The RACER Mailbag, November 6

Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers can be sent to mailbag@racer.com. We love hearing your comments and opinions, but letters that include a question are more likely to be published. Questions received after 3pm ET …

Q: I have heard some rumors online that the promoters/owners of Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez are hoping for IndyCar to run the one-mile flat oval configuration. I’m also hearing that IndyCar leadership may be lukewarm towards this proposition. Is there any truth to these rumors? Anything you have heard?

I would think with the excellent show IndyCar put on at ovals last year (minus Iowa…), they would be interested in an opportunity to showcase what makes this series unique. It would also be an excellent opportunity for O’Ward to showcase the unique aspects of his skill set.

Kristopher, Seattle, WA

MP: No clue as to where the rumors come from, nor have I asked Penske Entertainment about circuit choice, but if IndyCar is going to race at the site of the Mexican Grand Prix, it needs to avoid using the same track layout because F1 cars are miles faster and it would only lead to derision.

Remember how badly IndyCar was clowned when it ran at COTA and was really slow? Whether it’s a shortened version of the road course or an oval, or a quick loop of the stadium, IndyCar needs to size its event to its popularity, and that means something smaller than we see with F1.

Q: Will this be the all-new Dallara IR-27 IndyCar Series chassis for 2027 and beyond?

Therius Oktavio

MP: No, it will not. But keep trying!

Q: It’s Mark Miles’ fault that fewer people die racing cars now compared to the 1960s.

It’s Mark Miles’ fault that insurers wouldn’t touch a racing series in the 21st century if it had the fatalities of the 20th.

It’s Mark Miles’ fault that Roger Penske didn’t spend all of his money to prop up IndyCar to the level that fans expected.

It’s Mark Miles’ fault that guayule is pronounced WHY-yule-ee.

It’s Mark Miles’ fault that Argentinian fans harassed drivers on social media.

Cleveland taking down the airport? Mark Miles.

Michael Andretti’s departure? Miles.

Alex Palou’s lawsuit with McLaren? Mark.

Me having one more beer than I need tonight? EFFIN’ MILES.

Tire wrecks employee’s car at IMS? Well, that was Doug Boles.

Ed, Jersey

MP: I’m glad to see Mark’s misdeeds being called out. Why he caused the e-coli outbreak at McDonald’s is beyond me.

This happened five years before Mark Miles was born, but it was still probably his fault. Motorsport Images

Q: My wife’s company is heavily invested in sponsoring sporting events like MLB and NCAA football. I have been trying for years to get them to look into IndyCar racing in a variety of sponsorship opportunities. Now that there is a major event here again in the DFW area, I feel like it is the right time to really push to get them to see the financials of sponsorship. Here are the kinds of things I’m thinking about that I’m trying to get the numbers for:

1. Associate or presenting sponsorship for a race like the new Arlington GP.

2. May-only primary sponsorship for a full-time car (think Dale Coyne) or primary sponsorship for an Indianapolis-only effort like Dreyer and Reinbold or an added car for a team like Rahal or a Texas-affiliated team like Foyt.

3. Primary sponsorship for a part of the season for a full-time car or primary sponsorship of a part-time entry.

I’d love to see what the numbers are that I could present them, or who would have that information that I could point them to. I’ve explained previously the ROI, but also do not have the type of numbers they’re looking for. This is an untapped market for them and I believe they could add significant benefit in the areas of financial support, outreach and visibility. Any chance you know those kind of things or maybe can point me to the people from whom I can acquire that information.

Thank you for anything you might be able to provide.

Dan W.

MP: Since we’re talking business with event sponsorship, it would be easier to connect you with the right people at the series in a private email. On car/team sponsor costs, it depends on the team, but if it’s a car with no sponsors, it could be as low as $250,000 and rise from there, and that’s based on the team’s desperation. Teams ask funded drivers for $1-1.5 million these days for Indy, so the range is significant.

Annual budgets are in the $8 million range on average, but many flirt with or exceed $10 million per entry.

Q: There are so many complaints about the availability of races on streaming, etc. I think it’s never been easier to watch whatever race you want. I’m old enough to remember when we had to watch the Indy 500 on an edited tape delay on Sunday night. The rest of the IndyCar season, if it was televised at all, was only shown a week or two later on Wide World of Sports. Practice and quali on TV? Forget about it. Going back further in time, my father used to get a mail subscription to the Indianapolis Star for the month of May. Otherwise, there was no coverage at all.

Everything can be improved, but let’s be thankful for what we have now. There is more racing content than I can ever hope to watch.

Chris Schaffner, Concord, MA

MP: Amen, Chris. I appreciate your thinking of the Mailbag as something other than a place to complain.

Q: As an IndyCar fan, I wanted to register my huge appreciation to the 2024 championship-winning team. Last week they announced three driver signings for 2025. Two for their new NXT team and one for their third seat in the IndyCar team. These signings bring great depth, talent and excitement for all the fans, sponsors and hosting media services. Congratulations Chip Ganassi Racing for bringing so much additional value to the series.

Oliver Wells

MP: The sarcasm runs deep in this one…

Q: I wanted to respond to Big Possum’s post from the 10/30 Mailbag. I like the cut of Big Possum’s jib (I might be a few cold ones deep while writing this). However, the Possum left out one very conspicuous name when he was talking about the racers of old: Mark Donohue.

Mark Donohue was the son of a lawyer, grew up in an affluent suburb, went to an elite private school, and graduated from Brown.

He was also a hell of a racer who could win in anything on four wheels (his record proved that). Team Penske wouldn’t exist today without him. I have no doubt that Roger would say that himself.

ARF, Northern Virginia

MP: And his son David is a heck of a talent as well. He’s recently moved into IMSA’s race control booth as a steward and occasionally drives cool things at historic events.