Q: Thanks so much for bring these helmet videos to our attention. As a long-time IndyCar fan and prior participant in driving schools, I think they are awesome. This experience is as close as a non-driver can likely get to the real thing.
This technology is a golden opportunity for Roger Penske and IndyCar to attract new fans. It also thrills us old guys.
PS: Any chance that Mid-Ohio will be widened and repaved in the near future, as it is my home track? Its full-field IMSA race is going to Indy, and I am worried about the long -term ability for it to attract hig- end racing. The IndyCar race seems safe for now, given Honda’s sponsorship and huge corporate commitment in Ohio.
Jeff Leisring, Dayton, OH
MP: Thanks, Jeff. The track was recently repaved. No widening.
Q: I’m reading last week’s Mailbag where you explain how a driver can push a paddle that will charge the hybrid on ovals. But the example stated reads that said driver would need to increase throttle from 90% to 97% to counter the braking effect of the charger while maintaining speed whilst charging the battery. I’m a bit of a simpleton when it comes to math and engineering, but does this mean that a driver would need to use more dinosaur juice to charge the gas-saving hybrid than he would have used had they not been charging a hybrid?
Shawn, MD
MP: Yep.
Q: I am taking the news about the change in the Nashville race with mixed feelings. The first year IndyCar raced on the Titans stadium circuit I organized a mini family reunion around it. This was 10 tickets sold — two to hardcore fans (including me), two casual fans, and five who were familiar with the 500 but had little interest in the series, its drivers, and so forth.
We all had a blast and returned the following year. Granted, my son and I were the only ones who took in most of the on-track action from Friday to Sunday, but it did raise interest in the event, series, etc., for all of them. While the racing isn’t always great on street circuits compared to the ovals, the overall street festival atmosphere takes on a life of its own, similar to Long Beach.
I’m not sure what the family interest will be this year regarding the Nashville Speedway, but we’re all native to the St. Louis area and my whole clan noted the Nashville race was so much fun compared to the race at Gateway. I know the purists miss the action at places like Milwaukee and Phoenix, but the street circuits do bring in new fans to replace those of us who are getting long in the tooth. I suspect the change in Nashville was a choice of moving or canceling and to that end, Penske’s people chose the best option. I hope it is successful and allows for multi-groove action.
On a lighter note, I caught a drift from a comment last week noting that I omitted referencing you in my new novel, “The Race Girl.” This was an absolute oversight, the same as my leaving Alex Rossi out. As you seem to be our flag bearer since Robin Miller passed, I catch each and every one of your articles. I’m sure you lost no sleep over it. Keep up the great work!
James Herbert Harrison, Overland Park, KS
MP: There’s been a fairly consistent drum beat from traditionalists who love ovals and hate streets who are really pleased about this change in Nashville, and I can’t argue against the notion that having another oval — and one to finish the season — could be a great development for IndyCar.
I also appreciate your acknowledgement of the loss that comes with moving away from a street race where the odds are much greater to make new fans. It leaves us with the time-honored conundrum of appeasing IndyCar’s base while doing little to expand that base. I’m excited to see what the Nashville Speedway event looks like when we get there, but I’ll be disappointed if it’s largely made up of pre-existing fans.
However they do it, the series and the promoter needs to stoke interest among those who might have been inclined to check out their first IndyCar race when it was happening downtown and get them out to the speedway.
I wasn’t kidding about the book; mentioning my monkey ass wasn’t going to sell an extra copy, so intentional or not, it was a wise decision!
Q: Maybe it’s the Wisconsin beer talking but I have a crazy theory on why Nashville’s race was moved to the speedway.
Maybe all of this was planned out by Borchetta, IndyCar, Nashville, and Nashville Speedway. Maybe Nashville and IndyCar knew that the street course was doomed but at the same time Borchetta wanted to continue a race in Nashville. Suddenly we have Iowa hosting huge concerts on the same weekend as IndyCar races, and even with the higher prices, it worked! The people showed up and filled the oval and this was in the middle of nowhere Iowa!
Maybe Borchetta saw this and an idea came into his head. He has an oval not so faraway from Nashville, he owns Big Machine Music which has many famous artists, and he is also connected to IndyCar. Maybe Borchetta bought out the rest of the investors and fired the people so that he could take the power for himself to do whatever he wanted? Maybe he went up to Nashville, Nashville Speedway, and IndyCar and shared his idea of holding a larger than life concert at Nashville Speedway as part of IndyCar’s season finale?
This way Borchetta would have his race, Nashville would still gain finances due to the people going to the race, Penske would gain an oval, and the Speedway would have another huge event. Maybe they all agreed to disguising it as an alternative to the growing issues with the Nashville GP.
Penske would be happy since another oval would be added to the schedule, evening things out a little mor,e plus with a huge concert sponsored by Big Machine Music and being just 40 minutes from Nashville — the hype and turnout could be huge!
What do you think? Is this crazy or stupid? Both?
Ukyo Tachibana
MP: I want some of what you’re drinking, brother! The Music City GP was in trouble for a good while and it took Borchetta’s care and benevolence to save it. As much as I’d love to say this was all part of a master plan, nothing I’ve heard over the last month or so has suggested that’s the case.