Racer - Winter 2013

HAIL AND FAREWELL, DARIO FRANCHITTI

I was a big fan of Dario’s from way back. I was greatly impressed by his knowledge and respect for those drivers who preceded him. His reverence for fellow Scot Jim Clark was shown to the public when he had a chance to drive Clark’s 1965 winning Lotus 38 at Indy several years ago. Dario, you’ve given all race fans some very wonderful memories. Goodbye, my friend. Colins’son

When I read this I was shocked! I never thought I would see the day! Sad to see Dario end his career like this but I wish him a speedy recovery and hope IndyCar has the brains to use him in a proper form and fashion. David

Thank you Dario for all the excitement and skill you brought to open-wheel racing in America. So thankful that you are alive and well after that horrific accident. Jimmy Murphy heard on racer.com

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Blazing saddles

Great sendoff to the IndyCar season at Fontana – I’ll be back next year. But, I hope I don’t spontaneously combust – August, really? Then again, running at Houston in late June defies logic, too. I guess IndyCar is going for some kind of endurance record for its drivers and its fans .

Bob Strow Newport Beach, Calif.

Chill about street bumps

I took my wife to her first IndyCar race in 2012. It happened to be the Detroit race, complete with red flag and bad pavement. Let’s just say that I’ll be doing Detroit without her from now on. I was surprised at how she, and many others blamed everyone involved for the old pavement patches being sucked up.

The Editors are not bound to agree with readers’ opinions.

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I just think that we need to be patient if we are going to turn downtown streets into racetracks in a matter of days. I don’t recall much griping at Baltimore when a good chunk of the ALMS grid crashed before the green flag. What’s my point? I

guess people need to chill a little. Brian Bristo Waterdown, Ontario

The “other” Cup race: pro...

A delightful surprise to see the photo of Oracle 17 (RACER, Fall). The racing not only was amazing, but the sports drama produced on the bay each race was both edgy and sublime. I have to admit that all of the motor racing I watched during the America’s Cup seemed...not boring, exactly, but a little tame.

Vanita Miller Eugene, Ore.

...and con

Looking at the Fall issue with a break at work. Please, no more road test or sailboat stories. Next will we have skiing or cycling? No thanks. We could use some more NHRA again. The blend of all – Formula 1, IndyCar, NHRA and more is what works best.

Rex Termeer via e-mail

WINTER 2013

Voting for a tech charge

We keep hearing from the powers-that-be in American racing that no one cares about technology anymore in motorsports. Clearly those in europe disagree, as the variety of hybrid tech in Le Mans hybrids and Formula e in your fall issue shows. And Formula 1 is still booming for all the complaints about how much it costs.

Maybe we Americans need to take a step back and think again about what makes racing different than other sports. Yes you need cool stars, but you also need cool cars!