Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee

Trackside: May 7

Posted 5/7/2012 9:51:00 AM

"Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee" continues it's nightly run tonight from 7-8 with the latest Indy 500 news and Ed Carpenter after today's IndyCar test at Texas. Plus, reaction to Danica Patrick's post-race punt of Sam Hornish in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide race and Tony Stewart's rant about Talladega.

The Talk of Gasoline Alley with Donald Davidson follows at 8:00.

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Curt Cavin in the Indianapolis Star

May 16: On Dragon, Sarah Fisher’s team and boost

Question: What’s the deal with IMS removing seats in the NE Vista? (Barry, Carmel, Ind.) Answer: Not a big deal, in my opinion, unless you happen to have one of those seats and enjoy them. If you look at the section there’s a small part at the southernmost end that looks like it doesn’t belong. That’s what is being removed. I’ll have to go back and count how many will come out, but it’s not a lot. Mostly, those are seats that don’t sell well as they’re at the entrance to Turn 3. I’m told there aren’t a lot of regular ticket buyers there, and the Speedway will work with them to find alternatives. That space will be used for some sort of hospitality area or perhaps motor home parking. Question: It is late Tuesday night and no word about Jay Penske’s crew getting engines. Anything going on? (Terrance, Northfield, N.J.) Answer: A lot is going on, but there wasn’t anything officially to report as of last evening. A lot of time spent on the phone. I expect some sort of resolution today, probably Dragon and Lotus parting ways. Something needs to break soon to get this team on the track if it’s going to. Very hard to see how this gets resolved in time to help Katherine Legge’s rookie bid. All parties were at the track Tuesday, but Jay Penske and his counsel did a lot talking with those in Europe. Question: Does it look to you like the racing groove seems wider with the DW12? It does to me. (Mike, Indianapolis) Answer: I’ve noticed the same thing, but maybe it’s a function of tire wear from the Indy Lights cars. I’ll try to remember to ask. But the drivers continue to make it clear there’s still only one lane through the corners. Question: I saw some tires on pit road with red rims. I believe they were in JR Hildebrand’s pit seeing that was the one I was sitting behind. Does Indy require that they use red and black tires here? I also was wondering if Penske, Ganassi and Andretti have been practicing race setups giving them an advantage over Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. I mean, why spend much time practicing for the pole when they will be given 50-60 horsepower for the weekend. (Gregg, Cumberland, Ind.) Answer: The alternate tire program is for the road courses and street circuits. Panther does have red rims though — maybe orange — to match the car. As for the big teams, they’ll always have an advantage, and I expect one of them to win the race, although there certainly could be a surprise. As for the Fisher’s team early speed, those two cars are obviously fast, no doubt about it. But remember that making a big splash early in this event is helpful on the PR end as the team pursues sponsorship. Remember, Newgarden’s car doesn’t have a primary sponsor after this race. The team needs more funding. And by the way, I don’t know why a major company wouldn’t get behind this bunch. It’s a terrific story with a marketable owner and driver. They’re doing things the right way. Question: Am I correct that the cars will keep the extra boost for the race itself or is this just a qualifying thing? Just curious as to how long ago the decision was made to do it and is it simply a reactionary thing that the cars are not going as fast as they wanted to see them run? Thanks, and I’m looking forward to my 34th 500 in two weeks! (Forrester, Laurel, Md.) Answer: The extra boost is only for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I’m not sure when the decision was made, but it’s flexibility in the program that is good for the sport. I don’t know that I’d do it, but why not? It adds a little juice to the weekend.

May 15: On Alesi, Penske, Ganassi and old races

Question: I have been watching some past 500′s on YouTube this week to get the juices flowing. What would be your top 5 races to watch on a rainy day. Maybe not the closest finish, but which races had the most drama and build up leading up to the race. (John, Louisville, Ky.) Answer: I don’t know about top five, but I’d watch 1995 for all the lead changes and developments in the second half of the race. The drama in 2006 is very good, obviously. I probably would enjoy watching 1996, too, because even though that was diluted race with all the Champ Car guys at Michigan, there was a sense of something being born, for better or worse. What else? The 1992 race had so much going on with the weather, the crashes, the cold tires. Just a weird race. Can you get any of the early 1960s? All good. Question: It is understandable the Speedway seeking other streams of revenue with signage on the walls, but would you boycott covering the Brickyard if you see “boogity, boogity, boogity” on one of the walls? (Dave, Cincinnati) Answer: No, I wouldn’t boycott covering it because it’s my job, and I’d probably still go if I was a fan. The best thing about the walls being painted is that you can’t see them very well in the camera shots. They fly by too quickly. Of course, that’s because there aren’t many of them. Hopefully they won’t become too obnoxious. Question: Do you think Penske and Ganassi are struggling or maybe not showing all their cards? (SL, Akron, Ohio) Answer: Ganassi definitely isn’t struggling for speed as Dixon, in particular, has been one of the fastest if you factor out the tows drivers are getting. Dario hasn’t been on the track enough to show us much. Having said that about the tows, remember that the entire race will be held with tows so maybe that’s a bigger factor than we give it credit for. Non-tows are the way we’re judging potential qualifying results. As for the Penskes, I ask this question: Why would any team spend a whole lot of time in qualifying trim at this point when boost levels will change that starting Friday? I’m sure it’s all about race setup for those three cars. But to your point, I don’t think they’re as happy as they’d like to be. Question: Where did Alesi find 5 mph between Sunday’s 205 laps and Monday’s 211? Is Lotus finally showing up? (David, Fishers, Ind.) Answer: No, I think the team has brought him along in a good way. Mike Colliver and Tim Wardrop are very savvy engineers, particularly at IMS. Good group of mechanics, too.

May 14: On Lotus, Barfield and ads on IMS walls

Question: An interesting first two days, and let’s hope it brings SFHR some sponsorship! While we’ve got several days to go and there have been some big tows, is it a bigger concern about invoking the 107 percent rule, having 33 cars and drivers, or Turbogate 2? A little worried about Dragon not having motors and Lotus’ speed. (Andy, Nashville, Tenn.) Answer: There’s certainly a lot going on and very little of it has to do with Team Penske or Ganassi Racing. Isn’t that strange? The hot shoes have been young drivers and indeed Sarah Fisher’s team looks strong so far, although the youngster I’d be keeping my eye on is JR Hildebrand. That Panther car is fast. As for the 107 percent rule, it’s actually an even more stringent situation: 105 percent. That means if the top speed is 221 mph, the slowest have to be running about 211 mph. Think a Lotus can do that? I didn’t get a firm answer from race director Beaux Barfield on the enforcement of that, but he said he was likely to pull a slow car off the track in the race and unlikely to keep it from starting in the first place. Bear in mind that Jean Alesi still hasn’t completed his third phase of the rookie test, which is 15 laps in excess of 210 mph. (His best lap is only 209 mph.) As for Dragon, I still get conflicting reports. The team side expects a resolution soon, perhaps today. But the clock is ticking. It’s going to take at least a full day to transition the cars to Chevrolets and maybe two. Then there’s the issue of getting Katherine Legge, who has the important TrueCar sponsorship, through the rookie test and up to speed. Barfield said everything on that has to be wrapped up by Thursday at the latest. So yes, fielding 33 cars is still a concern. As for Turbogate 2, well, the Chevrolet teams are convinced they’re in a big hole to Honda, and I’m thinking they’re spot-on. But remember this about the race: It’s about managing traffic, getting good fuel mileage and strategy, plus speed. Good teams usually win the race and Chevrolet has more of them. But wouldn’t it be something if one of the Sarah Fisher cars wins? Wow. Question: Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing is impressing me after two days of Indy 500 practice, especially since both drivers are rookies and are second and third on the speed chart. (David, Durham, N.C.) Answer: No question. Newgarden and Clauson are the best stories of the month. The Lotus, the car count, and the turbo debate are among the worst. Question: What happens if the Lotus isn’t fast enough to pass ROP? (Stone, Grand Rapids, Mich.) Answer: Barfield said of all such things related to speed: “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” That’s fair. But at this point he ought to know how to get over that bridge. Question: Is it my imagination or did the IMS start painting advertisements on the outside walls of Turns 3 and 4? Looks like a Saturday night short track deal. One of the things that distinguishes the Speedway from other tracks are its pure white walls. (Darrick, Brownsburg, Ind.) Answer: No longer, my friend. I wrote about this the other day and yes, there are indeed ads on those walls at the north end. There are soon to be 16 such ads between the entrance of Turn 3 and the exit of Turn 4, so you’d better get used to it. I imagine they’ll be on the sound end of the track by the Brickyard. The thing is, you can’t read them unless you get a still shot, are in the Turn 3 infield or a car stops there. The camera pans so quickly that they just look like a distraction. Maybe that’s what discourages companies from going that route. We’ll see.

May 11: On Lotus, Legge and Fieri

Programming note: I’ll be doing a live chat from 9-10 a.m. Eastern this morning. Go to indystar.com/livechat to follow along or even join in. Question: Any chance that the speedway might open up more of the infield to race goers? Crowds are more tame than years ago,and IMS doesn’t have to protect the road course for F-1. The snake pit days are gone for good. The spud boys are now sipping wine and nibbling cheese. Think of it as more a reptilian depression than a snake pit. It would be good to see more people in the infield. (Bill, Catonsville, Md.) Answer: I doubt it will happen, but I like your reptilian reference. Question: What is your beef with Guy Fieri? I can certainly think of better pace car drivers, but it seems to be a burr under your saddle. Who was in your personal list of pace car drivers and do you know who was on the list of people to choose from? My personal top choice would be a Medal of Honor recipient that would continue the Memorial Day theme. (Maggie, Ocean City, Md.) Answer: I actually don’t have a beef at all, but I’m keenly aware that there are lots of people who do. I actually watch his Food Network show on a regular basis and have visited several of the restaurants he has spotlighted, including one on the St. Pete race weekend. I have another lined up for Baltimore. Personally, I’ve kind of lost interest in the pace car program. The car needs to be selected instead of purchased. How about the 2013 Porsche Boxster which I saw was voted the top convertible? Anyway, I’m sure Guy will be fine, although I’m told he’s challenging to work with. Question: I have to agree with you on Danica. I do not care if she does not have a record of previous altercations; she could have hurt Sam. Not to mention the financial damage she generated. Send her down to ARCA for remedial training. Milka is waiting. (Mike, Littleton, Mass.) Answer: That’s the spirit! As I said, I was lucky to have a ring-side seat for the Danica-Milka duel at Mid-Ohio a few years ago. And I was right there for the Danica-Wheldon incident at Milwaukee. Also was in the area at Watkins Glen when Hornish’s dad got jumped by one of Michael Andretti’s friends. Heck, I was walking by victory lane at Texas in 1997 when Foyt took a swipe at Arie. So, I’ve seen some good ones. Maybe it’s me! Question: Just curious. I did not see Katherine Legge in the ROP. I am curious as to why. I know her as a much better driver than results indicate due to the Lotus engine. But she is a rookie. (David, Durham, N.C.) Answer: Her team (Dragon Racing) still does not have the engine contract it desires. Team owner Jay Penske is trying to get out of the Lotus deal in favor of a Chevrolet deal, but there are still things to work out. I’m growing concerned because to my knowledge Lotus has not released Dragon and it might not be able to pending the lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles. This could get messy. Some team members are optimistic for a track debut by Monday or Tuesday, but there’s no guarantee.