Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers may be despatched to mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters that embody a query usually tend to be printed. Questions acquired after 3pm ET every Monday shall be saved for the next week.
Q: I learn that Mike Cannon has abruptly left PREMA. Is that an correct report, and in that case, have you learnt why? There was a large turnover of engineers, technicians and managers the final a number of years, so this isn’t an enormous shock. Does he have a brand new vacation spot? Can’t think about he would discover one thing extra interesting.
Dave
MARSHALL PRUETT: One of many nice issues about working in racing as a mechanic and the opposite issues I did from 1986-2001 was making a ton of buddies who stay in IndyCar (and IMSA) at present. One of many negatives, a minimum of in knowledgeable capability as a reporter, is a few of these conversations with buddies within the paddock are of a private nature and aren’t topic to sharing on the time they occur.
However Michael later selected to share his facet in a public discussion board, and stated it was as a result of workforce ignoring his enter and feeling his expertise was being wasted. There’s extra to the story, however falls beneath the between-friends class.
Cannon was solely at PREMA for the reason that finish of final 12 months, so this was certainly a shock. I’ve heard from two workforce homeowners who’re occupied with buying his providers, and doubt we’ll get by the following Mailbag or two with out his affirmation at a brand new (or former) workforce.
Q: Do you may have any details about what occurred to Benjamin Pedersen after being dropped by Foyt in 2023? Did he damage his probabilities within the sequence that badly along with his antics at Mid-Ohio that 12 months?
Matthew Houk, Columbus, OH
MP: Mid-Ohio didn’t damage his probabilities. The workforce wasn’t nice, and his household allegedly received the deal of the century with a three-year, $9 million contract, however with the quite a few crashes, together with the destruction of a chassis on the primary lap of the season, that three-year funds was stated to have been used up principally in Yr 1. There have been different allegations about missed fee deadlines, and people misses opening the door to exiting the contract.
I haven’t seen the contract, so I can’t let you know what’s actual or not actual. However the truth that the child was changed by Sting Ray Robb, who was rumored to convey $9 million for a single 12 months, suggests what the workforce wanted to outlive as a two-car program.
I at all times favored Benjamin. He didn’t get a lot of an opportunity to indicate us something. Given a second season, with a greater workforce than he had in 2023, I believe he’d make a extra constructive impression. Not saying he’d be bothering the highest half of the sector, however he wouldn’t be parked on the again.
Who is aware of once we’ll see Benjamin Pedersen in an IndyCar once more, however he’ll be in motion on the Rolex 24 at Daytona this weekend in PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports’s No. 52 LMP2 entry. James Gilbert/Motorsport Pictures
Q: What an incredible response to the query/remark from Mike in Michigan, and sure I’m a Rush fan as properly. That stated, regardless of my age (73) I determine with youthful individuals on most issues and within the case of IndyCar we’re growing older out of relevance.
Of all of the homeowners who make their opinions recognized, Zak Brown comes closest to nailing the basic issues with the sequence. I begin with the machines themselves and we state the apparent in saying that they, too, are aged out.
There may be little about them that excites, and the one motive to look at is that the racing is improbable and the drivers are, for probably the most half, tier one gamers. However as you stated, that alone doesn’t make it work. Watch races from the golden period within the Nineties, and the fields weren’t tight, with the standard up and down the grid way more variable. Nonetheless, the vehicles themselves have been weapons, and after they all began/warmed up on the grid it was unbelievable to the senses.
As an apart, I used to be on the false grid at Lengthy Seaside in 2017 within the Can-Am characteristic that 12 months. I used to be in my M8F large block, and as I used to be sitting ready to get on to the mix line, James Hinchcliffe noticed me and this automobile and stated, “That’s f### superior!” It was the visceral sensation of that energy and sensory overload that clearly was in his thoughts.
As for the vehicles, put them on a couple of 200-pound weight-reduction plan, convey up the facility and let’s use an actual state-of-the-art chassis. We aren’t recreating F1, however we will have one thing very attractive, quick as hell and much much less upkeep. I actually surprise if the possession appears past 12 months on this enterprise.
Administration on the high has to get youthful and re-invigorate this system. You say this in your piece — the C-level individuals must be of their 40s and 50s, not of their 70s and 80s.
IndyCar won’t ever be F1. Nonetheless, in North America it may be way more influential and a further race in Canada aside from Toronto, a race in Mexico and maybe in South America need to be consummated. I fail to grasp how they haven’t run with the recognition of Pato O’Ward to safe a significant occasion in Mexico Metropolis or Monterrey.
FOX is a giant plus, the Dallas occasion shall be a giant deal and the published workforce shall be first-rate. I’m nonetheless a fan, however for goodness sake, let’s take some dangers.
Emmett, Dallas, TX
MP: A lot of attention-grabbing ideas right here, Emmett. From a racing perspective, Penske Racing — the period earlier than the rebrand as Crew Penske — was all about taking dangers, pushing every part to the sting and past at occasions within the title of not simply beating the other, however destroying them. A lot of that very same spirit lives on the workforce at present, however I can’t say I recall seeing that cavalier strategy at Penske Company, of which Penske Leisure falls inside.
Spending a small fortune to conceive and make “The Beast” and completely dominate the 1994 Indy 500 with a motor that exploited the far reaches of the principles — which have been ready to be exploited — and making historical past with that ballsy choice? You wager. Learn Jade Gurss’s book on the mission; you received’t be upset.
Doing one thing daring and boundary-pushing with a enterprise, and IndyCar is certainly run like a enterprise by Penske? I’m certain I’m unsuitable and have missed the examples, however I’m unaware of something that will be thought of wild in relation to enterprise choices. I proceed to hope the ultra-conservative strategy we’ve seen thus far with Penske’s possession of IndyCar doesn’t carry over into the upcoming chassis and engine method it’s creating, however I received’t be shocked if it does.
