Robin Miller's Mailbag for August 29, 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: We took three first-timers to Gateway. Here are the thoughts of the group, Positive: Track was very fan-friendly.  From the shuttle golf karts, to the people directing, to the vendors we dealt with, we did not feel rushed. My wife is the biggest critic. She wants to go back! The city was behind the event. People knew about the race. The track looked great. The free K&N race made going over on Friday worth it.  Negatives: Wickens support – where were the T-shirts and decals? We arrived at 2:30 and walked the entire place twice. Found two Get Well banners. We were ready to support, but no-one to take our money. Big-time fail on IndyCar’s side. Don't give me the timing excuse, either, I am a small event promoter, and I have the ability to pull this off in four days. IndyCar has far more resources than I have. First two-thirds of the race was bad. Man, IndyCar has to do something. After the track was swept and people were changing strategies, the last third was great.

JR Rouse

RM: First off, thanks for recruiting new fans and I’m glad your wife enjoyed it as well. Owner Curtis Francois, promoter Chris Blair and publicist John Bisci are a dynamic team that understands racing, marketing, promotion and the paying customers like few people in their business, and that’s why Gateway is a winner. They begin working on this race in the winter and never back off. I met a couple guys from Birmingham, Ala. that heard the race advertised on the radio and decided to give it a shot. As for supporting Robert, IndyCar did sell hats but sold out quickly. However, here is how you can help. Click here to buy stickers and shirts for Robbie through Toronto Motorsports.

There are also plans for IndyCar to sell these on-site in Portland (beginning on Saturday morning) and Sonoma. Robert's family has requested donations be made to Sam Schmidt’s foundation Conquer Paralysis Now to benefit spinal cord injury research.

Q: I attended the Bommarito 500 and absolutely loved the race, the atmosphere, and everything Gateway and Bommarito have done to make this such a great event. I will be renewing my tickets and will attend as long as they keep running the event. I also read this past week that IndyCar finalized its deal with Texas Motor Speedway for the June double-header with the NASCAR Truck Series. While my interest in NASCAR Cup has waned considerably over the years, I really love the competition and parity of the Truck series. For instance, while attending the NASCAR weekend at Michigan a few weeks ago, the Trucks were able to draft off each other and produced a photo finish, while the Cup race was a parade that was won by 3+ seconds. I have been wanting to see the IndyCar Series at TMS for a long time, and will finally make plans to get a flight and hotel to TMS in June 2019 to see the IndyCar/Truck weekend for the first time ever.

It was a nice addition to the Bommarito 500 weekend to have the K&N East/West race Friday, but it'd be even better if Gateway could pair a Friday Truck race with the Saturday IndyCar race. While the Trucks have been racing at Gateway for a few seasons, it's my understanding that the race struggles to draw a consistent crowd (I was offered comp tickets at the last minute through Gateway since I already had my IndyCar tickets purchased, but was unable to attend). Perhaps it'd be a win-win for everyone involved to pair the Trucks with IndyCar at Gateway for future iterations of the Bommarito 500. I'll definitely be at the 2019 Bommarito 500 no matter what, even if the Friday night feature is kids’ bike races.

Andrew McNaughton, Chicago

RM: The goal of any promoter should be to put on a show that makes the paying customer want to return and, clearly, the boys at Gateway get it because there was something going on from 2 p.m. until the green flag waved at 7:40. But I don’t think you’ll see the NASCAR Trucks because they draw decent as a standalone event, and Gateway likes having four or five big events during the season. But thanks for your ringing endorsement.

Q: The Gateway event is great. Normally tracks say they are going to improve, and you might see one or two things, We saw improvements everywhere this year. Roads were not backed up at the start of the race. The majority of parking was in grass, not a dirt field like last year. The fan area behind grandstand was full of food booths and merchandise.  Hospitality golf cats everywhere – my dad is handicapped; he walked less than a football field total at the track. We did not seek these guys out. Maybe right time, right place, but my odds are not that good. Kudos to the staff at Gateway.

Now, it’s a bit hard to swallow that the seven-car Indy Lights race was the best event of the weekend. The IndyCar race was not very good until the last caution. Where was all of the Wickens support stuff? I wanted to get a hat or shirt to wear to the local dirt tracks that I attend. I settled for this odd-looking hat, but I think it was just a regular Wickens hat. Last thing – we sure take the Indy traffic control for granted. It takes me just as long to get out of Gateway as it does to leave the 500, and at Indy we are dealing with 200,000 plus. I'm guessing Gateway is about 30,000. They were better this year, but they’ve got some room for improving. Great track, great event, and I can't wait to see what they improve upon next year.

Short Track Rat

RM: After last year’s race, I sent Chris Blair every letter I got from you fans – negative or positive – and he vowed to improve parking, concessions and getting in and out of the track. Curtis spent big money on all of those things, and it showed. Not sure where you parked, but I’m told everyone was out in 90 minutes and I never touched the brakes an hour after the checkered flag. The race was pretty processional and boring until the last 50 laps when thankfully, a race broke out. The Wickens’ information is answered in the question above.

Zach Veach, Gateway. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: Wow! Zach Veach is really impressing. Is he a done deal for Andretti again next year? It is awesome to see a young driver really grow into this sport. And judging from his interviews, such a great personality.

Doug Sohn, North Richland Hills, TX

RM: Zach has been one of the best stories in North American racing this year, and it’s so cool to see him keep getting better and better. He and his family are just great people, and he’s got a three-year deal.

Q: After watching Gateway, it's clear that IndyCar has to give these guys more downforce on ovals. There was very little passing again. What are your sources saying?

Ray in CT

RM: The drivers I talked to want more front grip and a different tire.

Q: Our household is traditionally an F1 house. However, the family was pleased and intrigued by the Gateway race and differing strategies. Please share with the IndyCar management to keep up the good work.

Steve Selasky

RM: Thankfully (except for RLL) we got that last caution and that gave IndyCar a chance to sweep the marbles and for strategies to change, and it gave the race some drama, passing and new life.

Q: The end of Saturday's race was quite good, but it seemed like for about the first 150 laps, everyone was trying to conserve fuel, and therefore nobody was attempting any passes. That left a lot of marbles in the second groove, and prevented guys from passing until after they swept the track. Wouldn't an easy fix for that be to extend the race length to 260 laps, to eliminate fuel strategy so that everyone is pushing hard the whole race?

Tom, Marion, NY

RM: It doesn’t seem to matter what length the race is, fuel always comes into play and I hate that. Distance has been added in the past to Long Beach and other places to try and remove fuel from the equation, but cautions dictate strategy many times. Obviously Rossi would have preferred to run hard the last 70 laps because he was fast, but made saving fuel work for him again. I know it’s an art, but I think race fans love to watch hard running if at all possible.

Q: It seems like a yellow would have been a big help to Scott Dixon in the closing laps of the Gateway race. What would prevent Ganassi teammate Ed Jones from developing a ‘fuel pressure problem’, a la RHR, to generate the much-needed yellow? Is it strictly sportsmanship, or are there other factors to consider?

David K.

RM: Well they tried that once at Mid-Ohio a couple years ago with Sage Karam (he made a rather awkward spin to try and help Dixie), and I think the message was: don’t do that again.

Q: Please tell me that next year at Gateway we'll see USAC Silver Crown cars race instead of Indy Lights? I mean, seven cars? Really? Silver Crown is averaging 20 cars per pavement race this year. Plus, they are producing great racing as always. I like seeing who the next Ed Carpenter will be. Kody Swanson? Major props to Bommarito Group and GMP. This is how oval racing should be done. There are still some of us USAC guys left out here.

Andy, St. Mary’s, Ohio

RM: I definitely think Chris Blair would consider adding USAC Silver Crown (he owns a car that his son drives), and it would be in addition to the Lights and Mazda races. But even with only seven cars the Lights race was decent, and had a helluva finish. I know we need 12-15 cars next year, but not sure it will happen. Love to see Kody Swanson get a shot, so keep buying lottery tickets because he has no money.

Q: I am wondering if there would be a safety advantage to the Halo over the windscreen for IndyCars? Watching the footage of Robert Wickens’ crash, RHR was really lucky. It appears that the Halo would provide more protection. Thoughts?

Andy Jeffery, Carmel, IN

RM: In that particular crash, absolutely a Halo would have offered more protection than a windscreen. But the problem with a halo is seeing around it on an oval like Texas, Iowa or Gateway. That’s why IndyCar is taking its time in developing and adopting whatever it finally decides upon – it’s not just as simple as bolting on a Halo.

Q: I've been to a lot of road courses and short ovals, but Sunday's Pocono race was my first superspeedway, and other than the beginning I thought it was just about the best race I've ever seen. No drafting, push-to-pass, Hanford device, or DRS; that was just good old-fashioned racing. Passing wasn't easy, but passing shouldn't be easy. That being said, why are IndyCar and Dallara not doing more to protect drivers' heads? We got lucky this time, but Wickens could've easily met his fate the same way Dan Wheldon did, and any one of the sizable pieces of debris that came off his car could've impacted another driver's helmet. I know F1's Halos look ugly, but does that matter if even one driver's life is saved because of it?

Tom, Marion, NY

RM: Read my answer about Halos in the question above yours. As for Pocono, it reminded me of a 500-mile race in the USAC and CART days when one driver and team nailed it and smoked everyone else. And the cars got strung out, and having only 17 after that accident makes it real tough to put on a good show for three hours.

Superspeedway fences - room for improvement? Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: I appreciate your comments regarding catch fences. I know there is a contingent of the racing community that would like to replace them right now, or eliminate ovals as these are too dangerous. Walls were too dangerous until the SAFER Barrier and tire walls were devised. I also remember Paul Rademacher’s fatal crash at Waukegan Speedway with its steel guardrail, and wood guardrails were absolute crap, but they are still required in some jurisdictions.  I would like to see continued efforts from major sanctioning bodies and the tracks to make a safer catch fence or other means of containing pieces of cars and the cars themselves.

Jim Fahlstedt

RM: As I wrote, today’s fences were meant to contain debris – not 1,600-pound missiles going 200 mph – so for what the fences are asked to do, for the most part they’re adequate until a better solution comes along. Pocono’s fence kept Wickens inside the track, but obviously the violence of the sudden stop, the gyrations and then slamming back into the track caused all his injuries. Like IndyCar’s Jay Frye said, they were encouraged but not satisfied.

Q: To improve safety with the fences, I think we should draw inspiration from baseball. This year MLB extended its safety netting further down the foul lines to protect fans. In doing so, it also made the netting stronger by spinning each thread tighter, so that the openings are closer while either improving or not affecting visibility for spectators. I'd like to see us doing something like that. We should be exploring alternatives that can be weaved closer together, are preferably thinner, and probably with slightly more give. We need to look into high-strength alternatives, and explore fibers and different manufacturing process that would result in some kind of high-strength mesh that wouldn't rip apart or damage as easily when a car gets into it. I know Plexiglas has been thrown around, and I'm sure it could probably be done somehow with Opticor. But I imagine it would be pretty expensive to manufacture and install, and if it isn't financially possible it obviously couldn't be done. Not sure I've heard of anyone looking into netting though. Is that something that IndyCar has looked into, or is it something that could be explored?

Alex from Michigan

RM: Tony Cotman (who is on the FIA Circuits Commission and also designs race tracks and approves others for IndyCar) said in my story last week, there are people working on fencing ideas all over the world but, to date, nobody has presented anything yet to replace what we have. Is it incumbent on IndyCar and NASCAR to get together and design a better one? That’s probably how it’s going to have to happen, because Tony George is the reason the SAFER Barrier came to life, and the new era of fences will be an expensive one. People say it’s IndyCar’s problem, but don’t forget Kyle Larson’s crash at Daytona a few years back so I’m sure there are places that NASCAR would like to bolster. Cotman represents IndyCar at FIA meetings so if there’s something on the horizon, IndyCar will be able to react.

Q: I think your article about catch fences is wrong. Not because it's not accurate or well-researched. It was. But we can do better. Saying that what we have now is OK because of money, time constraints, or any other reason isn't good enough. I'm a millennial (ugh) race fan, and part of that means that I think we can do better. If we can figure out how to make it so I can look up how to spell millennial on my phone while writing this... we can figure out a better solution to a catch fence.

You have a voice in this world, don't let them off with an "it's the best we can do." You defined “opposition media” before it was cool. Put the pressure on those who can make this better! In a world where Sam Schmidt has to measure his words to not upset the apple cart after one of his drivers gets hurt, the best person I can think of is you. Come on. Don't let them tell you they can't because of money. No one could afford the SAFER walls either. But they all did, didn't they? You can put the pressure on, and we are here to back you up!

Andrew, Noblesville

RM: I appreciate your confidence in me, but it is about money, and who is going to pay for new fencing around ovals in this country? We’d like to think IndyCar and NASCAR would step up, and they probably would if a better fence came along, but it’s obviously not an easy equation. The price Randy Bernard was quoted by Raytheon for Plexiglas around IMS a few years ago was astronomical, but IndyCar has a watchdog (Tony Cotman) in this arena. The SAFER Barrier was a breakthrough and the most important advancement in oval track history, so if someone designs something similar in the fence world, I’m sure IndyCar and NASCAR would do the right thing. But IndyCar doesn’t have the budget or people to design something on its own; it’s got to be something scientific that is presented to them. And it’s not here yet.

Q: A lot of ovals have signage behind the catch fences along the back straight. What if those signs were on the front and flush with the SAFER Barrier?  Perhaps made of acrylic, or even metal. Should a car go up into the fence, it wouldn’t be caught and shredded. If the signs were joined, the car would slide and bounce back onto the track. Think of a puck on the glass at a hockey game. Further, the signage space may pay for itself over time. Also I heard Michael Andretti’s critique of the Wickens incident. It was straight, not emotional. He spoke like a driver in debrief. Didn’t deserve the social media hate!

Island JM, Irvine, CA

RM: Davey Hamilton brought that up the other day and I imagine it could work, except would a sign be able to contain a 1,600-pound car flying into it at 200 mph? Michael just needed to tag his comment with something about hoping Wickens is OK.

Robert Wickens tribute on the helmet of Charlie Kimball at Gateway. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: Robert Wickens' accident was devastating for many reasons. First and foremost, Robert’s long-term health. Will he recover enough to race again? I can't think of a driver who said after a big accident "that's it, I'm done" (except perhaps at the recommendation of a physician, i.e Dario Franchitti). I hope he makes a full recovery and doesn't have to make a decision like Dario. Secondly, can SPM survive as a team? My brother believes the accident cost the team $2 million in chassis losses or repairs. Sponsors want drivers in cars for all the cash they're forking out. Who will replace Robert in the short-term? Does SPM have the backing of its sponsors during this difficult time? Robert and SPM were one of the bright lights in IndyCar 2018.

Jonathan and Cleide Morris, Ventura, CA

RM: Too early to make any predictions or comments on whether Robbie will race again, I just want him to be able to walk out of the hospital and then go from there. Arrow is a great sponsor that loves Sam, Hinch and Robbie along with Forrest Lucas, so I don’t see any problem in that area. Don’t know, maybe Conor Daly?

Q: I was wondering if IndyCar has a support system in place to help drivers, crew members, and their families when a serious injury occurs. Does the sanctioning body have something in place, or is it done on a team-by-team basis? Praying for the best for Robert. Get well soon!

Nicole Seaton, Hartford, Ohio

RM: IndyCar has a medical liaison that was with Robbie all last week, and IndyCar also had a couple of people at the hospital the first couple days. I know Jay Frye checks in with the team or family on a daily basis, and there is a big support system.

Q: I know this won’t be a popular comment, but there was a reason it used to be tough to even be allowed to try to get a ride at Indy. Some good prospects were sent home to get another year’s experience in sprint cars before being allowed to try to get into the 500. Robert Wickens didn’t show that he has enough high-speed oval experience on Sunday at Pocono. Don’t get me wrong. I like him and think he’s very talented, but maybe IndyCar should rethink who gets to run high-speed ovals.

I remember when Thomas Scheckter ran his boss into the wall at his first oval race in Phoenix – and then look what happened at Indy while he was leading the race. Again, I’m not trying to pick on Robert. If oval guy like Ed Carpenter doesn’t have enough road racing experience, that will usually just mean he’ll be a little bit slow. But if you don’t have enough oval experience, it can be a lot worse. Robert definitely made a rookie mistake at Pocono, so maybe IndyCar should err on the side of caution. Hoping Robert will be alright.

Jim Patton, Lindale, Texas

RM: I disagree. Robbie caught onto ovals as quickly as anyone before him, and was flying at Texas before being taken out, damn near won Phoenix, and was strong at Indy. He had plenty of high HP experience overseas, and was as well prepared for turning left as any rookie could be from that standpoint. He was still learning on ovals, but he was such a quick learner and so impressive. What happened was a racing accident with two guys running hard through a tricky corner. I thought RHR tried to give as much room as possible, and you could see Robbie just push up enough to send them into the wall. But nobody is to blame. It was racing and, sadly, it had some serious consequences.

Q: I was shocked and sickened watching Wickens launch into the fence and back across the track. That’s not what racing is supposed to be about. So why the hell is IndyCar using Scott Dixon’s crash in Indy so heavily in its TV promo? Damn lucky we aren’t talking about Scott in the past tense. Honestly, if that is what they are selling, I am not interested in buying and watching. Just because NASCAR does it, doesn’t make it right. I know your influence is minimal, but thanks for letting me rant a moment.

Richard R.

RM: I’ve been saying the same thing for months – show your close finishes and quit the sensationalism.

Q: I have watched IndyCar/CART since the mid- to late-‘80s. I am wondering why the rash of flying cars has been happening since the start of the IRL? I can’t seem to recall a crash in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s where a car took flight like they do now. I remember the likes of Crawford getting air and almost immediately getting back on the ground with no acrobatics. It’s almost like the air gets underneath the cars and creates lots of lift. Is this an aero issue/a close racing issue?

Ben Wright, Lexington, KY

RM: Well, a few years ago when Ed Carpenter, Josef and Helio all sailed through the air after spinning, IndyCar came up with a solution to keep them on the ground and it’s worked just fine. But anytime an open-wheel car climbs over another one, somebody is going to get airborne. It’s a physics issue.

Q: I hated to see the Wickens crash, as I’m sure we all did. I’m probably not the only one who had Wheldon on his mind. Why not make the SAFER Barrier higher? Twice as high? I don’t think it would affect the sightlines all that badly, save for some cheap seats, and TV… not at all. I know it’s not a total solution (if one exists) but it’s gotta help, no?

Tim Severin

RM: I think it’s something IndyCar might look at in places there aren’t any spectators.

Bourdais is one of IndyCar's leading proponents for improved safety. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: I think Robert would likely not have survived the crash had the catch fence post not given way. At Indy, the post would not have budged because of the way they are fortified in concrete. Have you heard any thoughts of that sort from any of the people in IndyCar? It seems that Sebastien Bourdais could become the modern day Jackie Stewart when it comes to pushing for advances in safety. I thought it took a lot for him to say what I'm sure many of the other drivers were thinking with regard to the fence repair. I would not have been surprised if he wouldn't have gotten back in the car when the race restarted. Do you think NASCAR has to take a look at the capability of the fence to retain a 4,500-pound stock car before they race at Pocono again? No way that fence keeps a tin-top in the ballpark.

Andy Rolfe, Brighton, MI

RM: I don’t know how to answer that first question, because that post helped keep Robbie in the ballpark, but it also inflicted a lot of damage to his body. IndyCar officials said they thought the fence and car did their jobs. If you had been through what Seb did in 2017, I think you’d be pretty sensitive to anything and everything about safety. Bobby Allison almost made it into the crowd at Talladega back in 1987 when he tore out an entire section of the catch fence, but that was prior to roof flaps being introduced, and Kyle Larson’s engine damn-near did the same thing at Daytona in 2013 in the Xfinity race, so it’s also in NASCAR’s best interests to have the best fences possible. But flying cars are more of an open-wheel issue.

Q: I really enjoyed your article on the catch fence. I agree that yes something does need to be done, but it can't be a knee-jerk reaction. It has taken some time, but look where we are at with the windscreen compared to the Halo. In my opinion it is a much better solution for keeping the cockpit open. Could it have happened faster maybe? We just need to make sure the talks keep going and progress gets made.

Tony, Providence, Utah

RM: IndyCar keeps safety sacred, and is doing its research and testing on the windscreen to make certain it’s got the right application before it pulls the trigger, and I think the same thing will happen with catch fences.

Q: In your previous Mailbag, readers suggested raising the SAFER Barriers in non-viewing areas. You seemed to dismiss this idea by saying cars get higher than a six-foot barrier. Sure, cars get higher, but a solution doesn't have to solve 100 percent of a problem. It can solve 50 percent and save lives. There is a saying: "The perfect is the enemy of the good." Raising the wall is not a perfect solution, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good solution.

Mike Greene, South Bending, IN

RM: The non-spectator areas in the corners are where a lot of the accidents take place, and higher walls might be a nice failsafe. My response to one of the letters was that no wall was going to be high enough to keep Scott Dixon in the ballpark, and we all got lucky he crashed where he did with that result.

Q: Just finished reading your article about the catch fence being the best we've got so far. No doubt, if some other device was available it would've have been up there already, and until someone is willing to foot the bill for what would probably be millions of dollars worth of R&D alone, which will realistically take years to develop, let alone install, we are stuck with this catch fence. However, the issue raised by Sam Schmidt to make the SAFER Barrier higher should not be ignored, as it is (costs aside) the fastest fix available.

Yes, Dixie got way higher than that, but that was on the short chute. Had the contact happened in a turn, he would not have had time to get that high as he would have already hit the wall. Also, Wickens rode along the barrier before he made contact with the fence. Same for Aleshin, and Kimball at Pocono. Had the SAFER Barrier been at least two feet higher, I believe the cars would have simply slid along the wall like Vitor Meira did at Indy. I'm sure there are a lot of experts sending you emails, and I'm not claiming to be an one – the SAFER Barrier is already researched, proven and available as at least a short-term fix. Other than that, I fully agree with you about the front stretch at Indy. Seeing the cars approach Turn 1 at 240 mph with that scoring pylon on the inside is gnarly, and a catch fence – at least – is needed there. I urge you to convince them to install it.

Victor, Romania

RM: Nobody can ever predict where or how high an open-wheel car is going to go after it climbs a wheel, but if raising the SAFER Barrier at ovals in certain places helps, then I imagine IndyCar will give it a serious look. I’ve heard from every “expert” on the planet, and that’s why I interviewed Tony Cotman because he knows what he’s talking about. But the fans are concerned about the drivers, and that’s good. I just want everyone protected as much as possible if feasible.

Q: Replays clearly show one of Wickens’ wheels flying through the fence at a potentially lethal velocity toward the building and parking area outside the Turn 2 wall at Pocono, but I can find absolutely no media coverage about where that wheel landed and what it may or may not have hit. I completely understand that IndyCar and Pocono Raceway officials would rather not publicize such a potentially catastrophic failure of the catch fence, but why are motorsports journalists unwilling and/or unable to shed any light on it?

Mike Ribeiro, Williamsburg, VA

RM: I don’t think anyone is unwilling to shed any light on it. The simple fact is that Pocono announced nobody was injured by debris from the accident, so that was that.

DTM drivers sent a get well message to Wickens from the Misano paddock. Image by Trienitz/LAT

Q: Do you think Robert Wickens’ crash will influence Fernando Alonso's decision about racing in IndyCar one way or the other? I know the guy is a racer, but...

Tim Elder

RM: Not at all. Real race drivers don’t think like that. At least, not the ones I know.

Q: One of the smartest most thoughtful drivers I ever met was Justin Wilson. Before he passed away, he came up with a brilliant plan to remove some harm to both drivers and fans. Will we ever see this implemented in my lifetime?

Bob in Chesterfield

RM: I guess you are speaking about putting all the spectators in the infield? No, I can’t imagine that happening in our lifetime, and the cost alone would be staggering.

Q: Sometimes I feel like I'm in the minority in wanting IndyCar to run more ovals. I know every time there's a scary crash, people like to question: why ovals? And I get it. No one likes to see a driver gets hurt. But to me, ovals are what makes this series great. Right now, the schedule is 70/30 street and road courses to ovals. I really think these cars flourish in oval racing. Getting in the tow, getting three-wide, and the precision it takes to keep that speed up and try and pass is amazing to watch. Would adding more ovals be in the cards for 2019 and beyond?

Laguna Seca is a big win for the series. And having Portland back is awesome as well. But Fontana, Michigan, Homestead, Kansas, Chicago, and Kentucky were always awesome races in the past. What about going after NASCAR territory and getting into places like Charlotte, Atlanta, New Hampshire, Richmond, maybe even Daytona? If IndyCar tries to emulate F1 completely and do all road and street courses, it would take away a cool advantage it has over F1. It's what makes this the best open-wheel racing in the world. Plus, with F1 trying to add a second USA race, I think the open-wheel market still has room to grow here.

Ryan Klipsch

RM: I think IndyCar will go to any oval that wants it, and that can sustain a crowd and not lose a fortune – which eliminates most of them. I do think Richmond is serious about getting back on the schedule some day, and I’m due to win the lottery so I’ll promote Milwaukee. But if IndyCar could keep six good ones on the calendar out of 20 races, that would be perfect and keep it the most diverse series in the world.

Q: I have always been a huge advocate of superspeedway racing for IndyCars. Unfortunately, my perspective changed this past weekend as I saw one of the best racers in the garage, a likeable personality who is always great with fans, and one of my personal favorite racers, get shot up into a catch fence, get his car shredded to pieces and his life be threatened as well as his racing career – all so they can win a race at Pocono. The reason I say this last part is because I believe these cars need to be on a high speed oval. One high speed oval: Indianapolis. The Indy 500 is worth the risk. It is the race that we all grow up watching and dream of winning. I don't want to see these cars race at Pocono anymore. I don't want to see these cars race at Texas Motor Speedway anymore. I don't even want to see these cars race on an oval that has a four-foot wall and a catch fence that will shred these cars and take the life of any of these drivers. It is simply not worth it.

Let’s put these cars on the streets of St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Detroit, and Toronto. Let’s put these cars on the permanent road courses Barber Motorsports Park, Road America, Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca, Circuit of the Americas, Portland, and Watkins Glen. Lastly but certainly not least, let’s put these cars on one oval. Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I hope that Pocono is not confirmed for next year. I hope IndyCar says goodbye to a long-lasting relationship with TMS. If this means there is only 14 races next year, that is fine with me. I would rather see my favorite drivers race 14 times a year than have to say goodbye to any more drivers. I would love to hear your take, as well as your opinion and the consensus in the garage are as it pertains to the schedule, ovals, and the risk involved.

Derek, Riverside, CA

RM: I have a much bigger problem that it only paid $30,000 to win Pocono than whether IndyCar should go there anymore. The drivers know the risks and nobody makes them race, but it’s pathetic they take such chances for such a paltry payoff. Ovals are IndyCar’s heritage and the most exciting form of motorsports when everything is working, and cutting back to only Indianapolis robs IndyCar of its identity as well as diversity. I respect your sentiment, but IndyCar racing is safer than it’s ever been, yet when somebody is injured or loses their life it seems to be a shock to people because we’ve been so lucky during the past 20 years.

Q: Most of us agree that the Indy 500 and oval racing is vital to IndyCar racing. But why are we risking the lives of our drivers in front of modest crowds at Pocono and Texas? Especially when the only good racing at a superspeedway is typically artificial, based on horsepower or aero manipulation? Richmond, Loudon and Milwaukee in addition to Gateway and Iowa sounds like an awesome oval schedule. Plus it’s much safer. Let Indy be Indy. We don’t need 230 mph anywhere else.

Justin Einerson, Des Moines

RM: I’d like to see the speeds reduced to 180-190 mph because nobody cares about 200 or 220 or 230 mph – anywhere. I love the fact they were backing off the throttle and using the brakes at Gateway, so maybe if we get back to 900 HP, it will drastically slow the cornering speeds and put the driver even more in control, and even give him a chance to save the car instead of hanging on.

Conor Daly's Lilly-less Xfinity Mustang at Road America. Image by Kinrade/LAT

Q: Great article on Derek and Conor Daly. We all agree the word in question should never be said, by anyone. However this firing of Derek for something 35 years ago and dropped sponsorship of Conor is absolutely PC paranoia. It does, however, provide one less TV channel to watch, and also saved me a Saturday by not attending the L***y 250 Xfinity race at IMS.

Ralph, Indianapolis

RM: Thanks Ralph, but common sense dictates how wrong Channel 8 and L*&^%$ were, and I like your abbreviation.

Q: The impugnment of Derek for a naive comment made 35 years in the past is unconscionable. Atrocious. Totally frightening. Those responsible need to be exposed. Your courage in writing as you did is being accountable. Let's hope the real culprits will be brought before the court of accountability and properly receive their comeuppance.

Lynn, VA

RM: Thanks Lynn, but it took no courage to write the truth and expose those clowns at Channel 8 and Eli Lilly.

Q: Conor has gotten shunned for absolutely no reason. His Dad's unknowing slip of the tongue 35 years ago, which was innocently uttered once, is no reason to slit either the father's or the son's throats financially and professionally. This corporate treatment is abominable and utterly ridiculous.

Steve Koontz, Gas City, IN

RM: Lilly could still save face and simply sponsor Conor in another race, and send out a little press release admitting it may have been a little hasty in yanking its name at Road America.

Q: How long before IMS fires Donald Davidson for telling the story of Chuck Riley's suggested name for the call-in show in 1971 – "Stymie the Limey"?

John, Plainfield, IN

RM: Great memory John, I was talking about that old radio show title today at lunch. I’d imagine IMS would give DD a warning (smile).

Q: I've been watching open-wheelers since early ‘80s. I remember multiple drivers dying at Indy, and being severely injured at ovals and road courses alike. That being said, with the lack of attendance with regard to ovals and open-wheelers, did we witness the end of ovals and IndyCars except for the 500? I can't see any other track either signing a new contract, or even re-signing once the current contract ends.

Jerry Daniels

RM: No. Gateway had another nice crowd and Iowa is going back to Saturday night so that will help its attendance, and Texas and Pocono had more people than in previous years. They’re all back for 2019, and I hope Richmond could come into play by 2020.

Q: As an IndyCar fan since the early ‘80s, I have a hard time understanding the complaints about the races this year at Indy and Pocono. My first comment about this year’s 500 was that it reminded of the races back in what so many call the “peak” of IndyCar racing. The Pocono race was a prime example of that – one car running away from the lead, and lapping all but a handful of the other cars. Do they remember the 1989 500? Al Jr. crashed out on Lap 198 and still finished second because he and Emmo were so far out in front of everyone else.

Patrick Reardon

RM: Good points, Patrick. Rick Mears won the 1984 Indy 500 by two laps, and just glance through the 1970s and 1980s and see how few cars were on the lead lap at the end. We’ve been spoiled by the racing this past decade at IMS, but every race can’t be a photo finish, and it doesn’t have to be in order to be a good one.

Q: I swear, you just can't make the new breed of IndyCar fans happy. “Ovals are too boring,” they scream. “Ovals are too exciting and dangerous,” they scream. “Bring back the CART days,” they scream. “Bring back pack racing,” they scream. The new breed fans are idiots, they wouldn't know great racing from a loaf of bread - all you have to do is read the social media comments after the Wickens incident to know this is true. Rossi (who I'll confess I've come to respect after rejecting his aloofness) and Newgarden are the new Mears, Unsers, Sullivans, et al of the series. They'll dominate the series for years. Pocono's race showed Rossi for the force he is. How can anyone call dominance boring? It's what every racing driver strives for: winning and crushing their opponents whenever and wherever possible. Thoughts?

Jake, Pasadena, CA

RM: This is the 50th year I’ve covered IndyCar racing, and I’ve seen A.J., Mario, Uncle Bobby, Big Al, J.R., Gordy, Sneva, Mikey and Mears decimate fields on ovals, street and road courses, and never recall anyone complaining. It was accepted back then that somebody was going to hit the combination and kick everyone’s ass. When it didn’t happen, like the finish in 1982, we were thrilled beyond belief, and I stayed at the Speedway until midnight that night and watched the re-air because it was such a fantastic finish and such a rarity. Obviously, with spec cars and very even engines and everyone on the same tire, the racing today should be close and competitive, and it usually is, but it can still be a good show if somebody dominates and there’s a dogfight for third through sixth.

Q: With the obvious exception of the Indy 500 (and Pocono), it seems that the specific length of any given race is not of great interest to the fans (at least, not me as a lifelong fan). Frankly though, fuel mileage races leave me cold. Has IndyCar considered resetting the race lengths to try and encourage all-out racing instead of having much of the field cruising around trying to meet fuel numbers? Is that even possible, given the current possible engine fuel mileage ranges? Maybe they need to mandate a minimum number of stops for everyone?

Doug Viall

RM: Fuel mileage leaves all of us yawning but it’s the reality of today’s racing, and adding laps can help sometimes unless cautions fall a certain way and then it’s a whole new strategy. Champ Car tried mandatory pit stop windows, and that didn’t work either. I don’t know the answer, but I know I hate to hear “he’s saving fuel” on lap 3.

Could Hildebrand and DRR go full-time next year? Image by LePage/LAT

Q: Back in the spring, there were rumblings that Dreyer & Reinbold was gearing up for a potential full-time run next year. Any news on that effort? I don't seem to hear them mentioned much in silly season news. I mainly ask as a big J.R. Hildebrand fan. I feel like DRR might be his best opportunity to get back into a car full time. Any word on what his plans are for the future?

Trevor Schaeffer, Minneapolis, MN

RM: Spoke with Dennis Reinbold today for about 20 minutes, and if he can raise the correct budget, he still wants to run a full schedule in 2019. But, if not, he’s a smart guy and he’s not going to piecemeal a deal that has no potential, because being a place holder doesn’t interest him. But he’ll always be part of the Indy 500 because he can find sponsors, and he’s got a good little team, and he’s a racer.

Q: Do you think Ferrucci would have gotten his IndyCar drive on talent if he had no money, given his lack of results in F2 and stupid antics?

Mike G.

RM: Uh, no, not with Dale. Or anyone else at this stage of his career. But he’s young and deserves a second chance, and IndyCar is watching him, trust me.

Q: Michael Andretti has been taking lots of heat for his comments following the Wickens crash. I think he was just being a good boss and standing up for his guy. Some of the internet trolls have been harsh on RHR. Also, I am a bit worried about how this crash has mentally affected a few of our heroes. Seb, RHR, Hinch seem pretty spooked to me. Being spooked can't be good when strapping into these machines. Not that I blame them...

Jeff Loveland

RM: I think what Michael said was fine as well, but would have been a nice touch to add something about hoping Wickens was OK. Two of those three have had near-death experiences, so I understand if they’re a little edgy, and RHR knows how lucky he was (twice in the same crash), but I don’t think it prevents them from gassing it.

Q: I believe that NBCSN deserves an Emmy, all the IndyCar drivers deserve a Nobel Peace Prize and that all IndyCar fans deserve a case of their favorite beverage and a box of cookies for Pocono. Your thoughts?

Josh from Kennebunk, Maine

RM: I was so impressed by the Pocono crowd sticking it out for two hours during that red flag, and let me tell you that the folks who showed up and I talked to were die-hard IndyCar fans. So maybe there’s hope for Pocono, because that was the best turnout since IndyCar started going back.

Q: What is up with JoNew? Those marbles in Toronto seem to have stolen his mojo. Dude seemed so unstoppable earlier this year. I know we are a ways out from a schedule announcement, but what are we to expect for 2019? Regarding aero kit, the super speedway package seems to be the only one that is worse than the previous body kits. Hopefully they figure out the superspeedway show with this package.

C.J. Shoemaker

RM: He’s been quick, but just missed the past few races and Rossi hasn’t – but it’s hard to imagine getting lapped in a Penske car, isn’t it? Willy P. is on the roll now, and the last two races should be interesting. Expect 17 races and likely a Texas Two-Step. IndyCar will figure out the aero kit for 2019 on the big ovals.

Q: Tony Stewart won't run cold turkey, so why not do pre-season test, and run Indy Grand Prix? It's more about the car than the track anyway. If Harding gets McLaren’s money and smarts, does it need Andretti, or does it just need to poach the right people from across the paddock? "Find" the right engineers, call Barichello to coach, upgrade the mechanical bits, and see what happens. Obviously a long shot, but I'm not optimistic (or drunk) enough to dream of Alonso in a McLaren-Foyt car.

Daly gets a call to step in for Wicky to finish the season? Not how anyone wants to get a job, but someone should try to put the No.6 on the podium, with Robert's name still prominently shown on the car. Force and Rahal should start marketing to each other’s sponsors to take advantage of the possibilities. Shared sponsorship from Skype? Drunken dream scenario: Ganassi runs four drivers as Memorial doubles. Dixie, Felix, Larson, and Busch/McMurray. The four at Indy seem much more plausible compared to the Iceman and the Swede invading Charlotte (probably as likely as PT running for the Captain), but who doesn't want to see it? Hope I at least gave you a laugh or two!

Glenn from Houston

RM: Running the road course won’t get Smoke ready for 225 mph, but a two-day test might. I think Zak Brown and Michael are joined at the hip so, no Fred for A.J. Love to see Conor get to run Robbie’s car and he subbed a couple years ago for Hinch, so who better? I like your dream team for Indy because Kyle Busch would be good for ratings and probably do a helluva a job, and Larson is Parnelli Jones, so he’s got to run Indy soon.

Danny Sullivan, 1985 Indy 500. Image by IMS

Q: Always love your driver stories from the past. Compared to some of your readers from the ‘60s or ‘70s, I'm a lesser old-timer from the ‘80s, with my first introduction as a teenager being the 1985 Indy 500. Naturally Danny Sullivan instantly became my favorite driver. I know he did TV commentary in late ‘90s CART. Do you know what he is up to nowadays, and any good stories? On a side note, I must have been a dedicated fan as I believe I was one of the few that actually enjoyed his acting on Miami Vice!

Doug Sohn, North Richland Hills, TX

RM: These days Danny plays a lot of golf by his Pebble Beach home, travels the world making personal appearances, does a little F1 stewarding when asked, and pretty much enjoys being Danny Sullivan. I think his best story is the perseverance he showed to make it as a race driver against steep odds, and yes Garvin Brown helped him a lot, but Danny had a drive beneath those Hollywood looks and made it all the way to the top. He’s a good guy, and a good ambassador for IndyCar.

Q: You sort of hint on occasions about schedules and/or driver lineups. How often do you get inside info but cannot post it? Any good stories on inside info you knew but could not say a word?

Ron, Toronto

RM: Oh my god, almost weekly during the season. But when you do something for 50 years and people tell you things in confidence, you better honor their wishes or they will never tell you anything again. That’s why I’ve always been able to get scoops, because people trust you not to burn them and wait until the appropriate time. Then, when the timing is right, you can leak it or suggest it, but you never want to write or say anything that is going to derail a deal. Even though it hasn’t been announced, I’ve been saying and writing that Felix Rosenvquist will be Dixie’s teammate in 2019. Chip says it’s just a rumor, and his manager, Stefan Johansson, says he’s working on it, but I got some good info from someone I trust, so I’m confident it’s going to happen. And this kid is a badass. Today I’m sitting on a great little story, but can’t use it yet because it’s not quite done, but IndyCar fans will like it. Silly Season is always fun, and tracking down new venues – those are things you guys love to read.

Q: Let’s see if I have this figured out. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will, on Black Friday, play golf in a match play event, for a winner-take-all prize of $9 million. Then I looked back at the prize money for the Indianapolis 500 in 2018 and I found that the total purse was $13,078,065 and the winning share was $2,525,454. The Speedway lists these numbers on its website and seems to be very proud of them. The teams spend millions of dollars a year to race, and the drivers put their lives on the line each and every lap, for this measly amount? There is something drastically wrong with these numbers. Please IMS, get out of the Stone Age and pay these gladiators what they are worth!

Dale Christenson

RM: As I’ve written, preached and bitched for a decade, the 500 purse is a joke, and so is making the drivers get up at the banquet and “thank” the Hulman/George family and IMS for their check (which isn’t close to what they really get since, $200,000 goes right off the top to the owners in the Leader’s Circle). And a third of the field was insulted with $203,000 (the tire bill from Firestone is half of that). I’ve told Mark Miles to sell a title sponsor or presenting sponsor for the Indy 500 for $10 million and throw it all in the purse – $5 million to win and $500,000 to start the race. Then get $1 million for the Fast 9 to divide up on Pole Day. It’s insulting for drivers to hang out their ass for a race that grosses north of $40 million in a couple weeks and get paid like jalopy drivers.

Q: My brain started going into convulsions after reading about the Chris Windom/David Byrd hookup. I wrote to you a few weeks back about a Red Bull-type short-track driver program that would use Lights as a stepping-stone. Mr. Byrd seems like he could do that for Windom. Why is the Lights Series overlooked for guys like Windom? Certainly a season of Lights and maybe a test in an IndyCar for the 2019 season in preparation for a two-three race IndyCar shot in 2020 is a much better way to give Chris, and other short-track guys, half a chance at doing well in IndyCar or just at the 500.

Nobody has a real chance for success at without some sort of proper formula car experience. Am I missing something? Is Mr. Byrd only interested in getting guys to Indy for the sake of it? A season of Lights can’t cost that much more than the month of May, can it? It would be such a huge benefit to everyone if a realistic approach was taken to getting a short-tracker to Indy, or better still, a full season of IndyCars instead of a one-off at Indy because of a ‘this is the way it was done 50 years ago approach’

Eric Z, Lancaster, NY

RM: David Byrd picked up the torch for Bryan Clauson after Randy Bernard got BC to Indy in 2012, and he brought Windom to Indy last May for Lights, but unfortunately, Chris crashed in practice and the car couldn’t be repaired. Byrd helped with the James Davison project this year at IMS and his goal is to bring Windom to Indy someday, but Lights are expensive and you just can’t snap your fingers. Davey Hamilton and Byrd are about the only two guys who make the effort to keep a connection from USAC to Indy, but running Lights full-time costs a couple million to do it right and Windom has a full schedule of USAC racing, so picking and choosing would seem to be the best option.

Last-lap shenanigans in the Truck race at Mosport. Image by Baker/LAT

Q: After watching Noah Gragson dump Todd Gilliland at the NASCAR Truck race in Canada, I'm finding myself questioning what I want from NASCAR. I mean they took the Kyle Larson/Busch clash from earlier in the year at Chicagoland and made it into an ad campaign. I don't mind rough racing, but when I can predict the exact events of a NASCAR road course race with two laps to go, then watch the carnage unfold, I feel almost let down. Maybe I'm spoiled by F1 and IndyCar when it comes to penalties regarding reckless racing, but this feels out of hand. Twitter blew up after the race too, and I saw some of NASCAR's vets argue whether this kind of racing at a road course is OK or not.

And the trouble goes back, too: Tony Stewart vs. Denny Hamlin at Sonoma and Cole Custer vs. JH Nemechek at Canada are a couple that come to mind. But then what some say is the best finish in NASCAR history was Brad Keselowski and Marcos Ambrose at Watkins Glen a couple years ago. That was what I want: rough racing at the end, no one getting wrecked, just a little bouncing off of each other. You know, showing some respect. But even that finish was spoiled at the beginning of that lap when Brad dumped Kyle Busch in Turn 2. I'm only 18, so I don't know what the reception was when Earnhardt wrecked Labonte at Bristol... then did it again. But I think it felt different than this. That seemed like short-track passion on a Saturday night, and this seems like a road rage incident on the Sunday drive home.

Colin K, Knox, IN

RM: It takes no talent to spin somebody out, be it and oval or a road course, but the NASCAR mentality is that it’s OK (the Daytona 500 was decided by the leader being rammed off the track on the last lap, and of course there was no penalty because it was Richard Childress’ grandson), but there is an art to moving someone out of the way, I suppose. Alex Tagliani lost the Xfinity race at Mid-Ohio on the last corner, and my boy JPM spun somebody out at Mexico City’s road course way back in time to win, so it’s expected. Austin Cindric did it earlier this season, but opted not to a couple weeks ago for the win. Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch at Darlington was the best, slam-bang finish I’ve ever seen to decide a race on an oval, but I enjoyed watching Chase Elliott hold off Denny Hamlin at The Glen a few weeks ago – they drove hard and clean and it was a good race. But there’s a difference between leaning on someone and spearing someone – just not sure NASCAR cares as long as people are talking.

Q: It’s time to end the open-wheel/tin-tops trash talk once and for all. When the great Emerson Fittipaldi's grandson whips his ride to third-fastest in practice at Gateway and his comment about how he learned oval racing is his heartfelt reference to driving stock cars at the Hickory NC Speedway (long since past over by NASCAR’S upper divisions), it's time to let the bickering go! Young Pietro is here in the U.S. honing his talents and racing. Still hobbling from the Spa crash… it doesn't matter. He gets behind the wheel went from 21st to 11th.

NBCSN promotes IndyCar during NASCAR events, and NASCAR during IndyCar events. Since the network is promoting the top professional auto racing in the USA, it's time to celebrate our sport as racing enthusiasts. We're sitting here in a time of reduced onsite crowds, reduced TV audiences, and questions about where future fans will even come from. There is no room for any more silly jealousy about who's better or what auto racing series (sniff sniff) a person will watch. You'd better be watching it all, and talking it up everywhere you go. And get off your so-called fan ass and attend a couple races, even local ones, a year.

Streaming services/apps show great promise for racing. A seemingly dedicated young-ish fanbase is developing. At least a couple times a year, an honest to goodness racing road trip is getting a second look. Promote auto racing as much as NBC Sports is promoting what they've paid for. All racing drivers strap in and race. Heck Miller, your auto sales Gateway promoter guy even properly gave the command "Gentlemen Start Your Engines"

Mo Wynn, Mt Pleasant, SC

RM: I think the NASCAR coverage on NBC and NBCSN has been great for IndyCar, because they are always promoting the next IndyCar race and any NASCAR event is a great lead-in for an IndyCar event. I think Little E and Jeff Burton are both fans of IndyCar, and next year is going to be the best we’ve had in a long time in terms of exposure and promoting. Kyle Busch is like Tiger Woods, if he’s driving then I’m watching and that goes for Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. I’m guilty of being anti-NASCAR about rules, favorites, phantom yellows, lucky dogs and stage racing, but Bristol, Darlington, Richmond, The Glen and Sonoma are usually good races I try to watch because it’s good racing and not ‘riding around’ for four hours.

It’s natural for IndyCar and NASCAR fans to sling mud, but there can be mutual respect on occasion. I met a couple of ‘Bama boys last weekend at Gateway who are NASCAR diehards, and they decided to drive over and take in their first IndyCar race and they loved everything – all the races, the access to drivers and cars and the speed – so it can work.