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: Why does IndyCar, its management at all levels, continue to step on its on foot and insert that foot into their mouth? For years it was all about expanding its fan base to the younger demographic. Well, that hasn’t occurred. So what was done? Promote the single largest event on the schedule, the Indianapolis 500, that doesn’t really require promotion at all and has a multi-tiered attendance fan base almost guaranteed each season plus its live network exposure. Attempting to copy F1’s success with Drive To Survive, IndyCar promotes, again, 100 Days To Indy, but missing the point entirely in terms of its impact by displaying it on the CW network whose most likely viewer, by the network’s on viewer data, is a male 58 years of age.

And what’s next? Copying NASCAR by renaming the Lights series NXT which is also a copy of the WWE NXT wrestling series… brilliant. And then, screening the first season of 100 Days To Indy on Paramount+ for streaming global exposure.

What is wrong with these people? Do they know nothing about marketing? Do they not know how to conduct valid research that can guide rather than manipulating numbers to prove their conclusions precipitated in advance of the research even taking place?

Is it just about lining the pockets of a few with income?

Dennis, Bloomington, IN

MP: If we had a time machine and went back to watch cavemen drawing on walls, I’m confident we’d find depictions of complaints about IndyCar’s lack of marketing and marketing expertise. I’m also confident that if we went forward to the year 3000, we’ll continue to have complaints about IndyCar’s lack of marketing and promotions knowledge. The topic will never go away.

Q: OK, what’s really going on with Michael Andretti and the team? How does a guy who has been fighting to get into F1, who says he will never give up, who has put millions into the venture, got Cadillac on board, fought tooth and nail his whole life to WIN, suddenly give up and quit?

Mario hasn’t spoken on the subject, and other than a written letter Michael hasn’t given any reasons on camera. It seems like us, the fans deserve more of an answer. Is this some behind the scenes scheme to get into F1? Was he forced out of his own company by Dan Towriss? There has to be more.

Mel, Arizona

MP: We don’t deserve anything because Andretti owes us nothing. We dedicated a lot of words to this in the two or three Mailbags that followed the news in late September. Might be worth parsing through those for more info.

We’re bored with running “serious team owner” photos of Michael, so here he is in the F1 McLaren in 1993 instead. Motorsport Images

Q: In your 10/30 Mailbag you said in relation to a question on how to watch IndyCar on FOX “you pay for cable that includes FOX, which I have to image is a standard inclusion in most cable packages, you’ll have access to FOX’s streaming content through its FOX Sports app.” Should also note that, at least on Comcast , that both FS1 and FS2 are standard channels in their sports package and no streaming will be required to watch the practices and qualifying, as these channels supposedly will show.

Bill Stanich

MP: Thanks for the catch, Bill.

Q: This is going out to all three of you. Apologies in advance but I’m going to utter two of the most hated words in motor racing: track limits.

I’m fed up with it!

The first race I can remember watching as an enthralled five-year-old was James Hunt winning the 1974 International Trophy at Silverstone, the last time F1 cars drifted through the old Woodcote corner before the chicane was installed. I’ve seen tracks evolve through the introduction of first catch fencing and then gravel traps. Drivers still had to respect each other’s space as the risk-reward margin for an ill-judged move was too much. Unless your name was Senna or Schumacher of course, and that’s where the rot set in!

But these huge eyesore wastelands of concrete and tarmac run-offs that makes tracks look like parking lots, soul-less with all their character sucked out of them, and don’t get me started on the hallucinogenic patterns around Paul Ricard! They have made modern drivers lazy.

Before I get chastised, yes, I know why they are there and for good reason. But has it got too extreme? Racing has been reduced to third rate video game level driving with cars being able to go off track and drive back on at will and allowing the poor, dubious style of racing in F1 that has social media such a toxic dump. The low curbing at many of these circuits because MotoGP and World Superbike also race on them only accelerates the situation. It’s so frustrating watching races decided by bonehead driving rather than by driving skill.

I admit, F1 has held little interest for me since the late 1990s, IndyCar is my passion, and there’s no such thing as track limits on an oval! With NASCAR going road racing more, how long before it becomes part of the discussion?

Peter Kerr, Hamilton, Scotland

MP: Here’s my six most hated words in motor racing: People who complain about track limits.

CHRIS MEDLAND: All I can say is you have the backing of the drivers on the grid in F1, Peter. The consensus after the arguments in Mexico and Circuit of The Americas was there would be far fewer incidents of this manner if there was a physical deterrent on the outside of corners.

The Red Bull Ring in Austria found a good one with a strip of gravel it can fill in when MotoGP and track days are taking place, and I think we’re going to see a lot more of that implemented at F1 tracks.

KELLY CRANDALL: NASCAR already has track limits. They are used in the esses at Circuit of The Americas and for the chicanes on the Charlotte Roval.