Q: I apologize if I missed this previously, but what will the IndyCar teams be doing with the weight difference between the first race and Indy? Will they add extra weight to the cars to match hauling a battery around, run with the new components and risk damaging them in a wreck, or will they be running without them and face a different balance setup after Indy?
ET
MP: Nothing to apologize for — the cars will run at the lighter weight until the series goes hybrid. Here’s a story we did on the topic a few weeks ago.
Q: I’m going to ask again why IndyCar can’t adopt the IMSA power unit? Yes it will be bulkier, heavier, etc. So what? It also solves a lot of problems with engine suppliers, etc. Throughout the history auto racing, (until spec car racing) racers have adopted parts from other series, trucks, aircraft, or whatever worked.
Joe, Twinsburg, OH
MP: Yep, before spec cars took over the landscape in IndyCar, you had a lot of options to chuck a V6, V8, or inline-4 in the back of an IndyCar. But as you know, IndyCar has been a spec series (or really close, with only two chassis options for the last 20 years, and only one since 2012), so that’s your answer. The DW12 chassis is tailored like a tight-fitting suit to the exact dimensions of the 2.2-liter turbo V6 formula that launched in 2012, and the rest of the car is snug and packaged to work — and only work — with that little 2.2L motor.
It’s not just a case of the car being bulkier or heavier being the issue. It’s in having to change everything around the big IMSA motors to make it fit and run — longer, wider, taller — and that’s going to cost a fortune. And once that’s done, you’ve taken a car that handles well and performs at a high level and turned it into a turd because every aspect of its performance will be damaged due to high center of gravity and the chassis balance being destroyed.
Think of taking an Olympic hurdler, duct taping a bowling ball to their stomach, and how much it would throw off their ability to sprint and leap and land and maintain their balance with a heavy bowling ball attached to their midriff. If you like chaos, it would be hilarious to watch, but would also be a competitive failure. We’re talking about the same here in IndyCar.
So, it’s a romantic idea — to just stuff a GTP engine in an IndyCar — and I wish it could work, but it won’t. The days of have easily-modifiable IndyCars where everything from jet engines to bus motors could be used with relative ease left us 40-50 years ago.
Q: Just read your article on “100 Days To Indy.” Let’s see if I got this right:
IndyCar fires its head marketer.
It reduces the shares of the Leaders Circle to improve marketing.
It creates a marketing job description but doesn’t fill it.
It decides to increase the Leaders Circle shares again by an unspecified amount.
It’s response to “Drive To Survive” only includes the first third of the season?
Would anyone have paid attention to F1 if DTS had stopped at Monaco?
It’s no surprise that IndyCar ignores just about everyone’s opinion outside of George Street that it should broaden the scope of “100 Days” to include the entire season.
Are you kidding me? One third of the entire season? They need to get their heads out of their a**es.
I realize there are costs involved, but if they really want to make a series that focuses on the 500, how about a second set of episodes tor the remaining races in the season like 2600 Miles To Nashville {total length of the remining races rounded) to get to the championship, which seems far more compelling to me than just a single race (regardless of the fame and history)?
I have always been a big fan of R.P., but this is beginning to feel a little like The Emperor’s New Clothes.
John, Madison
MP: If I worked for IndyCar, I’d be sending you a bunch of merchandise right now in exchange for using the 2600 Miles To Nashville idea, John. That’s brilliant. The Emperor’s mention is as well.
Q: Have you heard any more on the possibility of McLaren starting up an LMDh program? I had read at one time they were looking into it, but I haven’t read anything else on it since then.
Cory, PA
MP: A subject I need to get an update on, Cory, but overall, no, I’ve heard nothing to suggest a McLaren GTP project is imminent.