Comments on: Who Is An IndyCar MVP?

By: PC

PC — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:07:29 +0000

I’ll 2nd Pags, but I was going to throw out Servia as a guy who has truely been MVP of every small team at which he’s ever landed.

By: Mike (15daysinmay)

Mike (15daysinmay) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:08:26 +0000

Herta’s contribution to Andretti Autosport is very, very understated. I don’t think it is a coincidence that they had so much success when he was with the team. In that sense it is also no surprise that BHA has gotten off the ground as quickly as it has, too.

By: JohnMc

JohnMc — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:36:29 +0000

I, too, like your list, George, and I want to add David Letterman as MVP to RLL Racing. He of course, was the money to get it started and he had the good sense to leave Bobby alone and win an Indianapolis 500.

By the way, would Bryan Herta have any consideration as Andretti’s MVP when he was setting up the cars and helping the other drivers in his time as the guy who ran the development engines? He did contribute a lot to the success of Wheldon, TK and Franchitti and without complaint.

By: Carburetor

Carburetor — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:47:05 +0000

I like your list George. Though not likely to be on anyone’s list today, I would mention that Mario Andretti likely still plays an important role in Andretti Autosport because of his likeability with sponsors. Years ago I knew a marketing manager for one of the racing teams and he shared the trials and tribulations of trying to attract sponsors (amazing stories!). This was when the teams were primarily responsible with drivers being somewhat less so. Nevertheless, he told me that sponsors flocked to Mario; that Mario really knew how to speak to the decision-makers of the sponsors, etc. He told me that his counterparts on other teams envied the ease with which Newman-Haas could get potential sponsors to show up to meet Mario. He might not have the same draw today, but I would guess he is very important to AA in attracting money.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:26:29 +0000

MVP’s usually go to the best player on the best team (unless your last name is Jordan) who plays a “glory” position. So it would have to be a Penske or Ganassi driver. There is no postseason or chase (thank god) so the winner will also be your champion.

Who gets the most out of the least? Simon Pagenaud would be that man.

By: The Chrome Horn (@thechromehorn33)

The Chrome Horn (@thechromehorn33) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:06:21 +0000

Good column George. Personally, my vote is for Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Brian

By: DZ (@groundedeffects)

DZ (@groundedeffects) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:56:16 +0000

Although I don’t plan to assemble a list, it is a good exercise. One thing apparent quickly is that no measure of success in Indycar or NFL comes without many members working together and well.

I might contend that an offensive lineman could be in the running for NFL MVP every year based on their work reflected in the QB’s or RB’s performance, yet that would be unfair to the other 4 on the line. Emmitt Smith should give half of his career earnings to the linemen who gave him holes big enough to drive a truck through.

Indycar operations seem lean enough in personnel that not many teams can spare a person without losing some measure of performance or efficiency.

Ultimately, when I think about this, I’d much rather be on the team without an ‘MVP’ but one that works together to win consistently. It’s also precisely why I’m glad there’s no malarkey awards at the end of the Indycar season. “Just Win, Baby”.