Robin Miller's Mailbag for July 12, 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.

Q: I think putting Helio out to pasture in sportscars is a little premature, don't you? I am relieved that he finally won again, since he's had some very solid performances in the last three years, and some bad breaks, too. I know that Helio has a place in the Penske family if he wants it, but I honestly would be sorry if he left the IndyCar fold. He breathes such life into the series, and is a hell of a lot of fun. He's also a damn good racer. I read a lot from other fans that it's time for him to go so that someone new can take his place, but I don't think Helio is easily replaced. And there's no guarantee that R.P. will run four cars again if Helio joins the sportscar team.

Deb Schaeffer, LA

RM: We've been hearing all year that R.P. doesn't want to field four cars anymore and he's not going to farm Power, Pagenaud or Newgarden out to sportscars, so Helio is the logical choice. And Honda no doubt wants to make a big splash, so having a couple of Indy 500 winners makes perfect sense. It's not because of performance because Helio is driving better than ever, is as quick as anyone and he's only eight points out of the championship lead. His second place drive at Indy might have been the best of his career, considering Honda's dominance. As he said to me on Saturday when I wrote the story, and again on Sunday during the grid run on NBCSN, the best way to prolong his IndyCar career is to win the championship and make it a really tough decision. Of course the bigger downside is that he and Tony Kanaan are the two most popular drivers and they could both be out of a full-time ride in 2018, although Castroneves is no doubt in the lineup for Indy.

Q: I'm sure your Mailbag is being filled by fans hoping to see Helio stay, but count me as one of the minority on the other side of the fence. However, if it comes at the cost of a car on the track, I could be converted to the other side of the argument. Some of the older drivers need to make room for new and young drivers. Otherwise, when they do finally retire, there won't be anyone for fans to latch on to. Other than Iowa and Indy, Helio has finished worse than he qualified with virtually no issues (like flat tires or mechanical failures). That's my case against keeping Helio.

However, I'd like to make a much stronger case against Marco Andretti. I don't have much of an opinion about his talent on a road course, but he's been historically solid on ovals. He wasn't that great at Indy this year compared to the rest of his team, and my goodness Gutierrez just showed him up at Iowa. There are a LOT of IndyCar fans that despise Danica Patrick and think she was only there because of her gender. It's obvious Marco is there because of his family, but I'd like to toss this out there for the readers to argue about. Danica Patrick was a better IndyCar driver than Marco Andretti. The good news is Colton Herta may just be ready to push Marco out of a seat in a year or two.

Ryan in West Michigan

RM: Helio got another terrible strategy call at Detroit this year (he had the 2016 race in the bag, but wasn't told to pit when it was obviously the right time to) and pitted too early last month, or otherwise would have kept Graham Rahal honest. He's also had a flat tire that caused him to crash at Texas. He's won three poles (four actually, but had a silly penalty at Detroit), started on the front row three more times, and scored a pair of podiums plus two fourths and a fifth. Marco doesn't figure in the argument, because as long as there is Andretti Autosport and as long as he wants to drive, he's got a ride. Young Hertamania needs one more year of Lights before stepping up, but I don't see him replacing Marco.

Q: I was bummed to read about Helio potentially being moved over to IMSA next year. I know (and I suspect he does, too) that he has far more races behind him than in front of him, but he proved last weekend that he is still as fast and competitive as ever, and still belongs in IndyCar full-time. However, I'm more bummed at the prospect of losing yet another full-time car from the grid. It seems that since 2011, we have lost one to two full-timers every year. This kind of bleeding needs to stop, and fast.

I am aware of Harding Racing and Juncos Racing intending to join the series next year. I also know about Carlin's intentions. But who knows when they will come? None of these teams are joining yet for sure – at least I haven't seen anything official; just many articles about Harding and Juncos saying how they want to join the series and are working toward it. What is the field going to look like next year? 20 cars? 19? Less? We need a good 24 full time entries at a minimum, in my opinion, or the series just starts looking like an amateur club racing series.

Kevin Kerner

RM: It's way too early to make that call. Ganassi could join Penske and cut back to three cars (Dixon, Kimball, Chilton), and what happens if Max goes to Carlin? Chip might keep T.K. but he needs a sponsor, because we think NTT Data will be on the No.9 car in 2018. Bobby Rahal sounds optimistic about adding a teammate for Graham, and Harding has been buying equipment from a former IndyCar team, so that's looking good for Gabby running all season. Ricardo Juncos and Mike Shank have the desire, they just need money. So it could be anywhere from 18 to 24. And you can still put on good racing with 18 cars – that's how many USAC started in the main events at all the miles in the 1960s. And IndyCar's quality across the board is as good as it's been in the past 20 years. Thanks for reading and listening to RACER.com.

Q: Personally, I don't care that Castroneves might be gone. I have never liked the guy – I find him fake, always playing to the camera and honestly, one of the most disingenuous drivers in the paddock. However, I care tremendously that we may be losing a car. We are at a bare bones count right now. We can't afford to lose anyone! What if Ganassi loses two cars because Tony loses NTT Data and Chilton loses Daddy's backing? We are now down to 18. What if ABC Supply realizes Foyt Racing is going nowhere and drops them? Where is Foyt going to find a sponsor like ABC Supply in this market? We are now down to 16. I think Andretti is pretty much year-to-year with three of his cars, excluding RHR. I think Honda will stay with Sato, Rossi brings some money, and I think Andretti will beg, borrow and steal to ensure Marco has a drive. IndyCar is operating on a knife's edge with regards to car count. We all know it, but with the news of Castroneves, it hits us in the face. Is IndyCar doing anything to protect numbers? Do they have a plan? If so, is it a good plan?

Josh R., Salem, OR

RM: Helio has more fans than anyone but T.K. so his presence is very valuable to the series but, as I said in the answer above yours, it's too early to make any rash predictions about what might happen. Maybe Wayne Taylor leaves sportscars and comes to IndyCar. If Mike Shank finds money, maybe he joins Taylor. Trevor Carlin, Ricardo Juncos, Brian Belardi and George Michael Steinbrenner may all be in the mix some day. IndyCar is making the new car more affordable and has a five-year plan so yes, they are preparing for the future.

Q: Happy for Helio, he wins on the same weekend his Dancing With The Stars partner (Julienne Hough) gets married, but do think you'll be able to broker a deal for Paul Tracy to get one of Roger Penske's IMSA seats for next year, as he asked during the Iowa race telecast? Or will his admitted skill of crashing teammates and championship leaders work against him (as was also brought up on the telecast)? It was so long ago that I don't remember why Paul got the boot from The Captain's team. Count me as another fan of yours and Marshall's weekly podcasts, and Indy and Road America video roundups, and all the stories you write for RACER and for your Mailbag. Any chance you will get invited to one of Hinch's "The Mayor on Air" podcasts?

Frank, Minneapolis

RM: I've got a better chance of getting a ride with R.P. than P.T. does. He and The Captain weren't compatible at any speed, and the only guy with less of a shot of driving for Penske again would be Tom Sneva. Haven't been invited to the Mayor's podcast because I tend to cuss too much, but appreciate you listening and reading RACER.com

Q: As usual, Iowa produced a great race with lots of passing, and drama. Of course, seeing Spiderman climb the fence for the first time in three years made it even more special. It's amazing what sort of oval race can be produced when drivers can't flat-foot it all the way around the track, as Rick Mears has been telling IndyCar management for years. The only thing that could have made it better is if the race was on a Saturday night so more fans would have shown up. Has IndyCar looked into the possibility of swapping the Toronto and Iowa weekends so Iowa can return to a Saturday night time slot? I understand why the race is currently on a Sunday night since NBCSN has the NASCAR race Saturday night at Kentucky and F1 on tape delay Sunday morning, so why not move the date?

Grayson, Broken Arrow, OK

RM: Iowa Speedway president Jimmy Smalls:

"Our goal is to return the IndyCar Iowa Corn 300 to Saturday night racing. That's where it started, and where it is best. The annual scheduling process is complicated by competing events covered by the same network and the challenge is compounded in each market by other major factors such as sponsorship objectives, fan/customer feedback, competing events (both at-track and in-market), and sometimes weather. Every event date on the season schedule involves compromises made by the racetrack/promoter, the sanctioning body, and the television broadcaster.

"With that said, it is important to note that we truly collaborate to make the best decision for the sport to succeed. We all (Iowa Speedway, IndyCar, and NBCSN) have our own sole priorities/objectives at stake, but we all have a common and paramount denominator: the fans. We all must, and I want to note and emphasize that we all DO, make decisions in the best interests of our fans (our collective #1 priority) because our secondary priorities/objectives are irrelevant without them. I believe the Iowa Corn 300 will return to Saturday night racing again soon, and we will continue making concerted efforts to reach that in the spirt of collaborative optimization for everyone involved."

Q: There was some good racing at Iowa, if not as good as has been in the past. So this leads me to several questions. First, how happy were the mechanics to get a break last weekend? Second, after Iowa, did any drivers mention how they are looking forward to the new bodywork in 2018 in the hope it reduces the loss of downforce when you get behind another car? Third, I would really like to attend a race at Iowa since I used to work in Newton years ago. But I can't attend a race in Iowa when it starts at 4:45 pm on Sunday. I can attend a Saturday night race, and I can make it if it starts at noon on Sunday. It's pushing it, but I can even make a 1 pm Sunday start work. But a 4:45 pm start on a Sunday has me at home missing the last laps because I'm trying not to burn dinner! So who came up with the 4:45 pm CST start, and will Iowa address the issue with the start time in the future?

John Balestrieri, Greenfield, Wis.

RM: Team Penske told the media they were all for less downforce and more power, and that seems to the general feeling among drivers. The mechanics actually had a four-day weekend over July 4th so that was well-deserved and welcomed. The race was moved because NBCSN televised Kentucky on Iowa's usual date the past two years, and I believe Jimmy Smalls preferred Sunday late afternoon instead of 1 p.m. (but it was so stinkin' hot last Sunday not sure either time would have had much success). As I said above, I know IndyCar wants to get back to Saturday night, and it looks like it could happen in 2019.

Q: Another good race at Iowa with hardly anyone there to see it. Yeah, we have to avoid almighty NASCAR on Saturday night (all for an extra .05 in the ratings, big whoop). But why not shift the race by a week or two to avoid NASCAR, or at least hold it at noon on Sunday, like we see at Road America? This race was a stable fan-favorite for years, and now it is a ghost town. Does anyone at IndyCar care?

Justin in Indy

RM: Oh yeah, IndyCar and Iowa both care, but they have to work around television and the plan it to try and get back to Saturday night by 2019.

Q: Writing this on the five-hour trek north after the Iowa Corn 300. How can IndyCar ever restore the Iowa crowd starting the race, in the 90 degree heat of midday, at 4 o'clock on a Sunday and then expect people to get home for work Monday morning? But hey, they are not competing with football, right? Only good part about it was going to Knoxville to watch Smoke. Saw Marco there, but no Miller. Did you make it?

Bob from Minnesota

RM: I don't think they can, and that's why a Friday or Saturday night show is a must. It gives the fans like you a chance to drive some distance and still recover in time for work, and it gives IndyCar a rain date. Didn't make Knoxville, late IndyCar practice and had to write a couple stories, but Smoke was kind enough to invite Ed Jones and Estenban Gutierrez to his suite, and I promised I would get them to a sprint-car race before 2017 is over.

Q: Okay IndyCar fans, how many of you actually sit at home all day on Sunday? You're not out doing a honey-do list, playing golf, driving back from a cabin/wedding/vacation? Are any of us ever home on Sundays? We talk about declining viewership in racing, but now it's happening in the NFL. The least-watched day of NFL football is Sunday afternoon. The NBA shows games in 10 months of their calendar, and has rising ratings for Summer League, all because the games are on at night – particularly weeknights. The English Premier League has rising ratings because of another factor. Early mornings. Should IndyCar be racing at ovals on Wednesday nights? Wednesday of the Knoxville Nationals will probably outdraw the (pleasantly surprising) Sunday evening crowd at Iowa Speedway. I'm okay with the noon starts on Sundays for road and street courses, but if we can't fill seats on ovals for weekends, why not try something else?

Justin Einerson, Des Moines, Iowa

RM: I couldn't agree more, Justin. The current format isn't working, so hopefully if NBC gets IndyCar full-time, it will experiment with ovals on a weeknight. Kevin Lee of NBCSN has been touting a Wednesday night race during this week (baseball All-Star game) because there is nothing else to watch except the Tour de France, and I think it would get a good rating. Of course the promoters might balk about a weeknight race, so maybe a Friday night would be best.

Q: What's with the late afternoon start for the Iowa Corn 300? I thought Road America demonstrated rather conclusively that getting the race in earlier is what Midwest fans want. All you have to do is look at what happened to Milwaukee with their late Sunday afternoon starts – they're not there anymore. And Newton is 45 miles from Des Moines and two and a half hours from Dubuque. Aren't IndyCar ovals having enough trouble drawing fans without tying the hands of the promoter to a stupid and unwanted time slot?

Mike McFarland, Elkhart Lake, WI

RM: It's not really the promoter's fault. Right or wrong, television dictates a lot of racing schedules, and with NASCAR on NBCSN last Saturday night, the options were Sunday afternoon early or late. But I'd love to see Iowa go to Friday night if it can't get Saturday night back. IndyCar looks so cool under the lights, and I think the racing is also better.

Q: Any possibility of moving Sonoma up one week and moving Iowa to the season finale in the future, and then filling Iowa'a July spot with either Portland or Calgary? I would actually try to have Portland and Calgary back-to-back and push Toronto and Mid-Ohio back one week to help the gap in August. Hopefully Mexico can open the season a few weeks earlier.

Brian, Joliet, Illinois

Q: It's been good to see American talent get opportunity and results in IndyCar. JR Hildebrand seems to be making the most of his second chance in the series. But what happened to the clean-cut kid we first knew? He now looks like a 1960's bum who just got out of bed 10 minutes before a race, and I cannot imagine his sponsors appreciate his new image. Please tell him to get a haircut and to try shaving again. While on the topic of an ECR driver, is it just me, or do other long-time IndyCar fans find Ed Carpenter's participation only in ovals to be annoying? His presence on ovals is essentially just as a spoiler. IndyCar has always been about developing the most versatile divers in the world, not specialists. If he can't participate as a real IndyCar driver, he should hire another driver for his seat.

Dale Murray, Mount Joy, PA

RM: J.R. recently got married so maybe his wife likes it, but I never give drivers any advice on fashion or hair grooming. I think Ed still has a lot of fans because he's the last of the short-track guys in IndyCar, and he was going to be a factor last Sunday until his weight jacker broke. I don't hear any complaints about his participation, and I'm happy he hired a couple of Americans to drive with him. I'm sure Ed will step away some day and maybe Spencer Pigot takes over full-time, but he's not ready yet.

Q: With Helio Castroneves rumored to be going to sportscars and Tony Kanaan getting up there in age, assuming neither Chip nor Roger downsize, who do you think would fill in those two seats? If Penske keeps the No.3 car I think The Captain will try hard to sign Alexander Rossi, as he seems to be "Penske perfect" material. Chip could look to Ed Jones or Pigot to take the No.10 car, assuming that sponsorship can be sorted out. Have to say, Kevin Lee has done a fantastic job as lead commentator, and when NBC gets the full IndyCar season, I hope either Kevin or Allen Bestwick will be the lead guy with Doc joining you guys on the pit lane.

Kevin, North Carolina

RM: Well, we think The Captain is going to downsize to three cars so there won't be a replacement for the No.3, and the No.10 car would appear to need a major sponsor to stay on track with T.K. (or anyone else) since it sounds like NTT Data is going with Dixie in 2018. Kevin has done a fine job, and even some of the toughest critics in racing (my pals) have given him good marks. His chemistry with T. Bell and P.T. has also been pretty seamless, so let's leave him right where he is in 2018.

Q: It is surprising to me that one race made Tony Kanaan go from one of everyone's favorite drivers to one of the least-liked. Texas raised questions about his tactics and car control. I guess that is making his future at CGR in the gray area. Good for Castroneves after his win. The Captain will have a tough choice at the end of this season. Iowa was a good race to watch, and Roger even smiled twice during your post-race interview. Is Foyt Racing that far off this year? Next year everyone starts off anew, but will that give Foyt a shot at mid-pack?

Dino, Hanover, Pa.

RM: T.K. was disliked for about 48 hours, and then everyone moved on – it's racing. But the gray area for him isn't his driving, it's sponsorship. Helio winning the title is probably the only thing that could change The Captain's mind, but not sure it would. Foyt's team is struggling mightily but it has some good people, so maybe the new kits can help them catch up.

Q: Hey Robin, do you have any more details on what happened to Ed Jones' left foot? Your mention on the grid walk of him with a broken leg is the first I have heard of it. Will he be okay under hard braking at Toronto and Mid-Ohio?

Matt from Philadelphia

RM: He's got a stress fracture, and he figures it must have happened at Texas when his feet slammed into the pedals during the big pileup.

Paul Fitzgerald, Indianapolis

RM: I think we were going by what Zak Brown said in May, and that was McLaren couldn't come IndyCar racing full-time until it got its act together in F1. Fernando says he'll give McLaren a few more months to turn things around before deciding what to do, but I think we'd all love to see him come over here full-time. Question is, if not McLaren, then who runs him? He's not going to ask for $40 million, but he's also not going to drive for free, and what team could afford him? Only one I can think of, and they're downsizing.

Q: I see Anders Krohn graduated from the Indy Lights coverage to the top dogs. Is that permanent, a trial, or just a one-time?

Chad R. Larson

RM: I think as long as Kevin Lee does play-by-play, Anders will be a pit reporter for IndyCar. He's got knowledge and passion and made a nice debut last Sunday.

Q: Who is the current Indy driver who always makes you laugh? Who is the one that, charitably, doesn't? (If I can be permitted a guess; Tony Kanaan and Alexander Rossi...)

Anthony Jenkins, Toronto

RM: Hinch is right there with T.K. and Pagenaud has a sly sense of humor as well. I watched Rossi on a podcast with Hinch and he seemed to have plenty of personality with people he likes and knows – just not so much on television.

Q: Let's start off with some quick points: 1.) I hardly have anything negative to say about the IndyCar, Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, and USF2000 series because I just sit down, relax and enjoy them. I watch all their races live (YouTube for Pro Mazda and USF2000 series) 2.) I absolutely adore the USF2000 series, I love the cars and their quicker races. 3.) I already know about Dan Andersen's plans of having one USF2000 oval, two Pro Mazda ovals and three Indy Lights ovals. 4.) I am only writing this all because it is REALLY annoying the hell out of me and I'm not expecting this to make the Mailbag but its time for someone to seriously take notice of this.

Chris, Charleston, SC

RM: All we know is that Verizon's contract is up after 2018 and evidently the new management isn't too enthralled with IndyCar racing, so Verizon is only spending the bare minimum this season. And yes it would hurt, because high-profile title sponsors are hard to find, but it's not like Verizon has gone crazy promoting IndyCar the past couple years.

Q: What gives with the Miami Homestead Speedway? Most of the drivers live here, it'll be a perfect way to end the season, and I don't have to travel over to Texas, Iowa or even St. Pete to go see a race. It was good racing here – close finishes! So what's the problem?

GP Hewitt, Pompano Beach, FL

RM: Attendance and promotion come to mind as the immediate problems since nobody bothered to show for the last few IndyCar races, and the early CART days had big crowds because Honda, Toyota and Marlboro gave away a lot of tickets. No doubt the racing was pretty good, just like the climate, but it takes two to tango and I don't think Homestead is real excited about hosting IndyCar's finale since it already has NASCAR's.

Q: I went to the Chateau Impney Hill Climb, a recently-revived event near Birmingham, UK, on Saturday. To my surprise, the Indy 500 1955 pole-winning car was there and was driven up the hill. I spoke to the driver, and he said Jerry Hoyt was only one of two cars to make an attempt on Pole Day, and sort of won pole by default. Do you know much about this, or the driver in general? I know he passed away a few weeks after the 500.

Stu, United Kingdom

RM: It was a blustery, windy Pole Day in 1955, and the top drivers supposedly had verbally agreed not to run before Hoyt rolled out late and qualified at 140.045 mph. Tony Bettenhausen scrambled onto the track before it closed and went 139.985 mph to secure the middle of Row 1. Jack McGrath broke the track record the next day at 142.580, but had to start third in the race because he was a second-day qualifier. Bill Vukovich was among the eight other drivers who went faster than Hoyt during time trials and was on his way to a third consecutive win when he lost his life. Hoyt, who finished 31st in the race, was killed a couple weeks later in a sprint car crash at Oklahoma City.

Q: I was watching the Daytona NASCAR race this year like I do almost every year and was wondering if IndyCar could have a 4th of July weekend race as well? I wouldn't consider myself a huge NASCAR fan but I enjoy some races here and there, and this particular one I look forward to every year – always a good backdrop to Independence Day celebrations. I would love for IndyCar to try to have an annual race that could also become a tradition, and was brainstorming which track it could take place at.

One that came to mind is Michigan International Speedway. Although the most recent races there with the IRL were not well attended, the CART races there were truly memorable and I think next year's car would look great there as well. They could even rebrand it the "US 500." And unlike in 1996, it wouldn't have to compete with the IRL. Looking forward to attending the Gateway race this year, and hoping it is a success so it becomes a tradition on the schedule too.

Andy Strasser, St. Louis, MO

RM: IndyCar is trying to make its schedule as consistent as possible and the last July 4th try (Watkins Glen in 2010) wasn't very successful, so I doubt it will try again – although Cleveland always did pretty well on that weekend in CART. I don't see MIS as a player right now – not as long as Belle Isle stays on the schedule.

Q: With all the talk of ABC and NBC, has CBS sports expressed interest in the IndyCar contract? I checked their broadcast and they don't have a lot going on between April and August. Maybe the concern is that nobody has their cable channel, CBS Sports Network. The other option I can see them doing is to partner with one of the Turner sports channel, (TNT, TBS, and TruTV) so more people can watch it. Plus the other reason I am asking about it is that CBS has my favorite sports coverage. By the way, I did hear FOX is not interested in the IndyCar contract.

Adam Jones

RM: CBS has no interest to my knowledge, it's just a two-horse race between NBC and ABC, and I know which the majority of fans want to win.

Q: First off, your Mailbag and almost every article is a must-read every week. I appreciate your insight and candor! This thing with the IndyCar front wing – a simple ding and your race is over, or at least ruined with an unplanned pit stop for repairs. Why do the wings need to be so intricate and seemingly fragile? Isn't there a better way to get the downforce without that behemoth cheese-slicer hanging out front acting as a bumper? One slight tap, and there is debris flying and a competitive car sent limping until it can pit and slap on another one. How about a front cage that protects the wings better? I just hate races being influenced by such over-engineered structures that cannot be whacked out of alignment. It makes being aggressive on tight road courses a penalty. Unfortunately, the over-importance of front wings even spills over to the short tracks and my beloved super-modifieds! They have developed them to the point where a damaged wing even on a small oval results in a bad push that ruins a driver's day.

Jeff in Kokomo, IN

RM: From my brother Marshall Pruett: "An IndyCar makes its speed by being light and nimble; start adding a bunch of weight with cages around the wings and you turn them into bumper cars that run at less impressive speeds. This isn't a form of racing where hitting each other and leaning on each other is an accepted part of the game. Why make IndyCar like a Saturday night dirt show when we already have Saturday night dirt shows?" But thanks for reading RACER.com.

Q: I remember that, years ago, there was some buzz about braking distances and carbon brakes. If I´m not mistaken, CART used steel brakes, and it wasn't uncommon to see a driver really push the limits on long braking zones. Meanwhile, in super-light, carbon disc-equipped Formula 1 cars, overtaking is a miracle. I'm not suggesting to go back to steel discs (although I'd like that), but I'm saying that extremely efficient cars (in many aspects) come in detriment of spectacle.

Ignacio - Córdoba, Argentina

RM: More help from Mr. Pruett: "Hi Ignacio. All great points. Carbon discs increase overall performance through the cars having lighter rotating mass and lower unsprung weight, and they also shorten braking distances, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Steel is a ton cheaper and extends the braking zones, but as we've seen with the high state of chassis setups and driver skill, passing is still hard under braking. I guess if it was easy, even the bozos would look spectacular."

I'm sure there are incentives/bonuses for the drivers from the teams that finish in the top three. The big thing for drivers is that there is an additional $5 million prize just to the driver who wins the championship. On top of that, the season is spread out and doesn't have that many races, allowing the drivers to drive in other series as well. Of the 20 drivers, 11 also race sportscars full-time, and four are in DTM. We don't know the drivers' contract salaries, but they must be pretty competitive given there is only one pay driver, the field is one of the most talented in racing, and there are six manufacturers in it. It's not a full picture, but as much as I've been able to gather.

Jake, New York

RM: Well it's certainly a depressing enough picture for IndyCar and its pathetic payoffs. A very rich man owns Formula E so not sure how much longer he can keep doing this, but it's good for those drivers right now.

Q: My solution is not possible at every track, but: It's time for professional motor sports to reach out to the locals. Local racers love to get invited to the big tracks. Some tracks have short ovals on the front stretch or in the tri-oval. Many others have large unused infields. My solution is to invite any series that will run on these short tracks. Give IndyCar as much practice time as they need on Friday night. When they are not practicing, open up the short track for the locals to practice. Come Saturday, run heat races for the local classes during the day. Stop one or two hours before the IndyCar race to set up for the pre-race. Sunday, run all of your feature events. In what ways will this help? It adds cheap entertainment for the fans when nothing else is scheduled. It fills up the infield – a few 100 race car haulers would help any infield look fuller. Locals love the prestige of running at the big track. Family and friends are going to follow them. [It generates] PR for the track and IndyCar.

Now, several of your readers will think I am crazy, but this is the same thing the road courses are doing. Think about all of the different types of racecars you get to see at a road race. Now you would get to see the same thing at an oval. Look up the big race they had at Bristol in mid-May. Over 500 race cars preregistered for that race. When it comes to PR for IndyCar, ask some of the Bristol racers about the negativity of NASCAR on that particular event. Things like this is what brings the grass root racers back to the sport.

Short track rat

RM: I suppose you could try something like that at Pocono with its infield oval but Iowa, Gateway and Phoenix don't have enough room. I get your point about bringing the local racers and their fan base, but logistically it would probably be a nightmare, and I imagine you would need a dirt track to draw the majority of participants.

Q: Penske, Foyt, and Ganassi have given us so much to cheer for over the years despite the split in IndyCar. I get the feeling the only reason these guys are still alive is because of the will of us fans. We just refuse to let them pass on. I really hope we see new teams like Juncos, Carlin, Harding, Taylor and McLaren coming to IndyCar Racing in 2018 and expand the field because these car owners that I mention, Penske, Foyt and Ganassi won't be in IndyCar racing much longer.

Alistair Fannell

RM: Well A.J. is too tough to die and his stem cell surgery is working wonders because he looks great, and Penske is the most active 80-year-old on the planet. Chip is just a kid at 60, and he'll be around for a long time.

Q: I had a dream about the currently fictitious "IndyCar triple crown" the other night. In it, I envisioned the three summer (well two out of three in the summer) holiday weekend hosting the following: Memorial Day weekend: Indy 500. July 4th weekend: Michigan 500 at MIS. Labor Day weekend: Texas 500k at TMS. Put each race on ABC and add a $1 million purse for winning all three (a sponsor can pony that up somehow). Is this something realistic or am I in la-la-land?

Jon from Auburn, NY

RM: Texas isn't going to go up against football and MIS has shown no interest in IndyCar for a while, so I'd prefer a Triple Crown of Long Beach, Road America and the Indy 500 – all three of IndyCar's disciplines – but only if you had a mega sponsor.

Q: I'm reading Damon Hill's autobiography and it's quite interesting. He certainly was not handed anything except his name. There is a part about Graham Hill and how the F1 drivers of the day participated in the Indy 500 because it paid a lot of money and when Graham won, he bought himself a plane. Just curious – how much more money did Indy pay in the 1960s? Or is it part of the F1 drivers not making as much money in proportion to what they make now?

Jim Doyle

RM: Hill earned $156,000 for his team in 1966, and he got at least 40 percent of that, which was 20 times what he got for winning the F1 title or any race. All those F1 guys saw money signs at Indy, and that was the attraction.