Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers can be sent to mailbag@racer.com. Due to the high volume of questions received, we can’t guarantee that every letter will be published, but we’ll answer as many as we can. Published questions may be edited for length and clarity. Questions received after 3pm ET each Monday will appear the following week.
Q: I know that Roger Penske does not put rookies in his IndyCars, that he and Will Power have been influential in advancing Myles Rowe’s career, and that Foyt has a new alliance with Penske. I love the concept of Myles doing his rookie year driving a Foyt car. It worked for Kyle Kirkwood – any chance that it could happen?
Pete, Tucson
MARSHALL PRUETT: I probably failed to drive the point home hard enough in the story that revealed this Pete, but this is the exact reason why Penske is aligning with Foyt. Having the Foyts ready to run an extra car, on Penske’s behalf, for Myles, is what Penske wants in return — and it would be funded by Penske — for the technical support Foyt’s currently receiving. There’s one other thing that Penske wanted from the relationship, but that’s not for public consumption.
Q: Will fans be able to attend the Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge? I know last year’s testing was for media and IndyCar personnel only.
Martin West
MP: I’m told somewhere between 3000-4000 tickets will be made available for purchase, but let’s wait and see what the final number ends up being when they go up for sale, possibly first to members of the IndyCar Nation fan club.
Q: I have an idea to get the Cleveland race back on the schedule. Since Penske Entertainment has been adding rock and country music concerts to many of the races/events, why can’t we have The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Cleveland Grand Prix? Back in the day I attended two Cleveland Grands Prix and it was a great place to watch an IndyCar race. Also, I’m guessing most of our current fan base watched the many races held there back in the CART days. The Hall is right next door to the Burke Airport/racetrack, making it easy for the fans to visit the Hall of Fame and attend the races, and there could be nightly concerts Thursday through Sunday after the on-track activities. Could be a win-win for IndyCar fans and the Hall.
Rick Schneider, Charlotte
MP: I’m in—let’s go!
Q: We loved IndyCar at Texas Motor Speedway, but sadly there’s no stop there in 2024. If you had to choose between going to Mid-Ohio or Barber Motorsports Park, which would be the best place to get a great view of a large portion of the track? That’s what we like about ovals. We live in Pennsylvania, so Mid-Ohio would be a nice drive.
Keith and Lorrie Blaisdell
MP: Barber is clean and flawless, but some sections aren’t as easy to view as you’d like. Mid-Ohio isn’t a match for creature comforts or pristine presentation of its facility, but you can walk everywhere inside and out of the circuit and take it in with the cars seemingly within reach at almost every turn. If you want to be right up close, Mid-O is the way to go. It’s also a popular place for campers, so there’s a lot of friendly folks to meet around the property; Barber is more like a golf course where you come in, enjoy the day, and leave without fellowshipping in the same way as Mid-O or Road America.