main wishful pondering that we could possibly be seeing some dinosaur liveries powered by Porsche in 2028. I am not getting my hopes up as this appears extra a pipe dream as of now, however who is aware of?
Alan Bandi, Sarver, PA
MP: We’ve anticipated certainly one of Porsche’s 963 packages to finish and spent the primary months of the 12 months in worry it could be GTP, however realized it was stable, which meant Hypercar was the priority.
It’s price noting that AO isn’t considering increasing into IndyCar. Because the group’s head of PR advised me, its CMO was requested about whether or not the group had pursuits outdoors of IMSA, and the reply was a common sure, with a point out of NASCAR and IndyCar, and so forth.
There’s two individuals who dictate AO’s future, and that’s the proprietor/driver/funder PJ Hyett and driver/group principal Gunnar Jeannette, they usually aren’t trying to go racing in NASCAR or IndyCar. So, sadly, that pierces a number of holes within the tinfoil hat. Expressing a common curiosity in growth outdoors of IMSA with no plans for growth outdoors of IMSA is how I’d course of this one. If that modifications, it could be superior.
Porsche is downsizing its manufacturing facility racing packages as a consequence of a shift in EV methods; its EVs haven’t been promoting properly in Europe, after which there’s the larger difficulty, which is an total decline in international gross sales. Its Formulation E program retains an EV-specific venture going, however I’m wondering how lengthy that can proceed, and its marquee GTP effort in IMSA is stable by way of 2027, I hear, which maintains its manufacturing facility involvement in its largest gross sales market.
Pulling out of WEC, committing to IMSA, and spending tens of hundreds of thousands to do engines for a second North American racing program could be superb, nevertheless it’s not the present plan.
IndyCar is more likely to stay dinosaur-free – until one of many present groups decides to run with it. Any takers? Brandon Badraoui/IMSA
Q: There are nonetheless fairly a number of important choices to be made for the 2026 IndyCar season. Coyne, JHR and RLL are a few of the ones that individuals are discussing on social media. However they appear to be ignoring the large obtrusive choice, and you could be a outstanding particular person having to make that call.
What am I speaking about? My youngsters and spouse ask that query so much. I am speaking about right this moment’s grand announcement! The massive one so many have been ready for! Rush is happening tour in 2026. So, what do you if their weekend in your space can also be an IndyCar race weekend elsewhere. What do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO?!?!?
John Balestrieri, Waukesha, WI
MP: IndyCar = Shall be round for a very long time.
Rush on tour, albeit minus the GOAT on drums = Won’t be round for a very long time. Go to the live performance as a result of it won’t occur once more.
Q: I noticed the minor bombshell you dropped within the Mailbag final week about VeeKay going to Juncos. Assuming this leaves Lundqvist and not using a seat for 2026 then? Disgrace, in that case. Have you learnt if he has the rest lined up?
John A.
MP: By the point you’re studying this, Rinus ought to be confirmed at JHR. Linus remains to be engaged on alternatives; hung out with him final week at Petit Le Mans and launched him to a couple IMSA group house owners to ensure he explores each paddocks. Noticed him on Monday at Indy as properly and may verify he’s doing his finest to search out an IndyCar house. With out cash to supply, he’s on the mercy of those that are keen to pay for him to drive their automobiles, and there aren’t lots of these left.
Q: Intrigued by the Blackbird 66 concept, if solely as a result of some out of the field pondering is welcome – if not essentially sensible, as Marshall identified with respect to cornering.
However is it actually essential to go that far to get the specified outcomes? Didn’t CART within the ‘90s have the proper components: massive HP engines in chassis that relied extra reliance on mechanical grip than aero? I’m no engineer, however wouldn’t extra energy and fewer downforce create a racy beast?
Al, Boston
MP: No. the CART automobiles of the Nineties had tons of aero and fixed growth and had tons and plenty of downforce when wanted.
Motion in racing occurs in 4 phases: On the straights, into the corners, within the corners, and exiting the corners. Downforce is fairly necessary within the final three phases should you like Indy automobiles to go quick. You’ll be able to return to pre-1968 the place wings weren’t allowed, and there was nice racing, however there wasn’t nice energy. Or pace. The efficiency was balanced in that regard the place no single space jumped far forward of the others.
The Blackbird 66 takes two areas – big energy and a near-total lack of downforce – and goes wild, which is basically enjoyable, nevertheless it takes the general efficiency means out of stability.
There’s a perception that some refuse to let go of with massive energy/small downforce being the magical reply to issues, however I don’t know what query is being requested. As properly, I can’t discover a fashionable instance the place big energy/minimal downforce been confirmed as the perfect components.
If we return many a long time, positive, we are able to discover issues like Can-Am the place 1000hp-plus Porsches and McLarens thrilled the world, they usually have been rockets on the straights and unable to do a lot with all of that pace as soon as corners have been concerned. Additionally, virtually each single factor about these automobiles has modified by an enormous quantity. Chassis building. Engine sort. Transmissions. Tires. Electronics. Aerodynamics. And so forth.
If followers wish to see explosive energy and acceleration adopted by explosive deceleration and blindingly quick cornering, downforce will likely be required to tie all the 4 phases collectively. If that’s not what folks need, you possibly can throw the stability out the window, dial up a number of areas of efficiency, get Indy-style dragsters, and hope the racing is entertaining. It could be. We simply haven’t seen it in the true world, so it’s all hypothesis till we see a pack of Blackbird 66s in motion.
Q: One of the vital thrilling open IndyCar seats for me is the fourth Arrow McLaren automobile on the Indy 500, as a result of they often have an enormous title in that automobile. Do you could have any concepts about who could possibly be in for 2026? Every other potential Indy 500-only entries? The one one-off entries confirmed to this point are Helio Castroneves at Meyer Shank and Jack Harvey for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Frank Lehmann
MP: I don’t have any affirmation, however I’ve my eye on Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Bryan Herta Autosport has been in search of the appropriate match to get again to the five hundred with Honda. On the Chevy facet, the reply is all about PREMA. Different drivers and groups I’ve spoken with within the Chevy household inform me they’re ready to see what occurs with PREMA, and in the event that they fold, getting access to an additional engine for the five hundred turns into extra seemingly. Till that will get answered, I’m advised a lot of the midfield groups that wish to run one other automobile are in limbo and unable to signal an Indy-only driver.
Is there a papaya-tinted Month of Could in Hunter-Reay’s future? James Black/Penske Leisure
Q: I would not say I am following the Palou/McLaren saga, however I’ll look on the headlines. Being an American, I do not perceive the surface world. Irrespective of the end result, can a British Court docket inform a Spanish citizen working in America for a company, if not registered in some tax shelter island, is headquartered within the U.S.’s most boring state of Delaware; what to do?
Shawn, MD
MP: Palou signed contracts with a UK-based firm. The UK-based firm has taken him to courtroom within the UK to resolve the matter. If the courtroom couldn’t inform him what to do, he wouldn’t be within the UK, on the trial and centrally concerned within the trial, in the event that they couldn’t inform him what to do, proper? The reply is often discovered within the motion.
Q: What can an everyday fan do to assist JR Hildebrand’s Blackbird 66 venture?
Edward
MP: JR’s fairly simple to search out on most social media retailers. I’d attain out and ask.
Q: Thanks in your article in September in regards to the standing of the foolish season. Relating to the AJ Foyt group, you wrote: “the driving force who replaces Malukas and the Penske price range that put him within the automobile might want to make a major contribution to the working prices.”
I do not perceive what meaning and hope you possibly can shed some gentle on how budgets and sponsorships work. I’ve heard different feedback about drivers who include their very own sponsors. Are drivers liable for bringing in cash? How can they presumably discover the time to do this?
Joe Stern
MP: It means Penske paid for Foyt to run Malukas, and that whoever replaces Malukas might want to pay for the chance to drive the automobile. Some groups have sponsors who pay the $8-12 million annual price range for a automobile to compete in IndyCar and the group hires an elite driver. Some groups have some sponsorship, however not the total quantity, and tackle a paying driver to cowl half or regardless of the proportion finally ends up being for the annual price range. And a few groups have drivers who pay 100% of the price range. The Penske-Foyt association was a novel one the place Penske signed Malukas in 2024, wanted to position him with one other group because it didn’t have a emptiness in its personal group, and farmed Malukas out to Foyt for the season and paid for them to run him in 2025.
So with Malukas leaving and Penske’s funding leaving, the following driver of that automobile – seemingly Caio Collet – must fill within the massive monetary void that’s been left. IndyCar drivers have 17 races per season, which is one out of each three weekends in a calendar 12 months. These races are often from Friday-Sunday. For many who aren’t well-paid professionals, they’ve an abundance of time.
Have you ever ever actually needed to do one thing and needed to elevate the cash to do it? A visit, a automobile, and so forth.? It’s no completely different right here. Of the 27 full-time drivers from 2025, I depend 17 as being correctly paid by a group, as in, being 100-percent employed for his or her expertise, which leaves fairly a number of who get up every single day trying to find more cash to proceed their careers in 2026 and past.
Q: I’m not fully positive why I used to be fascinated by this, however I used to be randomly fascinated by some spectacular non-winning races that drivers had. The one which got here to my thoughts was Sébastien Bourdais’ drive to P9 at Barber with the Lotus engine in 2012. Max Verstappen within the rain in Brazil additionally involves thoughts. I might love to listen to some others.
And, a less-positive query. Stirling Moss had 16 F1 wins and no titles. Given the best way the brand new guidelines packages could shake issues replace, which F1 driver could danger breaking that file? Lando, Oscar each have 9. A kind of two will probably win the title. Charles has eight and George has 5. Given their relative ages, I feel all 4 of these guys might win 16+ races.
Should you might choose one who would not win a championship, who would it not be? My guess could be the McLaren drive who would not win this 12 months. I am unable to think about Ferrari being down without end, and rumors of Mercedes having the automobile to beat subsequent 12 months put George in prime place.
Taco Montgomery
MP: Alex Palou at Milwaukee in August is the latest instance that involves thoughts. Led from pole, dominated all day, and bought crushed within the closing laps by a charging Christian Rasmussen on new tires as Palou’s surrendered. Occurred to Palou twice final season, truly, together with his dominance of Mid-Ohio changing into a second-place end after falling off the highway close to the top and watching teammate Scott Dixon streak by to say victory.
Within the pantheon of such IndyCar issues, it won’t get significantly better than Scott Goodyear’s 1992 Indy 500 when the Canadian began 33rd and final and got here inside 0.043s of beating Al Unser Jr of their well-known picture end.
CHRIS MEDLAND: Damon Hill in Budapest in 1997 for Arrows. All of it got here collectively for that automobile and tire combo, however then he bought hit by hydraulic and throttle linkage points and was caught in third gear. Regardless of a heartbreaking lack of victory, he nonetheless got here house second, exhibiting how dominant he’d been in a automobile that was nowhere all season.
I really feel like increasingly would spring to thoughts the longer I considered it, however one other that got here to me fairly rapidly was Nico Hulkenberg for Sauber in Korea 2013 – ending fourth and holding off Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg for what felt like an eternity.
From the drivers you simply listed to win sufficient races however not a title, I’d truly say Charles Leclerc. I really feel like McLaren will nonetheless be very aggressive subsequent 12 months and within the new period (don’t neglect it has the Mercedes energy unit proper now and is thrashing Mercedes with it), however Ferrari is so onerous to see getting it proper for a full season and sealing the deal.
Leclerc is an actual expertise however he additionally hasn’t had a correct crack on the title but and I’m wondering how he’d deal with that after such an extended wait if it ever got here his means. However I hope all the above get one and it’s as a result of we have now loads of aggressive racing in future!
Hill’s drive to second place within the clunky Arrows on the 1997 Hungarian GP was one for the books. Getty Photos
Q: In final week’s Mailbag, concerning Colton Herta you mentioned:
“Then I’d anticipate him to be preventing for the title the next season, earlier than trying to step as much as F1 in 2028. That will enable Cadillac to search out its toes, too, and the expertise of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to essentially assist with the group’s growth earlier than contemplating any modifications to the line-up.”
Do you actually assume Colton would do two seasons in F2? I do know each Checo’s and Valtteri’s contracts have been introduced as multi-year, however that might imply one 12 months with an possibility, proper? Except I missed the information that they have been positively two-year contracts.
My feeling has been that Cadillac may have Colton do one 12 months in F2, then consider each his progress and Checo’s and Valtteri’s, with the intention of placing Colton in F1 in 2027, not 2028. I simply can’t think about Colton doing two years in F2. Why would he? He’ll study just about something he wants (tracks, F1-style racing, and so forth.) in a single 12 months. TWG (clearly former Andretti) has needed Colton in F1 since Michael Andretti first introduced the group’s intention to hitch. If Colton had a greater season in IndyCar and had already gotten sufficient factors for his Tremendous License, they could have even put him within the F1 automobile in ’26 alongside one of many extra skilled drivers. I reckon Valtteri or Checo is out of a seat in ’27 to make means for Colton.
Nikki
CM: I actually do assume Colton might do two years. That’s not as a result of I feel that’s what Cadillac/TWG needs to do, however extra the fact of the state of affairs. Two skilled drivers have been picked to assist develop the group and construct it up, and that work gained’t be full in simply 12 months, plus neither may have needed to signal a contract for only one 12 months to then be instantly changed by Colton – they speak in regards to the venture and doing the onerous yards now to hopefully reap the rewards in a while.
If (and it’s an if) one of many two race drivers clearly struggles greater than the opposite and Colton has an ideal first 12 months in F2, then sure there could possibly be a change that rapidly, and it could make sense. However given what we spoke about of Colton studying and readapting in a really aggressive collection, it’s an enormous ask and numerous strain to placed on him.
Just by shifting to F2 reveals that Colton and TWG are keen to do the time required to be as best-prepared as attainable, and to that finish I feel they know it would find yourself being two years of growth and prep earlier than it’s best for the group to interchange certainly one of Valtteri or Checo.
For Colton as properly, his finest probability of being successful is that if the group is performing strongly in F1, and to do this it wants Valtteri and Checo to do properly too, so it’s not a easy equation.
To instantly reply your query of why would he do two years, is for the Tremendous License factors. It’s nonetheless an enormous transfer for him and if it takes him a short while to hit the entrance (or his group struggles in any respect) then the primary 12 months won’t yield the required Tremendous License factors even when he’s performing properly, and he’d doubtlessly want the second 12 months to lock these in.
Q: Chris, I seen your remark about Colton Herta having a studying season in F2 after which difficult for the title in 2027. That will be fantastic, however I’m skeptical. Do you agree with the next: F2 drivers are extraordinarily bold to get to F1. They’ve been in considerably related automobiles and tracks for years. They’re principally fairly gifted however some are principally fairly wealthy. They’re younger and by and huge very aggressive. That is their make it or break it probability. Not that Colton is strictly previous, however it could be like going to a celebration with a reasonably loud younger crowd… one heck of an adjustment. Agree?
Jeff Brown, Bernardsville, NJ
CM: I comply with an extent Jeff, however that’s precisely what Colton would must be competing with anyway – like IndyCar, F1 shouldn’t be a stroll within the park and also you’ve bought to carry out each weekend, so being aggressive is mostly the requirement for many drivers.
I truly assume he’s higher ready for F2 although within the sense that IndyCar actually does encourage elbows-out racing, to a larger diploma than the European ladder may. So when you’re proper that the strain is excessive and drivers are attempting to show themselves worthy of an F1 probability, I don’t assume it should shock Colton in any respect.
I’d additionally say that there are some very wealthy drivers however the total normal is extraordinarily excessive, and the fee cap in F1 has made pay drivers virtually out of date – you’ve bought to be immensely gifted, and should you deliver severe cash that’s an added bonus. That filters all the way down to F2 as properly, the place merely shopping for your solution to the highest doesn’t lower it anymore. Even the richest F2 drivers are prime quality.
There will likely be numerous new issues for Herta to adapt to in F2, however intense racing is not certainly one of them. Joe Skibinski/Penske Leisure
Q: This query could also be answered by the point you get to it, but when George and Mercedes can’t agree, the place would he seemingly land?
Doug Farrow, Plymouth, MN
CM: I feel you’re proper that the reply will come our means within the coming weeks to make this an out of date one, however there’s solely actually Alpine for George. Pink Bull I’m positive would present curiosity too, however he’s a Mercedes-managed driver so could be positioned someplace the place it nonetheless had full management of his future if there had ever been a necessity to do this. However he’s not going to be available on the market.
Q: I watched the Racer Debrief with David Malsher-Lopez, Laurence Foster and JR Hildebrand. Very fascinating. Three or 4 instances through the dialogue JR talked about potential insurance coverage points. Are you able to present some coloration on what he may need been referring to? Are there polices in place that put restrictions on what numerous collection are allowed to do?
Don Weidig
JR HILDEBRAND: Within the context of the Debrief dialog, speak of “insurance coverage” with respect to hurry limitations is a proxy for “safety-related” pace limitations. We hear these phrases used considerably interchangeably throughout the business – I used “insurance coverage” extra gratuitously within the podcast to simplify some responses in my very own thoughts however can recognize that some context may assist!
Tracks and sanctioning our bodies collectively should be capable to carry danger insurance coverage for attending followers and drivers/crews, with the sanctioning physique being dominantly liable for any points that might come up from an incident on monitor (and subsequently the insurance policies related to that). These insurance policies are primarily based on the assessed danger of the speeds and competitors model of a given collection at a given monitor. In easy phrases, how unhealthy might a crash be for driver(s), crew(s), and/or followers, and the way seemingly is that to occur? After we discuss this as a constraint for what the on-track product is, that’s all the way down to the concept that, at a degree, both within the context of a single automobile on monitor or a number of automobiles on monitor, a sure stage of potential danger with respect to the end result of a crash can’t solely be considered as “over the restrict” strictly on the grounds of pure security within the eyes of a sanctioning physique (with enter from drivers and groups) however may make these insurance coverage insurance policies dramatically dearer and/or unobtainable.
Within the context of a single automobile on monitor, a good portion of the true security danger is peak crash vitality in a nook, which is a perform of cornering pace and the overall dynamics of the automobile and monitor in that state of affairs. The sooner it goes by way of a nook, the larger the affect vitality in that nook, all else being equal. This state of affairs is dominantly what we have been speaking about on the podcast. Take an IndyCar at IMS as an excessive however easy instance; the present automobile could possibly be at track-record pace very quickly by simply including energy, however will accomplish it by going sooner about equally in all places. This contains a rise in cornering pace (and momentum), which leads to a rise in potential crash vitality.
I don’t understand how near the “restrict” an IndyCar is at IMS in qualifying with respect to what IndyCar considers a tolerable affect dynamic, however at 230+ even a small distinction in pace hitting a wall is non-trivial when contemplating the way it impacts affect vitality; the sooner you go the extra every mile-per-hour enhance the vitality. So there may be basically a *actual* security restrict there someplace, and likewise a projected one within the eyes of those that are liable for coping with and/or underwriting the results.
Our dialog centered round how completely different automobile formulation (for instance, one which depends much less on cornering pace within the first place) may supply new methods of taking a look at these safety-related constraints.
Q: Will we see Katherine Legge or one other feminine driver within the NASCAR Cup Sequence in 2026?
Chris Fiegler, Latham, NY
KELLY CRANDALL: Katherine Legge has expressed her want to do as a lot as she will in NASCAR, and I might anticipate that to proceed in 2026. Nevertheless, it at all times comes all the way down to funding, and he or she’s been placing collectively some nice packages to get on monitor as a lot as she will proper now. Legge is authorised to run on all racetracks within the Craftsman Truck Sequence and the Xfinity Sequence, and she will run on all the pieces besides superspeedways within the Cup Sequence. So, I think about that it’s going to come all the way down to funding and the place she prefers to run and what races are open with the groups she works with going ahead.
As for an additional feminine driver within the Cup Sequence subsequent 12 months, I don’t see it occurring. Who’s on the market and prepared for that step? Nobody involves thoughts.
Legge’s not waving goodbye to NASCAR if she has any say in it. Sean Gardner/Getty Photos
Q: Why does NASCAR enable ‘ringers’ within the playoffs? Las Vegas was not the primary exhibiting of Almirola however the first on this format so one should assume that it’s gamesmanship by Gibbs and Toyota. One may need hoped Gibbs was above this kind of factor, however maybe not.
NASCAR ought to rule towards this or maybe compel him to race at Talladega as properly so we are able to see how gamesmanship performs on the market.
CH
KC: I don’t consider it was gamesmanship by Joe Gibbs Racing in placing Almirola in these races particularly. It comes down to a couple elements: what races the sponsors need, the place Almirola can run, and the place different drivers can’t run. The latter refers to the truth that NASCAR does have guidelines in place that say Cup Sequence drivers can’t run races which are within the Xfinity Sequence playoffs. Almirola now not falls into that class. So, any group, like Gibbs, has to plan its 12 months for which drivers will probably be in a position to make use of when the postseason begins. Plus, Gibbs is chasing an proprietor’s championship, and Almirola is the skilled driver of their secure who might help them do this right now of the 12 months.
THE FINAL WORD
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, 16 October, 2013
Q: The primary race I ever noticed was the 1982 Indianapolis 500. Up to now, I nonetheless consider that’s the biggest 500 that is been run within the final 35 years. I used to be 13 then and what saved me coming again have been the automobiles. The innovation and new types yearly have been thrilling. I do know you could have indicated that you simply consider that the DW12 has produced probably the most thrilling racing within the final 40-plus years however we have now to have a look at the historical past of the game. The legends grew to become legends due to their capacity to grasp automobiles on the sting of expertise.
I might advocate going again and taking a look at a few of Paul Web page’s intros to the five hundred; his phrases have been 100% right. Now, the place is the innovation? The place is the expertise?
I additionally get that it is about cash however I’ll recommend that good racing alone won’t deliver again the followers. Sure, we’d like stars and new legends however I’ll recommend that the automobiles and the expertise will create the celebrities. Give it some thought: there have been extra followers within the ’80s and ’90s when only a few races have been up for rivalry on the finish. Now most are and we’re within the doldrums.
If the game will get re-elevated to its elite standing, the cash will come. Take a look at Larry Ellison and the freakish quantity he spent on the America’s Cup. The cash will come as soon as the followers come again and to this point I see nothing completely different that we’re doing right this moment than IndyCar was doing 5 to 10 years in the past. I feel IndyCar is making an attempt to control value an excessive amount of. With out rehashing the apparent causes that I discussed above, why would not IndyCar merely put out fundamental components guidelines and let the house owners purchase or construct the perfect automobile they will? The components labored earlier than and it might probably work once more. I feel its IndyCar’s solely hope.
Michael, Atlanta, GA
ROBIN MILLER: It is true that many people need extra highly effective automobiles that look completely different and push expertise. However are there sufficient of these folks on the market to essentially make a distinction in attendance or TV rankings? And I feel IndyCar wants some assurance from Ford or Dodge or Audi that they wish to come play with a clear sheet of paper. Till then, why mess with the one factor you have bought proper now ” good competitors? Perhaps simply open up the foundations for the Indy 500 however, once more, will that get you groups from sports activities automobiles, NASCAR or F1?
