Q: I wanted to say what great news it is to hear Zak Brown is going to contribute to the marketing task force at IndyCar.
I was at Long Beach last week and McLaren-branded shirts, caps and other kit were by far the most common among spectators. I, myself, was sporting my AR7 shirt.
McLaren gear ruled the roost. The second most common kit I saw was anything F1-related. I really only saw a smattering of other IndyCar team gear in comparison. There is an obvious bump marketing-wise by having teams in IndyCar and F1 at the same time, too.
So with just a few years in IndyCar, Brown and his team have turned McLaren into the top-selling brand by my observation. I’m excited to see if he can bring some of that badly-needed magic to IndyCar itself.
Adam H, Simi Valley, CA
MP: Zak and I planned to meet up over in the HMSA Historic IndyCar paddock about an hour before the Sunday race at Long Beach. Tight window, but I was also going to make an introduction to a friend he wanted to meet, and do so away from the ever-present “Drive To Survive” mob that follows him. It never happened. We were within 5-10 feet of each other the whole time, but the 15 minutes we’d set aside was filled with non-stop photo requests and adoring folks who wanted to tell him something. We chatted for maybe 30 seconds as he left, but damn, even in a far-away corner of the paddock where I thought we’d have some peace, his presence — as a team boss, not even as a driver — was 15-deep within a minute, about 30-deep in two minutes, and just ridiculous after three.
I share that little tale to reinforce how powerful McLaren, its drivers and DTS have become as a brand. They’re so far out ahead, at least in IndyCar, that second place can’t be seen. Great for them, but sad for the rest.
Q: In last week’s Mailbag, Gary B wrote in asking why the Long Beach Grand Prix was shown on USA, instead of NBC. The answer is the LBGP was up against The Chevron Championship, an LPGA major. Viewership reportedly peaked at 1.9 million, significantly more than the LBGP ratings mentioned. Nelly Korda had won five in a row, and LPGA viewership has been trending up. She’s a star, and probably has more name recognition than any current IndyCar driver. It’s hard to believe that IndyCar and NBC don’t realize the importance of the LBGP to the series and viewership and schedule when it can be shown on network television.
Erik, Long Beach, CA
MP: Long Beach’s number last year was 1.1 million, so based on what the LPGA delivered, NBC made the right choice because we haven’t seen 1.9 million at any race other than the Indy 500 in forever.
Q: I recall being a wide-eyed 11-year-old standing on the Plant Field clay next to the Black Deuce Bardahl Special that Pete Folse had driven to victory in the IMCA sprint car feature. Car owner Hector Honore was also standing there. I did not recognize him, so I asked “Mr. Bardahl?”
“Talking to me, son?”
“Is this the kind of car they race at Indianapolis?”
“Same engine, son.”
If Indy adopted the aluminum 410 sprint car engine, the entry list for the 500 would be so large they could hold a consolation event for non-qualifiers on Carb Day.
Manufacturer participation would be welcome but not necessary because there are many shops that build this engine.
I know this will never happen, but if it did what would you think?
Tarnow and Frankie’s Dad in FL
MP: It wasn’t an aluminum sprint V8, but we did have cheap stock block V8s to buy and run in the IRL starting in 1997, and it helped with car counts because the price to participate was greatly reduced. The IRL also championed short track drivers — tried to push the all-American oval talent angle — and it did nothing to attract more fans. So, we’ve already been there, mostly, and done that, and nobody cared. Steve Kinser was there and Jack Hewitt and Donnie Beechler and Tyce Carlson and a bunch of other legends and badasses of sprints and midgets and modifieds and so on. Powered by deafening, bellowing V8s. And it didn’t move the needle. Can’t see why it would work now, unfortunately.
Q: Am I the only one confused by Zak Brown’s recent “quality over quantity” comments on desiring less cars on the IndyCar grid (which, remembering the skimpy fields of the split years, is a terrible idea by the way)? Isn’t McLaren actively pursuing a bigger facility and future expansion from three to four cars?
Nicholas
MP: In F1 parlance, if F1 was verging on 30 cars like IndyCar is facing in 2025, Zak sees value in more McLarens, Red Bulls, Ferraris, and Mercedes on the grid than Alpines, Williamses, and Haases. I don’t entirely disagree. At F1’s 20-car grid, you tend to know how each car/driver is doing in the races. At 27, today, and 29 next year, how many of the IndyCar backmarkers are you able to track during a race? I know I need to go seeking info after the race on a bunch of entries because there’s too many to accurately monitor. And how many of those cars get camera time? I’m not saying IndyCar needs to get to 20, but I can see where pushing 30 is loaded with diminishing returns for a lot of cars.
Q: Big Possum suggests Little Dave consult with Don and Mel Kenyon for a solution to his wrist/ hand problem. When Mel got his hand burned off in a roadster crash at Trenton back in the day, they made a glove it a hole in it and a post for the steering wheel so Mel could put the glove over the post and keep racing. Mel went on to win multiple USAC Midget championship and top five Indy 500 finishes with the glove and post.
A side note: When Big Possum’s son was racing Kenyon midgets we were strapping him in one night and Big Possum was on one side and Mel on the other, and we were having some sort of an issue getting it done. Mel got frustrated and said “you got to help me, I only have one hand.”
Big Possum
MP: First, thank you for staying committed to third-person. New challenge: Speak in fourth-person with the next submission.
Mel didn’t have 4600 pounds of downforce to wrangle without power steering, Big Possum. We don’t want Davey’s hand to snap off in the cockpit.