The RACER Mailbag, May 6

Q: Have you heard anything from Green-Savoree about Markham ticket renewals? Customers who were on file as having purchased tickets for Toronto last year are supposed to get first crack at tickets for the new event. They are supposed to receive an email about that.

It’s now May, and there hasn’t been any updates about when that will happen and how many grandstands there will be. The layout of the infield on their website is subject to change and not to scale.

We had a brutal winter this year in the Greater Toronto area. The latest update on track construction per City of Markham is that Phase 2 resumed on March 23 and, weather permitting, will be done by June 30.

They’ve been busy improving infrastructure at the Unionville GO Station where the dual-sided pitlane will be and the streets that are used for the course.

The city is removing all of the existing asphalt, pedestrian walkways, center medians and some sidewalks. Traffic signals are being removed and relocated as are crosswalks. Turns 9-12 begin at an access road that was widened before the winter hiatus.

It’s an enormous and impressive undertaking for the inaugural event. 

David Colquitt

MP: I haven’t heard a peep on tickets, my friend. 

Q: I recall there was considerable enthusiasm when PREMA decided to field an IndyCar team because of its organizational stability, impressive racing pedigree and deep pockets – all seemingly born out in a pole position with a rookie driver in its first Indy.

So what really happened to cause such a near-immediate turnabout? Did the apparently permanent inability to obtain a charter without acquiring existing one contribute to the decision?

David Spear

MP: The person paying for everything lost interest in paying for everything.

Q: Maybe I've missed the announcement, or have not been able to locate any news related to the reveal of the 2028 chassis design. Do we have a date or any type of guidance on when we can expect to see it? 

Monika

MP: We do not. I was of the belief that it would be revealed this month, but I’m no longer confident in that happening.

Q: Can you give insight as to why several cars at the recent Indy car IMS Open Test belched quite a lot of what appeared to be burnt oil smoke on start-up? I don't remember seeing this in the past.

Warbird Willie

MP: Been happening since the start of 2025 at every event. A change of some sorts with Chevy/Ilmor that leads to oil being burned upon start-up, but not on every start-up. 

Q: Sixty seconds into the Long Beach race highlights on IndyCar's YouTube channel, it sounds like Pato O'Ward is blaming his spotter for Palou passing down his seemingly not well-defended inside. If I'm interpreting this correctly, then sadly have lost a bit of my great respect for Pato. 

I can understand the need for spotters on (at least short) ovals, but the rest of the world (F1, et al) seems to road race just fine relying on mirrors and anticipatory racecraft alone. Thoughts please?

J. Kowalski, St. Petersburg, FL

MP: What other series do/don’t do is of no significance. IndyCar teams bring spotters to almost every race. Spotters being positioned atop Turn 1 is a normal thing. I’d assume Pato had a spotter there because of his comment and assumption Palou’s firing down the inside to take the position was something he could have been warned about.

I’d also assume most drivers, especially on the first lap of racing at Long Beach, and every restart at Long Beach, would know to expect their closest competitors to try and fire down the inside and take their position as they arrive at Turn 1. A spotter can tell you that someone’s close and might be looking, but they shouldn’t have to tell you to be mindful of an inside pass.