Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers could be despatched to mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters that embody a query usually tend to be revealed. Questions acquired after 3pm ET every Monday might be saved for the next week.
Q: Excellent news about Hailie Deegan becoming a member of NXT for subsequent season. She was pegged to be a future star of NASCAR and had backing of Ford. I do know her stint with the truck sequence didn’t go effectively and it appeared assist for her out of the blue dropped. Glad she is difficult herself to begin anew. With Jamie and Hailie each in NXT, this provides that sequence extra consideration. Do you’ve got any background data on how this steal from NASCAR occurred? No expertise in open wheel, so is that this a push to get one other girl in sequence or is there actual potential in her adapting to any such racing?
Dave
MARSHALL PRUETT: Jamie isn’t a assure to return to NXT. It wasn’t a steal as I see it; Hailie’s alternatives in inventory automotive racing went away, and by summer season, she and her backers have been on the lookout for a brand new enviornment to strive. My favourite half is how dedicated she is to this swap to open-wheel racing. She spent 4 days on the HMD store final week and is transferring to Indianapolis. It’s additionally a multi-year deal, which is big for her.
Her profession up to now jogs my memory a number of what Austin Cindric had in his early life — a number of bouncing round from one sequence to a different, attempting a number of completely different vehicles – and whereas it was all useful in sure methods, it wasn’t till he locked in on NASCAR and did a number of seasons till he really developed his abilities.
Hailie’s been in that very same cycle, so breaking out of it and dedicating the following few seasons to NXT is a superb resolution. Like Cindric, we all know she’s gifted, however received’t know how gifted — not till she will be able to give attention to one sequence — till she’s capable of totally make investments herself in NXT. By the tip of 2026, the total measure of her capabilities might be on show. Will that lead Deegan to IndyCar? Who is aware of, however I’m rooting for her.
Q: To Donald in Estero, FL from the final Mailbag – NASCAR appears to be the winner for swearing on reside TV. At Atlanta 1992, Richard Petty’s in automotive video had him saying “Deliver the f****g hearth extinguisher” to the nook employee. By no means heard it on any replays. In an after race interview on being requested about successful Talladega for the fifth or sixth time, Dale Jr. mentioned, ” That don’t imply s**t, Daddy received 10 instances.” I consider he was fined for that. As for IndyCar, Arie Luyendyck had the worldwide transfer over signal on full show from his on-car digicam.
Walt, Dolan Springs
MP: Shut the entrance door! Whisky Tango Foxtrot! See you subsequent Tuesday!
Q: What do you suppose are the possibilities of Renault coming to IndyCar? Appears odd that they’re leaving F1 on the finish of 2025, and that Honda demanded IndyCar get a 3rd producer. The timing appears excellent. Come on Roger work some magic, we are not looking for an-all Chevy IndyCar Sequence.
AE, Danville
MP: Renault’s efficiency model Alpine has been looking for potential companions within the U.S. for an IMSA GTP program. Because the model is all about sports activities vehicles, and Alpine has a world open-wheel presence in F1, I’d suppose utilizing its FIA WEC Hypercars in IMSA could be probably the most related path to go as they appear to introduce Alpine to the U.S. in a number of years. I’d put the possibilities of Renault or Alpine in IndyCar at zero p.c.
Q: Whereas I used to be at Petit Le Mans down within the paddock, I seen that when the vehicles have been going from their garages to the observe, the entire vehicles have been pushed all the way in which out apart from the Ferrari 296 GT3. The Ferrari was both towed all the way in which to the observe or a pair have been towed to the gate proper earlier than the pits when the engine was then fired. Is there any explicit cause for this, or only a coincidence?
Ian
MP: Nice remark, Ian. I’m instructed by a 296 staff that the vehicles have a extremely aggressive clutch launch which makes low-speed maneuvering within the paddock round followers an actual problem, so groups simply do the towing or pushing routine.
Q: I’ve a number of questions on subsequent yr’s 500. Have you learnt if Dreyer and Reinbold is coming into two vehicles? And is Rahal coming into a fourth automotive? If these all occur, then it seems to be like 34 entries. Have you learnt of another prospects?
Jim, Ontario, Canada.
MP: Sure on DRR. I’d anticipate a lot of the groups who’ve paying drivers or sponsorship searching for to do the five hundred to enter further vehicles. With working prices for the season having shot up between 30-40 p.c, operating an additional automotive on the Speedway is a strong money-maker.
We’ll have 27 full-time vehicles, plus recognized or anticipated extras from Andretti with Marco, Arrow McLaren with Kyle Larson, ECR for Carpenter, and MSR for Castroneves. Invoice Abel plans to enter. I’d guess Ganassi may have an additional automotive, and certain with Coyne and RLL. Perhaps a Foyt and Juncos as effectively. After which there’s the DRR vehicles. A number of choices to go effectively previous 33.
Q: Any phrase on the place Seabass might be racing subsequent season? Any probability for him to affix one other IMSA staff, or perhaps an IndyCar trip?
Steve, Chicago
MP: He’ll be busy racing in Europe. Hope to have him for choose IMSA rounds, although. Keep tuned.
Q: Did the proposed up to date speedway wings die on the vine?
Billy
MP: Not lifeless, however not occurring in 2025. Look to 2026 on the earliest.
Q: Except for value, what’s the barrier to IndyCar having a brand new chassis? The DW12 is simply too previous. Additionally, has there been any dialogue on having further producers? Again within the day it was interesting to me to see completely different chassis producer comparable to Lola, Reynard, Penske, and March.
Steve
MP: Penske Leisure retains saying a brand new automotive might be right here in 2027 or 2028, so there’s no obvious obstacles presently. There’s no discussions to be held; Dallara is IndyCar’s official chassis supplier and the sequence isn’t looking for a second.