IndyCar All Access Interview: Bryan Clauson

IndyCar All Access’ next guess is USAC champion, newly turned IndyCar driver Bryan Clauson. Clauson ran his first ever IndyCar race at this year’s Indy 500 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing and is the Indy Lights driver for Fan Force United.

Q: Favorite racing memory growing up as a kid?

Well, I still think of myself as a kid, so it’s going to have to be racing in the Indy 500.

Q: Favorite track and why?

In terms of the entire scope of my career to this point, and without just wanting to say Indy, I would definitely have to say that my favorite big track is Iowa Speedway.

It’s a place where I’ve turned a lot of laps and driven a lot of different types of cars, and it seems like no matter what kind of racecar you’re driving, this place is racey and it’s a lot of fun to drive. There’s multiple grooves and you can generally find a place where your car works better. For short tracks, it’s hard to beat Kokomo Speedway. Even a bad night at Kokomo Speedway is good by anyone’s standards.

Q: Do you regret going to NASCAR and do you wish you could have gotten into IndyCars sooner?

Not at all. At the time it would have cost me about a million dollars to go IndyCar racing, so I don’t regret it at all. I actually made out pretty good on the deal from the driver’s side of things. It was a deal where IndyCar was taking checks and NASCAR was writing them for drivers to come drive, so I don’t regret the decision at all. I learned a lot down there and if the opportunity came about, I’d do it again. It wasn’t a bad experience in the least. It was a lot of fun. Obviously the focus for me now is here on the IndyCar side, but it’s not something I look at and think that it was the worst thing that happened to me. It’s definitely not an either/or deal. In terms of getting to IndyCar sooner, I can’t say “yes,” because it would have cost money.

Q: Your thoughts on the attempt to revolt Randy Bernard as INDYCAR CEO?

I don’t really know a lot about it. All I really know is what I’ve read on the internet. What I do know is what I think, and I think Randy has done a lot of good things for the sport and a lot of good things for the series. As much wrath as the new car took at the beginning, I think it’s provided some great racing. That was probably one of the best Indy 500’s in a long time. We’re seeing some of the best road course racing that we’ve seen in a long time. We have engine competition for the first time in a while, so I think that IndyCar as a whole is on an upswing, so it would be hard for somebody like me to make a case against him.

Q: Were you scared at all going into your first Indy 500 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing?

I don’t think scared is the word. Obviously there’s a lot of nerves and anticipation. You can even go to the guys that have won it 2 or 3 times, and they’re still nervous before the start of the 500. It’s a big event and something that I was looking forward to for a long time. I was excited about it for sure, but I think if you’re not a bit nervous going in, then that might be a sign of not caring enough. So I was nervous and excited, and I hope to be able to experience it all again.

Q: Is there any possibility that you’d get more seat time with Fan Force United and with Sarah Fisher Hartman in the IndyCars this season?

The goal is to be back in a big car by the end of the year. Everybody’s working hard towards that common goal, but nothing’s ever a given. If not by the end of this year, then hopefully by next year, and hopefully in time to get ready for the 500.

Q: What do you do off the track as a hobby?

I don’t spend a lot of time off the track. When I’m away from the big cars, I drive little cars. I try to catch some movie. I’m a big sports guy. I love fantasy football. I’ll play some basketball throughout the week when I can, along with doing some golfing and just generally trying to stay active.

We would like to thank Bryan for his time and wish him luck in IndyLights for this season.

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?

 

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

IndyCar All-Access: Recap of Barber Plus Long Beach Preview

Photo Credit: More Front Wing

First off, we are very sorry that we couldn’t recap St. Petersburg and preview Barber.  We will not have Matt Hickey with us this weekend due to other commitments.

Participants:

• John Oreovicz  @indyoreo
• Matt Bauer @bauerracing
• Jerry Cruz @jerrycruz1077
• John Hetrick @hetrick32
• Tony Tellez @tonytellez
• Kent Mueller @Kent_RM

*Note: All Chevrolet drivers will face a ten position grid penalty after they changed all of there engines. This was written before this news broke so please keep that in mind.

This week marks the 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Very historic.

Track Layout: 1.96 mile temporary street circuit.

Photo Credit: Etracks

Now to the questions for this week.

Photo Credit: RACER

Q: Thoughts on Barber?

JO: I thought it was an excellent race. Although he ultimately took the lead during a pit stop exchange, Power passed several cars to get in that position and there was plenty of passing through the field. The cars were generally reliable and raced well and Firestone got a lot of praise for supplying tires that dropped off in performance over the course of a full stint. That disparity, and the variable of tire management, made for a lot of movement up and down through the field. Beaux Barfield has done a good job of delaying full course yellows to allow drivers to make pit stops and the open pit rule being introduced at Long Beach should help even more.

MB: It’s just my luck that the one time I don’t go to Barber I miss seeing one of the best road races in 15-20 years. Firestone really brought some great tires the were predictable & helped make some great passing. Power was as great as ever I never thought he could have come from so far behind in that scenario. I’ve raced on that track & know how difficult passing can be.

JC: I think the best road course race I have seen in terms of entertainment and competition since Toronto 2011 and those awesome Cleveland GPs of the past.

JH: Could not have asked for a better race. Great action on the track with lots of passing.
Might have to attend this race next year since everybody says how beautiful the track is!

TT: Barber was some of the best racing and side by side action that I have seen in a while in the IICS.  Watching Marco, Graham, and Bourdais move their way through the field was a rush.  We need more racing like this.  I was a bit disappointed with some of the slower traffic (Lotus) holding up the leaders, and think it contributed to the outcome of the race in the long run.  Honda was really strong here, and in my opinion should have been atop the podium but for a minor mistake

KM: Great race. I’ve always been negative on this race but I shall no more. This was the best racing on a road or a street course since the hay day of CART. Yes, the track layout needs a lot of work but great race overall.

Q: Thoughts on Houston and the 2013 schedule news from Robin Miller?

JO: I’ve long believed that Mike Lanigan would have been better off reviving Cleveland instead of Houston, but clearly, sponsorship was more plentiful in the Houston market and Shell/Pennzoil is a prestigious sponsor. I’m sure Eddie Gossage is a bit miffed that IndyCar has scheduled another race in Texas, but if Houston is successful and they can get a good deal to run at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, the state of Texas could become a hotbed for Indy car racing. I’d certainly like to see another short oval or two back on the schedule and EVERYONE seems to want to be back at Road America, so it’s disappointing that it hasn’t happened yet.

MB:  I’m not sure about Houston, from what I remember the racing wasn’t spectacular but I don’t think TMS is coming back so I’m glad my state will still have an event & it’s a new event which is exciting. The schedule news from Miller sounds good but who knows how things will shake out.

JC: One of the few times I agree with Mr. Miller. We need history on our side and more ovals.

JH: Excited about Houston. Could be a great thing for the series especially since they have a great sponsor with Shell coming with it. But if I could ask for one track on the schedule for next year it would be Pocono.

TT: Exciting!  Houston has been ultra successful in the past, and I expect it to be a great market for the IICS in the future.  The possibility of up to 19-20 races being on the schedule is AWESOME.  A schedule longer than 6 months makes more sense

KM:  I am not a fan of the Houston race, I will say that this could be a good investment for IndyCar and Shell/Pennzoil. I personally thought that Mr. Mike Lanigan would want to bring back Cleveland before Houston because of the historic factor. Maybe Houston can have the Barber effect on it to make it a great race. As for Robin Miller’s news I’d love to see Pocono, Phoenix, Michigan, Road America and Richmond on the schedule. Not sure about Palm Springs because I haven’t seen that much on that track. As for Fort Lauderdale, questionable for me. And oh no to Circuit of the Americas. Terrible track. Heck yeah to Portland. This is what I’d like to see:
1. St. Petersburg (March) Returning
2. Barber (March) Returning
3. Long Beach (April) Returning
4. Sao Paulo (April) Returning
5. Phoenix (May) New Event
6. Indianapolis (May) Returning
7. Belle Isle (June) Returning
8. Texas (June) Returning
9. Milwaukee (June) Returning
10. Iowa (June) Returning
11.Chicagoland (June) New Event
12. Richmond (July) New Event
13. Toronto (July) Returning
14. Watkins Glen (July) New Event
15. Edmonton (July) Returning
16. Portland (August) New Event
17. China (August) Returning
18. Road America (August) New Event
19. Baltimore (September) Returning
20. Pocono (September) New Event
21. Houston (October) New Event
22. Fontana (October) Returning

Q: Darkhorse/s for the race?

JO: Mike Conway, who came out of nowhere to win last year. Hunter-Reay is always good at Long Beach. Pagenaud is likely to surprise a lot of people every race.

MB: My darkhorse is Simon Pagenaud.

JC: Any Lotus-powered driver is a darkhorse. Can we see Sebastien Bourdais in the podium? I’m becoming a fan.I have to say thought that Mike Conway could be a back-to-back winner.

JH: Marco Andretti. The way he was driving at Barber makes me believe that guy is out to prove something this year. I say he is the darkhorse for the weekend.

TT: Look for Mike Conway to stay strong here at LB, and I would also expect RHR to compete.  I don’t think Dario allows another bad week though.  I expect to see two Hondas and one Chevy on the podium.

KM: Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal and James Hinchcliffe

Q: Pole?

JO: Power

MB: My pick for pole is Dario Franchitti.

JC: Someone from the Penske Farm will have it.

JH: Will Power

TT: Power

KM: Dixon
Q: Winner?

JO: Dixon

MB: Scott Dixon for the win.

JC: Mike Conway or Ryan Briscoe.

JH: Scott Dixon

TT: I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say Graham Rahal.  I’d say Dixon in second (always the bridesmaid) and RHR third.

KM: Marco Andretti, he gets in with his grandfather and father at “The Beach.”

The poll question for the week is what track would you like to see be added to the 2013 IndyCar schedule.

IndyCar All-Access: Previewing St. Petersburg

Sunday is the opening race of the 2012 IndyCar season. Hopefully it’ll be just as exciting as the Formula One season opener in Australia.

Track Layout:

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Entrant List:

#	Driver	Team	Sponsor	Engine
2	Briscoe	Penske	IZOD	C
3	Castroneves	Penske	Shell	C
4	Hildebrand	Panther	N.G.	C
5	Viso	KV	Citgo	C
6	Legge	Dragon	Truecar	L
7	Bourdais	Dragon	Lotus	L
8	Barrichello	KV	BMC	C
9	Dixon	Ganassi	Target	H
10	Franchitti	Ganassi	Target	H
11	Kanaan	KV	Geico	C
12	Power	Penske	Verizon	C
14	Conway	Foyt	ABC Supply	H
15	Sato	RLLR	Mi-Jack	H
18	Jakes	Coyne	Acorn	H
19	Wilson	Coyne	Sonny’s	H
20	Carpenter	ECR	Fuzzy’s	C
22	Servia	DRR	Lotus	L
26	Andretti	AA	RC Cola	C
27	Hinchcliffe	AA	GoDaddy	C
28	Hunter-Reay	AA	DHL/SunDrop	C
38	Rahal	Ganassi	TBC	H
67	Newgarden	SFHR	SFHR	H
77	Pagenuad	SHM	HP	H
78	de Silvestro	HVM	Entergy	L
83	Kimball	Ganassi	Novo Nordisk	H
98	Tagliani	BHA	Barracuda	L

Previous Race Winners

• 2005- Dan Wheldon
• 2006- Helio Castroneves
• 2007- Helio Castroneves
• 2008- Graham Rahal
• 2009- Ryan Briscoe
• 2010- Will Power
• 2011- Dario Franchitti

To preview this race we are going to bring back our roundtable members (excluding John Oreovicz due to other commitments)

• Matt Hickey (@IndyCar_MN)
• Matt Bauer (@bauerracing)
• Jerry Cruz (@jerrycruz1077)
• John Hetrick (@hetrick32)
• Tony Tellez (@tonytellez)
• Kent Mueller (@Kent_RM)

Q: Biggest story lines coming in to the season, please explain your explanations.

MH: Indycar post Wheldon, time to show the world we haven’t wavered in this off season.

MB: Dan was already the biggest story of the year but with the first race since his death in his adopted hometown it’s as Dario would say “mega.” There are other big story lines but not for me not this weekend. This week is all about the man whose last words to me we’re “see you soon my friend.”

JC:

• Dan Wheldon’s memoir – arguably the emotions will not allow any eyes tuning in stay dry. This will be an emotional roller coaster for fans, drivers and INDYCAR.
• DW12 Performance – Here we will witness how good the new car has been develop SO FAR. We cannot expect the car to run smoothly after the green flag. We wanted competition, well, we will have it with the unknowns!
• Engine Manufacturers Performance – Like the chassis, we will witness how good and reliable the engines have been developed SO FAR.
• Dario Franchitti – How well will he adjust to the new braking setup, emotions on DW, and Honda engine troubles.
• Rubens Barichello – All the media frenzy coming from ABC (no more Danica for them to crawl in!) will focus on him and how he manages his first new circuit!

JH: Has to be Dario’s chase for another championship and Rubens coming to town. I think Dario is as good as any open wheel driver to ever drive. He will never be looked at like AJ or Mario but he is in the same room as those guys. What he does in the new car will cement is legacy. With Rubens we will all be comparing him to the other drivers. If he comes in and wins 8 races and the championship it will make Indycar look pretty inferior to F1. But if it is challenging for him and he struggles it will show the world that Open Wheel racing is back to where is was in the early 90′s.

TT: Many will say the biggest storyline coming into 2012 will be the arrival of Rubens to the driver mix.  I disagree.  I think the biggest story line of this season is going to be the entire mix of true “rookies”.  Katherine Legge showed flashed of promise in her Champ Car drives, and Josef Newgarden is an astonishing talent who looks to figure BIG into IndyCar’s future.  What about Simon Pagenaud?  He’s a champion in two different series’ one open wheel (Atlantics 2006) and one ALMS class (LMP1 2010) and not it’s time for him to show what he has full time in the big boys.  Look for Pagenaud to be the hottest rookie coming into St. Pete.  I look for a top ten from him if the SSMDH team can keep the car in one piece.  I don’t know if I even see Lotus Dragon and Legge finishing, and I think that limited track time will limit the success of Newgarden in the first race, but he will quickly become familiar with the car, and the competition level. Second biggest story, how un prepared Lotus will be.  Look for Lotus DRR with Oriol Servia and Lotus BHA wth Tagliani to be the top competitors with a Lotus badge.  On a personal note, it will be sad for me to see Sebastian Bourdais struggle for the first few races with Lotus Dragon Racing, but I hope they get things figured out and provide him the opportunity to compete.

KM: For me it has to be Rubens Barrichello. I’m really excited to see what he can do see this for more.

Q: What effects will the death of Dan Wheldon have on the race and the season in general?

MH: Other than heavy heart, I see none. The racing will still be hard. Once the visors go down, it is game on.

MB: I think the weekend will be a great but extremely emotional celebration of Dan’s life & career. We’ve already seen an increased emphasis on driver safety & it will be ongoing. Dixon, TK & Dario all loved Dan a lot & won’t forget but they are also total bad asses & will be able to focus on racing.
JC: I’ll say it will affect mostly St. Pete, Indy, and Texas…after those it will settle nicely in great memories!
JH: It will be strange to be at the racetrack and him not be around. Indycar will honor him big time this season and I think it will help the series overall just because he meant so much to so many people that they will want to come out and show support. Just tough that we will see a great season and him not be around to witness it. He would love to see what this season has shaped up to be.

TT:While this weekend will be emotional, I truly believe the time for mourning is passed, for most.  I think now is the time for a life celebration.  Dan was such a happy man who always had a smile on his face, and I hope this weekend GP of St Pete helps the healing process transition to a celebration of his life and Legacy.  On another note, today is Oliver’s 1st birthday.  I can only hope I am around 20 years from now to see him win the Indianapolis 500 just like his dad.

KM: It’ll be definitely emotional. I think it’s great that his sister will be presenting the trophy and waving the green flag. IndyCar needs to stay strong. RIP Dan!

Q: What manufacture does the best and will the DW12 have good reliablity when it comes to the race?

MH: Too early to tell, I’m going with Chevy

MB: Chevy has AA & Penske & has had fewer issues so far so I think they have the early advantage. I think the new chassis will be reliable but it will be an ongoing process.
JC: I’ll bet Chevy will come on top on this one. The chassis will probably favor those drivers who had a bad year last year as the chassis will not make a difference versus those accustomed to the IR07. Just a hunch!
JH: Chevrolet will do well this weekend and I fully expect the new car to be very racey around the track. Although I do expect to see a couple blown engines which just adds to the spectacle.
TT: Coming into St. Pete, it’s a tossup of which of the two top engine manufacturers are ready.  Everyone has had issues.  I mean EVERYONE.  Chevy, Honda, and Lotus. Lotus is purely an issue with track time.  I think the reliability award goes to Honda.  Based purely on time in the series.  However, on the track at St. Pete, look for Chevrolet to set a quick pace with Tony Kanaan and Rubens Barrichello on the grid together for the first time.  Competitive juices will be flowing.  I am really excited for this first race.  There will be broken equipment, but those who make it through the aftermath will be fast, and successful

KM: No doubt about it, Chevy. Too talented. On the DW12, I see no problems other than Lotus blowing all their engines. OUCH!! Sorry.

Q: Pole?

MH: Will Power? Also too early too tell

MB: Pole Scott Dixon

JC: It is very hard to bet against Will Power on Chevy powerplant. I still think Helio Castroneves will dominate.

JH: Ryan Hunter-Reay- He will be right there with Will Power but I expect him to have a great season and will get it started by getting the pole at St. Pete. Also my wife and I will be at the track and there is nobody who is a bigger fan of RHR than her. So he will feel obligated to do well all weekend! Kidding aside I expect him to be fast all weekend and do well in qualifying.

TT: Scott Dixon will start on the pole.

KM: Power, too fast on the twisties but Barrichello will be strong.

Q: Darkhorse for the race and why?

MH: Ryan Hunter-Reay, I think he has a legit chance to win
MB: Pagenaud, Barrichello, Wilson because of the new cars & the fact that they are awesome.
JC: Ryan Hunter-Reay could sneak a win right out of the box. There are so many unknowns that I might even give Oriol Servia on Lotus power the chance for the win.
JH: Rubens Barrichello. No idea what to expect here but he will definitely be in the mix at the end of the race.
TT: Tony Kanaan.  TK was hot out of the box last year, and I look for the same from him in 2012.  On another note, he and I have a twitter bet.  If he does not finish in the top 5 at St. Pete, he has to mention my twitter name on TV in some way (written or spoken) and if he DOES, I will show up at Pole Day in whatever costume he wants me too. (this bet has not been confirmed on twitter, but I know he will live up to it )
KM: I’m going with two on this one, I see Barrichello and Marco Andretti. Andretti needs to do good this year, I’m a huge fan of both drivers and it’d be great to see them have great weekends.

Q: Winner?

MH: Graham Rahal

MB: Dixon gets the setting up his record breaking, dominating undefeated season.

JC: Helio Castroneves

JH: Will Power. The dude is just that good and hungrier than ever. Will be surprised to see anyone else take the checkered flag. Should be a great race and a great season!
TT: I say overall winner due to engine reliability, and desire entering the 2012 season is Scott Dixon.  BUT, I see Dario and Will Power falling off the podium. Look for a Honda win, with Chevy 2,3.  My guess is 1st Dixon, 2nd, RHR, 3rd, TK.
KM: Rubens Barrichello pulls the Graham Rahal of 2008. It comes down to strategy and Power plays it wrong. That’s the way I see it coming down to.

Round 2 of IndyCar All- Access

This week we are back with IndyCar All-Access, if you forgot who are participants are: here they are:

• John Oreovicz (JO)
• Matt Hickey (MH)
• Matt Bauer (MB)
• Tony Tellez (TT)
• John Hetrick (JH)
• Jerry Cruz (JC)
• Kent Mueller (KM)

This week we discuss, MSR and Conquest, Barrichello, races, and where standing starts should take place.

Photo Credit: IndyCar.com

Q: Now that it is official, what are your reactions to Rubens getting a one-year deal? Does he get any wins? And will a KV driver win the championship?

 JO: It’s basically good for Indy car racing, mostly from an international perspective. Rubens is popular and everyone loves to cite those 1.47 million Twitter followers. He’s a great guy and a proven, successful racer. But I think INDYCAR is kidding itself if they think he will have the same impact as Emerson Fittipaldi and Nigel Mansell. Those guys were true world champions, among the very best of their era. Barrichello is basically the seventh or eighth best driver of the last 20 years. That said, with the great number of full course cautions and opportunities to utilize strategy, I think that Barrichello has a pretty solid chance of winning an IndyCar Series race this year. I can’t see a KV driver winning the championship, but I can see Barrichello’s experience helping the team take the next step toward being a championship contender.

MH: World class talent, and he has a ton of support back in Brazil and will soon gain a lot of fans here in America.

MB: I think Rubens will be great for Indycar with 1.5 million followers he will bring a lot of new fans. I do think he will get a win this year it’s a new car drivers haven’t mastered yet, the schedule is mostly road & street courses & he’s been using carbon brakes for years. I don’t think a KV driver will win a championship but they will be very competitive.

TT: Rubens entering the league right now is a great thing for both KV Racing, and the series.  He ALONE brings a fan base of 1.5 million twitter followers, and even MORE brazilian fans.  Even better, if he wins.  I think if there is a KV driver in the championship chase it will be TK, and probably because of the game raising that Rubens will bring to the team, and the league.

JH: I only wish it was a longer deal. I think Rubens will be a contender. There is no reason why he can’t win a race. I don’t see a KV driver winning the championship but I guess stranger things have happened.

JC: I will say Rubens will inject more international attention to the sport. It is a very good opportunity for IndyCar and for Rubens to prolonge his HOF career. The impact may not be as Nigel Mansell’s crossover but it is very close in my book. He could get 1 win this year but all the tracks are new to him. No KV driver will win the championship but they should get in victory lane at least 2 times.

KM: I think that Rubens got a fair deal, Tony Kanaan got what he wanted plus an incentive (a two year deal). Sure he’ll definitely out run Viso but can he out run Penske, Ganassi, Andretti and Tony Kanaan week in and week out. I think I could see Rubens pulling a Mansell all over again, I’m not saying he wins the first race but by Long Beach, he’ll have a good understanding of the road and street circuits. Everyone is saying oh well, he’s going to have to learn the ovals but what’s the difference, Iowa and Milwaukee are like a road course in essience because of lifting and braking in the corners, as for Indy, Texas and Fontana I see him doing great because its just get it in gear and pedal down, just like an F1 driver (go fast) As for a KV driver winning the championship, I see him and TK doing great, Viso struggles but what else is new?

 

Q: Will Milwaukee, Belle Isle, Baltimore and Auto Club Speedway be successful, why or why not? Out of these races which one gets axed in 2013?

JO: I have a good feeling about Milwaukee, though maybe that is just me being a hopeless optimist. I understand why Michael Andretti loves the place. He won there a lot of times and was just spectacular to watch there in the ’80s and early ’90s. Michael is smart enough to drop ticket prices to help the event rebuild itself. I was crushed to see the infield empty for last year’s race. If you’re an Indy car fan, you owe it to yourself to stand on the inside fence at Milwaukee and take in the action. I thought last year’s Baltimore event was fantastic. Ahead of time, my prediction was a home run or a strikeout, and for the most part, it was a home run. But it was a strikeout financially – as the early years always are for street races. If the new promoter can find some sponsors and not cheapen the event too much, it should have staying power. I’m not nearly as confident about Fontana. Indy car oval races in general have really struggled for attendance the last five years or so and that’s not really a market that has embraced open-wheelers. And let’s be clear: Fontana is NOT the Los Angeles market. It’s more than an hour away, and as a spectator experience, it’s not enough to entice people to make the long drive from LA or Orange County. Sad, because I remember when the grandstands were packed for the first couple of CART races in 1997-98.

MH: I don’t see why they wont succeed, the only one in that group that I have my doubts on is Fontana. Attendance in ’04 and ’05 was poor to say the least.

MB: Baltimore drew 150,000 plus fans last year that’s outstanding, I don’t know how the money got so messed up. The racing is great & I think the fans will return. Belle Isle is boring racing in a depressed area financially & I don’t think even The Captain can save it. Milwaukee HAS to be successful & I think it will be. Milwaukee has great racing & is one of the few ovals left, I think Michael Andretti, Randy Bernard & the rest of Indycar know this & will do everything they can. Auto Club Speedway is unique because of it’s size of 2 miles & has a few race lines that I think will make for exciting racing. I think it will draw good TV ratings but I’m not very confident in the attendance. I hope they all make it & without knowing the contract situations I think Detroit will be left off next year.

TT: Baltimore will be a success, and I hope that Milwaukee is as well.  Baltimore was a huge event in 2011, just mismanaged. With the right group handling this we should see another huge turnout for this years event, and hopefully a profitable turn of events.  Andretti Sports Management taking on the promotion of the Milwaukee event is HUGE.  This shows that the series teams want to race there, and a fan base should follow.  I was at MKE last year, and while it was a great show, there was no one there, but there was also no promotion.  Three days, not one commercial, not one sign. This has to change for the event to be a success.

JH: I see Auto Club Speedway being the least successful of these. I hope I am wrong but I don’t see the excitement and promotion about this race like I do the other three.

JC: I have a gut feeling all tracks will do fine with probably AutoClub Fontana being the one slightly behind (unless all IndyCar fans unite and come full force in California). It is my believe that for these venues to work and be successful, you need to give them 3-year contracts to create fan equity. I would not axe any of them.

KM: On the racing side, I see Fontana, Milwaukee and Baltimore being huge successes. I think the new promoters at Milwaukee and Baltimore will do a way better job in trying to get ticket sales. As for Belle Isle, I see a huge disaster in the making, racing will be terrible and so will the attendance, I think. Fontana will do good because of the ticket package with NASCAR.

 

Q: Should Rubens Barrichello be considered a rookie, since Montoya, Zanardi and Mansell were considered rookies when they came over?

JO: Yes, because Indy car racing is significantly different from F1 – more yellows, oval races etc. It’s his first year in the series, therefore yes.

MH: I think he should. A rookie defined as someone who is the new to the series. Last time I checked, Rubens has never raced in Indycar before.

MB: If Scott Dixon wasn’t considered a rookie in 2003 after 2 years in CART I don’t think Rubens should be, yes he’s never raced on an oval but he has the most career starts in the history of F1 racing. If I would have known Simon Pagenaud would be considered a rookie I would have picked him as my ROY.

TT: 19 years of experience in an open wheel car?  nah.

JH: I was very surprised to see that Barrichello is not being considered as a rookie. He is a great driver with a lot of experience but he is a rookie to our series. I think he definitely should be considered a rookie but I understand why he is not.

JC: This one have me baffled since, as you pointed out, historically all racers were considered rookies coming into IndyCar. Rubens may be a 19-year F1 veteran but he IS a rookie in the IICS. There are 5 ovals (a third of the schedule) which he has NEVER raced. Another matter is that he has no track experience in ANY venues IndyCar is racing. He is a rookie in my book.

KM: He’s never ran an IndyCar before, he’s a rookie no doubt, please re-think this Mr. Beaux Barfield. If Zanardi, Montoya, and Villenueve are rookies when they came over it’s not fair to give Rubens “special treatment”.

 

Q: What are your reactions on standing starts? Should they be implemented at certain tracks? What tracks wouldn’t work for standing starts?

 

JO: I’m not losing sleep over where or when they take place. I think the obvious place to implement them is Toronto. They might have a hard time doing them at Baltimore because there’s not a long straight. If they really wanted to shake things up, they should try a standing start for an oval.

MH: They need to be implemented at tracks in which the turn before the start doesn’t produce nice defined rows of two. I would love to see them.

MB: I love standing starts & don’t see why they couldn’t work on all tracks as long as driver safety isn’t compromised.

TT: I would have to say I am of the opinion that I don’t really care either way. Perhaps a standing start at Baltimore might be a cool option, especially with the hairpin where everyone got bottled up last year.  Could spread the field out a bit better.  MAYBE Mid Ohio.

JH: I do not really have an opinion about standing starts. I will have to see how it works before I make an opinion.

JC: For a “Show Entertainment” point of view I would adopt standing starts in ALL Road and Street Courses venues. I will also tell Beaux Barfield to go back to double-file restarts in ALL ovals. Enough of the drivers complaining about everything. They are professionals…deal with it!

KM: As a Formula One fan, I think this is great, you can’t do it at Infineon or Barber but all the other tracks (pending China’s layout) it should work great at. As Oreo said, a standing start on the ovals would be great maybe at Milwaukee.

 

Q:  Will Conquest Racing and/or Michael Shank Racing get an engine before St. Petersburg?

JO: No. Paul Tracy’s deal is contingent upon getting a Honda and he’s pretty frustrated that it isn’t happening.

MH: Negative ghost rider.

MB: I think there is zero chance that either team get a an engine before St. Pete & probably not until the Indy 500.

TT: Conquest will not be competing before Indy, and I’ll be surprised if Shank does too.  I’d say Indy on for Shank, and maybe just a one off for Conquest.

JH: I am pretty sure that if a team wants an engine bad enough they will get one. I just can’t imagine a team wanting to run and the manufacturer not making darn sure they will get an engine. I don’t see Shank on the grid at St Pete. Probably just Indy on…

JC: Sadly, this 2 teams if they make it I think it will be at Long Beach. There is enough time to get it done by then and the sponsors would love to hit that market and historic venue.

KM: No way, not even possible probably for Indianapolis, go back to Grand Sham Mike Shank, I’m sorry but you committed to IndyCar, its your responsibility to get a driver and an engine, it’s not Randy Bernard’s fault, quite crying to IndyCar to get an engine, seriously. Same thing to you Eric Bachelart.