Q: I’m indifferent to Penske’s simultaneous ownership of and participation in IndyCar, but reading Mailbag letters each week and the comments sections on IndyCar articles bemoaning and exaggerating the conflict of interest have gotten really old. There’s no cure for this mania, but let me suggest a new prescription to perhaps calm the symptoms:
What if Team Penske cars were ineligible to receive Leaders Circle payouts and any prize money (maybe the Indy 500 as an exception)? If you own the series, you don’t get to double-dip into the piggy bank. This won’t quell the fears of conspiracy with officiating or undo the blood oaths people have sworn against the contemporary axis powers Newgarden-Cindric-Penske, but it would be a real consequence that would hit right where it hurts an IndyCar team owner the most.
And an unrelated question: Why don’t they just make the 500 a non-championship event? It’s not like this would have any impact on the race’s reputation and standing. It already is the series’ de facto all-star event, and if a series regular fails to make the field, there’s no negative impact to their championship hopes. Or do you see decoupling the 500 from the championship equation as something that would remove incentive for full-calendar participation, or even totally sink the status and perception of the championship? But that’s one way to get to the new magic number 22…
Pete, Rochester, NY
MP: Convincing one of the great businessmen of the last 100 years to not allow his team to earn prize money and contracts — even if it’s his money — would be a wild conversation to hold. I’m not a conspiracy guy, and yes, it gets tiring. I also don’t love the conflicts, real or assumed. It’s just an uncomfortable situation, and whether it’s financial or officiating, I just don’t know how to quell the situation.
The Indy 500 without points would be like turning the Super Bowl into a flag football game. The last thing I want is for The Thermal Club’s non-points whatever-the-hell-that-was in March to be equal with the Indy 500.
Q: Dixon mentioned prior to WWTR, and Hinch and Rossi have joked in their podcast, about IndyCar no longer having a drivers association or union as it was dissolved, presumably by the series. What can you share about this development, and what’s the opinion amongst the garage?
Why was it dissolved? What was the role of the association/union prior to its dissolution?
Disappointing to hear, but as I haven’t heard much about the drivers association/union prior to the aforementioned comments by Dixon/Hinch/Rossi, my assumption is that the impact may be minimal?
Bill, Seattle, WA
MP: The series was never involved, nor did it have any authority over the various drivers associations that have been formed across the eras. The general premise has been to assemble and use the collective strength of the participating drivers to channel their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions through a formal channel. Could have been via email. Could have been through the appointing of a senior driver to do the outreach. It has been an informal thing, and the only item to add is since Penske Entertainment bought the series, Penske was not good with any of his drivers being part of an association.
Q: What does the future look like for Dale Coyne Racing? They’ve long been my favorite IndyCar team, but they’re not in a great position at the moment. Sponsorship is thin, neither car is likely to make the Leaders Circle, and while I’ve personally enjoyed seeing unfancied drivers get opportunities (something Dale’s been so good at over the years), the rotating cast is far from ideal — and may not even be possible from next year if Penske Entertainment get their way, which could leave a budget shortfall. Is the team sustainable in its current form? Are there any partnerships or changes on the horizon? Could Dale even cash his chips once the charters have made his team more valuable?
Also, as a UK-based IndyCar fan, I am desperately hoping the races will still be on Sky Sports F1 in the FOX era. Is anything known about this yet?
Lastly, I am sad that we’ve lost Leigh Diffey from the coverage, and disappointed that he won’t at least do one last race (the finale would’ve been perfect). He’s a brilliant commentator who has added much to my enjoyment of the series.
Rob MacDonald, Chippenham, UK
MP: Dale will be fine. There’s an abundance of drivers with budgets looking to race in IndyCar, and he has two good seats to offer. The last thing Penske needs is a pissed-off Coyne. No clue on FOX’s international plans; they’ve announced nothing about… anything. Leigh is a huge loss.
Q: Regarding IndyCar starts and restarts, why not have cars start when the starter sees a clean line up and waves the green flag, and only when the green flag is waved? I still don’t understand why they can’t have standing starts on road or street circuits, especially at Long Beach
Steve Shepherd
MP: First part makes sense to me, and is how 99 percent of all circuit-based motor races are started.
Q: What have you heard about Lundqvist, Rasmussen, and McElrea’s status for 2025? All three are young drivers with great potential, and I think they play an important role as representatives of the RTI ladder, so I hope they are full time next season on the grid. Linus in particular has been amazing and it would be simply criminal if he’s absent in 2025.
Owen, Omaha NE
MP: Linus hopes to get picked up and has a few more races to showcase his skills. Rasmussen told me at Portland that ECR wants to keep him, which I hope comes to fruition. If Hunter can raise more money, he should be a candidate at Coyne.
Q: With the new charter situation, I am concerned about Mid-Ohio because pit space is limited. This limitation may have resulted in IMSA not racing there. Could this limitation cause Mid-Ohio to leave the series?
Ryan, Cleveland, OH
MP: No. It’s one of IndyCar’s most popular events and one of its bigger audiences. The series fits 27 cars there, and could do 28 if it had to.