Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers could be despatched to mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters that embody a query usually tend to be revealed. Questions acquired after 3pm ET every Monday can be saved for the next week.
Q: Did Will Energy himself actually resolve it was time to make a change from the workforce the place he has had excellent success?
Mike Talarico, Charlotte
MARSHALL PRUETT: Will did as many high-value free brokers have performed and ask for precisely what he desires, which on this case was an extended runway with Group Penske, then held agency to that ask, and rejected a lesser supply. So sure, he did flip down the supply, as a result of what was provided didn’t align with what he needed.
It’s a traditional ploy, proper? If you happen to don’t need somebody to do one thing for you, supply them what they don’t need… they usually are inclined to go away.
Energy had one thing higher within the works with Andretti and, as RACER’s David Malsher-Lopez wrote, didn’t waste his time with what Penske needed to formally current him with in a contract signing.
Feeling needed is a vital factor, and this turned a wedding that ran its course. At the least from the Penske facet. Energy was keenly enthusiastic about holding it collectively and tried and preserve the connection however the of us in command of the workforce – earlier than and after the firings in Might – have been chilly to the idea. It’s their loss, however life strikes on.
Q: Right here I’m sitting at my work desk and the Willy P announcement simply dropped. As a lot as I attempt to be OK with this, I have to admit, I’m not.
I do know that Will is within the latter a part of his profession however I nonetheless hate seeing the potential of it being actually near the tip. The half that’s not making sense to me is the half the place Will is Penske’s newest champion, and he’s additionally nonetheless able to successful. So what am I lacking? In my thoughts it’s a no-brainer to maintain him. What goes on behind closed doorways with these selections that common of us like me aren’t capable of see? In my thoughts I might assume you’d wish to hold your champion round, however clearly what I feel and the way enterprise works do not appear to correlate.
Mike, Rawlins, WY
MP: I’m reminded of Roger Penske’s decades-long reference to his workers as ‘human capital.’ Seen a technique, it’s a heat expression of worth for the individuals who comprise Group Penske, and on this case, their innate worth, like belongings, like cash.
After which there’s the chilly interpretation of describing folks – flesh and bone – as ‘human capital,’ like value-based commodities to maintain, commerce, or launch, based mostly on their capability to generate revenue or another type of price.
Clearly, Group Penske arrived on the conclusion that as an asset, Energy’s worth had declined and he was now not price holding within the portfolio. Your query, which is similar I raised right here within the Mailbag for final month or two, is similar: How can Penske devalue Energy’s price to this diploma?
If Energy was a buying and selling card despatched into PSA for grading, I don’t assume he’d get a ten, however you’d anticipate at the least an 8. The distinction right here is Penske’s grading of Energy is a 4, which is unnecessary.
Previous to the beginning of the season, after I interviewed former workforce president Tim Cindric about extending Energy’s contract, he talked about one thing about Will successful the Indy 500 as a state of affairs that will assure continuation. It blew my thoughts. It additionally supplied a deep perception into the standing of issues – Energy would wish to tug off a miracle to remain – that stated the local weather had turned relatively frosty. And right here we’re, regardless of it making no sense, and the icy pre-season tackle the matter has come true.
It’s not misplaced on me that in 2025, a 12 months the place Group Penske bought extra flawed than proper with its determination making in IndyCar, it capped the season by making its greatest blunder of all by undervaluing and jettisoning Energy.
I feel many people are accustomed to the choices from Group Penske being sharp and pushed by plain and customary sense we are able to all see. It’s after we can’t discover that logic the place we query ourselves – we should be those lacking one thing – however the dealing with of Energy’s end-of-career part is a reminder that, like its most up-to-date season, this monolith is greater than able to entering into odd instructions.
Important takeaway, nonetheless, is that this isn’t a mistake from their viewpoint; that is what they needed. That entails possession of the choice. So if it really works, we’ll have the most recent in a protracted line of sturdy proof that I’m an fool. And if it doesn’t, nicely, that can be unhappy as a result of a struggling Group Penske doesn’t assist the sequence in any method that involves thoughts.
I wish to see the titans of every sport beat the heck out of one another on the best way to settling the championship. Group Penske falling right into a state of irrelevance final season solely helped Palou and Ganassi to run away with the title earlier than we reached the midway level within the season, and that’s not good for the present.
Nonetheless. Malukas can be quick and will win a race or two. No clue what occurred to McLaughlin final season, however based mostly on previous performances, he ought to have the ability to return to type. There’s no method Newgarden can have three horrible seasons in a row, so I’m assured he’ll be a stronger contender for the championship. However… that’s all based mostly on the Group Penske we knew via 2024.
I don’t know the Group Penske we noticed in 2025, and with all the continuing adjustments contained in the workforce since Might, it’s laborious to foretell what is going to emerge in 2026. Was 2025 an aberration? Apart from Palou’s capability to go for 4 titles in a row, I can’t consider any upcoming themes that can be extra fascinating to comply with.
Will the true Group Penske re-emerge from the shadows in 2026? Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: “The extra we’re capable of take away our conventionality, the higher we can be in having the ability to hold the eye of primarily the younger era of followers who all the time should be drawn to one thing new.” That’s a quote from Stefano Domenicali in a current New York Occasions article. If that’s the mindset of the CEO of a motorsport that may be a juggernaut internationally and, more and more, within the U.S., you’d assume a extra prosaic outfit like IndyCar can be making comparable observations. Bueller?
Tom Hinshaw, Santa Barbara, CA
MP: Newer folks like newer issues. Older folks like older issues. Wild stuff!
Q: As a brand new transplant to the Seattle space, I had an superior time attending the IndyCar race in Portland this 12 months.
However given the small (however passionate!) crowd and past-their-prime services, I used to be unsurprised to see that each IndyCar and NASCAR are passing on Portland for 2026.
Barring some substantial funding in PIR, I’m holding out some hope that Circuit of the Northwest materializes as a viable different. They’ve a slick web site with endorsements from Zak Brown and Don Cusick amongst others, however native information right here makes it sound like they’re nonetheless brief on funding.
Have you ever heard something via the grapevine about how strong their plans are?
Brad
MP: I met one of many Northwest observe leaders final 12 months at a significant occasion, however it wasn’t an IndyCar race… I’ll test in and see if something noteworthy emerges. As a crew member, I bought to race on the Kent street course a few occasions when it hosted SCCA Professional Racing occasions (Components Atlantic and whatnot again within the day) and it was superior. Superb state, and I’d like to see IndyCar, IMSA, and others have a cause to go racing in Washington.
Q: I grew up cheering for Rick Mears, and even after his retirement from driving I loved seeing his regular, clever presence on Group Penske on the observe. ‘‘Tis an ideal disgrace that the emeritus driver function is now not en vogue on the workforce.
A lifelong, now former Group Penske fan, when and the place can I order my new No.26 DJ Willy P shirt and hat?
George, Colorado Springs
MP: I’m not a giant fan of Aaron Rogers, however I did love his response final weekend as the brand new quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers after beating the New York Jets, his former workforce which misplaced religion in his talents. From ESPN:
“There have been most likely folks within the group that did not assume I might play anymore,” Rodgers, 41, stated after the sport. “So, it was good to remind these those who I nonetheless can.”
My first thought after listening to Rogers’ take was of DJ Willy P.
“I used to be glad to beat everyone related to the Jets,” he added.
Energy’s stepping right into a automobile that went winless final season, so there’s no ensures, but when that No. 26 Honda is succesful, he can certainly beat the individuals who misplaced religion.
Q: The IndyCar season was profitable. TV scores have been good and the long run is shiny with FOX having pores and skin within the recreation. Any concept when the 2026 race schedule can be introduced? All different main racing sequence have supplied theirs.
Mike Hickman, Beech Grove, IN
MP: Apparent assertion, but when it have been shut, it will be right here, which tells me there’s lots that’s nonetheless occurring within the background. If it was only a case of going to all the identical locations, there can be no delay, in order that’s one other inform. Arlington’s introduced. Toronto transferring to Markham is introduced. It should be one thing else that’s new and in want of serious planning and finalizing that’s holding up the schedule.
I’ve had two folks within the paddock say they’ve heard Mexico is on life assist. May that be it? What about doing one thing in Washington DC, which is alleged to be an idea from FOX Sports activities? The UFC occasion on the south garden of the White Home has been confirmed for June 2026 – no particular date, but – so might we see an IndyCar race round DC’s streets bundled for a similar weekend? If it occurs, it received’t be the primary time a significant racing sequence has competed on the streets of the capitol.
After all we would like the schedule ASAP, however I’m much less frightened about its arrival date and extra targeted on it being superior. And if that’s what the additional time brings, it may be late yearly.
Q: So with Energy going to Andretti, Herta going to F1/F2, and Malukas more than likely to Penske, what are your predictions for the remainder of the sector? Will Lundqvist get a drive, and can PREMA stick round?
Dino, New Hanover, PA
MP: Linus is on the brief listing at Coyne and Juncos Hollinger. He’s the perfect free agent in the marketplace, and by free agent, I imply a driver who isn’t already dedicated to a workforce, like Malukas, regardless of the dearth of public affirmation.
We’re solely every week or so out from the finale, and whereas PREMA isn’t talking, I’ve heard there’s been some – however not a ton – of outreaches from workforce members in search of work at others groups. If the ship was sinking quick, I’d anticipate to listen to of mass calls to seek out new properties.
Q: What was the worst racing sequence of all time? For me, it was the previous NASCAR Sportsman Division that ran on the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway within the early- to mid-Nineties.
It was only a bunch of weekend brief observe drivers in previous Winston Cup (on the time) gear and likewise identified for its dangerous wrecks and deadly crashes.
Kurt Perleberg
MP: I can’t consider a single sequence I’ve adopted that was all the time rubbish. Eras, although, for certain. The primary 12 months(s) of the Indy Racing League have been painful to look at, but additionally had some thrills. My go-to, although, have been the early life of Grand-Am’s Daytona Prototype method. The ugliest automobiles conceivable, sluggish as hell, and no one confirmed as much as watch. However, the low-buck method additionally made it potential for a ton of groups to step into the sequence – Mike Shank being certainly one of them – and go on to larger issues.
Yikes. Chris McGrath/Getty Photographs
Q: Provided that drivers can regulate brake bias, entrance and rear suspension, have P2P and use of hybrid vitality, is there any specific cause why they aren’t allowed to regulate entrance and rear wing angles from the cockpit?
Phil
MP: I’ll assume you imply IndyCar, and in that case, the reply is easy: As a result of the sequence chooses to not enable it. I want there was a deeper reply, however it’s the identical cause we don’t have see-through bodywork or engines that run on vodka. These are each prospects, however no one within the sequence has determined they need to occur, so that they haven’t.
Q: You do not have a season like Dennis Hauger did and never have a path ahead. So, any information, rumors, ridiculous situations?
John B, Waukesha, WI
MP: Simply what I wrote about within the final foolish season replace.
Q: My feedback come as an IndyCar-first fan. It’s my favourite type of motorsports. I additionally like Components 1.
One among my biggest motorsports recollections was strolling across the CART paddock and seeing a bunch of followers and drivers huddled round a TV watching a Components 1 qualifying session. All people burst into celebration when Jaques Villeneuve put his automobile on the pole.
As a Colton Herta fan I would love nothing greater than see him in F1, and if it takes him taking a step again to F2, so be it. I need an American to root for in F1, and I need an American that we watch and know to root for in F1. I need Colton Herta in F1. If he goes to F2 in 2026, he can be in F1 the next 12 months.
As an American F1 fan I have been ready for this second. Do it, Colton! Do it for me.
Mark, Buffalo, NY
MP: As a self-avowed glass-half-full kind, I’m struggling to seek out the positives. I is perhaps within the minority right here, however I’ve no enthusiasm for this transfer.
Colton leaves IndyCar on a down 12 months when, for the primary time since he arrived within the Harding/Andretti workforce, he was demoted to P2 by a teammate, and never by a bit of, however frequently by Kirkwood. He was Andretti’s finest driver final 12 months, however the roles reversed as Kirkwood was the workforce’s solely winner in 2025 and took fourth within the standings to Colton’s seventh.
Primarily based strictly on outcomes, if TWG Motorsports needed to ship its finest American to F1, Kirkwood can be packing up his belongings and getting ready to maneuver to Europe.
I don’t know if Herta misplaced some motivation in his seventh full season of IndyCar, but when so, it wouldn’t be distinctive or one thing to warrant criticism. Most athletes hit that wall sooner or later – and greater than as soon as for these with actually lengthy careers – so if that’s a think about how the fierce and locked-in Herta of 2024 who positioned second to Palou was barely much less efficient in 2025, a change of surroundings with racing in F2 and F1 check driving could possibly be the treatment.
Nice man. Nice household. Such as you, I’m hoping every part good involves move for him within the coming years. However for now, I can’t shake the springboard being a comparatively quiet 12 months in IndyCar. I want this was taking place on the finish of 2024 when he was the most popular driver (not named Palou) within the sequence.
Fingers crossed this transfer brings a return of the scary-fast Herta who torched his rivals at will and who had F1 groups tripping over themselves to supply growth contracts just a few years in the past when he examined for McLaren.
If this grand plan brings that model of Herta again to the world, we’ll all be rejoicing.
Q: Nicely that sucks for Roger Penske that Will Energy determined to give up and transfer on to a different workforce… Did Will overplay his hand by hiring the big-time agent firstly of the season?
Brian, Ohio
MP: Proof constructive that everyone sees issues in their very own distinctive method.
Q: What the hell is Penske considering? Positively an odd 12 months for Penske, and far of that oddness got here from throughout the not-so-rule-following space of the workforce. I like Lil’ Dave however perhaps he wants yet another 12 months at Foyt to actually transfer the needle. He was actually beginning to impress towards the tip of the season. Yet one more season to again it up and perhaps get a podium or a win would’ve been good to see.
Additionally, I do know final 12 months I made a remark concerning Kyffin Simpson and also you stated to present him one other 12 months. I am going to give credit score the place credit score is due, he did impress right here and there however on the finish of the season twenty first (from final 12 months) to seventeenth within the standings, I nonetheless stay unimpressed.
Not that Stefan Johansson
MP: So what if I requested you to present him one other 12 months…
Kidding apart, I hear you, however I additionally take a look at him and see six prime 10 finishes together with a fourth on an oval (Nashville), a 3rd at Toronto, and a fifth at Detroit – two avenue programs the place a scarcity of expertise tends to be uncovered by hitting partitions or different drivers – the place he did the other of what you would possibly anticipate from a sophomore. And he didn’t simply hold the automobile off the partitions; he was quick and good.
So, to your larger level, sure, P17 isn’t exceptional. However then I look and see he was simply 11 factors behind Santino Ferrucci in a Foyt-Penske entry, and 15 factors behind Alexander Rossi, and I don’t really feel as dangerous about Simpson’s yearlong output.
His third 12 months in IndyCar will reply the larger query of what sort of future he’ll have. When his teammates end first and third within the championship, and their technical associates at Meyer Shank place sixth and eighth, there’s a cause to be underwhelmed by 17th in a automobile that may place inside the highest 10. In order that’s the sizable year-to-year aim. Crack the highest 10 in 2026.
It received’t be straightforward, however the excuses of youth and inexperience are a lot tougher to make in a driver’s third 12 months whereas piloting a automobile for the workforce that’s received 5 out of the final six championships. In 2025, we discovered Kyffin has actual expertise, and it was expressed sporadically. That’s the story for many IndyCar drivers.
Out of 17 possibilities, the bulk come near hitting the bullseye two or thrice, perhaps 4, and that’s about it. That’s what Simpson did. If that turns into six to eight subsequent 12 months, he’s among the many elite and has a prime 10 12 months. If it doesn’t occur, we’ll know he’s destined for a mid-pack profession.
Watch this area. Travis Hinkle/IMS
Q: By the point this will get to you, all the Colton Herta information could lastly be out of the bag. However my query is, why not simply make him the Cadillac reserve driver subsequent 12 months and provides him the 4 FP1s he must make his Tremendous License? One other racing journalist says that is potential. This is able to make much more sense than sending him to F2, the place he’s unlikely to win whereas coping with automobiles, tires and tracks he would not know.
I can also’t stand how a lot noise there can be from the F1 superiority toadies who will use that as proof that IndyCar is certainly lesser. Assuming Checo and Valtteri are on multi-year offers, this raises an issue of what occurs to Colton in 2027, however I see that because the case even when he goes to F2 and wins.
Relating to Fox shopping for in, I am excited concerning the many prospects and I see the NASCAR crossovers which might be already taking place as extraordinarily worthwhile for getting extra publicity. What I actually wish to see is for them to shed the concern of the NFL and broaden the schedule into the autumn. Am I flawed in considering there is a chance right here to schedule some races for straight after an NFL recreation on Fox to reap the benefits of that lead-in?
Adam, Simi Valley
MP: Per RACER’s Chris Medland, Herta wants six factors, not 4. If you happen to’re going to arrange somebody to race in a brand new and totally different sequence, I can’t discover the knowledge in having them skip racing in favor of sporadically driving the automobile a handful of occasions in single follow periods. As a lot as I hate the look of a nine-time IndyCar race winner needing to race in F2, it does tick quite a lot of packing containers by holding Herta in competitors, whereas studying some tracks for the primary time, and getting him attuned to the European method of motor racing. What he skilled racing in Europe whereas in his teenagers was solely a style of the variations.
There’s no ‘concern’ of the NFL. It’s a truth, a horrible determination that’s been totally confirmed with viewers sizes that talk to how the NFL is the one factor that issues when IndyCar is an possibility. And that was when IndyCar wasn’t on FOX. Now it’s on the channel that cares extra concerning the NFL than any of its rivals.
FOX opens its Sundays with pre-game reveals, then airs morning and afternoon video games. After which Sunday evening Soccer takes over, aka, one of the seen broadcasts of any type every week, on NBC. But when there’s a two-hour window for IndyCar races in there that don’t begin at 6am or 11pm, I’m all for it.
Q: How do you learn the press launch from Penske? Did Energy soar or was he pushed? I can solely see two prospects. 1) He was pushed, however as you’d anticipate, it’s being performed with quite a lot of respect and graciousness making it look extra like a choice. Or 2) He really did make the choice to maneuver to Andretti as a result of he has presumably a multi-year deal and I can solely think about, in the event you take the press launch at face worth, he was provided one remaining 12 months at Penske.
Abraham Zimroth, Staten Island, NY
MP: Right here’s a professional tip: If you wish to learn issues which might be insightful, instructional, trustworthy, or entertaining, go forward and ignore the quotes in newsy press releases. They’re principally written by PR reps, and generally have the approval of the folks the feedback are connected to.
On the media facet, the fabricated quotes or bleached quotes – sanitized to fulfill the specified message or tone – are sometimes all we get till the particular person or folks in query are prepared to talk straight, and on this occasion, that wasn’t provided.
Q: Here is a query that I am certain others are most likely questioning too. With Energy now transferring to Andretti for 2026 and past, do you assume it is potential they herald Tim Cindric to pair with Will as soon as once more?
Paul, Lake In The Hills, IL
MP: I’d assume Cindric may need a say in whether or not this is able to be potential. If it him, it will be an excellent transfer by the workforce.
Apart from recruiting Ganassi’s Mike Hull, there’s no one else with a extra spectacular report of IndyCar wins and championships this century than Cindric, and based mostly on Andretti’s report of routinely developing brief to Ganassi, Penske, and now Arrow McLaren, there’s a powerful case to be made that one thing greater than a driver change can be required to vie for larger spoils. Sure, it’s driver vs driver, however in actuality, it’s workforce vs workforce, and that’s the place the foremost variations are discovered.
Energy is an incredible rent who will make the workforce higher, however the workforce behind the drivers must make massive strides to catch Arrow McLaren and Ganassi.
Q: My query about Will Energy going to Andretti is; will Energy have any drives with their GTP workforce within the enduros? Has he pushed prime degree sports activities automobiles earlier than? And if he does, do you assume he’ll be an absolute monster in these automobiles?
Kyle, MA
MP: He’s needed to go sports activities automobile racing without end, however Penske wouldn’t enable it, based on the numerous occasions I requested Will. The WTR workforce is perhaps owned by TWG, however it’s not Andretti’s workforce; it’s a full manufacturing facility Cadillac program the place all the drivers are chosen by WTR, not Andretti, and chosen by Cadillac. To that finish, Energy’s now a Honda driver in IndyCar.
Simply as we haven’t seen any of Andretti’s Honda-powered IndyCar drivers within the WTR Cadillac lineup this 12 months, I wouldn’t anticipate a now-former GM driver to get requested to drive a GTP automobile he’s by no means raced for a manufacturing facility workforce that opposes the model he now represents in IndyCar. However perhaps Acura will lengthen an invitation for Energy to check with Meyer Shank Racing.
Palou was meant to be in a manufacturing facility Acura/MSR automobile for Petit Le Mans, however I’m instructed he needed to decline with the McLaren lawsuit coming to a head, and Herta was the opposite candidate, however can also be stated to have turned it down with the upcoming rerouting to Europe.
This appears like time to run a shot of Will Energy driving an F1 automobile. James Moy/Getty Photographs
Q: I’ve been studying the tough phrases and ideas hurled at Group Penske for the state of affairs with Will Energy and I needed to offer an opposing viewpoint
First, Will Energy continues to be a wonderful driver, and I consider he can be profitable with Andretti World.
What I consider has occurred is a coming collectively of many issues the place this finally ends up being the perfect determination for all concerned. Sports activities historical past his proven us this earlier than, the place groups’ long-time stars should not part of the long-term future and sadly robust selections need to be made. Look to the Cubs, buying and selling stars from the 2016 World Sequence workforce which netted the present youth which has helped the workforce be resurgent.
That is what I consider we’re seeing at Group Penske. Group Penske shouldn’t be saying David Malukas is best than Will Energy. They understand that Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin could possibly be there for the subsequent 10-12 years, Will would have been just a few extra years. With an entire administration overhaul and extra coming (based mostly on Diuguid’s quotes), they need to refresh with a driver who they will see in a seat for a similar size or longer than Josef or Scott. Construct a gaggle of drivers along with the brand new workforce construction as a unit. Jonathan Diuguid has performed an incredible job increase the IMSA and WEC groups from scratch, couldn’t he do the identical with the IndyCar facet, the place they’ve an ideal historical past and nice workforce members?
Once more, whereas Will might have been useful there, perhaps the workforce ought to have to seek out their footing with all the items in place from the beginning. There can be rising pains, however based mostly on historical past I consider Group Penske will discover their footing and be again preventing for championships.
Brad, Yorktown, IN
MP: It’s an fascinating take, Brad. Stated right here many occasions that Will clearly wasn’t the workforce’s future, past doing just a few extra years, or nonetheless lengthy it went. This was clear for all to see.
But when we’re speaking about feeling a must do a refresh, the dialog needs to be about what wants freshening, not what’s previous. If the previous factor was additionally the stale factor, that’s the merchandise to prune and toss. However Will doesn’t match that standards.
By sheer outcomes, Energy has been Group Penske’s freshest driver lately. He additionally occurs to be the oldest. These two issues can coexist, if allowed. Penske selected towards permitting it.
Scott Dixon, IndyCar’s oldest driver at 45, simply completed third within the standings. He was nowhere near matching Palou, however he nonetheless received a race and proved to be the third-best IndyCar driver of 2025, but solely the second finest on his workforce. And Ganassi is in no rush to farewell Dixon.
Hell, utilizing Group Penske’s math, each driver not named Palou needs to be fired; O’Ward, the closest driver to Palou, ended the 12 months 196 factors all the way down to the championship winner. For the sake of context, the hole between first and second within the standings was greater than Sting Ray Robb earned for your complete season (181).
Combating to make sense of that is now not price our time. It’s performed. Energy’s moved to his new workforce. Penske has precisely what it desires. Let’s reconvene in a 12 months and see if the change was a genius transfer or if it backfired.
Q: Nicely, as odd as it could be in our present age, Mario Andretti did transfer to F5000 to reinforce his F1 possibilities. Appeared to work nicely contemplating he turned 1978 F1 champ. The state of affairs isn’t an identical, however it’s comparable. Plus Colton must get the Tremendous License factors. The sport plan nonetheless pursues Michael Andretti’s need of getting a U.S. workforce in F1 and Colton as one of many drivers. Good Luck to Colton and Will Energy subsequent 12 months. I nonetheless wish to see Colton at Indy on Memorial Day weekend and never standing within the Cadillac storage with earphones on.
Skip R., South Carolina
MP: Mario’s first f1 race was in 1968 with Lotus, the identical 12 months F5000 was launched as an SCCA class, so the timeline doesn’t work. Additionally, Mario by no means ‘moved’ to F5000; it was certainly one of three to 4 sequence he raced in on the similar time, together with IndyCar, F1, and sports activities automobiles.
Q: I admit that I am an old-fashioned Foyt/Indy fan and despise all issues Penske. Newgarden/Helio play and performed characters for the digicam. Not Energy. I respect expertise and honesty, and hope he dominates that Andretti Galaxy Common Interstellar comedy workforce. Recommendation for Malukas: Get able to hate your life
David Monnett
MP: I picked the flawed week to cease sniffing glue.
Q: I feel the massive, unanswered query this week is whether or not Will Energy takes Colton’s seat behind the drums for The Zibs.
Ed, Jersey
MP: I’m instructed The Zibs are going to play at COTA F1 this 12 months.
Q: I seen with the Pato O’Ward and Callum Hedges crashes that it appeared the entrance suspension entered the bathtub – just like Hinch’s crash. Did I see that accurately? I believed IndyCar had mounted it. Unsure about NXT.
Here’s a YouTube video of Hedges’ crash.
One different level, I’ve been a Penske fan for the reason that Mark Donohue days. The best way Will Energy was dealt with was disappointing. Positively not Penske Good. I’d anticipate the workforce to have extra class and never go away Will hanging within the breeze whereas they have been making a choice. I perceive it’s a enterprise, however this was only a lack of sophistication and respect. Not search for Penske particularly in any case the problems they’ve had this 12 months.
What say you?
Wally, Eden Prairie, MN
MP: I’m in search of the half the place the suspension enters the bathtub, since there was nothing proven to assist that declare. Do you imply the suspension was flattened towards the bathtub?
Q: So, Will goes to Andretti and swaps a Chevy for a Honda and brings all types of little tidbits of Penske data with him. I feel he’ll be quick proper off the trailer and in competition each race. Malukas goes to Penske swapping a Chevy for a Chevy, however I feel there can be a Penske curve to study and he’ll mess up earlier than settling in. VeeKay goes to Foyt, swapping a Honda for a Chevy, and with the Penske/Foyt collaboration simply picks up the place he left off. Quick.
Attention-grabbing to see who sits in Dale’s two seats.
Your ideas?
Jeff, Colorado, relying on a Denver race in ’27
MP: Already coated quite a lot of this in tales final week, so the one new merchandise I’ll add is that this: Malukas managed to complete 11th within the championship with a pit crew that wasn’t overly burdened with pace and consistency.
Among the many 27 entries, David’s No. 4 Foyt crew ranked 19th in pit cease efficiency. He’s headed to a No. 12 Penske automobile that ranked fifth on pit lane.
If he does nothing totally different in 2026, the improve in pit crew/pit stops alone would propel him inside the highest 10.
I wager he is taking a peek on the No.12 pit crew. Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: With the schedule adjustments within the coming 12 months, primarily considering the shift out of Toronto and the deal with avenue racing and bringing the racing to the followers, my query is ought to IndyCar contemplate a avenue race in or round Marion County?
It’s no secret that the largest pocket of IndyCar followers stay inside two hours of 465. After all with the best racing venue on the planet current, perhaps it doesn’t make a ton of sense. Nevertheless, relatively than 40k-50k making IMS seem like a ghost city earlier than the five hundred, why not shift to a Labor Day weekend race in one of many suburbs of Indy or simply go downtown for a avenue race?
I’m picturing one thing round one of many new sports activities/live performance venues in Hamilton County. I think about with the precise promotion and perhaps just a few concert events staged across the weekend you may simply draw 100k+ for the weekend. The Hamilton County Sports activities Authority appears destined to convey extra to the county and there’s no scarcity of companies that would become involved and reap the advantages. Maybe I’ve already answered my query with the presence of IMS.
Kaleb Hartman
MP: It’s an fascinating concept, Kaleb. Unsure IndyCar/IMS wish to create a neighborhood rival occasion, however to your level, the Indy GP has by no means taken off, nor has it felt like greater than a schedule filler. If the thought is to make IndyCar appear and feel particular always, I’d be all for experimenting with a neighborhood avenue race if there’s a solution to make it a hit with out risking a discount in attendance for the five hundred.
Q: I do know Colton Herta is chasing his dream, and I respect that. However is not taking place to F2 making IndyCar look even worse?
I do not argue towards the Tremendous License. I even agree with it from a enterprise facet. F1 needed to guard its ladder system, and there’s nothing flawed with that. I simply want they’d take IndyCar extra severely. However is IndyCar taking itself severely sufficient?
You should not want factors to be in F1 in case you are ok in IndyCar. And that ought to occur as a result of IndyCar is knowledgeable sequence with quite a lot of expertise in it. However that will require a greater automobile, would not it? One thing that is sensible for a F1 workforce and for F1 itself given the abilities wanted to seek out the pace window at such excessive tempo.
I bear in mind studying some F1 drivers saying {that a} Testing of Earlier Automobile program with any fashionable F1 automobile is best than a season in F2. So why would not IndyCar design a automobile that’s inside 5 seconds of F1 tempo? That may be round ’09-’13 F1 rule cycle tempo. Being a spec sequence offers quite a lot of freedom to decide on your tempo.
Engine energy is already nearly there. In addition they had a KERS system. The burden would wish to go down by lots which implies lighter, extra fragile elements. However then drivers simply must cease driving like they’re in Cup automobiles. And that will be a plus for F1 to take IndyCar drivers extra severely. Homegrown IndyCar drivers can be extra revered, and the weak F1 names would have much less possibilities of discovering seats in IndyCar. Each contribute for a extra constructive view of IndyCar.
I do know this brings an issue on the ovals. However cannot they actually hold the present stuff for ovals (with a brand new aero)? If you purchase a brand new automobile, you additionally purchase the oval elements. If you happen to crash a bath or every other elements in an oval, you want new ones. Would not holding it give the identical prices in the long run (or much less if the street course automobile finally ends up cheaper)? All groups already personal these. And with time, the charters will minimize the variety of groups attempting to affix. From a viewership facet, it is clear the Indy 500 is not struggling as a result of it has an previous automobile. So, cannot or not it’s performed?
After all, IndyCar might simply say “we do not give a **** about what different folks assume” and hold doing their very own factor. On this case, I want F1 would flip F2 into one thing like Moto2. An even bigger sequence, nearer in tempo to F1, extra like its personal world championship with skilled drivers making a dwelling there, going to F1 when referred to as. If that was the case, Herta going there would make extra sense.
William Mazeo
MP: I proceed to dream of a day the place folks settle for IndyCar as its personal factor, which existed earlier than F1, and doesn’t must contort itself to be extra like F1, or to attraction or earn respect of supposed F1 followers or groups or drivers.
Q: Relating to the query of why Nashville known as a superspeedway. The Nashville fairgrounds known as Nashville Speedway, so that they needed to name it one thing else. Sometimes a superspeedway is 2 or extra miles in size.
Joe Mullins
MP: Sure.
Q: NASCAR used to name something over a mile a superspeedway. I consider when Dover Downs constructed the brand new observe they needed to make sure it wasn’t confused with the Fairgrounds, which was referred to as Nashville Speedway for a time. So therefore the title Nashville Superspeedway. Go to the Fairgrounds .596 after which to the 1.33, and it does look large.
Ricky, Tennessee
MP: Possibly we simply want to interrupt free from ‘tremendous’ and go along with Awesomespeedway, Excellentspeedway, or Greatspeedway.
Q: Previously few years there’s been a clamoring for ‘merely’ adapting IMSA GTP engines to IndyCar, with the dream of Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, Lamborghini, et al., bringing model competitors, and Win on Sunday, Promote on Monday advertising and marketing {dollars} to the sequence.
Sadly, dimension issues. Sports activities automobile hybrid energy items have been too massive for the DW12. simply as they are going to be for the subsequent era Dallara chassis that IndyCar can be utilizing.
So why not four-bangers? Is it a notion downside? A sound situation? The Offy dominated Champ Automobile racing for many years, getting its first win on the Indy 500 in 1935, and choosing up its final at Trenton in 1978. I do not recall any complaints concerning the scream it produced, in both usually aspirated, supercharged, or turbocharged type.
In 1983 Nelson Piquet received the F1 championship with a 1500cc BMW M12 four-cylinder engine powering his Brabham. It supposedly pumped out over 1400hp in qualifying, and 1000hp in race trim. This engine was additionally utilized by the ATS, Benetton, Arrows, and Ligier groups within the mid-80s.
Brian Hart constructed the four-cylinder engine that launched Toleman’s Ayrton Senna to the world (and Alain Prost) within the rain at Monaco. A.J. Foyt set a closed course pace report in 1987, driving what was primarily a March IndyCar chassis with a swoopy, long-tail physique powered by a closely modified four-cylinder Oldsmobile Quad 4.
Zakspeed constructed a turbo variant of the Ford Cosworth BDA four-cylinder engine for sports activities automobile racing in 1982, and Dan Gurney’s AAR Eagle MKIII automobiles have been so dominant within the early ’90s IMSA Camel GT sequence that Nissan and Jaguar give up racing.
Each main producer makes automobiles with four-cylinder engines, they usually can all construct engines that will match the ability/dimension/reliability invoice (even when the dreaded and value-iffy hybrid methods need to be retained). The trick can be developing with the regs and rule ebook that will entice participation. Is that this a bridge too far for IndyCar?
Invoice Tybur, Tempe, AZ
MP: Numerous wonderful examples, Invoice, with the latest being 32 years previous.
Mazda is the one fashionable producer to pick a four-cylinder turbo for its massive program with the IMSA DPi marketing campaign that began in 2017, and it took years and untold hundreds of thousands to get the issues to maintain from exploding. As soon as reliability was discovered, the Mazda RT24-Ps turned critical contenders for infrequent wins, however by no means eclipsed the twin-turbo V6 Acuras or naturally-aspirated Cadillac V8s.
The reply to your query is producers have a number of enter on what does and doesn’t curiosity them, and with IndyCar’s engine guidelines, no one I do know of requested for a four-cylinder. If it’s what they needed, we’d have them within the automobiles at the moment or being construct for the subsequent automobile. However that isn’t taking place, in order that’s the message to obtain.
4 cylinders, many complications. Richard Dole/IMSA
Q: The difficulty I’ve with the ‘second seat at Purple Bull is a foul seat’ principle is that you just would not anticipate a rookie on any workforce to be that shut in efficiency to a champion teammate that’s totally built-in into the workforce.
Is there an opportunity the automobile is ok, Gasly, Lawson and Albon have been too younger, Perez grew previous in 2024, and Yuki simply is not a match for Max?
What number of drivers on the grid would you anticipate to be a match vs Verstappen over a full season?
Will, Indy
CHRIS MEDLAND: There’s two facets to this Will, and coping with the second query first, I don’t anticipate any to be a complete match for Verstappen over a full season. However I feel a number of the easiest would run him fairly shut at many races and beat him just a few occasions.
When it comes to the drivers you listing, I feel when you need to counsel three totally different causes for 5 totally different – high-quality – drivers not performing, and it’s extraordinarily unlikely. The frequent denominator is the seat, not the driving force. Checo, for instance, was solely 34 final 12 months, that’s actually not previous in F1 phrases.
I do assume all three of Gasly, Lawson and Albon have been rushed via too quickly, however Albon additionally hit the bottom operating pretty nicely initially, and it was in his second season that he struggled extra. It reveals that younger drivers do have the potential to carry out if the automobile is working to their liking.
And in some ways Yuki was the right candidate – loads of expertise on the junior workforce, nonetheless younger, and really fast. And his outcomes have been similar to what we’d been seeing from Checo late final 12 months, and I think about Liam if he’d stayed within the seat.
Max papers over the cracks as a result of he is that good, however he would additionally carry out brilliantly in a automobile that was extra compliant to different drivers, too, and that will give Purple Bull a greater likelihood in each championships.
Q: I can’t perceive why Colton Herta who has been racing IndyCars for years doesn’t qualify for a Tremendous License whereas Kimi Antonelli earned sufficient factors to qualify when he was solely 18?
Assist an previous man perceive.
Terry
CM: The FIA Tremendous License was designed to stop pay drivers shopping for a seat with out the required outcomes to again it up – primarily aiming for a minimal degree of efficiency. It additionally then allowed the FIA to create a transparent pathway to arrange drivers for F1 via F4, Components Regional (FR), F3 and F2.
With the FIA having full management over the rules of these single-seater championships, they will be certain that they’re best-suited as a ladder in direction of F1, and due to this fact have given them extra Tremendous License factors than different sequence that they don’t have jurisdiction over (equivalent to IndyCar).
IndyCar is strongly acknowledged – apart from F2 it’s the solely class that provides the total 40 Tremendous License factors to the champion – however the factors cut back from there, whereas in the event you win a number of the single-seater championships beneath the FIA’s remit – F4, FR, F3 or F2 – you rating good factors.
Antonelli received the Italian F4, German F4 (each price 12 factors), FR Center East (18 factors) and FR European (25 factors) championships throughout two seasons to earn his Tremendous License, whereas a prime six in F2 was additionally price an extra 10 factors. Constant outcomes on the ladder meant he reached the full.
Colton has all the time been shut due to P2 within the IndyCar standings in 2024 (30 factors) however P10 in 2023 (1 level) and P7 this 12 months (4 factors) go away him simply brief. A prime 4 within the standings this 12 months would have earned him sufficient factors, so he wasn’t distant in any respect.
Q: The lopsidedness of the FIA Tremendous License system was very a lot within the information this week. What, if something, is ACCUS doing to treatment this example and why hasn’t something seemingly been performed up to now? With three F1 races within the U.S., the FIA needs to be extra accommodating.
David, Waxhaw, NC
CM: I’m undecided the variety of F1 races within the U.S. ought to have something to do with the Tremendous License system, however I do agree that IndyCar ought to obtain extra factors. I can partly see the argument of solely providing a full Tremendous License to the champion, however the pace during which the factors drop away from there (30 for P2, 20 for P3, 10 for P4, 8 for P5, 6 for P6, 4 for P7, 3 for P8, 2 for P9 and 1 for P10) is the problem for me.
If you happen to end prime 5 in back-to-back IndyCar seasons that’s very spectacular, and never a one-off outcome, but it’d solely yield 16 factors. There’s even a situation you are able to do three consecutive years within the prime six and never even be midway to the factors complete, which is ridiculous.
However ACCUS is all the time preventing a little bit of a dropping battle, as IndyCar must be true to its roots and ship the championship it desires. By that I imply the rules, the racing guidelines, the tracks used (equivalent to Superspeedways or old-school street programs) which may not essentially meet FIA standards for F1.
That’s why the FIA-led championships – F4, Components Regional, F3 and F2 – obtain sturdy weighting, as a result of a lot of them are sequence which might be tailor-made to arrange drivers for F1, and race on the identical tracks and many others.
IndyCar shouldn’t be a feeder sequence for F1, whereas these championships are, and for them to stay that method then they should have probably the most factors. For instance, in the event you gave IndyCar the identical factors as F2, then junior drivers would have a option to make and extra would possibly chase an IndyCar seat as a stepping stone, which might cut back the standard in F2 but additionally arguably devalue IndyCar as not the top-level finish level it needs to be.
When Herta was checked out by Purple Bull two years in the past, I do know the FIA and ACCUS had mentioned Tremendous License factors pretty lately, and I consider it’s continuously beneath assessment to verify the steadiness is deemed to be appropriate for each side of the Atlantic. Herta’s deliberate transfer for F2 might convey that again into perspective transferring ahead.
Herta has introduced the problem of Tremendous License factors score again into focus. Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: I’ve seen lately that there was quite a lot of promoting for the Las Vegas GP across the different F1 tracks. Are they having bother promoting tickets? Is the race at risk after the present contract is up? Inquiring minds wish to know!
Andy, Chicagoland USA
CM: Nope, that’s one thing that has all the time been the case as a result of the Las Vegas GP is an F1-owned and promoted occasion, so F1 itself makes use of the platform of different races to promote it. For different races, it’s an exterior promoter paying F1 for the power to host a race, so F1 has already made its cash from these and doesn’t need to do the promotion itself (at the least, to not the identical extent).
I do know that the ticket gross sales method was modified a 12 months in the past to attempt to supply extra GA tickets over hospitality in comparison with the primary 12 months, and that ensured the attendance drop-off was minimal from 12 months one (315,000) to 12 months two (306,000). If they’re to see a dip, then new races historically discover it in years two and three, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see a flatline or slight lower once more this 12 months, however haven’t heard of any main issues at this level.
As for the present contract, it’s really the ultimate 12 months of the unique deal, however with a 10-year settlement in place with the town to proceed. I really requested a supply about that this weekend in Monza, and was instructed it was unlikely {that a} full extension would ever be confirmed, however that two-to-three 12 months agreements can be authorized with the town and resorts concerned, with the potential in future for promotion to be handed over to a neighborhood entity in the event that they noticed the worth.
Q: How doubtless do you assume it’s that come contract renewal time, one of many McLaren F1 drivers decides to depart? I’m considering that the subsequent time the contract of certainly one of them is prolonged, the opposite will begin in search of a seat at one other prime workforce and certain discover it. What are your ideas, and have you learnt when their contracts expire?
Ed Joras
CM: The present offers for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri run till the tip of 2026 and 2027 respectively, however it’s understood they’ve extra clauses that would result in each operating for a 12 months longer than that. Given the current type, it feels very doubtless that you just’d see each in place as teammates till at the least the tip of 2027.
That would depart Norris needing an extra extension first, and by that time he would have raced for McLaren for 9 years, and by the tip of this season he would be the driver with probably the most grand prix begins for the workforce. So it’s conceivable he’d contemplate a brand new problem, however I feel that will more than likely be pushed by the competitiveness of McLaren beneath the subsequent set of rules.
Each would haven’t any scarcity of suitors, however the tradition being created round each drivers and the workforce is for the long run, with key personnel additionally on lengthy offers to attempt to maintain an period of success.
Q: Is Cadillac doing all its personal chassis work on the F1 automobile, or does it seek the advice of with Dallara or anybody else like Haas did? And when it turns into an engine builder in 2029, will or not it’s required to produce engines to different groups?
Chris
CM: Cadillac is doing all of its personal chassis work, though the manufacture of it at this stage has been dealt with externally because the workforce develops. Group principal Graeme Lowdon instructed me earlier this 12 months that the chassis is designed in-house, all check lay-ups are produced in-house, however remaining chassis manufacture us outsourced to regular suppliers within the provide chain.
Every time its first energy unit is prepared, Cadillac will solely be required to probably provide an engine to a different workforce if a workforce doesn’t have an settlement in place at a sure deadline. A provide deal is then compelled on the producer with the fewest quantity of consumers, however given the variety of suppliers from 2026 onwards – Audi and Honda may also solely be offering energy items for one workforce subsequent 12 months – it’s unlikely it will come to that.
Q: Some website reported Mick Schumacher will get preferential therapy from Alpine in his contract. That features a lot of the new tires. How frequent is that in sports activities automobiles?
Additionally, would not that be dangerous for the workforce? I imply, I do not anticipate them to be finest associates. However three drivers share the automobile. Doing this kind of deal looks like a foul concept from technical and likewise from working setting level. It isn’t like Schumacher did something in his profession to deserve that.
William Mazeo
STEPHEN KILBEY: My understanding is that it isn’t frequent for drivers in sports activities automobiles to signal contracts that embody such a listing of particular necessities, equivalent to new tires for each session, and many others. Nevertheless, we do see parts of this throughout this space of the game, significantly in groups the place a number of drivers are funding this system.
For example, a driver in a privateer Hypercar could have it written into his contract that he’s the one to do each qualifying session (as a result of this can be a software used to get them noticed by a manufacturing facility), although this form of line merchandise could function for higher-profile manufacturing facility drivers, too. Bronze-graded drivers in classes like LMGT3 are additionally prone to be handed all the brand new tires in follow and a lot of the observe time. Nevertheless, that’s far much less prone to be contractual and as a substitute straight a strategic transfer in codecs the place the drive time for beginner drivers is so vital.
Typically, although, I would say it is uncommon for a driver to be granted such a set of benefits over teammates in a multi-driver line-up. Now I have not seen the contract with my very own eyes, however whether it is certainly true, then clearly Alpine and Mick Schumacher will need to have felt {that a} mixture of his expertise and marketability warranted such therapy.
Q: I feel the Jarno Trulli pics are pure gold. I met him earlier than the USGP in Indianapolis when he drove for Toyota. I spent most of time speaking with Cristiano da Matta (really being the punchline for his jokes about my race cooler) and want I might have snapped a pic of Jarno. Are you able to give you a Jarno pic from his Toyota years?
Steve Cox
MARK GLENDENNING: Positive. And since we have had quite a lot of enjoyable at his expense through the years, let’s change tack and go along with certainly one of his spotlight moments – giving Toyota its last-ever F1 podium (on residence turf, no much less) with a second place on the 2009 Japanese GP.
THE FINAL WORD
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, 12 September 2018
Q: Simply curious concerning the traditionally quickest automobiles and the way that ‘energy’ translated to good racing – in different phrases, did it make it extra enjoyable to look at, and did the drivers like the ability?
Trey Kiel, Austin, Texas
ROBIN MILLER: Bobby Unser all the time requested John “Mandrake” Miller for extra energy when he drove for Dan Gurney, and the three-time Indy 500 winner says 1,200 HP was probably the most he ever noticed. A of drivers beloved all that increase, however there have been heaps and many engine failures and the races weren’t all the time that good.
