Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers can be sent to mailbag@racer.com. We love hearing your comments and opinions, but letters that include a question are more likely to be published. Questions received after 3pm ET each Monday will be saved for the following week.
Q: Setting aside Will Power’s future for a moment to mention the growing negative narrative forming against the other driver in this Penske dance. Unless I’m mistaken, ill-informed, or both, it feels like David Malukas is handling himself and this situation respectfully and with appropriate nuance. His approach seems commendable.
Like Robin before you, you have the ability to shape opinions. And for good reason – we value your insight. My ask: Give Malukas a chance without sending the villagers after him for not deserving the opportunity almost every one of his competitors is also seeking. He seems like he gets up on the wheel, respects his competitors, and handles himself well. Stick-and-ball sports regularly deal with replacing established stars with new energy and new approaches. This feels normal.
Matt Ganser
MARSHALL PRUETT: I appreciate your thoughtful note on wanting me to shape my words to soften the transition for Malukas. I’d also assume you’d want me to be honest with those words, and this feels rushed.
I don’t believe an opportunity with Penske is wholly undeserved. It’s just not all the way there. We said similar things when Devlin DeFrancesco and Sting Ray Robb left Indy NXT to go to IndyCar; they needed another year to be properly ready, and in both instances, the upward leap was too much and they spun their proverbial wheels while trying to fill the gaps in education and overall readiness to perform. They left school too soon. Feels like the same scenario with Malukas, but in being ready to perform at Penske’s level.
Reminds me of drafting a tantalizing sophomore or junior who could go onto be a big deal, but would be better served to complete their senior year and show they’re a day one starter instead of needing to spend another year or two learning as a backup coming off the bench. Penske’s held firm to hiring starters, which is why this comes across as ill-timed. Maybe the team is lowering its lofty standards in the hope of finding a future gem that needs polishing.
Malukas is a great kid, which I’ve been saying on a regular basis before he got to IndyCar and will continue to say for years to come. His parents are awesome and did a wonderful job raising him. He also has immense talent. But that doesn’t change my read on this situation, which involves the team and the possibility of abandoning its win-now standards for welcoming champions or race winners into its seats.
He could earn pole this weekend or next at Nashville and become a race winner before the season is over, and if that happens, it becomes much harder to say he isn’t ready. But this isn’t Ayrton Senna at Lotus in 1987, or Greg Moore at Player’s Forsythe in 1999, where everyone in the sport knew they were effectively champions-in-waiting where all they needed was to be hired by a top team to clinch their first title.
Those kinds of drivers are the ones where you split with decorated veterans like Power to turn the page for the future betterment of the team. I just can’t think of anything Malukas has done so far to fall into that category – not when we’re talking about cutting bait with Power, who rates as one of the best IndyCar drivers of the 2000s. If it was a lesser Penske driver, sure, you’d hear no complaints, but this is a total mismatch for stature and achievement, and that’s why pretending otherwise in print would be doing a disservice to both.
He’ll do well at Penske. How well? Future champion in waiting? Maybe. Maybe not. And that’s not the kind of question Penske typically embraces in competition.
If he jumps in and beats McLaughlin and beats Newgarden, Penske will look like a genius. If Malukas proves to be a generational talent, I’d also have to assume McLaughlin and Newgarden will be on their way out, ASAP, because Old Man Power is currently No. 1 and if Malukas takes his seat and also achieves that No. 1 status, more Penske drivers will be headed out the door.
And if McLaughlin and Newgarden handle Malukas, Penske will have traded its top performer – a legend – to go backwards with the No. 12 car and run third. It’s such a big gamble for a team and owner, all at the expense of its leading driver, in an organization that’s usually averse to gambling. This is unusual for Penske. If that’s something to normalize by saying this is a natural transition, I can’t see it.
It’s going to happen. That’s not a question. Whether is pans out in ways that respect and benefit Power, Malukas, McLaughlin, Newgarden, Roger Penske and Team Penske is the open-ended item left to answer.
It’s all about the timing. Joe Skibinski/IMS
Q: After attending the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres for the fourth time in the past five years, I am more convinced than ever that IndyCar is missing out on one of the most iconic gems on the motor racing calendar.
The event has been around since 1967. It is extremely well-attended and the entire city of Trois Rivieres embraces the event. The circuit itself is excellent and provides great racing. At 1.5 miles, it is only slightly shorter than Detroit and Toronto.
The Grand Prix has NASCAR Canada as its feature, and – no disrespect to the great series that it is – I am sure that IndyCar would pull in significantly greater numbers.
IndyCar needs another marquee event in Canada (assuming that Toronto remains), and to have another well-attended, well-established race on the calendar certainly would not hurt. It would also give the series another race in the northeast.
Just food for thought IndyCar, if you are listening?
Paul, Upper Hainesville, New Brunswick, Canada
MP: Amazing event and a lovely area. I always enjoyed the trips to race there; Formula Atlantic, and later, Indy Lights, were the marquee series.
Our Genoa Racing Lights team won the downtown pit stop competition put on by Player’s in 1996, and while it took yours truly fighting with our driver to give the winning crew (I changed the right-front tire) a proper share of the $1000 prize (he seemed to think the cash was mostly his and gave us 30 percent), we did put it to good use at local bars and put the money right back into the Quebec economy.
Going back would be a blast.
Q: I think we’ve found the one thing Roger Penske isn’t good at – promoting events, specifically with Penske Entertainment Group. Running the series and owning IMS are one thing, but I think they’re out of their league when it comes to being event promoters.
I wonder if they’ve ever entertained the thought of contracting that out to a group that has a proven track record – Green Savoree Promotions. GSP has been incredibly successful in running the events at St. Pete, Mid-Ohio (which it also owns), and Toronto (the verdict on Portland is still out). It may very well be that GSP already has enough on its plate and is content to stick with the four races it already has, but I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Roger to reach out and see if there’d be any interest.
Scott C., Greenwood, IN
MP: It’s an area where Penske Entertainment appears to be growing and improving as it takes on more events, but yes, GSRP would be a turnkey partner. I recently mentioned this weekend’s Milwaukee race will be a big test of whether Penske’s promotions team is achieving at a high level, and was informed by Penske that it has no involvement in this year’s race. It’s all the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in 2025, so that’s one less track on the Penske oversight list. But next week’s return to Nashville is a Penske production, so let’s see how that goes and revisit whether GSRP, despite its road and street racing specialty, would be worth drafting in for an oval finale.
Q: Does IndyCar have a team that pitches street races to communities? The reason I ask is it seems this is the real future of the sport.
People love ovals, but don’t seem to attend them as they did in the past. Would Indy Car ever consider a roval on an existing road course weekend? Saturday you maybe drive two shorter sprint races (one race is cars that qualify 1, 3, 5, etc., and second race is for cars that qualify 2, 4, 6) on a cut-off “oval” (left turn only) portion of a street course, and then Sunday the full road course.
Is IndyCar dead set on building a new car that only fits a small engine formula, or is the new chassis going to be flexible in case the world of engine manufacturers for IndyCar needs to be flexible?
What is the buzz around Fox and promotion of races? It’s one thing to get TV eyeballs and another to get local advertising. Do you see Fox as solely a national TV promoter or will they be working with local affiliates/IndyCar marketing to get people to the races?
Besides a new location for the ERS, is there anything about the new car that will be/look clearly different that you are aware of at this point?
Tim Gleason, Chicago, IL
MP: If people barely show up to oval races, wait until you see how few turn out for rovals.
Yes, IndyCar is following the same small-displacement formula it has used for most of the last five decades. Fox is make up of local affiliates who broadcast its content throughout the nation, so yes, I’d expect local efforts to be solid. But FOX Sports isn’t creating a new IndyCar promotions division; that’s where working with Penske to increase IndyCar’s promotional efforts is achieved.
There’s no new location for the ERS; same place. I’m told the car looks different to the DW12 and it’s handsome.
Don’t expect any drastic changes to IndyCar’s engine formula. Matt Fraver/IMS
Q: I really enjoyed your videos of the Monterey Reunion, in particular the one of the Williams FW11 warming up. You referred to it as religious, ground shaking, and one of the coolest things you’ve experienced in ages. Ever since I saw Mika Salo driving an FW11 at Goodwood in 1999 it’s been my favorite F1 car, mainly due to the sound and violence of the thing, so your video really resonated with me.
I’m curious to know what other racing cars give you that sensation? The most recent for me is the 650bhp, 400kg British Hillclimb cars at Prescott and Shelsley Walsh. Prior to that it was seeing the Indy 500 for the first time in 2017 (frankly everything else has been relegated to second place since that day).
Gareth Holt, London, England
MP: Thanks for the great question, Gareth. Lots of firsts: First time seeing and hearing the Jaguar XJR-7 IMSA GTP fly by. Same with the Audi 200 Trans Am cars. Triple-rotor Mazda RX-7s in IMSA GTO. Audi R10 diesels. Porsche 919 Hybrids at Le Mans. First time I watched and heard a 2.65L CART turbo V8 being warmed up – I don’t remember the year – made my life. Ferrari 333SP WSC in action. AAR Eagle Mk. III on debut at Laguna Seca.
I’m sure I could double or triple the list.
Q: With Pabst winning the 2025 USF Pro 2000 Championship with three races to go, I’m wondering if you are hearing rumors of them stepping up to NXT in 2026?
Max Garcia looks like another Max we all know of in the racing world and I’m hoping he gets a Ganassi NXT ride in 2026 if the budget is available.
Does Garcia, to your knowledge, have good backing, and does Chip view his NXT team as needing to be signing only funded drivers or as a possible platform to evaluate potential? Maybe all Chip’s free cash is understandably taken on the Palou/McLaren scenario.
Oliver Wells
MP: Penske is meant to fund Garcia’s move to NXT. Haven’t heard about Augie adding NXT, but he should. Great team. I’m not aware of any NXT teams that pay for drivers to compete in their cars. There are some who take a salary from the sponsors they bring, or might receive travel and living expenses, but NXT is like a high-price university where scholarships are limited to one or maybe two per season. The rest, through family money or sponsors or both, involve paying NXT teams to be in their cars.
Q: Have you heard if IndyCar will finally create a mobile IndyCar game for all of its myriad fans? I ask now as it appears additional funding and marketing is now flowing into the series based upon Fox’s purchase of a minority interest in Penske Entertainment.
This really needs to happen. Have you heard any news you might be able to share?
Robert Miller, Santa Rosa, CA
MP: Heard nothing, but will ask.
Q: I know Townsend Bell was talking out his backside, but Scott McLaughlin running the Daytona 500 isn’t the worst idea I’ve ever heard.
Laz, Missouri
MP: Could be fun, but I can also think of a Penske IndyCar driver with two Indy 500 wins who would be the first choice to give Daytona a try.
Q: Theoretically do you think an IndyCar using the short oval aero could beat the non-oval aero at Road America and Watkins Glen (NASCAR layout)?
Does the IndyCar rule book dictate what aero kit is used where?
Atilla Veyssal, West Allis, WI
MP: No. Yes.
Q: I read and watch all things IndyCar. Obviously, the three Penske teams have had a miserable year up until Will Power winning in Portland.
Why hasn’t more been written or said about the miserable year being the direct result of Roger having to clean house a few months ago? Seems pretty cause and effect. Am I missing something?
Bob Isabella, Mentor, OH
MP: Yes. Written numerous times about how the team got off to a soft start before everything blew up at the 500. I’d assume the reason you haven’t seen more being written about the bad year being a result of cleaning house is because it didn’t start at the 500. What happened at the 500 amplified the poor start.
Q: As a long-time Scott Dixon/Chip Ganassi Racing fan, I have to ask: What has happened to Dixie’s qualifying mojo? He certainly seems to have race pace, and with Palou’s performance this year, CGR knows how to put together a quick car.
John V, Ohioville, PA
MP: Qualifying hasn’t been a big Dixie deal for a few years. Summoning the same world-conquering aggression needed to get an IndyCar pole or something close to it is often the first thing that gets surrendered with age; that’s been the case for longer than I’ve been alive.
Look at Will Power, IndyCar’s all-time pole king. In his most recent championship season, he earned five poles in 2022. He went through hell in 2023 with the distractions of his wife Liz’s grave medical issues and still managed to grab two poles, and then in 2024, he went without a pole for the first time in forever and got his first pole since 2023 at WWTR this year.
But what if you ignore his amazing 2022 season when the stats are all in his favor and just look from 2023 through 2025 on race days? Try 14 podiums and four wins for Power, which underscores the point that while poles start to wane in the twilight of a superstar’s career, there’s no replacing experience and racecraft in the one session that matters more than the rest at motor races.
Same exact thing for Dixie, who hasn’t been on pole since Indy 2022. But since 2023, he’s delivered six wins and 14 podiums, placed second in the 2023 championship, sixth in 2024, and is presently third.
Regardless of how many birthdays Dixon’s had, he’d stil be an early pick on any IndyCar fantasy team. Joe Skibinksi/IMS
Q: Was David Malukas really in need of fuel on lap 104 at Portland? Very suspicious that he exited the pits just in front of the leaders, with Will Power radioing in to tell Malukas to block Lundgaard and Palou. Real need for fuel, or Penske shenanigans?
Joe, Turlock
MP: He was running 10th when he pitted for a three-second splash of fuel, so I can’t find the logic in throwing away a top 10 to finish 19th when Power was doing just fine on his own.
Q: What a bizarre whistle-swallow from the officials at Portland. If they were both out of line, as the announcers suggested was possible, penalize both! Obviously Daly’s penalty would be arbitrary since he was out of the race, and Rasmussen’s should be harsher, but for zero action to be taken just doesn’t make any sense to me. What I really don’t understand how that didn’t at least go under formal review before moving on. Did IndyCar hire Robin Pemberton for race control when no one was looking?
Glenn
MP: Speak to most IndyCar drivers and they’ll say driving standards are lower today than at any time in recent memory. It’s a truly strange scenario. If the folks in charge of law and order aren’t willing to do the necessary law-and-ordering to restore and maintain the peace, I’m not sure what to do.
Q: For years we’ve been hearing about tire deg and drivers needing to save their tires, whether in the IndyCar series or NASCAR. I’m sure setup plays into this, but is there a way to explain how this is accomplished? If the answer is too involved, hopefully you can cover it in the off-season in layman’s terms.
DZ, Indiana
MP: Think of tires like energy in the same way a big meal provides energy. If you want the tires to last for as long as possible – to provide their good, grip-creating energy throughout the majority of a fuel run – you’ll avoid pushing them too hard to start the run and use up the energy too quickly.
Just like if you’ve got a big steak and a baked potato on the plate and wolf both of them down in five minutes. You’ve just taken all of that energy and turned it into a massive stomach ache and bloating and pain by ingesting it in a hurry instead of taking your time, eating at a measured pace, and preventing digesting problems that will wreck the rest of your afternoon.
The energy is there, whether it’s in traction on a racetrack or sustaining fuel for our bodies, and in both cases, being smart and intentional about how that energy is consumed is where success is found. Go on the attack from the outset with the fork and knife, or by spinning the tires or placing excessive side loading in them right away and bringing high sustained heat into the rubber, and you’ve got some aches and pains coming your way within minutes.
Q: During the Portland broadcast, Townsend Bell suggested Penske will have no choice but to keep Will Power after his win and being highest of the three in points, but will want Malukas to move up anyway. Townsend then suggested Penske will move Scott McLaughlin to NASCAR since “he’s the only driver on the planet to beat SVG.” I respect Townsend and think I know the answer, but there’s no truth to this whatsoever, right? Not sure why Scott would want to uproot and learn another whole new type of racing after just a few seasons, and unless they’re cutting ties with Austin Cindric (which they have vehemently denied), there’s no room on the NASCAR team, either.
Ben, Toronto
MP: McLaughlin just signed a lucrative extension to continue with Penske in IndyCar.
Q: Not at all a question but just wanted to share something. I was just on my way into work and I heard an ad for the Milwaukee IndyCar race on the local rock radio station. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I know there have been billboards for the race in some areas, as well. Nice to see they are actually doing some promoting of the race and putting in some effort. Milwaukee means a lot to me and my family as I’ve been going since I was a little kid in the mid ‘90s. I want to see it succeed. Hoping for another solid crowd.
Paul, Lake In The Hills, IL
MP: Great to hear. The folks promoting it at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds know what they’re doing.
Q: I was just watching a bit of racing on Road America. It got me to wondering if there have been any ovals made with elevation changes?
Janis, Florida
MP: None that come to mind, so hopefully readers will share some answers.
Q: Do you suspect that there is some sort of HMD B2B connection helping to drive the Malukas and Penske marriage? I think Dave is going to be a solid driver for Penske, but like you mentioned in the Mailbag last week, Team Penske has never been a finishing school for drivers. So why push out the team’s top performer now?
Jim
MP: I’ve heard this theory – of a sizable deal between HMD trucking and Penske Corp – floated a few times as the reason for the apparent urgency to replace Power despite being Penske’s top driver for two seasons running. Can’t say if it’s valid or not, but I’ve certainly heard it.
Q: My understanding is that Malukas and Ferrucci are driving Penske-prepped cars that have the same setup as the Penske drivers. This could generally be applied to all IndyCar teams with technical alliances, but specifically with Penske, what advantage would Malukas get driving for the Penske team that he’s not getting currently? Is it fair to say all five drivers are racing with equal machinery?
Will, Indy
MP: They drive for AJ Foyt Racing in cars that are prepared and run by AJ Foyt Racing, not Team Penske. They make use of technical specifications supplied by Penske, and Malukas has a Penske race engineer. One team is the winningest in IndyCar history and the other has not won a race since 2013. Equal machinery is made unequal by the differing talents of the drivers and teams making use of the machines.
From an engineering standpoint the Foyt cars are not quite Penske clones, but they’re definitely Penske-ish. Matt Fraver/IMS
Q: First, thanks for your, and RACER’s, dedication to the Mailbag. We diehards read this religiously. Some of your comments are not always meet with appreciation by some of my friends; however, I completely appreciate your efforts for neutrality, but of course love the slight bits of opinion you interject. This is, after all, what Mailbag is for, is it not?
In response to Jeff of State College in last week’s Bag, your comments on the Conor/Christian dust-up, as well as several others comments on this matter, we can hope and pray that IndyCar does do the parenting that is needed soon.
We all want to see good hard racing, and yes, some argy-bargy, but with a bit more respect. Our cars have become incredibly safe, yet this doesn’t mean we should start to carelessly use them indiscriminately as tools to accomplish passing maneuvers.
Guess there’s no real question here, as I’m not sure anyone who knows, but when will we know where Will ends up?
Zenith
MP: Thanks for writing in and the kind words. Most unexpected in the Mailbag.
When Penske informs Will, and Will has knowledge of his future with or without Penske, we’ll know.
Q: I’ll be attending the Music City GP and I see on Sunday morning there will be an IndyCar driver autograph session (as well as Indy NXT drivers on Saturday). How do autograph sessions work? It looks like from pictures online they have their own little tables, so can you walk around and get to all of them?
Do you get in line for one driver at a time? If that’s the case, should I only focus on a few specific drivers that I want to meet the most? How realistic (or unrealistic) is it to meet all of them?
Josh, Havertown PA
MP: I asked the good folks at the Elite IndyCar Facebook group to offer their insights since I’ve never attended one of these sessions. Lots of good intel and advice here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/250866138377414.
Q: I pull up the RACER.com IndyCar site every morning – daily indulgence where I look forward to reading stories by Marshall and others. However, I now find myself accessing the site daily to see a rendering of the new chassis. Is there any timeline for the reveal?
John Sullivan, Lees Summit, MO
MP: I’ll try to find out. With the recent 33-percent sale plus the need to get the schedule figured out, I have no expectation for down-the-road items like this to be on the front burner.
Q: Assuming David Malukas moves to Penske in 2026 or, more likely, 2027, do you see Myles Rowe moving to Foyt Racing in the Penske junior seat?
Mike, Parkland
MP: Not next year. Myles needs another season of NXT before he’d be ready to perform in IndyCar.
Q: Many other sports have an officiating “post-mortem” where they list calls that were missed in an assumed effort to be transparent. Yet IndyCar keeps a wall between race stewards/officials and the public (e.g., you being denied a race control interview).
Have they spoken at all about transparency once the new officiating team is in place? It seems like their stance is, “It’s our game, you’re just watching, so you deserve nothing but to pay us and be happy.”
Any chance we get real officiating and accountability for said officials with the new setup?
DJ Odom, Anderson, IN
MP: Interesting thoughts, DJ. We don’t see other racing series do this, so there’s no reason to single out any one of them. But yes, with how lax things have become, the idea of being fully transparent with how decisions were or weren’t made might restore the missing faith that’s building.
Q: I remember a few years ago, Ed Carpenter mentioned during an interview that he and Will Power were friends and he would like to have him drive for him someday, if the opportunity ever arose. Do you think that Ed would ever consider adding a third car, or maybe even dropping one of his current drivers to make room for Will?
He does seem to have solid financial backing now. Power is an upgrade to what he currently has – Rossi and Rasmussen are solid, but not exceptional. Plus, Ed always has strong cars at Indy. Maybe if there were no charters, this scenario would be possible. Any chance, even slight, he could end up at ECR?
Jerry, Pittsburgh
MP: If Ed can get a third charter, yes, the idea of expanding could be possible. Without one, or without replacing one of his two current drivers, then no. Both are under contract through 2026 so there’s no home for Will without a charter and a full budget to expand to three.
There’s probably no room for Will in Ed’s Java House for next year unless he can find another charter. Joe Skibinksi/IMS
Q: Are there concerns that the Mexico City race may not happen?
Joey
MP: Yes. The timing of the Fox buy-in has, I’m told, created a big re-think on the schedule.
Q: In light of the FOX buy-in announcement, I reviewed the public records of the assessed property value owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its real estate arm, Georgetown Realty. Available here.
Looking through all the parcels I believe are owned by these entities, total valuation is just under $118 million – $117,961,000 if I add just the thousands together. Indiana assessed property values are based on market value, so this should be a fairly good estimation of land value with structures.
Also, if IndyCar is worth $400 million, then there are two WBNA franchises worth more, per a recent article by Sportico. Not disrespecting the WNBA here – just showing value of IndyCar, its season, and the biggest race on the planet compared to a sports property/organization with definitive rising viewership, value, and interest.
This number allows some perspective on the value of the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar series as a whole. However, I feel the buy-in is grossly undervalued considering the estimation done in the mid-2000s by the Indy Star – assisted by a local reputable construction firm – indicated the replacement of all structures at the property was in the $760 million range.
So either:
1) Indy Star’s estimate from 20 years ago is way over actual value of IMS property.
2) Penske Entertainment is misrepresenting either value to Fox or to the general public.
3) Assessed valuation of property is underestimated – which could be likely with our assessor in Marion County (Indianapolis).
I’m looking forward to attending Milwaukee in person for the first time since 1984 and witnessing the heartbreak of Mears’ engine failure, leading to Tom Sneva’s last IndyCar win!
Tern Shooter, Speedway, IN
MP: Thanks for writing in.
Q: I have been excited to watch AJ Foyt Racing over the last two years and I believe that Foyt’s team being competitive and relevant is good for the series. Watching the team closely during practice, qualifying and on race day a pattern has emerged this year. No matter how talented Ferrucci is, and no matter how well he can charge his way forward on race day, he can’t qualify to save his life.
On the other hand, it is also obvious that David Malukas is very talented and often has better practice times than Santino Ferrucci. He also consistently qualifies better than Ferrucci, especially recently. But unlike Ferrucci who charges from the back and gains positions, Malukas almost always seems to finish worse than he started – sometimes much worse. These guys are complete opposites. Do you have any insight on this strangely divergent pattern of results?
Tom, Blaine, MN
MP: Malukas is young and very fast and has a great young Penske race engineer, which we see the results of in the ways you mention. And he’s also had some really good race performances of late, but yes, his inexperience has been a limiting factor in a few too many races.
Ferrucci was faster in those same sessions last year with the same engineer, and has taken a step back without him. But he and his new engineer are taking great strides and he’s a blast to watch on Sundays. Can’t wait to see what they’re able to do next year with the half-season to build upon.
Q: Do you think Lundqvist regrets not using his FR Americas scholarship that would have giving him a ride to Super Formula?
It seems that him not taking that opportunity has hampered his forward momentum. He could have easily done what Palou did by continuing to hone his skills more. And being in Super Formula, he could have got attention for F1, and if not, headed back to IndyCar – or even stayed put and had a career in Japan.
It’s a shame he’s on sidelines and not going anywhere, and in this business the longer you’re not in the car, the easier it is to be forgotten regardless of your previous championships in lower ranks.
Rusty Shackleford, Arlen, TX
MP: I do not. He was a full-time driver for the best team in IndyCar last year. Everything else is a series of maybes and ifs with zero guarantees. He’s drawing real interest from IndyCar teams.
Q: I’m reading that VP Challenge is thinking of adding endurance racing for LMP3. Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of the series being a more cost-friendly alternative to IMPC?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to add LMP3 to IMPC to make series a true smaller-scale WeatherTech Series. So, have a proper training ground for up and coming pros along with ams getting used to multiclass racing with three different speeds. And also note the WeatherTech Series can’t add more races due to run time, and IMSA wants to be more of a headliner and reduce shared weekend with IndyCar.
Wouldn’t it be smarter move by IMSA to utilize IMPC to other events that the WeatherTech Series doesn’t go to, to continue expanding IMSA’s brand footprint across the country? The five endurance rounds should only be events that IMPC and WeatherTech share. After that, I think IMPC could go to St. Pete, Portland, COTA, Barber, Trois Rivieres, etc.
Cosmo Kramer, New York City, NY
MP: As I’ve seen IMSA do under its current president, decisions like these aren’t made in isolation by the series, but rather, after listening to the wishes of its drivers and entrants, or after having an idea and floating that idea across a wide array of owners and drivers. The “we’re just going to drop P3 cars into VP Challenge and see what happens” approach, which is suggested here, isn’t how IMSA’s done business.
As for what would be smarter, I’d assume low car counts and/or bad racing in the VP Challenge would lead IMSA to pull the P3 cars from the series. Also, if the entrants and drivers in Michelin Pilot Challenge wanted P3, IMSA would react and make that change.
Not sure we’ve ever had a letter about VP Challenge before, so let’s celebrate with a photo. Brandon Badraoui/IMSA
Q: I accept that IndyCar is never returning to Burke Lakefront Airport. Any intel on the 2030 IndyCar race around the new Brookpark Aviators (formerly Cleveland Browns) domed stadium that is soon to begin construction?
Bill Carsey, North Olmsted, OH (Just west of Brookpark)
MP: Sounds like fun. Cincinnati is a big IndyCar ratings hot spot; if a second Ohio race is going to happen, a street race around Joe Burrow Stadium would be my first pick.
Q: Do we have an idea if the valuation of all things IndyCar has gone up over the last few years? (Guesstimating what Roger bought it all for and then looking at what we think Fox paid for a third).
I fear for Foyt if Myles Rowe isn’t ready for IndyCar. Foyt no longer has Mike Cannon and his Indy magic, and if Penske isn’t farming Malukas to them in 2026, what would the benefit be for Penske to continue their partnership on the tech side?
I compared Malukas and Daly’s finishes for this year:
Portland: Unknown how Conor would have finished, but Malukas was only 19th
Laguna: They finished nose to tail
Toronto: DM 9th, CD 15th
Iowa 2: CD got hosed by a yellow, otherwise would have been ahead of DM
Iowa 1: CD 7th, DM 12th
Mid-Ohio: DM 17th, CD 19th (Conor got pushed off the track)
Road America: CD and DM nose to tail until CD went off trying to pass DM
WWTR: CD 6th, DM 12th
Detroit :DM 14th, CD 17th
Indy 500: DM 2nd, CD 8th (Conor was ahead until the last two stints with tire issues)
Indy GP: CD 15th, DM DNF
Barber: DM 16th, CD 19th
Long Beach: DM 17th, CD 25th
Thermal: CD 16th, DM 18th
St. Pete: DM 13th, CD 17th
I am a fan of both drivers, but one driver is headed to Penske, the other will only stay in the series if he can find millions in sponsorship. To me there isn’t that huge of a difference in their overall performance. Tough sport! (I know the points standings make it look like a bigger gap)
Andy
MP: We do not have a clue on valuation. Penske has a soft spot for Foyt, which I hope doesn’t change.
Perception is a powerful thing. David is much younger and is seen in that youthful light, one loaded with potential and possibilities – much of it based on promise shown and his full capabilities being unknown. The other is Conor, who isn’t old, but made his IndyCar debut in 2013 and is perceived as an old and known quantity with nothing new or untapped to offer.
Which is a dumb viewpoint because he’s never had more than a single race in a top team (Andretti at the Indy 500 where he was excellent). That’s where the perception comes in.
We have no idea what Conor could become in a Penske/Ganassi/McLaren/Andretti on a full-time deal where he had a shot to develop all aspects of his talent and professional skills. But the situation is different for Malukas, and that’s why he’s viewed in a different manner.
Q: Someone has to bring absurdity to silly season, and I thought it may as well be me. What about the idea of showing Newgarden the door out of the transporter at Penske and re-signing Power?
Yes, Newgarden won two 500s in succession and is one of the faces of the series. But this is why I’m going ten-tenths on silly:
If he doesn’t roll off the truck well on Friday, he’s finishing 10th-15th in the race. I don’t know what his average best/worst finishing is for the past three seasons, but I’m guessing it’s the poorest on the team.
He avoids the press when it’s not going well. He is the opposite of Rahal, who has faced the music for years now.
The press conference after the St. Petersburg cheating incident was an embarrassment, and had to be contrary to all counsel. It was a low-percentage move even if it went well, which it didn’t.
Finally, take a page from the pro wrestling playbook now that IndyCar has gone network. Fire a star that’s in all your ads and watch eyeballs line up to see who gets hit with the folding chair. IndyCar officiating is looking the other way these days anyway.
Any takers?
Craig Walquist
MP: All we need is Paul Heyman to sign on as Josef’s manager and let the nut shots begin.
Newgarden doesn’t have to worry about silly season anytime soon. James Black/IMS
Q: Kelly wrote last week that Iowa’s place on the Cup schedule looks questionable. Are its Xfinity and Truck races on the chopping block too? I guess sellouts aren’t enough to sustain a race, so what is?
Marshall, does this make it more or less likely that IndyCar returns?
Kyle
MP: Penske did a track rental at Iowa to put on this year’s race and it was a failure when compared to all that Hy-Vee brought to the event through 2024. Hard to make a business argument for spending more money to do it again unless it’s radically different from the scorching daytime afternoon slot.
KELLY CRANDALL: I fully expect Iowa Speedway to remain on the Cup schedule. However, there had been rumors there were questions about its future with NASCAR. The fan base in the area has done a tremendous job of turning out for NASCAR races.
Q: Will we ever see Katherine Legge either in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona or the Daytona 500?
Chris Fiegler, Latham, NY
KC: Legge is not currently approved to run superspeedway races in the Cup Series, but she can in the other series. Plus, if she continues her partnership with Live Fast Motorsports, we typically see B.J. McLeod run those races in his car. He enjoys those events and always feels like he can be competitive in them.
THE FINAL WORD
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, August 22, 2018
Q: George Bignotti and Jim McGee were the two greatest crew chiefs we have seen. In your opinion, who was the better of the two? I never heard why Bignotti retired – was it because Tom Sneva drove him so nuts that enough was enough, because like Gordon Johncock said, 10 people can get into an elevator, nine would push up and Tom Sneva would push down. Speaking of Johncock, was there ever a driver who was more uncomfortable being in the spotlight then he was?
Ryan McKeever
ROBIN MILLER: My definition of a true crew chief is Clint Brawner, A.J. Watson, Bill Finley, Grant King, Jud Phillips and Bignotti – guys that could do it all from welding to building engines to fabricating to fixing a crashed car. McGee was a decent mechanic but more of an organizer, and really the first team manager who was successful by putting the right people together. George won Indy seven times and was a great thinker but tangled with AJ Foyt, who could also be classified as a pretty fair mechanic, but they respected each other. Sneva drove everybody crazy but that’s his nature, and he was The Gas Man so you knew you were going to the front. Gordy just drove as hard as any man before him or since, and didn’t care about anything else… well, except the ladies, but that cost him all his Indy winnings. Now he’s a got a great lady (Sue) and is working 70 hours a week and making real money, so that’s so cool. But he doesn’t have one photo of his IndyCar days on the wall of his shop.
