Q: Sincere congrats to Michael Andretti for passing the latest test to be approved for an F1 team. I can only see positives to the IndyCar series if it comes to fruition. The politics there seem crazy — the one consistent comment I’ve seen is that it would be a positive to add the Andretti name to the F1 grid. How much behind the scenes lobbying is Mario doing? He’s such a wonderful ambassador.
John Sullivan
CM: As far as I know, not that much. Those who are in favor of the Andretti bid certainly see the value of what he’d bring to the paddock if the entry is successful, but in recent months Andretti has been playing a waiting game. Lobbying by Michael in Miami last year didn’t go down so well, and credit where it’s due: Both he and Mario have learned what gets a positive response from those they need to appease and what doesn’t, which is why they’ve been so quiet in recent months.
They might have some more to do behind the scenes in the coming months though if discussions with FOM start up, but the impression I got over the past few weeks was that it wasn’t going to be addressed quickly as there are Concorde Agreement discussions with the existing teams set to take place alongside it all.
Q: I am always impressed by drivers from an oval background that become very good road racers. In that sense, I have been very impressed by Bubba Wallace’s recent progress. Do any particular reasons come to mind?
Don Hopings, Cathedral City, CA
KELLY CRANDALL: Bubba Wallace has come very far on the road courses over the last year, and I agree, it has been impressive. The road courses were always a problem for Wallace, and nothing he did worked; the expectations were never high during those weekends.
But the change has been twofold. First, Wallace has done the work himself, whether it’s through time and laps on the simulator or studying data and information available to him. He has put in time to get better, especially with there being so many road courses on the schedule. They aren’t races that can be looked over.
Second, Tyler Reddick has been a massive resource not only for Wallace but everyone at Toyota Racing. Reddick is clearly one of the best road course racers, and he’s become a teacher to his teammates — even Denny Hamlin. Earlier this year at Circuit of The Americas, Wallace and Hamlin both mentioned they studied and tried to emulate Reddick in the simulator and still couldn’t keep up with him, but he’s another tool they have to get better.
THE FINAL WORD
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, October 15, 2014
Q: I have a question that has been bothering me for a long time. Why on earth doesn’t IndyCar use the discarded Formula 1 tracks? OK, I was thinking IndyCar could have a European swing with a race at Brands Hatch, Portugal (Estoril), the Monza high-banked oval and Kyalami. I would bet my life that there would be huge buzz if IndyCar promoted a European swing with those tracks. I think they would sell more than in the States because F1 is always abandoning great fans and racetracks, so IndyCar would be welcomed with open arms.
Can you imagine a race at Brands Hatch with those high speed swinging turns, and Portugal to boot? It would be fast and fun! And of course turn the boost up to at least beat old F1 times in qualifying 🙂 Oh and one more thing: why doesn’t IndyCar race at Circuit of The Americas?
Robert Aguirre
ROBIN MILLER: I’ve been to both Brands Hatch races with USAC and Champ Car, and they were contested on the short course and not that well-attended. Maybe they would be today, hard to know, but all the tracks you mentioned may not still be FIA-approved. I’m sure there are a couple of former F1 tracks that might suit IndyCar, but it takes two to tango and the fall would be about the only available timeframe. Mike Lanigan was exploring COTA for IndyCar and it would be a nice addition to the schedule, but he’s also looking at an airport track in Houston for 2016.
And although Monza’s high banks still exist — check out Max Papis driving a NASCAR around there in 2011 — they need major work, and have had to be painted/coated to help preserve them.