Robin Miller's Mailbag for Sept. 25

If you have a question about open-wheel racing, send it to MillersMailbag@Racer.com. We can't guarantee your letter will be published, but Robin will always reply.?

RM: Indy car racing has never recovered, nor will it likely ever, from The Split but Mark Miles is taking Randy Bernard's approach and abandoning status quo. Hence the road course race at IMS to kick off May. I'm not a fan of it but I'll give it a chance. Read my story on RACER.com about the plans for the 2015 schedule and I think you'll see some destinations you'll like including Austin. And I think a "down under" stop is under consideration as well. But there won't be any 3-week gaps, I promise you that.

RM: It was after and it appears that a street race in Providence will take Baltimore's place, but not until 2015. St. Pete is exploring going to a double-header but it sounds like Houston will only be one race in 2014.  

RM: I certainly think that's an option, especially given the tenuous status of this event with Bernie and F1. But Providence sounds serious as well.

RM: You are in the majority of the people who write to the Mailbag and the ones I talk to daily but I think IndyCar has been encouraged to do this by their partners and sponsors. It didn't make any difference when the IRL tried it either.

RM: Like we've all been saying and writing, 2014 won't look much different than 2013 except it will be condensed, include the IMS road course and not have Baltimore. But see my story about 2015 and I'm optimistic we'll see some good additions.

RM: Gateway has no shot and Nashville had decent crowds and Firestone nearby but nobody seems to want it back. That's the trouble with most ovals: the fans scream for them but then nobody shows up and so the promoters are wary. I still think Richmond has the best chance of returning because it had a good turnout each year.

RM: With all his global businesses, you would assume Roger Penske has a major South American company lined up or on the hook but I also think he sees JPM as value for his team and the series.

RM: You would think he made that call instantly but NAPA seems to like Martin Truex, so it seems more logical it might follow him to his next stop in NASCAR (Rusty Wallace speculated Joe Gibbs in a fourth car). And NAPA is used to big TV ratings, of course, so it would be a boon for IndyCar to steal them, if not a longshot.

RM: I agree. I think RP sees JPM as a steal and somebody hungry to re-establish his badass self in open-wheel racing. Somebody tried to tell me that Juan was so eager to be competitive again he agreed to drive for free. Now is B.S.

RM: Spoke with Jimmy Vasser last week and he thinks they're getting close to re-signing Kanaan but Foyt would also be a logical stop especially since Sato has dropped off so drastically. And you're right, A.J. doesn't admire too many of today's drivers but he does respect Kanaan.

RM: Talking with Dario Franchitti about that the other night and he said it was just so different and so hard to adapt. He said Jimmie Johnson was always trying to help but he just couldn't get comfortable driving loose enough. On the flip side, A.J., Parnelli, Mario and Gurney had no trouble adapting to tin tops in the '60s and '70s and they all won races. Last time I checked, no NASCAR driver has ever won an Indy car race or really come close.

RM: Get Johnny Rutherford's autograph, compliment A.J. on losing weight after his operation, tell Rick Mears you want to see him do some TV commentary and get your picture taken with Mario.

Not sure what day Marshall Pruett is arriving.

RM: It's pretty depressing to think "Duck Dynasty" gets 11 million viewers on A&E channel and IndyCar struggles to reach 400,000 on NBC Sports Network. With NASCAR joining NBC (maybe as early as next year), it should be a big lift for IndyCar because a whole new batch of people will be tuning into this channel and maybe they'll check out IndyCar. I think NBC Sports Network could realize viewing figures like ABC for an IndyCar race in time. As for Bernie letting IndyCar run with F1? You got a better chance of seeing Dario and Will go on vacation together.

RM: IZOD signed up in 2010 for five years at $10 million a year and started a very visible campaign with television ads and drivers and all kinds of billboards and store placement. But the CEO who fell in love with IndyCar and pushed the deal then retired and the new boss had little interest in continuing the program. They've done nothing in terms of marketing or promoting the last two years and they won't be back in 2014. No prospective replacement yet.

RM: Can't imagine Nationwide going to another series (hell, they had Dale Earnhardt Jr. as their spokesperson and you can't get more visibility). I was told Verizon was considering a title sponsorship before Randy Bernard was fired. At least Verizon seems engaged with IndyCar with commercials and apps.   
RM: Derrick Walker is definitely looking into it but there's an issue with drainage that needs to be addressed.

RM: My pals liked it and enjoyed the realism of the racing scenes. See RACER's review here. "Drivel" was worse than "Red Line 5000."

I picked Dixon before Mid-Ohio and I still think he's got a shot but HCN looks pretty composed. So, yes, he can win it.

RM: Robby Gordon's series was a big hit with the fans in Toronto, and everyone in the IndyCar paddock that I talked to enjoyed them. I know they're set for Long Beach next year.

RM: After a quick call to Donald Davidson, "You are correct, sir." Boesel wouldn't have taken the lead until lap 199.