Robin Miller's Mailbag for April 19, presented by Honda Racing / HPD

Your questions for Robin should continue to be sent to millersmailbag@racer.com We cannot guarantee we’ll publish all your questions and answers, but Robin will reply to you. And if you have a question about the technology side of racing, Robin will pass these on to Marshall Pruett and he will also answer here.

Max Camposano, Los Altos, CA

RM: Let's look at some quick history. I was at Teo Fabi's first test at Indy, and after a couple laps he pulled in and said there was no way he was doing that. Five months later he was on the pole for the Indy 500. I was at Ontario when Alan Jones tested an Indy car, and after a few laps he got out, got in his rental car and never came back. It's all about getting comfortable, and Alonso will have a couple weeks to do that with some very savvy people in his corner. Mario thinks he'll adapt nicely, and could possibly get a Top 10 like Kurt Busch. Emmo's first win was on an oval, while nobody adapted quicker and better than Mansell and Montoya, but it still comes down to comfort and confidence.

Q: As unbelievable as it is that Fernando Alonso is coming to the Indianapolis 500, there may be more to the story. As we know, the McLaren-Honda isn't competitive, McLaren's Zak Brown has expressed sincere interest in expanding McLaren's motorsport involvement, including entry into series like the WEC and IndyCar, and in 2006, after another questionable steward's decision, Fernando said he no longer considered Formula 1 a sport. What is the possibility that he would walk away from F1 after 2017?

He may find that he likes IndyCar; driver ability is more important than which team you're driving for and it's far less political than Formula 1. He and McLaren may in fact complete full-time in 2018, and I wouldn't be surprised if, in the next five years, we see a McLaren chassis (or aero bits) developed. I think if, by Monza in September, the McLaren isn't regularly fighting for points (not just the 10th and final points position), Fred's mind may already be made up. He may even race in IndyCar for free next year just to have a chance to win and be competitive. None of this is rumor, just informed and ambitious speculation.

Steve in Eugene, OR

RM: Well he certainly seems like a racer's racer, stepping out of his comfort zone to compete at Indy, but I guess it would depend on how his debut goes, what might be available and what kind of a pay cut he would be willing to take. Obviously Fernando is all about competing and winning and he's got zero shot of that in F1 right now, so IndyCar might be an option. If McLaren started an IndyCar team it might be a "second career", because don't forget Emmo was 38 when he began running CART and Alonso is only 35. But once at Indy may be all he's looking to do.

Alex, Indianapolis

RM: I imagine some of his friends are concerned about Indy's speeds and walls, while others might see it as a slap in the face to F1. And it could be a risk vs. reward thing in their eyes since Fernando reportedly makes $20 million a year. In the '60s it was a badge of honor or courage for Clark, Hill and Stewart, whereas now I don't think F1 drivers consider it that big a deal. But Alonso does, and has been saying for years that he wanted to run Indy some day.

Q: Why do you think the whole F1 world is so negative about Alonso's Indy opportunity? Is there nobody left who remembers when drivers did this all the time? Do they think IndyCar is beneath them? Are they scared? I'm really surprised by the reaction.

Alan Hummel, St. Petersburg, FL

RM: Maybe a little of your last two thoughts but I think we need to point out that Jimmy Clark, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Denny Hulme and Jack Brabham liked/tolerated Indianapolis because of the money. They didn't make much in F1, and Indy's purse was a gold mine to them.

Q: Several of the articles concerning Fernando Alonso running the Indy 500 this year mentioned a test day at Indy before ROP would likely be part of his preparations. Any word on when that test day would be? The mounds in Turn 2 are always open. And any shot at getting Alonso down to Mug-n-Bun?

Andy Bauer, Carmel, IN

RM: Considering Alonso's and IndyCar's schedule the rest of April, it's likely he'll get to run a day in the first week of May before ROP. I think we'll break him in at the Workingman's Friend until he gets his land legs.

Mark, Carmel, IN

RM: Alonso coming to Indy is a fact while the other is just talk right now, so I'll go with the sure thing as the best story.

Q: Fernando running the Indy 500? Take that, Bernie.

Dino from New Hanover, Pa.

RM: A lot of people don't think Bernard would have allowed it to happen if he was still in charge but not sure what he could have done. Dock McLaren points in the manufacturer's race? Make them start near the back?

Scott B., Gainesville, FL

RM: It's not cars or engines as much as it is teams. Stef had a deal with Mike Shank through Andretti, then Jack Harvey scored a sponsor, and then the Alonso deal came along. Honda, of Japan and America, obviously wanted the two-time world champion to have a good shot, but Andretti can't run seven cars. So Stef kindly stepped aside with some guarantees from Mark Miles about a ride for 2018, and taking care of his sponsor for a year. Both manufacturers are obligated to 17 engines for May and Honda is already at 18 with Chevy at 14 and a couple of question marks. I don't think Stef is tied to Honda, although it's his preference, and he wants to do Indy right instead of just being in the show. The problem is that nobody else can offer that opportunity.

Q: The news that Fernando Alonso will be racing at Indy next month could be a preview of what's about to come in the next couple of years: we could see F1 teams cross over to race at Indy including Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Sebastain Vettel, Max Verstappen etc. We could see F1 and IndyCar adopt universal V6 engines to lower cost, and allow IndyCar engines to race in F1. One thing I would like to see is to see American drivers in IndyCar race in F1, which needs to happen.

Alistair, Springfield

RM: I wouldn't get too excited about any or all of that happening, because how many of those teams or drivers or manufacturers really care about Indianapolis? Alonso is an old soul that wants to be challenged and follow in some previous world champion's footsteps, but that doesn't mean Hamilton or Vettel share the same feeling. And as far as getting F1 and IndyCar to work together on an engine, why would F1 do it? They've got their own concerns with only 20 cars, and how many of those teams could even afford to try IndyCar? And, last I checked, F1 really doesn't want an American. Zak Brown is the only hope for bringing McLaren back to America on a full-time basis, and I imagine Honda holds the keys.

Q: I know I am the Nth person to comment on Alonso, but one thing to take note of is that Mansour Ojjeh said McLaren would be open to full IndyCar program in the future. And at least Ojjeh did not downplay the likelihood, unlike his remark on the possibility of Le Mans.

Of course we are not supposed to believe it would happen in 2018, but if that day ever comes, what will become of Andretti Autosport? Are we likely to see them on the third pick for Honda behind McLaren and Ganassi? Will it be beneficial for them to switch to Chevy or a hypothetical third manufacturer? Is chassis competition ever a possibility again someday? This also means Andretti will have six cars at the 500. In terms of gathered data, how beneficial is that sixth car expected to be for the team? Are there still Honda engine leases available? Does this mean Townsend Bell will be out of a ride? Heck, would RACER please update the Indy 500 entrant-listing?

Taufiq from Bandung, Indonesia

RM: Whoa, slow down. Saying you are open to a program and following through are two different things – just like Honda of Japan and American Honda. I'm sure Andretti might listen to any overtures from a third manufacturer (if one ever surfaces), but no chassis competition in the foreseeable future. T. Bell hasn't announced his plans for May but it won't be with Andretti, and I'm not sure he's running. Keep an eye on RACER.com for an updated Indy entry list.

Q: I'm sure your email box has blown up since the Alonso announcement. I know that IndyCar is your focus, but I have to ask: What in the world is going on with McLaren and Honda? I've heard that Alonso is the best-paid driver in Formula 1. I suspect that Honda is picking up a big chunk of his salary. Is McLaren and Honda letting him race Indy because the car/engine combo in F1 is so dreadful, and has been dreadful for so long with no end in sight, that McLaren and Honda just want to give the guy an opportunity to compete with competitive equipment, even if he has never raced on an oval? I suspect also that Honda is going to pour a ton of money into Alonso's Indy debut. Does that sound right?

Steve, Centennial, Colo.

RM: Alonso said his engine was slow and unreliable so I can't add anything, but since he's in the final year of his contract, I think Zak Brown is trying to do whatever he can to keep him happy. Don't know what a ton of money would be, but I imagine a couple million - which would help Michael since hhgregg went belly-up.

Q: Do you remember when Michael Andretti went to F1 and raced McLarens [ED: In 1993, ABOVE)? He was set up to fail from the very beginning. Could this be an opportunity for Andretti to get even with McLaren? To give Alonso second-hand equipment, or just use him for testing new stuff with all the track time he will be getting?

Tom B, Wesley Chapel, FL

RM: Well, it wasn't a very good car (Senna's words) and Ron Dennis decided early he didn't like Michael commuting to races and not being more involved in the team. But Dennis has been ousted and Andretti has no bone to pick with Alonso or Zak Brown, and I'm sure he wants to do the best possible job for the two-time world champion.

Q: Alonso to Indy is, of course, the big news. But if you could choose, which other current Formula 1 driver would you like to see try Indy, and why?

Anthony Jenkins

RM: Either Hamilton or Vettel, because of their status. The latter tested an IndyCar at Homestead for Derrick Walker after winning the Formula BMW title, so that would be a nice full circle.

Q: Why do I have a suspicion that you knew IndyCar was putting together a "house car" of sorts for Fernando Alonso when I asked about the possibility of him running Indy in the Mailbag two weeks ago?

Mike, Alabama

RM: I do remember responding to your question that Alonso would be somebody who could move the dial if he can to Indy. But the truth of the story is that we first caught wind of Alonso's Indy deal on the Friday at Long Beach, and it took Marshall Pruett, Mark Glendenning, Chris Medland and myself three days of detective work to put it all together, and another couple of days of working with IndyCar and McLaren about the timing of our story once they realized that we knew what was going on. (That's also how we were able to have four stories ready to publish immediately). It was the scoop of the decade, and a hell of a lot of fun.

Q: Longtime reader of the Mailbag, and I am super-excited by the news that Fernando Alonso is going to miss the Monaco Grand Prix to race in the Indy 500. Although he is trading an uncompetitive Honda engine in F1 for a very competitive one in IndyCar, it was still a very bold and ballsy move for him to make. I think that he will do well at the race because the IMS is a relatively flat oval and races more like a fast road course than a modern high-banked oval. I think he will finish in the Top 10 if he can finish the race. What's your prediction?

And a big shout-out to Michael Andretti (the hardest working guy in IndyCar) for this, bringing the Steinbrenners into open-wheel, and growing the sport more than any other owner. With all this good news, I have to pinch myself. Seems so contrary to what we usually write and talk about in IndyCar. I am excited to go to the Phoenix Grand Prix this month and see who else turns up.

Arvind Mahadevan, Peoria, AZ

RM: Well I defer to Mario Andretti, who says he thinks with Alonso's talent that a Top 10 is possible for his oval-track debut. I wish more owners would follow Michael's lead because his support of the Mazda series is what IndyCar needs.

 

Q: Great news about Fernando Alonso! With his addition, Andretti Autosport is up to six entries? Just curious what, is the most cars fielded in the Indy 500 from a single team/owner? Is there a cap?

JT, USVI

RM: No cap to my knowledge, but here's what Donald Davidson says:

"I believe Andy Evans had seven [ED: In 1996, including one for Eliseo Salazar, ABOVE], and between Monroe Specials and Frontenac Specials in 1920 (pretty much the same thing), the Chevrolet Brothers had seven cars that year. In 1923, there were eight Durant Specials, but Cliff entered five and sponsored three others - which he didn't own."

Q: The news of Fernando Alonso racing in the Indy 500 is definitely something that has caught my attention in a heavenly way. The fact that he's driving for Andretti Autosport is a bonus. And to think, I expressed my thoughts about Fernando at Indy to you three years ago. Who would've thought that would ever actually occur? I'm so excited when the Greatest Spectacle in Racing starts up again and I hope Fernando wins, if not one of his teammates. Preferably, Marco.

Aaron, Media, PA

RM: In today's big, binding contracts it's amazing Alonso is coming, but like we explained in an earlier question, McLaren needs to do everything possible to keep him happy in the face of its F1 disaster. I picked Marco four or five years in a row and figured I was jinxing him so I stopped, but he's definitely got a great shot.

Q: I believe it has been stated that Cosworth has an IndyCar engine ready to be badged. McLaren has expressed an interest in expanding their racing interests. Any chance the two get together to run a third engine in IndyCar? Would IndyCar embrace this?

Rick Navratil, Phoenix

RM: Well McLaren has always been a car company that uses other people's engines so I imagine it could try that, and I'm sure it would have IndyCar's blessing.

Q: If I am correct, the car count for the Indy 500 is now at 30. This was an idea I had: Spencer Pigot won't be getting a ride with ECR unless something crazy happens and IMS pitches in some money. I know the Juncos seats are costly, but Spencer drove for Ricardo, and he has a lot of experience from his activity in IndyCar last year. I think for Ricardo, Kyle Kaiser and Spencer Pigot would be a good combo. Pigot could bring some support from ECR as well. I also do think Sebastian Saavedra would be a possible fit for that team.

Also, why doesn't Bob Lazier try and bring in a driver with some money? At least until Flynn is ready for the big cars? For them, they need money, and they will need to be competitive. It makes sense for them to try and field Matt Brabham, Stefan Wilson, Saavedra, James Davison or someone with some funding to help boost that team. What are your thoughts and who fills the final seats now that Alonso, Harvey, Veach, and Chaves are all spoken for?

Ben, Noblesville, IN

RM: I count 31 with Juncos running one car and Lazier would be 32, but don't think Kaiser is ready yet. And I'd love to see Spencer reunite with Juncos, but he's working on a former IndyCar winner. Not sure Brabham or Stef want to jump into an under-funded effort just to be in the field. There will be 33, and Juncos might run two cars to get it done if IndyCar helps.

Q: What percentage would you give these teams on being full IndyCar teams in the next two to three years? Taylor Racing, Mike Shank Racing, Juncos Racing, Carlin Racing, McLaren, Harding Racing and Steinbrenner Racing.

Paul, Indianapolis

RM: I'd put Juncos, Steinbrenner and Carlin at 90 percent, Harding at 80, Shank at 60, Taylor at 40 and McLaren at 10.

Q: I have a proposal. It is far too early to be discussing Silly Season and this is probably far too silly to work, but... Penske and Wayne Taylor racing partner up in 2018. Penske runs Power and Newgarden, and Taylor (with the support of Penske) runs both Jordan and Ricky. I believe that the Taylor brothers are both currently GM factory drivers. I think Konica Minolta has been happy with their partnership, and I would imagine they would be interested in the move. Penske is already the Bowtie flagship; he might as well get a couple factory drivers along the way. (Bonus points - they're highly marketable Americans). It's time for Helio to get the same deal JPM got in 2017.

The kicker is, what to do with Pagenaud (ABOVE)? Why not have him spearhead a McLaren IndyCar team? Honda loved having him. I would imagine a McLaren Honda IndyCar entry would want a stud to lead the program, and I'm not sure they could do better than the 2016 series champ. IndyCar needs to dangle some good bait out there to reel McLaren in as a new full-time entry. It'll never happen, but if IndyCar wants to continue to move the needle they need to grasp the momentum generated by the McLaren/Andretti partnership. I got my Indy seats on Sunday. There were a lot fewer seats available Sunday than there were on Wednesday, so Alonso is selling tickets.

Ryan in West Michigan

RM: Well that's certainly an interesting scenario but Pagenaud isn't going anywhere, no matter how much Honda loved him, because you don't quit Roger Penske. Love to see the Taylors in IndyCar, but as long as Helio keeps winning poles and running fast, he's not leaving either. Good to hear about tickets, thanks for the update.

Q: After watching yet another race decided by a caution at an inopportune time (for some drivers), I think IndyCar needs to seriously consider employing the Virtual Safety Car. Here are my reasons: It would eliminate the need for closing the pits when a caution becomes necessary. It would encourage racers to race hard all the time, knowing that any lead they build up will be protected even if there is a caution. It would eliminate bunched up restarts which tend to bring about even more cautions. It would get fans excited about IndyCar's use of modern technology to ensure a fair race.

I don't think any real sports fan likes to see an undeserving winner. It would also return us to one positive aspect of the "good old days", when full-course cautions were very rare, if at all, because the integrity of the race had to be protected. At the same time, drivers and safety workers would still be protected. Will Power supports it. Why do I not hear greater enthusiasm for this concept?

Marc, Orange County, CA

RM: Here's a reponse from Brian Barnhart:

"Virtual Safety Car has huge challenges for us due to the nature of our temporary circuits. The VSC requires many more time lines than we have installed in any of our tracks, and we would not have the ability to install what is necessary on any of our temporary street venues. Again, our discussion has been, the pits need to be open or they need to be closed upon a full-course caution, and the overwhelming majority want them closed in the interest of safety. They will all be frustrated if that caution has hung them out, but as we have discussed, they all know the process and weigh the risk vs. reward in their strategies."

Q: As an open-wheel fan dating back to the '70s, I'm growing increasingly concerned about so many races on road and street courses coming down to fuel strategy. There have always been occasions when races may be decided by who can get the best mileage, but in the olden days it usually happened because of some sort of extraordinary event during the race, like lots of caution periods, weather issues, etc. Do you agree that it appears to be happening with more regularity now, or am I just remembering things fondly?

If so, why do you think it's happening? Is there anything IndyCar can do about it, such as lengthening race distances or altering car fuel capacities? At a time when IndyCar has a small window of opportunity to cut into NASCAR's dominance and attract new fans, I think it's imperative to address it because nothing turns off fans, both new and old, more than watching racers puttering around single file and not going for it because they're trying to stretch fuel mileage.

Rod Evans, Houston

RM: I was asking some of Dixon's mechanics that question before Long Beach: when did fuel mileage become such a big deal? Nobody can put a finger on it, but IndyCar has become so deep and close in the past decade than it used to be so pit stops and fuel strategy have become paramount in deciding winners. We don't hear that much about saving fuel on ovals (thankfully), although Indy was decided by that very thing a year ago, so I don't know the answer.

Q: I just read your April 12 Mailbag – particularly the complaints about fuel saving at Long Beach. I like red meat as much as anyone, and generally agree that watching a guy circle around saving fuel is not compelling television. But last week at Long Beach, fuel saving – and the different strategies it allowed for – was the thing that kept the race interesting.

If everyone is on the same fuel strategy and they're going all out all the time, and you have a guy like Dixon who's trimmed out to run in front, and he gets there, you've got a high-speed parade for two hours. We've seen it at Long Beach many times, and it's the sort of thing that makes you look for yard work to do. Last week the different strategies made a race that is often boring after the first three laps quite compelling all the way to the finish. If you want to see all-out-hammer-down racing from green to checkers (which, I agree, is awesome), go see a sprint car race. IndyCar racing has always been, and should be, something a little more strategic.

Bert C. Reiser, Washington, D.C.

RM: Good point Bert, that's become a key component to street and road racing (even Indy sometimes) and NASCAR has the same strategy/dilemma depending on how you categorize it. That's why I always loved twin 125s or 150s, because it was a sprint with only one pit stop. IndyCar still has some flat out, awesome shows like Texas last year, but fuel strategy seems to carry the day in road racing.

Doug Bowles, St. Albert, Canada

RM: IndyCar wanted to add 10 laps to Long Beach, but the promoter has a deal with the city to be out at a certain time so streets can begin opening up again and only five laps were added – which made two stops possible. But those mandatory pit stops in Champ Car didn't do much for the overall event. It was too predictable, and not really balls-to-the-wall racing.

Q: I love the Mailbag, I've never missed one, and feel like it's time to write you. I can't believe the Long Beach TV ratings, I actually thought it was a misprint. I love IndyCar and never miss a broadcast, but alarm bells are ringing in my head for the sport I can't live without. I won't blame NBCSN; enough of that. IndyCar can not allow its second biggest race to receive 321,000 viewers. If they can't figure out how to market and promote, we're gonna be out of luck, and sooner than later, I'm afraid.

Glenn Devery

RM: Going up against the Masters is always death, especially when it goes to a playoff, so it was tough sledding for NASCAR as well. But Mark Miles has made it clear he'd like to have one network cover the whole series, and then Long Beach could at least have a fighting chance on NBC.

Q: Aloha Robin, I've been following open-wheel since the 1960 Rathman/Ward duel at Indy. Could you explain why tire warmers and power steering are not allowed? Cold tires have caused some bad accidents, especially on the ovals (Zanardi's horrible accident comes to mind). Power-assisted steering was used on Championship dirt cars back in the day. Why is it not allowed on IndyCars and F1 today? I have been reading your articles since the 70s.

Jim, Kapaa, Hawaii

RM: Thanks for reading, I defer to Marshall Pruett:

"Good question on tire warmers - it's a culture thing. They're allowed in F1 and in the World Endurance Championship, Europe's two biggest series. At home, they're banned in IndyCar, NASCAR and IMSA. The reason I hear for the ban in most instances is cost, which is a cop-out, based on all the silly/expensive things teams are willing to buy each season.

"There's also the competitive question. If everyone has sticky tires leaving the pits, there's little chance for a Will Power to show what separates him from a Max Chilton on cold tires. If I was in charge, I'd ban them for the latter reason.

"On power steering, it would be possible with an electric solution, but the space in the tub was never provisioned when the DW12 was designed, so fitment could be the obstacle. Like the tire warmers, IndyCar's lack of power steering is a differentiator in the sport. Drop most of our heroes - when they were in their prime - into a Chevy- or Honda-powered DW12 at Mid-Ohio, and I doubt they'd last 10 laps before pitting and panting like a dog. And beyond the physical strength that's now required, the peak efficiency needed to push that DW12 with 5500 pounds of downforce to within one percent of its maximum speed for an entire race is also something the legends were never trained to do.

"We have an entire field of drivers who've raised their strength and cardio to triathlete levels just to handle the rigors of racing a modern IndyCar. Pretty amazing stuff, and the lack of power steering has driven this physical revolution."

Q: I have just taken my wife along the California coastal drive after attending the race at Long Beach, and I came across Laguna Seca. This led me to question why IndyCar does not race there now? I know they have the finale at Sonoma, but Laguna is a much more iconic track, and the racing at Sonoma is not great. Why did IndyCar choose Sonoma over Laguna? Is there any talk of a return to that great circuit?

Peter Williams, Kent, UK

RM: No doubt it's scenic and iconic, but it's not a very racy track for IndyCars, and the last couple CART/Champ Car races there were awful – just like the crowds. Sonoma's attendance is nothing compared to the NASCAR show, but it seems to have gotten better, little by little. And it got the nod because it wanted a race. I think if Sonoma ever dropped out, then Laguna could be back in, and I suppose both could exist if you could run one in the spring, but I haven't heard Laguna mentioned in a couple years.

Q: It really bothers me when I hear that the Milwaukee Mile is dead. The track has been around for a very long time and it has a rich IndyCar history. Why don't the Hulmans try to save that race? You would think having a consistent, yearly contest at Milwaukee would be towards the top of their list of things that need to be preserved. I consider it a travesty that the IndyCars may never race there again. It's a track that should be on the schedule every single year. Somehow, some way, Mark Miles should figure out a way to get it back on the schedule. I believe they could eventually turn a profit if they could just get some continuity going again. Consistency is the key.

Rob, Louisville, KY

RM: I think the Hulman/George family spent a fortune keeping teams and races going back in the IRL so that's not going to happen, and Milwaukee's only shot is the week after Indy - and that's not going to happen either with Penske and Chevy at Detroit. It sucks, but I don't see much of a chance.

Q: Longtime reader and occasional writer. Well, I've heard you say it a thousand times and I'm finally doing it. I'll be driving from Iowa to New York, pick up my son, son-in-law and 9-year old grandson and then driving to the race at Pocono. Ordered the tickets with pit passes. This will be the first IndyCar race for all three, and I hope to get them hooked, especially my grandson. If so, the plan is to take him to the Indy 500 next year. You've said us fans should try and attract new fans, so I'm doing my part. The tickets are for the middle of the grandstand so we should have a good view of most of the track. Is there anything else I should try and fit in with them to make it memorable for them?

Jerry Laake

RM: Probably attend the autograph session, and just mingle in the garage because they can get up close and personal with the cars as well as the teams. You are a good man to make that drive, so I hope you are successful in converting these youngsters.

Q: I went to the New York International Auto Show on opening day on Friday and had a great time. I was going in expecting another year of minimal motorsports involvement, but I was pleasantly surprised. Honda shipped over Alexander Rossi's Indy 500-winning car (a show car, but the general public doesn't know the difference) and a MotoGP bike, Formula E had its own booth, and Jaguar had its Formula E car, Mazda brought some MX-5 cup cars, etc. The most popular cars for the public by far were any sort of race car. Even the Prius race car that Toyota brought had a sizable crowd oohing and aahing over it.

The general public may not be avid race fans, but the pretty shiny race cars are as popular as ever with everyone. The only motorsport that actually promoted itself was Formula E. Formula E had a car, a raffle for free tickets... and a cardboard cutout of Nelson Piquet Jr. Nobody from IndyCar was doing any promoting near the Rossi car, it was just sitting there. The only mention of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was as a background in a Chevrolet photo booth. There's a race in the very same state at Watkins Glen and one reasonably close at Pocono, and nobody from the race tracks or IndyCar was there to promote it. F1 didn't bring a booth to promote the US Grand Prix. There were a few GT cars there, but nobody from WEC or IMSA was promoting any local races. Not even NASCAR bothered to show up.

When there's very obviously an interest in race cars at these auto shows, why are the motorsports executives not taking advantage of this perfect chance to win over the general public?

Joey of the Priuses

RM: Good question. I think they've had drivers at the Detroit Auto Show before but I would make sure IndyCar had a booth in New York, LA, Detroit and the Chili Bowl with drivers, hats, schedules, selfies and lots of hand shaking.