Yahoo Autos Revved Up: Autoweek Racing Readers Have Their Say, Sept. 21 Edition
We obviously struck a nerve with our debut edition of the Revved Up mailbag last week, as folks had lots to say about it, including on social media.
So let’s keep the momentum going with the second edition of Revved Up! And don’t forget to let us know your thoughts!
F1 Facing IndyCar Drivers' Criticism after Herta Denial
Readers Say:
* Retiredtech: Maybe IndyCar is where a lot of over the hill F1 drivers come to retire. At least they have some fun racing here.
* Bugmoto: Sure, like Clark, Hill, Mansell, Fittipaldi, Barichello, Hulme, Stewart, Brabham, Fangio, Ascari, Rindt, Andretti, Donahue, Piquet, Montoya, Villeneuve, Alonso, etc. And Indy didn't demand a "super license" for them to compete either. Run what ya brung and if you can qualify, you get to race 'cause, you know, this is America :-)
* MGI8216: Lots of drivers have the talent. If a driver wins (the) Indy Championship, that's enough points, a few races is not. Maybe the points system isn't right, but that's the rules. Like crying over track limits - just follow the rules.
And then there was this one that, well, speaks for itself:
* Lar2230: F F1
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says: IndyCar drivers are definitely justified in their criticism of the F1 rules—or more precisely, the FIA rules—about eligibility. However, I’m okay with keeping the rules somewhat the way they are. Namely, if a driver wins the IndyCar championship, he SHOULD be eligible for an FIA Super License, period. While I have nothing against Colton Herta, and he is certainly very talented, with seven wins to date, he still hasn’t won anything of substance. If he wins the 2023 IndyCar title then, yes, he should get the Super License. But in this instance, I agree with FIA that a waiver should not be granted to Herta.
FIA Super License System Unfair to IndyCar Drivers, Needs an Overhaul
Readers say:
* FF36065: I seldom watch F1 as typically the "race" consists of a parade, with little passing and over the course of a season, not a whole lot of different race winners. I find IndyCar with its large number of competitive drivers, and its aggressive passing is very much more interesting.
* HAR2838: There are talented drivers in many other classes of automobile racing that would love just as much as anyone to be in F1. But, they understand the need for the super license point system. The purpose has been known for years and until now that has been respected. Now we have the American open wheel series called IndyCar that seems to somehow think they should be just ushered right in. That's just laughable!
* NREsq: There are 2 main issues here: 1) The SL system and 2) Herta jumping the line. Several commenters here clearly and correctly make the points about #1. On #2, there is absolutely nothing special about Herta, an otherwise fine talent with untapped upside, to remotely warrant any kind of waiver. Other than his American nationality. Which properly counts for...zero.
* Cason Cox: There’s a lot of great talent in Indy who would wipe the floor with a lot of the F2 guys. However the deep pockets will pull them to F1. If anything F1 is already full of F1 rejects who haven’t realized it yet. Indy takes more raw talent than F2 does.
JB Says: Okay, here’s an irony of sorts. How many drivers have come from Formula One to IndyCar and, well, had only mediocre careers in the American racing series? Did IndyCar require a special license for them to come over? Of course not. All these drivers were welcomed with open American arms. And even so, they still kept their Super License and could have returned to F1 if they wanted to. FIA and F1 need to change the rules to put IndyCar drivers on more even footing with their European counterparts in F2 (and even F3, to an extent). I believe either winning an IndyCar title or finishing in the top three for three seasons should be enough to qualify for an FIA Super License.
It's Hard Not to Like Hendrick Motorsports' Chances of Another NASCAR Cup Title
Readers say:
* JustBob: Anything can happen at any time. Liking Hendrick on past results and/or playing the odds of having one third of the remaining playoff berths is a fair assumption. But you never know what can happen. As such, I find this article to be true as to the odds and past history. But just speculation as to what might be. That being said, I would change the title to: It's hard to like NASCAR's playoff system to crown a champion. Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick for example, hypothetically could have run great all year and been far away the points leader. But just a little bad luck in the first so called round, and Kyle is relinquished to a finishing spot no better than the teens. But a driver who might have got in as a number 16 seed, could have some good races and possibly be a champion at the end. Sorry, but I just do not agree with the wrestle mania champion mentality NASCAR keeps revising to chase away the fans.
* Kerry Caine: I remember one year where Stewart Haas had four in (the playoffs). How’d that turn out?
JB Says: It’s hard to pick against Hendrick Motorsports just because of its history and legacy. But, this has been such an unusual season, mainly because of the Next Generation car, that I’m not 100-percent sold that we’ll see two or more Hendrick cars in the Championship 4 shootout—nor do I completely believe an HMS driver will win the 2022 Cup crown. Honestly, I am leaning more toward maybe one HMS driver, either Elliott or defending champ Kyle Larson, to be among the four drivers who vie for the championship. I think Bowman gets eliminated after Round 2 and Byron after Round 3.
John Force Reaching Another NHRA Unreachable Milestone in Countdown Opener
Readers say:
* RTH5023: No sport on earth has a greater "Ambassador" for his sport than NHRA and John Force, an indomitable force of nature! And as others have said, just an all-around good guy!
* Wendy834gt: Yes he is! I live for the interviews they do after a run. He had me in tears once when he said for all us old fogies to get up off the couch. Such an inspiration!!!!
* HKC 7551: John Force is the Babe Ruth of Funny Car Drag Racing. He's propelled the sport to where it is today by being the best. Love to see him win.
* MrFisherman: John Force gives the young something to strive for. Keep it up John.
* Bob Lamb: Like the Energizer Bunny, Force keeps on going. NHRA will fold once he stops racing.
JB Says: I’ve known John for more than 35 years, have probably written well over 100 stories on him during that time, and consider him a friend. To me, the man is superhuman. I would love nothing more than to see him win his 17th championship this season. He’s been trying for the last few years and come close, but has never been able to seal the deal. He is truly an inspiration. As for Bob Lamb’s comment, I don’t necessarily agree the NHRA will fold once John stops racing, but times are definitely going to become a lot leaner until another driver comes up through the pipeline who has both great talent and an even greater personality—a Force-like personality (that is legitimate, not a forced impression of John) that fans will love.
Why Two-Time NASCAR Cup Champ Kyle Busch Chose Richard Childress Racing
Readers say:
* NREsq: For all those who blathering about KB demanding too much $$$ from Gibbs and TRD, how come RCR (and other teams) and GM were able to put together a deal?
* JustBob: To my knowledge, they have not disclosed the terms of the deal. I would bet that Kyle signed for a good amount less than he began asking for at JGR. Childress was probably the only team available that could pay a decent wage, provide a decent car, and be able to work with him in support for his own team. Probably less money than he would like. But the total package was his best overall package. Again, I do not know the details of his cont(r)act. So it is of course also speculation on my part.
* NREsq (Replying to justbob): No, I don't think KB is making the same money. I think he's making WAY MORE. Everyone knows the new economic realities in NASCAR and motorsports generally. However, this driver is a special case who brings WAY MORE to the table than, say, a Reddick--with all of his upside. RCR gets instant credibility and is now a legitimate threat to win a championship. KB would have brought the same thing to Matt Kaulig's organization. You think Kaulig wasn't willing to go into his own pocket, like HMS did with Larson, to get a once in a blue moon opportunity like that? As for KBM, ANY manufacturer would covet that organization as its driver feeder system. When I said "get," I didn't mean "buy," genius. The deal with JB includes KBM moving to Chevy equipment. That's HUGE for them, as well as a HUGE BLOW to a major competitor. Think GM didn't kick in BIG $$$ for that piece? Try looking at the BIG PICTURE, and the value propositions for the buyers in this transaction. On the other hand, RCR could have got Ty Dillon for practically nothing.
JB Says: I absolutely love that last line about Ty Dillon! That being said, I think Richard Childress saw a lot in Kyle Busch that he saw in Dale Earnhardt, including a tough competitor, someone who wears his emotions on his sleeve and who can wheel a race car like few others. Joe Gibbs, in my opinion, is making a huge mistake letting Busch go. With all due respect to The Coach, I think grandson Ty is going to be a disappointment in Cup. That’s just my opinion. And Busch in Chevy power going forward will make Toyota kick itself as well. JGR helped Busch get two championships. I believe if he drives for, say, another seven to nine years with RCR, he can win another two or three titles. JGR and Toyota are going to rue the day they let Kyle walk.
IndyCar Silly Saga Update: Alex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist Staying Put
Readers say:
* RTH5023: Not exactly a surprise! Why should McLaren Pony up any money to try and get a driver that already has a binding contract at Ganassi? That is what a "Contract" is, a legally binding agreement for your product or services. I am sure that all of you who watched the IndyCar race at Laguna Seca noted that Chip didn't have anything to say, he didn't need to. He just stood back and let Alex enjoy the spotlight...KNOWING full well that Alex wasn't going anywhere... UNLESS he (Chip) said so!
JB Says: I couldn’t have said it any better. Alex Palou is one of the most talented drivers I’ve seen in a long time, but his management/advisors really gave him some wrong advice when they told him to ignore the one year left on his CGR contract and go ahead and sign with McLaren. Maybe contracts aren’t that important in Europe, but they’re golden in the U.S. And then the embarrassment grew even worse with the Twitter snafu from both teams, Chip’s decision to sue Palou to honor his contract and how McLaren boss Zak Brown became a ghost over the last couple of weeks when it was clear he wasn’t going to pony up the $10 million it was rumored that would buy Palou out of his contract with Chip Ganassi. This way, Brown keeps his $10 million and Palou will STILL wind up with McLaren, just a year later than he wanted. That is, provided Brown still wants him after next season. One other thing to mention: Palou’s statements early on that he was going to McLaren really hurt him. That’s why he didn’t win his first race until the last race of the season. If he wouldn’t have had all this drama hanging over his head, I think he would have had a much better chance of not only winning maybe another two or three more races, but also would have been a more significant presence in fighting for the title.
5 Biggest Disappointments of the 2022 IndyCar Season
Readers say:
* JustBob: Andretti might have done better if their drivers weren't taking each other out. :) All fun aside, it wasn't a very good year for them. Maybe a less than stellar year is what they needed to motivate them to get to work for next year. Chip and Roger sure wouldn't lay back and allow these results to define them.
JB Says: Unfortunately, I think we’re going to see more of the same from the Andretti camp in 2023. Alexander Rossi is gone, Kyle Kirkwood is likely to struggle (even with better equipment than he had in his rookie season in 2022 with A.J. Foyt Racing), Romain Grosjean needs to change his attitude if he wants to become successful and not keep running into others or keep blaming them for his mistakes, and Colton Herta needs to forget about F1 and focus only on his IndyCar efforts. If he does that, he’s a strong candidate to win the championship—and if that happens, he gets his coveted F1 Super License and potentially an F1 ride anyway. Speaking of that, I fully expect Michael Andretti either to buy into an existing F1 team or buy/start his own F1 team by 2024 or 2025. If that happens, his man is Herta, no question.
That’s it for this edition of Revved Up! Submit your thoughts below and we’ll consider them for inclusion in next week’s mailbag. Have a great week, everyone!
Follow Autoweek contributor Jerry Bonkowski on Twitter @JerryBonkowski
