Robin Miller's Mailbag for July 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.

Q: I thought the race this weekend at Iowa was fantastic. Not only did we have a surprisingly good race for the win in the closing laps, but the short oval aero package seemed to be just right, and here’s why: cars could race, and pass, one another. Fast cars could pass slow cars. Evenly-matched cars could race each other hard for position. Passing was neither impossible (like Phoenix) nor automatic (like in recent years at Indianapolis). Also, the multiple grooves allowed the cars to give one another space, which enhanced the side-by-side racing and prevented wrecks.

Now, the drawback to having a track and aero package that makes passing easier is when you have one or two dominant cars like we saw this time. Teams that hit the setup (like Newgarden and Hinchcliffe) can pull away and put most of the field a lap down in short order. I didn’t mind that this time because the mid-pack battles were still fun to watch, even if they weren’t on the lead lap. However, I’m afraid that some fans may be upset with the spanking that the top few cars put on the rest of the field. To me though, that’s just short track racing, pure and simple. If you can’t stand it, you’re following the wrong sport. Am I wrong?

Garrick, Mobile, AL

RM: No, I can’t tell you how many races I sat through where A.J. or Mario or Big Al or Uncle Bobby or Mears decimated the competition and won by more than a lap because they hit the right setup or simply had a superior car/engine. All your points are spot-on, because it was a helluva race from beginning to end, front back to front, and it’s refreshing to hear from you many of you that they loved the race even though it didn’t have a photo finish. It doesn’t have to be a good race, but sometimes we lose sight of that.

Q: I think the Iowa Corn 300 was one of the best races of the year. There was so much action all the way through the pack. This ought to give IndyCar a recipe for the kind of oval they need for the series. Are there any other tracks that you can think of that would fit this bill besides Richmond? I was very happy to see Hinchcliffe pull through for the win. I didn’t even mind it ending on a yellow. I think it’s so much better than those orchestrated green-white-checker restarts that NASCAR is so fond of. Finally, I must say there was nobody rooting for Josef Newgarden more than I was back when he was with Sarah Fisher and Ed Carpenter, but as soon as he became a Penske boy it almost made him the enemy. I still like the guy but I don’t have any problem rooting against him. Looking forward to a great Toronto race this weekend.

Tim B.

RM: Richmond put on a couple of great races with two grooves when the IRL first went there, so I imagine the Iowa formula should work if IndyCar ever goes back. Obviously you always want to end under green if possible, but IndyCar simply ran out of laps. JoNew is tough to root against because he’s a great kid with loads of talent and personality. But I get your take.

Q: Iowa was probably the best oval race I’ve seen in many years, and I mean “real” race – no pack or drafting, just hard racing! But sure enough, people are bitching because it ended under caution. It’s like they didn’t see how Hinch and his team had a rocket in the final stint, and not only did he pass the previously dominant Newgarden, he built up an 8s lead? Even if it stayed green the finish would have been Hinch crossing the line at speed, with second place crossing after a quick commercial break!! That was a damn good race with everything you could ask for: a very clean race, a few teams figured it out and some were completely lost, like a real race should be. I just don’t get it, I watched the garbage NASCAR race the night before, and half the field crashed, and I went out for food at the start of overtime and it was still on when I got back? Is that what people really want to see?

Joe Petry

RM: That’s what I addressed in my commentary yesterday, Joe. We saw the two extremes last weekend with Daytona and Iowa, and I was so proud of the IndyCar drivers for putting on such a clean, fast but aggressive show. I have no idea what people want to see, but four million of them watched the Firecracker 400 so I guess that answers your question.

Q: Pretty fantastic short oval race last Sunday for IndyCar, all things considered. Reminded me of a late-'90s short oval CART race, and I enjoyed every bit. However, I bet the finish is going to be the topic of conversation. I understand why the caution took so long, and I don't blame them for it, but what led to Newgarden and Wickens pitting? Race Control seemed to act like they were going to go green, then pulled back once they realized they didn't have enough time, but that was after they’d pitted. Was it a team strategy problem or a Race Control problem?

Zac, Atlanta

RM: Race director Kyle Novak told the teams they were going to make every effort to finish under green, but no guarantees. Just sitting on the pit wall I didn’t see any way you could pit, do the wave-around and restart the race – not enough laps left. So Team Penske, SPM and RLL took a chance, and it didn’t hurt Graham but it cost JoNew and Wickens a podium. I also heard it took way too long to clean up the track, but I ran into Sarah Fisher after the race and she said it was a mess and there was debris everywhere, so to me it was unfortunate but understandable considering the circumstances. Now if IndyCar opts to change things and do away with wave-arounds and just go back to racing when the track is ready, maybe the race restarts. I imagine Jay Frye will take a look at things.

Marco Andretti exits Turn 4 at Iowa. Image by IndyCar

Q: James said "giddy-up" at the end of your vid, and he was so right! That was one super-impressive drive to the front, blowing by and surprising the dominant JoNew! That was one of the most entertaining races I've ever seen! Near 1,000 on track passes? Whoa! Although the British GP was a pretty good race with an action-packed finish, it pales in comparison to what went down in the Iowa cornfield.

But can you shed some light on what happened with the Andretti team? How can a team so dominant in the test last week struggle for most of the race? Marco seemed to be hit the hardest, qualifying poorly, then going seven laps down before finishing 16th. During the final practice session Saturday night, he sat in the pits most of the session, yet no-one reported on what problems they were facing. I know it was a most difficult weekend for Marco and Michael with the loss of Dee Ann earlier in the week. It would be understandable if Marco's heart and mind weren't really in the race. Our hearts ache for the entire Andretti family.

Tony Mezzacca, Madison, NJ

RM: RHR ran up front until his problem, Rossi stalled in the pits so that cost him any chance of a good finish, and Veach ran real well until brushing the wall. Marco tested well but almost crashed during qualifying, and I think they were content after Saturday night’s practice but, of course, it was 15 degrees cooler then than on Sunday, so maybe that had something to do with him being so far off-pace.

Q: How many passes were there at Iowa? The NBCSN TV crew had 800-plus by about the three-quarter mark of the race. It was amazing. Even F1 was worth watching today. Vettel's pass for the win was fabulous.  One of the best Sundays I have spent on the couch all year. Add in NBCSN'S coverage of Le Tour, and it was a great sports day.

Tom Patrick, Lake Arrowhead, CA

RM: A total of 955, and 234 of them were for position.

Q: Road America – caution-free – that was racing! Iowa – virtually caution-free – amazing race with passing and lapping. Newgarden ran a great race, but not real sure what the wave around/lucky dog was all about after he lapped most of the field by the first stop. Congrats to Hinchcliff for the win. Why were 10 more cars added to the lead lap at that point? Looks like they got the aero package spot-on – or was it the track?

John P. Merli, San Diego

RM: Josef had lapped all but the top five at one point, but after the first caution they waved around five drivers one lap behind to put them back on the lead lap. Some people hate the wave-around and say that’s racing and Newgarden earned that advantage, while others say it’s good for the show. But it was a helluva race.

Q: I would have thought the new aero at Iowa would have made a bigger difference, but obviously half the field figured it out and the other half stayed nervous and ended the race many laps down. What was your honest opinion of the Iowa race? I get the impression from friends that it was probably a lot more interesting on TV than it was in person (I was there... the Lights race wasn't even a race). Being in Des Moines, I've watched IndyCar at Iowa Speedway on TV and in person since it started a decade or so ago. My takeaway is that it is usually more interesting on TV because of all the things TV can do to spice up the show.

This leads me to the conclusion that IndyCar is losing the battle of oval track attendance because the TV is too good to leave home, Knoxville learned their live TV lesson a long time ago. The guaranteed Nationals night sell-outs suddenly started losing attendance, so they went back to tape-delayed TV (delayed by weeks) and, problem solved. I know it's a fine line and that everything is connected in relation to IndyCar revenues, but if the TV coverage makes that much of a difference in attendance, then other things need to happen at the track so that the event weekend becomes "must-see in person."

Jeff C., Des Moines, IA

RM: I thought it was the best race of 2018 and one of the best oval races, start to finish, I’ve seen in a long time. There is no doubt more IndyCar and NASCAR fans are watching TV than going to ovals nowadays, but you couldn’t get a sponsor if your races were tape-delayed. And neither IndyCar nor NBC wants it.

Q: Amateur racing – that is what IndyCar looked like Sunday. Everyone should know how the race is going to end. No one had a clue. Proof of that is Newgarden – your defending series champion and current runner-up in the points – pitted and threw two positions away. Worse, the TV staff had no clue what was happening. They were telling fans “we are going green” and the yellow and white come out. IndyCar shoots itself in the foot one more time and robs the fans of a great finish.

 If you’re going to end races under caution, there should be a line in the sand before the event starts. It’s as easy as that. IndyCar should always make an attempt to end races under green. People always throw up “short track, short track” -- well I live at the short tracks. I never see races end under caution. Its not a gimmick, it's racing! If the best drivers in the world cannot do a green/white/checkered, we might have to re-evaluate that description.

Short track Rat

RM: I think IndyCar did try to end under green, but due to its protocol of pitting and waving around lapped cars, and the amount of debris on the track, they ran out of time. I did hear some boos from the crowd (obviously, you always want to end under green) but maybe the fact it was such a damn good race softened it a little. IndyCar does have a provision to throw the red flag, but it was outside that window last Sunday. As I said in an earlier answer, maybe the way to ensure going green from now on is to simply go back to green when the track is ready and to hell with the wave-arounds and pit stops. But don’t compare NASCAR’s Dog & Pony 400 to real racing.

Checkers – and yellows – greet James Hinchcliffe at the Iowa finish line. Image by IndyCar

Q: Apparently there's an uproar on social media after the IndyCar race ended under yellow. I've been watching racing since the '70s so it really doesn't bother me, but people seem determined to complain about this. I do not like the artificial lengthening of races that NASCAR does in order to try and find a green flag finish, but I do think this can be solved easily. Just make all the races X number of green flag miles. Advertise it that way as a positive and not a negative! Sure, that makes fuel mileage a possible concern, but everyone's in the same boat. Every short track in the country doesn't count caution laps on Saturday night for the most part, which is why their races always end under green. I see no reason why you can't make this simple change to retain the heritage of the short tracks, retain a similar length of event, and make everyone happy in the process. You can clean up debris, do wave-arounds, and sweep the marbles until the cows come home. Great race though, regardless of the moaning. A waving yellow and checker shouldn't take away from what was a stellar event.

Dave Long, Reading, PA

RM: I was pissed off it took so long so clean up debris until I ran into Sarah Fisher (who was driving the pace car) and she said it looked like a minefield, so that made things more understandable. To your point, I think more people were happy with the quality of that race than were mad it finished under caution. And half of those social media experts never buy a ticket anyway.

Q: I want your opinion on the finish of the race Sunday. IndyCar was obviously trying to make an attempt at getting the race green again, otherwise I see no other reason why they would open the pits with a few laps to go and hose a couple people out of their podium runs. I also believe they realized with two laps to go they were out of time, but didn't want to start making up rules and go to a green-white-checkered finish ('overtime'). However, that being said, as much as I love the purity of going the scheduled distance, is it time to start having even just one attempt at a green-white-checkered after Sunday's example, and if not, would it be right for IndyCar to give everyone their positions back that pitted?

Jeremy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

RM: I think you described exactly what happened. They wanted to go green but ran out of time, and Penske, SPM and RLL took a shot that it was going to happen. But IndyCar might look at changing the way it finishes in similar circumstances and do away with the wave-around, because that would save two laps at Iowa. And that was the other issue. Iowa is so small that even at 60mph behind the pace car it doesn’t take long to make a lap. But I don’t think you can penalize the teams that stayed out and give the other guys their position back.

Q: I live in southern Minnesota and have attended the Iowa race several times. This year, I bought my tickets late last week and the Ticketmaster website showed the track as a near-sellout. Attending the race, the crowd was much smaller. Do you have any idea why this would be? Do the sponsors take blocks of tickets that may or may not be used? This is not the first time this has happened.

Joe Weidt

RM: It’s an old promoter’s line of having “a few good tickets left,” that Ticketmaster evidently uses. I thought the crowd was better than it’s been the past couple years, but obviously not close to a sellout.

Q: Just heading back from Iowa and wanted to get your take on a few things. First, did you think attendance was up over last year? Second, I heard a lot of grumbling after the race regarding ending it under caution. Was there ever a chance it was going to finish under green? I get why IndyCar does it like this, but I’m sure it turns off some of the more casual fans.

Tate in Kansas

RM: Yes, I thought it was the best non-Saturday night crowd they’ve had, so I’m optimistic next year will be even better. I’ve seen bad Indy 500s end under the yellow but this was such a great race for 90 minutes that I hope it didn’t cost IndyCar any fans through not being able to finish under green. But as you’ve read above, they tried under the current protocol, they just ran out of laps.

Three-wide action at Iowa Speedway. Image by IndyCar

Q: Iowa was great. Reminded me of an old CART short oval race. Tons of traffic and the driver really had to work. With your report on NBCSN that Iowa is looking to be back on a Saturday night next year, has anyone ever considered making Iowa a Friday night/ Saturday night doubleheader? It would be a great oval replacement for Phoenix.

Chris, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

RM: Not heard that ever mentioned, but Kevin Lee has been touting a Wednesday night race during the baseball All-Star game week. On NBC. I’d rather see that than a doubleheader, and all it takes is one big accident to ruin a back-to-back oval doubleheader. Plus I don’t know how many promoters even like the idea. We do, but we don’t have to pay a sanction fee.

Q: Will the Iowa Speedway race be held on the same weekend next year? If so, it'll be the same weekend as Knoxville's new Corn Belt Nationals, a two-day non-wing sprint car event. Wouldn't it make sense for IndyCar, USAC, Knoxville, and Iowa Speedway to get together and promote the weekend together? Maybe a ticket package for both nights at Knoxville and both days at Iowa?

Nathan Carter, Kansas City

RM: My understanding is that it will be a different date in 2019, but track president Dave Hyatt is going to have a press conference soon to reveal the plan. I talked to him for a half hour and he’s very aware of trying to do something special with Knoxville and its fans in conjunction with the IndyCar race. IndyCar also needs to take some drivers to Knoxville and make some new fans. It’s a natural.

Q: I certainly hope Iowa can stay on the IndyCar schedule, but I was at the race and attendance has been very poor the last few years. My solution is keeping Gateway in the spot it has, and moving Iowa to the finale, replacing Sonoma. Hopefully, it would create buzz for the IndyCar race. With three Canadian drivers, I would like to see the Iowa date go to another race in Canada like Calgary. Also, instead of Homestead, is it possible the series replaces Phoenix with a race in Mexico? It looks like Pato O’Ward is the real deal, and could help create buzz in that market. If the series feels the need to fill the oval void with Phoenix departing, is it possible that Chicagoland or Kentucky would want a September race after Portland and before the finale? Having two races in Canada and one in Mexico is all the series needs as far as international flavor.

Brian, Joliet, IL

RM: Iowa will be back in 2019 and beyond, and I’d much rather see the IndyCar season end there than Sonoma, but not sure about bucking college football. Calgary is a pipedream at the moment, but Montreal could be in play in a year or two, and yes, we need at least two races in Canada. Pato gave me a good answer about Mexico City when I asked him if he was a big enough name yet to carry that race: “I’m not Adrian (Fernandez) but I’m working on it.” He probably needs a couple more years build up his following. Kentucky might be a possibility again some day.

Q: During the Iowa broadcast, the announcers were falling all over themselves about "Junior's ‘slide job’ term from his Cup broadcast. Please educate them as to the origin of this term and how it relates to IndyCar racing. Nothing against Junior, but it was a phrase long before he heard it.

Frank

RM: I think it was the way he said it, with such exuberance, that got everyone excited, not so much that he coined the term. I’m sure he’s given and received a few sliders in his career, but as we know the real slide jobs are on the dirt, so his dad and grandfather likely experienced those and gave out a few.

Q: Longtime reader of the Mailbag, first-time writer. Will be going to Mid-Ohio and just saw the schedule released today. I noticed there is no Sunday morning warm-up for the IndyCars in the schedule. It certainly isn't because the schedule is too full, as Sunday's activity doesn't start until 10:00 a.m. This is disappointing, as we continue to see less and less on-track action but don't see any reduction in ticket cost. I like the warm-up, as it gives us another chance to watch the cars on the track. I guess it's just the old guy in me venting a little (been a follower of Indy cars since the late '60s), but I would like to understand why they have gotten rid of the warm-up. I don't think it treats the fans well.

Paul Herrmann, Lockport NY

RM: I think IndyCar needs to reinstate the warm-up for Road America and Mid-Ohio because you have so many campers that love it. I get why there’s no race day warm-up on ovals, but those two make a lot of sense.

Q: What are the chances of McLaren buying the Ganassi team outright or in partnership? Ganassi is a businessman and this might be a way to go out on top – an exit strategy, if you will. Dixon could even be given an opportunity to buy into the new team to keep the current organization working around him for a few more years. What do you think? 

Regarding "television numbers" unless it's on Netflix or something, people nowadays don't wait around for the broadcast on cable or local television. It's all going online, and television is late to the party. Online access, paid or subscription or whatever, will be the way to go moving forward. Television numbers can no longer be counted on as gospel, and advertisers need to know that.

John P Merli, San Diego

RM: Why would McLaren want to buy an IndyCar team when it can simply rent or lease a car or cars? And why would Chip want out? Racing is his life and he’s not that old. And I think Dixie is way too smart to ever buy into an IndyCar team. Like it or not, TV ratings still control advertising dollars.

Scott Dixon. Image by IndyCar

Q: With rumors of McLaren-Andretti IndyCar effort eyeing Scott Dixon’s services, if that would come true, I'll be fine with Dixion leaving Ganassi. It opens a competitive seat for guy like Sebastien Bourdais. He's already part of Ganassi’s GTLM program. Do you think that would be Chip and Mike back-up plan if Scott leaves? Or who do you think they would go after?

Kevin, New Jersey

RM: I’m sure Seb would get serious consideration, but I also imagine that Felix Rosenqvist would be on their radar since he wowed them in testing a couple years ago at Mid-Ohio. But this McLaren thing looks to be pretty shaky at the moment.

Q: I'm a big McLaren fan since pretty much I can remember, so I was pretty excited to hear it is planning a return to IndyCar for the next year. I was equally disappointed today to read elsewhere that those plans now might be put on ice indefinitely. What is the word on this side of the pond: is McLaren to IndyCar for 2019 still on, or did it indeed abandon the idea in light of its ongoing F1 troubles?

Rad from Toronto

RM: Joe Saward, who wrote that story, also wrote that Liberty Media was going to buy IMS and IndyCar (wrong) so I’m not sure anyone knows what’s going to happen at this moment. But it’s always been Zak Brown’s baby and he’s still in charge, so I’m not so sure it’s dead in the water. And I saw a man with a McLaren shirt in Michael Andretti’s pit on Sunday at Iowa, so that tells me there is still a pulse.

Q: Last week I felt that McLaren was a sure deal, but with Eric Boullier’s departure, what does that mean for the IndyCar program? I believe Gil de Ferran is an ally and so is Zak Brown, but how do we know for sure that their departure isn’t next on the chopping block? With this news I almost feel like their priority is to fix the F1 team rather than to dedicate resources to IndyCar, but hope I’m wrong.

Carlos in Seattle

RM: Well, since Boullier evidently was against the IndyCar program, I would see his departure as a plus, along with Gil being hired. But who knows what’s going to happen at McLaren? My question is, where are they going to find the money to field a full-time IndyCar while trying to salvage McLaren’s reputation in F1 and bring on more investors?

Q: All this talk of Alonso to IndyCar for 2019, ain'tgoingtohappen.com  Alonso, to the best of my knowledge, is contracted to Toyota for this year and next, and I think Zak Brown and Michael's relationship is such that Alonso would not entertain a Chevy-powered team. My gut feeling is one more year at McLaren for Alonso and then IndyCar in 2020. It makes far more sense: can you see Toyota allowing FA to drive for Honda? Right!

DM-K, Ottawa

RM: I can see Toyota allowing him to do whatever he wants because he’s Fernando Alonso and it’s a totally different series. So many drivers and teams run different engines in different series (Penske, Ganassi) if they are successful. We all want Fred to come to IndyCar, just not sure it would be in a Honda.

Q: I keep hearing you campaign to make Gateway the season finale. And while I understand your reasoning, I have to firmly disagree. First of all, why are we going to screw up a good thing? Obviously the fans liked the time and date. We need to stop moving dates around. And I hear you on the noon Sunday start time, everyone gets home before midnight. But for us in Milwaukee, driving to and home for Iowa or Gateway really isn't on the cards. We are going to Gateway this year, and it's 365 miles, or nearly five-and-a-half hours. The only thing that makes Gateway possible for us is that it's a Saturday night race and we can grab a hotel. And I'm sure we aren't the only fans who feel this way. We like the Saturday night races.  No rush getting to the track, grab a hotel Saturday night, and take your time driving home Sunday. Oval races at night look better on TV, it's more comfortable for the fans who don't want to bake in the noon sun; and at least in our circumstance, make traveling to and from races more manageable.

Ovals are very different from the weekend-long camping and festival atmospheres like Road America or Mid Ohio, and they must be treated differently. Indy fans will travel to races, but Sunday races aren't practical for many families. I also think it's very short-sighted to see a new successful event like Gateway and try to change it and just assume the same crowd will show up for a Sunday noon race later in the season, when you'll be competing against NFL football. Will Chicagoans choose IndyCar or the Bears? Wisconsinites choose the Packers or IndyCar? I think we know the answer, so let's not handicap our only successful new oval. Leave Gateway alone, they clearly know what they are doing.

Patrick, Milwaukee, WI

RM: All good points you make, and the boys at Gateway are naturally concerned about leaving Saturday night for Sunday afternoon. But here’s my thinking. IndyCar’s season finale would be on an oval with lots of people in attendance and look like a big deal – not a glorified tire test. It would also be on NBC and possibly lead into Sunday Night Football. Even by accident it’s going to draw 10 times the viewership of Sonoma. And it’s got a chance to have some good racing and drama (what if JoNew’s bump-and-run last year had been the last race to decide the title?). I argued with a couple car owners who are adamant their sponsors need to be on the West Coast to be wined and dined. So I countered and said they’d rather have a nice dinner in San Francisco than some great exposure on national television? The season finale has to be a home run, not a dud like it’s been. And I told the Gateway boys if it didn’t work Sunday they could always go back to Saturday night in 2020. But I think it’s going to stay on Saturday night.

Carlin's Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball. Image by IndyCar

Q: While realizing that Carlin is a first-year IndyCar team, they do have a reputation for winning everywhere they have raced. Besides gaining experience on this circuit and recruiting more personnel with IndyCar experience, is there anything else Carlin can do to be more competitive?

Todd J. Burnworth, Fort Wayne, IN

RM: It’s a steep learning curve, and walking into one of the toughest racing environments isn’t easy even with Trevor’s experience. But like I wrote a couple weeks ago, give him a couple years and he’ll be competitive.

Q: I greatly thank you for pulling back the curtain and shedding some light on the paltry income earned by today's IndyCar drivers, especially when compared and contrasted with what the top-flight NASCAR and F1 drivers bring down each season. Now that you have extrapolated some pretty plausible figures, since we all know that IndyCar keeps the true financial picture a closely guarded secret, you can tell by the caustic and hateful comments beneath your article that most if not all of the IndyCar nation could care less about earnings and seem resentful that the likes of Dixie and even Rahal earn as much as they do, even if said earnings fall far below what their compatriots in the other series bring in. Like Taylor Swift says, haters gonna hate, and perhaps our legion of loyal IndyCar followers is not ready to face the fact that this series lags so far behind its competition in almost every metric, especially in the way IndyCar compensates its brave and fearless drivers.

Neil Rubin, Miami Beach, FL

RM: I seldom read those comments because half the time they’re arguing about something other than the story and then it becomes a personal pissing contest. If anybody is critical of what Scott Dixon earns then they are truly clueless and should find another sport to hate. I wrote that commentary to illustrate the disparity of IndyCar salaries and payouts compared to NASCAR and F1 and it wasn’t anything surprising, it just hit home in black and white figures. I got a letter from some clown who said I wrote the story just so I could mention Conor Daly. Really? The guy borrows money to compete at Indy and that’s not enough of a commitment to show how much he wants to do it? Or driving for free for a season to stay on the radar? Like I wrote, some IndyCar drivers make a nice living and nobody makes them race but considering the risks vs. rewards, it’s not a lucrative profession anymore compared to several years ago, or to the other two series.

Q: After seeing Hinch's great win at Iowa this weekend, along with the Inside Indy program, I got to wondering about options for Bump Day at Indy. You hate to see traditions go away (like Milwaukee after Indy) and as mentioned a number of times in both programs, Bump Day is just that - you're either in, or not. So bearing in mind the importance of sponsors and the support they provide, could the sponsors of any bumped cars be "compensated"? Every year the pit stalls get painted on pit wall. Why not take care of sponsors of bumped cars on the walls of the track? The Bump Day tradition stays intact and the sponsors of bumped cars still get airtime as the cameras cover the race. I thought this might be a good compromise. Any thoughts?

Bill Vincent IV

RM: I think SPM was compensated with its Leader’s Circle money for making an attempt, but the sponsors are a slippery slope. I like selling space on the IMS walls if the money goes into that paltry purse, but if you had 40 cars, where do you draw the line at which sponsors get space? I like your logic of taking care of sponsors, but being on a car that makes the race is probably the easiest solution.

Q: Super-excited to see Hinch win at Iowa! Almost had a SPM (and Canadian) double-podium. I heard you mention Sanair (jokingly) in your post-race interview with Hinch. I’d love to see IndyCar back there. I remember Uncle Jacques running out of talent there in '85. Sadly, it appears they are closing the facilities there. Urban areas getting too close. What about Jukasa Speedway? Formerly Cayuga, it’s a 5/8 mile track that just re-opened, and it’s got fresh pavement and an ownership team that’s pumped a lot of money into it. Sounds like a perfect fit for another race north of the border, and another oval to boot!

Jeff DeJong

RM: I’ve heard of Cayuga, and anything to get another race in Canada would be great. How about Oswego? The Bentley Warren 250 has a nice ring to it. Someone suggested IRP (Lucas Raceway) last week and I said we didn’t need three races in Indianapolis, but maybe if it could be as good as Iowa…

Q: If I wanted to sponsor the Cleveland Grand Prix so it came back, how much would my check, made out to Mike Lanigan need to be for?

Mark in Cincinnati

RM: I’d start with $7 million and have a couple more in reserve, but instead of spending your own money just win the lottery and go find Mike a sponsor like Shell and he’ll come running. Budweiser was the title sponsor in the heyday of Burke Lakefront Airport, but you cannot have a chance to break even unless you have a good partner. Jonathan Bommarito is a godsend for Gateway, but a rarity.

IndyCar standing start, Toronto, 2014. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: The most exciting part of an F1 race are the standing starts. Why does IndyCar still not have it for street/road races? I could sort of understand five-six plus years ago when the car was new, but come on already. It would add some excitement.

Ron, Toronto

RM: Good question. They were perfect for Long Beach, Portland and Toronto in 2007 for Champ Car, but I guess the glitches they had a few years ago in IndyCar scared everyone off. But it makes street starts so much better.

Q: Do you think the time is closing in for Marco to consider hanging up the gloves? Do you see him moving into a management role and ownership position within Andretti Autosport? If so, what timeframe?

Steve

RM: No, he’s only 31. I would imagine he’d go try sports cars in a couple years if things don’t get better in IndyCar, but can’t see him quitting. And I don’t see him as management, but then again, I didn’t think Michael would become a car owner so you never know. Marco is the conundrum of the past decade because he’s got ability and speed. There’s just something missing.

Q: This is very short and to the point: Why doesn’t IndyCar implement a rule that states if you want to compete in IndyCar, you have to run one car in Indy Lights? Instant field of cars. Has anyone with the power ever truly floated this little bit of NASCAR dictatorship? Your opinion?

Elizabeth Mitchell

RM: IndyCar offered extra test days if you fielded a Lights car, but that didn’t create much in the way of new entries. I would simply say, if you want the full Leader’s Circle payments, then you field one Lights car. If not, you lose a third of your money. That would get some action.

Q: The few entries in Indy Lights and the overabundance of entries in other Mazda Road to Indy classes leads me to believe there needs to be some sort of consolidation so Indy Lights can end up with 14 – 18 entries for a weekend. Any chance in the near offerings that Indy Lights might increase its number of entries?

Tom Nelson, Somers, WI

RM: You mean like an IMSA race? Run Pro Mazda and F2000 with Lights? That would detract from those two classes and also be pretty dangerous. But Dan Andersen seems confident the entries will go up in 2019.

Q: I don't think you meant to say that Darrel Waltrip "chastened" you, because chastened means "to have a restraining or moderating effect on."  I'm guessing you meant to use "chastized," which means "to rebuke or reprimand severely." I enjoy your work, and hope everything is trending upward in your health situation.

Dave, Speedway, IN

RM: Thanks Dave. Is it any wonder I flunked out of Ball State?

Q: Why is the Firestone Fast Six not called the Firestone Slow Six on road and street courses? More often than not, the fastest times set in qualifying are set before the last round of six because of the limited number of sets of Firestone alternates available to the teams. To me, having tire strategy play a role in qualifying seems counterintuitive to the entire purpose of qualifying. It's also a little weird to see the starting grid qualifying speeds before the race and see 7th-9th with faster qualifying speeds than the top six. Would it really be such an ordeal to give teams in the Fast Six an extra set of alternates that could only be used for the one round of qualifying? Hopefully this helped break up the monotony of questions I'm sure you have received about the finish of Iowa.

Stephen, FL

RM: Well the Indy pole winner isn’t necessarily the fastest either because of Saturday’s runs, so I guess the solution is not to run any times and speeds except for the final runs. I get what you’re saying that the fifth-fastest guy in the round of 12 winds up being quicker than the driver that wins the pole in the Fast Six. But the Fast Six is good drama, regardless, and I’d just like to see everyone get one extra set of reds after making the Fast Six.

Q: About Sonoma, which is my home track: Yes, I see where attendance has been declining over the years. What is exactly wrong with the racing line? Attendees can see almost the entire track from any viewing location on the premises. And motor coach viewing spots are sold out well in advance of the race. There appears to be another track configuration that could be used. Kindly explain why the different configuration would produce better racing, or not. Stop with the bad-mouthing, without clarification as to what's actually wrong! And... might the different configuration be tried this year? Will removing double points reduce the complaints about Sonoma Raceway? Maybe that's all that is needed!

Bill in CA

P.S. Thanks to you and NBC for the remembrance for Dee Ann Andretti during the pre-race show.

RM: I suppose they could run the long course that NASCAR uses to give them a longer straightaway and better passing opportunity, but Sonoma’s problem is the same as Laguna Seca’s – they were built 65 years ago for sports cars and not 230mph Indy cars with amazing grip. They are both simply too narrow and don’t have many places to pass. Sonoma is one of the great places to watch a race because you can walk around and sit on those cool mound seats, and Diana Brennan and her staff do a great job of promoting the race in a city that could care less about anything but NASCAR. I don’t ever recall the camping being sold out for IndyCar, but NASCAR gets a great crowd. And double points need to go away period, especially if Sonoma stays.

Teammates for a month: Marco Andretti and Fernando Alonso. Image by IndyCar

Q: If I read the schedules correctly, the IMSA race at Laguna Seca and the IndyCar race at Sonoma are just a week apart. Have IMSA and IndyCar created a situation where they are competing for the same audience? I enjoy both series equally, but the race view and the open paddock at Laguna is much more appealing. If IndyCar returns to Laguna would it allow IMSA-style paddock access?

Regarding Alonso, he is a pretty formidable competitor. Do you think it would be difficult to find a teammate for him? Any potential teammate would have recognize they re second banana from the get-go. Who knows, perhaps he might mentor some young driver like O’Ward or Herta? Will we see Mr. Miller at Laguna Seca?

Jonathan and Cleide Morris, Ventura, CA

RM: They’re always competing for the same audience and that’s why there should be as many doubleheaders as possible. IndyCar has the most open paddock in racing. Sonoma and Laguna both have great viewing areas. I’ll be there if there’s a race, of course. As for Fernando, I imagine a lot of drivers would like to be his teammate because that F1 mentality doesn’t exist in IndyCar.

Q: What do you know of the work being done to the Portland course for it to be ready for the upcoming IndyCar race? Are there any delays? How are ticket sales?

Brent from Maryland

RM: Everything is on schedule from what I’m told, and Kevin Savoree and Kim Green seem pleased with ticket sales a few weeks ago.

Q: After reading the last two Mailbags and the interview with Mark Miles regarding the 2019 schedule, it occurred to me that we seldom seem to hear much about the promoters and what they want from IndyCar. Obviously guys like George Bruggenthies at Road America and Chris Blair at Gateway Motorsports Park seem to have found the sweet spot where they can showcase their track and our sport. (And hopefully make some money, too.) But we’ve recently seen two races fall off the schedule (Phoenix & Watkins Glen) where there seemed to be initial interest from the track promoters but that didn’t turn into success.

We all know that IndyCar doesn’t want to be in the business of promoting individual races, so it’s clear that any progress will have to come from an improved partnership with the tracks and promoters. Too often the issue of “date equity” and time of year/scheduling come up as the reason for a decent race failing, like Watkins Glen or Fontana. Has IndyCar ever gotten all of the principals together during the off-season to map out what it would consider to be the best schedule from a promoter’s/promotion standpoint? That could allow it to hash out what works and what doesn’t in terms of scheduling, and to maybe propose some deals to improve the flow of the season. And, of course, any discussion of scheduling like this should now certainly include NBC, since it will be the primary purveyor of IndyCar’s product to the public.

Liberty Media and F1 seem to be struggling right now with both entertainment and audience, as is NASCAR. What IndyCar needs now is effective national promotion so that people with even a casual interest in sports know that it is around and provides a very entertaining product. I’m sure that NBC will rise to this challenge, but it needs a schedule of events that delivers on both the timing and pacing of that schedule as well as the entertainment value.

Royal Richardson, Chester, NH

RM: IndyCar pretty much leased Phoenix and The Glen and that’s not something that’s good, because the races didn’t get much promotion. The promoters were kinda like step-children before Randy Bernard came along, and he realized their importance, and so does Mark Miles and Jay Frye. There is a promoter’s meeting every year, and I think IndyCar tries to accommodate everyone as much as possible. NBC will promote the hell out of next May.

Q: How’s the arm-twisting going with regards to IndyCar drivers running the midget race at IMS? I think they need some encouragement (and possibly a target). We need an experienced driver in that race. How about the fifth-fastest qualifier from the September '80 Hut Hundred at Terre Haute? Answer on page 261 of United States Auto Club Fifty Years of Speed and Glory. The reader question about tow rigs brought back memories of  '68 IRP Indy 200. Many cars were still hauled in horse trailers with skinny “tow tires”; full-size station wagons used as tow vehicles. And then that Gurney guy shows up with a large enclosed truck.

David Weidler

RM: It’s kind of on hold at the moment. The Captain told me no chance Will or Josef will be allowed to hot lap a midget (something about that Gary Bettenhausen guy), but I’m hoping Michael Andretti lets Marco, RHR, Rossi and Veach get dirty. Gabby Chaves is in, and I think Hinch and Wickens are game as well. This is going to be something that probably doesn’t get done until mid-August, but we’ve got car owners like Tim Clauson willing to assist. Having the double-points race at Sonoma a week later doesn’t help. The guy who you referred to in 1980 would love to hot-lap Kokomo – by himself – in his old Stanton midget, but he’s much too old, slow and blind to be allowed on a track with others.

Q: I’m reading the July 4th Mailbag with hot dogs on the grill and a cold one in my hand. Saw one of the letters suggest moving the dirt track event to Bump Day. Then I recalled how you feel that having IndyCar drivers compete in the Chili Bowl would help draw interest. Also thinking about the lack of a draw at ovals. Let’s combine them: dirt track event on the infield between races and qualifying, with IndyCar drivers in their own race and then after the IndyCar race, the main dirt event. Thoughts?

Vincent Martinez, South Pasadena, CA

RM: When IMS announced the dirt race, I sent emails to many of the IndyCar drivers asking if they would be interested in hot-lapping a midget and then maybe staging a little heat race among themselves. Almost to a man they were game, but several figured they might have trouble participating since Sonoma was a week later with double-points and if they were still in the title hunt, no way they’d be allowed. So maybe there’s still a chance to get five or six to at least hot-lap. Tim Clauson, Craig Dori and Bundy Mitchell in Charlotte with a Honda-powered midget have all volunteered to help with cars, and USAC badass Justin Grant has agreed to be their driver coach. I think IMS would give them their own practice day as well. Lots of moving parts so still too early to say what’s going to happen, but anything next May would likely be predicated on how this September turns out.

Q: Long-time reader, I don't believe I've ever written to you, though I do have your autograph. Regarding Rick Hansen's question about the last IndyCar open trailer, I'm going to guess Roger Rager. Talk about a shoestring budget.

Marlin Meredith, Cicero, IN

RM: Radar Rager qualified with a school bus engine so you are probably correct, and that madman was still racing sprint cars last time I heard. Along with Steve Chassey (1987), Phil Krueger (1988) and Ted Prappas (1992) they were likely the last trio of bona fide shoe-stringers to make Indy before The Split.

Q: The last two weeks you had items about the naming of Canada Corner. What you printed last week is correct. John Ewert and the track are right in that it was named because of the large numbers of Canadian beer cans and miscellaneous debris in the area. The proximity to Canada and a couple other myths just will not go away. What is my reason for this note? Simple. I am the Track Historian at Road America, and when I wrote my first book on the history of the track some 20 years ago I did extensive research on its founding and construction. And yes, I found more than ample evidence that the Canadian beer can angle is the correct story.

Tom Schultz

RM: Thanks for weighing in Tom, it’s a great story that’s been told for decades and I appreciate you confirming it.

Justin Haley celebrates being first across the finish line with a burnout at last weekend's Xfinity race at Daytona, but lost the win for crossing the double-yellow line during a late pass. Image by Jarrett/LAT

Q: Just wanted your opinion on the fact NASCAR will take away a win from a young kid and give it to the "money teams" for going below a yellow line coming to the flag, but not take away the win when a car fails post-race inspection. I understand the safety aspect of the double-yellow line, but being illegal after the race should be cause for DQ also. I don't agree with the BS of "but the fans want to know the winner before they leave" from NASCAR. I want to know that a legal car won instead of letting them keep the trophy, money and points. Giving them a fine and a few points along with a week’s vacation for the car chief does not cut it. I enjoy your wit and “tell it like it is” attitude, along with your live reporting.

Butch Sides, Concord, NC

RM: Let’s see. Austin Dillon intentionally crashes Aric Amirola on the last lap to win Daytona and he isn’t penalized or fined. Justin Haley did have his left-side tires on the yellow line, but it didn’t have anything to do with his sweet move to win the Xfinity race. So fine him $5,000, but don’t take away his victory.

Q: The new record by the Porsche 919 EVO at the Nurburgring was a real eye-opener on the YouTube in-car camera. Has an IndyCar ever taken laps at that track? It would be cool to see what kind of time it could do. Also, is IndyCar really returning to Homestead? It would be great to have another race in Florida.

Doug Ferguson, Debary, FL

RM: I’m not sure. Obviously USAC's Indy cars ran Monza in 1957-58 at unimaginable speeds for those times (177mph) and Jim Hurtubise went 191mph in 1968 at Daytona in his beloved Mallard roadster to set a then closed-course record, but don’t think Spa or the Ring have ever hosted any kind of IndyCar going for broke. Homestead may or may not be in the mix for 2019.

Q: I just watched a Porsche Cup race and the Daytona NASCAR race (both with the volume on mute). NBC did a great show at Daytona yet the race was a crash fest. Demo Derbys, which Daytona and Talledaga have become, are not racing. What's the fascination with this mayhem? Who decides what races are on TV? Makes me want to watch stick and ball sports.

Denny O.

RM: I have no idea. I love watching NASCAR at The Glen and Sonoma because they are driving the hell out of those cars, and Darlington, Richmond and Bristol were always favorites because it’s not wide-open mayhem like the plate shows. I tried to explain in my latest column but it’s perplexing because NASCAR is still the big dog with fans by a ratio of 5 to 1 over IndyCar, which puts on a much better show week in and week out.

Q: Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining the NASCAR broadcast team got me thinking: why doesn’t IndyCar do something similar on a race-by-race basis? Obviously they have PT in the booth, but what about a former racer in the booth for a few laps every race? If not every race, then at least several times in the season. I think it would be awesome to have recognizable drivers doing some analysis every few races, and for certain sure it would be a big hit. Its pretty unfortunate that no one has done this yet.

Max Camposano, Los Altos, CA

RM: Well they have in the past, but right now Uncle Bobby can barely walk, Parnelli and Gordy can’t hear very well, Big Al has no interest, Mario is usually busy with the two-seater, Al Unser Jr. is coaching Gabby Chaves, Rick Mears has no interest and J.R. is about the only legend with some time on his hands (and he also worked for NBC back in the 1970s-80s). We might be able to twist The Rocket’s arm to come in the booth some day at Indy, and also get Little Al some airtime. Tony Kanaan is the most popular driver in IndyCar today and he’d be a natural for something like you proposed when he retires. I’m hoping IMS is smart enough to let Little E drive the pace car at Indy next year and then come into the NBC booth for 25 laps, because his enthusiasm would be good television and good for IndyCar as well.

Q: Your disdain for Tony George is well-documented, and it is an easily-argued point that The Split irretrievably damaged the value of open-wheel racing in North America. (I, however, would point out that the arrival of tintops on the Bricks in 1994 did as much damage as The Split). The cars look more and more like the CART cars, the engine displacement and turbochargers also harken back to the days of CART. There’s the welcomed return of some famed tracks such as Road America and Portland. It could be argued though that CART died a slow death because it didn't change its playbook to make itself stand out between the two open-wheel series.

I feel like we are seeing the resurrection of a diseased carcass. IndyCar is down to four oval races (including Indy). They have moved away from the parts of the old IRL that worked such as Saturday night racing. I would say that Texas under the lights for the IRL, along with Charlotte and Richmond, brought more attention their way than the San Jose street course or an oval race in Germany (which robbed the sport of one of the best drivers and personalities in Zanardi being around open-wheel every day). Hell, the follow-the-leader racing at Indy this year looked like a CART parade with the lone exception being the small time differences from pole to 33rd. Just when we thought open-wheel might just be on the road to recovery, the new chassis, while visually appealing, has set the racing back from a casual fan standpoint. Adding horsepower sounds great, but will that be enough as the series takes another step back to the CART days?

My hope is that additional engine partners can be found. Perhaps it's time now for a second chassis? There needs to be more than 17 to 18 races with breaks of three to four weeks at times. While loathsome, the Chase injected some interest into tintops, if only for controversy. The series needs more ovals, a return to night racing, and adding more teams. What is the Robin Miller formula for finally putting open-wheel on a growth trajectory?

Troay Strong, Kansas City

RM: Gotta disagree the races have been boring. Indy didn’t have a slam-bang finish like RHR and Helio or JPM and will likely undergo a few tweaks for 2019, but it was better/closer than 35 of the 50 I’ve covered. And Iowa was a helluva show. The road courses and street races have featured some good racing as well. Road America was as good as you could ever hope for on a 4-mile road course with no cautions. Here’s the problem: We all love ovals but nobody goes to them anymore. CART had massive crowds at Milwaukee, Michigan and Phoenix and a good one at Loudon before The Split, and the IRL started like gangbusters at Texas, Kentucky, Iowa, Chicago and Charlotte before fading.

Unless IndyCar can be the co-promoter, it’s tough to get anyone interested in taking a flyer on an IndyCar oval, and IndyCar does not want to be the promoter. Gateway was the first bright spot to come along in more than a decade last year. I think Iowa is going to go back to Saturday night, which will help and it’s always a good show, while Richmond could be worth revisiting since it always had 25,000-30,000 spectators. But I want to see IndyCar try a mid-week, oval-track race now that NBC has everything, because it might give the promoter a chance to create a niche and give IndyCar a captive audience with no competition. Everyone clamors for Milwaukee, Kentucky, Chicago, Fontana and Michigan but it’s got to make sense, and right now it doesn’t. IndyCar needs ovals that work, and that’s a lot easier said than done.