Robin Miller's Mailbag for May 11, presented by Honda Racing / HPD

Your questions for Robin should continue to be sent to millersmailbag@racer.com We cannot guarantee we’ll publish all your questions and answers, but Robin will reply to you. And if you have a question about the technology side of racing, Robin will pass these on to Marshall Pruett and he will also answer here.

Jason Taylor

RM: Rick Mears has been advocating so much more HP that drivers can't even think about running wide open, and that's not happening here this month. But if the dome skids make it more challenging and don't ruin the racing, that's great.

Q: Would IndyCar entertain the possibility of going to some tracks twice in a season again? The declining amount of options for IndyCar's schedule-makers would make me think they would perhaps consider it. Would tracks like Iowa, Mid-Ohio and Barber be interested in such a thing?

Justin Kenny

RM: I would say no chance, because it's tough enough to draw people for one race at many venues. The only place that might work would be IMS, if you moved Angie's List GP back to September as the season finale. It would have a much better chance than anywhere else. Last month I jokingly mentioned to Jim Michaelian that Long Beach should also host the finale and he shook his head and said: "Date equity, baby. No way."

Q: My opportunity to attend this year's Indy 500, fell through, breaking a 12-year string. Is there any chance the local TV blackout for the 500 can lifted in Indianapolis? I know there are contractual, rating, and advertising considerations. But it seems like the right thing to do: IMS's little gift to the people of central Indiana. The ones who take out-of-towners to the Speedway, museum, and gift shop. The same fan base that showed up annually, despite poor racing, questionable talent, and the sagging economy. A little, one time, thank you in the form of a non-blacked out Indy 500. The re-air will still draw ratings, and the PR would be extremely positive.

Right now it seems like a real slap in the face: "Yes we are sold out, no you can't watch, live, Sunday afternoon, May 29th". But the good folks in Boston get to watch, not that they even care! I love the Speedway, I will be back next year. But just this once, can we enjoy the same TV experience that the entire USA /world are experiencing. It is the right thing to do.

Mike G., Avon, IN

RM: No, you've got a better chance of Bobby Unser and A.J. Foyt riding a tandem bicycle down 16th Street than the race being shown live here. It happened once, in 1949, and never again, even though IMS says it revisits the topic every year. Of course, as you point out, with the race being sold out for the first time in 20 years this would be the year to lift the blackout, but it's not happening. And the local re-air on Sunday night on Channel 6 (and replay again the following morning) gets big numbers, so it's an accepted tradition.

Q: It was with great fanfare that Beth Paretta crafted her announcement of this team last year with seeming certainty over being part of the 100th. Silence is not golden and time seems to be running out. Assuming Paretta does not have the resources to bring this to reality, what are their options?

Ron James, Ohio

RM: She supposedly has some resources, but evidently got strung along by one particular team, and I think she's talked to just about everyone else in the paddock about a partnership. But no word yet.

JJ, Studio City, CA

RM: Stephen Starks is the new promoter relations manager, so I assume one of his responsibilities is keeping an eye on the event, but he's new so he couldn't know about the history of some of the incompetent people that were associated with Boston. I had a fan that went to a public forum with the Boston promotion group a few weeks ago and he wrote me to say there was no way this race was going to happen because of what he'd seen and heard. IndyCar does need a watchdog, especially for first-time events, even if it's not the co-promoter, and hopefully that's what Starks will become.

And, speaking of co-promotion, I think the Phoenix race, above, could be the new template for all oval races, except maybe Iowa. But IndyCar (CART) had never had larger crowds, better sponsorship, and more manufacturers than it did in 1993-94-95. It also had a solid schedule with date equity. The Split did irreparable damage but, you are right, it can no longer be used as the excuse for a few thousand people at an oval. And date equity is paramount for the schedule moving forward.

Q: I have a strong feeling the Grand Prix of Boston's promoter took one look at the lackluster ticket sales and used the latest DEP permit issue to cut his losses and run. By my unscientific survey of the seating maps, only 50-60 percent of the approximately 15,000 grandstand seats were sold (How did they expect to stay out of the red with so few reserved seats?). The promoter knew he was going to take a financial bath, and to blame the city and Mayor are just red herrings.

I've been following the drama since the race was announced, and it wasn't too long after that it became clear the writing was on the wall. With this recent debacle following so soon after the failure of Baltimore, I'm afraid it will be a long while before IndyCar has another shot at a new street race. There is plenty of blame to pass around, and this is another big black eye to IndyCar. Maybe they should take another look at Philadelphia. There is an old airstrip and a lot of vacant land on the east side of the ex-Philly Navy Yard. No businesses or neighbors to complain and protest.

Joe Bowen, Philadelphia, PA

RM: I like Paul Newman's logic: don't go where you aren't wanted. Boston isn't a racing town and neither is Philly (where PLN once tried to get a race), but I do like the idea of trying an old airstrip somewhere that might be more fan-friendly.

 

Q: I'm certainly one of those who think the "go where you're wanted" approach well suits IndyCar. That said, some of the most rabid IndyCar fans on earth are in Canada. Pray tell me why there's only one race on the soil of our northern neighbor? With Boston off the schedule, it seems Mont Tremblant would be a likely destination. IndyCar should have annual races in the Vancouver area, Edmonton or Calgary, Toronto, and Mont Tremblant or Montreal, above. What are your thoughts?

Patrick in Des Moines

RM: My thoughts have always been we need to race two or three times a year in Canada. There has been talk of Calgary, and Alex Tagliani had a cool layout for Quebec City but it got nixed. Mount Tremblant was gorgeous but not easy to get to, so Montreal would be my first choice because it drew so well with Champ Car. IndyCar just has to make sure its got Seabass, Tag and Pagenaud in the line-up, because that's a French-Canadian bastion.

Q: What do you think about the possibility of Montreal replacing the Boston race? Norris McDonald has reported that the Labor Day date is open, a second race event permit is already available and unspoken for, the track can rather quickly be made race ready, and there is a built-in open wheel fan base in Canada.

Ron Ford, Muskego, Wisconsin

RM: I think that would have been a good option had The Glen not stepped up but I'd love to see IndyCar back in Montreal. Great city and great fans.

Q: You keep using the example of Long Beach being successful because it helped revive a downtown city into a now-beautiful destination for race fans and non-fans to come enjoy year after year. I propose another city that fits the bill. It's on East Coast, it has no sporting events, and best part is, it has plenty of hotels and a boardwalk. And as of late it's been on decline and needs something help bring it up from the ashes. Atlantic City, New Jersey.

I've believe if IndyCar brass works with some of the casino owners, and also the GRC promoter, which will be staging a event this year in August, they would be perfect partners. What are your thoughts? I feel it's a win-win for everyone, including the city residents and casinos that are desperate to keep their doors open.

Kevin, N.J.

RM: I guess if you could get the casinos to pony up enough money to be co-promoters and/or sponsors, it might have a shot. But that's a pretty rough area behind the boardwalk (at least, it was last time I was there) and it's hardly a hotbed of racing. If IndyCar goes east, I think Norfolk might have the best shot.

Q: Milwaukee is available – no Brewers or Packers competition. Make it a two-day show with all four classes (USF 2000/Mazda/Lights/IndyCar) on Sunday. Race is a 300-miler with all bleacher seats $25 for adults and under 12 free. Upper grandstand – same as last year – lower grandstand $35 with open seating. Why not? Labor Day in Milwaukee is always boring, and the kids are back in school so no vacations – the weekend is actually perfect for a long-term schedule. Please tell the clowns who run IndyCar this idea – Milwaukee needs IndyCar, and IndyCar needs Milwaukee.

Bill Krill

RM: I agree IndyCar needs Milwaukee but, based on the past few years, I'm not sure how much Milwaukee needs IndyCar. All we need is a promoter and a couple million dollars. But I think IndyCar would give Gateway another shot before it ever went back to Milwaukee.

Q: While I am disappointed at the cancellation of the Boston event, this is the perfect opportunity for IndyCar to do what it can to provide a great alternative venue, and that venue is Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport) along with the NASCAR Camping World Trucks and NASCAR Pinty's Canadian Series on Labor Day weekend.

If IndyCar can work with Phoenix to get a race in place, then CTMP should be no issue, provided they are willing to run the IndyCar race on Saturday. It's a no-brainer, Robin. Fantastic circuit, much safer and up to modern standards, with a huge built-in crowd for the NASCAR races. Mark Miles should be getting on the horn with Ron Fellows and Mr. Fidani to work out an agreement ASAP! I know Ron Fellows would be very interested if the right set of circumstances were put in place. In fact, if you could pass along my suggestion to Mark Miles, I would greatly appreciate it.

One question about the Indy 500. My wife and I are attending the race this year, and we were wondering how crazy the Mug N' Bun would be on the Saturday afternoon the day before the race?

Paul, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

RM: Mosport was reportedly considered to be an alternative to Toronto during the Olympics last summer, and there is no doubt the track's upgrades have been impressive. But IndyCar has looked at it since and still deemed its cars are too fast for it. The Mug 'N Bun will be crowded but open and now there is indoor dining as well.

 

Q: I emailed Portland International Raceway, above, to find out if they could potentially host a race now that Boston has backed out. To their credit, I received a prompt response. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like any major form of racing is heading back to that track anytime soon. Reasons are: Impossible to break even, much less be profitable, due to extremely high sanctioning fees IndyCar requires. The track is no longer a certified FIA track for that level of racing. Safety requirements have changed dramatically since 2007, when Champ Car last ran at PIR. The FIA track inspection alone is $25k, with likely $2m-$3m in improvements necessary just to meet minimum requirements. "An interested promoter of such a race does not currently exist. Too short a time period to prepare even if it was affordable." I still hope we can get IndyCar back to Pacific Northwest someday!

Chris, Seattle, WA

RM: Portland worked for CART because it had the Rose Festival, G.I. Joe's as a big sponsor and the community solidly behind it. But open-wheel racing and that track began to deteriorate at about the same time, and you got an honest answer from PIR. But I think IndyCar will make The Glen a good deal for a replacement race.

Q: I have a solution for the suddenly available date of Labor Day weekend for the IndyCars. Come up to Mosport. It would have been eight weeks since the Toronto street race, there is already a loyal fan base there, our mayor of Hinchtown will sell loads of tickets, and Paul Tracy will too, even if he only drives the pace car. Get Tagliani in a car and the fans from Quebec will come, too. And here is the icing on the cake – Mosport is already holding a major race weekend there with the NASCAR Trucks in the Silverado (Chevy) 150. It's a slam dunk.

Paul Sturmey, Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada

RM: When they worked for IndyCar, Derrick Walker and Tony Cotman took a long look at Mosport and said it would need a lot more safety upgrades because of the speeds of an Indy car and lack of runoff areas.

Q: I read with interest your article about fixing Indy car's black eye. You mentioned a big insider that was shocked nobody seemed to care about Boston. My question would be why would he be shocked? As a long-time fan I am not sure anyone inside IndyCar cares. Until they realize there are races other than Indy, until they spend some money and put the drivers out to the public, until they seriously try to get some new blood with owners and teams, this whole thing is never going to work.

NASCAR has spent and marketed the heck out of the series and the drivers to the point where all of America thinks racing is NASCAR. Which shows why other forms are not popular in our country. Where is IndyCar? Oh, they show up once a year in May they act like this is the only race that matters, and the rest of the season goes on in secret. NASCAR makes each race sound important. IndyCar, which I personally prefer, hides the series.

I hope someone does want to fix the black eye and make the series grow, but I have waited a long time and it never seems to change. But I still love the series, and go to several races a year, and watch it on TV. I believe they have some great drivers to market; they just refuse to be seen.

Alan, Columbus, Ohio

RM: Can't disagree with your logic. IndyCar is invisible 11 months of the year and it desperately needs national exposure for its drivers and races. It should have ridden the wave of last year's Fontana race for two months, but it barely got a ripple because IndyCar didn't spend any money on a national TV commercial.

 

Q: Have you taken a look at the prototypes for cockpit protection the F1 teams have tested? I am wondering if either of those designs would have been sufficient to have saved Wilson, Bianchi, or Wheldon? Second, what do you think you'll be doing Labor Day weekend? Third, do you expect our former F1 backmarkers to work their way towards the front? People gave Karam such a hard time over adapting to the car, but hot damn, Chilton and Rossi serve as evidence just how hard it is to be fast.

C.J. Shoemaker, Kalamazoo, Mich.

RM: Take someone a lot smarter than me to answer that first question, as all three were distinctly different scenarios. IndyCar is looking at data so I imagine it will have some kind of opinion fairly soon. I expect to be covering an IndyCar race in upstate New York. Sage was pretty damn impressive in his 2014 Indy 500 debut, above, and last year (especially in qualifying at Detroit and at Iowa and Fontana) so his critics were unreasonable for a 20-year-old. Chilton's oval-track debut at Phoenix was excellent and he's looked more comfortable than Rossi so far, but he's got a Ganassi Chevy ...

Q: Well Robin, the cancellation of the Boston race was not a shock. So after the race was canceled I read some articles. How in the world did IndyCar decide to put this race on the schedule? It was hit with road blocks from the get-go – a group even put a website together to stop the race.

I remember almost 10 years ago when Paul Newman came to Philly to pitch a street race around the Art Museum, and that was a no-go because the people who run the Art Museum didn't want a car race. And these are the same people who complain about the Rocky statue in front of the museum. So I knew that race wasn't happening.

Second, if the aero kits are going away, are there any chassis manufactures coming to IndyCar to race alongside the Dallara? Like Lola or Swift?

Amon, Philadelphia, PA

RM: I said a year ago that if Newman couldn't get a race in Philly then how could anybody else get one in Boston? No new manufacturers on the horizon, whether it's building cars or engines, but that could change if IndyCar tweaks a couple things.

Q: After reading your article on the Boston race being cancelled, I'm wondering about the following: As the Bruno Event Group has proven its success at Barber Motorsports Park, why can't these folks be employed by IndyCar to lead the charge at finding other venues? As far as that goes, why couldn't they take the whole season on? As the late, great Paul Newman liked Virginia International Raceway so much, why not VIR?

If the IMSA WeatherTech folks can put a show on there for the weekend, why not pair them with IndyCar? The IMSA series has been running there for nigh on the last 10 years, and obviously something is being done right.

As far as ovals go, why isn't Kansas City or Michigan on the schedule? At the moment, there seems to be a bit of financial issues going down at Rockingham. That aside, was that track ever considered?

Kevin, Ft. Worth, TX

RM: I would hire the Bruno Group in a heartbeat but they are pretty diversified, so not sure how much time they could spend on other IndyCar races. They rent Barber and put on the show. People say VIR is too narrow and would need to many improvements to host IndyCar. K.C. had the IRL but eventually dropped it, and MIS isn't likely ever going to be in play as long as Belle Isle exists.

Q: I was watching old videos of the Indy 500 from the late '80s and got to see them racing on the old apron. The racing looked great! Do you know way it was taken out? Also there was some talk about putting it back in. Any news on that?

Kevin, Arlington Hts. IL

RM: The apron was great because not only did it give drivers another passing opportunity, it could save them if their car picked up a monstrous push. (Watch Johncock's last 10 laps of the '82 Indy 500.) A former IMS employee determined that the apron created the nasty angles of crashes and removed it. But his theory was flawed. IMS talked about bringing it back for the Brickyard 400 but for some reason it died down. NASCAR could really use the apron for its snoozefest.

Q: I've got my Indy race tickets, hotel room and shuttle passes, but there's just one more thing I need. Since I'm staying close to the airport and will catch the shuttle from there, what time should we try and head to the Speedway? I've heard that the shuttles might get a special lane on the highway to speed things up, but I don't want to take a chance on missing any of the important pre-race stuff. Also, any inside scoop on who's singing "Back Home Again..." this year? A Jim Nabors hologram?

Steve C., Ithaca, NY

RM: I wouldn't leave any later than 8 am, and Josh Kaufman is singing the Nabors classic.

Q: IndyCar is really struggling for crowds at many oval races in particular. How does the series promote itself to regain the crowds that were once there in the mid '90s heyday, especially to casual fans disillusioned with NASCAR and Formula 1?

Anthony Kernich

RM: It almost needs to be a giveaway for the first year, or a big discount, just to get people in the grandstands. But that's no guarantee people are going to show up. I really don't know the answer. I don't think IndyCar can ever get the crowds it had at Fontana and Michigan in the '90s, let alone what they draw at Pocono and Ontario, above, in the '70s, but 30,000 would be considered a good turnout nowadays on an oval.

While I'm on that subject, I'd like to suggest a schedule and TV change for 2017. Keep things the way they are now up until Labor Day. Add The Glen on Labor Day. Keep Sonoma on its date, and then add Gateway the week after. Then go back to Fontana on Columbus Day weekend and race on Sunday afternoon. There's a built-in rain date, and the kids are off from school that Monday.

Now, the kicker is – and I know this would be very tricky – beg, cry, do whatever to get NBC to cover the final three races as a lead-in to Sunday Night Football. The West Coast races would be easy 4 p.m. time slots for the East Coast, and easy on the spectators at the events. Gateway would be tricky for the locals so maybe it wouldn't be the perfect lead-in but maybe that one you wouldn't have to. One more point. I know TV is important but having Pocono start at close to 4 p.m. is a joke.

Eric Zwirlein

RM: Rick is NASCAR's full-time play-by-play guy and he filled in for Leigh (quite well I might add) because Diff does all the F1 races. As for your schedule suggestion, getting one track to take a race less than four months out would be a miracle, let alone two. ABC has exclusive rights to network coverage of IndyCar, so no chance on your Sunday Night Football dream. But it sounded good.

Q: You're going to have to explain to me the importance of "badging" engines and why in this day, where dollars are so limited and sponsors are so few, that IndyCar chooses to limit the series to other potential engine manufacturers. Not that they are lining up, but there are some potential providers out there. I understand the concern about developing new body kits and driving up costs, but engines are different. Haven't both Honda and Chevy indicated they would welcome more competition?

Now that it appears they may be shelving the aero kits and going back to a standard Dallara body design for all, wouldn't now also be the time to get rid of this badging limitation, as long as the engines are available to anyone? Especially since the engine provider won't have to do an aero kit.

Jim, Indy

RM: From Marshall Pruett:

"Chevy and Honda have said in stories we've posted on RACER.com that they'd welcome competition and would we open to changing the engine formula if it helps get more manufacturers involved. If there's an issue, it's that even with a simple badging program – let's say Kia pays Cosworth to put its name on their IndyCar design – the manufacturer would be on the hook for many millions each year in development costs, marketing, support staff, etc. Paying to have their name on an engine is the easiest part of the equation. If and once IndyCar can put impressive TV ratings in front of new manufacturers, you'll see more join the series."

Q: I'm a huge IndyCar fan, and attend the Indy 500 and a few other races each year. My question is, why can't IndyCar just mandate that the aero kit boxes where they can develop just be smaller, especially the wings? IndyCar gave [the manufacturers] huge boxes to work with, and engineers, of course, will use everything they can. With smaller boxes, there would be less or smaller winglets. There would also be less aero drag, downforce, and turbulence, then IndyCar could then give the downforce back with more ground effect. The cars might still end up being similar, but I think this would make the cars more sleeker, the cars would have a better chance for passing without the turbulence, and would keep a little brand identity and innovation.

Jimi, Basile, LA

RM: Marshall Pruett says:

"It's possible, but I'd rather see IndyCar push engine manufacturers out from aero kit production altogether. IndyCar needs – and I mean needs – to rethink its next car and follow what many of us have been saying for years (and you mention below): Peel the draggy wings upon wings upon wings from the topside and rely on a large, robust underwing to make most of the downforce. Small front and rear wings won't ruin the racing. It will take bravery on IndyCar's part, but it's time. The Indy 500 was run without wings from 1911-1968 – a span of 57 years. We've now used wings for 47 years ..."

 

Q: Sometime this month, you're walking through Gasoline Alley. You find an empty Clabber Girl can. You pick it up to shine it, and the ghost of Tony Hulman emerges. He grants you three wishes for the 100th running of the Indy 500, and they're guaranteed to come true. What are they?

Steve in Eugene, OR

RM: Josef Newgarden, above, Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti finish in a dead heat and it takes 30 minutes to determine the winner, so IndyCar is on SportsCenter the whole time while the three of them are interviewed. Roger Penske buys IMS and gives it to me. I rewrite the rules, double the purse and ban all music from the track except "Back Home Again In Indiana" and the ballad of Jimmy Bryan. Have A.J., Parnelli, Dan Gurney, Gordy, J.R., Mario and the Unsers as grand marshalls for the 110th Indy 500.

Q: I'm struggling to find any enthusiasm for IndyCar this year (and to be honest, F1 or NASCAR). With the spec nature of the series, the introduction and now apparent disappearance of aero kits after this year, will innovation ever be part of IndyCar again? Will we see front-engine cars, cars with all-wheel-drive, or cars with alternative propulsion (hybrid, electric, etc)? Cars that are just different from one another in any noticeable way?

While I appreciate the level of talent presently in the series, I don't know if that is sufficient to support the series long-term. If I'm a potential sponsor or potential engine supplier/manufacturer, I don't see a clear vision of what IndyCar offers me. Is there a clear vision or any vision towards the future of IndyCar? As a spectator, if I want to watch 10-20 identical cars racing, I can go to the local kart track and participate as well as watch. I really want to be interested in IndyCar for nostalgic reasons, but I'm not, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Damion, Tulsa

RM: Not sure how much innovation IndyCar teams can afford right now, and to this point there hasn't really been a clear vision, but I think Jay Frye and Bill Pappas are planning something new for 2017 or 2018. Not sure about front-engine cars or hybrid or electric, but a lot of people are clamoring for a different look or sound, or both.

Q: Chevy has the two best IndyCar teams, and one of them is owned by a billionaire. It also has six of the eight best drivers in IndyCar, and Dixon is arguably one of the ten best drivers, ever. Honda's two best drivers are stuck on either a single car team, or a team that can't get out of its own way. I understand that new, standard aero kits could reduce cost and improve the closeness of the racing, but aren't we kidding ourselves by hoping that a standard aero kit is going to make Honda's drivers more competitive?

Kyle in Raleigh

RM: Good question Kyle. With the standard kits from 2012-2014, Chevy's win total was 11-4, 10-9 and 12-6 while it went 10-6 last year and is 4-0 this season. So, other than 2013, it's been pretty lopsided, because last year Chevy led 80 percent of the laps, won every pole and finished 1-2-3 in the point standings. And Chevy doesn't have a big advantage, except that a couple of tenths per lap can add up. So Honda's teams are hoping for another 2012, when it found some pop for Indianapolis. Andretti certainly had more success with the old aero kits, but it also had Chevy those first two seasons. Will going back to those old kits make a difference? Maybe mentally more than anything else.

Q: It is 1946, WWII has just ended, money is in short supply, Tony Hulman has purchased the track, it is in need of repair, there is grass growing between some of the bricks, there has been no time to build new race cars, and there are 63 entries – repeat, 63 entries – for the 500!

Now, move forward to 2016, the 100th 500, there are 536 billionaires in the U.S., and there are at least 11,000 millionaires. Cars are estimated to cost $6 million (well, before the Leader Circle pays them $1.25 million to please come race with us), and we have 33 entries in this historic race. Huh?! Still think racing is better today? If it is, it sure has been kept a secret from 99.9 percent of the American public, and most of the racing fans who ever have seen what Indy once was!

Terrible Ted

RM: The racing is closer today than it's ever been, as spec racing should be, and the last few Indy 500 finishes have been extraordinary, but obviously Indy doesn't have the following it did from 1960-2000. So we need to make the cars cheaper and purses larger to try and attract some new owners. But it's still the biggest one-day deal in sports.

 

Q: I disappointed that Curt Cavin from the Indianapolis Star omitted someone from his "Indy 500 – Most Important People in Race History" list. The Bettenhausen Racing Family – Tony Sr., Gary, Merle, and Tony Jr. He explained that it was an impossible task, which I agreed. Just my opinion, but I think it's sad that these people made the list: Nigel Mansell, Jackie Stewart, Chip Ganassi, Danica Patrick, Paul Newman, James Garner, Tony Stewart, Tim Richmond, Michael Andretti, David Letterman, Sarah Fisher, and Willy T. Ribbs instead of Tony and Gary. I have always been inspired by Gary Bettenhausen , above, and it was an honor to meet my racing hero at the Speedway on Legends Day 2011. Oh well. Let's all enjoy the 100th Anniversary of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing! This will be the Doran's 16th Indy 500!

Tim, Christine, and Will Doran, New Castle, PA

RM: Putting Kevin Forbes and Tom Binford in the list instead of the Bettenhausens or Jack McGrath or Troy Ruttman was insulting to me, but it's just the opinion of one man who didn't cover his first race until 1987, so maybe it's a generation thing.

Q: I've been to my share of IndyCar races over the past few decades and I recall back when Marlboro was a prominent fixture along with Budweiser, etc. If you were to go out into the local – and even not-so-local – bars in those times, there were events being promoted, giveaways, girls passing out shots and cigs or whatever. In this current day I don't see any of that. And I realize that Marlboro and big tobacco have been given the finger because kids seeing Marlboro or Joe Camel on a racecar caused them to become "smokers" (cough, cough), but IndyCar still needs this type of promotion in the local area bars, as that's where you're bound to make new fans.

IndyCar would be wise to invest in multiple simulators and also look for the new Marlboro of today, which is energy drinks. They aren't good for kids either, yet they have a free pass at the moment – but I can see big government putting an end to energy drink sponsorship just as they did with tobacco. The thinking that going to see a race live is a family occasion has run its course, and sure there are still some families that go to the race together, but they are the minority. Indy didn't even need to be promoted before, and now they make it seem as though selling out the 100th running of the greatest race of the year is extra special.

My point is, besides Tony messing things up because he was convinced by Foyt to tell the CART owners to piss off, they killed Indy and its self-promotion when they got rid of the infamous Snake Pit and tried to sell it as a family affair. IndyCar needs to promote a good party atmosphere to get fresh blood interested, and if some eight-year-old old happens to see his first set of boobs in the process just as I did way back when, I promise you've made a future fan for life.

Cheers, A1A

RM: When TG said he was closing down the Snakepit and everyone would have to have a ticket, I argued that his grandfather knew it was important to have all age and financial groups represented at the track with the likeliness the infield kids would grow into race fans. But IndyCar needs to spend money on promotions like you suggest, along with national TV commercials. Scott Dixon shouldn't be in Invisible Man but he is, and that must change.

Q: Once upon a time, when you were a die-hard open-wheeler fan, be it IRL, CART, whatever, the schedule was pretty much fixed and you didn't have to go online to look at the latest iteration of the schedule. If anyone wants a musical reminder, just listen to Mark Knofler's "Speedway at Nazareth" and it kind of says it all. Milwaukee, Michigan, Fontana, Portland and all the others. You mean IndyCar used to race at all those tracks too? Great song! Now, the only race date we can be assured of is the 500. Kind of says it all, with all the latest pissing and moaning about Boston.

This is why NASCAR will continue to kick butt with the fans. No surprises, and you can plan on a trip to see an event. Yes, NASCAR is close to being a non-subscription sleeping pill, but it works. The other thing that NASCAR has done to outsmart IndyCar is brand recognition. You can look at the racecars and tell what brand it is from a distance. Yes, it really is kit car spec car racing underneath, but the fans can root for their favorite as they have done every since the first NASCAR race. Sonoma to close the season ... need I say anymore?

Grumpy Gary

RM: I think one of IndyCar's goals is to find 15-16 races that are either solid or have some promise, lock them down into a schedule that doesn't change and try to regain some identity. I think Jay Frye has made good inroads with ISC at Phoenix and The Glen so maybe that can develop into the partnership it never was in the IRL.

 

Q: I know you're probably not into this, but with Michael Strachan leaving Live With Kelly, I'm wondering if this might not be the perfect gig for Helio, above. Strachan paved the way for an ex-athlete to become a much larger personality. Helio has all those traits, and his Dancing With The Stars success gives him an identity outside of his racing career. He is nearing the end of his IndyCar career and I hope he transitions into something like this. Just watching his race interviews, he creates so much more out of a situation and is so camera-savvy; he is a natural for this field. Hope he has some feelers out. Hope ABC gets him on 'Good Morning America' leading up to the 500.

Also, will any of the Brazilian racers have opportunities with NBC for the Olympics? TK for the triathlon? And maybe they should get high school wrestling champ Sage Karam to be a commentator for that event. It can't hurt the series. Thanks for indulging me.

Paul, Carmel, CA

RM: I don't think Helio could sit still for an hour or spend the kind of time that job requires. T.K. and Sage would have time since there is only one race in August because of the Olympics on NBC.

Q: Off-the-wall questions from a casual IndyCar fan (though I do go to Indy 500 every year) and a person who use to love your rants in the Indy newspaper (not worth mentioning its name) about the Indy sports scene back when the 500 was king, the Pacers stunk, and Colts were a joke (and in Baltimore). If, two years ago, IMS would have announced a $10 million payout to the winner of the 100th 500 and record payouts to the field, do you think more drivers/cars (with today's rules and car package) would have shown up and the buzz been enhanced (meaning real bumping)? How fast would the current IndyCar go at a track like Daytona/Talladega? (Not suggesting trying to race at these type of tracks, just curious). Now that the 100th running will be over soon, do you think IMS will be sold? The family seems tired of it. Sell it while it is still worth something.

My gut tells me though the racing is better than it has been in many years, IndyCar is dying and will be an afterthought by 2025. What does your gut tell you? Do you think that there will always be an Indy 500? If you had to watch one Indy 500 over and over again for eternity, what one would it be?

Patrick Walters, Brownsburg, IN

RM: If this month's race would have paid $1 million to start and $10 million to win I think you would have seen a couple of NASCAR owners and a couple IMSA owners pony up, but until we get cheaper cars and another engine manufacturer it's too much of a closed shop to get the 45 cars we want at Indianapolis. Gil de Ferran ran 241mph at Fontana back in 2000, while Mark Donohue hit 221mph in the Porsche Can-Am car at Talladega in 1975 and A.J. Foyt holds the all-time closed circuit mark of 257.123 in a specially-built Oldsmobile Aerotech at the Firestone test track in Fort Stockton, Texas in 1987. So, depending on how soft of a tire Firestone constructed and how much HP you gave today's Dallara, you would think maybe something approaching 260mph. Can't see IMS being sold. I would watch a continuous loop of the 1982 Indy 500 – especially those closing 10 laps.

Q: Today was my first day on the job as the new owner/promoter of Gateway International Raceway. I received a phone call from some guy named Mark Miles asking if we'd pay a ridiculous sanctioning fee to host an IndyCar race on Labor Day weekend. I laughed in his face. Then I called him back with an offer. IndyCars can race at our track for free this year on Labor Day weekend. In exchange for not charging a sanctioning fee, we will offer free admission to the race as a way to expose our market to the great racing the series has to offer. Miles was unsure, but then I told him I already spoke with several commercial partners who agreed to this plan. Coca-Cola has already agreed to sponsor the race, to be known as the Coca-Cola 300. They will be launching a major promotional effort in the St. Louis area to promote their product and the race.

In addition, Coke will be offering a $500,000 bonus to this year's Indy 500 winner if they can also win our race. A separate $500,000 bonus will be offered by Coke if the winner of our race also wins NASCAR's Southern 500 in Darlington that evening. I told Mark Miles not to fear, I already spoke with NBC. They have agreed to have the race televised starting at noon on Labor Day Sunday so any driver wishing to do "double duty" and compete in both our race and in Darlington will have a chance to commute between both races. I hear brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch may both be interested in doing the double. Chip Ganassi may also make a stock car available for Scott Dixon to do the same. I've also worked a deal with NBC and ABC to allow the race to be televised on the big NBC network, which realizes the value of having such a major race televised on network television.

Mark Miles loves my plan and now believes IndyCar racing has a huge future in the St. Louis market. Unfortunately, we will have to charge for tickets in 2017, but we're offering a $15 ticket deal for 2017 to anyone who attends our Labor Day weekend IndyCar race. Coca-Cola has also signed a five-year contract to sponsor the race, which they believe will become a new Labor Day weekend tradition.

Kevin, Milton, PA

RM: Ah, it's great that we can still dream, but I do think Gateway is going to get another chance. Curtis Francois and his staff have really made some nice improvements to the track so hopefully it can settle into the schedule and give IndyCar another oval.