Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers may be despatched to mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters that embrace a query usually tend to be printed. Questions obtained after 3pm ET every Monday can be saved for the next week.
Q: First off, Milwaukee was superior. Nice racing. Good crowd. Actually glad for Conor Daly. Only a actually whole lot. Nevertheless… this Mexico stuff is a very unhealthy search for IndyCar. It’s a very unhealthy search for Mark Miles and a very unhealthy search for Penske. Forgot complaining — what I (and I feel others as properly) are is simply plain confused. I don’t perceive the plan.
NASCAR and F1 clearly have plans. Like them or not, you perceive the place they’re going. I don’t assume IndyCar followers perceive the place IndyCar needs to go. The largest (and truest) query – does IndyCar?
Justin Brown
MARSHALL PRUETT: It does, but when IndyCar has discovered something in latest weeks, it’s that counting on Mark to be its major spokesperson is worthy of reconsideration. Because it was just lately confirmed to me, Roger Penske has stepped again from talking to the press regularly and in his place, Miles has been appointed to discipline questions on Penske Leisure’s behalf. And the way’s that going?
Making issues worse, they gained’t let others converse, together with on the competitors facet, on all however the rarest events. For instance, when I’ve questions on doing a brand new chassis or new engine rules, it’s Miles who speaks, and no disrespect, however he is aware of completely nothing about that facet of the game.
So, if IndyCar needs to assist itself and cut back the WTF interview materials, the corporate would possibly rethink its change in communications technique.
Q: Is there any phrase on touchdown spots for Jack Harvey subsequent season? I do know there are plenty of naysayers on the market about his capabilities, however I’m not one among them.
Kasey, Indy
MP: I’m with you, Kasey. Jack discovered an ideal state of affairs at Dale Coyne’s crew this yr the place he didn’t have a lot sponsorship to convey, however the crew wanted a veteran it may depend on, so Dale made up plenty of lacking finances on his personal. I don’t foresee that very same state of affairs taking place once more, and Jack isn’t assured of the identical superb deal being supplied, so he’s seeing if and what he could make occur and likewise taking a look at different choices, together with FOX, the place he’s inquired a couple of driver analyst function for subsequent yr.
Q: I simply need to level out the nonsense of the Adrian Fernandez argument. Champ Automotive had two races in Mexico from 2004-2006, after which one in 2007, however Fernandez left the sequence after 2003. To me, it feels like somebody is passing the buck for his or her incapacity to do their job successfully. In fact having a preferred driver from the world helps, however you have to be promoting the sequence as an entire. That being stated, Pato is certainly common. I used to be at Milwaukee each days, and that was very obvious.
Talking of Milwaukee, it’s ironic Mark Miles made feedback concerning the sequence not going again to tracks from the previous without having the self-awareness that he’s describing Milwaukee. The disconnect between need the followers need and what the sequence management needs couldn’t be any extra stark. Only a suggestion from a fan to Penske Leisure: Take heed to the followers and also you would possibly get Milwaukee-type outcomes elsewhere. Like Richmond or Watkins Glen. Having stated that, I can not watch for the subsequent road race announcement!
Brian, Joliet, IL
MP: I don’t consider Mark would know if Adrian was standing subsequent to him, and he wasn’t round when Fernandez was on the peak of his recognition, so he was clearly talking with data he was given, slightly than what he skilled.
When you’re at risk of not realizing if Adrian Fernandez is standing subsequent to you, that is what he appears like. (Adrian’s the one within the center). Dan R. Boyd/Motorsport Photographs
Q: Please inform me this isn’t my creativeness, however I may swear that when IndyCars are driving in a straight line on an oval (pit lane, and so on), they appear to be they’re driving a bit cock-eyed. Assuming my eyes don’t deceive, is that this as a result of the cross-weight (or another side of the setup) has been set in order that they do ‘crab’ a bit of when straight?
Steve, Woodinville, WA
MP: They do. The automobiles, such as you’ll discover in NASCAR, are set as much as flip left, which is why you see in-car pictures of IndyCar drivers turning their steering wheels to the correct on the straights as a result of suspension settings that deliberately pressure the automotive to go left within the corners.
Q: I discovered this exceptional shade movie on YouTube purely by chance and thought there should be a few of your readers that may get pleasure from it.
Doug Mayer
MP: It’s superb. I watched it when it was posted and it’s simply chic.
Q: Mark Miles: With respect to feedback made about Richmond, Mexico, Pato or The Glen – I take umbrage. I’ve been a locked-in IndyCar fan for the reason that age of 9, watching the end of the 1992 Indy 500. For years I’ve written into this Mailbag with ideas and feedback on learn how to enhance the sequence. I’m only a fan, however I’m a passionate one. I do know the sequence reads this, so let me be clear: Do higher.
The very first thing to do to get out of the opening you’re in is to cease digging. Please, no extra statements about venues or drivers till you’ve one thing agency to announce. This drama you’ve unleashed upon the followers shouldn’t be a very good look and makes me query why I ought to stay a fan. Yet one more factor: Respect The Glen.
Rob, Rochester, NY
MP: Jay Frye appears to agree about The Glen, per his ‘random’ submit final week…
Nice recollections/instances with @markmartin on the superb @WGI and its unimaginable followers! pic.twitter.com/dYlaKW0lCW
— Jay Frye (@JayRFrye) September 7, 2024
Q: I’m a bit of behind as a result of my spouse and I had been busy attending the
incredible Milwaukee Mile races placed on by the by IndyCar groups and
drivers Saturday and Sunday, however judging from the unimaginable quantity of
Pato supporters we noticed over the weekend, I can solely guess that Mark
Miles is one more clueless ivory tower exec that by no means really mixes
with peon followers like ourselves at races. Can you modify my thoughts?
Ben Malec, Buffalo Grove, IL
MP: By no means did I think about I’d be requested to behave as Miles’ PR agent. Glad you loved Milwaukee, Ben. It was a magical weekend.
