Mick Schumacher
About this episode
Mick Schumacher shares insights into his racing journey from karting through Formula One to his recent move to IndyCar. He discusses the challenges and excitement of adapting to IndyCar, especially the differences between road courses and ovals. Mick highlights the raw, passionate racing environment in IndyCar and the safety improvements on ovals that helped him commit to the series. He also compares the IndyCar vehicle to an F2 car and reflects on his learning curve, including his first oval test at Homestead and the nuances of car setup and track awareness.
Mick Schumacher sat down to chat with Rossi and kind-of Hinch to chat about his coming up in racing, and his upcoming debut in IndyCar.
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IndyCar
"Mick Schumacher was kind enough to join us to talk about his journey to IndyCar and what he thinks about it so far"
IndyCar is a type of car race in the U.S. where cars race very fast on different tracks, including big ovals and street circuits.
IndyCar is a premier American open-wheel racing series known for high-speed oval and road course racing, including the famous Indianapolis 500.
Formula One
"Before that, I was in the World Endurance Championship, before that in Formula One."
Formula One is the top level of car racing in the world, where very fast cars race on special tracks around the globe.
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing, featuring the fastest and most technologically advanced cars competing on circuits worldwide.
World Endurance Championship
"Before that, I was in the World Endurance Championship, before that in Formula One."
The World Endurance Championship is a racing series where cars race for a very long time, sometimes up to 24 hours, to see which team and car last the longest.
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) is an international sports car racing series featuring endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, testing durability and team strategy.
Formula Three
"And before that, Formula Two, Formula Three, and Formula Four, and Vokarts."
Formula Three is a racing series for younger or less experienced drivers to learn and get ready for bigger races.
Formula Three is a junior-level single-seater racing category that helps young drivers develop skills before moving up to higher levels like Formula Two and Formula One.
Formula Four
"And before that, Formula Two, Formula Three, and Formula Four, and Vokarts."
Formula Four is a beginner racing series where new drivers start learning how to race special cars.
Formula Four is an entry-level single-seater racing category designed to introduce young drivers to formula car racing.
karting
"And before that, Formula Two, Formula Three, and Formula Four, and Vokarts."
Karting is racing with small, simple cars called karts, which many drivers start with before moving to bigger cars.
Karting is a form of motorsport using small, open-wheel vehicles called karts, often the first step in a racing driver's career.
Formula Two
"And before that, Formula Two, Formula Three, and Formula Four, and Vokarts."
Formula Two is a type of car racing where drivers compete to get better and hopefully move up to the top racing level, Formula One.
Formula Two is a racing series that serves as a feeder or development category for drivers aiming to reach Formula One.
DTM
"...everyone that has made the transition from whether it's Formula One or DTM or whatever..."
DTM is a popular car racing series in Germany where cars that look like regular street cars race on tracks with lots of competition.
DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) is a German touring car racing series known for close competition featuring heavily modified production-based cars.
road course
"...You've done a test at the Indy Road course. You obviously did the test at Sebring..."
A road course is a race track with many turns going both left and right, making it more challenging than simple oval tracks.
A road course is a racing circuit that features a combination of left and right turns, elevation changes, and technical sections, unlike oval tracks.
Sebring
"...You obviously did the test at Sebring. We'll get into your oval kind of foray here in a minute..."
Sebring is a well-known race track in Florida where long and tough car races happen, testing both cars and drivers.
Sebring International Raceway is a famous racing circuit in Florida known for its rough surface and hosting endurance races like the 12 Hours of Sebring.
oval racing
"...We'll get into your oval kind of foray here in a minute..."
Oval racing means racing cars on a track shaped like an oval, where they go very fast and race close to each other.
Oval racing is a form of motorsport where cars race on oval-shaped tracks, typically emphasizing high speeds and close pack racing.
horsepower
"So I feel like, you know, if we bumped it up with like maybe 100 or 200 horsepower and got the weight down a little bit, I think that'd be pretty good."
Horsepower tells you how strong a car's engine is and how fast it can make the car go.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement that quantifies the power output of an engine. It indicates how much work an engine can perform over time and is a key factor in a car's performance.
chassis
"You know, it seems like that car has been around for so many years. I mean, from what I understand, this chassis has been around for like, what? 12 years. And I feel like 15 years."
The chassis is like the car's skeleton that holds everything together and helps it drive well.
The chassis is the structural framework of a car to which all other components are attached. It plays a crucial role in the vehicle's handling, safety, and overall performance.
short oval
""...which quite honestly are more challenging than the bigger ovals just in terms of the commitment and bravery if you will...""
A short oval is a small race track where cars have to turn a lot and drive carefully because the track is short and twisty.
A short oval is a type of racing track that is less than one mile in length, typically requiring more technical driving and quick reflexes due to tighter turns and shorter straights compared to larger ovals.
washout
"one thing that I've I guess noticed was yes you have a washout but it's not really the washout that is the issue it's the marbles you can't see"
Washout happens when a car's tires lose grip and start to slide on the track, making it harder to control the car.
Washout in racing refers to the loss of grip or traction, typically when a car's tires slide or lose contact with the track surface, often due to oversteer or understeer.
marbles
"it's not really the washout that is the issue it's the marbles you can't see yeah right so those those marbles they're super invisible and you know when you drive and like it really doesn't take much to get on to them"
Marbles are tiny bits of rubber that come off tires and pile up on the side of the track. If your car drives over them, it can slip and slide.
Marbles are small pieces of rubber debris that accumulate off the racing line on a track. They reduce tire grip significantly and can cause a car to slide if driven over.
Plymouth P15
"...ivers so I wasn't satisfied with seeing myself in p15 I thought there were there was more in it and and..."
The Plymouth P15 is an old car made before World War II, known for its classic look and sturdy build. People talk about it because it shows how cars used to be made a long time ago. It might come up in stories about fixing up old cars or learning about car history.
The Plymouth P15 was a full-size car produced by Plymouth in the late 1930s and early 1940s, known for its classic pre-war styling and solid engineering. It represents an era when American automakers were transitioning to more modern designs, making it a notable model for vintage car enthusiasts. It might be discussed in the podcast as a symbol of automotive history or personal restoration projects.
Indy 500
"and also to just hear what they say but yeah the Indy 500 for example like you know Louis was explaining me his first experience with it and that was pretty intense"
The Indy 500 is a big car race where drivers race fast cars around a big oval track. It's very famous and many people watch it every year.
The Indy 500, or Indianapolis 500, is a famous annual automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is one of the most prestigious events in open-wheel racing and a key part of the IndyCar Series.
simulator
"luckily now more than I guess a couple years back you know simulators become better simulators are uh have the ability to to to do the um you know to simulate the wake from another car and stuff like that so I get to run the procedures through beforehand before I actually go into drive"
A simulator is like a video game that feels very real and helps drivers practice driving a car without being on a real track. It helps them learn and get ready.
A driving simulator is a virtual tool that replicates the experience of driving a car on a track. Modern simulators can simulate complex factors like the aerodynamic wake from other cars, helping drivers practice procedures and improve their skills before actual driving.
street course
"like they do race on street courses but as most of us know street courses in indycar are a little bit different in terms of the quality of the surface"
A street course is a race track that uses normal city streets instead of special race tracks.
A street course is a racing track made from temporarily closed public roads in a city or town, often featuring tight corners and uneven surfaces.
F3 (Formula 3)
"people forget that f3 went to po and mccavel yeah so you know those two tracks are like robust and pretty violent to drive and those cars you know you could push them pretty far"
Formula 3 is a type of car racing for younger drivers who want to get better before moving up to faster races.
Formula 3 is a junior open-wheel racing category below Formula 2, serving as a training ground for young drivers aspiring to reach higher levels like Formula One.
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