Robin Miller's Mailbag for November 20

RM: How quickly he adapted to 900 horsepower and the CART tracks but mostly how instantly competitive he was against a great field of drivers. He wasn't intimidated or awed by his new surroundings, he walked in like he belonged because he did. And I loved to argue with him about cars, tracks, TGBB and all things racing. But his personality, sense of humor, intelligence and sense of history made him as good off the track as he was on it. Be sure to catch my appreciation of him in the next issue of , the (appropriate) Champions Issue.

RM: The competition between Dario and P.T. was as intense as anything in the paddock and the amazing thing is that they stayed friends. My best memory of his rookie season is the drive he was putting on, in the rain, at Road America. You knew then he was the real deal.

Yes, Justin would be great in that No. 10 car but I don't hold out much hope.

RM: It's a slam dunk if that's what Dario wants to do, because he would add so much insight and enthusiasm. But ABC needs him most and he wouldn't be allowed to do NBCSN if he worked for ABC. I think it's a great idea but I don't have any clout with ABC.  

RM: I worked for Jackie when he did the Indy 500 in the 1980s (he paid me out of his own pocket for information, scoops, rumors, etc.) and I thought his presence added a lot of the telecast. I think ABC putting Dario in its booth is a no-brainer and a perfect choice that the fans would love. 

RM: But Mike, who is going to explain the suspension changes on ABC?

RM: Being one of the smartest racers to come along in the past 25 years, Dario understood the consequences when they were explained to him by Dr. Steve Olvey. Of course he'll miss it and he wanted to drive sports cars with his little brother but he had a fabulous career and there's no sense tempting fate.   

RM: It's possible he could work with Chip's team as driver coach or some other capacity and I hope ABC is in his gunsights. But I can't imagine him driving the two-seater except for a special occasion. Don't think that would appeal to him.

RM: It is but on the other hand he's 40 with lots of living ahead of him and he's going to have a full recovery. I think he'll be around IndyCar in some capacity. Larson wants to run the Indy 500 some day and would probably drive full time in IndyCar if Ganassi wanted, but he's always wanted to be either a NASCAR or WOO regular. 

RM: I think it would make sense but not sure Simona is a big enough name for Chip. But if Target thought it made sense and pushed, it could happen.

RM: I think you are correct and Perez or Paul Di Resta would fit that high-profile that Ganassi likes. And maybe Gerry Forsythe would help with Perez's salary, because going back to Mexico City with him would be huge and it's a great, warm-weather venue that IndyCar could use.

RM: I think we'd all love to see her in a top-shelf ride but, as I said above, not sure she's a big enough name for Chip. Have no idea where she might land at this moment.

RM: I wrote a commentary last season that said Hinch was the new face of IndyCar and I think Newgarden would be a big hit if he ever gets to a top-tier team. Rahal has the polish, he just needs to start winning races and Marco is getting better and better with the media and fans but may be too introverted to ever be the face.

Don Davis, Chardon Ohio

RM: I understand it's healthy if Newgarden gets a shot with a top team but I disagree those veterans' success is killing the series or not making people watch. I think TK and Helio sell tickets and you need established stars in any sport. And none of those guys were traitors " they just went where their teams did. Trust me, Dario and Dixie didn't want to leave CART and road racing for all ovals but they had no choice. Ditto for T.K. and HCN.

RM: I'm sure F1 vets will look at IndyCar as an option, providing it came with a decent paycheck, and the good GP2 and GP3 drivers who have backing but no F1 team ties will naturally look to the USA. But would any of those guys sell tickets or make people tune in?  

RM: Safety pioneer Bill Simpson and Ganassi are partners and their helmet is being well received in high schools and colleges. I know a few NFL players really liked them as well but the politics were too much, so Simpson said screw it and concentrated on high school and college football. IndyCar stays on top of all its drivers and their conditions and rehabilitation (thanks to Dr. Terry Trammell and Dr. Steve Olvey).

RM: I think there's a good shot of Dario in the booth or a Mears role but don't hold out much hope for JWil.

RM: First off, glad you've become a fan. As for the disgruntled masses, I think if you've been a fan of Indy car racing and lived through USAC/CART/IRL/Champ Car wars then your frustration is understandable. And sometimes passion and anger overlap because I think most of the people who write in to the Mailbag are diehards who want to see IndyCar succeed. Plus, race fans everywhere love to bitch: it's part of our culture.

RM: That's good to know and thanks for sharing that information, which I will forward to IndyCar's Jay Frye and C.J. O'Connell. Also a good suggestion to get the drivers involved.

RM: Well, I'm hopeful the new marketing men for IndyCar/IMS will go after a younger fan base and the Xbox idea mentioned above would be a good start. I'd hate to see Indy cars with roofs because, let's face it, half of the attraction is watching the drivers steer (OK it's limited nowadays compared to roadsters) and it's simply edgier to watch cars run wheel-to-wheel. I think the horsepower is coming up to 800 by next year " at least on road courses.

RM: You represent the majority of fans I've heard from and my stock answer is that Mark Miles is trying to do some different things to create some interest because status quo isn't working. Not sure we'll see freebies for that road race but just go out on Georgetown Road and buy any ticket for $20 on race day. That's my guess.

RM: I have no problem with a qualifying race or heats but they would have to pay some substantial money or else it's not worth it. Who cares if you start sixth or 16th if there are only 33 cars? The reward has to equal the risk. The last few Pole Days have produced some damn good drama so I don't see any reason to change it, other than for TV.

RM: Interesting proposal and I do think Mark Miles wants to try and open the season much earlier, if possible, in the USA. Not sure about the weather in Laguna in January but Phoenix should be perfect. But if IndyCar had a couple of weeks of racing before NASCAR turned a wheel it might help draw some attention.

RM: Formula E has generated a lot of interest and when a guy like Jay Penske can find backing for that but not IndyCar, it makes you think. But I can't see it as more than some kind of Saturday prelim right now. I still think people go to Indy for speed and the roar of the engines (OK, it's been muted a bit) but maybe this is the Indy 500 of the future.

RM: I'm kinda surprised he hasn't at least had a one-off entry for Indy with Danica or Bryan Clauson but I think some day he'll field a car full time.

RM: I saw it and I know Mario, along with a lot of former Indy 500 winners and drivers, has been very outspoken about ending the season on Labor Day.

RM: To be fair, Dario ran over Sato's tire, that's what launched him. But, according to Will Phillips of IndyCar, the guards are likely to stay.

RM: I think that's the most maddening part. IndyCar has produced EXCELLENT and EXCITING racing the past two years and fewer people are watching it. Some think it's the lack of technology or innovation, but I don't. It's a general malaise and getting people to care remains the biggest challenge.

RM: None of the old guys are physically up to that challenge " even if they think they are " but they're as competitive with each other as they always were, so that would get ugly and expensive. What IndyCar has to create is ?new heroes.? I love the past and all those old gunfighters but they can't sell tickets anymore and kids don't care about them (except you and a select few who have the bug).

RM: Well no, IndyCar reaped the publicity and exposure and while it wasn't a blockbuster like we hoped, it got its fair share of media. And hopefully it made IndyCar some new young fans.

RM:Those foreign races would be for the financial benefit of the teams and series, not so much for television ratings because nobody expects any from Asia or Australia.

I do own a fridge but my oven hasn't been used since 2005 (last time, a young lady turned it on). I eat every meal out and I'm lucky enough to break bread with Gary and Merle Bettenhausen, Lee Kunzman, Bubby Jones, Pancho Carter, Gary Gray, Steve Long, Willie Davis, Sonny Meyer and Tim Coffeen on most Fridays. 

RM: As I've been saying, Andy, the only reason to have any kind of non-point, exhibition season is to make a lot of money for teams and IndyCar. Whether that can be pulled off is probably 50-50 at best and, if it can't, then we'll hope IndyCar has the good sense to run here from January to October.