Welcome to the Q: I’m not sure if you’ve ever watched ‘The Office’, but doesn’t IndyCar remind you of that episode where Michael announces a big surprise to the staff, and it turns out to be ice cream sandwiches? It’s kind of like all the drivers hyping up something big after their dinner.
Steve
MARSHALL PRUETT: I’ve watched ‘The Office’ from the beginning, and I catch reruns a few times a week when I want to relax. It’s worth noting that ice cream is Penske’s favorite treat, so you might be onto something here.
Joking aside, as I’ve mentioned before, there’s nothing earth-shattering in the works for the series that anyone knows of. However, let’s see if the series can buy some time with their current strategy of promising that everything will be great in the future without actually revealing any details.
Q: Last week, I attended a minor league hockey game for the Milwaukee Admirals, and during intermission, there was a commercial for Penske truck rental on the Jumbotron. Why wasn’t there an ad for the upcoming Road America race or the return to Milwaukee Mile later this year? If I wasn’t already a fan, I wouldn’t have known that IndyCar races take place here.
Max
MP: I’m guessing that the ad was placed by a local Penske truck rental location rather than the main Penske corporate arm. It wouldn’t make sense for the local owner/operator to spend money promoting a race they have no involvement in.
Q: In response to your answer to Terry from Maryland last week, you called the end of the Daytona 24 a “bit of a nothing burger.” Isn’t that similar to what happened in Abu Dhabi in 2021 and the Indy 500 in 2022, where the wrong winners were declared? You never know what can happen on the last lap, and race officials need to get it right. You, Marshall, should understand that.
Bill
MP: If you’ve followed my work for the past 18 years, you know that I’m not afraid to criticize when necessary and give credit where it’s due. In this case, I don’t see it as an issue, so I won’t manufacture outrage over a 24-hour race being called off a lap early.
Sure, if the race went one more lap, anything could have happened. But we can come up with endless imaginary scenarios. Let’s not compare it to F1’s worst-ever officiating call. The Rolex 24 being called the Rolex 23h58m is not a big deal.
Q: During the recent IndyCar hybrid test, you mentioned that one of the drivers successfully used the on-board starter. While this is a great feature to avoid lengthy yellows for stalled cars, what happens if a driver is injured or concussed and continues to drive? Or if the car restarts but leaves debris on the track? Has IndyCar addressed these scenarios?
Andy, Farmington Hills, MI
MP: I reached out to IndyCar for answers, but didn’t receive a response in time for this Mailbag. However, I imagine they would have mentioned their ability to monitor G forces and determine if a crash exceeds the limit. They can also instruct the driver to stay in place and wait for the safety team if necessary.
In the case of a crash that falls below the concussion limit, the race director can make a call via radio to either instruct the driver to stop or allow them to continue if the debris is minimal.
Q: After Nigel Mansell won the 1993 PPG IndyCar World Series, do you remember if he gave a shoutout to sponsor Dirt Devil in his post-race interview by saying to buy Dirt Devil if you need the best vacuum cleaner? I can’t find that interview online.
Bob Crosby, Charlotte, NC
MP: That’s a great question for Mailbag readers, Bob. I don’t have any information on what one driver said about one sponsor in one post-race interview 31 years ago. At that time, I would have been in the paddock, helping with the teardown and loading of cars and equipment.
