Q: Hi! I’m 14 and I fell madly in love with IndyCar and racing in general at the 2023 Indy 500. I understand the journey to becoming an IndyCar driver is extremely challenging, especially since I don’t have a recently deceased ka-billionaire great uncle, I’m not about four years old, and I’m not all that great at karting (yet). However, I really, really, really want to actually be one. Could you provide some insights into the typical development ladder, from karting to junior series to eventually competing in the NTT IndyCar series?
I have done some research, so I know the basics and order. but I’d like to know from someone more involved in the scene about key steps, challenges, opportunities, and so on. Also, what drivers would you say have had the most unconventional path to IndyCar? Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
A girl who likes IndyCar 🙂
MP: Great to hear on all fronts! You’re on the right path with karting, and from there, the most popular routes to car racing of late has been in either the Skip Barber Racing School and its entry-level open-wheel cars, or the newish USF Juniors series created by Andersen Promotions, which also runs USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000.
I asked 2019 Indy NXT champion, former Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver, and karting phenom Oliver Askew to provide some insights on your shared world of karting.
“Hello. Great question, and there is no right answer, unfortunately. But, it sounds like you have the right attitude, which is passion, drive, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to make your dreams a reality, hold on to that no matter where this sport takes you.
“The most important piece of advice that I can give anyone who is trying to make the step into professional car racing is, network until you’re annoying, and then keep networking. Take advantage of every opportunity that you create. I also think that as racing gets more popular, the harder it will be to break away from the crowd. Create a unique brand and market yourself in a positive light.
“The steps that today’s drivers take to make their way up the ladder is well documented, and you’ll find that there are many options to make your start. Unfortunately for many passionate racers, the amount of money it takes to make that start is discouraging, and it only gets more expensive. But like I said earlier, if there is a will, there is a way, and lucky for us, IndyCar has the greatest ladder system that offers opportunity other series do not.
“I was in a similar situation to you trying to make the step from karts to cars, I did not have any money, just some talent and a good book of contacts. I left myself no other option but to make that step happen.
“Focus on that North Star and use this community to create opportunities for yourself. Good luck.”
The wildest example I can think of is SoCal karting phenom George Mack who went from karts straight to IndyCar — the Indy Racing League as it was known, which only raced on ovals — in 2002. Mack was slightly older, which was a benefit, so he had the racing experience and maturity to handle the crazy leap and learn an entirely new kind of racing in big and brutally fast cars, and on ovals, which were the opposite of the road racing he’d done since he was a kid.
Q: I am going to try to provide something other than rage or negativity for you this week. The double helping of Mailbag last week was a pretty good summary of the public mood. I wonder what the Andretti/GM mood is? Michael has offered his response, but GM has been silent.
Given how much fun the Rolex was, and with Andretti and GM both entered into IMSA and WEC, I was wondering if it might not be a good idea to add a healthy bit of revenge to proceedings. Any chance of GM taking some of the proposed F1 money and instead cooking up a couple of extra Caddies for WEC/IMSA, perhaps with “Toto hates fun” on the fin and a TV campaign with the slogan “Banned in F1, available on racetracks and in showrooms near you”?
I realize this isn’t like the 1960s and modern GM is not going to respond to FOM like Ford did to Ferrari’s snub, but it would be great if it did take things personally and used that to give a bit more of a media nudge to the programs it is doing. Especially since a little bit more media attention to a pair of series that are booming with these new, great-looking cars that put on races F1 simply could never deliver could make quite a difference.
If the main thing that has given F1 this boom is horseshoe up an orifice levels of luck with a media product (DTS) then some serious effort with money and marketing talent could do wonders if GM took this rejection as the motivation to fight fire with a flamethrower.
Anyway, looking forward to all the non-F1 racing IMSA and WEC will give us this year. All we need is Ferrari to give Risi a 499P to put the cherry on top.
Duncan, Ottawa
MP: Thanks for believing the Mailbag doesn’t always need to be used like a free weekly therapy session to vent, Duncan.
I know Cadillac remains committed to Andretti, which is both admirable and phenomenal. FOM is acting like a social media influencer who believes the big spotlight they currently have will never change, and therefore feels comfortable treating people like Michael and Dan Towriss and Cadillac like s**t. I don’t know when it will happen, but there will come a time when FOM will see F1 on a decline and need an Andretti Global, and when that time comes, I’ll laugh.
Q: Isn’t it a bit strange to be only five weeks out on the IndyCar season opener at St. Pete and the time is still listed as TBD? I know TV controls all that, but it seems like this is usually settled much earlier before the year than this.
Forrester
MP: I figure we’re on the clock to have it revealed by the time you read this. And if not, I’m not sure what’s going on.