~Robin Miller
The Mailbag has received lots of inquiries wondering if INDYCAR is ever going to be part of a new racing game so here is the latest from Greg Gruning:
"We have signed a deal with Simraceway.com to include INDYCAR as part of their online racing game. They launched last November and already are developing a sizeable following among racing game fans. The game is free to join – basically you pay for upgraded content. The game offers great flexibility in terms of game modes, content pricing, and control input (you can use anything from a keyboard to a full motion rig—they even their own racing wheel) What we really liked about them is that they are big on authenticity. They have been working with Dario Franchitti and Allan McNish, who won at Sebring, shaking down the cars.
It’s only beta at the moment but once it’s fully up-and-running it’ll be offering free, laser-scanned tracks, over 600 licensed cars, including our 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series cars. They will also have a groundbreaking skill-matching system that they say will guarantee competitive racing for drivers of all abilities.
There are other deals we hope to announce in the near future.’’
Regards, Greg Gruning | Executive Vice President-Corporate Business Development, INDYCAR
Q: If St. Pete was an indicator of the rest of the year, then 2012 promises to be one of the best seasons we have ever seen in AOWR. The drivers drove smart (no Turn 1 pileup!), the racing was great, the passing was great, and best of all the top 5 were not the same group we've seen for the last 2 years! Race Control was never heard from, the pit strategy was fun to watch, some cars had mechanical trouble (finally!), and you had a great feel-good story to end the day (Nobody could have celebrated like Helio). Really, what more could anyone ask for in a season opener? I know. A television channel that actually gives a crap. ABC damn near cut off the broadcast before they even interviewed Helio (the credits were rolling as he was stepping out of the car). Seriously? What the Hell ABC!!! Whatever Sunday bullcrap you had planned is NOT more important than the race you are scheduled to air. I don't care if they were running over, that is NOT cool!!! Indy Car either needs to force ABC to step up their game or they should leave for NBC for good. You know ABC wouldn't pull the kind of a stunt for a NASCAR race and Randy Bernard needs to make it clear he won't put up with it either. For the first time in ages, I actually though the ABC broadcast was decent. The way they ended it certainly soured my mood. St. Pete was great, I cannot wait for them to come back to Baltimore, and if I plan my schedule right, I might even be able to hit up Milwaukee for the first time ever. So happy that 2012 is underway!
David Zipf
RM: Like I wrote on SPEED.com, for all the unknowns going into the weekend it turned out about as good as anybody could have for-seen and looked downright professional on every level. Not sure what followed the race on ABC but when you’re the stepchild of a network, that’s what happens.
Q: I thought it was a great weekend of racing. It looks like there are more nationally powered & relevant sponsors fully invested then there has been in some time. (Chevy, Honda, Lotus (to some degree anyway), Shell, Target, Verizon, IZOD, DHL, Dr Pepper Snapple, GoDaddy, Geico). Granted, most of the major sponsors come from the 4 biggest teams, but the runs by Pagenaud & Newgarden show the level of talent in the series. The series is validated with the international success of drivers like Barrichello, Pagenaud & Bourdais. The sound was great & the cars popped. Sure there is more potential with aero kits, street course standing starts & more horsepower but we know they are already coming or possible. Are there any other real likely players in the 2013 aero kit game other than the 3 manufacturers? Are there any more rumbles of other engine suppliers joining in the coming years? The single gripe I have with the weekend was the headline on IndyCar.com 'Power Sets a Track Record in Claiming Pole Start'. If I understand correctly, Will's time of 1:01:3721 was the fastest since '04 when the then IRL (nausea) first began racing at St. Pete. Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the St Pete layout the same in 2003 when CART ran there? If so, Bourdais ran a lap of 1:00:928 in Q2 & Q3. I know CART was a different sanctioning body but doesn't INDYCAR own the rights to CART's history?
Jordan, Binghamton, NY
PS Marshall it was great to see your tech videos on Speed.com. Hope to see more like it!
RM: Fiat showed some interest and now with The Captain running Fords in NASCAR we’re all hoping he can steer them back to INDYCAR. Haven’t heard anything about new aero kits other than we assume Honda and GM will make their own. Yes, St. Pete is the same track and Seb did it with about 200 more horsepower. I understand your gripe though because, technically, Will’s run was not THE track record – just the track record for the IndyCar Series.
Q: With the exception of minor shuffling on restarts, there was only a single legit pass for position on track at St. Pete. It was purely a pit strategy/mileage race with just a single highlight of driver skill for 26 cars during an entire race. They might as well as saved some serious money and bought 26 Prius' and made the race about fuel efficiency. Yes it is the first race with new cars but the question is do we really think Dallara and INDYCAR have the capability to create changes to the cars that would promote passing? BTW the broadcast sucked. No mention of the changes in livery, sponsorships. Heck they didn't even mention car numbers just the names of the drivers assuming all fans would already have known who was driving what car. I love the fact that TGBB's name was not mentioned once during the race. I hope the drivers and team owners advocate for whatever changes are needed to get some passing. Watching Will Power (not to mention several other hot shoes) go an entire race without a pass should be seen as a huge problem. Did I mention the broadcast sucked beyond belief?
Tom, Gilbert, AZ
RM: Sadly, because of ABC’s pathetic coverage you viewers missed quite a bit of passing from fifth to 15th all afternoon. Simon Pagenaud, J.R. Hildebrand and Josef Newgarden made some nifty moves, as did Ryan Briscoe, but obviously nobody sitting at home saw them. After the race I asked Dario if it was tough to pass and he replied: ``It must not have been, I sure got passed by a lot of people.’’
Q: A lot to like for the weekend. Sure, it was mostly processional and Always Bad Coverage was in effect, but you have to like the great weather, "gorgeous facility", lack of last year's stupid driving, lots of different strategies, and a popular winner with a nice DW tribute to start the season. Two things, I'm still not sure I understand the huge grid penalty for Pagenaud given the engine change was made prior to qualifications, and how was he able to march through the field twice when Power and Dario were mired mid-pack? Based on his and Dixie's comments, I can see Dario's issue possibly being Honda power, but is there any thought to Power's mentality making it hard to come from behind or him just having a setup to run in clean air only?
Andy, Nashville, TN
RM: The penalty is really against the engine manufacturer for not being able to run 1,850 miles before changing but it’s the driver who suffers. I think 10 spots is too harsh (only five in F1) and I guarantee you that if Simon had started sixth he would have been a factor in the outcome. Will was real fast in front but struggled after that first pit stop and Franchitti said they basically missed the setup.
Q: I hope I'm not the only one extremely disappointed/mad by the pace of the DW12 package. I was excited about the new formula and could tolerate another year of spec cars, the obnoxious rear fenders and the zoomy side-pods if they were faster. The old Dallara was heavier, designed exclusively for ovals with a de-tuned motor and one could have qualified on the front row this year in St. Pete. The fact they didn't come close to breaking 60 seconds there is sad. Very sad. They need 300+ more horsepower tomorrow.
Paul, Chicago
RM: All the drivers agree with you, more power, but the new car is within a few pounds of being just as heavy as the Crapwagon. For me, at least they looked and sounded faster than the old cars.
Q: I'd like to give a standing ovation to Mr. Beaux Barfield, and the race control team, and congratulate them on executing a fine, smooth, professional race on their debut. I'd also like to extend that congratulation to the drivers for executing a fine, smooth, professional race. The lack of silly spins and silly, overly-optimistic passing attempts kept the cautions to a very acceptable minimum. I'm sure a lot of newbie fans thought that was a boring race, but for a semi-old-timer (I'm only 41) like me it was, as you stated on Wind Tunnel, "a typical street race". I wouldn't necessarily say that Helio ran away with that race, but because there wasn't a litany of unnecessary cautions the front runner's did build comfortable gaps to the field. And of course the varying fuel strategies allowed Helio and Dixon to run rich while Hunter-Reay had to settle for third because of fuel concerns. Such is racing and perhaps next week the strategies will be reversed. Now being an open wheel fan I must switch gears and do my bitching and moaning for the week. And since I had to take this one in from my living room, my piss and vinegar is directed at the broadcast. Why does ABC/ESPN continue to insist on treating its motor sports audience (I watch Sprint Cup, Nationwide and ALMS on ABC/ESPN too) like morons? Their production team seems clueless about the intricacies of motor sports. During those long green runs when the leaders are gaping the field, the fan sitting at home should be hearing diatribes explaining the various fuel strategies and what effect the accumulating lap times are having on those strategies. What did we get on Sunday? Filler fluff interview excerpts from a couple of the drivers. It's as if they think the common fan can't comprehend or care less about multiple strategies. I think this is why Indycar continues to fail at garnering new fans, if your broadcast team doesn't care enough to deliver a quality broadcast, then why should a casual/new fan care to tune in? At least I can take comfort in knowing that Jon Beekhuis and Wally Dallenbach of NBC Sports will provide that strategy narrative that is absolutely required to make street/road course racing compelling TV. Please use whatever influence you may possess and urge all the management types at Indycar, ABC/ESPN, and NBC Sports to watch a SPEED broadcast of any F1 race (including qualifying). That way they'll actually see a quality race broadcast. If they can't learn from that, then they'll never learn.
Chris M., Long Beach, CA.
RM: I never heard Beaux’ name mentioned all weekend and that’s the way it should be. He changed the way the race started (at the green and not the S-F line) and that certainly helped on the start and restarts. And his doing away with the imaginary lines also made it possible for Helio’s outside pass of Dixon, who took the inside line as the leader rightfully should. There is no excuse for ABC, well it’s a poor excuse, and you can bet that NBC won’t lose the plot this weekend.
Q: A suggestion to INDYCAR, don't televise a race on the same day as a F1 race. I watched the snooze-fest and if this is the future of Indy car racing, move on to Plan B. Watching these ridiculous looking cars following each other lap after lap was painful. If there ever was a more glaring example of Spec Car Competition it had to be watching Malibu Racers tearing up the track. Sorry folks, the car is hideous to look at and at some angles it kind of reminds me of a vacuum cleaner of the future. What a surprise that Penske has the Chevy engine figured out. I have an idea how to make it more fun. Penske has to use the Lotus power plant and everyone else can use whatever it wants (Briggs and Stratton included). Not a fun day to watch the start of a new season. On yeah, another stellar performance by the Ladies of INDYCAR.
Gary the Grouch
RM: The only reason F1 was more entertaining was because of rain. Had it rained in St. Pete, we would have seen the same thing. But I do like your idea about RP going with Lotus, at least for a couple races.
Q: It was the first race without TGBB as race controller, but INDYCAR still can't get the starts right. Even though they made an effort to come down the main straight in twos, they were all over the place well before the start line. If a driver earns the right to start in a certain position in qualifying, he or she should be there as they cross the start line. That start should have been waved off and done right. I am guessing the only way the "World's Greatest Drivers" are going to do it right will be when penalties are put in place for doing it wrong. Maybe a drive through on the next lap? I still think a remote rev limiter switch connected to the green flag is the way to go. Oh well, they have a few more tries to practice for Indy.
Keith Hines, Pitt Meadows, BC Canada
RM: Barfield had them start racing at the green flag, not waiting until the start-finish line and I thought that was smart because they had more time to spread out. Looked like pretty good starts and restarts to me.
Q: My thoughts from Round 1 are that no matter how much faster Will Power is than the rest of the field his team will find a way to lose it for him if someone hasn't hit him already. Everyone who hasn't driven a F1 car or a new Le Mans Prototype recently struggled mightily with the hand clutch and stalled on pit lane or couldn't get the car restarted on track. Teams also underestimated the battery power needed to run all the new electronics. Finally everybody and I mean everybody should be thanking god that Sebastien Bourdais is racing for Lotus Dragon because after watching his brief stint in the top 10 during the race hold up some of the faster cars in what appeared to be a painfully slow car I am convinced if he had a ride for Ganassi or Penske he would probably win every race on a street or road course.
Mad Max
RM: It was more bad luck than bad strategy because all the two stoppers got rescued by TK’s stalled car, which got them just enough caution. If Seabass or Justin Wilson were in red cars, they’d be very tough. Ditto for Pagenaud.
Q: I am probably in the minority here but after watching Sunday's race at St Pete with the cars painted with the sponsor logos. I do not think they looked that bad, and my 7-year-old grandson thought they were "COOL' (always a good sign). Yes the view of the car from the rear with their "Kardashians" could be better, but am more than willing to trade that for the safety aspect of keeping another car from flying in an accident. My big question is how can ABC keep getting worse? Bourdais went from fighting for the lead, made a routine pit stop and the next information is on a scoring scroll is that he is out of the race. It is NEVER mentioned that is he out or the reason why (still don't know). I know ABC has the contract, and I am not hoping that another broadcaster will take it over soon because that won't happen. But what can be done about getting ABC to actually cover the race, and not just use the race as filler around their pre-recorded shorts and interviews?
Ken, Lake Wateree, SC
RM: Bourdais had some problems that were reportedly associated to the ECU, which gave teams problems all weekend. As for ABC, I have several ideas on how to make it better but the best suggestion is for them to go away.
Q: Just read your piece about the race and you were right on. I was looking for more blown motors but saw only the Sat. actual motor problem for Sam's team. I was very impressed with some of the young guns like Newgarden as well as the new cars. I walk around a lot and they were all very smooth back in the park area. Gives me some hope for the future. Maybe we will see some new winners this year. I thought the racin’ was good all weekend. Pass this on to the powers that be. I sat in the grandstand for the race last Sunday. Many of the fans sitting around me were not happy they paid to sit in the Grand Stand. Only to have the dopy PR people put the pre-race activities on behind them. They only got to see it and the drivers on the Big Screens. They all know NASCAR puts on a big show right out front before the race. Like it or not it is a money PR game today. The PR and TV have got to get even better. The race was good, even better than I expected. I am now trying to make arrangements to get over to Alabama Sat. and Sunday. One question I have. What affect will the pods on the back of the new cars going to have at the Speedway in May? I could see them creating a parachute effect slowing the cars down. I hope some engineer thought about that in the design. Hope to see you in Alabama.
Bob "The Old Man" Lauman, Lawrenceville, GA.
RM: I heard a lot of people who paid to sit on the front stretch bitching about not being able to see the driver intros. It was a BAD IDEA. The road course version does act a little like a parachute but there’s a new version for the ovals.
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