IndyCar All Access Interview: Pippa Mann

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Our fourth guest for IndyCar All Access is IndyCar and Indy Lights driver Pippa Mann.  As Pippa, is sitting on the sidelines sadly, we’ve taken the time to ask her a few questions.

Q: What is your favorite racing memory?

This one is easy… qualifying for the 2011 Indy 500! Trying to qualify for the Indy 500 as your first ever IndyCar race is not an easy feat, and with the competition to just get in the show last year, the pressure was intense. Riding out the ups and downs of the week of testing, sitting out through the rain delays, running into trouble on pole day, the boys tearing the car apart and putting it back together again that night… There were times when I genuinely didn’t know whether we were going to make it or not.  But we did, and I am so proud of all the guys who worked so hard on my car during that month to make it happen!

Q: What is your favorite track and least favorite track, explain why your answer is so?

My favourite track back at home in the UK was always Donington. It’s a track with fast flowing corners, and where being smooth with your inputs and sensitive to the messages the car is giving you is the fastest way around. Once I started racing in Europe I fell in love with Estoril, a track in Portugal with many similar characteristics as Donington, and a superfast, extremely long right hander onto the main straight. In Europe we call those types of corners ‘parabolicas’ and I was extremely good at getting the car balanced right where it needed to be through that corner to be able to pass people at the end of the main straight. The feel and balance of the car to be fast through a parabolica actually has a lot of hints towards driving on an oval – which I think is what eased my transition once I came over here to the States. My favourite road course here in the US… I think Somona. It feels like one of the big European tracks I grew up on back home, and again I love the fact that being smooth and using my sense of feel can make me fast around there. Favourite track overall? Well there’s only one answer to that isn’t there?! Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

Tracks I don’t like have actually been fewer and farther between. Sometimes I don’t do well at a track, but I can still see the challenge in it, and I still like it because I want to conquer it. However there have been a couple of places over the years… Starting back home again – there is a track in Budpest, Hungary called the Hungaroring. It was so bumpy the whole way around it masked a lot of the signals that I normally read from the car, and it’s the type of track where being smooth seems to net you very little, and all out attack at every corner seems to be the only option. The last corner is very hard to follow close enough through to actually make a pass into turn one, despite it being one of the best passing zones on the track, and the amount I had to change my driving style to be competitive there was always tough on me. Then in the US, so far I have only raced at Mid Ohio once, but I have tested there twice. Me and that place just have not found a way of getting on together yet! That’s something I intend to try and put right the very next time I go there, but in terms of driving it, the track feels fairly alien to me, and it’s really somewhere I will have to work on getting better at if I get the opportunity to race there again!

Q: Favorite driver?

Gilles Villeneuve. He actually died before I was born, but once I started driving myself, I started going back through the history in Europe and watching old videos of Formula One races. What he could do with a car was just magic. That being said, before I started driving, I actually grew up in the era of Nigel Mansell driving the red #5. I was ecstatic when he finally won the F1 drivers’ world championship. He was courageous in the face of adversity, he was determined, and he never stopped fighting and never gave up. Those are still qualities that I admire today.

Q: What are your thoughts on the 2012 season?

Well unfortunately right now, despite best efforts otherwise, I am still an outsider looking in at this years’ Indycar season, so my opinions are strictly those formed as a spectator. However, that being said, I think it’s been a pretty great season to watch as a spectator so far. There has been passing at all of the tracks, we had a great race at Indy, the new aero rules seemed to have split up the pack racing on the big tracks and put more emphasis on a good mechanical set-up, then after that back into the drivers’ hands… As an outsider looking in, there seems to be a lot that’s being done right! Honda and Chevy are also obviously fairly equal, and Lotus is being allowed a mid season catch-up as per the rules. To be honest when you have to sit and watch a year like this, it only makes you hungrier and more determined to try to find a way to get back out there on track and join in again! Trust me – I’m working on it!!

Q: What is your view on the CART/IRL Split?

You know, I understand that everything happens for a reason, but I love the fact that right now Indycar racing IS unified again. I know that some of the fans from both of the old series feel that the new Indycar is a little too much like one itteration of American Open Wheel racing or the other, but it seems that slowly but surely more people are starting to realise what we have again this year. It’s a competitive year with different drivers winning, we have different engine manufacturers, the racing is close, and Indycar is working hard to try and maintain us as the most diverse group of drivers in the world by continuing to try and include oval races even when the financials don’t always make it easy to do so. I think the big thing for all of us right now is to really get behind our sport, and to keep pushing it forwards, and to help it grow. While it’s important to learn from mistakes of the past, it’s also important to remember that the future is in front of us, not behind us, and if we all keep working together to try and make our sport a bigger, better, stronger sport, I believe the future is bright for Indycar.

Q: What would be your dream schedule?

Ooohhh! I like this, this is a good question!

Firstly I agree with the fans who would like to see a few more oval races. The rumour of Phoenix being interested in 2013 hasn’t gone away, and although I’ve never been there, I hear it’s an Iowa style track, so it should provide good racing for the fans. I’m glad Milwaukee is back next year, and Iowa always seems to be popular. I am glad the big pack racing has been broken up at Texas, and maybe with testing, this would allow us to visit some of the other big ovals such as MIchigan, or maybe even a return to Chicagoland or Kentucky with the new formula. Homestead was also a great track to drive on, and naturally broke up the pack due to how tough it is to drive in a race stint even before the new aero rules, however we would need to get people to come out from Miami and attend our events there. So in an ideal world, oval wise, I would like to see Homestead, Phoenix, Indy, Texas, Milwaukee, Iowa, either Chicagoland or Kentucky, maybe Michigan, and I would like to see Fontana be more than a one year deal. So that would be eight oval races, and several different types of track.

Then street and road courses. St Pete, Barber, Long Beach, Toronto, Edmonton, Sonoma are all great tracks. I know the fans love Mid Ohio, so I guess that gets included despite the fact this is my dream schedule. I haven’t raced at Detroit, nor Baltimore, but Detroit are making changes already to make their event better in 2013, and I hear Baltimore is a great event too. I would love to see Watkins Glen somehow back on the schedule. I know I’m pipe dreaming here, but I love that place – it’s another big track like Sonoma that reminds me of home. Also I hear that all of the drivers love Road America. Somewhere I have never been, but again, it sounds like somewhere that’s worthy of being on our schedule if we can make it happen. Even if it doesn’t happen this year, maybe in the future there would be a way to team up with ALMS there and make that another stop on our calendar. I also think that would even out the road/street course balance a little too.

I think the race in Brazil each years seems to be incredibly popular with the fans and drivers, plus as someone who hasn’t traveled there, I like the fact that it’s on a very similar time zone to the US, so I think that works for the fans back here in the US watching. My personal opinion is that as an American based series I would like to see Indycar continue to focus mainly on America, Canada and Brazil for now, and to continue to grow it’s fan base here in the US. However as a Brit girl, and with this many Brits in Indycar, I do like to entertain the idea in my head, that maybe one day the series will visit the UK. The five hour time difference means as long as we race there in the middle of summer a 3pm local start time is a 10am ET start time. Still 7am and very early for the West Coast, but maybe, just maybe, not beyond the realms of possibility in the future. You never know!

We would like to thank Pippa, for sitting down with us. You can follow Pippa on twitter @pippamann and us @indycarallacces

IndyCar All Access: Roundtable: Recap of Milwaukee and Preview Iowa

IndyCar All Access Roundtable is back! After a mere month off, we are back to the business that we do best. And we’ve made some changes to the panel. We’ve dropped Matt Hickey and Tony Tellez after a situation, but we do retain Matt Bauer, John Hetrick, Jerry Cruz and myself. John Oreovicz will not be in this roundtable due to other commitments.

Q: Thoughts on Milwaukee

JC: The racing in general was great. I don’t like spread-out-racing on ovals but the tire-management strategies are interesting. The crowd was bigger than last year (probably 70% full based on infield fans) and the positive atmosphere was evident even at the TV broadcast. Great job by Andretti Sports Marketing team.

JH: I thought it was a good race. Not a great race but it had a lot of storylines throughout the race that kept it interesting. I think Ryan Hunter-Reay is entering the prime of his career and will win a lot more races in the years to come. He is a fantastic driver on road/streets and ovals and I feel that he will be a contender in each race the rest of the way out and very well could catch Will Power. It is too bad that rain pushed the finish of the race to ESPNews. Just terrible luck for Indycar and Michael Andretti. ABC is such a poor partner and really doesn’t seem to care about growing the sport. It is very good news that Milwaukee will continue to be on the schedule next year. Just hope for better weather.

MB: Loved the aero changes for the race, making the cars harder to drive just increased the excitement level & made the race more competitive. Wins should be earned not just someone getting lucky at the end of the race. Scott Dixon getting hosed was unacceptable but nice to see race control own up to the mistake & move on & improve.

KM: I thought that the race was excellent. I can speak about the attendance because I was there, the attendance was great and overall structure of the event was great. Definitely want to go there next year!

Q: What track should replace the China race, please explain your reasoning?

JC: I really don’t have any preference as long as it is fast and entertaining. No parades, no spread-out racing. I think there is a BIG chance that BOTH Michigan International Speedway AND Road America get the nod. Both fit well on the current schedule and would be a great introduction for next year’s schedule.

JH: I would really like to see Pocono replace China. It is such a historic track for open wheel racing. I have heard many stories of my uncle and grandfather going to Pocono to the races in the 70′s. I would just love to see how these new cars would do around the track. Saying that I think it will be on the 2013 schedule and Road America will replace China this year. Which is a fine choice as well. 

MB: I think the only viable choice for a China replacement is Road America. Indycar needs to be at RA it’s the best road course in America & coupled with ALMS would make a great event. Indycar doesn’t have the time or resources to put on & promote a proper event.

KM: I believe that Road America is the only choice. Randy wanted them this year but he got screwed over by Terry Angstadt. Road America is an excellent track and I don’t see why we won’t go up there.

Q: Do you like the heat race format for Iowa qualifying? Will it work? Why or why not.

JC: I’m all for the entertainment element of the series. INDYCAR is a sport and therefore a business to entertain people. If this is what will make fans put their butts on the seats at the track and eyeballs on the TV…GO FOR IT!!!

JH: I love the idea but I don’t think it will work. The only way the heat races work is if the drivers go for it. I really hope these races are exciting but I doubt that the drivers take many risks. Too bad Tomas Schecter isn’t around this year. He would be very exciting to watch in these races!

MB: Single car qualifying at any track other than Indianapolis is pretty dull so I’m open to the idea but it does seem like a practice session & what happens if the drivers don take it seriously or there are crashes?

KM: I like the idea but I think they should do it the way NASCAR does it for the Daytona 500. It would be way easier, it might work.

Q: Winner for the Iowa Corn Indy 250?

JC:Wow, this season has gone from predictable (Will Power) to unpredictable (Justin Wilson)…and all the intrigue on winners has been on the oval-side of the season. I will go with James Hinchcliffe to make 3 surprises in a row!!! He is more than capable and he should win at least 1 race this season.

JH: I am going to go with Kanaan. He ran well ther last year and probably had a chance to win if it wasn’t for Marco making sure he didn’t get passed him. I feel like he has had a good car this year but just hasn’t gotten over the hump. I think he gets it done under the lights at Iowa.

MB: Scott Dixon for the win. I think after crashing at Texas after dominating the race & after struggling in qualifying & being the victim of a bad call last week he will be on a mission.

KM: I’m going to go with Marco Andretti, yes he has struggled this year but this is a great time to turn around his season and make a run to the top ten in points. Plus it helps to be a defending race winner. Marco’s average finish at Iowa is:  6.6.

Who’s your winner this weekend?

Poll question of the week: Which track should replace China on the schedule?

 

European Grand Prix Preview

This weekend is Round number eight of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship in Valencia, Spain. The Valencia race is on a 25 turn, 3.367 mile street course. Actually, this isn’t the Spanish Grand Prix number 2, its the European Grand Prix.

Let’s go back in time, the first European Grand Prix was held in 1983, at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom, it was won by Brazilian, Nelson Piquet, Senior in BMW-Brabham. Since then, the European Grand Prix has been held for 21 seasons (1983-1985, 1993-1997), 1999-). Those races have been held at five different circuits, Brands Hatch, Donington, Jerez, Nurburgring and the Valencia Street Circuit. There have been 11 different winners in 21 races. Michael Schumacher has the most wins in the European Grand Prix but that was when it was held at the Nurburgring and Jerez.

This could be last European Grand Prix for a while because the Spanish Grand Prix is now rotating between Circuit de Catalunya and the Valencia Street Circuit starting next season. This is kind of sad because the European Grand Prix is just one of those special races on the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar.

Let’s dig into the background of this Valencia Street Circuit, the track is designed by German engineer, Hermann Tilke, who is the FIA’s lead track designer. The street circuit is very tight and there is no real great place to pass. The first Grand Prix held in Valencia was held in 2008, it was won by Ferrari’s Felipe Massa. Sebastian Vettel has the most wins at the track with 2 (2010 and 2011).  Current Marussia driver, Timo Glock holds the lap record at Valencia, 1:38.683. Sebastian Vettel holds the lap record for qualifying with a 1:37.587.

Switching gears a bit, to tires and DRS zones, Pirelli has brought the super soft (red) and soft tires (yellow) for the tires compounds. This will make it three races in a row with this tire compound. Speaking of tires, pit stops will be critical here because you lose approximately 21 to 25 seconds in the pit lane. The drivers could make the  soft tires go 45 laps in Montreal, could it be a one stop race for some drivers? I don’t think so because Valencia and Montreal are very different. I mean this, Montreal has a ton of straightaways and Valencia doesn’t. More turns equals more tire wear. I’m expecting maybe a two stop strategy race at the least. Digging into the DRS zones, the turn 14 DRS zone has been removed and there will be only one activation zone that is just coming off of Turn 10. The detection zone is right before turns 8 and 9.

Enough with the history of the circuit, I want to do some recapping of the first seven events because I didn’t write anything on Formula One this season so far and that is totally my fault. So lets recap a bit.

The 2012 Formula One season kicked off in Melbourne, Australia on the 18th of March. McLaren dominated the race and Jenson Button won. In Malaysia, Fernando Alonso won a rain race for the boys from Ferrari. Young rookie Sergio Perez had a super charge to second place.  In China, Nico Rosberg took pole and won the race in dominating fashion. Bahrain saw last year’s World Champion, Vettel and former WD champion, Kimi Raikkonen fight it out, Vettel won the fight. Spain was just a weird race, Lewis Hamilton sat on pole then was DQ’d so Williams sophomore driver Pastor Maldonado got bumped up to pole, it was a battle between Pastor and Fernando Alonso all day. Pastor Maldonado took his first ever victory in Formula One, then the Williams team garage caught on fire! It burned all of Bruno Senna’s car. In Monaco, it was boring. Schumacher won pole then got pushed back because of a grid penalty. Webber just dominated the race and won. Then two weeks ago in Montreal, Vettel sits on pole. Hamilton and Alonso are the ones that were in a brawl for the whole race. Alonso is on a one stop strategy and he loses out on Hamilton’s two stop strategy late in the race due to lose of tire wear on the Ferrari. That makes seven different winners in seven races. Lewis Hamilton has a slight lead in the points going into this weekend over Vettel and Alonso.

Driver Standings:

1. Lewis Hamilton: 88 points.
2. Fernando Alonso: 86 points
3. Sebastian Vettel:85 points
4. Mark Webber: 79 points
5. Nico Rosberg: 67 points
6. Kimi Raikkonen: 55 points
7. Romain Grosjean: 53 points
8. Jenson Button: 45 points
9. Sergio Perez: 37 points
10. Pastor Maldonado: 29 points
11. Kamui Kobayshi: 21 points
12. Paul di Resta: 21 points
13. Bruno Senna: 15 points
14. Felipe Massa: 11 points
15. Nico Hulkenburg: 7 points
16. Jean-Eric Vergne: 4 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo: 2 points
18. Michael Schumacher: 2 points

Constructors Standings:

1. Red Bull Racing-Renault- 164 points
2. McLaren Mercedes: 133 points
3. Lotus-Renault: 108 points
4. Ferrari: 97 points
5. Mercedes: 69 points
6. Sauber-Ferrari: 58 points
7. Williams-Renault: 44 points
8. Force India-Mercedes: 28 points
9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari: 6 points

The biggest question going into this weekend is can we go eight for eight? I believe it could happen, here are my darkhorses, contenders, and winner.

Darkhorses: 

• Kimi Raikkonen- Raikkonen was here in 2008 when the race debuted and was there in 2009, his best finish was third in 2009 with Ferrari. I believe this weekend could be the weekend, his Lotus car is one of the most durable cars in the paddock.  Its not that Kimi hasn’t ran good, its just that the competition is so tight this year.
  
• Felipe Massa- Massa has had quite a turn around in the past two races. He has finished in the top ten at Monaco and Canada, I expect the same for the 2008 winner at Valencia. Massa is due for a great run and with that he’ll prove he’s still a top notch driver.
• Michael Schumacher- Even though Schumi doesn’t have that much experience at the Valencia track, I believe that he should do very good because he has had okay runs this season it’s just mechanical woes that have slowed him down a bit this year.
• Romain Grosjean- The shock of the season in my opinion, yes his season started out rough, but he has done great in the past seven races. If you take those first two races out of the equation and substitute them with good finishes, he is leading the points. Grosjean will continue to raise eyebrows this weekend.
• Sergio Perez- The second year Mexican driver has had a fairly decent season this year. Remember in Malaysia, he got a second place finish behind the Ferrari of Alonso. Sepang and VSC are very similar tracks, so expect him to contend.

Contenders:

• Sebastian Vettel- Two time winner here? All that needs to be said.
• Fernando Alonso- Home favorite, of course.
• Mark Webber- Best finish of 3rd here, podium contention is a good sign for the Aussie.
• Jenson Button- This weekend HAS TO BE a GREAT WEEKEND FOR BUTTON! He has had so many downs in the past three races, just like Massa he’s due to have a good run.
• Lewis Hamilton- Don’t leave out Canada’s winner!

Podium: 

1. Michael Schumacher
2. Kimi Raikkonen
3. Fernando Alonso

 

Kent Mueller

 

IndyCar All Access Interview: MarcoTeers

Our third guest for an IndyCar All Access interview is Marco Andretti’s biggest fan, MarcoTeers. Now I do have to admit, I am a Marco fan so I’m all for this!

Q: What is your favorite racing memory?

Favorite racing memory is Marco’s first win at Sonoma in 2006!!!  That was so amazing!

Q: What is your favorite track and least favorite track, explain why your answer is so? 

Favorite track has to be Indy or Baltimore!  Indy because how can you not like Indy?  And Baltimore because it’s pretty awesome to see them racing in charm city!  :) least favorite track is Vegas and Texas because Indy car should not be racing on tracks like those…

Q: Favorite driver? 

Marco Andretti!!!

Q: What are your thoughts on the 2012 season?

This season sucks if you are a Marco fan however we know his luck will change!  Love the races minus a few however wish they would make the season a little longer!  Miss Dan a lot sport isn’t the same without him!

Q: What is your view on the CART/IRL Split? 

I think it was good for the sport.

Q: What would be your dream schedule?

St Pete, Barber, Long Beach, Brazil, Indy, Pocono, Milwaukee, Iowa Toronto, Edmonton, Kentucky, Sonoma, Richmond road course, Bristol, Baltimore, Dover, Houston, and end the season in Monte Carlo!  :)

We would like to thank MarcoTeers for taking time to answer these questions. If you haven’t watched there amazing and hilariously video go here.

You can follow them @marcoteers and us @IndyCarAllAcces

IndyCar All Access Interview: Jeff Podraza

Our second guest for IndyCar All Access is a longtime IndyCar fan, Jeff Podraza. Here is our interview with Mr. Podraza.

Q: What is your favorite racing memory?

I started becoming a fan about six years ago I was given a photo that a friend it taken of Darío Franchitti driving the Canadian club car.  My sons were both about five years old and I was looking for a new sport to expose them too.  I wasn’t ready to get them in the football or wrestling or anything so I thought that motor sports would be a good idea.
Four years ago I finally got a chance to head over to Sonoma Raceway the Friday before the race.  I bought a paddock and pit pass and will he was totally impressed about the access access I had to other drivers but  what I really wanted to see and meet was was Tony Kanaan
I was able to rub noses and talk with the likes of Kim Green, Marco Andretti, Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter Reay, Darío Franchitti and of course I did get a chance to meet Tony Kanaan.
I know a long way to get your answer but my favorite racing memory is getting to be on the track and talking with people about open wheel racing.

Q: What is your favorite track and least favorite track, explain why your answer is so?

I think I know this might sound cliché but I think my favorite track has to be Indy. Way too much history way too many legends made on that track.
Although I’ve never been there I’m not a big fan of Long Beach it’s a tight track it doesn’t give you very television television viewing I’m in the whole area is very tight areas of driver access pit access and getting around.

Q: Favorite driver?

Of the more veteran drivers I have to go with Tony Kanaan, a fan favorite on the couple has had some rough times over the last few years but I think he’s doing very well with KV over Andretti.

Q: What are your thoughts on the 2012 season?

It took me a while probably one or two races but I really like the DW 12.  This is really a great addition to the track. I was partial to running all the Same chassis tire and gas and engine this came down to be the set up the car and the ability of the driver. I do feel sorry that lotus is pretty much out of the series I thought they would’ve been a much bigger and better contender next to Chevy and Honda.  I think we’re going to see some very cool long time veteran drivers in the in the areas of Newgarden Hinchcliffe for for sure.  I would like to see De Silvestra do better I’m hoping that they get her a different engine manufacturer. Last I’m hoping that with the likes of Tagliani getting the pole with Justin Wilson getting the win we will start seeing more for at then just the Gnassi or Penske teams in on the podium.

Q: What is your view on the CART/IRL Split?

Honestly I don’t think I’m knowledgeable to comment .  I know about the troubles that cart and IRL were having prior to them in a coming together and I don’t know with really the viewership could handle them going back to two different leagues just might one or both.

Q: What would be your dream schedule?

Great question I like the track to Kentucky to the high banks at speeds and there’s been some amazing photo finishes so I’d love to have that back on the schedule I think with them running Sonoma and Fontana we don’t need to have Long Beach on track I thought the Texas race was amazing as was Milwaukee.
Honestly with troubles we’ve had in Brazil I’m not sure we need to necessarily do something there with the streets and everything rain possibilities and repairs we just you know I think that could do with out.   With China out this year looking forward I think with all the drivers we have now coming out of the UK would be nice to do something in either England or Scotland.

We would like to thank Mr. Podraza for taking a few minutes to answer these questions.

You can follow Jeff on Twitter: @jeff_indycar

You can follow us on Twitter: @IndyCarAllAcces

 

IndyCar All Access Interview: John Kernan

Photo Credit: @RPM2nightcom

Our first fan/writer guest for IndyCar All Access is ESPN motorsport writer John Kernan. He has covered many series over the years.

Q: When did you first start getting into racing, which series did you follow and why did you like them?

My father took to me the local dirt tracks in Farmington and Bismarck, MO.  Not all the time but a couple times each summer.  As a kid the only thing I found more exciting than watching those cars race on dirt was being an astronaut and flying to the moon.  As a teenager I tried my hand at racing motocross and while in high school I worked at a local radio station.  That station carried the Indianapolis 500 broadcast each year and I always volunteered to work the board that Sunday afternoon.  I loved the Indy 500 because I just did.  In fact when I was young I had no idea they had a whole racing series.  I just thought these guys put together their cars for one race a year.  You have to remember in the 60′s and early 70′s we didn’t have cable, we got four channels on our television.  I grew up in the Missouri hills and we didn’t get any racing news back then.
Q: With that said, what is your favorite driver, track, and racing memory. (All Series)

Wow, favorite driver?  I’d have to go back to before I started covering racing for a living because at that time I quit being a fan, so to speak, because I felt it would not be professional to have favorites.  But, Lone Star JR and Danny “The Flyin’ Hawaiin” were always my favorites when I was young.  Fortunately I was able to meet both of them later on in life because of my job.  I’ll never forget the first time I met JR.  It was at the NASCAR tire test at Indy back in ’93 (I think it was).  I was talking with Richard Petty and Johnny came up to say hi.  I introduced myself to him and he said he knew who I was, that he had watched me covering NASCAR on ESPN.  On the flight back from Indy to Charlotte I was sitting next to Richard and told him, “You know Richard, when we were talking to Johnny Rutherford it meant a lot to me.  Kind of like a kid who grew up in North Carolina would feel if they had a chance to speak to you.”  Richard told me he totally understood.  He knew I wasn’t slighting him at all.
Q: What is your view on the potential ousting of Randy Bernard as IndyCar CEO?
Well, I think as IndyCar fans we all think we could do a better job than the person who is in charge of things.  The guy has tried some new things and while I personally don’t agree with everything IndyCar has done, who am I to say the decision have been wrong?  That being said, I think the racing with the new car this year has been outstanding and I wish I had a magic wand to wave over the series to make it as popular as it could be.  As Harry Truman said “the buck stops here,” so if fans have to blame someone for what they perceive as being wrong, then Bernard is the person who answers to them.  I mean, afterall they race for the fans.  Unfortunately it’s not all about the competition, as it is in any sport.  There has to be an entertainment value or people won’t watch or attend the races.
Q: Do you think IndyCar needs to change anything for the future, if so, what do they change?
That is a tough question.  First off IndyCar needs to be on one television network.  NASCAR can get away with having three different networks because the season is so long and as a fan you pretty much know the first part of the season is on Fox, the next six races are on TNT and then it finishes up on ABC/ESPN.  Also, in my opinion, get rid of the delayed grid penalties for engine problems.  In fact for the rest of this year get rid of the penalties completely.  The engine manufacturers have a new product out there.  There will be problems.  Give them time to grow.
Q: Do you think that IndyCar can get back to the way it was in the late 80s to early 90s?

That would be tough considering there are so many more choices out there as far as watching tv or spending your money on going to the races.  Things have changed so much in our everyday lives over the past 20-30 years that I don’t think anything can go back to the way it was.  The only thing to do is keep those fond memories in our hearts and minds and be able to live with the changes we see today.  I know if we forget the past we are destined to make the same mistakes, but at some point in time, we all have to move on and look toward the future.
Q: What was it like to be hosting RPM 2Night when Alex Zanardi had his accident in 2001?
That was a tough day!  At the time my wife was living in Florida and usually I drove down there on Friday night’s after the show.  But, for whatever reason I had stayed in Charlotte that weekend.  I was headed to the grocery store when I got the call about the accident.  At that time the Saturday and Sunday rpm2night shows were done out of Bristol, CT (ESPN’s headquarters).  I was told what happened and that they didn’t know if Alex was still alive and that we were going live in about an hour.  That caused my heart to drop because I had met Alex several times and had done a lot of interviews with him.  He is a great guy!  I headed home and grabbed my “on-air” clothes and headed to the studio.  I don’t remember all the details of what we did when we were on the air, but I know we were all flying by the seat of our pants.  When we got the news that Alex was going to live it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, but then we got word that he had lost his legs.  That turned joy into a feeling I can’t describe because I knew how much he loved driving a race car competitively.  But, a few months later, after seeing the expression on his face after getting what Forrest Gump would call “magic legs” I knew he had made peace with his situation.
Q: What is your view on the CART/IRL Split?

At the time, it had to be done.  You had two sides, the speedway and the team owners, who couldn’t come to terms on things.  Somebody needed to admit that someone else was in charge.  Neither was willing to take second fiddle to the other and you see where that got them.  Sad, but that happens in business.
Q: What would be your dream IndyCar schedule?

Again, a very tough question.  But, what I would like to see is a special bonus placed on four races.  Long Beach, Indianapolis, Texas and Mid-Ohio.  The winner of three out of the four would win $10-Million dollars.  Talking about generating some interest.  Unfortunately I don’t have $10million to put up for it.  But, I would think it would kicks things into high gear, kind of like the Winston Million that Bill Elliott won in 1985.  In my opinion that’s what started NASCAR on its way to becoming as popular as it is today.

 

Follow John on Twitter: @rpm2night.com

My Day at the Milwaukee Indy Fest

Today has two words to sum it all up. Great day. It all started at 6:30am central time, that is when I started my 40 minute drive from my house to the Wisconsin State Fair Park.  It was about 8:00 by the time I got into the State Fairgrounds. Once I got checked in I went straight to the Fan Village located in the infield. Once I made the walk down there  I had about an hour to kill before the autograph session at 9:15am.

Me by Will Power’s car and Verizon Station

The first station was the Verizon station, it had a Will Power car by it got a picture by it. Then I was challenged to change his tires on an I-Pad. My mom beat me, but I did win a Will Power backpack. Next up was the National Guard station, it had an IndyCar painted in J.R. Hildebrand’s scheme. You just had to answer to questions and you got a key-ring and a lip balm stick. After that was the Fuzzy’s Vodka station, once you checked in there you putted two times to try to win merchandise, I didn’t win.

My fourth station was Honda, where I got a picture of myself in the Honda two-seater. Lastly was the Firestone station, where I had to spin a wheel to make it turn by using my feet.

At the time I had about 15 minutes  before my interview with a driver. I met up with Tony DiZinno from RACER, Tony and I talked for a few minutes, we’ve been friends for a while and he’s from Wisconsin so we have a connection. Then he helped me find Ed Carpenter Racing’s PR guy, Tom.

Tony introduced Tom and I, then I went over by Ed Carpenter during the autograph session, I got to sneak my way through there and I talked to Helio, Briscoe, Marco, Graham and Legge before I sat down with Ed. Here is the interview with Ed.

Ed Carpenter and I with Katherine Legge behind me.

Q: Do you like the Milwaukee Mile?

EC: Yes, because of the history and I’ve always ran good here.

Q: What’s your favorite oval, and road or street course?

EC: Indy, and probably Sonoma and Toronto because we’ve had good runs there in the past.

Q: Thoughts on where IndyCar should go to replace China?

EC: Kentucky, but like they would listen to my opinion, haha.

Q: What are some challenges of being a driver/owner?

EC: I don’t think there are many challenges, I have great management and with Derrick Walker’s help its going great.

Q: Favorite driver growing up?

EC: Al Unser, Jr

Q: Favorite racing memory?

EC: My first win at Kentucky last year.

I would like to thank Ed Carpenter for taking some time out of the autograph session to sit down with me, he is one of the nicest drivers out there.

After the interview with Ed Carpenter, I went to Bryan Herta Autosport’s tweet up event. It was very interesting, then I left to make my way on the outside of the track. Before I left the track, I got some pretty good pictures of the motor scooters that drivers rode in.

Helio’s transportation

Marco’s transportation

Iwas trying to line-up an interview with Charlie Kimball, then I went to the security guards and asked if I could get down there fast enough. They were kind of upset, but I got to ride down in a go-kart back down the track’s infield.

I tried getting to Kimball andI had no luck. Then, Tony DiZinno and I met up again , and we went over and talked to some of Penske Racing’s top management, it was cool.

I went to the store, that is where I got a Marco Andretti shirt and hat. I stopped by Charlie Kimball’s Novo Nordisk tent, I signed the pledge and I won a Charlie Kimball backpack and got to sign his car.

After that, I worked my way up to the stands to get my seat, it was about 11am. I ran into the Firestone Firehawk mascot!  Itstarted raining. I over heard a conversation and they said it would take two hours to dry the track.

I ran over to a tent, for shelter for about a half-hour. I was getting impatient because it was raining and I didn’t want the race to get cancelled. I started texting friends and went up to the top of the steps in the tent to look at the track it was pooring. It was about 1pm by the time I got back to my seat. Track workers were drying the track, they said green flag by 2pm. I got excited then.

Then came pre-race picture fest, I saw cars coming out of the garages onto the pit-lane. I started snapping pictures like crazy. I was sitting right across from Charlie Kimball, Helio Castroneves, EJ Viso, Ryan Hunter Reay and Rubens Barrichello’s pits so most of the pictures were of them.

When the race started, it was great. Dario took control and there was a ton of passing. Caution came out for a crash involving Simona de Silvestro in Turn 4 on lap 67 in the middle of green flag stops. Then Justin Wilson’s engine caught on fire on lap 96. After that, Takuma Sato and James Jakes crashed in turn 2 on lap 125 or so, and J.R. Hildebrand blew up on the same lap. Then, Dario crashed and the crowd just roared! Ryan Hunter-Reay took the victory in the #28 DHL-Sun Drop Chevrolet/Dallara.

RESULTS:

1. Ryan Hunter-Reay
2. Tony Kanaan
3. James Hinchcliffe
4. Oriol Servia
5. Helio Castroneves
6. E.J. Viso
7. Alex Tagliani
8. Ed Carpenter
9. Graham Rahal
10. Rubens Barrichello
11. Scott Dixon
12. Will Power
13. Simon Pagenaud
14. Ryan Briscoe
15. Marco Andretti
16. Mike Conway
17. Charlie Kimball
18. Katherine Legge
19. Dario Franchitti
20. Takuma Sato
21. James Jakes
22. J.R. Hildebrand
23. Justin Wilson
24. Simona de Silvestro
25. Josef Newgarden

Overall, the Milwaukee Indy Fest was a great event to attend, the racing was great, the promotion was great, everything was great. I’m happy and hope I can go next year.

Thanks to Michael Andretti and his Andretti Sports Marketing for promoting the race. Ed Carpenter and Tony DiZinno who helped me get a lot of things done at the track.

Kent

Roundtable: IndyCar Schedule Debate

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the IndyCar schedule and what it should look like. For more answers to this I am doing a debate with the following people:

• Robin Miller (SpeedTV)
• David Malsher (RACER)
• Tony DiZinno (RACER)
• Mike Knapp (15 Days in May)
• Leigh O’Gorman( The F1 and Motorsport Archive)

Q: This year, we have five new or reinstated races. Out of the five (Baltimore, Fontana, Belle Isle, Milwaukee and China) which one/s get dropped in 2013?

 RM: Not sure but I would think Fontana is the biggest question mark because it’s the first time back in several years and it’s all contingent on what kind of crowd it can draw.

DM: None of them. All promoters will be given a chance to build the market.

TD: Ideally none, but I think Fontana (possible low crowd) or China (depending on how the sponsor value is or lack thereof) could be vulnerable. Belle Isle and Milwaukee have two invested promoters who are also team owners, Baltimore’s a wild card as a great event but with financial issues stemming from the original promoters and now the new ones.

MK: That’s a hard call. Baltimore only gets dropped if the promoters cannot get their act together as it should grow even more after a solid first race. I don’t have a lot of faith in Fontana as it isn’t even a good NASCAR stop any more. Like a presence in LA but it needs to draw to stay. Belle Isle will stay as long as sponsorship stays on because it is Roger Penske’s baby. China stays because the series and sponsors want a presence in Asia. So the short answer is Fontana is on the bubble, as is Milwaukee unless it has better attendance than last year.

LG: None.  Milwaukee may be the weakest, but I believe Andretti can do enough to get another year or two out of the project at least. Of the least, this would be mainly multi-year deals, so even if they did fail, I can’t see them being pulled.  Remember, if the contract is broken, someone may have to fork out big bucks.

KM: I’d have to say China because I see ZERO point in going over there at all. Michael Andretti’s promotions of Baltimore and the Milwaukee race will be good. Belle Isle will go back to the old CART layout which is a good thing. Fontana is a question mark.

Q: Fans want the historic races back (Phoenix, Portland, Cleveland, Road America, Surfer’s Paradise, Michigan and Pocono. Which historic races have a chance to comeback in 2013?

RM: I think Phoenix is the leading candidate but Road America has the most public support along with Cleveland (but they need a big title sponsor)

DM: Road America. Hopefully NOT Phoenix as it has such high grip surface, you’ll get a similar situation as we saw in Vegas. JR Hildebrand and Marco were easy flat and low-line around there after just a couple of laps in testing. Would love to see Pocono back but doubt it. Same with Cleveland and Portland – not for 2013, at least. Surfers is a bit more possible but don’t bank on it.

TD: I think Phoenix and Road America have the best chance on that list.

MK: In 2013 I would see Phoenix and Road America as they have seem to have been the two that have progressed the furthest in talks.

LG: 2013 is not very far away.  For any of these events to truly succeed, the series really needs to look at 2014, in order to make sure all the right pieces are in the right places.

Phoenix, Michigan, Portland, Cleveland and Road America would all be very nice, but it’s not going to happen unless there is a desire from both sides to make it happen.
Demanding that race should take place, purely on the basis that it was once a classic event is a foolish endeavour.

KM: I’d say Phoenix, Road America, Cleveland and Pocono all have chances.

Q: Should it be a 50-50 or 60-40 split.

RM: I’d love 7 ovals, 7 road courses and 7 street circuits like the old CART sked but we’ve got to be realistic and go where people want Indy cars nowadays.

DM: 60-40 would be good, but let’s just go to the markets where you can get interest. No point in holding an oval race just to say we’ve got a better balance on the schedule, if only 10,000 people turn up.

TD: 60-40 is fine in this day and age.

MK: I say 60-40 is fine. Ovals should always be the majority in the series if it is possible, but I like the road/street aspect to still be a factor because it means the champion has to be a very well-rounded driver.

LG: I couldn’t care less.  As long as the circuits are good, that should be the only thing that matters.

All the arguments about percentage split is merely political grandstanding that holds the series back.

KM: I’d prefer 50-50 but in this age of the racing 55-45 is fine with me.

Q: Out of the races that weren’t transferred in unification, which one should be added to IndyCar’s schedule?

RM: Surfer’s Paradise because it was a huge event, paid a big sanction fee and now INDYCAR has three stars from Down Under who the Aussies would cheer for.

DM: Road America or Surfers

TD: I’d say Cleveland and Road America, but Road America should be easier to bring back.

MK:  I’d love to see Michigan again. That was the site of some awesome racing back in the day.

LG: I have not thought about it to be honest.  That was then, this is now – the future is the only thing that matters.

KM: Road America and Cleveland.

Q: Should the European leg of the schedule happen in the future, why or why not?

RM: think INDYCAR needs to try and get solvent here before going back to Europe, although Brazil and China makes sense moneywise (at least to INDYCAR).

DM: If the market is there, yes. But let’s wait until these cars have higher baseline power and a decent push-to-pass. No point in going any place where they could get shown up by Euro formula cars.

TD: A race in Europe seems to make more sense than one in China, but might not be worth it financially. I’d rather the series establish a consistent schedule of U.S. races where there isn’t year-to-year turmoil and then and only then head there.

MK: No. I don’t see the need unless the sponsors wanted a race there.

LG: There is absolutely no need for a European leg.  Who on Earth would it possibly serve?

There is no need for an extra series in Europe – we are already massively oversold with championships.  In fact, series’ are falling by the wayside, because there is simply so much going on — and IndyCar would only be another “thing” going on.
A European leg would not serve the European market, it certainly doesn’t help the US market and it doesn’t help IndyCar.

I’m aware that there may be one or two company’s in IndyCar that may garner some benefit, but that really only points to their lack of direction.
If a company in IndyCar is looking for European activation, then why are they in IndyCar in the first place.

KM:  Yes but once we grow the American market. I only say yes because there are two ovals over there that have hosted IndyCar races.

Q: How many races would you want to see internationally in IndyCar. 

RM: No more than three.

DM: Two: one in Surfers Paradise, one in Mexico City. But the two final races need to be a road/street course in America and an oval in America – don’t care which way round.

TD: Three or four, no more than 20 percent of the schedule. In a perfect world, Surfers’ Paradise comes back and there’d be one or two European races. Then the rest domestic in North America plus the Brazil event.

MK: I think that IndyCar should focus on staying a mostly North American series. That said, if there is an interest in the series elsewhere, be it due to fan support (like Brazil or Surfer’s) or an interest of the sponsors (China) then they should look for events in those areas. Otherwise I think the US and Canada should always been the main focus.

LG: The series does not really need any more than they already have.  The focus should be on building its home market.

KM: No more than 4. Canada and Mexico don’t count.

Q: Your Dream Schedule, now?

RM: Phoenix, Long Beach, St. Pete. Trenton, Indy, Milwaukee, Barber, Cleveland, Toronto. Iowa, Springfield (dirt), Richmond, DuQuoin (dirt), Mid-Ohio, Indy (dirt), Elkhart Lake (with ALMS), Edmonton, Michigan, Mt. Tremblanc, Surfer’s Paradise, Mexico City and Laguna Seca

DM: 

1. St. Pete
2. Barber
3. Long Beach
4. Mexico City
5. Indy
6. Milwaukee
7. Watkins Glen
8. Toronto
9. Edmonton
10. Texas
11. Iowa
12. Mid-Ohio
13. Road America
14. Vancouver
15. Fontana
16. Surfers Paradise
17. Loudon
18. Dover Monster Mile
19. Baltimore
20. Las Vegas STREET race

TD: My dream schedule would be all 2012 races except Texas and China (I’m no longer a proponent of these cars on 1.5-mile ovals, but that’s just my opinion), add Phoenix, Cleveland and Road America, two European rounds back-to-back (the Rockingham or Lausitz oval plus a non-F1 permanent road course) and Surfers’ Paradise for an even 20.

MK: I would love a series with 20-22 events. This is personal preference, I’m not thinking in terms of business, ratings, etc. Ovals — Indy, Milwaukee, Iowa, Texas, Michigan, Phoenix, Chicagoland, Kentucky, Pocono, Richmond, Fontana. Road — Road America, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Alabama. Street — Toronto, Houston, St. Pete, China, Baltimore, Rio.

LG: My dream would be circuits that deliver good racing.  Everything else is just detail.

KM: 

• St. Petersburg
• Long Beach
• Edmonton
• Baltimore
• Cleveland
• Toronto
• Road America
• Palm Springs
• Watkins Glen
• Sebring
• Mid-Ohio
• Barber
• Phoenix
• Milwaukee
• Cleveland (oval)
• Loudon
• Iowa
• Richmond
• Indianapolis
• Kentucky
• Rockingham (UK)
• Euro Speedway

I would like to thank all of our guests for taking time out of their day to do this roundtable.