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Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers can be sent to mailbag@racer.com. We can’t guarantee that every letter will be published, but we’ll answer as many as we can. Publ…
Welcome to the RACER Mailbag where questions for RACER’s writers can be sent to mailbag@racer.com. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, though not every letter will be published. Remember that questions received after 3pm ET each Monday will appear the following week. In a recent issue, the discussion has resurfaced about having guaranteed starting spots in the Indy 500. This is not a new topic, and Roger Penske has been advocating for this for quite some time. RACER has covered this subject, with our most recent article from August. Roger Penske has expressed the importance of securing grid positions for teams committing to a full season, emphasizing the benefits for teams, sponsors, and attracting drivers. Additionally, the challenges of implementing hybrid power in IndyCar, particularly on ovals like the Indy 500, have been noted, with the latest test showing positive results. The decision to use supercapacitors instead of lithium batteries and dealing with vendor and supply issues have contributed to delays. The timeline for when the hybrid system will go online remains a key question, especially regarding the possibility of implementing it mid-season.
