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INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 12.15
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
One Mailbag reader questions why the emphasis shifted away from current IndyCar stars like champion Ryan Hunter-Reay for the chance to run Tony Stewart in a one-off at Indy. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Hello open-wheel types and thanks for all your questions. I intend to answer your questions every week during the season, so just email me at . Don’t feel left out if I didn’t directly respond. I appreciate your interest and passion.
~Robin Miller
Q: It is so pathetic to hear Penske offer Tony Stewart a ride for the Indy 500 and even more pathetic, putrid in fact, to have Jeff Belskus make a fool of himself and IndyCar as they beg Stewart to come back. Who gives a damn? The truth is Tony is too fat and too scared to get back in an Indy car. Same goes for Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. TV ratings wouldn't change a bit. Besides, he would just go back to stock cars a week later, so what is the point? I'm so tired of this nonsense. I'll take Ryan Hunter-Reay and Ed Carpenter over Tony any day because they actually want to be here and care about the 500, not like Tony anymore. I want people to realize most of us Indy car fans, you know, the ones that do still go to races, aren't living in the past and don't care if NASCAR drivers ever come here. It’s about time someone told the truth.
Jonathan
RM: It was comical considering Randy Bernard had gone to Tony a couple years ago about running Indy and Stew told him he wasn’t interested in doing any more one-offs. Had Belskus bothered to pay attention, he could have saved himself the embarrassment. But I don’t think those NASCAR stars are scared, Rick Hedrick isn’t going to let them run the Indy 500. I was always saying some of them were coming to Indy and Dave Despain assured me I was mistaken and it would never happen and he’s right.
Q: Well this was an interesting bit of free publicity for IndyCar. I’m sure Stew thinks The Captain blindsided him a bit, and now he is stuck defending himself as to why he won’t do it in the face of a lot of public support. I don’t think his excuse of ‘competitive drivers’ holds water. We know the Penske car will be well prepared and engineered and they have years of data to go on. Stew can drive the wheels off of anything. I think he could do well. Look at how some of the rookies have fared at Indy, some pretty well (and he’s not a rookie). He needs to stay on the lead lap and be there with 30 to go, then just gas it man! I’m sure he could do it and I would fly to my first Indy to watch! Personally, I think he is worried about dieting down to fit in that car. I think he won the Cup last year because he was mean after losing 30 pounds to fit in Lewis’ McLaren for that promo!
Trevor Bohay, Kamloops, BC Canada
RM: I talked to Stew last week here at his motorsports show and I made the argument he wasn’t like other NASCAR drivers – he was an open-wheel star who could adapt to anything. But he claimed it took him three days to get acclimated the last time he ran and that was only after being out of a car for a year so maybe he’s right. He’s also a Mobil 1 guy and they’re not about to let him run a Shell car.
Q: The reason why people invest in Apple and why it is so successful because they bring innovative news. Meanwhile, the new IndyCar CEO gives the public, prospective, & current sponsors, nothing to look forward to in 2013. Why do they make it so hard to be a fan? Wouldn’t you think someone who wants to see the series be successful be somewhat positive? Is Vautier a lock at Sam Schmidt? And if Conor has a good test what role do you think he will play at Foyt Racing? Is Jonathan Summerton linked with any Indy teams?
Paul Hirsch, Erie, Pa.
RM: Belskus doesn’t really need to say much more than if 2013 is anything like 2012, it’s going to be a helluva season but I really don’t think he has any idea of a strategy other than following what Randy Bernard has already laid out. No locks anywhere at the moment but Daly could end up at Indy driving for A.J. No word on Summerton and he usually keeps me posted.
Q: I dropped Randy Bernard an e-mail thanking him for the time spent at IndyCar and wishing him the best. Total class act responded within one day. Great guy, sad ending.
Jaskson Pell, South Bend IN
RM: He’s always been successful partly because he knows how to motivate people and how to treat them. He connected with Indy car fans immediately because he listened to them.
Q: So, what political office is Belskus running for? Sounds like a schmuck to me.
Jake Murray
RM: His Q&A with Marshall Pruett on SPEED certainly made him sound like he should be running for office. It was good comedy.
Q: I read in your latest mailbag that Beaux still hasn't decided on a method to determine the starting order of race two for doubleheaders. Just wanted to take this second to remind you of my original suggestion for Texas a couple years ago that I saw at Langley speedway. Have the winner spin a wheel of fortune like wheel that has 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 on it to decide how many at the top get inverted. If that is to gimmicky, fast lap in Race One (like Star Mazda) will do. I’m so bored, can’t wait until March.
Stich Turner
RM: Thanks for the suggestion. With Randy’s hires being shown the door this week, I just hope Beaux is around to make the call.
Q: I've heard a lot of fear on this subject, but never heard anyone connected ever comment on it directly: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being we're safe and 10 being we're screwed (I'm sure you can figure out which end of the scale applies to what with that description), what are the chances of Beaux Barfield being fired and Brian Barnhart being put back in race control?
Ryan Hewitt
RM: Considering the new boss has run off Bernard and Steve Shunck, the only competent and savvy PR man on West 16th Street, I think Barfield is concerned. And Barnhart has evidently been strutting around like he’s coming back, which is a sickening thought.
~Robin Miller
Q: It is so pathetic to hear Penske offer Tony Stewart a ride for the Indy 500 and even more pathetic, putrid in fact, to have Jeff Belskus make a fool of himself and IndyCar as they beg Stewart to come back. Who gives a damn? The truth is Tony is too fat and too scared to get back in an Indy car. Same goes for Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. TV ratings wouldn't change a bit. Besides, he would just go back to stock cars a week later, so what is the point? I'm so tired of this nonsense. I'll take Ryan Hunter-Reay and Ed Carpenter over Tony any day because they actually want to be here and care about the 500, not like Tony anymore. I want people to realize most of us Indy car fans, you know, the ones that do still go to races, aren't living in the past and don't care if NASCAR drivers ever come here. It’s about time someone told the truth.
Jonathan
RM: It was comical considering Randy Bernard had gone to Tony a couple years ago about running Indy and Stew told him he wasn’t interested in doing any more one-offs. Had Belskus bothered to pay attention, he could have saved himself the embarrassment. But I don’t think those NASCAR stars are scared, Rick Hedrick isn’t going to let them run the Indy 500. I was always saying some of them were coming to Indy and Dave Despain assured me I was mistaken and it would never happen and he’s right.
Q: Well this was an interesting bit of free publicity for IndyCar. I’m sure Stew thinks The Captain blindsided him a bit, and now he is stuck defending himself as to why he won’t do it in the face of a lot of public support. I don’t think his excuse of ‘competitive drivers’ holds water. We know the Penske car will be well prepared and engineered and they have years of data to go on. Stew can drive the wheels off of anything. I think he could do well. Look at how some of the rookies have fared at Indy, some pretty well (and he’s not a rookie). He needs to stay on the lead lap and be there with 30 to go, then just gas it man! I’m sure he could do it and I would fly to my first Indy to watch! Personally, I think he is worried about dieting down to fit in that car. I think he won the Cup last year because he was mean after losing 30 pounds to fit in Lewis’ McLaren for that promo!
Trevor Bohay, Kamloops, BC Canada
RM: I talked to Stew last week here at his motorsports show and I made the argument he wasn’t like other NASCAR drivers – he was an open-wheel star who could adapt to anything. But he claimed it took him three days to get acclimated the last time he ran and that was only after being out of a car for a year so maybe he’s right. He’s also a Mobil 1 guy and they’re not about to let him run a Shell car.
Q: The reason why people invest in Apple and why it is so successful because they bring innovative news. Meanwhile, the new IndyCar CEO gives the public, prospective, & current sponsors, nothing to look forward to in 2013. Why do they make it so hard to be a fan? Wouldn’t you think someone who wants to see the series be successful be somewhat positive? Is Vautier a lock at Sam Schmidt? And if Conor has a good test what role do you think he will play at Foyt Racing? Is Jonathan Summerton linked with any Indy teams?
Paul Hirsch, Erie, Pa.
RM: Belskus doesn’t really need to say much more than if 2013 is anything like 2012, it’s going to be a helluva season but I really don’t think he has any idea of a strategy other than following what Randy Bernard has already laid out. No locks anywhere at the moment but Daly could end up at Indy driving for A.J. No word on Summerton and he usually keeps me posted.
Q: I dropped Randy Bernard an e-mail thanking him for the time spent at IndyCar and wishing him the best. Total class act responded within one day. Great guy, sad ending.
Jaskson Pell, South Bend IN
RM: He’s always been successful partly because he knows how to motivate people and how to treat them. He connected with Indy car fans immediately because he listened to them.
Q: So, what political office is Belskus running for? Sounds like a schmuck to me.
Jake Murray
RM: His Q&A with Marshall Pruett on SPEED certainly made him sound like he should be running for office. It was good comedy.
Q: I read in your latest mailbag that Beaux still hasn't decided on a method to determine the starting order of race two for doubleheaders. Just wanted to take this second to remind you of my original suggestion for Texas a couple years ago that I saw at Langley speedway. Have the winner spin a wheel of fortune like wheel that has 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 on it to decide how many at the top get inverted. If that is to gimmicky, fast lap in Race One (like Star Mazda) will do. I’m so bored, can’t wait until March.
Stich Turner
RM: Thanks for the suggestion. With Randy’s hires being shown the door this week, I just hope Beaux is around to make the call.
Q: I've heard a lot of fear on this subject, but never heard anyone connected ever comment on it directly: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being we're safe and 10 being we're screwed (I'm sure you can figure out which end of the scale applies to what with that description), what are the chances of Beaux Barfield being fired and Brian Barnhart being put back in race control?
Ryan Hewitt
RM: Considering the new boss has run off Bernard and Steve Shunck, the only competent and savvy PR man on West 16th Street, I think Barfield is concerned. And Barnhart has evidently been strutting around like he’s coming back, which is a sickening thought.
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