Q: The wolves are at the doors of IndyCar. F1 calls itself “The Greatest Spectacle in Motorsports” and Penske Entertainment has to take them to court to straighten them out. Now NASCAR and F1 both want to poach the Long Beach Grand Prix from IndyCar.
IndyCar opens its doors to NASCAR, and has given it top billing at IMS on the NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader weekend. IndyCar cooperates with IMSA (owned by NASCAR) to give it a chance to race on the streets at both the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Detroit Grand Prix IndyCar is welcoming Kyle Larson to the crown jewel of IndyCar, the Indy 500, just as it has welcomed a litany of F1 drivers.
In return? NASCAR denies IndyCar an opportunity to race at Richmond Raceway. Texas Speedway accommodated NASCAR in April 2024 and left IndyCar high and dry in 2024 (because of NBC’s scheduling around the 2024 Olympic Summer Games). Now NASCAR is coming for IndyCar street races? At this point I have to wonder if NASCAR is actively courting Honda away from IndyCar? Please remind me why IndyCar plays nice with NASCAR, because NASCAR sure doesn’t deserve it.
In times like these I’m very grateful that Mr. Penske is at the helm of IndyCar, because the wolves are at the door. Fortunately, Mr. Penske has the integrity, the reputation and the resources to fend off these attacks.
At the end of it all, I remind myself which team has won the last two NASCAR Cup championships and smile ;>)
Kevin P., Los Angeles, CA
MP: IndyCar plays nicely with NASCAR because NASCAR is a much bigger and more powerful organization.
Q: I’m excited about the announcement that Gerry Forsythe bought the late Kevin Kalkhoven’s half of the Long Beach Grand Prix. However, from what I understand, Forsythe is a couple of years older than Kalkhoven. So who will keep the Grand Prix an IndyCar event when he and Roger Penske aren’t around?
Aeren Maxfield, Westminster, CA
MP: Great question without an immediate answer. Given Gerry’s very clear interests in keeping the LBGP as an IndyCar race, I’d put money on that being a stipulation if it were to be sold. Said another way, I can’t see why he’d go through all the effort to then let the event be sold through his estate, if he were to sell it instead of appointing a family member or an executive from his companies, and allow it to be pawned off to an entity that would change it into something other than an IndyCar race. Also, Forsythe’s successful enough to not need to sell the race or let it be sold in his absence.
Q: I found it very amusing when you answered the power steering comment with “I’ve yet to hear anyone in IndyCar say they like to be all the other series.” Let’s see, perhaps we should go back to roadsters with four-cylinder Offys, rear-engined cars, four-cam Fords, Cosworths (under anyone’s name), multi-adjustable shocks (Penske shocks inspired by Fox off-road design), carbon brakes, sequential shifting, Halo, yada, yada yada, etc.
At 72 years old, I grew up absolutely fascinated with the early ’60s roadsters. I have loved every subsequent engineering advancement and the incredible speed increases, not just at Indy. The old greats in roadsters were not any more brave or tough than the current pilots of the unloved Dallaras. 240 mph on the straights at Indy — sheesh.
You may not have heard the verbal statement of wanting power steering but comments about wrists hurting and hands blistering on TV at various venues throughout the years speaks volumes to me.
Perhaps Ferrucci and “Little Dave” Malukas would be more competitive on road courses? It sure worked for Danica Patrick at Mid-Ohio in 2007 — she qualified second and finished fifth when she had experimental power steering. Far better than any of her other non-power steering road course results. And both Ferrucci and Little Dave were more successful in the lower levels of motorsports on road circuits.
I think power steering is less a matter of drivers not wanting it than engineering the installation and money.
Diana
MP: All interesting points. I have heard from many drivers, and on many occasions over the DW12’s era, that they do not want power steering. The framing has usually been around using the lack of power steering as an area where a fit and strong driver can eke out an advantage over a less-fit and/or weaker driver, and most IndyCar drivers are not Takuma- or Danica-sized.
But that doesn’t mean all drivers are of that opinion of not wanting power steering. You’re right; the DW12 was never designed to have power steering, and the costs to try and retrofit the car would be prohibitive. If it’s going to happen, the best chance is with the next new car.
Q: After the Barber test and the $1 Million Challenge, what did Arrow McLaren think about Callum Ilott? I really hope he gets a chance somewhere in IndyCar after what Juncos did to him last season.
Paul, Indianapolis, IN
MP: Only things I heard were positive. Well-liked within the team. Strong chassis feedback. Played well within the team dynamic — he ceded positions to Rossi and O’Ward without being unnecessarily combative. I’ve heard Prema Racing is also among those who are interested in Ilott, so his odds of getting back to full-time IndyCar seem to be improving for 2025.
Q: Sebastian Vettel recently tested a Porsche Hypercar for Penske. He’s said he would love to race at Road America. Any chance of a one-off race there for him?
dysign
MP: Always a chance. Just a matter of who pays for it. Penske wouldn’t park a factory driver to do it, so you’d be looking at a customer team like Proton or JDC.
Q: Who is considered the worst driver in IndyCar history?
Kurt Perleberg
MP: Since the 1990s, three drivers tend to get nominated for this award: Hiro Matsushita, Dr. Jack Miller and Milka Duno.
Q: Is there any chance of Texas making a return to the IndyCar calendar, or does it depend on what NASCAR ultimately decides to do with its date? I’m sure the track isn’t in a huge hurry to figure something out with IndyCar based off the dwindling attendance over the years.
Joe
MP: Last time I asked, IndyCar was hopeful for a return but it wasn’t an active item being worked on, and plenty of folks in the paddock would be happy if we went back and had an oval before Indy. I do think the chances of an IndyCar return are based on what NASCAR chooses, so stay tuned, but at this moment, I’m not overly encouraged about TMS returning to the schedule.
Q: I may have missed this, but do any IndyCar team owners have homes at Thermal Club?
If so, I’m wondering if they helped move things along to have the $1 Million Challenge take place there. For what it’s worth, I liked the event. Didn’t love it, but surely enjoyed it! It needs some tweaks, but no first event is perfect. Having the event at Thermal, and seeing IndyCars on track, is certainly better than not having a race, and it helped break up the ridiculous six-week break a bit. I don’t understand all of the complaining. Now, less than two weeks until Long Beach, and less than eight weeks until the Indy 500!
Scott Freeman, Bloomington, IN
MP: Not that I know of. Don Cusick is a co-entrant with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, but does not own an IndyCar or have his own team, so far. He invests money and/or brings sponsors to an existing team.