Welcome to the RACER mailbag. Questions for RACER’s writers could be despatched to: mailbag@racer.com. We welcome your feedback and opinions, however letters with questions usually tend to be revealed. Questions acquired after 3:00 PM EST every Monday will likely be saved for the next week.
Q: What are the probabilities that Mick Schumacher will drive for Rahal subsequent 12 months? To try this, they’re going to must do one thing about signing Devlin Defrancesco. Will they be capable to get out of there?
What about an oval? If I bear in mind accurately, his father and uncle Ralph weren’t Oval followers.
david
Marshall Pruett: If Mick needs to be an IndyCar driver, he’ll have a automotive and a crew to name dwelling in RLL. It is as much as him whether or not he needs to change to America or not.
No matter his father or uncle thought in regards to the Oval has nothing to do with him. he’s his personal man. The truth that he got here to check IndyCar suggests that he’s taken with IndyCar. Put up-test feedback at an IndyCar-sponsored media session included Mick’s remark that the following check wanted to be on an oval to get a correct really feel for the sequence.
DeFrancesco’s contract is believed to incorporate a efficiency clause that he should meet to return in 2026. If that is true, it might rank twenty sixth.th Had I been second to final within the championship, I would not have hit the bottom line I can consider.
Q: Nicely, what do you assume? this. I agree tooth Race sequence aside from NASCAR might develop into fashionable in October. The place there’s a will, there’s a approach.
derek
MP: I used to be very joyful to see that the NHRA race averaged 2,065,000 viewers after the NFL recreation. And definitely, as soon as one thing occurs, it is confirmed that it is doable for IndyCar to get an analogous build-up by sandwiching a race proper after the final NFL recreation of the afternoon…I appear to recollect saying it was unimaginable from a programming standpoint when somebody requested about that right here final month or so.
I am excited to be improper, however as you identified, all that’s wanted now that the 2026 calendar is full is a willingness between FOX and IndyCar to regulate the 2027 schedule to include Sunday dates in September and October, the place IndyCar will instantly observe the printed of the NFL’s last recreation on FOX.
Having grown up working in IndyCar and its feeder sequence, the place races sometimes ran properly into October, and as lately as 2013 when the season finale was held on October 18th, I welcome freedom from the jail of NFL-inspired programming that has existed since 2014.
Q: I beforehand wrote that I hope IndyCar returns to Phoenix. I am glad they’re doing it and I feel it is a good suggestion for them to do it on a NASCAR weekend. I simply hope the promoters really advertise.
I ponder if they’ve a check date prematurely. Have you ever heard something about it? We additionally hope that it is going to be open to the general public to extend curiosity on this occasion.
Nick Plenzik, Clarkdale, Arizona
MP: The primary run, a tire check, is scheduled for early November (I do not know the precise date), and one other is scheduled for January, most likely with your entire discipline. I lately heard from somebody I do know that on Saturday’s race schedule in Phoenix, IndyCar is not going to be broadcast within the morning slot, however quite within the featured afternoon slot.
Q: I watched observe for the USA Grand Prix and seen a touch of Ferrari’s movement visualization, or “flow-vis” paint. Flovis paint is usually seen in F1, however what about different sequence? I requested questions on-line about IMSA, NASCAR, and IndyCar. It appeared to point that IndyCar makes use of Flovis paint, however we might not have seen it or had an opportunity to see it. I googled for footage of Indy vehicles with flow-vis paint and could not discover something. RACER has an enormous assortment of images. Do you could have any images of sequence aside from IndyCar or F1 with Movement-vis paint?
Tim Davis, Detroit, Michigan
MP: I’ve a tough time remembering the final time I noticed Frobis in IndyCar. There may be nothing new within the spec automotive our bodies used from 2012-1014 and 2018-present that requires movement visualization, so there isn’t any want to make use of them in public testing. However you will have forgotten which groups and producers used it when the Dallara DW12 was new in late 2011 or early 2012.
We imagine the producer’s customized aero package was flow-vised for a number of years from non-public low season testing in 2014 till freedom was restricted heading into 2017.
Let’s hope McLaren’s aero crew does what it wants from the gallon of Flobis they threw into Norris’ automotive throughout observe at Imola final 12 months. Mark Sutton/Getty Pictures
Q: Are you aware, or are you aware somebody who may, the whereabouts of the ceremonially positioned gold-plated bricks that accomplished the paving of IMS in 1909?
rick
MP: I do not know, however Mailbag readers may know.
Q: Assuming Colton Herta really has an F2 seat for subsequent season, which might be introduced earlier than the following mailbag is revealed, his race calendar remains to be huge open in Might. Additionally, assuming there are not any F1 assessments or observe periods on Indy’s few observe, qualifying and race days, are Herta’s plans to tackle the 500m in 2026 afoot? Or am I assuming an excessive amount of?
Pete, Rochester, NY
Member of Parliament: He’s headed to the Hitech Grand Prix crew. After I requested the crew in regards to the Colton/500 angle on Monday, I used to be instructed that it was nonetheless a subject for Hertha and that there have been additionally discussions about whether or not Marco Andretti would return.
Herta is so sensible and versatile that it might be straightforward so as to add a 500m program to the F2 and F1 check seasons, however with two Indy 500 winners on the full-time roster, I do not see the necessity to reintroduce Colton past the fundamental enchantment of working one other 500m.
Herta’s profession has modified to Europe to go to F1, so throwing within the Indy 500 program and all the extraordinary preparation it requires will do nothing to get him nearer to his essential objective. As you talked about, there are slots accessible on the schedule, however I am unable to see any worth or logic in such a transfer. There’s nothing improper with importing Herta to Indy, however I additionally like the thought of letting the brand new trio of Energy, Kirkwood, and Erickson construct chemistry with out being too one-off voices within the room.
Q: I do know my two questions have been mentioned prior to now, but it surely was essential for me to undergo them. I hadn’t been to an IMSA race since Highway Atlanta within the early ’80s till this 12 months’s Petit Le Mans. What an awesome occasion! It was the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen at Highway Atlanta, and each camper spot was taken.
However the largest shock was the fan space. It is giant, there are a number of meals vehicles, and merchandise from producers like Ford and Lexus are offered in giant tents…very spectacular.
My query is why cannot IndyCar, my favourite sequence, replicate this? I at all times go to Barber races and the fan space does not evaluate to IMSA at Highway Atlanta. IndyCar administration must attend subsequent 12 months’s Petit Le Mans to raised perceive what fan-friendly assist is all about. IndyCar can do higher – it ought to be the very best!
Then through the autograph session I requested Scott Dixon, “Why aren’t you doing IndyCar at Highway Atlanta?” His reply was, “I’ve by no means heard an excellent purpose why IndyCars could not be raced at Highway Atlanta. Highway Atlanta could be an awesome venue.” I inspired him to maintain asking. I watched just a few F5000 races at Highway Atlanta within the Nineteen Seventies and I feel it might be an awesome occasion to observe at certainly one of my favourite tracks.
TSS, Germantown, TN
MP: That might be nice. I’ve most likely gotten this query in my mailbag 20 occasions and the reply is similar. IndyCar is just too quick to race on some sections with out main modifications to the security of the circuit. GTP vehicles and LMP2s are equally lightning-fast, however are absolutely enclosed, with crushable buildings on both facet of the motive force which might be greater than the dimensions of an IndyCar bathtub.
I am not going to make use of Highway Atlanta’s massive vendor intermediate property on the hill for instance that may be replicated at each monitor, however some IndyCar venues have a number of equally lengthy or giant stretches. Laguna Seca, Portland, Indy, Lengthy Seaside, Mid-Ohio, Highway America, and Nashville come to thoughts, however I am certain there are others.
The principle distinction between IMSA’s massive Halfway and among the smaller Midways seen in IndyCar is the producer. Not like Chevrolet and Honda, which convey a cellular dealership to a race monitor and barely pay for giant acreage to show three to 5 new automotive and truck fashions for followers to peruse, the other is true at IMSA, the place 18 producers compete in numerous sequence. Many of those manufacturers require a big footprint to arrange shows and showcase their highway vehicles, which is why the typical IMSA within the center could be fairly giant.
I spent a while at Petit Le Mans drooling over the BMWs and Cadillacs on show… I knew there was no likelihood of taking them dwelling…
IMSA Distributors One other attention-grabbing factor about Halfway is that it has quite a lot of sellers which might be hardly ever seen at IndyCar occasions. There are many automotive/racing associated books/magazines/posters, many mannequin sellers, artists doing stay artwork and promoting prints, and basic merchandise equivalent to hats, shirts, and stickers. I purchased Rexy’s hat from the AO Racing merchandise trailer and three stickers for $5. I additionally discovered a framed photograph of Bob Leitzinger’s 1982 or 1983 IMSA GTU Nissan 280 ZX for $4 that I needed to take dwelling.
Q: I assumed this is perhaps attention-grabbing: IndyCar vs. NASCAR at Highway America.
I do not know if that is rational or wishful pondering. What do you assume?
Doug Mayer, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
MP: That is enjoyable! It is undoubtedly doable. After F1, IndyCar is the world’s quickest open-wheel automotive on a highway course, with Cup vehicles most likely rating tenth.th as much as 12th In spite of everything, Indy NXT and F2, in addition to comparable junior open wheel vehicles, GTP, LMP2, and Fast GT lessons, so no shock right here.
I vote to abolish the simulator and remedy these sorts of issues the old school approach. Swope/Getty Pictures
Q: In final week’s mailbag, you wrote: “Of the 27 full-time drivers in 2025, we depend 17 of them to be correctly paid by their groups, that means 100% expertise recruitment. That leaves a big variety of drivers waking up daily searching for extra money to proceed their careers in 2026 and past.”
How do drivers searching for cash make ends meet through the six-month low season? Equally, how do pit crew members survive a protracted offseason? Six months with out pay proves unimaginable.
Jerry, Houston
MP: Paid drivers like Conor Daly, who usher in tens of millions of {dollars} for groups, signal contracts that give him a minimize of the compensation he brings in, so it isn’t like he will get paid each two weeks throughout a six-month season after which goes with out for the opposite six months. Connor is a little bit of a unicorn as a result of he’s paid by the crew as a driver.
However for years, when he is introduced in sponsors and their cash in trade for a seat on the races, gamers like Daly come into the season with six-figure (or extra) paychecks constructed into their contracts and receives a commission based mostly on the intervals agreed upon of their contracts. On the crew facet, the crew hires annual staff.
The one drawback, and this occurs extra typically than you may assume, is that groups and sponsors in such preparations could also be late on funds or just fail to pay their drivers. In some circumstances, drivers contract immediately with sponsors and are equally paid late or under no circumstances.
This can be a merciless deal, as drivers in paid racing conditions who usher in sponsors (as an alternative of household cash) are likely to stay frugally and should not rich by race automotive driver requirements. Some groups/sponsors are properly conscious of that and know that drivers have restricted funds to combat in courtroom, so drivers get screwed. A number of drivers I do know are chasing outcomes from two or three years in the past and at all times appear to be a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} in debt. It makes me unhappy.
It generally occurs to groups that when a driver brings in a sponsor, the primary fee is made, just a few races the sponsor reveals up within the sidepod, the second fee was imagined to arrive however is “delayed”, and most groups that pay drivers are determined for funds, so that they hold placing sponsors on the automotive in hopes of sustaining a constructive relationship, i.e. getting the cash they want and the cash they owe, but it surely by no means reveals up.
This occurred in 2025 to Joker, who carried out the identical stunt with the crew about 5 years in the past. He confirmed up this season with a unique firm. I noticed him within the Barber paddock and could not imagine he had the nerve to indicate his face because the crew he cheated was nonetheless within the sequence. Then I discovered a brand new mark that utilized to the identical routine. After I instructed the crew in regards to the earlier stunt, they stated they have been conscious of it.
Traditional ploy: pay an enormous deal upfront, get the crew to work collectively, get uncovered for a number of races, then disappear when the crew realizes it is vaporware. It is embarrassing.
Q: You will have many mates and sources within the IndyCar world. Assuming there are not any groups with manufacturing facility contracts or assist or considerations about Roger Penske, what sort of engine design will crew house owners need? Stage enjoying discipline, 2026 and past.
dave
MP: CART Turbo V8 or basic F1 V10 and V12. Some folks instructed me they needed to see if IMSA GTP engines have been accessible, however all I do know is that it is unimaginable for an Acura to suit into that small house.
Q: In Chris’ reply to a mailbag query two weeks in the past, he stated he thought Colton Herta had been in F2 for 2 years.
My understanding of how the F1 superlicense system works is that drivers must earn 40 factors over three years. Colton Herta has a complete of 34 factors, 30 factors from second place in IndyCar in 2024 and 4 factors from 2025.
If Herta’s rookie F1 season is in 2028, his 2024 Tremendous License factors will expire and Herta might want to earn 36 factors between 2026 and 2027.
Is it right that if Herta goals to take part in F1 in 2028, he can not end beneath fifth place in F2 in 2026, which is equal to twenty tremendous license factors?
Will, Indy
Chris Medland: Probably not, Will, however you really defined my level. If Colton has had sufficient of a studying 12 months to complete exterior the highest 10 in F2, he may end within the prime three (equal to a full set of 40 Tremendous License factors) in 2027, or nonetheless have 34 factors for fourth place. He may additionally earn factors by competing in FP1 for Cadillac.
After all, the identical will likely be true subsequent 12 months, so a prime eight end within the championship will likely be sufficient for Colton to earn Tremendous License factors. And he stated this week that his objective is only one 12 months after which stepping up, however there isn’t any rush to see if a second 12 months is an choice.
Hertha needs to work collectively as one in F2. Joe Skibinski/Penske Leisure
Q: I‘I am within the minority and like dash races to different observe periods. Nonetheless, I feel having two qualifying periods is an excessive amount of, particularly the dash qualifying feels rushed.
I wish to have two observe periods on Friday, use the outcomes of the second observe session to regulate the dash race, after which have the dash race and qualifying on Saturday.
What do you concentrate on this?
David, Hilton Head, South Carolina
CM: I do not thoughts the thought of setting the grid otherwise, however even when the outcomes from the second observe session have been used, it might nonetheless be a qualifying session. So when you do not know when it’ll be the grid-setting lap, I feel it must be a structured qualifying session quite than a free-for-all hour.
One of many causes brief qualifying exists is to make sure that there are aggressive periods on every day of the race weekend, which I feel can also be an excellent transfer. And whereas the 2 periods might provide completely different grids as groups study all through the weekend, in the event that they forgo that brief qualifying altogether, they’re going to possible repeat the race from the identical beginning lineup.
Maybe the timing might be adjusted in order that it isn’t rushed, however I feel that might be a by-product of the primary qualifying session normally coming early within the weekend when there’s greater preparation going into Saturday afternoon.
Q: After Singapore, Lando Norris stated he would face some penalties for his conflict with Oscar Piastri. Zac Brown admitted that whereas there will likely be some sports activities motion, it “most likely will not be excessive profile.”
I feel you understand what it’s. In the course of the COTA race, Martin Brundle commented on the time Lando’s pit stops took, suggesting that McLaren wanted to work on their pit stops. Taking a look at post-race information posted on-line by McLaren, Oscar’s pit cease took 2.3 seconds, whereas Lando’s pit cease took 3.9 seconds. I feel the “consequence” for Lando will likely be barely slower pit stops for a race or two (or extra!?).
What do you assume? Am I simply searching for an excessive amount of proof to assist my principle? Contemplating Lando was quick on the monitor, I am unable to think about he added any further ballast. The one factor McLaren can actually management is how lengthy pit stops take, which is definitely very properly hidden, however it’ll have actual penalties for Lando.
David Volk, Oregon State, Ohio State
CM: I definitely do not assume that may occur, David, as a result of it might be an enormous hit within the sporting world and in Austin’s case it might solely damage Norris’ possibilities of successful towards Ferrari as an alternative of serving to Piastri.
There are many different methods groups may give Piastri a bonus. For instance, the way in which drivers execute their run plans, the timing and order during which vehicles go away the storage, the precedence given to groups in strategic selections, and so forth., however these should not points as severe because the lack of race time, and I am certain no crew would ever take into account them.
Nonetheless, McLaren wants to enhance within the pits. It is also sluggish tire modifications in corners, which have induced a number of delays in current weeks and will price him dearly in his battle with Max Verstappen.
final phrase
From Robin Miller’s Mailbag, October 23, 2013
Q: As an IndyCar fanatic, I get very delicate each time NASCAR claims to be the very best, most expert, best, quickest, and so forth. Contemplating that, I want somebody (like my five-year-old self) would clarify to me how Talladega is “the world’s quickest racetrack,” as I used to be reminded yesterday with unabashed enthusiasm at each business break.
I perceive that the monitor’s measurement and excessive banks contribute to NASCAR’s pace, and that restrictor plates management pace, however I am unable to discover any statistics to assist the declare of it being the “quickest monitor on the earth.” Is it the concept that “If it did not occur in NASCAR, it did not occur”?
My brother, who drank the NASCAR Kool-Help, checked out me like I used to be loopy and stated, “That is the quickest monitor in NASCAR, and it is the quickest race course as a result of the IndyCar drivers would go out.” I stated, “However that is not confirmed.” A couple of minutes of uncomfortable silence. In good religion, please assist me perceive the place I’m “off monitor”.
Cindy Riordan
Robin Miller: To begin with, slam your brother as a result of he is improper. Gilles de Ferran set the all-time IndyCar single-lap oval monitor document of 241 mph at Fontana in 2001. Final time I checked, speeds on the Indy 500 have been 20 mph sooner than Cup vehicles at Dega (and Indy vehicles have been 40 mph sooner round IMS than Cup vehicles). So hit him once more.
