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INDYCAR: Miller’s Mailbag, 3.1
Always genuine, never lite: It's Miller time. Here's the latest Q&A from SPEED.com's IndyCar guru.
Will IndyCar try to lure Danica Patrick, NASCAR's newest phenomenon, back to open-wheel racing? (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: Like you and the rest of the free world, I was watching the Daytona 500 on Sunday. While the racing was pretty boring (by restrictor-plate standards), I will freely admit that I was pretty dad gum excited to see the driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevy (I will not use the "D" word so as not to offend those readers with sensitive eyes) lead some laps and hold her own all day long. Of course, the true test for the aforementioned driver will come at intermediate and short tracks where true driving ability will come into play. But, there is no question about it - the world will be following _anica _atrick's progress this NASCAR season regardless of her successes or failures. With all of that said, do you think that the top brass in IndyCar is clamoring to get another Danica Patrick (there I said it!) in the series? If so, is there even another Danica Patrick out there to be had? Regardless of what IndyCar fans think about Danica, the phenomenon is simply too large to ignore.
Jay Matheny, Mayfield, KY
RM: I’ve been arguing with my old racing pals for eight years about DP and she proved a long time ago she could race wheel-to-wheel and handle high speeds (Indy, Texas and Homestead in Indy cars) so I wasn’t surprised she succeeded again. I said two years ago she would win at Daytona, Talladega or another fast joint like Charlotte or Atlanta but struggle at Bristol, Martinsville, etc. Of course I think IndyCar would love another Danica and Simona is damn good but she’s not an American so I can’t see her ever reaching the kind of media frenzy that DP creates. The race had a 10.0 rating (up 30 percent) so we know a lot of curious folks turned in to watch DP.
Q: Was just reading an article stating Danica is the 13th driver to lead both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 and am amazed it's that high since even back in the day, not many guys had the chance to run both in competitive rides. I've tried Google w/no luck so do you know who the other 12 are?
Bob in Peoria
RM: Here’s my best guess: A.J, Mario, Bobby Allison, Johnny Rutherford, Jim Hurtubise, Tim Richmond, Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, Al Unser, Robby Gordon Bobby Unser, and John Andretti.
Q: Hey Robin, just wondering about your feeling about Fox and NASCAR ripping off your pit run idea with Erin Andrews.
Peter DeToro, Milwaukee, WI
RM: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but I don’t think that was supposed to be a Grid Walk as much as it was a quick sound byte with Danica (who wasn’t around).
Q: Initially I wanted to write about the shameless Danica media coverage during Daytona (you wanted her NASCAR, well you got her ... enjoy!) but instead thought I would share some thoughts from the race, which is one of the few NASCAR races I will watch all year. After watching for 3 hours all I can say is where was the racing? F1 doesn’t even have that kind of follow-the-leader. This is supposed to be their greatest race and it had almost no on-track position changes. The only passing that happened was on restarts and in the pits. The drivers get out of the cars after and have not even broken a sweat. I keep waiting to see commentary that admits the race sucked, but the writers who cover the sport seem content to lie to themselves and pretend that the Daytona 500 was actually entertainment. How does this series hang on to its fan base when its “best” race is such a dud? In even its worst years the Indy 500 destroys Daytona in terms of racing.
Mike Fontanetta
RM: I’ve never considered Daytona a race, its three hours of commercials, pit stops and just running around until the last 10 laps. I don’t think most of the real drivers consider it a race either but it got a monster rating so, obviously, somebody enjoyed it. Most Indy car races are 90-minutes of running as hard as possible and I guess that’s why I love midgets and sprints because it’s the best “pure” racing other than flat-track motorcycles on this planet. And I imagine NASCAR will take steps to make sure it’s a better show at Talladega.
Q: Quote from Regan Smith after the Daytona Nationwide crash on Saturday: “I threw a block there,” Smith said. "I knew Brad (Keselowski) was going to try to make a move on me. I’m not going to just give up the win at Daytona. If I'm in the same situation tomorrow, I'll do the exact same thing again." Keselowski took his part of blame and said that both he and Regan Smith were coming to the checkered flag and trying to win the race. Keselowski felt he had all the momentum coming out of turn four and would have won the race if not for Smith’s block. “Regan obviously tried to block me and that’s understandable,” Keselowski said. “He wants to win too and at the end it just caused chaos ... Is this an example of the moral hazard amongst the young drivers in today's motorsports as a result of the incredible safety standards in both the cars and the tracks? Throwing a "block" - when did that become acceptable (or within the rules)? This isn't football, there are serious consequences for these actions and it seems like the young Nationwide Series drivers just don't get it. Do you perceive such an attitude among IndyCar and ladder drivers? I guess not losing friends every year to crashes has tempered the rational thought process of drivers nowadays.
Rich, New York, NY
RM: Blocking (Donnie and Cale) helped put NASCAR on the map in 1979 at Daytona so it’s not that new in stock cars and it’s a way of life in F1 but it really didn’t permeate Indy cars until the 1980s. But, to your point, yes I think safer cars and tracks have made drivers feel a lot more bulletproof – especially in USAC.
Q: Now that Danica has won the pole for Daytona, it reminded me of Janet Guthrie and her struggles to break the gender barrier. Can you reflect on her skills, her career, what she faced, and how she might have done with a top notch team? Also, why do you think drag racing has been more accepting of women than the other major racing categories?
Tom in Waco
RM: Janet faced a much surlier atmosphere than Desire Wilson, Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher, Ana Beatriz, Simona de Silvestro, Katherine Legge, Pippa Mann or Danica because she ventured into territory that was unacceptable to many of the veterans. I always said she was plenty capable on her own in practice or qualifying but didn’t have the chops to mix it up in traffic like Sarah, Simona and DP. Part of that was her sports car background and lack of experience. And she was much more comfortable at Indy than a place like Milwaukee. Her high-water mark was qualifying for the first time and getting the most out of a mediocre car. The NHRA just seems to have more of an open mind about gender and ethnicity than most forms of motorsports.
Q: Tony Hulman had two rules guiding his ownership of IMS: 1) Don't get into something that will require additional capital each year to keep it going. 2) Stay out of car-owner politics. Seems IMS ownership would do well to heed his rules before it's too late.
Brian Boettcher
RM: Joe Cloutier was Tony’s field general and a very smart man who, like Mr. Hulman, recognized that IMS had a very special formula that wasn’t to be altered. I think he always said no to stock cars because he knew that once a year mystique worked wonders. IMS and the competitors also had a peaceful coexistence until 1979 and then tradition got trampled in 1996. Some would say it’s already too late.
Q: Any attempt by the government to force taxpayers to fund sports arenas of any kind is an irresponsible and immoral abuse of power. Debating about NASCAR and whether or not to install lights is totally missing the issue. As much as I love the speedway and IndyCar racing, love of the sport is not the issue. For those who would argue that the speedway is good for Indiana, that is not the issue either. There are many businesses that collectively and individually benefit communities. But they are privately owned and it would be wrong to ask us for our hard-earned money to support them. The issue is whether or not our tax money should support the entertainment industry. The answer is absolutely not. This is not what government in a free republic was ever intended for. As much as you may or may not like/love the speedway, supporting it financially is not a necessary function of government. We all need to wake up and realize were giving our financial future (as well as our children's) away to a group … who took what their grandfather gave them and ran it into the ground. The citizens of central Indiana are already funding not only Lucas Oil Stadium and Bakers Life, but also The Hoosier/RCA Dome through a tax which was never rescinded, even after the stadium was torn down. That would be like asking the bank to finance a car that had been sent to the junkyard and demolished. So, were now paying for two existing stadiums through taxes which carry NO SUNSET CLAUSE in addition to the Non-Existent Dome. This means that 100 years from now your grandchildren will still be paying for all three in addition to whatever stadiums are built to replace them since they (like the Non-Existent Dome) will probably be long gone. Our government needs to rely on tax money only as a means to support only that which is essential (roads, military, public works, etc.). Please, let us all as intelligent citizens show our opposition to ANY such move which is certainly a move towards socialized support of once private businesses. It should be noted that I am one of the biggest supporters of IMS and the Indianapolis 500 as has stepped foot in the speedway. I've attended the past 41 500's as well as buying a garage pass every year, and have been to the track during the month of May, for all of my 49 years. I eat, sleep, and breathe IndyCar racing. But I also believe that it is imperative for us as citizens to examine carefully what we encourage our government to impose upon ourselves and our children if they are to enjoy the freedoms and economic prosperity we have been afforded. We've already foolishly given in to at least three arenas. It has to stop. No more welfare PLEASE! Lastly, Robin you speak with a vast knowledge base on the subject of auto racing, and you do so quite well. But, with all due respect, you advising someone on the monetary effects of increased taxation on local economies would be like Dave Ramsey trying to school you on Indy car trivia. Please stick to what you are so good at … racing.
Brandt Edwards
RM: I appreciate your knowledge of this subject and your passion for the Indy 500 and you raise some very good points (especially the last one), But I guess my point is that unlike most professional stadium deals in recent history, this offers a payback from IMS – the city’s longest standing business partner. That doesn’t bother me as much as a $20 parking ticket.
~Robin Miller
Q: Like you and the rest of the free world, I was watching the Daytona 500 on Sunday. While the racing was pretty boring (by restrictor-plate standards), I will freely admit that I was pretty dad gum excited to see the driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevy (I will not use the "D" word so as not to offend those readers with sensitive eyes) lead some laps and hold her own all day long. Of course, the true test for the aforementioned driver will come at intermediate and short tracks where true driving ability will come into play. But, there is no question about it - the world will be following _anica _atrick's progress this NASCAR season regardless of her successes or failures. With all of that said, do you think that the top brass in IndyCar is clamoring to get another Danica Patrick (there I said it!) in the series? If so, is there even another Danica Patrick out there to be had? Regardless of what IndyCar fans think about Danica, the phenomenon is simply too large to ignore.
Jay Matheny, Mayfield, KY
RM: I’ve been arguing with my old racing pals for eight years about DP and she proved a long time ago she could race wheel-to-wheel and handle high speeds (Indy, Texas and Homestead in Indy cars) so I wasn’t surprised she succeeded again. I said two years ago she would win at Daytona, Talladega or another fast joint like Charlotte or Atlanta but struggle at Bristol, Martinsville, etc. Of course I think IndyCar would love another Danica and Simona is damn good but she’s not an American so I can’t see her ever reaching the kind of media frenzy that DP creates. The race had a 10.0 rating (up 30 percent) so we know a lot of curious folks turned in to watch DP.
Q: Was just reading an article stating Danica is the 13th driver to lead both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 and am amazed it's that high since even back in the day, not many guys had the chance to run both in competitive rides. I've tried Google w/no luck so do you know who the other 12 are?
Bob in Peoria
RM: Here’s my best guess: A.J, Mario, Bobby Allison, Johnny Rutherford, Jim Hurtubise, Tim Richmond, Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, Al Unser, Robby Gordon Bobby Unser, and John Andretti.
Q: Hey Robin, just wondering about your feeling about Fox and NASCAR ripping off your pit run idea with Erin Andrews.
Peter DeToro, Milwaukee, WI
RM: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but I don’t think that was supposed to be a Grid Walk as much as it was a quick sound byte with Danica (who wasn’t around).
Q: Initially I wanted to write about the shameless Danica media coverage during Daytona (you wanted her NASCAR, well you got her ... enjoy!) but instead thought I would share some thoughts from the race, which is one of the few NASCAR races I will watch all year. After watching for 3 hours all I can say is where was the racing? F1 doesn’t even have that kind of follow-the-leader. This is supposed to be their greatest race and it had almost no on-track position changes. The only passing that happened was on restarts and in the pits. The drivers get out of the cars after and have not even broken a sweat. I keep waiting to see commentary that admits the race sucked, but the writers who cover the sport seem content to lie to themselves and pretend that the Daytona 500 was actually entertainment. How does this series hang on to its fan base when its “best” race is such a dud? In even its worst years the Indy 500 destroys Daytona in terms of racing.
Mike Fontanetta
RM: I’ve never considered Daytona a race, its three hours of commercials, pit stops and just running around until the last 10 laps. I don’t think most of the real drivers consider it a race either but it got a monster rating so, obviously, somebody enjoyed it. Most Indy car races are 90-minutes of running as hard as possible and I guess that’s why I love midgets and sprints because it’s the best “pure” racing other than flat-track motorcycles on this planet. And I imagine NASCAR will take steps to make sure it’s a better show at Talladega.
Q: Quote from Regan Smith after the Daytona Nationwide crash on Saturday: “I threw a block there,” Smith said. "I knew Brad (Keselowski) was going to try to make a move on me. I’m not going to just give up the win at Daytona. If I'm in the same situation tomorrow, I'll do the exact same thing again." Keselowski took his part of blame and said that both he and Regan Smith were coming to the checkered flag and trying to win the race. Keselowski felt he had all the momentum coming out of turn four and would have won the race if not for Smith’s block. “Regan obviously tried to block me and that’s understandable,” Keselowski said. “He wants to win too and at the end it just caused chaos ... Is this an example of the moral hazard amongst the young drivers in today's motorsports as a result of the incredible safety standards in both the cars and the tracks? Throwing a "block" - when did that become acceptable (or within the rules)? This isn't football, there are serious consequences for these actions and it seems like the young Nationwide Series drivers just don't get it. Do you perceive such an attitude among IndyCar and ladder drivers? I guess not losing friends every year to crashes has tempered the rational thought process of drivers nowadays.
Rich, New York, NY
RM: Blocking (Donnie and Cale) helped put NASCAR on the map in 1979 at Daytona so it’s not that new in stock cars and it’s a way of life in F1 but it really didn’t permeate Indy cars until the 1980s. But, to your point, yes I think safer cars and tracks have made drivers feel a lot more bulletproof – especially in USAC.
Q: Now that Danica has won the pole for Daytona, it reminded me of Janet Guthrie and her struggles to break the gender barrier. Can you reflect on her skills, her career, what she faced, and how she might have done with a top notch team? Also, why do you think drag racing has been more accepting of women than the other major racing categories?
Tom in Waco
RM: Janet faced a much surlier atmosphere than Desire Wilson, Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher, Ana Beatriz, Simona de Silvestro, Katherine Legge, Pippa Mann or Danica because she ventured into territory that was unacceptable to many of the veterans. I always said she was plenty capable on her own in practice or qualifying but didn’t have the chops to mix it up in traffic like Sarah, Simona and DP. Part of that was her sports car background and lack of experience. And she was much more comfortable at Indy than a place like Milwaukee. Her high-water mark was qualifying for the first time and getting the most out of a mediocre car. The NHRA just seems to have more of an open mind about gender and ethnicity than most forms of motorsports.
Q: Tony Hulman had two rules guiding his ownership of IMS: 1) Don't get into something that will require additional capital each year to keep it going. 2) Stay out of car-owner politics. Seems IMS ownership would do well to heed his rules before it's too late.
Brian Boettcher
RM: Joe Cloutier was Tony’s field general and a very smart man who, like Mr. Hulman, recognized that IMS had a very special formula that wasn’t to be altered. I think he always said no to stock cars because he knew that once a year mystique worked wonders. IMS and the competitors also had a peaceful coexistence until 1979 and then tradition got trampled in 1996. Some would say it’s already too late.
Q: Any attempt by the government to force taxpayers to fund sports arenas of any kind is an irresponsible and immoral abuse of power. Debating about NASCAR and whether or not to install lights is totally missing the issue. As much as I love the speedway and IndyCar racing, love of the sport is not the issue. For those who would argue that the speedway is good for Indiana, that is not the issue either. There are many businesses that collectively and individually benefit communities. But they are privately owned and it would be wrong to ask us for our hard-earned money to support them. The issue is whether or not our tax money should support the entertainment industry. The answer is absolutely not. This is not what government in a free republic was ever intended for. As much as you may or may not like/love the speedway, supporting it financially is not a necessary function of government. We all need to wake up and realize were giving our financial future (as well as our children's) away to a group … who took what their grandfather gave them and ran it into the ground. The citizens of central Indiana are already funding not only Lucas Oil Stadium and Bakers Life, but also The Hoosier/RCA Dome through a tax which was never rescinded, even after the stadium was torn down. That would be like asking the bank to finance a car that had been sent to the junkyard and demolished. So, were now paying for two existing stadiums through taxes which carry NO SUNSET CLAUSE in addition to the Non-Existent Dome. This means that 100 years from now your grandchildren will still be paying for all three in addition to whatever stadiums are built to replace them since they (like the Non-Existent Dome) will probably be long gone. Our government needs to rely on tax money only as a means to support only that which is essential (roads, military, public works, etc.). Please, let us all as intelligent citizens show our opposition to ANY such move which is certainly a move towards socialized support of once private businesses. It should be noted that I am one of the biggest supporters of IMS and the Indianapolis 500 as has stepped foot in the speedway. I've attended the past 41 500's as well as buying a garage pass every year, and have been to the track during the month of May, for all of my 49 years. I eat, sleep, and breathe IndyCar racing. But I also believe that it is imperative for us as citizens to examine carefully what we encourage our government to impose upon ourselves and our children if they are to enjoy the freedoms and economic prosperity we have been afforded. We've already foolishly given in to at least three arenas. It has to stop. No more welfare PLEASE! Lastly, Robin you speak with a vast knowledge base on the subject of auto racing, and you do so quite well. But, with all due respect, you advising someone on the monetary effects of increased taxation on local economies would be like Dave Ramsey trying to school you on Indy car trivia. Please stick to what you are so good at … racing.
Brandt Edwards
RM: I appreciate your knowledge of this subject and your passion for the Indy 500 and you raise some very good points (especially the last one), But I guess my point is that unlike most professional stadium deals in recent history, this offers a payback from IMS – the city’s longest standing business partner. That doesn’t bother me as much as a $20 parking ticket.
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