Q: I’m responding to Jerry from Houston in last week’s Mailbag. Living about 90 minutes from the track, trust me, I’d love IndyCar return to The Glen! However, Watkins Glen would not be viable in early April as it’s just too risky weatherwise. It was still snowing up here until a couple weeks ago. The cold in this part of the country can linger into May at times — way too cold for IndyCar. Maybe we can crowdfund a dome?
Rob, Rochester, NY
MP: The WGI Biodome would be insane.
Q: Jerry from Houston suggested multiple places for IndyCar to hold a race in between St. Pete and Long Beach. The first race listed was Watkins Glen, which is a suggestion I found rather amusing. Watkins Glen in late March or early April could have great weather with 60 degrees and sunshine, or it could be the opposite with snow/ice/freezing rain. With average daytime high temperatures in the mid to upper 50s, the crowd turnout would be poor at best with most people opting to watch from home. Not to mention the challenge of Firestone making a tire that works at 30 degrees and 70 degrees. Yeah, not going to happen. I look at his other suggestions and they have all been covered by you well enough that I could probably recite the words you used.
Also, who hates on the Firehawk? Firehawk is a great brand ambassador and kids and adults alike love him. Hating on Firehawk is unAmerican and the equivalent of putting mayonnaise and green olives on chocolate chip cookies.
John
MP: I will vomit the next time I see a chocolate chip cookie.
Also, true to form, I was walking back from pit lane after the Saturday morning practice session down the main funnel that leads to the paddock and saw a father and his young son — he was maybe five or six — standing about 30 feet away. The kid started to go wild while pointing behind me. Then he started yelling, “It’s Firehawk, it’s Firehawk!” while looking up at his dad and trying to get Firehawk’s attention. Firehawk walked over and interacted with him and made his life. Everything Firestone hopes to achieve with Firehawk was encapsulated in that one exchange.
Q: I watched qualifying for Long Beach. NBC said numerous times that this is the second-biggest race after the Indy 500. So why is the race on USA, not NBC? Doesn’t make much sense.
Gary B
MP: I know. It also wasn’t readily available in Canada. Last year’s race on NBC delivered 1,026,000 viewers. This year’s on USA Network? Try 307,000, or minus 719,000 from 2023.
Q: In response to Gary Fowler’s question about Kyle Larson’s comments. I’m pretty sure Kyle was referring to NASCAR’s SMT data. My understanding is that it allows teams and drivers to see every other driver’s data. Not just drivers from the same team but all drivers in the field. That is something that isn’t available in IndyCar, where drivers only get access to their own team’s (and technical partners) driver data.
Maybe it’s something that can be discussed between MP and Kelly Crandall to compare/contrast what data drivers do and don’t have access to between the two series?
Joe, Minneapolis
MP: Thanks, Joe. As I wrote last week, IndyCar teams can see select channels from all cars, and live, so no, it is incorrect to say such a thing isn’t available in IndyCar.
Sounds like a great post-season story to assemble.
Q: Seeing Alex Zanardi’s name mentioned in the Mailbag makes me wonder about his status. I’ve said prayers for the man for many years. There hasn’t been any substantive reporting on his condition for a few years. Have you heard anything on how he is doing, and if some recovery is expected or even possible from his handbike crash? What an inspiration his life has been.
Bob P., Downers Grove, IL
MP: I have not, and to be honest, I don’t want to pry. His wife Daniella has been handling the sharing of info, and she hasn’t posted anything for a good while.
Q: I’m curious. What with Little Dave missing Long Beach and maybe he’s ready for Barber, what is in the contracts with drivers with regard to participating in activities that might be hazardous and keep them from honoring their contracts to drive the car? We see what mountain biking can do. They might break a leg skiing. If a parachute doesn’t open… well in that case, coming back won’t happen and the seat goes to someone else. Can you enlighten us on any contract restrictions for drivers, or are they free to do whatever on their own time and live with the consequences?
Jeff, Colorado
MP: He won’t be ready for Barber. I have concerns he won’t be in a car before June. There have been plenty of stipulations over the years that prohibit drivers from riding motorcycles and all kinds of other fun vehicles and adventurous things that could result in injuries. And others do not. You tend to get three dynamics: The younger and powerless drivers who are paid to drive who agree to whatever the team wants. Then there’s the highly-paid veteran who is treated like precious cargo that has a contract that surrounds them in virtual bubble wrap to keep the team from losing money on its big investment. And then you have the highly-paid and highly-vocal veteran who tells their team that they can either delete the restrictions or delete their relationship.
Q: Regarding the discussion pertaining to the ability of Jim Clark as a racer in comparison to the entire field. You would have to be a racing idiot to question the ability of The Great Scot on track in comparison to other drivers. I remember someone asking Parnelli Jones about Jim Clark, and his answer was to go check out his corner speeds at IMS (which apparently J.C. Agajanian Racing had done).
My only complaint with Clark was his constant complaining and bellyaching about how much time he spent at Indianapolis during the month of May. In 1965 I told Mr. Clark that as far as I knew, he could show up to qualify, go back to Europe and return to Indy for May 30 and then leave again.
It is an absolute surprise I did not get fired for running my mouth to a customer, but I was sick up to here with it. As politely as possible, I informed him that as a general rule those who were on track every day available for practice had better results on May 30. It is also a fact that the better racers usually end up with the better race cars every race day of every year.
Glenn Timmis
MP: Great story, Glenn!
Q: I’m curious as to how much similarity exists in design and components between the 2.65 Cosworth Indy engine and the original DFV F1 engine from 1967?
The original was pretty remarkable considering it was drawn up largely by one man in his library at home without the use of computers on a comparatively small budget.
Mark Kidson
MP: All depends on the era and version of the Cosworth in question; there were many 2.65L turbo V8s made by Cosworth. If we’re talking about the original which Parnelli Jones developed, they were the exact DFVs Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing used in its F1 cars and repurposed for Indy car racing through turbocharging. Cosworth eventually got involved and branded them as DFXs.
Q: I was wondering the status of Simon Pagenaud? Will he ever race again? Or has he retired from competition?
J. Scott Chandler
MP: Simon has not retired. He’s controlling the messaging on his status and hasn’t provided one in a few months.