Welcome to the racer’s mail bag. Any questions from the racer author are: mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters containing questions are more likely to be revealed. Any questions acquired each Monday after 3pm might be saved the next week.
Q: This implies you possibly can’t truly construct a brand new chassis with out understanding what sort of engine it’s in. IndyCar doesn’t have an engine agreed to in 2027. There are not any new Ergo, ’27 vehicles. However that is, Please do not Get: Does Pensuke count on what’s going to occur for an additional 12 months?
A brand new producer? Did not the practice go away the station? Ford and Hyundai (Genesis) have prototyped them. Stellantis is heading in direction of NASCAR, however now Toyota will need to have automated the “The reply remains to be “no.”
Is it branded by another person’s plan, primarily abandoning one thing made by Honda’s Ilmall? This idea seems to have labored effectively sufficient to seduce RAM on NASCAR tracks. Depart the choice to entrust the ERS or negotiate the ERS. With out dramatic modifications, I am fearful that the Marshall Pruet hole 12 months resolution would be the reply by default.
Al, Boston, MA
Marshall Pruett: May very well be another choice for 2028. I’ve been engaged on the subsequent piece of Indo-Karl Formara for about eight months, and parked it and rewritten it to triple thrice as a significant change in my plan appeared. I needed to place it out final week, however my purpose is to have it achieved by the tip of the month.
Q: Throughout apply on Street America 1 on Friday, I seen some vehicles heading for Flip 5. The tire noise was completely owned by the extraordinarily high-pitched sound parallel to the lockup. It has by no means been talked about within the broadcast. You possibly can solely assume that it’s a hybrid, however do you’ve gotten any perception into that? Instantaneous full leggan?
Mike, Lake Elkhart, Wisconsin
MP: Most likely. It is laborious to say with out being there to listen to it.
Q: I am unable to assist however really feel that Indycar is left behind within the new F1 movie and the newly introduced sequel to Thunder. What do you concentrate on this? We noticed how the large display screen helped NASCAR grow to be much more standard. I can solely think about an arm shot for IndyCar. There’s a lot historical past across the 500, so many potential storylines over a long time, and it is agitating.
Jeff
MP: IndyCar/Indy There are a number of cool documentaries with 500 components, however I do not know something concerning the fashionable or present ones which are below improvement, like F1 exists in Method 1. The F1 movie additionally begins with a bunch of IMSA. Porsche carried out an unbelievable non-public screening of the movie at Watkins Glen earlier than the six-hour race. However sure, your level is that there are such a lot of issues to select from from the Indy and IndyCar worlds. Maybe Driveton’s legacy was to kill curiosity in returning to the sequence.
Q: Are you able to give me an introduction to the IndyCar Hybrid System? In different phrases, when and when can it’s unfolded? How/Do you should deploy it as a weapon?
What do groups and drivers give it some thought in comparison with earlier push-to-pass choices?
David
MP: He made his debut in a contest 51 weeks in the past. I’ve written at the very least 10,000 phrases since then, so the search function on Racer.com is my first advice. (strive Half 1 and Half 2 First, we glance contained in the Indycar Going Hybrid. -ed.))
It’s used in addition to different performance-enhancing applied sciences because the crew believes it’s the second push-to-pass system and is important for the principles.
Q: Thanks for answering my query concerning the Buick Indy Engine program a few 12 months in the past. I am actually grateful.
My spouse and I had the privilege of taking a tour of the Petersen Automotive Museum final summer time. At Vault I got here throughout my favorite open-wheel race automobile of all time: the ’99 season nationwide racer Eagle 997. It was one of many few Eagles sufficiently old to see it race and by trying first hand and finding out rapidly, I used to be grateful for the design of the automobile and the Mavericks Dunguarney and the corporate have been really/greater than that.
I do know it is laborious to say, however your estimation is how good have been these explicit chassis? Clearly, the AAR knew what they have been doing and I all the time felt that it was attainable, however between the Toyota engines and Goodyear tires on the time, it appeared like an ideal storm of all of the fallacious components. I do know that Robby Gordon did moderately effectively with Eagle simply by working Firestones, but when, for instance, a cart crew with Firestones and Ford or Honda engines ran one, wouldn’t it have been a constant competitor for level finishes? Or was it specifically designed to accommodate a Toyota engine?
Drew, Birmingham, Alabama
MP: It was clearly potential, however having a restricted variety of fashions on the sector whereas taking part in in opposition to the 20ish Reynards made me endure the identical issues that Lola and Penske have been experiencing at that time. When confronted with such a chassis improvement onslaught, there is no such thing as a technique to compete.
I feel it was the forefront of Honda and Firestone, and each have been much better choices. It’s unknown whether or not it could have matched with Leyanard.
All of the American racers Toyotaigle 997s supported by Alex Baron right here actually noticed that half, however their uniqueness made it attention-grabbing, however that was additionally the accountability. David Taylor
Q: Who have been the surprises and disappointments of the 2025 season?
Pedro
MP: McLaren strikes to the highest of Chevrolet Camp. Pensuke is in a state of confusion. Coyne and Veekay, who make up lots of groups, look silly. Kirkwood. Palou. Honda is undefeated. Shank and Rosenk Vistroking. Erickson was troubled by one other brutal season. Foster seems higher than most rookies lately. The RLL is quicker, however not good within the championship.
Q: When you begin a brand new crew and have to decide on between Colton Helta or Kyle Kirkwood, which one would you are taking?
Brian Henris, Fort Mill, South Carolina
MP: Kirkwood. He’s second within the championship and Colton is tenth. If I requested the identical query a 12 months in the past, it could have been the other reply. If I ask subsequent 12 months, it could possibly be totally different once more. All you are able to do is go to immediately’s output, and in his fourth season, Kirk seems to have discovered one thing new and totally different. Colton had extra adversity, however with good days, however not so many. Kirk has a sizzling hand in 2025 in order that’s an apparent selection.
Q: Wow – I say I used to be anticipating a snoozer at Street America, contemplating how a number of the different IndyCar races went this 12 months, however that was one of many higher street races IndyCar has been performing for a very long time. Even when Paloo wins there was all the pieces that made the race nice. My first response was most likely that the warmth and situation contributed to a tense race within the automobile in order that the motive force might truly drive the machine. And hopefully, that is good amongst a number of the racers later this 12 months, particularly Midohio, Laguna Seca and Portland. The automobile slipped, but it surely did not punish aggressive driving.
Different snap judgments: MSR/Rosenqvist is there. Palou is particular this 12 months. The cartoon anvil both moved from Andretti and 28 vehicles to the New Backyard or gave delivery to a toddler caught to Jones.
In any case, it is a mailbag so I feel you want a query… So, do you suppose the climate circumstances helped make Street America nearly as good as that? And if that’s the case, wouldn’t it hope for us to get pleasure from as summer time heats up?
Tacommon Gomery
MP: The warmth was an element, however the tires have been largely rising for the problem, so neither compound had any excessive degradation. The eye and timing of these consideration is essential as they will open up a number of strategic choices that result in the various destiny they noticed on Sunday.
Q: Santino Ferrucci returned to 3rd place and produced outcomes! I hated him as a driver, however now the beer squeals on the finish of the race and he beat me.
So… what for those who put him in Pensuke as a substitute of Marca?
It is not Stephen Johansson
MP: I do know Willpower thinks Santino is excessive. However do not low cost Marca. He’s nonetheless very younger, 23 and inexperienced, with 45 IndyCar races to his credit score. Most of them – 34 – have been with cash. When you’re speaking about studying on the Hightier crew, he is having a half season with Meyer Shank and half season with Foyt. It is hell to take a seat in twelfth place within the championship and be simply 10 factors behind Ferucci.
He wants one other season at Voyt to clear up a string of errors that restrict his potential to attain higher outcomes. Purely, a case that requires time to succeed in lots of his prospects. As talked about earlier than, he is 10 factors behind Ferucci and is shy of Pensuke’s McLaughlin simply 16 factors. One thing spectacular.
If Ferucci rides him, is Energy nonetheless pondering of him? Joe Skibinski/IMS Picture
Q: I’ve been saying since early within the 12 months that I’m not certain concerning the weight of a hybrid. Not less than, in itself, was the reason for a comparatively boring begin to the IndyCar season. I felt this manner due to one easy reality. Final 12 months’s hybrid races weren’t like these. I am certain I am greater than that within the wake of the season’s most entertaining street race, that includes the victory of Alex Palou, with three races faraway from the Indy 500 proper now.
The actual drawback that precipitated the season’s gradual begin wasn’t the insurmountable impediment that hybrid weights have been made lately, however the groups have been unable to totally grasp the very best methods to arrange a automobile with hybrid weights. Ganassi first wrapped his mind round, resulting in a boring begin to the season, with others catching up and returning to sequence kind even when Paloo gained.
Again to this kind, it is no coincidence that it began with the primary really thrilling race on the Indy 500. Presently, most fields have that setup do Allow them to assault in methods they could not do earlier than, and we return to what we count on from IndyCar – and it is proper after we enter a extra constant scheduling interval on high of that.
I could not make it glad to see it return to this kind.
FormulaFox
MP: The one drawback with the speculation is that the crew and the motive force stated the other. The crew raced on street programs, avenue programs and ovals in 2024 with hybrid weight. I spent the cash I labored on the R&D program, the simulator program and realized extra within the monitor assessments I accomplished.
Groups make engineering developments each season, so that is the norm. However they did not simply unlock the secrets and techniques of some new hybrid heavy-emitting setups collectively. The five hundred was excellent, however the identical weight-related points and limitations have been spoken by the drivers after the race. The passing alternatives that come from consideration and reopening have introduced the identical leisure to 500 Detroit. Identical as WWTR. Identical as Street America.
The brand new Detroit structure was a wealth of errors (seven in 2023, eight in 24, 5 comparatively tamed earlier this month). The WWTR had 4 precautions so as to add to the restart/go/pleasure dynamics. This additionally launched the primary huge race/gas technique technique end of the 12 months because the chief peeled off looking for a splash to succeed in the checkered flag.
There was an identical reboot/go/passing/pleasure/multi-tactical occasion final weekend, however there was one other new twist in Firestone main and options, which was very effectively and sturdy, permitting the motive force to push more durable at medium corners like Flip 5 and the Canadian Nook. I might prefer to put all the pieces all the way down to enhancing the hybrid setup, however a clear race at Midohio can simply deliver again boring races.
Q: Why wasn’t Marcus given a penalty for working a hose/gun at his final cease?
Jim Barenger
MP: Indycar determined this 12 months to take away such issues from the penalty record. It would not make sense to me.
Q: What mileage does the IndyCar not conserving gas in Street America imply?
MP: My fast math says that Palou most likely has about 3.6 mpg in his final stint. 16 laps x 4.048 mile monitor = 64.768 mile. You should divide it by 18.5 gallons = 3.5 mpg, however he additionally did a cooldown wrap so let’s go for 3.6.
It did not appear like he was actually saving gas within the remaining stint given him lap time in comparison with Rosenqvist.
Q: Dixon is a fuel-saving grasp and I am certain he is given Palou lots of these tips, however it seems that Honda has a terrific mileage (and definitely higher than Chevy) in Street America. However the one technique to actually know is to make the mileage smarter when the Indycar that powered the Honda pushes.
Both means, it was yet one more masterclass by Parow and Wansar.
thought?
Jeff Smith, Penn State College
MP: There’s a attribute I noticed in the very best drivers, and its potential to grow to be a chameleon behind the steering wheel. It begins from the orbit and is brought on by intelligence. Wheldon, Franchitti, Dixon, Montoya, de Ferran, and extra.
They take up and adapt to one another, and study what they’ve witnessed and realized from one another through knowledge and video, relying on the time. Written about Dixon and the way he hone his pure expertise in street racing, he was dropped at a brand new stage, realized loads from Franchitti, leveled up once more, utilizing his chameleon-like talents, adopted from his surroundings and deployed in a good means, changing into the very best of his era.
Palou did the identical, Dixon as his principal supply of experiential training. He additionally acquired Francitti as an in-house advisor. Do you save gas? Understood. Race administration? Understood. Brutal consistency and effectivity? Understood. and so forth. Not that Dixon wasn’t adequate in all areas the place Wheldon and Franchitti helped enhance the sport, however he amplified his talents by injecting his finest attributes into his attributes. And now Palou has taken Baton from Dixon and grow to be the grasp of IndyCar’s newest grasp.
Additionally, sure, Honda is understood for being the pinnacle of the gas mileage division, and lifting early on the finish of an extended straight is the place a ton of gas financial savings is achieved. One in every of Dixon’s particular abilities is to chop down the lack of lap time from the throttle, as it’s both passing by the subsequent nook and interesting the automobile or not set to optimally carve the nook. That is one other space the place Palou (and different drivers) mimics Dixie with gas financial savings and lap time income.
Q: Some silly seasonal questions for you.
1. I actually get pleasure from Santino preventing in opposition to an even bigger crew. How will Marylene Sexton’s misfortune go have on the funds for his journey subsequent 12 months?
2. What do you’re feeling about protecting him on his pensuke?
3. Will Connor win one other season with Juncos Hollinger?
Tony
MP: I am nonetheless TBD for the primary query. I hope her daughters wish to proceed, however with funerals about to happen, for now, we’re specializing in the Marine and Sexton household somewhat than future funding. I am certain these conversations will happen on the proper time, however there’s some urgency as the tip of the season is right here at two months.
As for energy, a wise transfer by Penske is to maintain him for one more 12 months, keep consistency when the crew is in turmoil, and provides Marcus one other season to mature as a driver. Whether or not you dislike energy or not, I am unable to discover the sense of stacking up huge driver modifications along with management modifications.
Put one other means, I’ve seen the crew wrestle after divorced three essential, longtime leaders, so if anybody thinks the very best follow-up is to divorce a longtime chief on the fourth key, I might be fearful.
Q: Questions concerning the gateway. Within the race, I’ve seen indicators within the race that present eternally displaying a 3-2-1 earlier than a straight finish or flip. There was a countdown signal on the fence outdoors the gateway. What does this use to seek advice from it in order that it seems to have already been off flip 2 in entrance of the signal?
John M. Lee
MP: Seems like a brake distance marker, but it surely’s tough to reply and not using a reference picture.
Q: How does RLL get out of that stoop? Does the crew want a 3rd investor to inject more cash into the manipulation, similar to what is going on on with the ECR?
Foster exhibits the flash, and Tom Sellek’s mustache actually make him at the very least 0.2 seconds quicker in all places.
James
MP: They’ve lots of expertise within the engineering and efficiency facets, however additionally it is a bunch the place many individuals are both new or new roles. It is popping out of the stoop with extra time and races, and, importantly, in a whole offseason with all of the good individuals, an R&D programme as a unit.
Foster has an actual gem and we do not know what his contractual state of affairs is, however the crew might want to step up in 2026 to ensure he’s beginning to search for an improve with out Lundgaard.
Q: Are tire assessments deliberate earlier than the Iowa race? Are you optimistic that the floor might be higher than final 12 months?
Joe
MP: I am going to take a look at there to start out this week. The floor must be very slippery, like after final 12 months’s iteration. That is when you should make tires that aren’t rocks that don’t deteriorate.
Q: How a lot will Fox TV scores be a consider Honda’s future selections?
Billy
MP: It actually cannot damage. The larger query is how drained and never there Honda is from Pensuke Leisure, and the way Honda may wish to strive one thing new or not wish to do it with NASCAR.
Q: How do 4 vehicles “Pensk” in comparison with 2, 3, and 12?
Mark, Milford, Ohio
MP: Like these three and 14 vehicles, Pensuke, and the largest improvement is the specs of the automobile construct. Assembling a automobile the identical means as Penske Automobiles is the place true consistency and reproducibility have occurred.
Extra similarities than the eyes can see? Matt Fraver/IMS Images
Q: Updates to Tim Cindric and what he is doing? I feel Fox ought to rent him. He provides us nice info that we do not usually get, like Jon Beekhuis did earlier than. Do they want Pensuke’s approval?
David Tucker
MP: Tim is on this week or this week’s name record. Penske would not personal Fox, so no, Fox can rent the individual they need.
Q: After studying the feedback about Dennis Hauger, why is the F2 driver “higher” than the NXT driver? Is {that a} automobile they drive in F2? Know-how? competitors?
Vincent Martinez, South Pasadena, California
MP: Because the proprietor/practitioner of the IndyCar crew, the depth and tradition of general driver improvement by most F2 groups, far surpassing the NXT counterparts. F2 is like MIT and Stanford, whereas NXT is sort of a state or neighborhood faculty in relation to curriculum and training in all facets of the racing subject.
In different phrases, Hauger has a extra superior profession improvement, coaching, vitamin, technical and engineering and psychological facets because of an intensive program that enables a very good F2 crew to go by the motive force. There are some NXT groups that do the identical factor – and Retti is the gold commonplace, and whereas Ganassi has introduced this to new groups, the IndyCar crew hasn’t stated lately that they’ve acquired as a lot full NXT drivers as rookies as F2 drivers they’ve signed or examined.
Q: Two questions from the Gateway Race:
Are you shocked that the pink flag was not known as within the crash at Foster/New Backyard? There’s nothing discovered within the INDYCAR rulebook concerning weights for occasion circumstances (part 7.1.4 explains the steps after pink is known as, however doesn’t result in that). I used to be shocked that there was a foam block that I wanted to interchange
Secondly, except for one pit cycle, the undercut was efficient. How do groups decide if undercuts or overcuts are higher on a specific monitor? The tyre deg and former races are the one components I can consider. Definitely, I’ve not seen practices, so I’ve missed out on much more priceless insights.
Atira Vesal of Madison, Wiscon
MP: I wasn’t. It wasn’t behind within the race so there was lots of harm to resolve, however the AMR security crew dealt with it rapidly. 20 laps have been misplaced within the 260 lap race. That is spectacular to me.
Groups ought to take a look at historic developments to see if overcut/undercut is the best and skim the race throughout playback.
Q: The final consensus is that Indy NXT vehicles are between the F3 and F2 from a efficiency standpoint. Dennis Hauger is the F3 champion and gained a number of F2 races per season with the midfield crew. It is not likely surprising that he led one thing like 60% of all laps this season, but it surely additionally makes it tough to evaluate his efficiency. And the way reasonable is it for him to get a full-time IndyCar drive subsequent 12 months?
Will, Indy
MP: With lap instances recorded, it’s laborious to inform whether or not driver expertise is a problem in each sequence to complete the outcomes. In these, he was the very best of all NXT drivers this season, judged by his pace and end. As a rookie. If high quality seats are open the place the crew is about to rent, it is extremely reasonable for him to get a drive, and it will depend on how a lot cash he can increase if he’s with a crew that must be paid.
Dennis Hauger has moved from power to power within the Indy NXT, however taking the subsequent step might be as difficult as ever. James Black/IMS Picture
Q: I perceive that it is a Pensuke (not a CGR) Indycar, however do anybody apart from me really feel that the 2025 Will Energy’s Dallara colouring is abandoning the highly effective Jimmy Vasser 1996 goal vibe? With its principal pink and yellow stripes working alongside the size of the automobile, it was tough to note similarities with the well-known “lightning stripe” scheme. Oh, and it will not damage automobile quantity 12 both!
Richard Thug, Riverside, California
MP: Folks, do you’re feeling totally different from Richard?
Q: Full disclosure, I’m the No. 1 fan of RLL. Why did not Graham Rahal change the motor to Sato’s oval chassis? Is not that authorized? The RLL oval packaging failed for at the very least 5 years. Do they usually rebound on the ultimate street course?
The place is my Group RLL Check Driver VIP? He cannot do something worse than us. The place is the FBI analysis? What’s the requirement that Cindric be fired? Can Group RLL deliver him again dwelling? Group RLL declined after shedding Sindrick and Scott R. Graham has the talents, however how lengthy does it take him to get tired of making strikes?
William Forest, Lima, Ohio
MP: Guidelines forestall groups/drivers from utilizing one another’s engines. They’re assigned by IndyCar. There is no cause a crew will not go effectively in any of the remaining races. Taking part within the race. We aren’t anyplace. How have you learnt the circumstances for Cindric being fired? The crew already has a president. Is RLL accountable so that you can really feel aggressive once more? He advised us he would race by the tip of the contract.
Q: How can IndyCar officers monitor tire utilization through the race to make sure that everybody makes use of each tires on the required time?
Craig Mashburn
MP: Firestone does stay monitoring.
In F1, who decides how laborious/delicate the compound in lace turns into? Will it’s Pirelli? fia? A number of entities? And the way lengthy earlier than these selections are made earlier than the weekend race?
Todd, Indianapolis, Indiana
Chris Medland: This can be a choice Pirelli has acquired primarily based on automobile knowledge from the crew. Pirelli additionally makes use of historic knowledge as he has all of the data of how tires responded to varied vehicles prior to now.
Extra pre-decisions have been made prior to now, however lately tire suppliers have tried to name later to extend their selection flexibility, notifying groups for a few month from the occasion (akin to simply two weeks after Monaco this 12 months). The crew needs to warn them about preparation and simulation, however Pirelli additionally wants to take action for logistical causes.
Rick Mears rewrites IndyCar’s report books in a number of qualifying rounds, together with the 1982 Penske PC10 Indy. David Husson/Getty Pictures
The ultimate phrases
June 24, 2015, from Robin Miller’s mail bag
Q: It is clear that Will Energy is, at the very least, the second finest expertise on the IndyCar grid immediately (I am not a very fan, however I am unable to deny his expertise). Definitely he drives the very best IndyCar crew of all time, which helps, however the proof lies in his qualifying management. Within the final two races, he noticed that he put Rick Mears (the hero of my childhood race) on the very best pole positions ever, and the way do you evaluate the 2? I used to be solely 40 years outdated and was within the 12-year-old IndyCar race in 1987.
Rick was my hero, however he raced just a few years after I adopted the game. However I keep in mind seeing Rick do effectively with the ellipse. I vaguely keep in mind this being on account of manipulating his toes in a giant crash, affecting his potential to pedal vehicles across the roads and streets. Earlier than that crash, how good was Rick on these circuits? Was most of his poles oval? I am fascinated about your perspective on evaluating Rick’s Oval and Street Course abilities with Willie P
Brady Hauxhurst
RM: It is laborious to match, however there are some statistics that may enable you to put Rick’s profession in perspective. Earlier than shattering his legs at Sanair in 1984, Mears was an distinctive street racer. He gained the primary 28 street/avenue programs six instances, beginning with Group Pensuke. Bernie Ecclestone flew him to Paul Ricardo within the spring of 1980 and examined the Brabham F1 automobile, and he was quickly inside 30 seconds of world champion Nelson Piquet. He then examined Brabham once more on Riverside, quicker than Piquet. Ecclestone provides him a deal, however Rocket selected to remain within the cart, as he likes working eggs and street racing. After the damage, Mears recorded one other RC victory at Laguna Seca in 1989, apparently unable to race street races with the identical talent. Nonetheless, he gained two extra oval races in Indianapolis. Energy is just not conversant in Rick’s oval tracks, however he is getting higher and higher with Mears’ tutoring, and nobody has achieved quicker on street and avenue circuits than Willie P prior to now six seasons.
