Q: If you attended any of the F1 races at Indianapolis in the early 2000s, what’s the first thing you remember? I bet it’s the unholy howl of the engines screeching down the front stretch. Even 20 years later, we remember sounds.
IndyCar needs a spec engine that sounds good. F1 cars have no character these days, so this could be a positive differentiating factor from F1. Perhaps an update of the Cosworth XFE? Hell, even a Judd V10 sounds better than the current engine. Just anything that would make a casual fan or someone walking by the track hear it and think, “what the hell is that?”
Ben, Buffalo Grove, IL
MP: No Indy F1 visits for me; my last F1 race was Canada in 1999, I think, where I was engineering between IndyCar weekends in the Atlantic Championship. Agreed on sounds; ours is one of the few sports where the sounds created by the tool we use to compete with can make lasting memories — good, bad, or indifferent. If IndyCar abandoned its manufacturer-led engine formula, there’s all kinds of motors that could be considered that sing and make people smile.
Q: Do you know anything about the IndyCar Live app subscription for 2024? I don’t live in U.S. and in my country there’s no TV coverage. I was left to find illegal streams to watch the races.
2023 was the first year in ages that I could watch IndyCar via the Live feature (for my country, races were also broadcast — same feed from Peacock, and all activities stay in the platform for replay). And I paid 30 dollars for the full season! I would love to not have a TV deal but keep the streaming.
The lack of an early bid offer to renew subscription and all this talk about the series wanting more money from broadcast deals seems to suggest that this wonderful deal might not be back to 2024.
Please let IndyCar officials know that there are also die-hard fans outside U.S. in countries that are small enough to not bother with the TV package discussion, and that are young enough to prefer streaming than TV. Actually, we don’t even have a TV.
Lucas Fromit
MP: IndyCar was kind enough to provide the following info in response to your question:
We appreciate the positive feedback. IndyCar has been very happy with the growing number of subscribers to IndyCar Live and its positive reception across the world. We are looking at ways to make the offerings even better for next year and will begin offering 2024 subscription packages shortly after the new year.
Q: It is not easy, finding the next U.S. talent. Thirteen years ago, Josef Newgarden jumped back into the U.S. scene after a miserable season in the GP3 Series. He would later win the Indy Lights, now called the Indy NXT series, in 2011 before becoming a contender with Penske. Two titles later, he won finally an Indy 500.
As of looking for a successor, it is a hard task. There is Nolan Siegel, Jacob Abel and Louis Foster returning, with Myles Rowe making his Indy NXT debut in 2024. As far as dark horses go, there is Bryce Aron, who was picked up by Andretti Global. Bryce’s Euro Formula Open season was way too easy due to small number of entries. Kaylen Frederick, on the other hand, was not the same after his poor three seasons in the FIA F3 series after winning the 2020 GB3 Championship. During the Chris Griffiths memorial post-season test, both Bryce and Kaylen performed well. But Kaylen is yet to have something for 2024.
Is there a possibility that Bryce or Kaylen could become the Next Newgarden?
JLS, Chicago, IL
MP: Possible? Yes. Likely? No, not until either one shows us they are capable. Both strike me as drivers who will need at least two seasons in NXT to give a proper account of their talent and potential. But before them, we have Rowe and Siegel, as you mentioned, who are further along on the USF Championships/Indy NXT ladder, so that’s where my eyes are focused, and behind them, Michael d’Orlando, Nikita Johnson, Simon Sikes, Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Jace Denmark, Bijoy Garg, Jack William Miller, Reece Gold, Jagger Jones, and those you mentioned are all capable of becoming our next American stars.
Q: Is there anything to the rumors that if Andretti Cadillac makes it onto the F1 grid, GM/Chevy would re-evaluate its participation in IndyCar?
Debbie Li
MP: We asked GM shortly after the original announcement was made and were told that joining F1 would not come at the expense of competing in IndyCar. That was about a year ago, I believe. Based on the flurry of non-answer answers I got from GM while asking about its thoughts and future plans related to IndyCar about a month ago, I can understand why this rumor is alive and healthy.
Q: How flipping hard is it to copy F1’s success? It’s not the cars, they aren’t interesting. They are so big now that they look slow in person and sound like crap. Plain and simple, F1 is popular simply because of “Drive To Survive.” I’ve been at COTA for F1 when nobody was there, and when it’s been wall to wall with people. DTS saved them from having to sell the track.
“100 Days To Indy” was somewhat an answer, but not really. Who thought it was a good idea to stop at Indy? Just stupid. All of the juicy stuff that happens in the season happens after Indy! Does F1 stop after Monaco? No! Rename the show and make it go all year. Unless the only race we want people to watch is Indy? Also, let’s get it on one of the big streamers; Netflix or Prime. People are just overwhelmed with having so many streaming services, so just make it easy on the consumer.
Speaking of one of the large streaming platforms, I’m all for one of the large ones having TV rights if they are willing to pay and give a DTS-like show. I can then watch the racing live from my phone anywhere, which is my preference with Peacock. I’m almost 50 and I’m not going to camp out on my couch all day to watch a race. I want to watch it on the go or catch the highlights. But I never miss a race and rarely miss qualifying.
I’m probably in the minority but I love the format of the Iowa weekend. I’m finally going to get to go this year because my wife and daughters will go to watch the concerts. I’m also a fan of the race at the Thermal Club. Highlighting IndyCars in a high-end facility isn’t a bad thing. Yes, the tickets aren’t for the average guy, but let’s play it up and have it look like a grid-walk at F1. IndyCar needs to be on a pedestal.
Justin
MP: IndyCar needs a million more fans like you, Justin. Thanks for being all-in.
Q: It is clear a third manufacturer has no interest in a hybrid IndyCar motor. They haven’t since this was announced years ago. One of the two existing manufacturers no longer wants to compete due to their disinterest in the formula and lack of return on investment. It would seem it’s time for IndyCar to shift to a new formula altogether.
Formula E is clearly a huge draw for automakers. And while those seem like golf carts compared to IndyCar, it would seem the logical step to make those batteries even more powerful and take them racing in the big leagues rather than around lousy city circuits.
My preferred option would be a hydrogen or another alternative fuel. I understand that the motors used in IMSA would not fit in modern IndyCars, but clearly that formula is much more enticing to manufacturers as well. Would switching to a non-spec formula and letting teams build to a spec Dallara work? Or, say, a Dallara, Panoz, or Swift chassis? Clearly the costs associated with this switch would lower the car count for some time, but increased manufacturer participation seems key to the survival of IndyCar. What are your thoughts on increasing manufacturer participation?
Kaleb
MP: IndyCar would be headed towards more powerful electric punches or hydrogen or other options if that’s what it was told a bunch of manufacturers wanted, but that hasn’t been the case so far. Part of the issue is there’s no magic single decision that will drive manufacturers to the series. As an aside, Panoz no longer exists as a chassis supplier, and it’s been a few years since Swift was in the game.