Q: To follow up on the letter inquiring about an IndyCar race in Montreal, the rumor around here is that there are strong efforts to attract a NASCAR Cup race, probably in the calendar slot that the defunct Xfinity race occupied. I haven’t heard or read anything of substance about an IndyCar race. Maybe our local promoters feel like one open-wheel race a year is enough.
Also, you have to remember that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a public park and when there’s a race, the park is closed for at least three weeks to set up and then remove the installations. On top of that, the island right next to the island where the track is located is used very often during summer for outdoor concert festivals. Taking all of that into account, I think that two races a year is pretty much the limit the city would accept, and the priority is clearly to attract NASCAR.
Michel Forest, Montreal
MP: Thanks for the intel, Michel!
Q: It’s been a while since IndyCar has been in or even near New England, and there’s definitely a growing desire to see them somewhere up here. I know of NHMS and Watkins Glen, but is there anywhere else they could run?
Dave Camire
MP: Not that I can think where the track would suit the cars (Lime Rock would be amazing, but it’s not meant for IndyCar) or the last visit was a success that warrants a return (that takes Pocono out of contention), and those two options involve Connecticut and Pennsylvania, not NE.
Q: So assuming St. Pete is March 1-3 next year and you need a warm weather venue to fill the gap to Texas, it makes logistical sense to stay in Florida. The crowd is already here with snowbirds, vacationers and spring breakers. Here are the options. Steer clear of the Sebring weekend so IndyCar drivers can play there if invited.
1. Back to Homestead, and it’s an oval.
2. The Miami F1 track. You won’t get an F1 crowd, but for sure a St. Pete crowd.
3. The Daytona road course, like the 24-hour race. Imagine setting an IndyCar up to do the high banks and road course in one race! Work it in with Bike Week.
4. Sebring. No, too bumpy. Too bad, because if the track was smooth and the event worked into the Sebring 12 Hours weekend it would guarantee 150,000 spectators. Any thoughts?
Jeff, Colorado
MP: Homestead was on the series’ radar for a return a few years ago — for Spring Training as a feeling-out event — and I’d welcome going back. I have a standing rule about IndyCar not racing at places that make it look weak and unloved, and going to Miami on the F1 circuit is a perfect way to show the world you’re 5000 levels below F1. Not a chance. NASCAR ain’t welcoming IndyCar to race on its road course (I know… weird… IndyCar/IMS welcomes NASCAR to race on its road course). Sebring would be a dud since the short course would be the only part of the track that could be used.
I think your Homestead idea is the winner among the four.
Q: Despite having been a fan since 2011, this is my first season purposefully watching every single race of Indy NXT. I’ve been very impressed with Nolan Siegel. He makes high-percentage moves, drives steadily and well beyond his years, and could well have four wins already this year. In what is otherwise a super- competitive year he’s now in position to run away with the title. As a fellow Bay Area native, I’d love to see him succeed.
My question is, since I don’t have that great of a read on the NXT field (partly as in who needs a bunch of funding and who will likely have it)? What are his, and the others in the field’s, prospects for IndyCar next year? Coyne? Rahal? Juncos?
I believe you mentioned Danial Frost will likely move up. Seems like there could be a lot of guys doing so this year.
Josh
MP: There are more solid Indy NXT kids with heavy funding who are capable of buying IndyCar rides in the next year or two than I can ever recall. Siegel looks like he’s nine years old but performs like he’s 30. And like we’ve recently seen, there are fewer available IndyCar seats than we’d hope, so the bevy of kids who can pay to race in IndyCar won’t necessarily be matched with a bunch of options to choose from. On the flipside, I’ve yet to hear an IndyCar team owner rave about any of this year’s front-runners, and we already have the sad situation where 2022’s ass-kicking title winner Linus Lundqvist has not been picked up by any team.
Christian Rasmussen has been strong all year but he isn’t loaded with funding, so he’d need to win the title and hope to take the still-unimpressive advancement prize and see if and what it might get him. Louis Foster is another one to watch, and if he can burst the bubble of bad luck that’s surrounded him, he could make IndyCar team owners stand up and pay attention. So, Nolan, Christian and Louis are the immediate standouts, along with Hunter McElrea, and one of them needs to break out over the next 2.5 months to get those owners to view them as a talent that must be signed. Minus that breakout star, it will be a case of who brings the biggest budget to the one or two seats that can be bought.
I expect Coyne to have both seats available. Rahal’s looking for a turnkey driver, not a rookie who will waste a year or two learning, and Juncos will either have no seats or be searching for a veteran to replace Ilott, if he ends up at a bigger team.
Q: Have you ever raced the go-karts at Road America? If so, what’s your fastest lap time? Would you be interested in doing a charity race next year?
Tim S., Nashville, TN
MP: I have not. My last time karting was in 2000 at a track near Sacramento and it was a blast. If they have Sumo karts and it supports something good, I’ll be there.