This is track side with Kirk Cavin and Kevin Lee on ninety three five and one oh seven.

The bank car has gone around in the wall.

Rasmussen the first time winner last time out, he's a winning or pinute driver and this time he's in the wall and out before we've even completed a lamp.

Oh and Alex Blow has a flat from right.

A man from second place has.

The PREDI and o't no no, and that is Foster.

Not willing to give that position of rookie, ultimately getting in stiff take up Lucas disaster for the race leader.

Pato Award is out.

Pato Award high onto the marbles, runs up into the wall, and from a dominant day in which he's led more laps on one day than he ever has in an afternoon, he is out of the race.

Out of the lee.

Oh he goes hi, Hi, he really high.

He led into the wall.

He might be okay, he fairly touched it.

But Joseph, you.

Good will awaken from what has been a nightmare.

Year to the most beautiful dream.

It will be a win.

Wall hat home in Nashville for Joseph Newgarden, and he is doing what he's so desperately wanted to do in Indianapolis.

He will celebrate not just with any crowd, but.

With his crowd.

Your champion, alex Is tenn and got Assi Racing, one of, if not the most one sided championship is over.

So is twenty twenty five.

Yeah, we did see a seventh different winner on Sunday at Nashville Super Speedway, and Joseph Newgarten's nightmare season at least has a pleasant awakening.

Now it's next.

Will Power is officially out at Team Penske, the winningest driver ever, their most successful driver statistically this season, their most recent champion.

Where is he headed?

What about Colton Herda?

There's Rena's VK news.

I'll take some guesses at open seats and much more.

Hello, Welcome, thanks for joining us.

Highlights courtesy of Fox Sports of Nashville Super Speedway season finale on Sunday afternoon.

Another banger, the kids would say, especially beginning and end with some moments in the middle as well, and Joseph Newgarten breaks through and gets to win.

I'm Kevin Lee kirkavn is with us landon Coon's in our Indianapolis studio.

Kurt we would normally talk about the race and go through things.

I believe that's going to need to wait a little bit.

I think it could most Yeah, people saw it.

Well, I think we have enough things to talk about.

That could be our three of a two hour show.

I just don't it could be next week.

And you know, there's a lot of good things that happened in that race at Nashville.

There was much entertainment and there was significant drama, I guess you could say, but all of that as in comparison to you know, we're a fan base of Okay, what's next?

And I think the last I.

Don't know, twelve twenty four hours, it pretty much provided that.

Well, let's start with Willpower the first.

As they like to say, Domino has fallen.

A confirmation this morning at I'm going to say a little bit before ten o'clock.

I think it was almost exactly at ten o'clock clock, Team Penske announced that Power will depart the team prior to the twenty twenty sixth season.

They will announce their plans for the number twelve Horizon Chevrolet at a later dates from Roger Penske.

As we sat down to talk about our future together, Will felt that it was time for him to make a change beginning with next season.

That's probably the one that stands out, and obviously glowing quotes from Willpower as well.

So we'll start there.

I think a lot of people are talking about that state been in saying, well, that's the wrong way to go about it.

You're firing him, You're kicking him out the door.

Why are you saying that Will left?

Remember when Will at Portland, I think sort of slipped and said maybe it is my decision, and then asked about it later he said, you know, he didn't really want to get into that.

I've said this for a while.

I thought he was I thought he was gone, But I still gave it a chance that they would find something for him, either something unexpected happening and creating a seats, or they would work together with David Milucas to delay his arrival for a year, or he would have a Penske supported program at aj Foyd Racing.

By reading this and by what I think, I know, I think that was part of the plan.

I also, oh think it's possible Roger Penske is not highly disappointed at this outcome because he knew he ran the risk of losing will and I don't think he would hold it against him for quote leading or moving on when there was no assurance for much of the time.

And I think I've said this before on this show that the best outcome in this circumstance for Penske Entertainment Team Penske, the series, which is owned by Penske Entertainment, is will finding another good seats because they clearly would like to look to the future and feel like they need to have David Malucas on their program and in their program in a proper Penske car next year.

But will Power is a part of the family, and he's good for the sport.

You want to keep him involved.

So this could simply have been, hey, if you don't have anything, we're going to figure out a way for you to drive full time next year.

Or maybe, if you want to talk semantics, maybe it was he was just going to be offered a chance to do the eighty five hundred, So you could technically say he is still choosing to move on the program, But I still think common sense was going to allow him to do something, and we'll get to what some of those others.

Some things could be at all thoughts on this, that and the other.

Well, let's start with the idea that we've talked about this now for better part of six months.

You and I have had I think, at some point in every other conversation on this show, we've talked about willpower and does willpower continue?

And yet, in spite of all those, you know, conversations, this morning at ten o'clock or a couple minutes before when I first got wind of it, I'm still shocked.

How is the driver who has won forty two races two hundred two championships has been you know, he has won three or more races nine times.

In five of the races five race seasons, he's been the lead driver in terms of race wins.

One year he won six races and his two decorated teammates didn't win any So all the polls that he's won a team Penske the most successful, how does this happen?

I'm still just shocked.

I will also go back to something we've talked about ad nauseum.

I think we were absolutely right.

I think Roger Penske offered him one more year.

I think if truth ever comes out, and I've said before that I think Will will eventually spill the beans and talk about because that's who Will is.

He's extremely lovable and quirky that he's going to talk about kind of what happened.

And I think he was offered one year deal, and I think in his heart he's been I don't know if embarrassed is the right word, but uncomfortable with the rhetoric, the questions over the last two months, three months, go back to India if you will, And I think he's thought, I don't want to do this again.

I don't want to be in this spot starting in May of twenty twenty six being asked once again, is David Miluka's replacing you?

I just don't think.

I don't think that was comfortable.

I don't think it was professionally, you know, something that someone of his stature would enjoy.

And I just think, you know, they offered him one year.

I think we were right about that, and I think he said, I want more than that, or I can go look elsewhere.

And I think so the one year scenario is acceptable for Willpower.

If there are no options with the Big three or four, whatever you want to say, then I think he would have taken it because there was a point where, you know, we were worried about Will because there were no seats said to be available.

There were no openings in Andretti, there were no openings at Ganassi, there were no openings at McLaren.

So in that scenario, I thought a one year would be acceptable.

And I've had that conversation with Will.

And here's another thing that as we started hearing through the weekend more and more as to what is happening.

I had pretty honest conversations, much of it off the record, throughout the year, and in the last month Will has been a little bit more tight lips of saying to me.

He's been saying to me what he's been saying publicly.

You know, I'm anxious.

I want to know, but logic will say, you know, I know he said I can't talk to anybody until the thirty first.

There are no tampering rules in this sport, and they don't listen to those.

How is the NFL or the NBA free agent opening at twelve oh one?

I think they've actually changed one of them to now four o'clock.

And at twelve oh six, Schefty is tweeting that so and so has reached agreement on a deal or woes or whoever.

Oh really, they got a ninety seven million dollar contract negotiated in four minutes.

Okay, then, so no one adheres to that.

So will has known for a while what options were out there.

Now.

I'm sure he didn't sign anything until he was technically allowed to sign anything, and he may not have even agreed to anything, wink wink.

But by the time it got down to it, I also think it's very possible that they've known this for a little while last best offer came in.

By that point, he had found some options.

Here's also what I think.

I think will Power had multiple options.

I think what I thought was wrong that there are no seats available, but when a Willpower becomes available, people will create an opening some way or another.

Let's think of this too.

The trend has been set to essentially farm out a driver and maintain their rights.

It's happened before, way back in the day, but in recent years.

You know, Kyle Kirkwood for a year with aj Foyd Racing.

Chip Ganassi confirmed this weekend Marcus Armstrong is a chip Ganassi employee.

That's what I thought, but now we know it.

They still have the rights to him, which is good for them because he's the perfect scenario.

I think there is budget attached to him and he's really good.

So this could be a long term plan for chip Ganassi and it works with the relationship that they have with with Meyer Shank Racing.

I think Dennis Hauger is going to maintain an Andretti driver.

I'll tell you one of my predictions.

I think he's going to be in a dale Coin car, especially since we've learned now that Renas Vick is definitely not going to be in a dale Coin car.

So I think there were some scenarios and just I don't even have to name names, just look at the points charts, and I think anyone there at the back, it's possible.

And it's also possible that they could still maintain employments and a relationship with the team that they're with, but could be convinced, hey, this is best for all parties concerned, and you know, otherwise this is going to be the last contract or they're often out and clauses in these contracts.

So that's where I think there were some scenarios where something like that could possibly happen.

So next prediction, as far as I know need to keep refreshing the Twitter box.

As far as I know, we've not seen any announcements on what Power is doing.

So this time last week is when we first started hearing about VF two rumor, and I said on this for Colton Hurda, and I actually went back and listened to what I said last week, trying to remember what I said on the air, and then also what I think and my opinion has changed from last Tuesdays.

I talked to more and more people.

I said, this seems unlikely, but it is plausible.

And then as I listened to myself more and going through my thoughts the time, I know this is true and it sounds like it.

I was kind of talking myself into it, saying this could be possible.

And then I talked to Colton on Wednesday.

So I often will set up a call with drivers in my pit section to just get some notes that I can use for the race broadcast in case I can't really get a good quality fifteen minutes with them on race weekend, and we covered a lot of ground as the defending winner, and I eventually said, you know, I got to ask you, is there anything to this F two roomor and I probably wrote down what he said, but he essentially said I'd really rather not comment on that, and I just said, Okay, that tells me all I need to know, and he laughed.

Now, I went through the entire weekend not knowing if that's happening.

But you start to put some things together, and I don't think Alex Plow is leaving for Red Bull, or if he is, it is certainly not sets well.

We'll discuss that in a moment.

So I do not believe there is an easy option at Ganassi.

That's not to say the Chip didn't reach out.

I think everyone at least talked to will Power.

I don't know who has offered him a deal.

So I'm going on here based on common sense, connecting dots and from the public comments from Dan Towers and Colton Hurda over the weekend.

I think Colton's going to have two, and the more I think about it, I think it can make some sense, and it might be at the behest of his employer as much as anything.

It is a.

Tough decision for Colton, and I've seen the comments of that.

You know, this is embarrassing for Indie car I get it.

And I am concerned if he finishes tenth in that championship what that says, and that is possible.

I know, I said this last week.

I think finishing top three or four is going to be hard.

I assume they'll get him with a great team.

I saw one internet report said Prema today.

I don't know if that's true.

I don't even I didn't recognize the person.

It said journalist in Europe and I didn't recognize the name.

But I think Prema is one of the good teams.

And I saw there are other reports from I think Chris Medlin of Racer covers for me.

The one said that TWG had been reaching out to multiple F two teams looking to place Colton.

But even with these, if he's with a good team, it's going to be hard.

Now, I think where the difference is with IndyCar is fifth through twenty five, if not twenty seven are all really good.

You know, twenty one is better than fifth and F two super licensed points don't say that, but that's kind of how they do it, and I don't blame them for doing it.

They're protecting their ladder system.

Maybe that's kind of a point that we should be doing with our ladder system over here, is that you can't just come straight from F two and get to IndyCar.

You need to do a season of Indie ne like Dennis Hauger did or something like that.

You know, you can make a case for Colton that maybe he does want to shake up, and I don't know that it's accurate to say this has always been his dream.

I have noted comments from Colton since he was fourteen years old, and I think every driver just wants the best opportunity and you're not going to say no.

But he abandoned that pretty quickly, and at the time he said, really, my goal has been to do IndyCar.

That's what I know, That's what my dad did.

So I don't know that he feels like he has to do it.

Let's look at logic too.

He said, to be making seven million dollars, he's basically on a Formula one contract.

The theory is that he was given that amount of money, which at time was probably three million more than anyone else in IndyCar, to keep another Formula One team from going after him because he was very close to a Formula one deal.

I think they thought they were going to be in Formula one a little sooner didn't happen.

He's still on that.

The logic would when that contract is up after I think he's got two more years left, he's going to have to take a pay cut unless things change in Indy Car and maybe that now becomes the top salary level.

And if he has, you know, finished in the top three in the championship both years and shows that he is worthy of that kind of a contract.

So the only way to stay on that salary structure is probably to get to F one.

And this would not be a financial risk.

I would think he's going to be making the same amount of money while every other driver is asked to bring three million dollars from their family or their backers, or maybe the team gives it to them because they're part of a program.

It's basically a ten million dollars swing for Colton Murda.

And I did say this to him, and I didn't.

I said, you're not going to comment on this, but I said, you know, if someone I said at first, I said if you, and then I said, how about I amend that if someone we're going to go to F one for IndyCar, going to F two would be a smarter way to do it.

Year one for Cadillac.

F one is probably not going to go very well, and they really need veteran drivers, and they did the right thing by getting two veteran drivers that have won races, that have driven from multiple teams and can help get them going.

And they're both what thirty five thirty seven years old.

They may have they probably have multi year deals, but there could be options in that regard.

He can learn the tracks.

That's not a big of a deal, but he can.

I'm presuming it's a Pirelli tire as well in F two that has more similar characteristics to the Formula one tire.

Everyone tells me that's the biggest thing.

The drivers that have been over there have been in that system that you have to understand that tire.

So if it were to happen, this is actually probably better than just going straight to F one and dealing with the content sequence is there.

So I think it makes sense, and I also think Dan Towis would like to shake things up on the IndyCar program.

They're really good on street races, okay at times otherwise sometimes lost on weekends and when will power became available, this is a way to upgrade the program.

So that's why I think it is happening.

I think power is going to be at Andretti in my opinion, and Colton Hurda is going to have two.

I think all of that is true.

I do think it's a risk for coldon if he's got to have super licensed points and they're not as easy to come by as finishing what is it top five or six.

I saw he only needs to finish like ninth.

If that's the case, that's doable.

But if he's got to finish it, it's other seventh or ninth.

Maybe it's seventh.

If he's got to finish in the top five or six, I think to your point, I think that's a challenge.

I think that's a big challenge.

And let's say say let's say he has races where he's just not competitive.

That's not going to look good for him.

So there is some risk.

But I think Towers, to your point, one, wants to shake up the IndyCar program or at least get a different set of eyeballs on this.

Two sees the opportunity to sign will Three needs to have Colton ready at the right time, and then four I don't think you can discount the money factor that you outlined.

I think I think it's going to be a case for Colton.

Do you want to go down this Formula one path by way of Formula two and we'll continue to pay you at the rate you're making, or you're going to need to take a pay cut.

And what if he was offered an extension, I would not rule that out because here's the other scenario where it becomes less of a risk for Colton because there's no guarantee he gets there.

What if Perez and Botas are great, yeah, and overachieve and there's no spot, Well, Marcus Erickson has one more year on his contracts, they could simply say we will find a spot for you back here in IndyCar.

I think.

I think if all this happens, he gets an extension.

I agree with that.

Yeah.

And and and it's just with TWG, it's either and if Marcus has a great year, you know, maybe they look at this as maybe it's two year program n F two.

I think that's unlikely, but you never know.

You never know.

And will Power is forty five years old.

Does he do more than two years?

I think it's very possible, but you you just never know.

I think you're at the points where it's kind of year to year.

I'd be shocked if it's one and done for Will, because I think we should put this on a loop, show me respects blow yea.

That is going to be his mindset and this assuming it happens, And I'm not the only one that thinks this.

Everyone thinks this.

This is going to be a fascinating season.

And you want rivalries, you got it, Yeah you've because while Will's done a fantastic job of saying and doing all the right things out of this, but in his mind he has to be hurt that I won as many races as anyone last year.

Everyone always gets an extension to continue.

And I don't even believe there was a one year offer.

You don't think over the winter last winter.

Yeah, he may he may have gotten one here in the last week or two, but I don't believe there was anything offered.

Oh I think now, I think I think I mean over the winters kind of you know, you can define that, but I think around May he would have gotten a one year offer.

I think they said we'll have you one more year.

To me, you know to me if he feels disrespected, he didn't get a farewell tour.

He didn't get This is how I think Will thinks.

It's been awkward the last two months.

It's been very awkward.

But I don't know that he would want a farewell tour.

He's not farewelling.

He's going away, so you know what, I do a farewell tour.

I think that is even more clumsy when they are showing you the door.

Farewell tours are for people that have agreed that we're moving on.

Why couldn't they have had just Devil's advocate.

Why couldn't they in May have gotten together.

They do this in their little get together, or maybe it's right after May and said, look, we only wanted to do a one year deal.

Will thinks he's got a better offer because I think there was a chance he came back next year, and I think it was offered to him in the last week.

Okay, in some form.

I don't think they wanted to be pinned into that, and I'm not sure that Will would have wanted that because he was still fighting to continue either with that team or another team.

I think they wanted to leave their options open.

This has been a tumultuous season.

Yes, let's get to that fourteen penske.

Maybe we get to it next.

Someone sent a Twitter question saying, what is this Paddock wide understanding about Joseph nugartan allabouts?

Who sent that?

Marcus?

Did Marcus Armstrong or Marcus Erickson?

He sent this as a direct message.

I won't give his last name, by the way, just send the regular Twitter direct messages are for other things.

They're not for questions for the show, just a personal thought because I miss them a lot of times.

They're not on my regular feed.

I don't go back to them.

So if you want your questions answered, and I'm not really in Twitter doesn't pay, I don't if I didn't get the things.

Sometimes I'll respond to one on Twitter.

But it's not a Q and A session that because I have a radio show.

Yeah, if I didn't have a radio show, maybe I would do a Q and A on Twitter.

But that's what the radio show in the podcast is for us to kind of discuss things and see what people are talking about.

Nathan Brown, I should find this and see the exact quote on this said something along the lines.

There are a lot of Paddock whispers about Joseph Nugart.

Now I'm going to look it up.

I'm going to find the quote while I let you talk about this or whatever you'd like to for just a moments.

So what I'm getting to is, I think you wanted some insurance in case something happened.

So that's another reason why you wanted to wait until the end of the season.

I think they also might have wanted to see how David Milucas does and make a decision based on what's best in the team.

In the headline from the tweet, there was not a signif there was not insignificant number of folks in the past whispering they thought he may retire.

So I'll admit I'm one of them.

Did I think he was going to retire?

No, But what I would say and have said to friends is I cannot rule that out because he seems miserable.

He has doesn't really interact with anyone else in the paddock at this point.

And I'm not saying that's wrong.

This guy won two Indy five hundreds by changing the way he approached things, and he was pretty friendly with a lot of people in the paddock.

And you know, we all know the unfollowed everyone on Twitter, ended the bus bros, ended the media company that he had with a longtime friend, and just kind of shut everyone out and said I need no distractions.

And he won the next two Indy five hundreds.

So yeah, that might be the right approach.

But no one really knows much about Joseph other than the comments are very quick.

He does not look happy.

I know he's a great competitor, and I know it's been an awful season, so I don't expect him to be happy.

And I didn't want to have to try to interview him anyway because there's not really anything to ask other than, oh, you said he disappointed.

Yeah, we know you are, but unfortunately that's what this business is when you're representing partners.

It's part of the deal for everyone.

So I gave it a two percent chance just meeting.

He's one of the those guys that won't surprise me that he says on Tuesday, I'm out and we never see him again.

Obviously a lot of other people thought the same thing, and some other people have wondered does everyone need a change of scenery.

A lot of things have changed since Saint Pete twenty twenty four, or Barber twenty twenty four and that press conference which was not necessarily on message from Joseph with what everyone else has said.

And that's why I honestly still don't know what happened.

There's a lot of me that I believe they convinced Roger Penske at the time that this was an accident, and I think it is plausible that it was an accident, But I still don't know what's happening happened there, And that's the thirty for thirty that we would love to see what happened and what was the fallout, because it eventually led to three of the most tenured and distinguished people in the paddock losing their jobs and the worst in this century for the team, and that all started at Saint Pete.

What happened at Indy this year doesn't happen if Saint Pete twenty four doesn't happen.

And I think everything has changed for Joseph Newgarden since then, So one could argue if another big team would have a spot for him in a winning situation, one could argue, if will power was still available, that it might be best to shake things up on that team.

Do I think that's happening.

I do not do I say there's no chance.

I do not.

I think it's unlikely.

It's very unlikely.

But that's it.

We just don't know.

I think there's a chance.

So you're telling me there's a chance.

But I think everything that has to do with Joseph ties back to what happened over those two incidents and how it was handled, how he feels about his relationship, particularly with Tim Sindric, and the bond that they had, the working relationship that they had, how this team looks and feels.

I just you can't.

You can't have this discussion without this part of the conversation.

Yeah, so this sport is always full of surprise.

This is what I mentioned.

There could be a bombshell last week on the show.

I don't think you're with me, or there could be something that nobody's talking about.

That was it.

That was it, and I didn't give it much of a chance.

But those two scenarios, I had a driver tell me that they thought Joseph was going to retire after this race, and then he won and he changed his mind.

I don't know how they would know that that that was decided in the six hours after the race, from when the race ended and when I saw this driver.

But you know that was the discussion.

This isn't just media chuckleheads that are talking about this.

But that said, they're all guessing too, because Joseph isn't telling any of these people or the other drivers what his plans are.

And what he did say is basically I want to go home and hide for a while and learn what did he say, learn to love the sport again or learn to let me see.

I actually think I did a cutting paste on that quote.

I'd like to go away and start to miss it again.

Well that tells you what the last several months have been for Joseph.

The only thing I go back to is he's he'll be thirty five in December.

He's got I know, he's made a lot of money.

Hire early.

It's a lot of money for us, Yeah, but in professional athletes landscape, he's been a relief pitcher.

Yeah for four years.

Yeah, I mean if he's made you know, what do we hear in the LAO tax case that Elio had at the time of that had like nineteen million dollars.

Let's say Joseph is close to that.

It doesn't go very far.

It doesn't go very far when you're thirty five years old.

Does it just depends on what type of lifestyle exactly?

No, No, no.

I I assume that we all kind of understood he wasn't going to live on our salaries.

But I don't know what type of lifestyle Joseph leeds.

He might decide, you know what, I need one hundred and seventy five thousand dollars per year.

I budgeted this, and I've invested well, and the money I have is going to make that per year.

I don't need anything.

He might.

He might, but he if he if that's the way he thinks and has budgeted, because I'm sure he's invested well, let's don't let's don't get ourselves.

He's got good people around him.

He makes good decisions, as far as we can tell, uh, he has.

He's a smart guy.

So I don't he's not been out buying airplanes and buying you know, he doesn't have a collection of cars that has would dazzled all of us, at least to our knowledge.

But but if he thinks that way, meaning I'm going to live on quote unquote one hundred and seventy five thousand dollars a year.

He's different than ninety five percent of the athletes that we know and have been around.

Yeah, but it's a much smaller percentage of race car drivers.

Race car drivers are smarter because they are business people.

They've had to work to get to this level, so they are less likely to who blow their money.

I'll share a story of my friend Paul Tracy.

People think Paul's this wild, reckless guy.

Paul invested wonderfully.

Paul has done great.

He made a lot of money in his career, but he's living the good life.

Paul did not waste his money.

He invested well.

And I think most drivers are like that because this is a business more so than any other sport, and you get to really interact with a lot of smart people, and you have to become a businessman if you want to last in this sport.

Last thing on this is I want Joseph Newgarden to be happy.

We've known him since he was a kid.

I am hoping he finds his joy again, and I'm hoping it's driving a race car, because he like will power is good for the sport.

And I'm not saying this as I said, I think the chances are incredibly slim that he is doing anything other than driving the two car.

But two years ago, I would have never said that.

You know, it's to one hundred percent to one hundred percent, and that's what we'd say for a lot of other drivers that are in that situation.

So I hope he's happy.

It's hard to be happy when you had the type of season he's had, when you've had the success, but that's part of it.

You have to figure out how to deal with that adversity because it's not always going to go the way you would like it.

And the good thing is it's often not been his fault, so he should be able to hold his head up and they'll eventually figure it out and things will start to break.

And what has he said, I you know, I've been afraid just to turn around and somebody hits me in the face with a baseball bat and it didn't happen.

And that's how he was able to win a race.

And there will probably be more of them coming up.

Okay, well, a very long segment, so we'll we'll sneak away and get into some of the other things that we think are going on and much more trackside ninety three five, one oh seven five to the fan.

Hi, this is what power?

And you'll listening to tracksod okay, what's next and you mean there's something, there's something more.

So we've given opinions on what we know.

We know Will Power is leading team Penske.

And by the way, didn't feel like I needed to do.

I loved watching him, but didn't feel like we needed to do a career retrospective or celebrate him.

That's fine if we do, because he should be celebrated.

And it is amazing.

You know, he's wanted what a dozen more races than any other driver of the most storied team.

I do think there's I do think there's a pause moment for how great that relationship has been.

So I don't think you know, it's not writing off his career.

It's not saying the boys walking away and he's never good.

No, but you can't.

This guy spent eighteen years with the most successful team in our sport, won forty two races, two championships in indy five hundred.

He is a legend by any definition, and this is a stop and pause and celebrate the moment, even if he isn't willing to, and you know, I just think getting back to I just want to clean up two quick things.

I don't think he looked for a farewell tour, but I do think he would have enjoyed the last month of kind of everybody understanding and celebrating what a great relationship this has been for eighteen years.

He didn't get a chance to talk about Verizon.

He didn't get a chance to talk about how great it was to drive for Team Penske until right at the very end.

He'll have some time during the offseason, but just a little time to celebrate that.

And the other thing I would say is hopefully Joseph isn't doesn't get upset for people talking about how he's going to spend his money the rest of his life.

I hope Joseph does what Joseph wants to do.

But I do think that at thirty five, as somebody who's already looking toward what retirement looks like, I think that's a it's an interesting conversation to have, and therefore we probably overstepped our bounds, but it's a radiation.

I thought of that too, Yeah, that it's not our place to get into his business.

That's unfortunately part of what being a public figure is.

People talk about those things.

But yeah, I'm uncomfortable with that part of as well.

But the point I was just trying to make is I feel like he's going to be okay, and he has the option.

Yeah, he does something that makes him happy and whatever he whatever that is, I hope it's it's what's best for Joseph.

And that's not trying to hint I think he's going away.

I've just wondered.

I've just wondered about what's going on, and we'll see.

I do hope, I do hope that the power rivalry that we will make it to be next year.

He has a right in this sport, a rivalry that, you know, this burning fire that will has inside of him already.

I hope we get to see that.

I hope we get to see.

That's what this sport needs.

We talk about it all the time.

We need we need a little juice, we need a little rivalry.

We need we need a non Penske driver to lean on a Penske driver once in a while, whether it's a street race in Long Beach or you know, let's just let's have a little of that.

When the three of the top four or five cars, which we've had at times are with the same.

Team, yeah, not good.

It's a little harder to lean into when the two champions are for the same team.

You know that that's not quite the same thing.

So we want parody in many ways.

That's why, you know, I was hoping Joseph would stay longer at at Carpenter Racing, Uh, hoping that you just spread it around me, Lucas stays at point for another year, and so on and so forth.

So yeah, I think your point is right about Power would have probably enjoyed that, and he mostly would have enjoyed not answering questions about getting fired, because really that's what we had to do.

I'll say this before I did the interview in the pre race, you know, just asking me about your emotions in what might be your last start with Team Penske before we went on air, because at that time I did not have I thought he was going to Andretti.

But I'm more confident now.

At that time I wasn't sure what was happening.

So I said, you know, this time last year, I didn't have a job either, and I worked out fine.

It's going to be fine for you, and he's kind of laughed.

But that goes back to over the last few weeks, he's not seemed concerned.

So I think enough inquiries have been made that he knew he had options.

He could maybe choose to stay if the offer was granted, or there was going to be another good seats available.

Uh what else Renus vik has.

I think Marshall pro reported this at racer dot Com.

I've heard this as well, but would not have had enough to say it definitively.

So Marshall had this, so he had he had a quote from the agent said that Renus has informed dale Coin that he will not be returning.

So what that means is that Renas has a job lined up.

You know, he's smarter than that.

He There was an announcement on Friday with one of Todd Alt's companies being involved, and I think there was a hope that they could announce Rena's returning and we did not happen.

I'm good well, and I thought this was also plausible because that was at the time where I was not one hundred percent sure sure that power was going to ANDRETTI.

I'm ninety nine percent sure that Polow is staying, but until I see Red Bull announce their drivers, I just wouldn't want to commit to anything with other possibilities that are out there.

So here's my best guess on Rinus, and I wrote these down in the morning, and then then I see other people are opening the same thing.

I think he is replacing David Malucas at Foight, and this might go back to Joseph Newgarden.

I think this is Joseph Newgarten insurance, not just for now, which is unlikely, but he might have one year left on his contract.

I don't know if his contract ends after twenty six or twenty seven.

But the Foight people seemed pretty optimistic about the future as I chatted with them throughout the weekend, So that leads me to believe that because two weeks ago there was concern about where's the funding going to come from from that team.

I think Penske has been funding the Number four car and Marilyn Sexton unfortunately passed away.

We don't know what the situation is with the company moving on with Sexton properties now.

Maybe it's simply the family has said nope, we're going to continue supporting.

But I think more likely is the technical partnership continues with Penske and they are going to place a driver in the number four car, and my guess is that that is Renus Vk.

It's my guess.

I have no sourcing to report this.

I think Marshall Pruitt wrote that he expects that to happen, and then the next thing, I saw a headline that he wrote something about Coin.

So before I read the story, I wanted a first guest and I wrote down who I think is going to be in what car, and I wanted to compare it to what else is out there.

Here's what I've written down.

I think DK will be in the four, Malucas will be in the twelve.

By the way, no no timeline on when they're announcing that when Team I think Team Penske's release said at some point before next season, we'll tell you who's going to be in the twelve car for dale Coin Racing.

My guesses are Dennis Hauger and Romandro Jean.

And I don't have that on any authority other than asking dale Coin about Dennis Hauger and he just smiled like he's done with others before and said, hey, you never know, but I think he will remain Andretti property, I think that makes more sense than taking him to a Chevy team with Hunkos and dale Is.

He understands that if somebody goes well, he gets him for one year anyway, so might as well have it contractually written in so we can start planning for the next year.

So the only thing, and Grojan is apparently you know, dropping tea leaves that he'd like to be back in IndyCar.

The only thing is Lena sun Quist has seemed pretty happy lately.

Why is Leida's quiz.

Because he's having good conversations with whom goes Hollinger?

Yeah, okay, making sure Renus VK is not going to Hunekos Hollinger, which I think also could be a possibility, But I don't know that he would have left dale Coin for Honkos.

That's why I think it's foight with the Penske partnership.

The other one.

I would say it's possible it's Ray Hall Letterman Land again, but that's not as clear.

That means that they have to decide.

Going back to what I said last hour, can they do they want to?

Can they place Devlin de Francesco or do they have an option just in that you know, nothing gets Devlin, but you just look at we just lost the leader circle again, so you know, the performance didn't and by the way, he didn't go great for the other teammates too, so this is not all on Devlin.

But they need to shake up in that program.

So I won't rule them out from doing something there for Hunkos.

They need budget.

They are trying to find investors, maybe a merger or something like that.

If that happens, then I think Lenas has a good chance of being their guy.

And then we will see on the other car.

Does that come in place of Connor Daily Not necessarily so just stand by same thing, no real reporting or information, but just looking at where they are at.

And I asked Dale this because I think he said this to that press conference.

I said, you you believe you will be solidly in the leader circle next year with your two cars, And he says, yes, I do.

We are going to take a big step forward next year.

I don't know if Dale is always that bold.

No, he's not.

No, he might think, you know, I think there's been an influx of cash with a Todd Alt partnership and they feel like that they can go out and hire and there might be some financial help with Andretti to say, hey, you know you're renting this driver, so we're going to help a little bit with the budget.

Maybe we're going to place one of our partners on this car as well.

And plus there's a scholarship they get the scholarship money.

Yeah, and Dennis may have some personal partners to help with that.

Do you want to get to Prema.

We got to save that, okay, because we're like six minutes over.

We'll preview what's to come and more next on track side.

Hi, this is Rena Speke and you're listening to tre hythe coming up in our number two.

We'll try to finish our number two before the second hour is over, but we'll talk more about silly season, what we think.

I'll think if I can share anything on the schedule that won't get me in trouble.

There have been some reports out there, so we can simply say reports and cite other people on that front.

And yeah, Kurt mentioned Prema.

We'll get to some Twitter questions from the Xbox and plenty more all coming up.

Oh, we'll talk about the season finale at Nashville Super Speedway, won by Nashville native Joseph Nugarten.

That Moore coming up track side ninety three five one oh seven to five of the fan.

Hi, this is justin Newgarten and you're listening to trackside our number two track side ninety three to five and one oh seven five the fan in Indianapolis with Landon Kun's in the studio, Kevin Lee, Kurk Cavin, Kurt, do you have any idea when next.

Week's show is?

No, but I think we'll say we'll hopefully get to the Nashville results by then because they're insignificant compared to everything else we have talked about and still have yet to come.

Well, I want to get to the Xbox and I actually really was hoping you knew when the show was and we can mention that, but stand by, I'll tweet it on the day of the show.

Our conflict would be if there is a Fever game on Tuesday, then we bounce to another date.

So that is need to know information.

Twitter questions at Kevin Lee twenty three at Kurk Cavin.

Steven Terrell says VK to Foyds looks like predictions here v K to Foyd, power to and Ready Well Lucas Depenske and he, by the way, wrote this before the show started, So yeah, we've kind of thought the same, says the silly seasons have to une questions.

Who will be the drivers at coin Will de Friend Chess go be back at RLLL, Will Prema have cars?

What's up with Honda?

What else to talk about?

This winner?

Well, that seems like plenty.

I said who I think will be in the coin cars?

The one I should also have said.

The one I'm much more confident about is Dennis Hauger.

I will be surprised if Dennis Hauger is not in the coin car.

And Dan Towers on the stage if you didn't see the championship celebration for Indy Next on FS one said something along the lines of, you know we have He said, we're going to maintain a relationship with Dennis this is how I read it, and make sure he has a seat next to an Indy car.

So good.

Yeah, So I think that's one.

The Grogan one I'm not as certain about.

That probably depends on all of the funding being there, because Grojan is you know, he's not just suggesting he might come back.

He's always been looking to come back.

He's been at races, he's been a quote prima reserve driver or whatever the case might be.

So I've seen him several times this year, and that sports car program he's been involved in is in a lot of flux.

It may not return next year and I can't remember.

Maybe it is going to do endurance races, but it's not full season like they were hoping for.

So he definitely wants to be back, and I know this.

I didn't ask Dale about Grojean on Sunday, but I asked him about it last fall because there were a lot of rumors about grojan there, and he said, I would really like to find an opportunity to work for him.

But they didn't have budget together and they didn't what.

They hired Renas two weeks before the season or something like that.

Once the ask ROI budget from todd All became available, that's what allowed them to be able to hire Renus and not require that someone brings budget.

So that's my best guess for Coin, but I do think there are other possibilities in the second seat.

I would keep an eye on Kyle Colletts.

He's working on budget, and you know, he said he's not coming back to Indy Next because I won.

I think I've done everything I can do.

And I agree, he's won races, he finished second in the championship, and he's legit good.

And he said it'd be hard to raise that money anyway.

He would do it if somebody wants to give him a seat.

But they said, well, isn't it going to be a little easier for you to raise money for an IndyCar program?

And he said, yeah, certainly.

You know, I may not be able to raise a million for Indy Next.

It's really more like one point three to one point six million, But I think I can raise that or more for IndyCar.

So I think he could have some possibilities there.

If VK doesn't end up at Foight, then you know, I would think he is a possibility there.

Who else is out there?

You know, obviously, I'm sure there is hope for him to be able to stay at who goes Hollinger And surely they'd like to have him, but it's always the race of how much budget can they have.

If they find an investor on the team, then it probably won't take any more budget, maybe even less than what Connor brought this year, and I would give him a really good chance of being back with that team.

He has proven he gets it done on ovals and has helped that program, and I think they're getting closer on the road courses.

But you know, it takes more than just Connor.

That's going to be some work, and he's performing his teammate most of the time, if not all the time.

In that situation, I mentioned to keep an eye on lean his Lundquist.

He's got a chance.

I saw Uri Hipps.

He's trying.

You know, he knows it's going to take some budget to make something happen.

Toby Sowury the same, Hunter mcelray is trying.

What F two drivers or former F one drivers are going to come over here?

Mick Schumacher, here's another reason why I think Colton Hurda is headed F two.

Where did let me cite the report that had this today, but the European media, I think the race had this reported that Mick Schumacher was on the verge of joining Cadillac as a reserve driver for the Formula One team while also racing in the World Endurance Championship with Cadillac Team Joda, and that deal has collapsed and they didn't know why in this story, but I think I know why is because Colton Hurda is going to be the reserve driver I think for Cadillac F one.

And by the way, that sweetens this a little bit.

You know, if you talk about why are you doing this if you're Colden Hurda, because they are doubling the amount of required rookie free practice one tests next year.

I believe in Formula One it's two this year, So next year, Colton hurd It could drive the car four times on Friday morning practice in Formula One.

So that also makes it easier for him to gain that super license because you can get points out of that and it does not require him to finish his high in that championship.

The other thing where the Schumacher thing plays into our world is that he would have some interest in IndyCar.

He still wants to get to Formula one, wants to drive Formula cars.

But I'm wondering if that also in a way, could that be a landing spot for callum I loot they need a replacement for Jensen button the former F one champ who is exiting full time racing.

That's the seat that Callum turned down last year to come and run for Prema.

And that's why you asked before and then also what was just asked from Steven what's up with Prema?

I don't know.

I heard that they are still having positive talks and they are optimistic that an investor has been found.

Whether that's a buyer of the team, I think essentially Deborah Mayor, the owner who put a lot of money into this, has moved on and she wants out.

I don't know if the Rosines are going to be involved or not, whether they're bringing the investor or whether they're just selling and someone else is going to come in and run the team.

Pierce Phillips is there, who we know who's been around the IndyCar world and sports car world for a long time.

So I think there is a chance.

But as I think I said last week, the challenge is going to be unless they told everybody on Sunday night we're good, than anybody that is attractive for another team is going to be offered a job and they're going to leave.

So you're going to be somewhat starting over.

In that case, Marshall pro wrote about the possibility of a merger with who goes houling her?

And you know, unless they get an investors sorted soon.

If the investor comes later, that might be good for both parties because they're going to not have enough people.

They're going to be starting all over trying to find the right people.

And we saw how that went when you had new people last year.

Cars on fire, penalties and fines for installing things the wrong way for a safety issue, lots of time not on track at the beginning of the season.

Second half of the season, Yes, they had pretty good pace, very encouraging.

Yes, they also won the poll for eighty five hundred as well.

Oh, by the way, yeah, they were pretty solid on OVAL's Calamilot had a great finish to the season.

And what a quandary this must be for him if there is an offer to go back to sports car racing.

Those are paying jobs, those are good jobs, they have a longer shelf life.

But he's a single seater driver and I think he had a pretty good deal this year.

But if there's not an assurance now it's also possible someone else goes after him.

There's still some seats available, but he does not bring budget.

How many are out there?

Well, I said, I think that would that.

Don't think that's going to be an option to go back to who goes HO longer?

Don't think that's going to be there.

Could Coin hire him?

Could Foid hire him?

As a Pence could could Because I don't know that that's where Retas is headed.

I just think that could.

There are rumors two or three years ago about Penske being interested in that's right.

I think you're absolutely right.

So maybe that is a situation.

So I can't rule that out.

But you know, at some point now maybe that sports car seat doesn't need to be sited right now.

Maybe there's a little bit of time on that.

But no, not really, don't think there's a lot.

Hey, you know the one conversation driver slash Money slash Future, we're just sting right, Rob end up in this conversation.

He's one guy you can count on, or at least have been able to count on, to be qualified to do this and has budget to do so.

I hate to put it this way, but it comes down to how much money does he have?

And I have defended Stingray on this program before and would publicly and privately he's very competent.

Is he a top ten driver?

He's not.

No, But he's not been in any kind of program that would be able to show you what he can do at this point.

But I don't know if the budget he has is ten million, is it five million?

You know, if it's ten million, it would seem he is going to have a place.

But these teams are trying to find they're trying to do what Ed Carpenter did and find their Ted Gehloff and use the charter system as there is something of value that hopefully down the road, especially with Foxes involvement, now that this is going to increase in value.

NASCAR charters were originally being sold for about two and a half to three and a half million dollars and they've been going for twenty five to forty since then.

Do we expect IndyCar to go to that level?

We don't, but might it go up significantly?

It might and it should.

So if all these teams find investors, they're going to want to hire drivers and they are going to turn down Yeah, they might.

They might turn dow down drivers with budget they probably wouldn't turn down ten, but it's going to be easier to turn down six at this point.

And it's three straight years that I don't think he's made the leader circle again.

Not all his fault three different teams, three different teams with three different teams.

You know, if if Foight does not have a partnership with Penske, including funding, then I give that chance of happening of coming back there.

But I don't know, and I don't know about Jacob Abel either.

I don't think he's going to be back at Coin.

I would give Foight as a possibility there.

I'd like to see Jacob get another chance because I know his teammate outperformed him by a lot.

But logic would say the top people were all going to be on that program.

They're trying to make everything equal, and they're not sabotaging him or not paying attention to what he can do.

But just logic says, you put your best.

This is at every level of racing that the best effort and time goes towards the number one car.

You get that prep first because it's got the best chance to get a result, and you hope there is time and resources for everything else.

So by the way, Dale is paying for a lot of so same thing, you know.

So those are some of the uncertainties at this point.

Honda.

I don't know anything more about Honda.

I think there's a chance.

This is dependent on whether they go to NASCAR or not.

I'm optimistic.

I think the partnership with Fox helped greatly.

I think some of the things I'm hearing about potential events.

By the way, everything you've read about what might happen in twenty six not necessarily true, but these things are being discussed for the future.

I just don't know if all of the things and reports you've seen are going to happen by next year.

But it's still fluid.

When is the schedule coming out?

I do not know.

I don't think it's fully done at this point.

I am above fifty to fifty on Honda staying, but I don't know how much above that.

And I don't know if they can do NASCAR and IndyCar and continue an IMSA and in Formula one and everything else that they're doing.

So I don't know if it's an either or or if they just need to be convinced because IndyCar is going to be way cheaper NASCAR is massively expensive.

So one could say that, well, this is not that much of an expense, and if they did some cost containment issues to help the engine manufacturers, and maybe if they have a third lined up that we're not aware of, that brings down some costs as well.

So I give it a decent shot.

But I don't really know, and I don't know what the timeline is at this point, so.

I don't either of any indefinitive.

My gut tells me the same thing.

It's north to fifty percent.

I wouldn't go up to one hundred percent level, but I do.

I'm optimistic.

I don't know what I know about the schedule to be on or off the record, so I'll let you pontificate about the schedule.

Well.

I gave some opinions a couple of weeks ago, and I looked when the NASCAR schedule came out, and I said, looking hard at that for possibilities.

And I know I talked about Phoenix and other people writing about that.

We've been talking about Phoenix, and I think that's the place I.

Feel like Watkins Glenn is going to happen.

And I'm wondering because I heard a lot of chatter about that.

I'm wondering was that an option if they couldn't get anything done for Toronto.

So there are I think it's not a report.

It's been a media notice shared with people that the city of Markham, a suburb of Toronto, officials with Green Savary Well host of press conference tomorrow to announce a motorsports events.

Gee, I wonder what that could be.

I wonder.

So the deal with the exhibition place, the downtown Toronto location is not only is that where a World Cup event will be in that football stadium.

They're European football.

I know it's over by a certain date early July, but as I understand it, the World Cup event owns that space for even another two or three weeks after that, So the build it's not just finding out when that game is, whether it's July fourth or whatever, the last game, it's two or three weeks beyond that, so it's just not available.

That space is not available.

So there have been a couple of other places mentioned, and I should have googled this, but I was told by a Canadian friend that mark Them is pretty big city, like three hundred thousand people.

It's north of It's just north of what we would we'd call it Carmel in Indianapolis.

It's north of it's north of town.

It's on the bypass.

I have read that.

You know, it's it's pretty hip, got some tech to it that you might alter fined.

It's it's a more accessible than you than exhibition place that it probably will draw a better crowd.

Not better in terms of numbers, but better in terms of your.

Oh, I think it's draws better.

That's not been yet, No well attended, but you're demographic, it's it fits the demographic better.

I feel like, unfortunately, much of Toronto does not know about this event anymore.

I don't know how because the roads are shut down.

But if you don't get down the lake shore that week, then I guess you don't notice.

As they call it, the Moulson and d e used to be massive.

And I don't know how many people we've come across the last couple of years of restaurants asking, like servers, why is it so crowded?

You know, no idea that this event is in town anymore.

So unfortunately does not have the juice.

So the first thought would be terrible to leave downtown.

And I'm to the point where actually it might be better to be a bigger deal in a smaller town.

There's so much going on in Toronto, you know, whether it be the Blue Jays or everything else going on that I like this idea, and this has been discussed about some other markets before.

But let's find a mid size city and make that their big event of the year and how to get on the map a little bit.

Be a big fish in a little pond rather than a small fish in a big pond.

Just keep in mind, though I don't think we're talking about small pond here.

I mean this is part of as I understand it.

It's yes, it's a suburban Toronto.

Yeah, still Toronto.

You're going to miss out on the people in the city a little bit and just wandering down because I think that's one of the great things about street races at Saint Pete.

You can't miss it in the area because you see the construction at Long Beach.

You see the construction that is going on down there on Long Beach is a totally different story.

And I think Saint Pete is in that too because of how long the events have been there.

But Toronto has mostly had that as well.

Been unfortunately a couple of times when it went away after this the merger and then because of COVID, and that has had an impact on people.

Once it's not there, then it's not there and they move on to other things.

Mike stoops, what's your knowledge of attendance at Nashville?

And I kept hearing Milwaukee was a sellout, but I saw a lot of empty seats.

Fox must say Indy Car is a diamond and the Rough having purchased a third what do you think their plan of attacked prop up IndyCar is so attendance?

Oh so, so the Milwaukee sellout?

I believe the way that was actually announced was was it general admission tickets were sold or one facet of tickets was sold out, but it was never announced.

It was never announced as a sellout.

Just because somebody wrote it on Twitter doesn't mean that it's true.

When the track announced, did they announce that?

Do you recall this?

It was either general admission grand stand tickets or maybe it was reserved grandstand tickets, but there were others still available that included a seat or the option to sit in a seat, So it was never announced to sell out.

I wondered I wondered about it, and then the race happened, or race weekend kind of got rolling, and I didn't think to go back and try to dissect the press relation.

I saw the original announcement it I read it clearly, and it was not announcing that we are sold out.

So maybe that's kind of a note that people see the word sellout and think it is I doubt it.

It was a great incoming.

It was a great crowd.

It was a very good crowd.

Saturday was good.

It was the best Saturday that I have seen on an oval.

It did not include a race in I don't know when, maybe ever, maybe ever.

That's been one of the challenges.

It was highly encouraging.

Nashville was okay.

I can't compare it to last year because I was in the booth last year.

I always get a better look looking from Pitt Lane up to the stands.

I'm going to guess the stands are about half full.

I don't know what that stand seats.

Is it twenty thousand, is it three?

I think it's twenty five roughly.

Okay, And when I say about half, I might be wrong by ten or fifteen percent.

Either way, I think it was at least half, because there was a section in the middle that was seventy five eighty percent, and then it was a little more sparse on the outer edges, you know, maybe a third or something like that, but I feel like it was probably acceptable.

I talked to Scott boord Schett for a while about other things, a lot of music.

Jack Harvey had a lot of music questions for him, and I was going to ask him about the prospects of going back downtown.

He mentioned that publicly that that is still a possibility and they have interest in that, so I won't rule that out.

Someone else told me that the footprint is going to be really hard to do that with the new football stadium, but I do think that's a possibility.

I probably not until after the football stadium is done, but that's one.

And then Mike also as plan an attack for Fox.

What I've read is one thing they want to help invest in events.

They want big events in big markets, so I would.

And then you've seen Adam Stern write some things on that.

I'm not sure if anything is happening by next year.

Don't think that's done, but I think there are some things in the pipeline Washington, a DC has been publicly mentioned, dever has been in the works for a while.

I think I've read people speculating about Philadelphia.

I just think a lot of things are possible.

Think football stadiums.

That's the easiest way to do a temper place because you have a lot of space and you're not shutting down as many streets, so it's a little simpler to get it done through permits in a city and dealing with one group there.

Mike also says, I know overall viewing numbers are up much due to improved Indy five hundred numbers, but the last few were in the mid seven hundred thousand range.

One was right around USA network numbers.

I've got to believe this must be a little disappointing since it was all network broadcasts.

I do not know whether that is disappointing or not.

That has not been shared with me.

As I've said before, I think both things can be true.

It's fine to compare the network NBC numbers to the network Fox numbers, and we would all hope that they would have stayed at the nine hundred thousand to a million level, But there are different factors involved.

A lot of it is to head the head, it's the lead in, it's that the championship has been over since April, so on and so forth.

I think it's also fair, and this is the way I lean the reason they did this deal is because it was all on network.

So while you might be seeing some seven hundred thousands now, you've not seen a seventy five thousand, you've not seen a ninety two thousand, you've not seen a two hundred ninety two thousand, you've not seen a three hundred and fifty thousand.

I think all of those were a part of our world last year.

And the total number, which I think is what matters, is up seven or eight million, fifteen million to twenty two million, and that's not counting practice shows.

I think you add another four or five hundred thousand per weekend when you're talking about practice shows between Indiecar and Indie Next.

Maybe that's on the high side.

Maybe it's three or four hundred thousand, but both are accurate.

But to say that this is going horribly when you've added seven million in viewers, I don't really think is quite accurate either.

I bet they're policing.

You look both numbers.

I bet they're policed for a lot of reasons.

I bet they just bought a third of the sport after seeing the numbers, So I think that means they're not wanting to run away.

So yeah, that would lead me to believe and they obviously do see upside As I've said a thousand times, sports are the best resource for advertisers.

People see commercials in sports, they don't for scripted programs.

Okay, let's uh, I got more I want to get to but I need to recess.

See how much time we have left, and maybe we'll talk about the race too.

Coming up on track side.

This is Alex below and you're listening to truck site.

Okay, we'll continue down to the twitter box.

I'm trying to make an effort to make sure that we answer more of the questions that I feel people might be interested in.

Next is the sensy Buckeye asks is vice champion?

This is from an HMD post.

Kyle Collett, your indie next vice champion?

Is vice champion?

A Kurk Cavin creation.

If so, he may need to have a talk in r P one.

Why would you be blamed for that?

I'm not sure vice champion is a European thing.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I didn't.

I didn't.

I don't.

I don't like that.

I'm not you know, and I'm not big on Q one, Q two, P one, P two.

I think a lot of those are Europeans conversations.

I'm not saying.

I'm not saying I'm down on it.

I'm just saying, yeah, I wish I wish we had kind of and I know there are a lot of American races.

That's why I like P one and P two because I like brevity.

Yeah.

P one, P two is not as bad.

I do think there are people that wish we didn't sound like a Formula one broadcast.

Not broadcast.

I don't mean like it's the broadcast fault.

I mean that sometimes the vernacular is F one.

That's all.

And half of the people in the paddock came from that world.

I agree.

I know where it came from.

It's fine, that's kind of part of it.

Yeah, yeah, because you know, you here drivers all the time say FP one.

We don't have a big one, and I've.

Had why is it free practice?

Well, it's free because it doesn't count.

Okay, I get that.

That's that's why it's called free practice one because it's not setting a lineup.

Isn't practiced by nature free there you go.

Yeah, well it's p one brevity that one line It takes a long time.

IndyCar Ken says, what do you know about IMS testing in October?

I've heard the twenty seventh for IndyCar, twenty eight for next and now just heard the twenty ninth for ANDRETTI.

This certainly has to do with WP Willpower.

Yeah, I don't.

I don't know.

I know that Chris Griffiths test is set.

I haven't seen a date, so I haven't seen a date.

I would also tell you, getting back to one thing about Willpower.

I think with their street course, he's going to be dynamite at Saint Pete Dynamite yep.

I believe the USF combine is the twenty fifth and twenty sixth, which is Saturday and Sunday.

Maybe the next day is Indie Next testing, or maybe it's the Friday before.

Usually there is some testing on the road course in the fall, so that's when the road course is set up.

Is there an Indie Oval test?

I do not know.

They don't have anything big that they have to do for next year.

But that's we've got time.

We've got time to sort all those kind of things.

Muhammed asks at Moke Motorsport, big VK fan here, amazing race by him.

But seriously, he said against against Dutch media, he will probably return to Coin if there is not any better seat available.

He denied the offer of Coin and I think he's on the way to roll or AJ Foyd with Penskey supports.

So we're on the same lines there that I think he's going to Foy with Penske support as well, well, but I do not know that, and he says ps to that.

Okay, yeah, it's official.

Kleaves DCR.

We have documented that.

At this point, John A.

J.

T.

Doling says this is face saving spin.

I think he's referring to the Penske release saying Will chose to move on.

I also think Will John Wrights has had some seriously rage filled breakdowns, most recently the plowing incident with Kirkwood and Troit.

I think the organization has finally had enough.

Well, as I said earlier, I think there is truth to that now.

I took him a long time, but I think there was something available to Will and obviously not acceptable, and that would be because he has something else that he finds much better.

You will is always a little bit different.

There's there have been quick bouts of rage, but he has I'm sure been on edge this year and I wouldn't rule that out for what happened at Detroit.

And then a half hour later he's yucking it up with Kyle Kirkwood.

So he gets over it pretty quickly.

And that's what I have tried to do, and I'll be honest.

I tried to let Joseph do that too this year.

When I was asked to interview him, I would follow him because I do think it's unfair that a mic Crohne is stuck in your face after you get out of the car.

So I went to give them as much time to process things that happen.

But that didn't get anywhere, and eventually, in one of the cases he did come back out fifteen minutes later and talk to Jack.

But I've done that with McLaughlin a couple of times when he was pretty upset, and he said later he said that actually really helped.

I would not have been It would not have been great for me to talk when I first stepped out of the car, but by you walking back to the transporter, letting me vent to myself for three minutes and give me a little bit of time, that helped the cause and he ended up doing a great interview.

And Will's been the same way that.

Sometimes even after ten minutes, it still gets a little bit out of control.

But I try to be respectful of them and not put them in a bad position.

Even though you know the TV guy, you know you're gonna want you want drama, and there are people too, So there's there's a I don't know what the right answer is.

There's a happy medium somewhere in that too.

I think I'm trying to be fair, trying to be fair, and I'm trying not to burn bridges because I need him again the next week.

Some of Will's quirkiness shows up in the all of it actually shows up in that in those moments.

But if he didn't get, if he didn't get released after releasing the Double Birds at New Hampshire a decade ago, he wasn't gonna get it, wasn't gonna get fired or dropped or not re signed because he threw a water bottle at your feet.

He's just not Yeah, I mean he survived double birds.

There is a value to his authenticity, There is a line, but I don't know that he's really ever crossed.

Oh no, he's one of these emotional but very harmless people.

I mean, he's harmless.

And let me just of all the things we could say anecdotally, here's the fact that holds true.

Verizon has stayed with him for eighteen years.

That's as big a deal as anything.

I do believe.

Am sponsor on the car for I think all but like three races.

Yep.

When his first race in a Penske truck rental livery and I think I've got the note of what the other one was.

Well, I think he had a couple of Penske truck rental.

Yeah.

The point is Verizon, you know, we talk all about these sponsorships.

Verizon was like, we love quirky will power.

We don't care if he throws about water bottle at Kevin Lee's feet.

We all want to do that.

It was warm too.

It was nice refreshing since he Buckeye, says Team Penske blew to pr management of this story all year long.

If you don't think so, look at the blowback they're getting and the blowback that built up this could have been a thank you year, not now kind of talked about that.

They don't do that either.

Eliot didn't get a thank you year, and he was also going to continue on for another year in the ND five hundred.

But that's the way, and who's to argue with the way they do business.

That's the way they've done business.

They announced things, especially when it ends after the season, and I think there still was a pathway to stay involved at what level.

What was the contract offer?

Don't know, but I tend to believe that statement that ultimately it was what Will said in Portland.

He got to make the decision in the end.

Had the offer come several months ago, he might have made a different decision.

But once it became known that he was available, I think the phone started ring for someone, whether it's him, whether it's Orial Servia, and they knew that when available, they were going to be not just options, but good options and possibly better options.

Keep this in mind too, They finished tenth eleventh or ninth, tenth and twelve, no, what is it?

Ninth eleven to twelfth in the championship.

So while we say Andretti needs something to change.

They were better than that this year in most cases, in two of the three cars they were.

So that's what I think.

When that will be announced, I think if this is happening, Colton needs to be announced first.

Is there any restriction on when Will can be announced?

I'm still guessing sooner rather than later.

Well, especially if especially requested today.

Yeah, especially if they have a test at the Speedway next month, then you'll want you'll want that to have been done.

But by the way, since he Buckeye put the team Penske logo on the Cracker Barrel logo that was not I saw that, Well, how is that?

Wow?

I like Cracker Barrel, you know, the thing is, and I get the public pushback.

You just maybe different than the other drivers that that left Penske.

It just feels like Will's because the way Will carries himself.

And you see the emotion in his face from the outside, and I think this is accurate, by the way, but I think from the outside it looks like he was dangling, and we don't like to see our legends dangling, you know, we like we like our guys to be you know, really, you know, you can see why the fan base reacted as it did.

Yeah, we get to know these people.

Even if you don't know them, you feel like their family.

And if you've been to races, they're all a lot of fans that actually do know will Power.

They he has stopped and chatted with them and they have a relationship.

Not people with the credentials, people that just have paid to have the paddock pass every once in a while.

And the story of he and Liz and what they endured in twenty twenty three is something any of us could have could have could have endured.

Uh Paul says, well, there are many great drivers in Indycarpolow made the Molok average.

Who will provide the challenge to Plow in twenty six Alex below, I'm giving lun Guard, Yeah, but if Polo's back, you know, he's very very likely to win the championship.

I give lung Guard a great chance.

I give the Potto a great chance.

I'm giving will Power a chance.

I give Lungard more chance now because the last couple over races have been better.

I don't know if he's ready to win the Indy five hundred.

Poto certainly can Potto can win Poto is the real answer?

Because Potto could win three of the five or six oval races and be but he's gonna have to be better than he's been on some of the other circuits.

He's been pretty good on the ovals, but either one of those two but will power he's complete enough.

And I mean this, if he could win three of the street races next year.

They've been that good on street races and he is.

If you don't know this Saint Pete history, look it up.

And by the way, one of the other great ones on street races, Colton Hurda, is not likely to be there.

Yeah, it takes away one contender.

All right, we'll see what we missed and what else is happening and more coming up next On track Side how.

This is Scott McLachlin and you're listening to truck Side on ninety three to five and one.

I seven five the fan Okay final segment one.

I have learned when next week's show is on.

It's Monday night seven till nine, I think seven.

I guess I didn't get an answer on the exact time.

I don't know if there is an IU Coaches football show on Mondays, but I'm hoping it's seven to nine on Monday, but at least we know a date.

Two quick race recap.

We'll do some of that more next week.

But really really entertaining race again, I think, especially the end and a lot of good parts throughout the middle.

Alex Polow cuts a tire and still comes back running third, ultimately finishes second in the race.

A shame about power.

He made a mistake getting into pitt Lane and then he told me that I think he said he put it in second gear when he was trying to exit the pit, so just just simply made a mistake.

It all kind of went wrong there when he came in a little bit hot, was askew and then stalled the car, so that took away his chances.

Pottle Award was maybe gonna run away with the race before he had a tire go down.

What else an amazing battle with McLaughlin and Kiffin Griffin that was impressive.

They were not simply contense to finish fifth.

Listening to the conversation on Kiffin Simpson's radio, it was you're good, go get them.

They were really I think that's a huge step forward that it wasn't simply protect car bringing home.

You're done great, it's no, we're there, let's go try to win the race.

And he battled one of the greats.

McLaughlin lost out just bare at the end.

Another awesome drive for Connor Daily on the Oval, he and McLaughlin had to finish on the softs and there was a big fear about them going more than twenty five or thirty laps before they really started to slow down.

So for Connor to finish fifth in that situation going whatever it was, forty five or forty or something like that, and the same for McLaughlin is really good.

Kirkwood rosen Quist had solid days.

For Rucci had the issue when he tried to pit off turn three instead of turned four.

Send him back.

Still finished eighth hurd, It was going to be in the mix.

He had a penalty though exiting the pit box and getting in Jacob Abel's way, or he might have been better as well.

We talked about Calumilott, what a great day that he had as well, and then the unfortunate for Potto and Power.

We said that could have been winners.

Malucas was running up there, came together with Foster, thought that was pretty clearly Foster's issue coming up.

I understand how Foster then feels like he went down and came down on him after that, but Foster was penalized in that circumstance.

So we can talk more about the race next week, and I'll ask for Kurt's thoughts as well, a big picture thought on the season.

So, as I mentioned with Will, it was a much more enjoyable finished the season with much less angst in that my employment does not mostly end right after the race is over.

Now nothing is guaranteed thing and certainly in this business, but I feel good about all of us and the reaction and the conversations that we've had with Fox executives.

So I am someone also that's not super big on change, and I was, as I've said, quite happy with the status quo and the way things were at NBC.

And Matt has nothing to do with moving to the boot that was In general, I love being on Pit Lane with Lee Diffy is a part of our coverage and I would have been happy for that to continue for many many years.

All of that said, this season has been wonderful.

There's something to be said when the CEO of the company, Eric Shanks, is all in on IndyCar and convinces the people even above him that we need to invest in this sport and get even more involved.

That's why I think the future is very bright.

And it's fun for us, not just the announcers, but everyone on the crew to interact with the top level people at the company and they are involved.

Yes, we all know the NFL is king and there's a lot of money to be made from there.

But that's one of the reasons why I'm so optimistic.

There were new technologies this year, and things beyond my level of understanding that had no connection with the new technologies.

If just the transfer from one network to another and how things are broadcast, so that takes some time, it will get even better next year.

These are massively talented and creative people behind the camera, behind the scenes, so I am excited about that in the discussions that we will have for next year, and it's just been a wonderful year.

Now I'll go back to NBC a little bit and I've got a couple of sports car races and then we'll see what happens for the winter, and we will continue this program, including next Monday night.

I think it's seven right here at ninety three to five and one oh seven five the fan