Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee | WFNI ESPN 1070 the Fan

Trackside tonight: Newgarden, Pagenaud and more

Posted 12/13/2011 10:17:00 AM

Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee is tonight from 7-9 Eastern on 1070 The Fan (WFNI-AM) in Indianapolis and via the internet at www.1070TheFan.com. The show will also be available in podcast form at www.1070TheFan.com/Trackside.

Guests include drivers with recently announced 2012 IndyCar rides: Josef Newgarden and Simon Pagenaud, and Iowa Speedway CEO Doug Fritz (he's confirmed this time). Plus, other potential driver destinations. Expect several more deals announced in the next week. And, the latest on the 2012 schedule and several reports already of possibilities for 2013.

Listener topics and questions are welcome at Kevin@1070TheFan.com and via Twitter at @KevinLee23.

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Feb. 2: On Barrichello and IMS media party

Question: Bring on Rubens! Another nice guy is always welcome as long as he’s got talent, and he does. Doesn’t matter where he’s from. Is he here to race? (Bill, Fresno, Calif.) Answer: I couldn’t agree more. Rubens isn’t just a nice guy and a driver with international name recognition; he’s someone who has credentials. IndyCar has had a lot of drivers who only had a cup of tea in Formula One. Rubens is as experienced as it gets, an 11-time winner, a huge star in Brazil and a former Ferrari driver. Everyone in the international community would take notice. It would be a coup for IndyCar. Question: I think Indy Car should sell individual pictures of the NFL painted cars. I certainly would buy a few for the wall as I am sure many visiting NFL fans would too. (Jeff, Coto De Caza, Calif.) Answer: First of all, it’s extremely rare for the NFL to allow another sports property to utilize its logos. Knowing that, it’s one thing to showcase the NFL teams during the Super Bowl; it’s another to move into retail. I don’t see any way the NFL’s licensing department would permit that. In another way IndyCar relates to the NFL, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is scheduled to have all its nice lights on tonight for NBC to photograph for Sunday’s telecast. The track hosted Tuesday’s unbelievably successful media party. Question: How frustrated are teams like Ed Carpenter Racing and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing getting with the engine manufacturers? Numerous teams are not only getting time to work on their new engines, they’re getting valuable seat team in the new DW12. As a big fan of both teams, I’m getting very anxious and disheartened each day that passes; because each day the other teams put them another lap down in the race to learn this new car. (Alex, Greenwood, Ind.) Answer: They’re as anxious as you might expect, but there’s not much they can do about it. The problem now seems to be, Lotus can’t handle much more than it has, and Honda and Chevrolet are at the stated maximums. Don’t fear though: Something will get worked out. As for lost testing time, I’m not sure how much some of these teams would be testing, but you’re right in saying time is being lost.

Feb. 1: Barrichello staying for Day 3

Tony Kanaan doesn’t know if his Brazilian friend, Rubens Barrichello, will become an IndyCar driver for 2012, but the Formula 1 driver is staying for a third day of testing today at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway. Barrichello drove KV Racing Technology’s No. 5 DW12 on Monday and Tuesday. The decision to stay for a third day was Barrichello’s. Kanaan said Barrichello, who has a home in Orlando, has enjoyed his IndyCar experience. Kanaan told a story of eating at a restaurant in Sebring earlier in the week. “Will Power walked up to us, sat down and we chatted,” Kanaan said. “Then Oriol (Servia), then Helio (Castroneves) sat down, then (Ryan) Briscoe, all of a sudden we had like six drivers together. When they all stand up and left he looked at me and said, is this normal? I said, actually we didn’t have enough people today.” Kanaan shared another story about Team Penske advising Kanaan to move his car in the Sebring parking lot. Barrichello was surprised by that, too. “He said, ‘What the hell is going on here?’ You guys are all friendly,” Kanaan said. “He couldn’t understand at first; now I think he likes the atmosphere.” Kanaan said it’s Barrichello’s option to join the KV team which already has commitments with Kanaan and EJ Viso.

Feb. 1: Where IndyCar’s NFL cars can be found

With so many people requesting the location of the NFL-decaled Indy cars during Super Bowl week, here is the list: Dallas: Children’s Museum Houston: Dallara IndyCar Factory New Orleans: IMS Admin Building Detroit: International Marketplace Service Center Kansas City: Glick Indiana History Center Tennessee: Indianapolis City Market Atlanta: Bakers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis: Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center Super Bowl Car: Super Bowl Village Giants: Super Bowl Village Patriots: Super Bowl Village Carolina: Indianapolis Museum of Art NY Jets: Indianapolis Art Center Cincinnati: Fishers Train Station Tampa Bay: Clay Terrace Philadelphia: Fashion Mall at Keystone Chicago: Conner Prairie Buffalo: Hamilton Town Center Minnesota: Mounds Mall in Anderson Oakland: Muncie Mall Jacksonville: Center for Performing Arts/Palladium San Francisco: Indiana Design Center Washington: Traders Point Creamery Seattle: Lafayette Ivy Tech Pittsburgh: Indianapolis International Airport Baggage Claim San Diego: Airport Civic Center Green Bay: Greenwood Park Mall Arizona: Fountain Square Mall Cleveland: Sandman Brothers in Shelbyville St. Louis: The Commons in Columbus Miami: Greenfield Central High School Denver: Firehouse BBQ and Blues Richmond Baltimore: Metropolis Patriots #2: Meridian Street, Media Party, and Lucas Estate Giants #2: Meridian Street, Media Party, and Lucas Estate

Jan. 31: On Baltimore and foreign drivers

Question: I’m told that Izod requires a minimum 16 races for 2012 or they can pull out completely altogether because of contract stipulations. If Baltimore falls through despite trying for new promoters what does that do for Izod and series stability with one race less than the 16? Would there be a season if they left and does Randy really have a rabbit in a hat here with Milwaukee or other tracks should they be short of the mandatory 16 that Izod wants? (JD, Toronto) Answer: I’ve asked Randy about this, and he hasn’t seemed concerned. He is confident that the Baltimore race will be held, as scheduled, and he’ll announce the 16th race during the State of the Series address Feb. 13 in Indianapolis. As for Baltimore, a story in the Baltimore Sun yesterday said the promoter submitted plans, so it seems the event is working its way to stability. As for that 16th race, I’m inclined to think it’s Milwaukee, which would be a mid-June race. If that’s so, Auto Club Speedway would be the finale, which would work even though it’s mid-September. Randy has seemed cool on doing Fort Lauderdale in 2012. He doesn’t want to rush a new event. Question: Day after day I see more and more criticism and complaining about the lack of ovals and lack of interest road/street courses on the blog. What needs to be understood is that we, as IndyCar fanatics (whether you support road/street courses or not) are a family. If the fans and supporters we do have continue to criticize the tremendous efforts and never-ending pursuit of success of CEO Randy Bernard we are only hurting and hindering our beloved sport. My advice is to focus on the positives and embrace the present! (Alex, Scottsdale, Ariz.) Answer: I’m one who tends to see the good in people and things. Yes, I’d like to have more ovals, but that’s not the situation right now for a variety of reasons that I understand. So, for now at least, I’m interested in following a series that has 16 events no matter where they’re at. It’s too bad many people complain no matter what the schedule looks like. Question: It would be nice if you would “call out” some of these “yahoos” like Curtis from Kansas once in a while. I check your blog every day and you always go easy on these dopes! Send Curtis and his ilk back to the 1950s where they belong. And please, just once, don’t be so nice. (Michael, Naperville, Ill.) Answer: Fair enough, but it’s like my answer to the previous question. Yes, I’d prefer a schedule of 10-12 ovals, four or five road courses and a limited number of street circuits, but that’s my Hoosier bias. I know I’d have a different perspective if I had grown up in Long Beach or near Mid-Ohio, and I respect that others don’t feel as I do. Question: I was surprised to see the comment from Curtis in Kansas. From the beginning the 500 has had an international flavor that defines the event. As a Colombian, I truly enjoyed the participation of Roberto Guerrero and Juan Pablo, but I equally enjoyed Nigel’s arrival, Micheal’s return and Foyt’s antics. So many moments. Enjoy them. (Estaban, Villa Park, Ill.) Answer: Some of my most enjoyable moments as a motor sports reporter have come through drivers with passports different than mine. I embrace the international flavor and used it to expand my horizon. Question: I have been around IndyCar racing for a long time now and this year is really starting to shape up. New car, new engines, new sponsors and new tracks. It looks like a full field of cars anywhere from 28 to 30 cars strong! We have a very popular racing driver from F1 coming to IndyCar and yes American fans do care! The European fans care as do the Brazilians. We have the best leadership in place since well maybe ever. We have the potential for a stellar year in IndyCar racing. I am ready! (Tony, Indianapolis) Answer: I think it will be a great year if the manufacturers are competitive with each other. Imagine if Lotus is a real contender!