Q: I’m writing after seeing your story last week talking about the new 2024 engines and the subsequent Twitter conversation with JR Hildebrand about running the new engine in the existing chassis. The cost outlays for both options aren’t exactly great, but as a fan I’d rather they go the “do it all at once” route. Speaking of the chassis, that seems to be the unicorn right now. No one seems to know when it will be ready or what it will look like. I know that you, me, and several IndyCar drivers have waxed poetic about the Panoz DP01 that only ran for the 2007 Champ Car season and the Long Beach race in 2008. What is stopping Jay Frye, Dallara, and others from reaching out to Elan Motorsports Technology (Panoz-owned) and working out an agreement to give them “the bag” for the designs?

The chassis would obviously need to get a superspeedway trim package along with integrating the aeroscreen into it, but why not approach them about the car? The obvious reason would be Elan wouldn’t agree to it, but is there any reason not to approach Elan about the DP01?

Chris Damato

MP: There’s one major reason, and it’s that IndyCar has already announced it will continue working with Dallara as its sole chassis supplier. We’re left to watch old Champ Car races on YouTube to get our fix of that delightful DP01 in action.

Q: In how many different series has Austin Cindric raced? I asked his father that question three years ago and he did not know.

David, Waxhaw, NC

MP: Like the question ‘How long is a piece of string?’… this is one that cannot be answered because there’s no way to know if he’s added five more series to the total since you sent this in.

Kidding aside, having covered Austin up to his switch to NASCAR, I came up with about half of the series on my own but needed to call him to get the rest, so thanks to the newest Daytona 500 winner for the assist. These aren’t in order, and in some cases, he’s raced in the unique sub-series run by an overarching sanctioning body, but those do count:

1. Skip Barber Winter Series
2. USF2000
3. Bandoleros
4. Legends
5. Pirelli World Challenge GTS
6. Pirelli World Challenge GT
7. Intercontinental GT Challenge
8. Global Rallycross Lites
9. Global Rallycross Supercar
10. Historic Racing Series
11. IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
12. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
13. ARCA
14. NASCAR K&N
15. NASCAR Trucks
16. NASCAR Xfinity
17. NASCAR Cup

We also discussed his need to embark on a “30 Before 30” to get to 30 series before his 30^th birthday, which seems more than doable. He said he has the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indy 500, and Baja 1000 on the list.

Might be a while before we see Cindric in an open-wheeler again. Image by Road to Indy

Q: Can someone please let Roger know that it is OK to have the Freedom 100? I’ll be back at Indy for the first time in two years and am bummed about no Freedom 100.

Jake

MP: R.P., you’ve been notified.

Q: I’m a big idea problem solver. Regarding IndyCar’s poor attendance at ovals, make the Indy 500 ticket a season pass for all ovals. There, problem solved. Now I leave it to you and your funky readers to fill in the details to make this happen. Please, none of that “we can’t do it because of this and that.” Make it “what a great idea! Let’s make it work!”

You’re welcome.

Janis, somewhere in central Florida

MP: How about making a ticket for Texas the oval season pass… that can only be purchased trackside at Texas after the buyer shows proof of visiting Indy and eating the A.J. Foyt five-pound breakfast steak at Charlie Brown’s.

Q: Does an increase in lap time equal a faster lap or a slower lap?  Thanks, I’ll hang up now and read the comments below.

Ryan in West Michigan

MP: Oh Lord, there’s always at least one of these in each Mailbag…

Q: Last week you mentioned the sanctioning fee to hold a race was in the $1.5m neighborhood. All in, what would it cost to rent a track, pay the sanctioning fee and hire staff? Minus the TV money (assuming NBC would pay to play) how much more would be needed in crowdsourcing to put on a fan-sponsored oval race at, let’s say, Milwaukee? How many cases of dark beer would you charge to be the head promoter, race organizer, and all-over big honcho?

Shawn in MD

MP: That’s what Monterey County approved for the Laguna Seca event; it varies from track to track to it’s hard to say what the sanction fees are and what each track would charge IndyCar if the series wanted to do a rental. I’d aim for raising at least $3M to get Milwaukee up and going, and hey, I’m a cheap date, so a six-pack of Guinness will suffice.

Q: I’d like to give a shout out to Dalton Kellett for his series on how IndyCars work. I’m honestly surprised that IndyCar hasn’t done this already, especially with the talents of so many former drivers available (I’m thinking of Hinchtown and Charlie Kimball).

Janis, hiding out in gator country.

MP: Thanks, Janis. I haven’t seen them, but he’s a smart kid so good on him. If you like tech videos on how IndyCars and sports cars work, I’ve been churning them out for 15 years, including the new #MPShowMe videos I’ve been doing with my phone this season, and I keep adding more from stuff I did back in the day when I have time.

RACER also has a deep selection of tech videos, in-car videos, and more.